19 Weeks

Here I am at 19 weeks...(along with Cecelia, who is begging to go outside on the balcony :) )

I'm feeling the baby move often now! Sometimes it feels like s/he is doing gymnastics in there! Peter is anxious to be able to feel the baby move as well, and he was disappointed when I told him it would be a while before he'd be able to feel her/him on the outside...

As a correction to my previous post, Erin is due November 1st (see her comment ;) )

Being an Auntie

Hilary posted it on her blog, so it's time for me to post on mine!

My sister Erin is also pregnant!!! Their baby is due October 30 (We're due September 22). Although they live several hours away, it's been fun to go through pregnancy together (mostly via phone...)

CONGRATS Erin and Kurt!

Week 18

What is this? A weekly update?

This is me at 18 weeks. Nothing new to report, but I am happy about the recent warmer weather. I realized I'm going to need to buy some nice, short-sleeved tops for the summer. It has gotten so warm at work already! (Although, it doesn't seem to bother my coworkers as much as it bothers me...)

We'll be finding out soon if Baby Park is a boy or girl! Don't forget to put in your vote!! :)

16 and 17 weeks

So...I'm not turning out to be the most consistent blogger, but at least I have an update every now and then...Here is my 17 week photo. Not a great photo, but it's here. I have a feeling I probably only have a few more weeks with regular clothes.

We find out in a few weeks whether we are having a boy or girl! One of our friends had a baby last weekend and although they had two ultrasounds and were told they were having a boy, they had a beautiful baby GIRL! Now I'm a little nervous that I'll end up having a boy who has only pink clothes or a girl with blue clothes! I suppose medical technology has its limitations.

In other news, this home-buying business has proven to be quite the journey...please pray for God's wisdom through this process!

14 and 15 weeks

I have a photo! This is me at 15 weeks, I think I'm starting to show a bit, even though I haven't gained any weight yet. It's amazing to think that in less than 6 months we'll have a baby in our arms!

12 and 13 weeks

Sorry I haven't been very good at updating the blog... I don't even have any new pictures to post...but I do have a few updates :)

We went to the doctor on Friday, March 7th for a regular OB appointment. Peter came with to this one. We heard our baby's heartbeat for the first time! What a miracle! The doctor said it sounded perfect...we agreed!

I am 13 weeks now, and have been told that for a lot of women, this is the week they start feeling better...I'm still waiting for that! I came down with a stomach virus and wasn't able to keep food down...I actually lost 5 pounds between my appointments. My friend took me the doctor on Friday (Thanks, Stacey!), and I had an IV to hydrate me. At one point, there were two nurses, a lab technician, a doctor, and a medical student all trying to find a good vein in my arms (because I was so dehydrated, it was really difficult to find a vein). It sounds like the start of a bad joke, "How many medical professionals does it take to put in an IV?"

I was able to keep some food/water down Friday night and by Saturday night, I was feeling much better! I'm still a bit tired, and still sick in the mornings...but comparatively, I'm feeling great. :)

I'll try to start taking weekly pictures again...I guess I am officially in my second trimester, so my baby belly may make an appearance sooner than later...

In other news, we are still looking for a house--keep us in your prayers! My brother-in-law got a new job in Appleton (Congrats, Kurt!). Erin and Kurt will be moving the end of this month.

May you all have a blessed Easter!

11 weeks

I apparently totally missed 10 weeks... Highlights of week 10 were Hilary cleaning my bathroom and throwing out the cat's litterbox (thank you, Hilary!!!)

Highlights of week 11 were celebrating my birthday with my family and relaxing at a bed and breakfast with Peter. I also went to my friend Darcy's baby shower. Here are a few photos from the occasion:

Johanna (due Sept. 22) and Darcy (due March 22), exactly 6 mos. apart!!

9 weeks

This is my 9 weeks belly pic. It felt like a long week this week...probably because I was battling a cold and just feeling generally more tired.

We also have been moving forward with house hunting, but it looks like there's starting to be a lot more competition with other buyers. We put an offer in a house that we loved, but it didn't work out. Please pray with us about our next steps.

Also--thank you for everyone's advice about morning sickness! I feel like I'm sort've getting it under control (or getting used to it, anyway!)

9 weeks

8 Weeks

This is my belly pic at 8 weeks:

It's been a long week....lots of morning...and afternoon....and evening...sickness! I'm hoping the second trimester is a lot more fun. I've also gotten the cold Peter has been fighting these past few weeks. :(

On a positive note, I think we're getting closer to finding a house to bring our baby home to. :) Thanks to my mom for coming up and looking at houses with us!

