24 Weeks

I went to the doctor yesterday and everything is going great. The baby's heart rate was between 142-150 and my blood pressure was good. Things are right on track and we get our next sonogram July 6th in Peoria. I did gain 6 pounds since my last appointment - maybe that's from my mandatory nightly milk shakes!! (Who doesn't like ice cream when it's 100 degrees outside??) Other than that, I'm still feeling great and I'm really feeling the baby kick and move now. It's the greatest feeling ever!!
I'm just trying to stay cool and hope I can make it through the summer without swelling up like a balloon. Any suggestions...let me know.

Belly Pic

This is an unofficial belly picture but you can see how I'm growing. I also got to see my friend Sarah who moved to Florida, so it was wonderful.

Happy 2nd Anniversary Weekend

Matt and I celebrated our 2nd Anniversary this past weekend up in the Suburbs. We stayed at a great hotel and went to the Arlington Racetrack. That was a blast because we met some friends of my aunt and uncles that race horses there. Their horse "Nuzzle" won the 3rd race and we got to get our picture taken in the Winner's Circle. It was a great weekend all around!!

Matt's Practicing

Matt's practicing his Bobcat teaching skills with our nieces Megan and Holly. I hope our little one has as much fun digging as they did!!

Finally some pictures!

A very nice Memorial Day Weekend, a cookout at the Cushings and my best friend Kelly's graduation party from Optometry School! Notice both of our pregnant bellies, but Kelly's baby will be coming in July.

Half Way!!!

I can't believe it, but I'm 20 weeks along today and halfway through the pregnancy. I went to the doctor yesterday and the heartbeat was so loud and strong. It was 146-150 and sounded great. I'll go back in another 4 weeks. I'm trying to fix my camera so I can post some pictures, so please be patient with me. You'll get to see my emerging belly soon. Although I've only gained 4 pounds, it's looking like a lot more!!
After searching on the internet forever, I finally found bedding for the nursery and ordered it. I'll post a picture of that soon too. If anyone was guessing, YES, there's Orange in it!!!

A Happy Healthy Mother's Day

I had a great first unofficial Mother's Day!! I can really get used to all the pampering. The baby got me a pregnancy massage that I have badly been wanting. Not sure how it knew what I wanted, but I'm not complaining. The past two weeks were a little hectic for Matt and I. The doctor's office called to tell me that my blood test came back positive for a spine defect so we had to go see a specialist in Peoria last Thursday. After seeing the new dr., he reassured us that there was nothing wrong with the baby!! The sonogram we saw there was very cool. We got to see everything magnified (minus the parts that might give away a secret!) I have to go back after the 4th of July to the specialist again to make sure the baby is growing correctly and everything looks good. If everything is fine, I will continue to see my regular dr. until the baby is born. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers for a healthy baby!! It really paid off! This sonogram picture is from a week ago but it finally is starting to look like a baby!

Another good appointment

I went to the doctor today and the good news is that I've only gained 2 pounds. It sure feels like a lot more the way my clothes are fitting but I guess that's good. I did have to buy my first pair of maternity pants because I needed something stretchy to relax in over the weekend. I'm almost 16 weeks now and the baby's heartbeat was 146 and my blood pressure was great. I'm feeling pretty good and the doctor said I should start feeling the baby move around anytime now. I am looking forward to that, as long as he doesn't kick me too hard. My next appointment is after Memorial Day and we could be able to tell the sex of the baby but we're pretty sure we're going to wait. That will mark the halfway point of my pregnancy.

First Sonogram

We went to the doctor on March 30th and got to see the baby for the first time. Although he/she was very small and not moving around very much, the heartbeat was 160. Matt's for sure he saw something that told him it's a boy, but he needs to keep dreaming for now. In the picture, the head is on the left and the body is towards the right. It was such an awesome experience and made things finally sink in and seem soooo real!! We go back in a couple of weeks to hear the heartbeat again. I've been feeling great and haven't had many side effects at all of being pregnant. My tummy is starting to stick out there a little, but I can still hide it pretty well. Pretty soon I won't be able to control it.

Another exciting thing for us is that I started a new job last week at the new Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Uptown Normal. The not so great part is that it's opening right before I have the baby. Lots to do before then, with work and the baby but I'll work on a "baby discount" for anyone who wants to come see us and stay in Normal!!! That's all for now, but you'll hear from me soon!!

We're having a baby!!!

Matt and I found out on Valentine's Day that we are having a baby!! We couldn't be more excited. We went to the first Dr. appointment last Monday and the doctor confirmed that I am definitely pregnant. I think that helped Matt because I'm not sure he believed me at first, or maybe he just didn't believe the first home pregnancy test. I've been feeling great. We go to the doctor again the end of the month and we'll get to hear the heartbeat.