20 Weeks!

Today marks the halfway point!  I am officially 20 weeks pregnant!  That means in just 20 (or less) weeks, Baby G will be here.  So exciting yet so hard to believe.  It seems like it was just yesterday I was finding out I was pregnant.  Time flies!

Pregnancy Updates:

Baby G's size: About the length of a banana.  He weighs about 10 1/2 ounces.

My size: As of today I've gained about 5 pounds.  My stomach is definitely growing by the day.  I'm trying really hard to exercise to keep myself and Baby G healthy.  This week I attempted kickboxing for the first time since I've been pregnant.  Although I had to bump it down a few notches, it was a great workout and I'm going to try to start going weekly!

Most excited thing: Finding out Baby G was a boy was most definitely the most exciting part of the pregnancy thus far.  It was kind of like the first "due date".  I feel such a connection to this little guy and am so happy with our decision to find out (no matter what other people's opinions are).  I also feel this little boy kick all day.  This week I felt him kick while I was standing up for the first time.  Before this week I could only feel him move when I was sitting still or laying down.  Such an awesome feeling! :)

Most annoying thing: My back has started hurting big time this week.  I've heard lots of times that since I am pretty small, I would probably struggle with lower back pain pretty early on in my pregnancy.  If my back hurts now..I can't imagine what it will feel like with a 5 lb. baby in my stomach!

Cravings: I haven't had any craving recently other than Coke.  Weird, since I didn't drink Coke before my pregnancy.  Not sure what that's all about! 

Sickness: Still feeling good in the sickness category.  My energy left me again this week but I think that had more to do with being back at school after 2 weeks off.  It was a rough week!

Next appointment: November 17 is my next appointment!

I'm so thankful to God for putting this baby inside of me.  Each week when I receive me weekly pregnancy update e-mail I am amazed at all of the tiny details that are forming on and in Baby G.  I am also amazed at all of the actions he is doing, his movements, kicks, and motions.  I know that God is the reason these things are happening.  He is the one that decided to bless us with a baby boy.  He is our little guy's creator and protector and for that I am SO grateful!

Color Splash

A few weeks ago we finally bit the bullet and had our house painted.  We are thankful the outside of our house no longer looks neglected (minus the brown grass).  We are really happy with the outcome and glad we decided to hire a painter to do this big project!  

Here are a few pictures...

Chicago!

This weekend Duane and I took a short trip to Chicago.  I've been on fall break the last two weeks and Duane was able to take a few days off towards the end of my break.  Knowing that this would be our last vacation without Baby G (or without finding somewhere for our little guy to stay) we knew we wanted to go somewhere.  On Thursday we decided to get tickets to The Lion King which was showing in Chicago. It was kind of a last minute decision, but those are usually the most fun!

We headed out Friday morning.  When we got to Chicago we started off our trip by going to one of my new favorite stores...

One of my friends recommended I look at this store for Baby G's nursery.  I fell in love with it!  It was great to go to the store and actually see all of the items I had looked at online.  I am planning on ordering Baby G's bedding from there.  Make sure you check out the website...Land of Nod.

After going to Land of Nod we checked into our hotel and then spent some time walking around Chicago.  It's one of our favorite cities and it never gets old walking around and looking at all the tall buildings and awesome architecture!  

Friday night we went to dinner at an italian restaurant and then headed to the Cadillac Theatre to see The Lion King.  Having never been to a broadway show, I didn't really know what to expect.  The theatre was really neat and we had great seats.  The opening scene absolutely amazed us!  It was such a neat production and we both really enjoyed it!  It definitely will be the first of many broadway shows we attend!

Saturday was unfortunately pretty nasty weather wise.  It was rainy and windy but we decided to bare the weather and walk to Willis Tower (Sears Tower).  Because of the cloudy weather, the visibility was not the best.  However, we got to see the new glass ledge on the sky deck which was really cool..and really scary!

(Not the best quality of picture, but the only one of the two of us from the trip!)

Overall, it was a really fun trip!  Sentimental me was a little sad knowing that these weekend trips will soon be fewer, but I know we will still make time to take little trips just the two of us.  

I'm off to enjoy my last few hours of fall break.  Back to reality tomorrow! Have a fabulous Monday! :)

Hello There, Reality.

It has now been a little over 24 hours since we had our ultrasound and found out that there is a baby boy in my stomach.  This tiny person inside of me is no longer an "it".  He is a boy and he is our son.  He is an 8 ounce baby that is changing our lives.

Now I am well aware that I have been pregnant for 4 1/2 months now, but somehow finding out that Baby G was a boy has made this pregnancy so much more real to me.  Might sound strange, but I feel so much more of a connection to this baby now that I KNOW he is a boy.  I had several friends tell me how much more connected they felt once they found out the sex of their baby, but experiencing it first hand is a big time reality check.  It is a wonderful feeling to give this little baby inside of me an identity.  I have spent the last 4+ months dreaming about a baby, now I'm dreaming about a baby boy.  A baby boy that quite frankly I am terrified to raise.  After all, I was raised with two sisters, my experience with boys is slim to none.  Luckily, God is always right by my side guiding me along the way.

