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Reading today about a strain of Bifidobacterium that infects the oral cavity and causes tooth decay has brought me back to the question I have often pondered. That of how do evolutionary theory about how organisms adapt and my views about God's infinite wisdom and specificity in creation mix? Can they mix? I don't know. I understand that over time, a microorganism of a certain family could evolve the perfect gene expression needed for it's special environment and thus at some point become genetically distinct from others of it's family in different environs. But I always come back to wondering, what if God created the difference. What if the organism didn't need to adapt and slowly merge? What if God designed it for survival in it's environmental niche and it's always expressed these genes? I know I'll not know the answer to these musings here on earth, but I like to believe that God is awesome! He could create even tiny microorganisms specific enough t...

Last Sunday evening we visited a live nativity at a local church. I always enjoy the live nativities. They are a neat way to experience what Christmas is all about. It is also fun to see real animals and to celebrate the outdoors, even in the cold of winter. Anyway, as we stood and gazing upon the scene (Tristan keeping his eyes fixed on the donkey and cow) a little girl about 6 years old came up with her mom. Her mom began explaining the scene when she walked right into the stable and stood in front of Mary. Her mom was a little embarassed and apologized, but Mary simply showed the baby doll that represented Jesus and let the little girl rub it's head. Then the girl walked back to her mom. It was such a priceless moment. The little girl really just wanted to see Jesus. It reminded me how awesome our God is to send his son as a baby to be our saviour! Such a cool thing to see the faith of a child.

As Christians, trust in God should encourage and inspire Thanksgiving. No matter what the circumstances we are in. Because we know that He is in control no matter what happens in our life. As I read through the book of Job it is really hard to stay focused on the present arguments when I know the end. It all works out for Job, and it works out for the better. He doesn't see that in the midst of his loss, though. Neither do we. Just like Job, however, God has a good plan for His people and works all things to the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Because Jesus has conquered all of temptation, humanity, even death, we can live with the knowledge that God is in control and that only good will come to us. Even if it doesn't come until we meet eternity. That is cause for Thanksgiving!

Tristan is now four months old! Amazing! He is the most precious boy and is soo good! He loves being outdoors and getting tummy kisses from mommy and daddy. He laughs out loud now and squeals in delight. He also just found his feet and tries to put them in his mouth. He also really loves having his thumb in his mouth. He is starting to hold himself in a sitting position for a few minutes but cannot fully sit up by himself yet. This is Tristan's first Autumn and he is pretty fascinated by the pumpkins and mums. He is such a curious baby.

Tristan is now three and a half months old and as cute as ever. He is adding 15 lbs to my weight now, though we have a well baby check-up in a couple of weeks which will give us an accurate measure of weight. He smiles and laughs often and still keeps to a nice schedule. This month has marked some big changes for Tristan. He now enjoys tummy time and we confiscated his pacifier. He has been able to fuss his way through bedtime pretty well without the pacifier and doesn't otherwise seem to miss it too much. I am learning how to cope with him not having that form of comfort. I'm hoping that the more he is on his tummy, the sooner he will learn to roll over and to crawl. It is really exciting to see him grow and develop. We are all excited about the Phillies making it to the play-offs. Tristan enjoys watching baseball, so I have to admit I am a little sad about the season coming to an end. Fall will bring it's own joys and challenges, and I will try to keep you posted.

Okay, so over labor day weekend Jason, Tristan and I visited with the Penningtons and the Hegstads in DC. On Sunday evening we all decided to blow half of our incomes on intertainment and the natural choice for that is... The movies! We saw the movie Julie and Julia . It was a cute and funny movie that prepped the stage for Mom and me to visit Julia Child's kitchen in the smithsonian on Labor day. (photos attached) Little did we realize that this movie would actually set the mood for our entire visit. Mom was so inspired, she made us omelettes on Tuesday morning, Julia Child style! It was awesome. What a heavy influence pop culture and history can have in every day life:)

Tristan is ten weeks and has now attended his first Philadelphia Phillies game. He really stole the show at the stadium, and everyone who saw us had to comment on how cute the little guy is. He continues to be chill and sweet. We get lots of smiles daily and he is also learning how to use his hands to play with toys. It's really cool. In other news, I cut my hair for Locks of Love for the fourth time. It works out pretty well because Tristan was starting to pull at my long locks. Here are before and after pics.

Tristan is nine weeks old. He is such a big boy and continues to grow . At his two month well baby appointment he weighed in at 12.13 and he was 24 inches long. He also continues to sleep through the night and he's sleeping in his own room. His hands and feet are still a mystery to him, but he's slowly learning about them. It's fun to watch him grow and develop. He's quite a talker (like his Poppy) and he gives coos and smiles freely to anyone who pays him attention. He is such a happy baby and we count our blessings daily.

