a mommy model

we are getting closer and closer to meeting our little boy. the countdown is now 11 weeks!

so we thought we had our last ultrasound, but last friday our friend asked us if we would be her model to train a few ultrasound technicians how to use a new machine. of course we said yes! it was another chance for us to sneak a peek at our little one and see what he's been up to lately. we were able to see his face, arms, legs, and perfect little heart. we were also able to see him move around in real-time :). he continues to move around all throughout the day, but especially loves to bump and kick around 11 o'clock at night.

i continue to have dreams of giving birth, only the one from last night was a little odd. everyone i run into (including strangers) tells me that i'm big for the stage i'm in. so in my dream, i had this huge baby who looked more like he was 9 months old at birth. talk about scary!

now that i'm in my third trimester, i'm beginning to tire easily again. i've been sneaking cat naps on weekend afternoons. (i took a 3 hour nap today!) i've also been feeling more dehydrated, so my intake of water has increased. my latest craving? apple juice. i crave it most when i first wake up in the morning and right before i go to bed. i try not to drink too much of it because of its sugar content. i still haven't measured how many inches i am around my belly. maybe i'll start that at week 30.

extra, extra!

we received the invitation to our very first baby shower in the mail today and it was so adorable! thank you guys for planning it, and a special thank you to J for making the invitations by hand!

oh baby

we went to our final ultrasound on wednesday and found out that everything is just fine and progressing normally. we were able to see that he has already grown some hair, and he's upside down already :). of course, he can continue moving around in these next couple of months, but at least he's found the position he needs to be in! the ultrasound tech made all of the necessary measurements and, based on the numbers, announced that i could be due a week and a half early! she also commented, "oh, you won't be having a small baby." now i'm a little worried. :/

roller coaster

i continue to feel the little one moving around inside and, even though it's been happening for weeks now, i still pause to put my hand on my belly each time...amazed at what's inside of me. at times, the movement is so strong that i feel like i'm on a roller coaster ride! i think he can sense the warmth of my hand because he seems to move more once my hand is resting on him. it would be neat to know if that was true.

so i had a dream last night that i gave birth. i knew it wasn't real because i didn't feel any pain (in my dream). he kind of just slipped out of me! i wonder if this could be some sort of indication of what it's going to be like. i doubt it. but it would be nice if it were true!

here's me at 26 weeks, 5 days. can i really grow bigger?

where it all began

exactly three years and one week ago, before God, friends, and family, two became one. we celebrated our anniversary by returning to the church where we were married and snapping a few pictures.

roughly three months and one week from now, before God, friends, and family, one will become two. we will celebrate another new beginning. and we will surely snap a few more pictures.

we have much thanksgiving to do. thanks moms, dads, and sisters (aka grandmas, grandpas, and aunts) for showing us what family is!

"give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting." psalm 118:1

  

zzz...

we finally picked out our crib bedding this weekend! we kept going back and forth because we wanted to pick something that we could use if we ever have a baby girl. but, we said forget it and just went with the set that we really like. the nursery is beginning to come along...

 

mommy-to-be

my, my...how she's grown.

twenty-four weeks

talking to the foot

moms get to have all the fun - eating whatever they want, gaining weight and looking cute, priority seating wherever they go...oh, and hours of labor culminating in what dads can only imagine is like trying to swallow a cabbage patch doll.

what does this daddy want most? the opportunity to communicate and commune with his baby boy. but HOW? the other day, momma said, "he's kicking! come feel." sure enough, baby continues to announce his presence by fidgeting, wiggling, and pushing. ah, what's a dad to do...? well, this dad pushed back and behold; a foot, perhaps an elbow, or a baby's bottom. beneath mommy's skin, daddy can FEEL his unborn child's body and, more significantly, baby can feel the touch of his father's hand.

"there, there, baby...daddy's here, too."

seventeen weeks

the results are in...it's a boy!

ultrasound appointment no.1

enter through the narrow gate, check in, and wait...soon we'll know if God gave us a boy or a girl. make it fast, mommy's been drinking lots of water so that we can get good pictures.

in the beginning

whether you are far or near, we're glad you took the time to check out and share in our experience of our first baby. we are expecting our little one on march 2, 2005!