Surprise!
We have a Shepherd Ford coming! It’s a BOY! Woohoo!
We were not intending to find out what our baby’s gender was, but this weekend’s chores changed all of that. I was faced with the daunting task of sifting through all of the baby / toddler clothes that we own because we may possibly be moving into an apartment this year (more on that later). I am on a constant crusade to live more simply with less “stuff” to consume and burden us, and that certainly includes our clothing. It may seem extreme, but for me I only want to have the clothes we really, really want and need in our closets. One small box for each child is the goal. Well, that’s not exactly what it looks like right now; take a look at just the left side of the room if you’re interested…oh my! After two nights in a row of staying up past midnight, I was more than exhausted, and I caved. 
All it took was one phone call to my midwife, and it was a done deal!
It was so completely worth it! The anatomy ultrasound went so well, and Shepherd is developing beautifully. We praise God for his life. It is truly amazing to gaze into my womb and take these pictures of a marvelous life’s beginning. Shepherd is a treasure and so very beautiful to us. I cannot wait to meet him! We’re halfway there! If you’re wondering the meaning behind his name, his first name is full of the joy we know from Jesus Christ being our true Shepherd, and his middle name is a badge and reminder of his great-grandparents’ godly heritage that he will wear every day of his life. Steven is so happy to have a brother and can’t stop talking about it. He tells Lydia, “Lydia, you have a girl now, and I have a boy!” They are more than excited.
Isaiah 40:11
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
John 10: 7-18
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Posted in Celebrate!, Shepherd
Congratulations, Kristi!!
i can’t stop thinking about sweet shepherd! i still can’t believe that you found out!!!! you know that you completely MADE MY DAY when you told me the news…. i love the significance behind shepherd’s name… i love the scriptures you posted…. i love that baby already!
in case i forget to tell you this, i told glenda last night, “kristi found out it’s a boy!” and she said, “kristi’s pregnant?!” she had no idea! haha. we a good laugh over that one. ooops! i really think i told her… but i guess she doesn’t read your blog much…. haha.
have a great day!
We are so exicted! We can’t wait to meet Shepherd - Samuel was very excited.
Love the six of you!
Another boy, how amazing. Congratulations, Kristi!
Yay! I’m so glad you found out. I needed that special news to lift my spirits. I am so excited for you. I can’t wait to meet little Shepherd!
Leah
YEAH! How exciting!
Congrats!
I am so excited that it’s a boy.
I really thoght that Eric was lying when he said I was the first to know. But 15 minutes after I talked to him the phone rang. It was mama so excited saying I just got off the phone with your brother, and it’s a boy. I laughed and said I know he called me first. HA HA. We can’t wait to meet him. We love you all.
Amanda
Yeah! A boy! I know that you are so excited about that! I am thankful that you are continuing to have a healthy pregnancy! See you in a few weeks!
Carrie
how amazing! i pray for the remainder of this pregnancy and the future that’s to come thereafter. how truly precious new life really is! love u!
I am so happy to see all of your sweet notes!!
Amanda, you crack me up!
Kristi, I think I told you this before but my dad’s name is Sheppard. What’s funny is that it was spelled Shepherd his whole life, and when he was 18 and went to register for the draft, he realized that it was spelled differently on his birth certificate. So, he basically had a short amount of time to get it legally changed and he wasn’t able to do that. So at 18, he started spelling it Sheppard. I know, I know, how could your mom not know how your name was spelled on your birth certificate? You’ve just got to understand my family.
It’s not a bit surprising to me.
Funny thing — he is also the fourth child in a family of siblings that went girl, boy, girl, boy.
Congratulations! You continue to amaze me.
I enjoy keeping up with you guys through the blog. We rejoice in all the Lord is doing in your lives! “Shep”- what a great name!
Blessings!
Leigh T.
Congratulations! I am late on the news as I have been sick and haven’t read in a while!
I am so excited for you! A little guy for Steven!
So…is it true boys are easier than girls? I have been told that, but still want at least one boy and one girl! My family usually has three of a kind and then one or one and three of a kind…so I guess the second one will lend a clue for us!
Again, Congratulations! You astound me with your God given ability to manage so many things and be the awesome mom that you are!
By the way…I love the name, too!
Congratulations on your new boy!
Hooray!!! How very even your sweet family is! haha. Shepherd is a beautiful name. You and Eric are so blessed and such good parents. I can’t wait to see little Shepherd this side of the womb!
CONGRATS!!! Yay for two boys and two girls…now we are back on track. How about we take a break and enjoy the four we have?! Does that sound OK with you guys? I’m asking because we plan this…don’t we?!
congrats- i didn’t think i would love boys as much as i do my girls- but i do! Sam is a joy! i love the name- my middle name is shepherd! we wanted to name a boy that, but with our last name added, it sounded WAY too hard for a little boy to pronouce. too many rrr sounds. glad he is healthy. praying for a wonderful pregnancy. when do we get to see some belly shots??
Congratulations girl! I’m so excited for you and your growing family. I daily stand in awe of mothers of more than one.. you’re amazing!
congrats on another boy!!! that is so exciting, love the name too!
Thank you guys! We love the name, too, so much. Not only did we like the name for the meaning, but we are kind of keeping with a trend in our extended family - my in-laws have several grandchildren now, and all of the boys have names beginning with “S!”
I told Eric that if we have another boy, I want the name Sayid. He didn’t laugh, though.
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