Our Son is Here!!!

I'm the happiest mother alive right now! November 7th, 2012 at 9:43 pm, our lives were forever changed by the appearance of our son Gideon Alexander Hunt. He weighed 6 lb and 15 oz and was 20 inches long. For those of you that want the long version of the story of how he came into the world, keep on reading.

It all started on Tuesday evening, at about 11:30 pm. I started having irregular and short contractions and some lower back pain. Since they were so irregular and short, I decided to try and sleep as much as I could before calling the hospital. I'm pretty sure I only slept for 5 min intervals for next few hours that morning. I finally called the nurses station at about 3:30 and asked what I could do about the constant back pain. She transferred me to a doctor and she then suggested that I take a hot bath and see if that helps. Well the bad thing is, the bath didn't help. The kinda good thing is, that shortly after that, my water broke and the pain quickly subsided. So I called the hospital, and told them I would be heading in shortly.

Alex and I packed the hospital bag (Yes we waited to pack until the last minute), and headed into the hospital. When I got in, they determined I was about 2 cm dilated and I was having mild contractions. So they gave me a room and had me wait. After about 4 hours, they started me on pitocin. My best friend, mother-in-law and mother, and of course Alex, helped me cope with the long wait. After many hours of mild to annoying contractions and the nurses upping the dosage every hour or so my doctor finally told me to seriously consider a c-section. I at around 9pm I was still only 4 cm dilated and my doctor said we needed to prep me for the c-section. So I was prepped, Alex put on scrubs and I walked over to the OR. After they gave me the spinal tap and laid me down on the table, Alex was allowed in the room and behind the shield. After just a few minutes of weird feelings of pressure and pushing and crazy stuff, we hear his first cries. Alex was allowed to stand up and announce "It's a boy!!" While they finished up on me, Alex took some pictures of Gideon getting weighed and measured.

A couple hours after the surgery we were please to let our families and our best friends come and see little Gideon for the first time.

Week 39 Update

Not much new news to report as of yet. I'm still pregnant and baby is still showing no signs of wanting to leave. I had a doctor appointment today and she said I may be 1.5 cm dilated now, but not much more then that yet. I also asked today about what my nurse practitioner said last week about inducing me if I don't have the baby by Monday. My doctor disagreed. She doesn't want to induce me until I'm 41 weeks. So it could be another 2 weeks until baby comes into the world. We are really hoping that baby decides to make his/her appearance this week, but only God knows. As far as I can tell, I haven't had any contractions yet. Possibly one or two the other day, but they didn't continue so I have no idea.

The baby room is finally finished (except for baby of course) and I hope to have pictures up sometime soon.

Prayers for relief from back pain would be appreciated, and also Alex came down with a fever this week so prayers for his speedy recovery would be cool.

Not much else to report, and my next appointment is on Monday so the next update will either be then or when baby comes. Thanks for reading and God Bless.

Doctor Appointment Update.

Here is a quick little update since I had a doctor appointment today.

Baby is just fine, heartbeat was 134 today. My belly is now a ginormous 41 cm! I have not dilated much more then my 1 cm last week. My doctor is thinking that because of baby's size, if I reach my due date, they may induce. I am hoping and praying that it doesn't come to that. I am still hoping baby makes his/her appearance before the end of this week.

In great news, I finally got some freezer to crock pot meals done! Thanks to my BFF, we got ten healthy meals in the freezer today and at less then $3 a serving, I am very happy! I'd like to make sure I reference my source for the meals, I could not have done it without the help of this wonderful ladies blog http://lovingmynest.com/learning-activities/freezer-crock-pot-cooking-day/. Unfortunately  we did not get any pictures taken, we were too busy crying over all the onions BFF had to chop up! Thanks again Becky for helping me out, you are awesome!

My next appointment is Tuesday, so you will probably hear from me then. Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Week 38 Update

First, from babycenter.com

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

I'm getting so anxious, only 2 more weeks (three at the most)! I am really hoping baby will make a early appearance this week though, I could really use my belly back.

My last appointment was on Friday and everything went well. I am 1 cm dilated so YAY for progress! For those of you guessing on the baby poll on Facebook here a a few other notes. My last belly size was 40 cm and the baby's heartbeat last time was 134 (but I have seen it as high as 160). Baby has dropped but I'm still carrying kinda high (just like my profile picture).

