Baby Shower Blessings

I had my very first baby shower this past Sunday. Holley, Megan, Jessica, and Meredith hosted such a beautiful and thoughtful shower for little Levi and me! The food, flowers, favors and fellowship were simply perfect. I am so thankful for each of them and for everyone who came to celebrate.

Beautiful and delicious spread 

Blue cheetah print-- do they know me well or what?! ;)

Each guest got to stamp their fingerprint on the tree. Can't wait to hang this in Levi's nursery!

The finished product!

Jess with her mom, grandma and Levi's little friend Harrison!

Kyndra, Nash and Karen :)

Celin and the Kneece ladies

I can't wait for Levi to meet his awesome Aunt Holley!

Coach and her cheerleaders :)

Four wonderful hostesses + Brady and Katelyn!

Levi's Aunt Lauren

Friends since fifth grade and now our boys get to be playmates!!

My CIU and Bible study girls :) Abbey, on the far left, came all the way from WV to be there and got to stay the night with us. Meant the world to me!

Sweet Sally is due with baby girl Adelaide May 16! 

17 weeks with Asher and 31w3d with Levi

Mine and Megan's first pregnant picture together. :) Being pregnant with my best friend is such a joy and something I could have only dreamed of. Levi, and her son-to-be, Asher, are names of two brothers and sons of Jacob in the Old Testament. These two boys will, Lord willing, be less than four months apart. I pray they, along with Isaac, will become brothers in Christ and experience the same kind of uncommon friendship the Lord has blessed Megan and I with over the last 18 years. I couldn't imagine life without this girl and I praise God that he has allowed us to experience every season of life together: middle and high school, cheerleading, college, ADPi, cancer, death, weddings, and now motherhood. It's a friendship story only God could write. 

I can't wait to see my amazing sister become Aunt Holley. Her constant prayers and encouragement keep me going. I know she will be the best aunt ever to little Levi because she is the best sister ever to me. He will adore her, just as I do, for her heart of gold and love for Jesus. I wish my Dad was here to see what an amazing young woman she is-- he would be so proud of her and so captivated by her beauty both inside and out. 

Loved the little baby carriage favors with Easter egg M&M's inside! 

Holley read this beautiful prayer over Levi and Megan prayed to close us... it was the  perfect way to end such a sweet and thoughtful shower! 

((Psalm 127:3-4))

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.

Bumpdate {29 Weeks}

How far along: 29 weeks (+/- 11 weeks 'til he's here!! Say WHAT?!) 

Size of baby: Small cabbage


Total weight gain/loss: +20 pounds

Sleep: For the last few weeks I've (mostly) been able to sleep through the night without any bathroom trips or leg cramps! Woohoo! 

Cravings/Aversions: My sweet tooth is slowly starting to come back. I've had an occasional hankering for oreos and milk, but try to only indulge in dessert once or twice a week. I'm already starting to run out of room so I get fuller a lot faster now.

Exercise: Over the last week I've officially transitioned from running to power walking. I'm SO thankful I've been able to run the majority of my pregnancy (and was able to run/race the Gamecock 6k, 3.75 miles, in 39 minutes!) but it's starting to get a little uncomfortable now.

Movement: Levi is still constantly movin' and shakin' :) 

Labor Signs/Symptoms: Heartburn is more frequent and I'm still popping Tums like candy. I can tell I'm starting to fatigue more easily now too. Ryan and I usually go to bed pretty early, but I'm starting to fade a lot quicker in the evening. Gotta get sleep while I can, right?! 

Best moment this week: Passed my glucose test last week-hooray! The nursery is starting to come together with the crib, changing table, bedding and glider. I have always been a "nester" so pregnancy has only deepened my love for organizing, decorating, and putting together his nursery piece by piece. We've also gotten our stroller! Some sweet, generous family members chipped in so we could get a Bob jogger. I can't wait for the day I can take my little guy for a spin in his new wheels! 

What I am looking forward to: We have our annual student ministry Disciple Now next weekend. Ryan has worked so hard to plan this event and we are praying the Lord moves in a powerful way through each individual student and our group as a whole. Jeremy Kingsley (a CIU alum) is the speaker and I'm so excited to hear him... he is one of my favorites. I'm also soooo excited for my first baby shower on March 29th hosted by my best friends!

What I miss/What I'm loving: I love sharing the journey of pregnancy with my friends! I'm thankful I've had the opportunity to be pregnant at the same time as Jess, my best friend, Megan, and Sally, my dear friend and ADPi sister from college. I love sharing stories, questions, prayer requests and constantly checking in on each other! What a blessing.


What I’m reading: In addition to my pregnancy devotional and weekly Bible study with Ryan, I've finally started reading my birthday present from Abbey: Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet. :)

Bumpdate {25 Weeks}

Before dinner at Miyo's with my Valentine

How far along: 25w2d

Size of baby: turnip

Total weight gain/loss: +15 pounds

Sleep: Sleep is still good but interrupted by leg cramps (more on that below).

