On Friday, October 23, 2009, we found out Areli was pregnant. Our first baby! We had been longing for this since shortly after moving to Guatemala in January of that year. We began to pray for our baby as most Christian couples do. Thankfully, Areli's pregnancy was non-eventful for the most part. Using the ultrasound from the clinic we confirmed the due date to be June 20, 2010. Like most missionary kids our baby had an extensive prenatal travel experience:

 

December 2009, We traveled From Guatemala though northern Guatemala and southern Mexico to Mexico City by truck. Then to Ciudad Juarez followed by Los Cabos by plane. Entering the U.S. through Houston to Detroit. And back to Guatemala. March 2010. Guatemala City to Miami, Fort Lauderdale to Port au Prince, Haiti, to Jeremie, Haiti and the return.

 

In February, we had met with a U.S.-trained midwife Guatemala City and were hoping for a natural birth with as little medical intervention as necessary. After returning to Guatemala from Haiti, we continued our routine schedules of clinics.