Our gender reveal party... and all well made plans...

 

 

Last Sunday afternoon we had our gender reveal party... and it was so wonderful!  We have such wonderful friends that have been here for us in New Orleans and sharing our exciting news with them was so great.  

The predictions...

   

Team Girl...

Team Boy..

It was one of those events that didn't go as planned... but was a really good reminder for us. You see, we had planned on revealing the gender with some balloons realized for a big box.  So fun... I had a vision in my mind of just how this was going to go.  When we were getting everything together for the party, we were moving the box of balloons from our new apartment to the park (just down the road).  We were trying to do to many thing at once.  I was holding a bunch of stuff and trying to hold the box in the truck as Andrew ran back in to grab one more thing... That is when the gust of wind came, knocking over the box and releasing a cascade of pink balloons for only me to see.  

After we were able to laugh about it...

  And I lost it... it was honestly not my proudest moment.  I was so caught up in my vision, the way I wanted things to be. The thing was we got a cake that had pink in the middle, so we had a "plan b" so to speak, but that is not what I wanted.   After a few minutes... I was able to calm down and realize that this was NOT a big deal, and was actually kind of funny.  God reminded me that this plan I had was not that important.  Do I get this moved by things that are actually important?  The things that are eternal? So I was able to refocus at the party on the wonderful friends and support that God has put into our life, and how I should focus more on the things that really matter.  And we had a really good time:).  

                   

19 weeks...

This picture makes me look like I have a real bump... in normal clothes I just look fat still...

How Far Along? 19 weeks... almost half way???!!!  

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 10 pounds... pounds creeping into the numbers I have never seen before.. guess that is good

Baby Related Purchases: We purchased some fun things to tell our parents the gender... if you don't already know you can probably tell from these!

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Still sleeping like a rock right now.  I cannot seem to get enough sleep right now... but don't have enough time to sleep as much as I would like.

Movement: Movement a lot... mostly in the evening.

What I miss: Some of my clothing that I am just starting not to fit into...

Cravings: Chewy fruity candy like starbursts, skittles and sour worms... please do not let me have anymore of these!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not sick anymore!

Gender: GIRL... stay tuned for a post about this.. so many thoughts!!!

Labor Signs: Hopefully a long time away...

Symptoms: Feeling pretty good these days...

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy :)

Worries: Felt a lot of comfort this week in getting to the anatomy scan and everything looking good.  This baby girl is big, already measuring 2 weeks ahead!  I need to focus on trusting God moment to moment and not the ultrasounds.

Best moments this week: 

This might have been the busiest week or two ever... so many good moments.

*Finding out our baby is healthy.

*Finding out we are having a girl.

*Moving into a new BIGGER apartment! (post coming)

*Family coming in town to help with the move.

*Wonderful gender reveal party with sweet friends.

Looking forward to: This baby looking more like a bump than fat... I know that is superficial! 

Size of Baby: Size of an heirloom tomato!

What Baby's Up To: (from BabyCenter) 

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 doctor said our baby was already bigger than this over a week ago!!!

It's a.....

GIRL!!!!!!!! More details to come it was a fun night with some comical events... yes there were balloons, notice how we have no pictures of the them ....

here are some teaser pics...

17 weeks...

How Far Along? 17 almost 18 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think about 5 pounds gained... give or take, I guess I will know for sure when I go to the doctor on Tuesday

Baby Related Purchases: We purchased some fun stuff for our gender reveal next week! Leah and I have been crafty all weekend... Andrew has been supportive :)

 Here are some sneak peaks...

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Still sleeping like a rock right now.  I cannot seem to get enough sleep right now. 

Movement: I really think I am feeling movement most days!!!! :)

What I miss: I am actually feeling pretty good these days.  I still feel nauseous sometimes... but I am enjoying food again!

Cravings: Chewy fruity candy like starbursts, skittles and sour worms.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Mainly just feel sick after I eat a big meal.

Gender: Can't wait to find out... as long as the baby cooperates we will find out in 3 days!  We won't share until the weekend... so stay tuned! :)

Labor Signs: Hopefully a long time away...

Symptoms: I am starting to feel a better... just exhausted!

Happy or Moody most of the time: I think I have been a little moody here and there... but who isn't :)

Worries: Still trying not to worry...  clinging to the fact that God is in control!!!

Best moments this week: Highlights over the past week...

Stacey and Zach came to visit and we got our first baby gift... isn't it cute!!!

 Shopping for the gender reveal party with Andrew and Leah!

Looking forward to: Doctor's appointment Tuesday!!!  

Seeing some family come in for the move... and maybe the move (I have mixed feelings about moving) 

Size of Baby: Size of an turnip!

What Baby's Up To: (from BabyCenter) 

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.

16 weeks...

I missed a few weeks of posts... this is the point in the school year where things just get crazy! Hopefully it will be better from this point on...

Next week maybe a better picture...
Not quite a bump... a baby gut???

How Far Along? 16 ... WAHOOO 2nd Trimester!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think about 5 pounds gained... give or take

Baby Related Purchases: This is not really a purchase, but we are moving into a two bedroom apartment at the end of this month.  It is just down the street still on campus.  Last weekend we got to scope it out.  I am excited to get the new place, but sad to leave our cosy little apartment!

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: I sleep like a rock right now.  I don't have to get up as much during the night... so I am sleeping through.   I usually don't need much sleep but I cannot seem to get enough sleep right now. 

Movement: I think so... they say it is still early, but for about a week at least once a day I swear I feel it!

What I miss: Still running and enjoying food.  I have gone on an easy run a couple of times, but I mostly don't have time because I need so much sleep!  I am enjoying food more... but still not as much as I usually do.

Cravings: Fries.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Strong smells still and I just get nauseous in the evenings.  I had to switch prenatal vitamins.  The one I took for the first 12 weeks and didn't make me sick at all, now makes me so physically ill... it is awful!!!

Gender: Can't wait to find out.. less than 2 weeks away!  We won't we sharing right away, but stay tuned :)

Labor Signs: Hopefully a long time away...

Symptoms: I am starting to feel a better... just exhausted!

Happy or Moody most of the time: I think happy most of the time...  Andre would say I get a bit moody... but I think I am just tired at the end of the day.

Worries: I have been struggling with worry between the appointments that baby Skelton is not okay.  I just keep praying for peace!

Best moments this week: Highlights over the past 2 weeks...
seeing our new apartment
going to the BCM retreat with Andrew
enjoying work

Looking forward to: Anatomy scan and gender reveal in 2 weeks!!! :) 

Size of Baby: Size of an avacado!

What Baby's Up To: (from BabyCenter) 

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.