Duane was absolutely ecstatic when the ultrasound tech. showed us that little penis.  I think that the experience made this seem so much more real to him.  He is naturally nervous about bringing this baby into our lives, but is much more confident about raising a boy than I am.  I am so excited to see Duane with his son.  I can't wait to watch them together and I know Duane can't wait to teach this baby how to play golf, basketball, football, and any other sport you can think of! 

 We, of course, have already been shopping.  While we were hanging up some of Baby G's new clothes tonight we laughed at the fact that a year ago we had no idea that we'd be buying baby clothes today.  We were hanging OUR little boy's clothes up in HIS closet, I just can't get over it!  This little guy already has quite the wardrobe thanks in part to both grandmas and Aunt Jill. :)

And I thought finding cute boys clothes would be difficult...

Although I am still very much overwhelmed with the thought of being a mama, I am SO thankful that this little guy is healthy.  I am so glad I can refer to him by name (although no one else can..:)).  I can begin to prepare myself to raise this little boy.  How exciting!

We love you Baby G and are SO excited that you are our SON! :)

It's a...

BOY!!!!!!

I am going to be a mama to a sweet baby boy!  Duane and I are SO excited and in love with this little guy already.  Baby G is apparently not too shy and the ultrasound tech. knew right away that it was a boy.  I wish everyone could have seen Duane's face, because it was absolutely priceless.

We are so happy to welcome this baby boy, but are feeling very blessed that Baby G is healthy.  We saw all 4 chambers of the heart, the brain, 2 kidneys, and 5 fingers (on one hand).  He was moving around like crazy!  The tech. kept commenting on how active he was!  At one point we saw his lips moving and his hands up by his face..we might have a thumb sucker on our hands folks!  One of the coolest parts of the ultrasound was actually seeing his heart beating. We've heard it many times before, but to actually SEE it was so neat!  

As for the name.....you will have to wait until March!  We have decided to keep that part a secret until we see and hold our little guy.  Since we already know he's a boy, we wanted to keep some element of surprise on delivery day (much to my sister's dismay).  

Here are some pictures of our future golfer...

And for my friends that are far away...I'll post the video of the technician telling us that it was a boy!  Daune's mom's reaction is pretty funny! :)

Don't you worry...I already went shopping with my mom and sister and Baby G already has several cute outfits!  I have a feeling my debit card might get taken away very soon! :)


Thanks for all of your prayers! :)

Tomorrow!

I'm singing the Annie song in my head and thinking that tomorrow is "only a day away" but it seems like such a long time to wait!  Tomorrow we find out if Baby G is a boy or girl!  I am so so so excited!  I can't wait to see my baby again.  It's been 9 weeks since our last ultra sound and I'm really anxious to see how much has changed.  

Our families will join us in the exciting news.  I wanted them to be there to experience it first hand.  I know they are all very excited! (I feel like I'm WAY over-using the adjective "excited" but I just can't seem to come up with a better word!)

We appreciate your prayers tomorrow as a lot has happened and developed in the life of Baby G in the last 9 weeks.  We of course are praying for a healthy, strong baby.  

The day before fall break started I had my students vote for what they thought the baby was...

The majority seems to think Baby G is a boy, but I think that is partially due to the fact that I told them I kind of hoped it was a boy in the beginning.  However, as of tonight I am completely neutral.  I honestly do not care either way.  Duane is still pulling for a boy..we'll see if his wish comes true!

Leave me a comment and let me know what do you think Baby G is!!!

Check out the blog tomorrow for a picture of our little guy or girl! :)

18 Weeks!

Pregnancy Updates:

Baby G's size: About the size of a bell pepper.  5 1/2 inches long and about 7 ounces.  Getting bigger! 

My size: As of today I've gained about 4 pounds.  I know that sounds minimal, but that puts me at the most I've ever weighed.  Starting to feel a little chubby! 

Most excited thing: We find out if Baby G is a girl or boy on Wednesday!  I'm really looking forward to it!  I've also felt the baby move lots of times!  I feel he or she kick about once or twice a day, always when I am sitting still or laying down.  Such a cool feeling!

Most annoying thing: Sleeping if still pretty difficult.  I wake up lots of times throughout the night.  I know it will get much worse so I'm trying not to complain too much.  The headaches are also getting REALLY old!  

Cravings: As you know by my last post, I'm loving soups!  Especially Chili's Chicken Enchilada soup. It's so yummy! :)

Sickness: I think this is the longest stretch I've gone without throwing up!  Yay!  Hopefully I didn't just jinx myself!

Next appointment: Luckily my doctor is letting me come in at 18 weeks so we can find out if Baby G is a he or she.  I'm really excited for this appointment but above all praying for a healthy baby.  I am completely neutral on what the sex is, I just want the baby to be healthy.  That sounds so cliche, but it is so true.  So glad God is the one that is creating and taking care of this little one inside of me. 

Be looking for an exciting blog post on Wednesday afternoon!!!!! :)