Birthday Girl.

This post is a few weeks late... but better late than never, right?

In my family, birthdays really aren't a huge deal. Growing up, the best part about birthdays was going out to dinner and getting a birthday letter. Those are still my 2 favorite birthday traditions. Last year, Paul forgot to write me a letter (even though I told him it was the only thing I wanted for my birthday). Let's just say I was sad. This year, Paul did not make the same mistake (He's a fast learner). 

After I read my letter, Paul took me to Texas Roadhouse for the first time. Oh my goodness. SO MUCH FOOD. It was absolutely delicious. Afterward, we walked around the mall and looked at Christmas decorations. Spending time with Paul is my favorite.

 

Once we finished perusing at the mall, we headed home. Since Paul has been busy with work, he didn't get the chance to make me a birthday treat. Seeing as I only stressed the importance of dinner and a letter, I couldn't get upset at Paul for not having a cake. I confessed to Paul that I was a little disappointed. The next morning, Paul woke up before me (as usual) and got me mint brownies! We didn't have any birthday candles, so we improvised with a BIG candle.

[See below for documentation]

Before dinner-- not too shabby for being 18 weeks pregnant!

 

Oh... and did I mention that Paul got me a massage, earrings and Pride and Prejudice for my birthday??

I'm one lucky gal!

20 Weeks

We finally hit the halfway mark! 

The baby is definitely growing in there.

aka

My belly is getting bigger.

Hence, I got a few maternity outfits to prepare for the day when I can't fit into my clothes.

I cannot believe how much more pregnant I look when wearing maternity clothes.

Give it a few more weeks and you can see for yourself.

Twenty more weeks until Paul and get to be parents!

20 Weeks

It's a...

BOY!

Paul and I couldn't be happier!

At our last appointment, six weeks ago, we were informed that today would be the big day.

However, when we came in for our ultrasound, the nurse seemed confused.

She looked through the appointments and then told us that we weren't signed up for an ultrasound!

She asked us if we had taken a certain paper to the front desk when we scheduled our appointment...

Unfortunately, no one ever gave us said paper.

Even more unfortunate was the fact that they were booked until Dec 29th!

The nurse was very supportive and ensured us that we would at least try to determine the gender today.

Paul and I sat in our little room waiting for the doctor and I thought I was going to burst into tears.

It was so frustrating that no one gave us the paper we needed for the ultrasound.

There was nothing we could have done.

So we sat and waited.

The doctor came in and told us he wasn't very good with ultrasounds but he could try.

... this scared me.

I would rather wait to know the gender than to be told the wrong gender.

He reassured us and gave it a shot.

But Baby Hannibal was stubborn and would not show his parts.

I was so sad.

We finished up our appointment and went to the front desk to schedule another appointment.

When the secretary told us the next opening was over a week away, I began crying.

I was extremely embarrassed, but I was so bummed out that I couldn't hold it in!

She immediately hopped up and spoke with the technician.

When she came back to the desk she asked if we could wait an extra thirty minutes.

I couldn't believe my ears!!

We later found out that the "big screen" they use to display the ultrasound images was broken.

Instead of getting the big screen fixed, the tech cancelled the repair man and squeezed us in.

I have never been so grateful and happy in my life.

So, after a long, stressful morning we finally got to see our baby boy.

He was moving all around in there, sucking his thumb, wiggling his toes and kicking my bladder. 

Once we got back to our apartment, we opened up a gift from Paul's parents.

They left for Ukraine before they knew the gender, so they gave us two gifts: one in case it was a boy and one in case it was a girl. 

We stowed away the pink gift and pulled out the blue gift.

Inside we were surprised with the cutest little boy things:

Blankets, a blue teddy bear, a bib, two pairs of knitted shoes and baby toys.

I can't wait to stock up on more things for our little BOY!

A Simple Comparison.

Can you guess which one is mine and which one is Paul's?

Check out this gem!

I needed a quick break from studying so I hopped on facebook.

I am so glad I did, because I saw this video.

So cool AND festive.

... I can't stop watching it.

A Husband's Perspective

Pregnancy brings with it many different experiences for the husband and wife.  Wife gets nauseous; husband eats more food. Wife gets tired; husband plays video games.  My perspective of pregnancy has changed a little bit as well as how I see and deal with various situations that occur in a pregnant woman's life.

Libby is one tough cookie.  She never had morning sickness, but she was very nauseous for about a month.  I found this time stressful (as I was the one with the challenge to cure all forms of nausea).  If she ate food, she felt gross, but eating nothing didn't solve anything either.  Some things were too acidic, and others were plain disgusting at that moment.  It was a time to be creative in the pantry, grabbing any combination of foods that wouldn't normally be eaten together.

The baby bump seriously came as a surprise.  In one pair of jeans she looked fine, but in this other one she had a visible bump.  Maybe it was all the growing the baby did overnight.  The greatest part about the bump is that there really is a baby inside.  I had the chance to feel the baby kick (or punch) my hand.  I was kinda proud of that baby.  I don't know why.  The baby was probably just twitching in its sleep.  But it was exciting, nonetheless.

An epiphany I experienced was in Elders Quorum when I announced Libby's pregnancy.  They asked me how far along she was; I said 17 weeks.  Most everyone said something about her being almost "halfway there".  I didn't think it would be common knowledge that a pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, but looking around I realized that almost every guy in there has children, so they know just about everything there is to know about a lady in her various pregnant stages.  

Maybe the biggest stressor for me is understanding that I will be the provider for this family.  I am grateful that I have a good job so close to home.  Libby has been the best Craigslist shopper, and I am thankful for her resourcefulness.  The next year of my life will be challenging but hopefully very rewarding.

Baby on the move?

Women and doctors often use the word "flutter" to describe what it feels like when the baby moves.

I wouldn't say that I am feeling fluttering, but I am definitely feeling something.

The first time it happened was Monday night during Psychology.

I was taking notes when I felt a little jab.

I stopped taking notes and tried to focus on what I was feeling.

Then it came again... another little jab.

I can just imagine those tiny hands and tiny feet when I feel it. 

Throughout the week, as it has continued to occur, I have become more and more certain that it is indeed the baby moving around in there.

The first time it hit me that I'm actually going to have a baby was when we listened to the heartbeat.

Inside of me we heard a little heart thumping at 155 beats per minute.

Other than that, it has been easy to almost forget the fact that I'm having a baby.

Now, with the little tyke moving around, it feels real again.

It's a rush of excitement and nervousness all at once!

And baby makes three.

Yep.

That's right folks.

Paul and I are having a baby!

The baby has been baking for about 17 weeks now.

Thus far, pregnancy isn't too bad.

I was super nauseous from weeks 5 though 9.

(Luckily, I never threw up).

My biggest "symptom" is exhaustion.

I'm tired all the time.

The biggest change has been my growing belly.

I couldn't really tell I was pregnant until the past week or two.

I swear, this baby had a growth spurt or something.

...and I don't think baby plans on slowing down any time soon.

We find out the gender on December 21!

Being busy with school is the only thing that has kept me from going crazy until we find out.

Oh, and did I mention that Paul is the best husband ever?

Seriously, there is no way I could do this without him.

Well, that's all for  now.

Stay tuned for updates!

17 weeks