18 Weeks

We are 18 weeks today! I'm so excited that I'm my belly is growing! The baby is about the size of a big pickle with arms and legs this week. I've been eating a TON of pickles! We're buying them in the economy sized jars! Haha!! I don't know what it is about them- they're just so good! I read that they are a natural cure for heartburn but luckily I haven't had any of that yet!

We had a doctor's appointment today and had blood drawn for the 2nd Trimester Screen. We also got to listen to his heartbeat. It sounded strong and steady! Some people buy or rent dopplers so they can listen to their baby's heartbeat at home. They bounce a signal off of the baby and it reflects the heartbeat then it processes it and what we hear through the doppler is an electronic version of the heartbeat. I think it would be so much better if we could hear the actual heart sounds! I've read that we can listen in with a fetoscope, but I've also read that you can't hear much with these until much later in pregnancy. So, I've considered the options and have concluded that I'm happy just feeling the little guy moving around in there! That has been the best part of pregnancy so far and I love it! :)

My cousin Courtney is coming to visit this weekend! He's a Marine stationed at 29 Palms. I am so proud of him and am excited to see him! We're going to get up early Saturday morning and take him wakeboarding! I hope to get some great pictures to share!

!!!!!!!!!! IT'S A BOY !!!!!!!!!!

We are so happy! We are 17 weeks today and our little one is about the same size as a turnip! He measured at 17 weeks exactly! The doctor looked at his brain, heart, kidneys, boy parts, spine, where the cord connected on each end, and some other boring stuff! :) Everything appears to be just fine!!! Neither of us were very nervous for this appointment, but we are definitely glad to have the peace of mind that he looks healthy. The doctor offered another amniocentisis but I politely declined being stuck with that needle again! The baby was sucking his thumb again- I love the picture of it; it looks he's flexin'! The nurse called him a "snuggler" because he is nestled fairly low in my pelvis. This appointment was with the perinatologist- we see our OB on Tuesday. I don't think we'll have another peek at the baby until 32-34 weeks- maybe we'll do the 3D/4D! I think that this was enough to tide me over until then! Now it will be exciting to watch my belly grow! I've been able to feel him everyday, but it's still mostly when I'm laying down in the mornings. I've been starting to notice some movement at other times of day too! It's just amazing and I thank God every day that we have this opportunity to become parents! We need a little help with names though, so suggestions are welcome! xxoo

16 Weeks

This is the week! It's finally here! We get to see our little one again this Friday! I have been counting down so impatiently! We have an avocado this week! :) We'll have the anatomy scan at the perinatologists' office and they will measure the baby and it's brain and some bones and look at it's organs to make sure it is developing properly. This is the scan that revealed the anomalies associated with Trisomy 18 in Jonah. I would expect to be nervous, but as of now, I'm not at all! I'm just really excited! This last week was an awesome week. My belly seems to be getting a little rounder although it's still not apparent that I'm pregnant! At the end of week 15 I started feeling some movement fairly regularly! It's soooo cool! I notice it the most in the mornings when I'm laying on my back using the computer. This morning I think it was dancing to Cyndi Lauper... maybe it is a girl! Haha!! We'll find out on Friday!

Kalah is coming out on tomorrow with some friends that are considering buying a house here. Joe loves showing people around the lake- he makes a great tour guide! I'm really excited to see her! It hasn't been too hot here (forecast says 92 for Sunday) but the water is warm! We went out on Marcus' boat yesterday and Joe got to wakeboard! He's learning some new tricks and is (as always) really fun to watch! We buzzed his head for the summer- it looks really good on him especially when he's flexin' on the wakeboard! :)

We're enjoying our new patio! We have a new little friend that has been visiting everyday. He's not shy either! The feeder is just outside the kitchen window so we see him often or he perches on a branch across from the patio and will sit there while we eat dinner!

New baby pictures to come later this week!!! xxoo