But God – In the Waiting, In the Becoming
It has been a little while since my last post, but life has been anything but quiet. In many ways, it has been full – full of movement, full of moments we didn’t expect to have, and full of reminders of God’s goodness.
Over the past few months, we’ve found ourselves doing things we once weren’t sure we would get the chance to do with this pregnancy and with our sweet girl.
At the start of the year, we began working on the nursery. What started as a simple project became something much deeper – a sweet and sanctifying time for my husband and me to pour our hearts into a space created just for Gianna. It took time, patience, and a lot of love, but it is now completely ready for our GG. I’m so proud of what we created together.
Later in January, a dear friend blessed us with a maternity shoot. It was freezing that day – the kind of cold that makes you question your decisions – but the photos turned out absolutely beautiful. My husband and I are not typically “photo people.” We skipped engagement photos and haven’t done family pictures, but this experience shifted something in me. Capturing moments like this matters. These milestones matter.
Then came February, a month I will never forget.
We were celebrated in ways that felt both surreal and deeply meaningful. Three baby showers were lovingly hosted by friends and family, each one a reflection of the community God has placed around us. People traveled hours to be there. Friends I hadn’t seen in months showed up. There was laughter, games, delicious food, and so many sweet moments.
But more than anything, it was a clear reminder of how God redeems. What once felt marked by uncertainty was now filled with joy and anticipation for Gianna’s arrival. I saw so clearly how loved we are – and how deeply loved she is – even before taking her first breath.
What a gift our community is.
February 19th also marked the start of our weekly appointments. And if there is one unexpected blessing of a high-risk pregnancy, it’s this: we get to see GG all the time. Every appointment includes an ultrasound, and we’ve had many. We’ve started to get glimpses of her personality – and let’s just say, she’s already showing signs of both her mom and dad.
Praise God… and watch out world.
Then March arrived, and with it came nesting.
The amount of laundry (the sets of sheets, towels, washcloths, clothes, headbands, socks, mittens) – everything is so tiny and so sweet, I can barely take it. The socks are the size of my pinky, the sweaters fit in the palm of my hand. It’s both adorable and slightly frustrating – and somehow, I managed to complete all of her laundry in one day. A true miracle in itself, because adult laundry at our house never gets done that quickly.
A Medical Update
At our most recent appointment on March 12 (35 weeks, 6 days), Gianna Grace was weighing in at 5 pounds, 8 ounces – a weight her dad guessed exactly.
Our planned C-section is scheduled for April 7, which is now just around the corner. We are so close, and I can hardly contain my excitement.
Everything with GG is currently stable – praise Him.
Her measurements related to the encephalocele (yes, we’re using that terminology again) and the ventriculomegaly remain stable. She is still our active little girl – head down for several weeks now, happily “river dancing” along the left side of my belly. Every movement feels like a gift, and I don’t take a single one for granted.
We are continuing to monitor my amniotic fluid levels. If they decrease, she may arrive earlier – possibly March 24 or March 31. Or, she may decide to come on her own timing before her scheduled “eviction date.”
Either way, we are grateful for every single day that brings us closer to full term – and closer to meeting her.
Holding Both Anxiety and Hope
I would love to say that everything has felt peaceful and easy – but that wouldn’t be the full truth.
There are still many days, and especially appointment days, where anxiety quietly lingers beneath the surface.
But even then, there is hope.
Lately, I’ve been clinging to this truth:
Philippians 4:6-7 says “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
I recently heard a simple phrase in a sermon that stopped me in my tracks:
“If you’re going to pray, why worry? If you’re going to worry, why pray?”
It’s simple. But it’s also deeply convicting. So we return, again and again, to prayer.
Back in November, many of these moments – the nursery, the showers, the photos, even reaching this point in pregnancy – felt unlikely. Some doctors told us we might not get here.
And yet, here we are.
But God.
That’s the only explanation I have.
Your story, my story, and Gianna Grace’s story are not over until He says they are. His will cannot be undone, and there is a deep rest that comes from knowing that.
The greatest lesson God has taught me in this season is this:
Gianna Grace was His first before she was ever ours.
And there is no one we trust her with more than our Lord – the One who created her, loves her, and holds her even more closely than we ever could.
Thank you for being here with us.
We are choosing love – one day at a time 🤍
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