One note that I would like prayer about is that my doctor said I should be willing to consider a c-section due to the baby's size. She is slightly concerned that because it does seem to be a bigger baby, I may not be able to have a natural birth; which is what I really want. My prayer is that the doctors will be patient and let me decide whether I can handle his/her size on my own. My goal in this delivery is to have an all natural birth, as in, no pain medication. I have faith that God can get me through any amount of pain. But I have heard and read that some doctors will push to give medications and other interventions. So prayer that God give the doctors and nurses patience would be awesome, and thank you to everyone who has been  praying for me these past months, it has helped me through a lot.

Thank you to everyone who reads and comments on my blog. It is so helpful and encouraging to see all the love flood in. I hope my next post will be that baby is here, but if not, I'll try to post on Thursday after my appointment, and/or next Monday for the weekly update. Thanks for reading and God Bless you all!

Week 37 Update

Sorry about not getting last weeks update up, I was going to wait til Thursday after my doctor appointment and then I just got distracted. Anyway, here is the week 37 update from babycenter.com

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

My doctor appointment went very well this past Thursday, we also had an ultrasound done to check the fluid levels (my doctor was just curious). So for starters, my fluid levels are fine and the baby is nice and big. As a matter of fact, the doctor estimated that the baby is about 6 lb 14 oz! And I still have possibly 3-4 weeks to go! And our baby has hair already, SQUEE! Heartbeat during the ultrasound was nice and strong at 163. For those of you who are mothers already and are curious, I am not dilated yet.

This is just a profile picture, I know it's not very detailed, but this is the best we could do. 

I am getting to the point that I will be very happy when my belly is gone and baby is in my arms. So if baby decides to come a week early or so, I will not complain in the least. 

I have been reading in my devotional to always remember that God is in control, which is hard for me sometimes cause I like to think that I should be the one who is in control. I just have to remember that God will get me through this, whether He follows "my plan" or not is to be determined. 

I am still working my job at Culver's, and I plan to continue until I can't anymore. I'm taking lots of sit-down breaks, but it's working out pretty good. 

Well I think that is about it for this week. Hopefully another post (on time) next week. :) Thanks for reading and God Bless!!

Week 35 Update

From babycenter.com

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Ha! "baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now" that's funny! Our silly baby still love to do crazy stunts when I'm trying to sleep at night. Well the last doctor appointment went very well. She said I feel like I'm all baby and not much fluid so we scheduled an ultrasound for next week to see how big baby is. Nothing to worry about, just a checkup. 

In other awesome news, my two best friends threw me a awesome baby shower this past weekend. So many friends, family and gifts! Alex and I are truly blessed. I hope to get some pictures up soon, but I have to wait for my BFFs to get me the pictures. It was so fun to play the diaper game, and the guests decorated onesies, and we just had so much fun and good food it was awesome! 

I think that is it for now actually, I'm going to bed early this evening. Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Week 34 Update

From babycenter.com
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Only about 6 weeks to go! And now (according to babycenter.com, although I still want to hear the OK from my doctor) I could have the baby any time and we would both be OK. I would still like to make it to 38 weeks though, so hold on for a little while longer little one!

Now is the time I'm supposed to be preparing a hospital bag, so I should really get on that. I've seen lots of lists of what to bring on the internet, but if you have had a baby recently and have any suggestions, please leave a comment here or on my FB and let me know. Alex and I started the childbirth classes, but haven't quite finished them yet, so that will be a goal this week as well. My last baby goal for the week is to, at the very least, make a grocery list of things I need to make some crock-pot freezer meals for after baby comes. I'd love to get the food all prepped and frozen before the end of the week, but getting a grocery list together is the minimum I will achieve this week. (Someone poke me on Wednesday or Thursday to make sure I'm doing it)

Alex and I got to tour the birthing center this past week. It was awesome! We are going to be going to the Maple Grove hospital and for those that don't know, it's very new. So almost everything is current and the latest stuff. Every room has a shower and whirlpool bath, a TV and most rooms have a nice outdoor view. The mommy monitors are portable so assuming the labor is going well, I will be able to walk around while laboring, which is something I'm very happy about. The after delivery rooms are just as nice and they also have a little section of the hospital that is basically a spa for mom! I will give that a try :). The nursery is beautiful and they also told us about their security systems which sound extremely reliable and up to date. I'm also happy to say that they have a cafe inside the hospital so friends and family don't have to leave to get something to eat.

Sorry, I kind of went on a little happy spree all about the hospital and I stopped talking about me and baby. I'm just really excited! I have another appointment this week so if there is any news, I'll make another post on Wednesday.

I think that is it for today. Thanks for reading and God Bless!

P.S. Happy Anniversary to my BFF and her husband!