Tristan is now a delightful 7 weeks old and as adorable as ever. As promised, here are photos of his adorable smile. It brings such joy to my heart to see it every day! God has given us such a wonderful child.

Tristan is now 6 weeks old. It's truly amazing to watch him grow and develop. He is now smiling and cooing, when he's awake that is, and his disposition is still sweet. He does tend to let us know when he's unhappy, which is fine, but it's an adjustment for us to have him cry for no reason other than just to make himself heard. The big news is that Tristan now has an Uncle Paul, offiicially. Tristan did so well at Ash and Paul's wedding. We are so excited for Ash and Paul Hegstad! Over the course of last week, Tristan got to meet his two Great Grandmothers and his Great Grandpa Pennington as well as many cousins, auntys and uncles. It was a great celebration for Ash and Paul, and a great time for our family. Now we all wait in anticipation for the next big family event, the birth of the 2nd Pennington family baby!

Tristan is now three weeks old, soon to be four. He is doing great, getting real baths and not eating as frequently, which is beautiful. I'm learning to let him sleep in his own bed during the day and to get things done while he's sleeping. The first two weeks, I held him practically all day long. He is growing and I get on the scale with him once a week. This week he added 11 pounds to my weight. Can't wait to see the doc. for his one month check-up to see how much he's grown. Not looking forward to the shots though.

Tristan is a joy and has grown so much in just the few weeks he's been with us. Almost ten pounds now, he is a healthy eater and a very sweet baby. He loves to sleep in mommy and daddy's arms, but is not as keen on sleeping by himself on his back:) He is doing very well at night despite this and only wakes mommy every 2-3 hours for feedings, sleeping pretty consistently in-between. We are so blessed with our little boy!

Tristan Alexandre Pickering born June 19, 2009 at 9:06 am 8 lbs 14 oz and 21.5 inches long Praise God for Tristan! He is truly a blessing.

The heavy scents of honeysuckle, trees and wildflowers permeate the air on the Skippack trails these days. I have had the priveledge of enjoying the verdant beauty of the trees, grass, vines, and shrubbery blooming in all of their glory on days when the rain abates and the sun shines. Walking is supposed to help pregnant women go into labor, all I've found it good for is fresh air, and inducing round ligament pain. As lovely as the former is, I detest the latter. Of-course, these trails and the smells of spring cause me to miss running so much, but I also remember the beauty of God's creation, and how blessed, enormously blessed, I am to be alive and to have the use of all of my senses. God is good and he has created a beautiful world. Spring and all that comes with it is amazing! Ps. 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handywork.

Not to be confused with the movie Homeward Bound , I am home-bound. I have been advised to stay within an hours drive of the hospital until the baby decides to come. This is kind-of stinky because I had great plans this weekend for the Poconos and a trip to DC. These have been canceled, and now I am waiting. It's all good, though. God has blessed me with plenty of energy, and I will surely find ways to channel it as I wait for Tristan to come. I would like to publicly apologize to Mom and Ash, and also to Dad and Jason. I guess the whole golf thing won't happen now. Have a great holiday anyway!

This post has been a long time in coming. I told my dental hygenist that I just graduated with a bachelor's degree and she was really surprised since she knew I was older than that. I actually had my doubts about whether or not I would finish my degree before coming to West Chester, but that was three years ago, and now I am finished. The irony of that statement is profound to me since I am writing this post from a computer in the West Chester University Library:) I still have one presentation to go before my research is closed. Today I am on-campus to have the poster printed. Even with the final presentation pending, school has been finished for almost two weeks. I have had interesting emotions about it. Denial, apprehension, self-doubt, joy, worry, exhaustion and now finally contentment. I am content because it is finished, because things ended well, and the experience was a positive one. I am confident of what I have learned and acheived. I am no longer nervous about my future, ...

The saying is applicable to both where I am in my pregnancy and also this time in my education. Final presentations are coming due, research is wrapping up, and final exams begin for me Saturday morning at 0800. Yay! Or should I say, Aaagh! The baby still has 5 1/2 weeks to grow and I think he'll take all of that time. We shall see! I am still feeling well, though a bit more burpy than usual what with my whole stomach being displaced by the little guy. My kicks are in my diaphram and under my ribs now, and the doctors have been telling me for a while that he's head down, all good news. Other good news is that I can still manage 3-6 flights of stairs with ease, and I only occasionally get Braxton Hicks -usually after mopping :). To say the least, I am extremely blessed and totally stoked about this last week of school, and these last few weeks before baby.

