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Baby Update & Help Us Pick A Name!
Where’s That Baby?
Many have been asking me if we’ve had the baby yet. The short answer is, no, we’re still waiting. Now for the long answer…
Tuesday, April 17th we spent a few hours in the hospital because Aubrie was starting to go into early labor (see previous post). They put her on bed rest and our goal was to get to Thursday, May 3rd when she would be 37 weeks along and the baby would be likely to have fewer complications. Well, at around Midnight on Thursday the 3rd she started feeling heavier contractions and they were coming more frequently, so off to the hospital we went again.
Aubrie was measuring near 6 cm dilation and was about 65-70% effaced. We spent the wee hours of the morning on Thursday in the Labor & Delivery room, waiting on the baby to come. In fact, when we asked about the possibility of us leaving and coming again later, one nurse said… “Oh, you won’t be going home until after having this baby!”
After hours and hours with no further change, we came home. Later that afternoon we went back to the office for another check. Still no change, still no baby. When will she be here? Only the Lord knows! lol…
Aubrie is still having lots of frequent contractions, 3-6 minutes apart, but she’s the most patient mother-to-be that I’ve ever seen! I don’t know how she does it. Each day I get up knowing it will be the day, then another night comes and goes. For me, it’s been the longest few days ever. 🙂
Now for the good part…
With our first child we had her name picked before we were even married. This one has been different. We’re leaning toward naming her either Anabel or Anabela. The middle name is still up in the air too! What do you think? Vote on your favorite below:
Ok, one of those names is not really an option. Thanks so much for staying up to date with us. Your prayers and notes of encouragement mean so much. We know this baby will come in God’s timing, and we’ll keep you posted when we find out what that is! 😀
Here are some pictures from our adventure the other night at the hospital.
Bed Rest? What’s That?!
It has been an interesting week, to say the least. Not exactly what we planned, but God knows 🙂
We got home late Monday night from a missions conference about 9 hours away (BTW, thanks to the good folks of Grace Baptist Church in Newport NC for an awesome week!). Tuesday was our only free day before leaving for another two conferences starting on Wednesday. Well, since we’re hardly in town these days, we scheduled an appointment with Aubrie’s doctor. With one month to go on our pregnancy, we found out that Aubrie was having contractions every 7-8 minutes, was 4 cm dilated and 50% effaced! Basically, she was way ahead of schedule and at risk to go into preterm labor. Soooo, off to the hospital we went. Aubrie’s doctor wanted to get her hooked up to an IV to get lots of fluids in her and continue to watch her contractions and the baby.
Long story short, we only stayed a few hours before they sent us home with very specific instructions for Aubrie to be on bed rest, mainly to keep this baby from coming too early. The goal is to get us until May 3rd when she’ll be a full 37 weeks. That’s still 3 weeks early, but it will be far enough along that the baby shouldn’t have any complications.
Wait… bed rest? What’s that??
Like I said, it’s been an interesting week! I cancelled our other two conferences and decided to stay home to take care of Aubrie and Amira. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve occasionally cooked meals, washed clothes, washed dishes, changed diapers, cleaned the house and kept up some with our 2-year-old before… but this has been a whole new ball game. Taking care of these things exclusively while Aubrie rests has been an eye opener to how awesome of a wife and mother she is! To think she does this stuff all the time, without complaining and still keeping up with me as we travel… well, it’s amazing! And some people say that housewives don’t have real jobs… ha.
I know you’ll read this Aubrie… Thank you. I love you and appreciate all you do. You’re the best.
Now, if we can keep this child cooking for just a little longer that would be great. Only a few more days left until we can reach 37 weeks. Aubrie is still having plenty of contractions, even with rest. But we know our next little princess will come when she’s ready, and God will give strength and grace to bring her into this world.
I’ll let you all know when our girl arrives. As the day approaches I’ll be posting pictures and micro updates on our Twitter and Facebook accounts if you’d like to stay even more up-to-date. Thanks for your prayers. We love y’all!
Here’s a video of Amira getting ready for her little sister’s arrival. She and her mommy have made a book to read to her. It is adorable.
1094 Days Of Wow!
“And do you, Aubrie, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
“I do.”
And she did!
