It's a...Boy!!!

Ken with the biggest grin on his face after finding out (above)
My 20 week belly (below)

We found out that our baby is a boy on Friday!!! I was a little shocked to hear that I'm having a boy. I was convinced that it was a girl. It's taken a couple days but I'm really loving the idea of having a little boy running around especially because I can't wait to see Ken with his son. Ken was such a proud papa after finding out the baby was a boy. In the ultrasound, we saw his ribs, spine, heart, abdomin, and brain. The technician showed us how he had his feet crossed at the ankles. At one point, he started scooting his feet up along my uterus to move back upside down. It was the funniest thing to watch especially because he didn't move his arms to help him up. It was like watching a kid try to climb up a door frame. He's a monkey.

It was really fun to watch Ethan, that's his name, bouncing all over the screen. As soon as the technician started the ultrasound his arms and legs started kicking all over the place. I've noticed that he is a very active baby. He kicks me all day I have grown to love and look forward to each kick. In fact, I think I'm addicted to the kicks. There is nothing in the world as great as feeling your own baby kick you from inside you. I love that he and I are connected in a way that no one else ever will be to him. I've been trying really hard to just enjoy the time that he is still inside of me. I know this time will pass quickly and soon enough I'll be chasing after him. I don't want to look back and wish I'd enjoyed every moment of pregnancy.

I've really enjoyed giving the baby a little personality. When I get kicks, I tend to put words in his mouth. Like when he poked my bladder during church a couple Sunday ago as if to say, "Hey, Mom, can you move this thing it's in the way?" or when I waited to long to eat lunch and as soon as I took my first bite he kicked me as if to say, "It's about time!" He's tends to kick me whenever I move to my other side during the night but go right back to sleep and if I'm trying to sleep in he'll usually leave me be until about 8 or 830AM when he starts kicking. I figure he's telling me, "Hey, Mom can we have some breakfast?"

Here are the ultrasound pictures:

If you turn your head to the left you can see his eye sockets, mouth, chin and nose, which looks a bit squished. You can also see his heart in his chest.

Ken added a little something to the same photo below. You may have to click on it to see what it is. It did look like Ethan was trying to catch something. Ken's little superstar. We're going to frame this picture and put it up in his room.

I'm now 21 weeks and feeling pretty good. My back aches and it's getting harder to get up and down, but I think I have it pretty good. I do have more energy than I did in the 1st trimester, but I'm still very tired toward the end of the day. All the up and down I do working with kids all day makes me even more tired and achy, but I hope I can work until January.

Nothing fits

I knew this day was coming...I just didn't think it would be such an emotional moment. In the last couple weeks my belly has become noticeable enough for people who don't know I'm pregnant to ask me how far along I am. It's been kinda fun. People now come up and rub my belly. Which I don't seem to really mind too much.

However, today when I went to put on my shorts and they no longer fit. I realized last week that none of my maternity pants fit anymore either. I guess it's time to do a little more shopping. Shirts don't seem to be a problem since I've been buying in the clearance bin at the 2nd hand maternity shop and I've had friends giving me their shirts now that they are done having kids. I lost it today right after I weighed myself and realized that I now had gained 9.5 lbs. I know logically that I'm gaining exactly how much weight the books recommend, but I happened to gain 2 lbs this week instead of my normal 1 lb so I freaked out. My hormones got the best of me. I came downstairs to tell Ken and was almost in tears. He tried to calm me down, but I just panicked.

After calling one of my best friends who just had a baby a few weeks ago and begging for a couple pairs of shorts to borrow until the end of September, I called my sister and completely lost it on the phone. She did her best to calm me down and reassure me that everything is alright. One really good piece of advice was that I just need to surrender to my body. I have no control. Which completely makes sense, since the baby's been controlling when I go to the bathroom, eat, sleep, etc for awhile now. If I wake up at 1am to pee, I am starving. The thought has crossed my mind to install a mini fridge upstairs. This baby is evidently a voracious eater.

After my hormone surge, I felt much better. I've settled into a stretchy, non-elastic, skirt that one of the women I work for gave me. It's so comfortable. Ahhhh!!!

At 17 weeks, the baby now weighs about 5 oz and is about 5 inches long from head to rump. The big ultrasound is in 3 1/2 weeks. I'm a little anxious to see that everything is okay and to possibly find out whether this baby is a boy or a girl. Ken still hasn't decided if he wants to find out. I really want to know now. If we're having a boy I want to fully be excited about it when he comes out. I really think the baby is a girl, so if we don't find out and it's a boy, I'm going to be completely shocked.

I go in tomorrow for my 17 week check up. I'll get to hear the heartbeat again and be measured for the first time. I keep thinking that the doctor will probably tell me I'm farther along than I thought or that they missed an additional heartbeat. I may look 5 or 6 months pregnant, but I'm still only 4 months.

The rumors are true

Some of you may have heard that I'm pregnant again!!!! We have been really excited and also very cautious this time around. I am finally into the 2nd trimester so I'm feeling less anxious, but I still have my moments of freaking out. The baby is due February 15th, but I'm aiming for February 8th, Super Bowl Sunday. Ken really doesn't want to miss the game so it's our little joke.
It's been really fun having a room to put all the baby's things into and organized. I have 5 bins of clothes from newborn to 1 year and a bin of blankets. We're in the process of researching cribs and dressers. Some of these stores take 6-10 weeks to deliver and I've heard sometimes they come cracked and have to be reordered. I think to be safe we're going to order in September. I'm hoping to have the nursery put together by January.

We went in at 8 weeks and saw the baby for the first time. Here is the picture:

If you look carefully, the baby looks like he or she is looking to the right and the legs are pointing to the right. It was so nice to finally see what looks like a real baby especially so small.

A week ago I went in for my 12 week appointment and we were able to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. I was in shock when we actually heard it. I went into the appointment expecting not to hear it. At first I heard the fluid swishing around, then my own heartbeat, and finally the baby's heartbeat. My doctor said that the baby was really low in my pelvis. I think the baby is on my bladder. I joke with the kids at work that the baby dances on my bladder.

This time around I was surprised to start showing so early. I noticed it at 8 weeks, and other people noticed at 10 weeks. I started wearing maternity clothes for the most part at 9 or 10 weeks. Everything else felt really uncomfortable. Here are some pictures of the growing belly:

11 weeks trying on maternity clothes.

Messing around with the bump at the store.

One of my best friends, Pam is due in a week and half. I don't even look pregnant next to her. Here's proof that we were pregnant at the same time.

13 weeks!!!

Ken's reaction to my belly that day was, "Oh my gosh!" He says he loves having a pregnant wife.

Ken has been pretty laid back when it comes to this pregnancy. He doesn't seem too worried and I'm sure I drive him nuts most of the time with my paranoia. He's been really supportive and helpful. He's been telling me to go sit down and rest when I start running around like a mad woman trying to do too much. I felt useless during the move since I couldn't really lift anything. We got it all done though.

Ken is certain that the baby is a boy and I am certain that the baby is a girl. The plan all along has been not to find out, but we are discussing whether we should find out anyways. I'll keep you updated as we have more doctor's appointments.