Looks

Although we cannot decide on a name, we have decided which of our own features we want her to have :) Of course we want her to be healthy above anything, but looks wise, we hope she has : blonde curly hair green eyes Chris' eyebrows My eyes - but not squinty like mine Chris' nose My lips Chris' cheekbones My build hehe - that was fun! Since Chris and I both had bleach blonde hair when we were born, we're pretty sure she'll have the same. We'll both be uncomfortably suprised if she comes out with dark hair - lol

20 Weeks 22 Weeks

I'm now getting bigger by the second! Although I'm still in all my normal pants, I had two women tell me yesterday that my thighs and butt were getting big - but it "looks good on me". I'm about sick of that shit. I have my own mirror. I can see my weight gain just fine. Thanks. I'm still a size 5 bitches, leave me alone.

Other than that, I feel great! I'm SO ready to put the nursery together and find a name for little baby Echo. It's a work in progress.

Must....Stop....Shopping!!

Old Navy has the cutest stuff! Chris and I went to the mall last weekend, not too impressive. Today we had much better luck. We had my parents over last weekend. It was great. We sat around, watched football and ate (and ate and ate). Tasty!!

She's a Girl!!!

It's so nice to not call her "it" anymore. Chris, mom and I went to the doctor Tuesday the 13th. The very first picture was of her lack of a penis. It was great. Chris DID make the tech double check. hehe. Then we got to see her brain, spine, heart, liver, arms, legs, nose and mouth. While we were "watching" her, she yawned. A BIG yawn. She DID cover her mouth when yawning though. It was the cutest thing ever. She seems awfully squished in there. Her knees are in her face and she's moving and squirming all the time. She had a strong 170 beats a minute heart beat. It was great to hear. The doctor said her growth is on track and everything is looking great. We have another appointment in 4 weeks, just a normal visit. The visit after will be my sugar test and soon we'll be seeing the doctors every two weeks instead of every 4. Joy. I asked my doctor how my weight gain was coming along. He shyly showed me my chart (which said I've gained 10 lbs). I said, uh yeah, 10 lbs, what's that mean. Well......the baby is only 10 oz. Uh yeah, what's that mean. Well.......strictly speaking, you're gaining weight a little fast. Chris jumps in quickly and says, but I'm SURE most of that is just water weight. He's a great husband :) I adore him. Chris and I spent the rest of the day shopping with Bailey. Babies r Us was our first stop. We're keeping the nursery deep purple and getting white furniture. It was a pretty eye opening experience for us all. All the cribs feel "chincy" to Chris. A bassinet is "necessary" because a pack n play doesn't seem "cozy" and looks "temporary" and he doesn't want her to feel temporary. And last, but not least, Jennifer, what do we do when the diaper doesn't hold all night. After I explained that diapers don't always hold (which was news to him) he asked what "we" do. Bailey told him, you throw her in the bath and clean up the nursery. Wide eyed and scared he says, well how do you clean up the shit? Call hazmat or something? (straight faced) No Chris, you just clean it up. Well can I wear rubber gloves? (since I wear rubber gloves when cook b/c I won't touch raw meat (Travis, keep your jokes to yourself)). Of course you can wear gloves honey! Oh this should be quite the journey for us both. We're SO excited though. We're both really glad we're having a girl (yes, Chris is already smitten with her). I'm still in my normal pants and dresses but I'm loving maternity shirts. Physically I'm feeling great. Nausea is gone. I'm still tired but I can keep my eyes open now. My back is starting to hurt and my neck is killing me but it's not unbearable by any means. All and all, I'm actually starting to enjoy pregnancy now.

Random

I'm not so sure how this crying baby thing is going to go - Chris and I were laying in bed Saturday morning, TRYING to go back to sleep - Woodstock was being a pest trying to wake us up - Chris of course snored through her annoyingness -I decided to toss one of my pillows, grenade style, over the bed at the cat - chris of course wakes up for that, looks at me all crazy - to which I reply, I'm going to be a great mom but I don't know about this whole crying thing - then we laughed hysterically Our moms are searching high and low for grandma names (our dads haven't mentioned anything about it) we need some suggestions for the grandparents - I gave Jacob his two options: Uncle Shebop (it's been his family nickname FOREVER - idk why) OR Uncle Kracker, both of which I love - He chose Uncle Shebop - NICE Chris and I have also discussed what we'd like our kid to call us - although Chris still needs a little convincing, I'm pretty set on Mamma! and Pappa! (with a little Italian accent) it'll be SO cute - Our kid's going to say the coolest shit!! One more week!!! We'll keep everyone posted

