10 Weeks

Sorry it has been a while but our internet has not been working. I am now 10 weeks along. The baby is the size of a kumquat which my boss had to look up online for me because I wasn’t sure how big that was. It has completed the most critical part of its development. My update says the baby is kicking up a storm. I can’t wait to actually be able to feel that. A week from today we'll head to Lubbock for our last appointment and sonogram there. They are weening me off my shots so now I am down to only one every other day and they will draw blood at next Friday's appointment and let me stop shots for good if things still look good. Yippee! This week I went back to the gym for the first time since before we started this round of IVF. My nurse told me it was okay for me to return to any form of exercise I was doing before I got pregnant. It felt so great to get in some good workouts and break a good sweat. I am an endorphin junkie! The nausea has really eased up in the last week. I feel good most of the time with just some occasional moments of queasiness. Maybe I’m nearing the end of that fun part of pregnancy!

This past weekend we went with Justin’s parents and his sister, Lisa and her husband Steve to one of our favorite places to getaway, the Gruene Mansion Inn in Gruene, TX. We make at least one or two trips there a year. It is a perfect place to getaway for the weekend. In fact the last time we were there was at Spring Break when we decided to getaway after our first IVF cycle had failed. It was fun to be back there celebrating this time! We did a lot of shopping in the cute little shops. A couple of months ago a new baby shop opened and they have some darling things in there. We will definitely be making a trip back once we know if we are having a boy or girl. Of course we ate lots of good food especially at our favorite place there, the Gristmill. Saturday night Justin’s sister had bought tickets for all of us to go to the Radney Foster concert at Gruene Hall. It was a lot of fun but a little smokey and I was feeling very protective so I did move to the back to get away from all the smokers. It was a great time just hanging out with Justin’s family. Sunday everyone had to get back early so we drove to Austin to attempt to do some maternity clothes shopping. We got to stop by and see my Uncle Nathan and Aunt Sarah and their girls, Lila and Laney. It is always a treat to see them. I sure do love those girls! After that stop we headed to the mall and had a pretty unsuccessful shopping trip and headed back home. Its funny how much more tired a little weekend trip can make me now. I'm always ready to get back to my own bed.

Steve was MIA here
Yes that is a pig jumping out of his hat! The man with many costumes.
Chowing down at the Gristmill with Steve & Lisa's neighbors
A complete family photo
In front of the Gruene Mansion Inn

8 Week Sonogram

Yesterday we went to Lubbock again for another sonogram. We were both amazed at how much bigger the baby is and how much more visible everything was. The baby measured right at 8 weeks and 3 days which is exactly how far along I was. The heartbeat was a 167 which the nurse said is perfect. It just blows my mind to think how much difference there was than the first sonogram we had only about 11 days before. We will go back to Lubbock on September 8th for our final appointment and sonogram there. I know that day will be bitter sweet. We will be thrilled to not have to make that drive anymore however I really think I will miss seeing some of the staff especially my nurse Kristen. She really is such a special part of this baby's beginning, all of the nurses and doctors there are but she will always have a special place in my heart. Without Kristen I'm not sure I would have been able to try a second round of IVF and then to be able to get through it with so much peace- I really think she had a huge part in that. She went above and beyond her job and she really cared about us. When we saw her yesterday she said she had been anxiously waiting all week for our appointment. You just don't get medical care like that very often. When we go in a few weeks for our final sonogram the doctor will make her guess as to whether we are having a baby boy or girl. Yesterday the rest of the staff said her guess is usually right. It will be so exciting to be able to call our baby by its name soon. I'm going to add a poll so everyone can put their guess as to whether it is a boy or a girl.

To My Sweet Little Bean

I’m sure this will be the first of many notes I’ll write to you. You are 8 weeks old today and the size of a kidney bean. I know that is not very big but you have come a long way in the last 8 weeks. You now are developing your fingers and toes which I can’t wait to kiss and squeeze. I wonder if you’ll have my long fingers and toes. Friday we get to see you again and we are both so excited to see how much you have grown and changed and to see that flutter of your heartbeat again. For being so small you sure can suck up all of my energy and do some numbers on my tummy. All those moments of exhaustion and queasiness are just reminders of you, our wonderful miracle growing inside of me.

You truly are our miracle baby. By the time you make your arrival into this world we will have prayed and hoped for you for 5 years. While those years seemed very long and difficult at times now they seem like nothing. You will probably learn very fast that your mama is not a very patient woman and that is something I have had to learn a lot over these years and I am continuing to learn as I have to wait another 7 months before I get to hold you in my arms.