Week 33 Update

From babycenter.com
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Not much baby related happened this week. His/her movements are still pretty consistent, and my heartburn and stuff is still about the same. The baby shower is coming up in about 2 weeks so I'm very excited for that! Alex and I are still working on getting the budget worked out for after baby comes, but he now has a new job and we have a hopeful future ahead with that. It's closer to home and he can get extra cash by doing some special projects that I don't quite understand. But it makes me excited to know that extra money may be coming in to help with the new baby expenses.

I've also started looking at crock-pot freezer meals for when baby comes. I know that some nights I won't want to cook anything so I plan to get at least a couple weeks worth of meals in the freezer before hand. Pinterest has been my friend for this part of  planning. :)

Tonight Alex and I start the childbirth classes together. Like I said before, I've watched them already, but this time we are doing them together so we can discuss the sessions as a couple and figure out exactly what we want during labor and delivery. I have no delusions that I may be incoherent during labor, so I want Alex to know exactly what I want so he can tell the doctors if need be. 

Well I think that's it for now. Thanks for reading and God Bless!!

Week 32 Update

From babycenter.com
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Only 8 weeks to go.... 2 months... Wow the time sure went fast!

The baby room is almost ready. We have the crib (thank you L&G) we have a changing table (thank you M&J), we have a rocking chair, and a dresser. So much stuff in so little space. Now we just need to fill it with pretty things. Hershey (our dog) keeps sniffing around all the new stuff trying to figure out if it's for her or not. I hope she's not too jealous when the baby comes.

In the really good news portion of this blog today (although not really baby related) my hubby got a new job! He's going to be making the same amount, but he'll be much closer to home, only 5 miles away, YAY!

Not much else to talk about today, so I'm going to wrap it up. Continuing prayers for our finances would be much appreciated, and thank you to those of you who do pray for us. It is so comforting to know we have that kind of support.

Thanks for reading and God Bless.

Week 31 Update

Oops! I totally forgot to write last week! Silly me. Here is the week 31 update from babycenter.com
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.


Ah! My 40 week bible study keeps telling me that my baby is about ready to make an appearance. So soon? I still have lots of ti.... Oh hey, only 9 more weeks! Where did the past seven months go? Well the good news is We got the baby room painted, yay! Thank you to my mom and my sister for helping out, and to my wonderful hubby.
 

Before

After

I am super happy with the results. The stripes were not easy, but totally worth it. My wonderful in-laws bought us a crib just the other week, so I plan to have that set up and in the room today or tomorrow. We will also be receiving a changing table from my wonderful parents very soon as well. I'm so excited! Therefore, we are pretty well set up as far as furniture goes, we just need to get everything into the room.

Baby registries are up! We are registered at Babies R Us and Target. I'll probably keep adding things to them, but at least we have a start. Once again, we are not finding out the gender until baby makes his/her grand appearance, so if you are really set on getting the baby something pink or blue, you'll just have to wait.

My best friends are throwing me a baby shower next month, and I got the invites just the other day. So cute!! And I'm super excited to see all my friends. Thanks Bec and Tiff for being awesome!

Well I think that is all for this week, next week (week 32) I have a doctor appointment and after that I have to go in every 2 weeks. But anyway. Thanks for reading and for your prayers, and God Bless!

Week 29 Update

From babycenter.com
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

I had a doctor appointment today, it went very well. Heartbeat was about 140 and the doctor says my belly size and weight gain are very good right now. My next appointment is in mid September, then I start going every two weeks. We also get to tour the hospital birthing centerin late September and I'm looking forward to that.

Not much happened this week. Baby is still kicking away (except when someone wants to feel, then he/she is very shy and still). I did get to hang out with my best friends last night as they started to plan my first baby shower! I am very much so looking forward to that.

Today Alex and I are going to make a baby registry. (this time it's for real!) We are going to register at Babies R Us and Target. I have my registry list all ready to go, all we have to do is get the gun and go shopping. I'm super excited to look at all the cool baby gadgets and stuff that I don't really need but I'll put on there anyway :P

I think that's all for today, thanks for reading and God Bless!

Beginning the 3rd Trimester!!

I'm in the home stretch now! As always, we begin with babycenter.com
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. You're in the home stretch! The third and final trimester starts this week. If you're like most women, you'll gain about 11 pounds this trimester.

I can't believe I'm still gonna get bigger! I already feel very clumsy and awkward and now it's gonna get worse! Oh well, I'm sure I will get  used to it as the weeks progress.

