Disclaimer: I was wearing a very heavy sweater.

Yes, that's right.  I was wearing the heaviest. sweater. ever. when I stepped on the scale at the doctor.  Oh, and there was lots of heavy snow and such on my boots...

Since my last doctor's visit, 5 weeks ago, I have gained 16 pounds.  Yes, I said 16.  That brings me to a grand total of 26 so far.  I was quite surprised!  My doctor is pleased with my progress and the baby is measuring right on track.  I have no swelling yet and normal blood pressure.  I'm not sure where this so called 26 pounds is, but my belly has gotten quite round.  I still feel great and am comfortable with the amount and the quality of food I eat.  I keep trying (and Sam does too) to reassure myself that everyone is different and to quit comparing my pregnancy to other people's.  Everything is going great so far and I will continue to try to not focus on the number. 

I also had my glucose tolerance test and am still awaitng results.  The "drink" wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  Sam is a trooper and waited with me the entire time.  Oh, and I think the glass of pure sugar must have contributed to my tipping the scales as well.  :)

We have been busy thinking about a lot of things for the future.  Money Markets, Mutual Funds, Roth IRA's...oh my!  I occasionally get overwhelmed with all of the planning and things to think about.  We are slowly but surely getting the baby's room put together.  Sam primed and painted 3 coats and we love it.  We are working on bedding and color schemes...such big decisions.  We are picking up things when we see them for cheap, such as a few gowns and sleepers that we got for $1 each today!  We are excited to set up our brand new crib and changing table, which will be beautiful.  It is easy to get caught up in trying to pick out the "perfect" and "right" things.  We have to continually remind ourselves to sit back and relax and enjoy these moments. 

We are looking forward to our upcoming events and in the mean time, we remain pretty amused by this bowling ball feeling -looks like I ate a whole watermelon- baby bump! 

Some Family Pics

Getting ready to welcome in the exciting new year!

Finally, here are some ultra sound pictures.  They are from about 5 weeks ago.  The quality is very poor...I could not upload them to this blog so I had to be super lame and take pictures of the pictures. 

This one is her shoulder, upper arm and forearm.  He hand is giving us a thumbs up!

This one appears as if she's "looking at the camera".

This one is my favorite, I think.  It is her profile with her arm and hand up close to her face.  She was making sucking movements with her mouth the whole time. 

I am now 23 weeks and doing great.  My back pain has gotten much better so hopefully it stays away.  Probably just until my next growth spurt.  I am very tired and getting more and more hungry!  I didnt think that was possible because I already feel like I am eating ALL OF THE TIME!  But, baby's got A LOT of growing to do yet so I am going to continue to make sure she is well nourished.  We are cruising along wonderfully and remain super excited! (and a bit nervous already).

Happy New Year!

Hi All...and Happy New Year!

We are all doing well and just trying to stay warm.  This so called "space heater" that everyone talks about has not kicked in yet. 

We have waved good bye to 2010 and appreciate and embrace all of the memories that went along with it.  We attended some very fun friend and family events, weddings, and parties along with some awesome road trips with just the two of us.  Well, Jaxon too.  We like to say that it was an epic year but we seem to keep saying that year after year.  They just keep getting better and better!

We are really looking forward to what 2011 has to bring.  Aside from the obvious excitement and anticipation, there are a lot of things that are worrying us.  This is such a happy time and we are so excited to welcome this new year but we are also anxious about some typical issues.  Will she be healthy?  Will she be smart?  Where will we take her for daycare?  Will she be a packer or viking fan?  Will she see her grandparents enough?  Will we be good parents?  HOW WILL WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY?