P.S. Anybody have any good tips to fight morning sickness???

7 weeks

This is my belly pic at 7 weeks. I know it's not such a good picture . . . but we never got around to taking a new one...

Someone told me that week 6 of pregnancy would--and I quote--"kick my butt." So true. The last week and a half has been challenging. Morning sickness? It should definitely be called ALL DAY sickness! Some of my favorite things right now are Ginger Ale, Macaroni and Cheese (with salt and pepper), Trident mint gum, and sleeping.

I have my first official OB appointment on Friday morning . . . I asked the nurse if I should bring my husband. She said it will probably be the most uneventful prenatal visit--a lot of paperwork and bloodwork. I guess I haven't mentioned it yet in the blog, but our official due date is September 22nd.

Here's a fun photo of Reese. We thought it would be nice to give her a pillow for her kennel . . . When I came home from work, I found her like this:

In other news, we are still looking for a house to make a home for our baby . . . pray that we will make the right decision in God's timing!

Ultrasound Pics

We had our very first ultrasound this past Tuesday! It was pretty exciting. These are the pictures of our little peanut at 6 weeks, 3 days:

Here the doctor was measuring the baby:

This one is measuring the baby's heartbeat.

Peter saw the heart flutter!

This is our baby (actual size)!

6 weeks

This is my belly at 6 weeks. Tomorrow we have our first ultrasound. We are--obviously--very excited about the experience! The baby is so tiny now, but I think seeing the little dot on the ultrasound screen will make parenthood feel even more real.

We are also excited for the possibility of buying a home. Our current apartment (one-bedroom) is not quite big enough for our two cats, dog, and baby! We initially thought we would continue to rent, but after browsing the internet a bit for homes in the area, we are hopeful. Houses are more affordable than we had anticipated and interest rates recently dropped a bit.

Please pray for God's guidance in our many life changes! :)

5 Weeks

Per my sister, I am supposed to be updating this blog at least once a week (thanks for the advice, Erin :) ) Sorry I am a bit late.

This my 5-week belly picture from last weekend. We were in Cumberland for Grandpa's funeral Thursday through Saturday.Monday we had Martin Luther King Jr. Day off- yea! for bank holidays! We did a little window-shopping at Babies R Us...Peter picked up a little something if it's a girl and a little something if it's a boy....

My mom gave me a large bag full of baby clothes and some maternity tops. I think she's pretty excited to be a grandma! My friend Vanessa also gave me a huge bin full of maternity clothes to borrow. Something tells me that by the time the baby comes, we'll be all set!

We have also made some more "We're having a baby!" phone calls this week. Thanks to all of you who are celebrating along with us!!!!

The Lord Gives and Takes Away...

....Blessed be the name of the LORD!

The LORD Gives:

It has been an emotional week in our home. We found out the most amazing news on Friday: WE'RE HAVING A BABY!!! (This my four-week "belly pic")

I had to listen to the nurse's message 3 times before it sunk in. I had Peter listen to it twice! We have been shouting it from the mountaintops. God is SO good. It's funny how a year and a half of trying to have a baby can feel like an eternity when you're in the midst. Now that I have a baby growing inside my womb, it feels like mere moments.

It was one of the greatest blessings of my life to be able to tell my husband that he's a daddy. Earlier that morning, we had agreed I'd just give him a quick call with the results of the test (assuming they were negative). When I listened to my message, I knew I had to tell him in person. I drove quickly over to his workplace and told him "Congratulations!" I've never seen him happier!

The LORD Takes Away:

On Monday night, I received a call from my dad letting me know that my Grandpa had passed away. Grandpa Jack was 88 years old (would be 89 in April). He spent the past 10 years on this earth homesick for my grandma who left for Heaven in 1998. In the middle of my grief, I have a peace and am able to see the Lord's timing. It was time for Grandpa to go home.

At Christmas, everyone was at Grandpa's to celebrate. We ate too much ("Clean it up!"), sang Christmas Carols, read the Christmas story, and exchanged gifts. A few of us even grabbed the tobogan and went sledding! It couldn't have been a better day. What a blessing!

I also had the priviledge of telling Grandpa he is going to be a Great-Grandpa again. (The picture above is Grandpa with another great-grandchild.) He was thrilled! Grandpa told me he had some news of his own--though not as big as my news. He had bought a cell phone! The way he talked about his phone was the way a child talks about a new toy. Thank you Lord for a beautiful last conversation with my Grandpa.

Blessed Be the Name of the LORD!!!