I still find it humorous that some of my friends think that we are crazy for not finding out the gender of our baby before hand. They seem to think that it's impossible to wait to open a gift until the big day! I just have this wonderful vision in my head of us in the delivery room, baby is born, and through all the pain and crazyness, when the doctor says "it's a _____! " I'm just going to be the happiest person alive! Some also ask me if I have an idea of what the baby will be. I can say with all honestly say I don't know. I haven't had any sort of "feeling" like some expecting moms have. And I honestly could care less what he/she turns out to be. As long as he/she is healthy, I will be happy! So you all can keep guessing what he/she will turn out to be, just don't buy and color specific items just yet! :P

I don't remember if I posted this yet, but I don't mind saying it twice. God has shown his faithfulness to us this past week. We were wondering if we could afford to buy paint for the baby room, but just couldn't find it in the budget. One of my wonderful friends from church let me know that her husband has lots of extra paint from his job and would be willing to give us some. So we came home with 2 almost full gallons of paint last week! On top of that, I had another wonderful church friend offer to buy our paint for us!! I cannot believe that I ever doubted my Lord. Always when I'm at my point where I can't figure out what to do, He shows us that He will provide. Thank you to my two friends (you know who you are) and thank you again Lord for providing for us.

Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Week 27 Update

From babycenter.com
This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Wow. Only one week left of the second trimester. Yesterday (8/12/12) I realized that we were 3 months away from my due date! AHH! I'm so excited to be able to hold my little baby soon, but I'm nervous about almost everything else! Will finances even out? Will the baby room be ready? Will we be ready to be parents? In my head, I know faith in God will get us through this, but it doesn't stop me from being nervous all the same.

I still have to get prep work done, and that means getting off my butt and doing it. I do have goals this week to get the baby room cleaned out and the dresser and closet organized. I also need to take measurements for painting. But I will stop there for this week, I don't want to plan to do too much and then be sad when it doesn't get done.

Well I think that is it for today. Hopefully I'll get some pictures up of our progress on the baby room as we get stuff done. Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Week 26 Update!

From babycenter.com
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Oh my, only 2 weeks until I'm in the third trimester! I was perfectly happy when we first got pregnant, but now I'm so anxious! Some days it feels like I have so much to do, and not enough time to do it! (oh wait, that's every day :P ) But in reference to baby, I really want to get the baby registry done, and get the room  painted and get curtains hung in there too. But it seems like so many other things take priority when I want to do stuff.

I have gotten a few things done though, I found (with the help of my BFF) a stroller for only $15 at a garage sale the other day! So yay for a good find! My parents also gave us their gift to us and got us a infant car-seat! Thank you Mom and Dad!

I just finished reading my devotional for this week, it talked about relying on God through all the labor pains and that He will get me through this even when  it seems impossible. Even though I still have 3 months to go, it's nice to think about Him being there with me and helping through the pain. I still want to try and do a natural birth, but I also know that if the pain is to much, God has put wonderful doctors within my grasp that can ease my pain with some medication. I'm also super grateful that God has given me a wonderful husband who I know will do everything to make me comfortable and happy.

Thank you for  your continued prayers and reading of my blog. It makes me very happy to see the numbers on the 'views' of the blog keep going up! Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Week 25 Update!

Yay for getting this post out on the right day! From babycenter.com
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

I'm feeling the baby move very regularly now. The only problem is he/she will move for a bit, but not long enough for me to grab my husbands hand so he can feel! Silly baby. So if you want to feel baby move, it will take patience.

I'm finally getting nervous about becoming a mom. Before I was pretty confident that this is what is I'm meant to do and this is God's plan for me. But for some reason, I'm getting more nervous as time progresses. Mostly cause I'm worried about finances and weather I'll need to be a working mom, but other things too. Like will I be able to cope with labor pains, and will everything be ready when baby comes? I know that if God didn't want us to have a child right now, we wouldn't be, so I know this is His plan for our lives. I just wish I had a little more peace of mind right now.

This week I have another routine doctor appointment, but I also have to take the glucose-screening test. My best friend says they are not fun (Thanks Bec.....). I'm not looking forward to the stuff I have to drink, but at least when it's done, it's done. (For now anyway)

Other then that, I could use prayers for heartburn relief and prayers that I'll keep up with my walking. It's been very hard while it's been so hot, but I have a goal to keep my weight as healthy as possible so that I can loose all the baby weight soon after delivery. (when I say soon, I mean a reasonable time period)

Thanks again for reading and God Bless!

Week 24 Update

Wow! 5 people have already looked at my blog today! I guess you guys are excited! First of all, from babycenter.com.
Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

I will say something right now, I feel like I have 5 ears of corn in my belly! not just one! I am feeling quite big these days. In good news for this week, Alex got to feel the baby kick a couple times!!! I was so excited! It took a while cause every time the baby was kicking, Alex either wasn't around or he/she stopped kicking when I walked over to Alex. But all is good now, cause baby won't stop kicking!