There are so many things I look forward to doing with you. Another thing you will quickly learn about me is I love music, singing and dancing very much. I can’t wait to rock you to sleep at night and sing you lullabies- the ones my mom sang to me along with some I’ve grown to love over the years. I will also be so excited to have a partner in my Saturday morning concerts. You are probably wondering what exactly this is. Well on Saturday mornings I like to wake your daddy up with a concert which usually consists of me attempting to sing and dance on the bed while your daddy tries to catch a few more zzz’s. He typically doesn’t join me in my fun but instead just sits and looks at me as if I have lost my mind but I know deep down he really loves those concerts. I’ve always told him I couldn’t wait to have a little rock star of my own to join me in my Saturday morning concerts. Lately I have been on a book buying spree. I just can’t wait to sit and read books to you before bed at night.

I also can’t wait to watch your daddy fall in love with you as I know he will. You are blessed beyond measure when it comes to your daddy! He is one of the kindest, gentlest and most compassionate people I have ever known. He already loves you deeply. I can hear it in his voice when he leans over to my tummy and talks to you. While I know he would love for you to be his little golf partner, if you were to end up being a dancer (which wouldn’t hurt my feelings) or soccer player or pianist he will be right there with you cheering and coaching you along. Me on the other hand, well let’s just say your mama is a little bit competitive and when it comes to any competition there is usually some screaming if I’m around. We’ll just hope I don’t embarrass you too much with all my carrying on. You will quickly learn that unlike me your daddy is a very patient person which is a good thing because he helps to balance in me out in that area. He is a patient teacher and I know he will be wonderful at teaching you many things from tying your shoes to riding a bike to helping you with your homework. I have a feeling you are going to have him wrapped around your tiny finger!

One Precious Baby!

We had our first sonogram this morning and there is one precious baby in there! We were able to see the fluttering heartbeat which was really amazing! I know a lot of you were pulling for two but I have to say we are pretty thrilled to have this one wonderful miracle to lavish all our love on! I also was a little worried about premature birth with twins and so now I don't have to worry about that so much anymore. We will have another sonogram August 15th and hopefully will be able to see a little more of our pearl. Now we get to wait and see if we are having a baby boy or girl. We will have a sonogram at 11 or 12 weeks and the doctor will make her guess however it is still pretty early to tell at that point. I think we actually have names picked out- Ava Kate is definately the girl name and has been for almost four years now. This weekend we had decided on Eli James for a boy name and I think it will probably stick. Either way we will be overjoyed! I am at 6 weeks 5 days today. The morning sickness has definately kicked in and it doesn't seem to be morning only more like off and on all day. While it is not exactly pleasant I think I would rather be feeling this than nothing. It is just a reminder of the miracle growing inside of me! I'm also taking a nap just about everyday which is why I was late getting this posted today. Thank you for continuing to pray for us and our baby especially through these first few months.

1 or 2...What is your vote?

Well the day we've been awaiting is almost here. Tomorrow we will find out if we are expecting one or two blessings! We are so excited not only to find that out but also just to see our precious little pearl(s). There seem to be a lot of people betting on two. My initial feeling is that it is two but it isn't a really strong feeling either way. We both can see the good in either option and will be thrilled either way! I have been meaning to put a little voting button on the blog so everyone could tell us how many babies they think there are in there but as you can see I haven't quite gotten around to it so if you want to post a comment with your vote we would love to see who is right tomorrow. Fortunately last week was a very busy week which helped the time to fly by. Thursday we left for a whirlwind trip to Dallas. We had dinner with old friends, went to visit the people I worked with at Peterbilt, a friend and I went to the John Mayer concert which was awesome other than the fact it was very hot and very long. Then we went to Cedar Creek Lake with some of my college friends on Saturday and Sunday and on the way home today stopped and visited Justin's aunt and uncle and cousins. We had a blast and really enjoyed seeing everyone but I have to say I was happy to come home to my bed and a little bit slower pace of life. It is hard for a sleepy pregnant woman to keep up with a pace like we were going at for a few days. We got home and Justin's mom Pat was here waiting for us. Tomorrow morning Justin, Pat and my mom will leave for Lubbock. The sonogram is at 10:30 and as soon as we get back in town I will post the news. Thank you all for your continued prayers!