16 Week Update

16 weeks

Well, no sonogram at the last appointment. Our next doctors appointment is October 13th and we are scheduled for a sonogram then. We are planning on finding out the sex at the next appointment. This last appointment was very routine. I got all my blood work back; everything is normal. We also got to listen to the heartbeat; a perfect 140 beats. After the appointment my mom wanted to know what the heart rate was. Apparently there is some old wives tale that says you can tell the sex of the baby by the heart rate. I told her the rate and she rushed to the computer to google it. Anything OVER 140 is a girl and anything UNDER 140 is a boy. She was SOOOO bummed. I told her we were having a hermaphrodite. I also read that even though the babys eyes aren't open yet, that it can still sense light. That if I hold a flashlight to my belly, the baby would move to the other side of the uterus to get away from the brightness. When I told Chris, he looked slightly nervous (as he does anytime we talk baby) and asked Why?! Very calmly and straight faced I told him, b/c we are having a vampire honey.Then I had to laugh my ass off as he gave me the classic eat shit look. hehehe Oh this baby is so much fun already!

I'm enjoying the second trimester much more than the first. I can feel the baby move almost everyday now (mostly when I'm relaxing or after I eat). It's pretty exciting for me. I can't wait until Chris can feel it too. The whole pregnancy is still sort of sureal to me. I think finding out the sex of our baby and getting to feel a for sure kick with my hand, will make it really sink in.

I have a HUGE "to do" list. One list to do around the house, one list just for the nursery and one list for after the baby is born (like to sand and repaint the fireplace mantle). It's a little overwhelming but if I don't write it down, I know I'll forget. I'm hoping to get our desk cleared off this weekend and set up my new sewing machine that Chris bought me over 6 months ago. I have NO idea how to set it up or use it, but I'm sure I'll figure it out. I'd like to be able to say I made our baby a blanket or something but I'll need to practice before I get it figured out so I'd better start now. Oh yeah, domestication here I come!! HA

Chris took me shopping for some maternity clothes. Not fun. I hate having pants that touch my stomach so I've had to shop for super, ultra, extra low rise pants. Not the easiest thing to find. I've found that I really enjoy dresses right now. Very comfy.

Now that I'm starting to look more pregnant and less like I drank too much beer, I've become much more comfortable with my body. I've gained 6 pounds to date but should be gaining about a pound a week from here on out. I think I'm ready. Chris has continued to go for walks with me every night (as well as waking up every moring and working out for an hour before waking me up). It's been really nice. It gives us a chance to talk, while also getting a little excersize.

I did have a friend ask if she could touch my belly today and I actually told her yes. (yeah I suprised myself too) It didn't even bother me that much. I just really appreciated her asking. I did have a co-worker tell me that I look so cute and have such a glow right now that she's dying to give me a huge hug, but that she knows how I am so she wouldn't dare touch me. I told her, Thank You. I didn't realize people who aren't close to me could read me that well. So no one has an excuse for touching me. Apparently my face screams don't touch me. Nice! (plus it's cold and flu season and people are gross and dirty) I still think it's about time to make myself a shirt. I have the iron-ons already. A friend told me about a shirt with the Pillsbury dough boy holding a gun on it. It reads, touch my belly again and I'll blow your freaking head off. I found some funny shirts for Chris too. Something to the effect of "look what I did" to wear when he walks around with me. Shirts of that nature. (but we all know how funny Chris is) *rolling my eyes*

I've been slacking on the belly pictures and the journals but I'm going to try to update the blog weekly and keep my entries MUCH shorter than this one. I'll definitely have a post on October 13th! We are SO excited. I can't wait to name our baby.

First Trimester Belly Pics

8 Weeks

9 Weeks

11 Weeks

12 Weeks

13 Weeks

If we have any time this weekend, Chris and I are going shopping for some new clothes (and shoes - the days of heels are over) Although looking at the pictures, it doesn't look like I am much bigger, but I really am. It's quite noticable now (how exciting!) I've gained about 5 pounds to date. I'm ready to start getting bigger. I'm tired of looking like I just have a beer belly. I'm ready to be obviously pregnant. Chris and I have been going for nightly walks. I love it! It feels great to be active again and I don't get winded at all anymore. I don't think my eating habits are the way they should be but I'm working on it. It's hard when Chris isn't cooking =) I'm MORE than ready to find out the sex of the baby. I'm a planner. I already have lists. I need to know the sex so I can plan names and the nursery since Chris is refusing to discuss any of it until we know. hehe. I think my ovary might hurt at my next appointment and I think it'll be something that they'll need to check out (with a sonogram and while they're at it they could tell me the sex). We'll see. I'll keep you posted. =)

13 weeks

Feels great to finally be at the 13 week mark. Morning sickness has calmed down and my energy level is up (apparently so is my hormone level b/c I'm so pissy). I have a doctors appointment the day after labor day. I'm hoping we do a sonogram and that they'll be able to tell me whether it's a boy or a girl. I'm ready to get crackin on the nursery (although I'm pretty sure Chris is not). My belly was rubbed 3 times today. Fantastic. So I had to walk around the office waving my arms in front of me, telling people "look, if you run into my arms, it's not my fault you got hit; don't walk into my arms". If I can touch you, you're too close to me. I think that's my shirt slogan. Sounds good and no F words! It'll make my mom so proud. Nothing to really update. No news is good news!