Cravings/Aversions: No cravings or aversions right now. I am a little bit hungrier these days so I make sure I eat a morning and afternoon snack-- usually fruit or trail mix in the morning and Greek yogurt in the afternoon. 

Exercise: My running goal is 40 miles this month and I'm about halfway there! Ryan, Holley and I are running the Gamecocks Run 6k on the 28th and I'm so excited... It will be Levi's first race! 

Movement: All day every day! Love it. I actually took a video of my belly moving the other day... you could see little Levi squirming around in there-- the coolest thing ever.  

Labor Signs/Symptoms: My pregnancy symptoms here lately have been heartburn and leg cramps. I cannot make it through the day without lots of Tums. I asked the doctor at our appointment on Thursday if I could overdose on Tums... he assured me I cannot. :) I went to lunch with my friend Sara Lynn this week and she told me the myth about heartburn and a full head of hair was true for her and her baby girl, Landry Nell. Ryan and I were both bald babies so it'll be interesting to see if my heartburn produces any hairy results for Levi! 

I've also been waking up with leg cramps for the last few weeks and have had a few charley horses in my right leg that have sent me jumping out of bed. Ouch! Since I am active, drinking lots of water, and getting enough calcium and potassium, the doctor said the best medicine is for my hubby to help with some leg massages. Hehe. I will take these symptoms over constant nausea and vomiting any day. :) 

Best moment this week: I came home from work on Thursday night to an early Valentine's gift from Ryan. He cooked us a steak dinner and then took me into Levi's room where he surprised me with an assembled crib!! Unbeknownst to me, the crib and changing table were delivered Thursday while I was at work, and after he went with me to our 25 week appointment that morning, he came home and put the crib together! On his day off of work! He put a card and cookie cake inside the crib... it was the cutest, most thoughtful thing ever. He wrote in the card, "I can't wait for it to be Levi instead of a cookie, but this will have to do until later." I hugged and kissed him and told him how sweet he was and then sadly had to tell him, "This is the wrong crib." Buy Buy Baby delivered the wrong one!!! Nooooo! Poor guy went through all that trouble for nothing. He said, "Oh well, at least I got some practice in before the right crib comes." Sweetest man alive. Here's a picture of my little surprise, the best Valentine and gift ever... 

What I am looking forward to: Ryan and I are going to Holley's ADPi Parent's Cocktail next weekend. I remember taking my parents when I was an ADPi and had the best time eating dinner and dancing with them. We will surely miss my Dad but I'm thankful Ryan and I can go and share this night with her. 

What I miss/What I'm loving: I have loved the second trimester of pregnancy. I understand now why people call this the "honeymoon" phase! It's so fun to feel him move, to finally be showing, and to start collecting things for his nursery. I think being sick in the beginning has made me even more grateful to feel so good now. I'm thankful for a healthy babe, energy, no sickness, and of course that great pregnancy hair!! haha :) I've been told not to get used to it since it may fall out after baby, but for now I'm loving it! 

What I’m reading: Ryan and I have been doing a parenting Bible study together every week called Ready to Launch: Jesus centered parenting in a child-centered world. It's been such a sweet time for us to read, discuss and pray together and it's made me even more grateful for Ryan and how he loves and leads me. He's a wonderful husband and is going to be a wonderful daddy.

((Proverbs 22:6))

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

A Good Name

When it came to naming our baby, it was a sweet and easy decision. Ryan and I knew right away, happily agreed, and have been praying for our son by name ever since. 

I first fell in love with the name Levi over a year ago when our church launched a campaign asking church members to be "Matthews" in our community. The campaign challenged us to reach the unreached by inviting people into your home, feeding them, and sharing the good news of the gospel. During this time, Ryan was asked to preach in place of our pastor which was the first sermon he ever preached from the SVBC pulpit. His message, entitled Who Will Speak, was about Jesus calling Matthew to be his disciple. 

Luke and Mark's gospels tell the same story, but call the disciple by his Hebrew name, Levi: 

"After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, 'Follow me.' And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, 'Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?' And Jesus answered them,'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'" (Luke 5:27-32) 

As I read this story then and now, I can picture Levi standing as Jesus calls his name and walking away from his tax booth and sinful life to follow Him. No turning back. 

And that's when it hit me. What more could we desire for our child, our son Levi, than to one day realize his need for a Savior, turn from his sin, follow Jesus, and never look back?

It is the most important moment in all of our lives. Far above falling in love, marrying your high school sweetheart, pursuing your dreams, getting pregnant, having a child. As wonderful as those things are, they pale in comparison to accepting and knowing Christ as Lord and living for Him- now and for eternity.