In my devotional today, it is focusing on True Rest in God, the kind we only get when we have complete faith in Him. One major point that it makes is that "trust and quietness do not fear labor, they allow labor to progress as it needs to without fighting your body." The idea that trust in God can help one get through labor is very comforting. At this point I don't fear labor, I've been doing research and making sure I know what the process of labor is. But I know I can't make a plan and expect everything to work out according to my plan. However, my trust in God, and trust in my husband that God gave to me, will help me through that time. (note to self, find some verses and songs about trust to bring to the hospital)

Alex and I should be making a baby registry soon. :)

Thanks for reading and God Bless

Week 23 update

From babycenter.com
Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Well besides camping this weekend, not much to report. As far as camping goes, here are a few of my notes on camping while 5 months pregnant.
Hiking in a mile isn't too bad actually, I know I was given the lightest pack but as far as being strenuous, it wasn't horrible. What was horrible was the bugs! Deer flies are nasty! Sleeping wasn't too bad either for the most part. Sleeping on the ground didn't bug me, it was the heat that really made me uncomfortable. Other then that it was a fun trip!

I think I can feel the baby kick from the outside now (squee!!!!) I'm so excited! But it does get a little distracting at work :P . I want Alex to be the first one to feel a kick besides me, so hands off the belly people! (I love you all but I have a big personal bubble :) )

Well that's all for now. Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Week 22 update!

Ahh! I totally forgot to write yesterday! Well better late then never! From babycenter.com
At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment.
If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Wow, I'm already over half way done. One more month and I'll be in the 3rd trimester. This past week our baby has been doing gymnastics in my belly! It's so much fun to feel but when he/she does it in church it's kinda distracting... lol.

Last week I talked about my dislike for childbirth class prices, and how I was going to just do online classes. Well I watched the videos by myself to make sure they were informative and complete. I was not disappointed. The birth classes from babycenter.com were very helpful. Not only do they have lots of information in the classes themselves, but they also have links for even more information about most of the subjects. They also have helpful videos, including live birth videos. (Alex has asked if he can opt out of the live birth videos lol) My favorite part is that they even have information and videos about natural relaxation and pain coping techniques. So when it gets closer to delivery time, Alex and I will watch the classes together so we both know whats going on. At the end of the classes, they have a few to-do lists that we will also fill out together. After baby is born, I'll let you all know if the classes helped me with my labor and delivery.

Not much else big this past week, I started reading Proverbs in the hope that God will show me wisdom and guidance about home life and being a parent. Hopefully I'll have some cool insight soon.

Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Week 21 Update, Plus Ultrasound Pics!!

Sorry about the lateness of the day for this post, but it's been a busy week. As always to start, here is the update from babycenter.com

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

First of all, here are the pictures!

 The 'face' pictures made me think "zombie baby!!!"

Well the babycenter.com is a little off from what my doctor says. We had our 20 week ultrasound on friday (YAY) and she said that the baby is probably about 14oz right now. So I am either going to deliver early, or have a good size baby! But either way, as long as he/she is healthy, I'll be happy.

As I've said before, we are not finding out the gender of the baby, and that is what we told the ultrasound technician. So even after the appointment, we still don't know what it is.

I had a routine prenatal visit today, and my nurse practitioner said my weight, belly size and everything is right on track. So yay for being healthy!!

So in other good news this week, I'm pretty sure I felt the baby kick for the first time! I was laying in bed just watching some stuff on the internet, and I felt a jab in my lower tummy. So I poked back to see what would happen, and I felt it again! My doctor said that it was most likely the baby kicking. She also said it shouldn't be long before I have unmistakeable feelings of the baby kicking and moving. I'm so excited!!

So today I was told to sign up for birthing classes, so I looked at the places that my doctor suggested, it's over $100 to take a 6 day class! So I went to babycenter.com to see what they had, and they have online classes that are free! I think we will just go with those for now, the internet has lots and lots of information about labor and birth.

Well that's it for now I think. Thanks for reading and God Bless!!

Week 20 Size Update, Halfway there!!

Is seems so quick, I'm already about halfway done! Before anything else, here is the size update from babycenter.com.

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Well I still haven't been luck enough to feel baby move yet, but hopefully soon! (it is possible I just don't know what I'm feeling)

This week is our 20 week ultrasound!!!! I'm so excited to see our little bundle of happiness! This is one thing I've really been looking forward to because after this, we won't "see" our baby until delivery.

