100% Cuteness

We had our big sonogram this morning. Most importantly, things are looking great! The sonographer measured and looked at all the parts of our baby and our doctor used the word "perfect". What a word. Now that's a word I would like to continue to hear! Let's leave those "you aren't textbook" comments in the past and stick with "perfect". I've packed on 10 lbs now and that's fine by me. Thanksgiving couldn't have come at a better time in my pregnancy, food and I are very good friends again. And I promise I didn't swallow the Thanksgiving ham, there is a baby in there! Pictures coming at the end of this post to prove it.

So now I have an envelope on my desk. On the outside it says "Baby Minter". On the inside it says if we are having a boy or a girl. I want to open it so bad. Our plan is to open it Christmas morning (thanks to my best friend Elizabeth for her very creative idea!). After our sonogram this morning Jason and I started contemplating how long we will last. We have a poor track record when it comes to keeping secrets from one another and if one of us cracks on this then there is no way we will make it to Christmas. Anyone want to take bets on when the envelope will be opened?

I am still waiting on my last online purchase to arrive but I bought a diaper bag on etsy a couple of weeks ago. It's actually a bit small for a diaper bag I'm realizing, but I'm hoping I will still be able to use it plenty. I love bags. Some women love to buy shoes, some buy jewelry, I always want to buy bags. This was my first baby item purchase and I think it's very me. I am still looking forward to the other diaper bag that is being made for me though. A girl can never have too many bags. Ladies, don't let your men tell you otherwise. Who is able to provide a pair of nail clippers to Jason when we are in the car? Me, because I have a bag. Hand sanitizer? Sure. Paper and pen? Let me get that for you. Can't get that onion taste out of your mouth? Do you prefer gum or a mint?

My etsy bag


Guppy foot and toes


Hand up to the face (Do we have a thumb sucker?)


Our adorable Guppy all curled up

“A new baby is like the beginning of all things - wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.”
~ Eda J Leshan

Thankful

The other day I was at my sister Kelly's house, hanging out with my family. In the past we were able to do this about every other week but lately, for one reason or another, we haven't had as many chances to get everyone together in once place at one time. We all were sitting there talking, laughing, watching my youngest niece show off her cuteness and I had one of those moments where I just felt so thankful. I feel pretty blessed that those moments are not all that rare for me. I've definitely been blessed with a wonderful family that I love and actually love being around! I cannot wait to share my family with our baby. So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, which is tomorrow, I would just like to say thank you.

Thank you to God for the endless list of blessings in my life
Thank you to my family for their continuous support
Thank you to my friends who are always there to listen
Thank you for all the prayers for our Guppy
Thank you to those of you who I've never even met but have offered sincere congratulations

November 23, 2009


November 22, 2009
(Mom accidentally missed part of Jason's head, oops!)

I may have made two baby related purchases online recently. Since this post was reserved for the mushy love stuff, I will post pictures of those later (one is still in the mail). Oh! The countdown to our next sonogram is on! Five days, next Monday, not soon enough!

Reflection

I had made a conscious decision to try and keep my blog as upbeat as possible now that I am pregnant and so incredibly thrilled about it! However, I was in my car the other day, crying uncontrollably and I just feel like I want to put this out there.

It started with a craving for a hot fudge sundae.

Jason was watching football so I hopped in my car and headed to Braum's. I plugged in my iPod and started picking out random songs to listen to (and sing to, if nobody can hear me then it's not cruel and unusual punishment for anyone but me). While I was on my way back home I started listening to "All That I Can Say" by the David Crowder Band. It's no coincidence that it's also the title of my blog. I was listening to this song a lot last year after our miscarriage. Thanks to a woman out there who poured her heart and soul out on her blog after the passing of her son Isaac, I decided a blog may be a therapeutic way for me to get out all those feelings I had but didn't know what to do with. She also had this song on her playlist. So here I am, blessed beyond words to be pregnant, and I am sobbing in my car because my heart just hurt so much. It hurt for the loss that we went through, the child we don't have here with us, the guilt that I feel for being so happy about this baby. I know in my heart that no children we have will ever replace or first. Our angel. Then there is the twin we lost in this pregnancy. Very early on, before we ever knew we were pregnant with twins, but ours just the same. So to my angels, I love you with all my heart and I miss you.

