22, 23, 24......

We have been so busy the last month...time is flying by....and we (baby and I) are growing!

I am so blessed that this pregnancy has been so great so far! A little recap of our weeks!

Week 22

We traveled to Washington, D.C. Jordan was chosen to represent Texas radiology residents to travel to D.C. and work with the lobbyists that help fight for Radiologists. Jordan was able to meet Harry Reid, and a bunch of other senators and representatives. He went to "the hill," had many business lunches and dinner while I played in DC. It was a ton of fun, and I am working through my 150+ pictures.

{quick pic before headed out to the city}

Week 23

Back home from DC, this week was normal with work. I went back to the doctor for my glucose tolerance test. I was a little nervous, mostly scared, I wouldn't be able to have any ice cream after this visit (I made sure to have my fair share in DC and the night before : ) ) The test went great and actually I was hypoglycemic about 45 min after I left the doctor's office. I ended up scarfing down an entire package of gummy bears. Needless to say, I don't have gestational diabetes! SO relieved.

{the night after my doctor's appointment, little sneak peek of the nursery, primed but not painted}

Week 24

On the road again! We headed to Biloxi to see everyone. We went during the week since my work schedule is mostly weekend days. We relaxed, worked on a couple of things for baby, and mostly received belly rubs. Baby girl received much love!

{looking rather large--what can I say, they fed me well!}

I am still feeling more body than kicks when it comes to baby girl, she still gives me a jab every now and then but she's not too rough...yet. Apparently she still has room in there. I feel her most at 5am and late afternoon (4-5pm). I feel her when I am standing in my patient's rooms just talking with them. One day after running from patient room to patient room, I finally sat down to chart at the desk and she went crazy kicking me : )

This week, I am 25 weeks pregnant and I am still feeling great. I definitely understand why women say the second trimester is so wonderful. You get used to the belly, get some energy back, and feel normal. Except for the weird looking pants, I forget I am pregnant.....until I get a sweet love tap from baby girl of course.

{25 weeks}

21 weeks....halfway over the hump...or should I say BUMP!

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along? 21 Weeks

Size of the baby? Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

Maternity Clothes? I wore a pair of full panel maternity pants this week and they are super comfy! There is no question that I am pregnant these days. People ask me how far along I am regularly.

Gender? We are having a baby girl!

Movement? I went to an aesthetician for my face this week and baby girl had a very active moment! Still no jabs, just a churning.

Sleep? Sleeping well, and waiting for my snoogle (body pillow) to come in the mail Thursday. Jordan is concerned about whether there will be room for him in the bed!

Cravings? I am not feeling as hungry lately…hmm? I have never eaten brussel sprouts EVER, but have had them twice since being pregnant. Loving promegrante juice, and still drink a lot of milk with the occasional cookie….. : )

Symptoms? I had my first run in with a little sciatic nerve pain. It didn’t last long and must have been the way I slept. I miss sleeping on my stomach. I think I must be more tense when I am sleeping because I wake up stiff.

Best Moment of the Week? Receiving roses from Jordan for our anniversary and getting to celebrate three years of marriage.

Also, found this sweet happy for baby! It’s a calendar for the first year of baby girl’s life.

Happy Anniversary to you!

{Robert Randolph Concert-Amphitheater at MSU-2002}

Jordan and I celebrated 3 years of wedded bliss yesterday! Lately we have been especially thankful for all that we have been given. Our jobs remind us daily how blessed we are to have life, health and each other. Since we will be making a special trip soon, we decided to stay in on our actually anniversary. I woke up to a sweet card from Jordan and red roses at the door.

Flowers from my husband are rare, so that was a special surprise! Jordan is practical and flowers, well.....don't last. It was a very sweet gesture.

I decided if we didn't go out, I could still cook a great meal for us to celebrate three years.

We dined on

All Day mushrooms (Paula Deen)

Au Gratin Mashed Potatoes (Combo of many recipes-made my own)

Filet with Balsamic drizzle and PASTUERIZED goat cheese

Brussel Sprouts (by Rachael Ray)--yum!

Aged Gouda for an appetizer, Jordan had a nice Bordeaux, Lili had pomegrante juice : )

Mini cheesecake and truffle for dessert (by Central Market)

Of course it was an occasion to break out our fine china.

Dinner was wonderful, and it was great to talk about the past three years and the many more to come!

***As I was buying a few fun things at Central Market (including the wine) the nice man at the checkout counter asked me how far along I am in my pregnancy.....I quickly added that the wine was for my husband to celebrate our anniversary (I was drooling watching Jordan drink it--ha)! He asked me if this was our first child, and then reminded me this would be our last anniversary as two!

{Chimney Tops, Gatlinburg, TN-Labor Day Weekend-2003}

So many memories, so many adventures--cannot wait to see what life has in store for us!