I'm starting to get a little nervous about being a mom. Thinking about all the responsibility, all the new chores I'll have, and learning everything about babies! We haven't even picked out colors for the baby room yet  and we're halfway there already. Even though I've helped out in the church nursery for years, and have babysit as well, I still feel very unprepared to be a mother. All of the What-ifs are going through my head and it makes me want to go crazy. I think I need to pull out my Bible and just start reading. God will show me what I need to hear if I trust in Him.

Well I think that's it for now. On Friday I should be posting ultrasound pictures!! Thanks for reading and God Bless!!

Week 19 Size Update

Wow, this past week went by fast! I feel like I just posted week 18! As per usual, here is the update from babycenter.com

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

My greatest hope and prayer this week is that I feel our baby move soon! I'm so excited for feeling that first kick!

It's been kinda  a crazy week for me. Alex keeps coming to bed late and waking me up, and then I can't get back to sleep! ARG! Therefore, I have been a little more irritable then normal. (sorry to my family and coworkers).

Well I officially have a baby bump now, as shown by the previous posts pictures! I actually feel pregnant now and not just fat anymore, yay! I've also started to buy some more maternity clothes and I can't fit into my regular pants without help from a BeBand. (thanks Becky ;)  ) I have a feeling by the end of this pregnancy, I'm going to be waddling around instead of walking.

Another thing Alex and I are praying about this week is hoping that I will not have to work after baby is born. As of right now, looking at our budget, I will have to work after baby is born and I've always wanted to be a stay at home mom. Prayer for figuring out our finances would be lovely.

Thanks to all for reading! See you next week!

Picture Time!

I made this shirt! :D

Hershey is curious...

Me at 18 weeks along.

Week 18 Update

Here is the week 18 update from babycenter.com
Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

Last week I had a routine doctor appointment. It went just fine and the baby's heartbeat was 150.  Then last weekend Alex and I took a vacation to Duluth and the north shore. It was a lot of fun and very foggy.

Nothing much else happened this past week. I am still anxiously waiting to feel my baby moving, but there has been nothing yet that I "know" is baby movements.

My devotional didn't really inspire me today, so I'm just gonna skip writing about it this week. Hopefully next week will be more of an inspiration to write about. I ask for prayer this week for 2 things: one is that I get to feel baby move soon, and the other is that God shows Alex and I how He will care for us financially. We looked over our budget this week and it doesn't look pretty.

Thanks for reading, hopefully I'll feel like writing more next week. Baby bump picture to come later today I hope :)

Week 17 Update

A short size update from babycenter.com

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

Not a huge update today. This past week has been pretty much the same as it has been. I'm tired a lot, but I'll have spurts of energy that help me get some housework done. I decided to cut back on my hours at my food service job so I can spend more time at home prepping for our baby's arrival. At the same time, I hope to keep my Pampered Chef business going at full strength in order to still help by bringing money into the household and taking some stress off Alex. Here's hoping I can jump start my business!

In my 40 week devotional this week, I read about preparation, and how many women try to prepare for every thing that could happen during their pregnancy and delivery. What the author suggests is that even though we should do some research so that we are not ignorant, we should not over prepare. That can cause worry and even cause harm when we try to prevent things that are supposed to happen for the greater good. She suggests that we do our research, but also keep our faith in God that he knows what he is doing and that He will give us strength to know what to do. The verse that stuck out to me today was 2 Corinthians 5:7 "We live by faith, not by sight." I am the type of person that hardly ever buys online cause I need to touch and see the item before I buy. So sometimes it is hard for me to just trust that this baby is getting bigger, and growing and will be here sooner then I'm ready for. Every day I try to feel my baby moving, just so I know he/she is there. I need to trust that God knows exactly what to do, and He will not fail me.

Well that's about it for this week I think. I do have a doctor appointment tomorrow for a routine checkup so prayer that everything goes well would be appreciated. Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Week 16 Size Update

From babycenter.com

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

Once again... Squee!!! Our baby is getting bigger and bigger and in only 168 days (give or take a few) we will have new life in our home. For those of you that don't see me very often, I am starting to look pregnant, and I'm wearing some maternity clothes. I went shopping with my best friend last week and we got a few things that are working well. If the baby doubles in size this week, does that mean I will get quite a bit bigger this week?

In my 40 week devotional this week, it was talking about how some women just don't feel like themselves all the time. Like if you are usually a slow to anger woman, you can randomly become short tempered. I kinda felt that this past week. A couple of days I would just snap at coworkers and family for no good reason, And I've also been very lazy this past couple days. Its just weird cause I'm so excited for this baby, but getting there is making me lazy and irritable. (Hopefully temporary) One of the verses in the devotional was Philippians 4:8, which happens to be the verse I consider "mine". I used to have a shirt with it on in.