These are my footprints,
so perfect and so small.
These tiny footprints
never touched the ground at all.
Not one tiny footprint,
for now I have wings.
These tiny footprints
were meant for other things.
You will hear my tiny footprints,
in the patter of the rain.
Gentle drops like angel's tears,
of joy and not from pain.
You will see my tiny footprints,
in each butterflies' lazy dance.
I'll let you know I'm with you,
if you just give me the chance.
You will see my tiny footprints,
in the rustle of the leaves.
I will whisper names into the wind,
and call each one that grieves.
Most of all, these tiny footprints,
are found on Mommy and Daddy's hearts.
'Cause even though I'm gone now,
We'll never truly part.

Shopping, Shopping, Shopping

I have wanted to shop in a maternity store for years. Of course it had nothing to do with the actual clothes and everything to do with my desire to be expecting. Well, I finally stepped foot into Motherhood store last Friday and I had a pretty great time. Some of the clothes are less than thrilling but I managed to find some things that I liked and felt like me. I now own pants that come within inches of my bra and, surprisingly enough, I am thrilled about it. I thought I would share my purchases with you since pictures are always fun.

In other shopping news, I have a diaper bag on the way. It turns out that Etsy.com is a pretty fun place to do baby shopping. I now want to buy things for our baby that I didn't even know were out there (including: a chenille sock monkey, reusable waterproof bags in cute fabrics, a fleece snuggle bunny and flannel washrags). I've already spent an embarrassing amount of time perusing through pages and pages of all things baby.

One more thing. I had a moment of minor panic last night while looking at Baby's R Us online. I realized that we have to pick out a car seat. How does one go about choosing a car seat? How do I know it's safe? Typically I'm a frugal shopper but the safety of our child hardly seems like the place to skimp. And then I move on to pack and plays. Now they come with "nappers". Is that really safe? Then I realized I'm not all together sure where our newborn will sleep. I know I won't be comfortable with our baby being on the other end of the house in those first few months so what is the best option? I need some mamas to give me advice. I know how to watch other people's kids but this is a whole new ballgame.

Ok, now we can get on with the pictures.

New belly pic, new top and new jeans


Jason has now been instructed not to take pictures of me from below. I don't have a double chin but some sort of weird double cheek thing going on. Does anyone look good from this angle? Don't answer that.


Other new jeans and new corduroys


New Sweater from Target and other top from Motherhood

"Life is always a rich and steady time when you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch."
~E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

Belly and Baby

Picture time!

So first let me explain that we took this belly pic at the end of the day. That is important to keep in mind because I am about 50% bigger in the evenings than I am in the mornings (evidently this is normal, who knew). I hate to say it because I've been so proud of my growing belly but whoa... maybe wearing the tight tank top wasn't the best idea. Where did that thing come from?! I was on a pregnancy board the other day and there was this adorable girl who was so excited that at 16 weeks she finally had a bump. So I look at the picture and it looks like maybe she put a raisin in her shirt. Meanwhile I appear to be smuggling a cantaloupe. In reality our baby is between the size of a lemon or an orange (3.5 to 4 inches). So for your viewing pleasure, I give you my belly.

This sonogram photo was taken at 12 weeks and 1 day. Sorry I'm so late to post it. Next sonogram is scheduled for November 30th. Correct me if I'm mistaken but it definitely appears to be a profile. And for those of you who may be concerned, our baby definitely has arms and legs because we've seen them. For some reason they are invisible in this photo. Enjoy!

"Everything grows rounder and wider and weirder, and I sit here in the middle of it all and wonder who in the world you will turn out to be."
~ Carrie Fisher

Peek a Boo

"I am in ...Vancouver. I was stuck in a meeting that I couldn't get out of ...and the electricity went out in the building ...and we were trapped ...on the 38th floor. And the telephone system blew too. Amazingly enough."

(Excuse may have been borrowed from one of my favorite movies.)

So I'm still here. Today I am 14 weeks pregnant and still taking it pretty easy. I've had a total of three bleeding episodes now and that has definitely made this more stressful than I had imagined it would be. The good news is that each time we have gone into the doctor our baby's heart is beating nice and strong. It seems I'm in a constant mode of prayer these days. Last Saturday was the last time it's happened and I really (really, really) hope it is the last. I do have a new sonogram photo I need to post but since the scanner is not attached to our laptop I will do that another time. Basically I just wanted to say that I'm still here, spending too much time on our couch and trying to take good care of our Guppy. I can't wait to start feeling this little guy or gal moving around in there. Yesterday I heard two pretty good movements on the doppler so I know there is lots of partying going on that I'm still not able to feel.

Thanks to all of you who continue to pray for us.