20 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along? 20 Weeks

Size of the baby? Baby girl weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now (well she was approximately 11 ounces last week so this may be a little off). She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against her torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of her head to her bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, she's measured from head to toe.)

She's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Maternity Clothes? I am wearing my regular tops and mix them with my wonderful elastic maternity jeans and a couple of other maternity pants. Scrubs are my friend, thank goodness work clothes are easy!

Gender? We are having a baby girl!

Movement? I feel like a twisting motion, every now and then, and I can pretty much tell where she is hanging out, I think my belly is uneven with the left side a little more pudgy.

Sleep? I am getting enough sleep but still wake up once to go to the bathroom and numerous other times to readjust the pillow in between my legs. I am an obligatory stomach sleeper so this is a real adjustment. My hips are achy when I wake up in the morning but other than that, sleep is good : )

Cravings? I have been drinking a lot of milk, and Wednesday night after work all I wanted was a Waffle House waffle with milk. And that’s just what I got…ha! Also, so cliché, but pickles and ice cream. Not together, just both. Often. But if anyone knows me this is not weird but normal. I have been cooking a lot of potatoes, not usually a carb fan.

Symptoms? My hips being achy. Still having some breakouts on my face. Gotta love hormones.

Best Moment of the Week? Jordan took Monday off after working all weekend, it was nice to hang out and catch up. We registered and organized our thoughts about what to get baby girl! Wednesday when my alarm went off at 5:15, baby girl woke up too! It was nice to know I wasn’t the only one waking up considering Karma and Jordan were still tucked in bed. Thursday we went to the Arboretum with Hal and Sarah to hear music. Before they met us, we watched several families with little girls. The girls were so sweet, playing, dancing, and climbing all over their daddies. I cannot wait until we can take our little girl there and share one of our favorite spots in Dallas with her.

Baby Girl

Last week, we had our 20 week appointment, I was actually (19 weeks, 3 days) pregnant. We had the BIG sonogram and saw baby from head to toe! We have already looked over baby at 13 weeks and 16 weeks, because there has to be some benefit to Jordan working in the Radiology department right? Baby has been active from the very beginning, doing flips and waving to us at our 13 week sneak peek.

This day she did not disappoint! She was all over the place. My whole belly was full of goo, with the ultrasound teach chasing her around. The tech said she hopes baby calms down before she arrives. And yes, we are having a little girl!

She already looks like she is packed full of personality. Jordan is already adding up the costs between clothes, and a wedding!

It's amazing how when you find out the sex, the perspective sets in! We have been saying "baby" for almost 16 weeks now but now it's little girl, little woman, and a young lady we will be raising. How awesome!

We are so incredibly blessed, baby girl is healthy, she measured 11 ounces and all of her measurements placed her a day early, at 19 weeks 2 days. My doctor said her numbers were so tight with her growth that she is a bit of an overachiever.....oh no! Not that I am surprised since I married one. :)

A little about baby at 19 weeks.....

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.

I also like how it mentions that if I think I am big now, just wait! Nice, thanks.....

The morning of our ultrasound

BABY GIRL

check out that bicep, cannot wait to feel the real punches : )

One of her many flips! perfect little spine : )

We cannot wait to meet you sweet baby girl! We are so excited you are part of our family!

Love, Mom and Dad

18 Weeks

So far, I have no complaints about my pregnancy. It's been smooth (fingers crossed) and I feel great. I was so incredibly tired during the first trimester and although I do have much more energy in the second trimester, the 12 hour shifts at the hospital are long. I have always been someone who usually gets dressed very quickly, my husband would probably disagree BUT I am not the type of girl who goes through five different outfits before I can walk out the door! INSERT--new situation entirely. Each day is new as far as what fits and what does not! It's wild and by far the biggest surprise of my being pregnant. Seems silly that I am surprised, I knew I would grow a belly but I had no idea how in between I would feel!

So far dresses have been my BFF, and I broke down and bought a couple of maternity pieces with Christy, my sister-in-law when she was in town. I have broken down and bought jeans with an elastic waist and have found

A WHOLE NEW WORLD.

They are wonderful! No zipper, no button, just stretchy comfortable greatness! Sound sexy huh?

First comes love......

then comes marriage......

What could be next?

A BABY CARRIAGE?

We are having a baby!

Jordan and I are so excited that we are expecting! I am 13 weeks pregnant and are still trying to believe we will be parents. I am due February 13th so we will be having a Valentine's baby!

still playing catch up....

It is truly amazing what you can accomplish in a year! Jordan and I are so excited that I have completed nursing school! I am ready to get back to some normalcy in our lives (I want to be bored) and are looking forward to a fun summer!

After my pinning ceremony for nursing school

So nice to have everyone here!

We celebrated with a night a music at the arboretum....it was perfect!