About 9 months after Ryan preached this sermon, we were sitting in church on Father's Day (of all the days!) only to discover that the sermon was on this same passage: Jesus Calls Levi. I pointed it out to Ryan and wrote a note in my Bible and a permanent note in my head... Levi. 

When it came to choosing Levi's middle name, the decision was just as easy for us. I desperately wanted to honor my Dad through our son's name so we chose Davis, my maiden name. My Dad was affectionately known as "LD" to all of his friends and family. Naming him Levi Davis allows him to not only carry on the Davis name, but to have "LD" as a part of his name as well. My Dad would have adored having a little grandson and I, Lord willing, can't wait to tell Levi about what an amazing, godly man he was.

Ryan and I pray Levi will one day, by grace alone, come to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, will live as a disciple for Him, and never turn back. We pray he will experience fullness of joy as an obedient follower of Christ, will comprehend the brevity of this life we have on earth, and set his heart on our true home, Heaven. The place where Jesus Himself will make all things new and "will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more." 

Heaven... what we live and long for. Where we will praise and dwell with our King Jesus eternally, where we will see my sweet Dad once again, and where Levi will at last get to meet "LD."

((Proverbs 22:1))

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

    and favor is better than silver or gold.

Bumpdate {22 Weeks}

How far along: 22 weeks on the 22nd! The Lord is so kind to me.

Size of baby: spaghetti squash

Total weight gain/loss: +12 pounds

Sleep: Still great. I am learning to like sleeping on my side... but it may be easier to just sleep in the bathroom :)

Cravings/Aversions: Loving acidic things: pickles, orange juice, tomatoes, salt and vinegar chips, collards with (lots and lots of) apple cider vinegar, cucumbers in rice vinegar. I could just about drink vinegar from a bottle. Still not wanting chicken. Blech!

Exercise: Running, running, running and feeling good, good, good! On pace to log 40 miles this month.

Movement: This little dude is very active! I feel him all throughout the day and a lot at night when I'm lying in bed. Ryan felt him kick for the first time on January 14th at one day shy of 21 weeks. 

Labor Signs/Symptoms: none

Best moment this week: We had our anatomy scan last week at our 21 week appointment. It was so amazing to see his growing little self. Levi is still a boy and measuring right on track! We praise God for a healthy baby so far! I think the best moment of the scan was when the nurse identified Levi's heart and said, "You can see the heart and the 4 chambers because there is a cross in the middle." Ryan said, "Tell me that's not a God thing!" The Lord loves this child, has a plan for him, and reveals Himself to us through a cross in our sons's beating heart. Miraculous!

What I am looking forward to: Starting the nursery! We painted the nursery last weekend and I can't wait to see my navy, aqua and gray vision for his room unfold. It took awhile to land on the perfect choice for Levi's bedding, but we finally decided on something from Pottery Barn Kids and I love it!

What I miss: Sleeping without having to use the restroom multiple times a night!

What I’m reading: I am currently reading Tim Keller's The Meaning of Marriage (which I highly recommend!) and have postponed BabyWise until closer to Levi's arrival. My dear friend and baby expert, Kyndra, suggested I read Happiest Baby on the Block before I read BabyWise so that's my plan. She has 3 little boys and could write a book with all of her mommy wisdom! I'm so thankful for her and all of my other mommy friends (Meg, Jess, and Mere especially) who I've been able to learn from and who are walking this beautiful journey with me! 

((Ezekiel 36:26))

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

God Grows Things

   
We just returned from a wonderful 9 day Christmas vacation in Colorado with family. We spent four beautiful days skiing on Copper Mountain and lots of time talking, playing games and eating yummy food. Ryan and I have awaited this vacation for an entire year. He graduated seminary on December 12 after taking 10 classes in one year. We were ready for a break! 

During our down time I was able to finish two books. Sparkly Green Earrings, a hilarious and inspiring tale about motherhood, and Jen Hatmaker's Interrupted. I read Hatmaker's 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess this summer and it not only opened my eyes to the excess in our life, but it also challenged me to think differently about my walk with Christ (and to purge in many areas and in many ways).  

Interrupted is the prequel to 7 and to say that it was powerful is an understatement. Jen and her husband write about how God called them out of their church ministry where they were "blessing blessed people" and showed them what Jesus meant in Matthew 25:40 when he said, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." 

The Hatmakers write about planting Austin New Church, their ministry to the "least of these," and how God interrupted their comfortable Christianity to draw them closer to the heart of Christ. I read many parts of the book aloud to Ryan and we reflected on how faithful the Lord has been to us since the last time we were in Colorado in 2012. So much has happened in the last two years! We had no clue how the Lord would bless us, grow us (spiritually, emotionally, academically, physically), and beautifully interrupt our lives. 