"Whatever is good, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever 

is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, 

let your mind dwell on these things"

Reading and writing it out again makes me remember why I loved that verse so much. It's a great commitment to only think about those things, but when one does, it brings a peace of mind that only God can give. 

So even though I'm going through a rough patch in this pregnancy (and I'm sure there will be more), if I try to keep my mind on the wonderful things going on in my life, God will help me get through the rough times. 

I ask for prayer this week for any of you that pray. Prayer for me to control my anger, and keep me focused on the good things in my life. And prayer for my health, I got a cold this past weekend and I'm still recovering. 

Thanks for reading and God Bless!

Week 15 Size Update

Here is the week 15 size update from babycenter.com

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

Even though we have the option of finding out the gender, Alex and I decided a long time ago that we want to be surprised in the delivery room, and not any earlier. Some people think we are nuts for not finding out the gender, but I don't care. It's one of the last true surprises left in life and I don't want to open my gift early.

I got my 2 devotional books this past weekend, and they are really good! One is titled "40 Weeks, Devotional Guide to Pregnancy". It's a week by week study that gives information about the baby, a short devotional to think about for the week and then some prayer ideas for the week. That one I'm going to be reading on 'baby update days' and I'll mention anything I think is really meaningful or helpful to me here.
The other is called "Nine Months and Counting". Instead of a weekly or daily thing, it's a 'read whenever you want to' devotional with bible verses, quotes from moms and lists of things to do to get ready for baby.

That's about it for this week I think. Thanks for reading and God Bless you!

A lesson discovered

This isn't really a baby update but it is something I learned in church this week about being a faithful-to-God-future-mother.

In church this Sunday, we sang the song  "Your Love Never Fails". One of the lines in the song is "You make all things work together for my good"
When I first read the words, my thoughts were "If God wants my life to be good, why am I having financial issues and things keep breaking at home?" Then I really thought about it. It does not necessarily mean our lives will be all "good times". It means God knows what is best for me and my family, and even if we must suffer for a time, overall it is for the good that God has in store for us. Maybe our financial troubles are God showing me that if I have faith in Him, He will supply all my needs. Or maybe stuff breaking at home is God telling me I really don't need all the stuff I think I "need".

Now and forever, I want to rely on my Lord for my needs and the needs of my child. Even when things are hard and I can't see why they are happening to me, God has a plan for the good things and the suffering. He will never give me any more then I can handle if I trust in Him.

Week 14 Update

I am officially in my second semester!!!! As always, the update from babycenter.com:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Well most of you saw my post about my ultrasound a few days ago, that was the biggest update of the week so far. I don't have another appointment until June so for the next couple weeks it'll be pretty boring. :P

I did buy 2 devotionals for during pregnancy and they should arrive by the end of the week. I hope to start those soon and post the things that God is speaking to me here.

Well here are a few of the mother-to-be gifts I received this past week!

These ones are from my sister-in-law, Cassie. She LOVES giraffes!

These are from my mom. I love the one that says "Daddy Loves me"

My mother in law also gave me a gift. But my camera died so here is the link to what she bought me.

This one was not a gift this past week, It was given by my mom a short time after we found out we were pregnant. It is actually something I wore when I was a baby. Hopefully it'll fit our baby. 

Well I think that is about it for this week. Thanks to everyone for the "Happy mother-to-be" wishes and loves!

First Ultrasound

Yesterday we had our first ultrasound!!!

It was so cool to see our little baby squirming around inside me, and being very stubborn and not letting the doctor take it's picture.

Under normal circumstances, we would not have had the ultrasound until 20 weeks, but due to the fact that I have a brother with Trisomy 21 (aka Down syndrome), Alex wanted to get the genetic screen test done. Basically, the doctor started the ultrasound, and then waited until the baby was in the right position to measure a certain gap near the spine, and also checked the nasal bone. Then they take some blood, and in a week or two, we'll know the probability of our child having a genetic abnormality. Weather or not our baby has trisomy 21 or not will not change our plans for our child, it'll just give us some head up if he/she does.

OK, now back to squealing about the ultrasound!!!! Becky brought me to the appointment again cause Alex couldn't get it off work on such short notice. We saw it's little feet, and hands. And we saw it's little beating heart and I think we saw it's bladder too! Becky says it has my nose. (Silly Becky, you can't even tell from the pictures!!) I think one of the most fun parts was watching him/her move around while we were watching it.