So, last night I woke up at 3:00 am, for no reason. Tristan was kicking and my mind was full. I just lay there and processed life for a while. They say that the closer one gets to giving birth, the more difficult it becomes to sleep. It's true, I guess. There is also more on my mind than just the baby, I am finishing school, prepping for a research presentation, and starting to get really excited about being my sister's maid of honor in her July wedding. Life is full. I just take deep breaths and try to enjoy every minute.

The baby room is slowly coming along. With eight weeks to go, I am getting excited and starting to feel the need to be ready for the babies' birth. A couple of weeks ago, we did get the crib. We don't have a mattress yet, but the crib is beautiful!

Well, I haven't been able to post any updates in a while. Life goes quickly and I am not keeping up as well as I would like. Anyway, heard some exciting news this week. My Sister-in-Law, Catrina Pennington, is pregnant! Yay, two babies in one year!

This past week, God has revealed himself mightily to me. He has sort-of showered me with His grace, and I wanted to praise him on the blog for what he has done. As far as the baby goes, all is well. I passed the glucose screening test this past week, and we were able to get a beautiful used crib. I'll post pictures soon. Very exciting. It's also really cool to be in the third trimester and to continually feel the baby moving. His movements can even be felt from the outside- as Ash and Jason can attest- and that is neat! At school, God really blessed my team's research. He gave us two very key breakthroughs this past week. Of-course, as He works, they came at the end of the week, after much sweat and actually a few tears (we are all girls on the team). The struggles to get results only makes them that much sweeter, however, and I am overwhelmed by how God works in every aspect of my life. He is mighty and gracious.

Well, in came March, and with it, snow! How fitting, huh? Anyway, since I am snowed in on spring break, I thought I'd post up some pictures of our baby travel system complete with sport stroller and car seat. Pretty exciting stuff! Thanks Mom and Dad Pennington for putting out for it. It's super sweet!

Teach Me Your Paths 25 1 Of David. 1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. 4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. 5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. 6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O Lord! 8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep hi...

Jason and I are sick of winter! It is so cold! Spring will be here before we know it, however, and we should be thankful in all seasons. Well, we are thankful for good health, both for us and for the baby. The baby is growing steadily, and so is my abdomen! That, of course, means my stomach capacity is decreasing and I have taken to eating smaller meals more frequently. It pretty much amounts to me eating all the time. I'm trying to keep a nutritiously balanced diet, however, I still leave room for my baked treats. Here are a few from this month:) Valentines tarts and King Cake for fat tuesday. I must say, the king cake looks like it could use some practice. But there are many more fat tuesdays to come and that means I can try again next year. I guess following an Emeril Lagasse recipe didn't quite make me Emeril Lagasse. Oh well.

This past month has been an exhilirating one for me and Jason and the baby. Everyone's health is good and the baby is extremely active. It's exciting for Jason to be able to feel the baby kicking as well. Since we know it's a boy, we have started prepping the baby room and getting some supplies. The theme we have picked for our baby room is monkeys, and thanks to some awesome Christmas gifts, the baby/guest bathroom is prepped. I have also begun purchasing clothes, scouring the sales racks of almost every store. I've found some really cute stuff! I was also able to find a pack and play at the local consignment shop in blue! It has all kinds of fun additional features, like a canopy and a music/light pack. God has been good, and I am getting excited about the arrival of the little guy! Valentine's day marks the official beginning of the third trimester. I pray that it is as healthy and fun as the last few months have been. I will keep you posted.

This week we started our childbirth classes with a Bradley method instructor. It is very exciting! I may have a hard time at first remembering to encorporate the excercises into my schedule, but J. is already reminding me daily and that is a huge help! That's why it's called "Husband Coached Child-birth". Anyway, I also received my welcome packet from the hospital today, and I am onto the next task of finding a pediatrician. Hopefully I can find one with some holistic sympathies. I'm sure God will lead as He always does. He is so good!

Okay, so in the last post I referred to my baby as a she, it is, however, a boy! It's a boy! The ultrasound definitely confirmed it. I will post up some exciting ultrasound pics. at some point. The 4D. pics are really cute!

This past week I have been able to feel the baby moving! It was weird at first and it would catch me off guard. I am starting to notice patterns to the baby's movements now. She is really active in the morning about an hour after my breakfast. It's usually when I'm on my way to school. I think she likes being in the car and listening to music, just my theory. She will give me surprise movements throughout the day, and then she is active a lot again in the evening after dinner. It's pretty exciting. (Even though I call it a she, we do not know the sex yet)

Oh what a wonderful God we serve. How awesome are his riches and wisdom and knowledge. How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions or His methods. For who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who knows enough to be His counselor? And who could ever give Him so much that He would have to pay him back. For everything comes from Him, everything exists by His power and is intended for His glory. To Him be Glory forevermore, Amen. Romans 11:33-36