In the mean time, we are trying to enjoy every moment of this pregnancy.  It is such an experience and we wouldn't want to go through it with anyone but each other.  Emotionally, I have my ups and downs.  Mostly ups but I'd be lying if I said I never cry and yell and Sam for no reason.  But, mostly ups.  Physically, I am beginning to feel the effects of the extra weight.  It is amazing how heavy 10 extra pounds feels.  And I have a lot more to go!  I am to gain a pound per week at this point.  I have been quite tired and get easily exhausted and out of breath.  I am hungry all of the time but manage well by eating small every couple of hours.  I have been feeling the baby moving like crazy.  It is so reassuring and i am now not comfortable until I feel her move a lot.  I am definately enjoying it now since she is not kicking by bladder or ribs.  I am now able to distinguish between a kick/punch and flip, roll, or summersault.  Sam is able to feel her too and it such a fun feeling for both of us.  I have also recently discovered a couple of cases of the hiccups and and it too is a pretty amazing feeling.  I  I have recently been experiencing back pain but realize these are all things I must get used to.  I am managing well and embrace these feelings because I know that they are normal and are to be expected.   We hope and pray that everything continues to go as well as it has and eveybody remains as healthy as can be! 

I appreciate all of theconversations, phone calls, emails, texts, and facebook chats just asking how I have been feeling and what's new.  Thank you all for your continual support!

6 months along!

Well, unfortunately I cannot get the ultrasound pictures to upload on this blog.  But, I've included some recent belly pics.  These are pictures from 21 weeks.  I cannot believe how fast this pregnancy is going!  I am over half way there!  Almost 2 more weeks and I'll be in the 3rd trimester...yikes! 

Everything has been going very well.  I have been getting used to being exhausted and hungry with sore feet and back.  But, it's all for a good reason.  It is so consistent that I am hungry every 3 hours that I can now put money on it.  I feel like I am constantly eating, but eating healthy snacks.  When home on the weekends I usually eat "my" breakfast and then eat "our" breakfast when Sam wakes up.  I usually eat "our" dinner at night and then need another "dinner-like" snack before bed or in bed.  I eat on a constant basis at work as well.  I feel healthy and my weight and the baby are measuring right on so I must be doing something right! Right?  Sam is doing a great job at cleaning, cooking and bringing me snacks.  Snacks just taste so much better when someone brings them to you when you are propped up in your chair with your snuggie snuggled around you.  :)

Sam bought us tickets to the Trans Siberian Orchestra earlier this week.  We were both off of work and made a day of it in St. Paul.  It was filled with lots of lights, lasers, pyro and huge sound.  It was a lot of fun and was one helluva show! 

We are standing up in our friends' wedding and sharing in the New Year's celebration with them this weekend.  We had a great Christmas and really enjoyed spending time with the ones we love.  A great big Thank You to everyone for the warm hospitality, delicious food, useful Christmas gifts, and wonderful memories.  We love you all!

21 weeks

Trans Siberian Orchestra

It's a girl!

Yes folks, we're going to be buying pink!  We had our ultrasound last week and she looks perfect!  All of her measurements are right on track and everything is looking just as it should.  She continues to be very active and showed us how well she can kick and bounce around.  It was fun feeling her move and seeing it on the screen at the same time.  She also showed us how she is practicing her sucking and swallowing skills.  We caught her with a thumbs up pose a couple of times and also with her thumb very close to her mouth.  I think she is showing off for us.  The ultrasound technician said she is very photogenic!  I think she's one of the cutest babies I've ever seen!  Could be my biased opinion?

Stay tuned for some pics of our little girl's first photo session. 

Picture Time!

The baby has been very active and I have been feeling it a lot.  What a fun feeling!  It is very comforting, reassuring, and super exciting to feel all of the kicks and other movements.  We can't wait to see it and all of it's activity next week on the big screen!

Here are a couple of belly pics at week 18.
P.S.  Notice how the viking ornament made it's obvious way into these photos. 

Christmas card worthy??

Pink or Blue??

Only 2 more weeks until we find out what it is...so exciting!  I want to hear everyone's opinion on what they think it is.  Leave a comment on this post and let me know your guess. 

Here are some more belly pics.  These are week 17.  Excuse the fact that I am in my pj's.  If I'm not at work it is difficult to find me in anything but sweats.  Also, excuse the fact that Jaxon has made an appearance in these photos.  He turns away when you try to take a picture of him but he insists on being in these pictures with me. 

Can't wait to hear what you all think!

And this one is just for a laugh...