If you notice in the picture, it says 14w1d. I am not actually 14 weeks, I'm still considered 13, but apparently, we are having a big baby! The doctor said she won't be surprised if I deliver early. I am a little nervous about how big our baby will get. My mother-in-law was telling me that her doctor once said that the weight usually averages our between the 2 parents birth weights. I was 7lb 9oz, and Alex was 9lb. Oh joy, I'm gonna have a 8.5 lb baby!!

Well, that is all until next Tuesday, or something else fun happens!

Week 13 update

Here is the week 13 update from babycenter.com
Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

Our baby is getting so big!! Pretty soon I'll have a baby belly to show off! 

Yesterday I had a doctor appointment. It was just a regular check up to check my weight, ask how I was feeling, and that sort of stuff. My doctor was wonderful! I hope I get to keep her. She gave me lots of good information and let me ask all the questions I wanted without feeling like I was being rushed. Then came the really fun part. 

My best friend had given me a ride to the appointment since Alex had to work. And of course I let her come into the room with me. So when the doctor asked if we wanted to hear the heartbeat again, we both were squealing just a little bit. When the doctor found the heartbeat this month, it was loud and strong. I got little goosebumps just now writing about it! I have life in my belly. It's really there!! I was giggling with joy so much that the doctor kept loosing the right spot and had to keep finding it again. Silly me. Anyway, it was a lot of fun to have my best friend there, I know she enjoyed herself and I'm glad she was there to share in my excitement with me. 

I have some more gifts pictures to post, so here they are!

These are from Alex's parents. I absolutely LOVE the little booties!!!

This is from Alex's moms parents. The must know now much I like to organize!

We also received a crocheted blanket from Alex's grandma Hunt, who is now with God. But my pictures of it are being annoying so I'll take another one later. 

Well I think that is it for today. Next week we will have the first 2nd trimester update!!!

Week 12 update

Only 2 more weeks until I'm officially in my second trimester!!! I am so excited! Here is our baby update for week 12 from babycenter.com

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

Well this week has been the easiest so far since I started feeling sick. But heartburn is kicking in full throttle. I think I'm going back to my old self again. Although, I am still pretty tired after work, more so then I used to be pre-baby.

We are still trying to figure out colors and ideas for the nursery, but neutral colors are hard. Alex and I thought about doing some kind of a theme, but we're not sure what. Winnie the Pooh? Pixar? Mario? or just cute animals? So much to choose from!! I think I'll just go to Home Depot and grab some color swatches. Play around with them and figure something out. 

If anyone has any ideas for Bible studies for expecting moms or parents, please let me know. I'm still wanting something that gets me into my Bible more, but also has to do with being a new parent. Something Alex and I can do together is even better. 

I've been window shopping for maternity clothes already.... Some of them are really cute!!! I was also looking for maternity sewing patterns, but those are in really short supply. But I won't give up!

Maybe sometime today we are going to start baby bump pictures, but I might not start until 2nd trimester. 

That's it for today I guess. I have another doctor appointment next Monday, so if it is interesting, I'll post something on Monday, but otherwise, I'll just post it with Tuesday's weekly update. God Bless everyone in the coming week!

Feeling Loved

Last night I was asked to help out at church in the nursery by babysitting for a couple hours. When I got to church I saw a few of the mentors from my Apples of Gold group that I was in about a year ago. Many of them came up to me and congratulated me and gave me hugs. I just felt overwhelmed with all the love and congratulations that I received from them. Thank you to my entire Apples of Gold group. You helped me prepare for becoming a mother and that is invaluable to me.

Week 11 size update

Our baby is getting so big!!

"Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming. "(copied from babycenter.com)

This past weekend I was not feeling good at all, but I think I'm getting better now. Not much else major happened this week. I am looking forward to not feeling nauseous in a couple weeks, and having more energy. My house is suffering so badly with me being down and out every evening. Even going to the grocery store right after work yesterday made me very exhausted. 

But on the bright side, I'm posting some pictures of a few of the gifts we've already received!

This baby quilt was made by my Grandma Hessing. After she passed my mom had the honor of giving it to me in her name. Modeled today by my little cutie, Hershey.

Nom nom nom given by Becky and Jon Christensen

And this was also given by Becky and Jon. 

"Cause lets face it, that baby is going to be in charge!!" ~Becky C.

There will be more pictures of gifts later. But I'd like to get our nursery cleaned up a bit so I can start taking pictures in there! I will also be posting baby bump pictures soon. (maybe, depends how fat I look :P)