Thank you Aubrie for being my amazing bride now for 3 years. I know it hasn’t always been easy putting up with me, but I can’t imagine life now without you by my side. You’ve been a constant companion, an encouraging helpmeet, and my best friend. You always have enabled me to step up and lead like Jesus, and I love that about you. When I am preaching and happen to glance over by your side, that smile melts me every time. Those lovely brown eyes pierce my soul, and I know, I know… I’m the most blessed guy in the world. How could God see fit to put you into my life? Must be grace!
You work so hard to keep up with things as we travel now on the road, and you do such a good job of teaching and guiding Amira into being a godly and wonderful young lady like her mother. And now with our second child almost here, she will also have the joy of knowing the most amazing woman who has ever lived. What lucky girls to have you as their Mommy! 🙂
I thank God for you, and I commit to strive to be a better husband each day, leading our family in the path that Jesus has set before us, and laying down my own life to lift you up. May the Lord Jesus be preeminent in our house, our love and our lives. For it is Him that will keep us.
Happy anniversary my treasure.
Te Amo.
April 2012 Prayer Letter
Click here to see our full prayer letter (with pictures!)
Dear Pastors, Friends and Family,
Deputation & Family Update
It is hard to believe it’s been almost a year since we sent in our application to Macedonia World Baptist Missions, had our initial interview and were approved as church planting missionaries to Colombia. We’ve been through much since then, including turning over the Spanish church I was pastoring in Georgia, orientation, hundreds of hours on the phone booking meetings, over 54,000 miles of traveling, preaching, meeting people, and seeing God work in amazing ways. We’ve seen people saved, others that God has called as missionaries, and we’ve seen the Lord provide financially, even when it has seemed impossible. Also, there has been a great surge of people deciding to partner with us financially, especially since the first of this year. For us, deputation has been both a growing experience and a blast!
Our family is now preparing to welcome baby girl #2 (still no name!), due around May 24th. Hopefully I’ll be able to introduce her to you in the next prayer letter. Amira, our oldest just turned two on March 26th and is elated at the thought of having her own, living baby to play with. Do you think she’ll share? It sure has been interesting working in the appointments with Aubrie’s doctor around our travelling schedule. We’re hardly around our home, it seems.
Out Of The Mouth Of Babes
[From Aubrie] It was funny a couple weeks ago when Amira ran up to me while I was brushing my teeth, hugged my legs and said “I carry Mommy’, and I thought it was so sweet until she stopped and said “Mommy heavy” and ran in the other room….. 🙂
Colombian Culture Corner
A common phrase you’ll hear in Colombia is “A buen hambre no hay mal pan” (ah buEN AHM-bre no eye mahl pahn) which means literally, “To great hunger there is no bad bread” or our idiomatic equivalent: “Beggars can’t be choosers!”
Prayer Points
1. Safe remainder of pregnancy
2. Travels while on deputation
3. Salvation of lost friends/family
4. Financial support (now over 25%)
5. Colombia, in need of the Gospel!
Thank you so much for your prayers and support! We love you and thank God for you.
Servants of the King,
Aaron, Aubrie, Amira (& Baby) Vance
*PS – Check our our website for more frequent updates! http://www.BeMagnified.org
Dear Amira…
Two years ago I met a princess!
You came into this world wide-eyed and screaming for attention (not much has changed). Your curiosity for all things around you has always driven you to learn, explore, discover and experience life.
Now, as we travel all over America talking to churches about what God wants us to do in Colombia, one of your favorite things is to go “bye-bye.” You like going to church, making new friends, checking out the nurseries, running around with the deacon kids and getting into trouble! 😉
You love to talk! I think you take after your daddy on that one. When we pray and read the Bible as a family, you like to repeat what I say. It is super cute!
Anything to do with music is right up your alley. You like to jam out on the piano with Daddy, and we frequently hear you singing Jesus Loves Me, I’m in the Lord’s Army and the B-I-B-L-E, all on your own.
If it’s furry, slimy or fuzzy you always want to catch it and hold it. Yes, just like with your sweet mommy, animals draw you in like a magnet!
Some call you the bunny because of your affinity for hopping, jumping and skipping. It brings a smile to many faces. You’re a joy to be around.
We love you. Happy birthday my sweet Amira! Our princess. May you grow up and know Jesus like Daddy and Mommy, may you fall in love with Him and always desire to live for Him with all that you are.
The Vance Family 