10 1/2 weeks

I had my first prenatal visit today. They tried to hear the heartbeat using the Dopplar but couldn't hear it. Apparently my placenta is loud (What?! How the hell do I know, it's just what she said). So I had another sonogram done. Our little parasite (TIMMY!! do you see that noggin?!) was doing flips in there. (great, ADD already and I haven't been drinking caffiene at all) Hell, I'm bored too and I'm not stuck in a fluid sac.

Most of the all day sickness has subsided now. I have a lot more energy, although am exhausted about half way through the day. Sleeping through the night is OVER. Who knew that'd happen so soon?! I'm ready to plan our nursery. I feel like at any moment I'll be exhausted again so I should be getting shit done right now.

So a small handful of people have rubbed my belly (Cooper, you almost lost your little hand. Your daddy isn't funny). I'm not sure what makes people do that. I knew I'd have to face this at some point, but I NEVER thought it would be in the first trimester. I don't go around rubbing fatties asses b/c it looks like they are carrying around twins. My girls at work are making me a shirt to wear. I don't think they have decided on a slogan yet. I've suggested "don't f'ing touch me!!!!". Mom says I can't wear clothes that have the F word on them anymore. Guess it's not the "grown up" thing to do. Hmmm. So although my clothes are getting a little snug, it doesn't give you the green light to touch me. When the parasite sticks it's foot in my ribs, I'll let you feel. Promise.

All and all, we're very excited (still) and feeling great (yeap, speaking for Chris too). Our next appointment is in 4 weeks.

Oh yeah, my original appointment was Friday. Needless to say, I had my appointment today instead. Because Chris had taken off Friday to be with me, he couldn't take off today at the last minute. While in my appointment, the midwife asked me if the father was a part of the babys life. LMAO. Chris was SOO pissed. "Did you tell them that it's YOUR fault that I wasn't there? That I DID take the time off on Friday to go with you." Nope. hehe. Are you taking the blame for us being pregnant? (b/c you know it's ALL his fault everytime I'm sick or can't sleep). HAHA pregnancy is fun. I've grown SO much. I truly appreciate the little things in life now.

Against my better jgmnt, here's the blog, Halls!

We went to the doctor 6/30 and found out we're prego! On 7/14 we had our second sonogram and heard the heartbeat. This picture is from 7/14 and we are 6 weeks and 5 days along. Although we've been trying we were still really surprised, pleasantly surprised. We told our families the night we found out. We told a handful of others when we heard the heartbeat. We'd planned on waiting until the second trimester to tell "the world" since the chance of a miscarriage is still 20%, but we can't help ourselves. Almost everyone knows now.

Today, 7/30, we're 9 weeks. Although I've only gained 2-3 pounds so far, I feel like a cow. People pointing out how "cute" my "pooch" is, is not cool. It doesn't feel cute at all. Also morning sickness is a bitch. It's finally starting to let up a little bit though. My hormones are raging right now. The littlest things make my face turn beat red and I can actually visualize myself ripping someones throat out. It takes a lot for me to calm down afterwards as well. I hope the second trimester is as good as everyone says. (supposedly that's when morning sickness lets up and energy levels pick back up)

I'm reading TONS of books (which is only half way helpful). Ignorance is bliss. Before I knew all of this information, pregnancy seemed really fun.

Chris and I don't have a preference whether it's a boy or a girl. A boy first would be nice so when we have a girl next, the boy can look out for her (plus boy names are sooo much easier then girl names). A girl first would be cool because I could do EVERYTHING in pink. hehe

I'm thinking of doing the nursery in sock monkeys. Chris doesn't want to discuss the nursery at all right now. Until we know whether it's a boy or a girl, he doesn't want to "shop" (i.e. talk about) for any items. He also doesn't love it when I call our little fetus a "parasite". HA! What else would you call something that makes you tired and sick all the time?!?

All and all we're really excited. Every few days I look at him and say "can you believe we're going to be parents?!" of course, he says "uhhh, yeah". Well I can't! I'm still in shock. But I'm so excited about having a child. I've wanted to be a mommy more than anything and I absolutely adore my baby daddy (even though HE'S the one that did this to me). I can't wait for our child to scream something obnoxious like "don't touch me!" (that would be me) or "Touche" (chris).

I've never felt so many emotions all at one time.