Over the course of our 3.5 year marriage, and in the last two years specifically, it is through the experiences and opportunities to trust God that we have not only grown, but have seen His unmistakable hand. Ryan now has his masters, we have a home and dog to call our own, and are overjoyed to have a baby boy on the way. God, in His perfect holiness, used our time in a one bedroom apartment, in school, and through ups and downs of ministry to draw us closer together and to Him. 

He is using this pregnancy to do the same exact thing. During the first trimester I often wondered how great it would be if I could just skip all the vomiting, fainting, and nausea and fast forward to delivery. But then God reminded me of a quote from a CIU professor and something my friend Abbey used to tell us at Bible study...

"God grows things and He's not in a hurry."

And so it is with our Christian pilgrimage. Maturity does not happen overnight. An acorn takes years to become an oak tree, a baby takes 9 months to develop, and while it may seem like we wait a long time (or sometimes just a couple of years) for God to show us His plan- His ultimate goal for us is the same: to sanctify and grow us into people that look more like Him. 

I am so grateful we didn't have the option of skipping over the last few years of knowledge and growth we experienced. I'm also grateful for the 9 months He graciously gives us to prepare for a lifetime of parenting and shepherding our son. It is only because of God's guidance and provision through seminary, full time ministry, and through every situation, good and bad, were we prepared for where He has led us today.  

I pray the Lord continues to interrupt our "plans" with His and wrecks our comfortable Christianity so we might truly experience what it means for the last to be first and the first last. I can't wait to see what the Lord will do by the next time we head to Colorado in December 2016. I have no doubt that we will, once again, look back and see His faithful hand growing and shaping us, slowly yet perfectly, into the people He has called us to be. 

Happy New Year!

I pray in 2015 you "have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 3:18-19

Christmas 2014

We had a belated Christmas celebration on the 29th with my mom and Holley since they were in Disney and we were in Colorado. Can't wait for Levi to join us next year!

Ryan finally got his USC spatula for the grill :)

Disney ornament for our tree!

Mickey hat and gloves for Levi from my mom and Holley!

Ryan snapped this pic and divinely captured "22" in the background. My Dad was celebrating with us in Heaven. :)

The best sister and best puppy ever!

((Luke 2:11))

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!

Bumpdate {17 Weeks}

How far along: 17 weeks today!

Size of baby: turnip, 5 inches

Total weight gain/loss: +8 pounds

Movement: Felt movement for the first time last night, Dec. 17. I was laying on my back on the floor and felt several little thumps!! :)

Sleep: Still good! I have always been a stomach sleeper so it's been an adjustment to start sleeping on my side. 

Cravings/Aversions: Still loving pickles, fruit, and savory things. I've had a strong aversion to chicken the last couple of weeks and still tend to pick salty things over sweets. Which is so weird for me. Unfortunately, it looks like I spoke a little too soon about my morning (all day!) sickness. From weeks 11-13 I felt great and then BAM!... nausea and vomiting struck again with frequent, sometimes severe light-headedness thrown in there to keep me on my toes. As long as I eat every two hours and keep chugging water I am good to go! Hopefully I have finally turned a corner because I have felt great these last two weeks- thank you, Lord! 

Gender: Levi Davis Brannan, sweet baby boy!

Exercise: I run every chance I'm feeling good and will log 35 miles this month. I've also been doing some brisk walking at a steep incline on the treadmill to mix things up. Just thankful to be active! 

Labor Signs/Symptoms: Nope

Best moment this week: My sister spent the night with us last night and got to come to our 17 week appointment this morning. Love that she got to hear Levi's heart beat... 150 bpm today! So very special.

What I am looking forward to: Colorado, my 28th birthday, and Christmas!! 

What I miss: Buttoning my pants? ;)

What I’m reading: Loving my pregnancy devotional! I have a list of books I plan to read over Christmas but Babywise is next on my list for the new year! :)

((Romans 11:36))

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. 

It's a boy!!

Ryan and I have been dying to know the gender since the moment we found out we were expecting. So naturally we scheduled an ultrasound to find out early. :) We went to WeeSee Imaging this week and it was such a sweet experience and the owner was so nice. She knew immediately that it was a boy and we were absolutely thrilled. We had an intuition from the start that this baby was a boy. I never even once thought it was a girl. So when she immediately told us, "It's a boy!" Ryan said, "I knew it!!" We are so over the moon excited to now be able to pray for this little boy, Levi, by name.

We had lunch today at Zoe's with my mom and Holley to reveal the gender of Baby Brannan. :)

Aunt Holley was right all along too-- baby boy!

Cupcakes from Sweet with blue icing in the middle :)

We had dinner at our house with the Brannan clan and celebrated with a cake!

Sweet boy!

We also celebrated Christmas with Poppy and Ryan's graduation from seminary. Such a full, fun day!

The cutest niece in the whole wide world :)

((Isaiah 43:1))

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.