You finally look pregnant

That's the comment I've been getting this week. It's so funny, it goes from you're not showing at all to, you're getting so big!! There are certainly a standard array of pregnancy comments, sometimes they get old, but I know that everyone is just expressing their excitement and I appreciate that. Although, the "you're getting FAT!" comment is not one I appreciate. I'm working on a comeback. Let me try it out here. It goes something like, "so are you!" Not a winner? No, I guess not either. But the fact is, I've only gained 7 pounds. I'm pretty sure that doesn't equal FAT.

Justin has been feeling her light kicks, but Sunday she gave it her all and let him have it. It was great. I've notice her kicks are consistently much stronger than before. Today I had a strange sensation, I think she was stretching!

I also wanted to praise God for providing for us (over and beyond what He already does). My wonderful hubby got a bonus this week! His boss said it was because of his hard work! How awesome is that?!! Reason 1: Justin deserves the recognition; he is SUCH a hard worker. 2: we have been praying specifically for some extra funds and 3: God softens hearts that we think are not soft. Thank you GOD!

Okay, now for the picture. I think the bump looks different depending on what I wear. Sometimes I feel like I just have a pot belly. Here I am or rather we are at 22 weeks:

20 Week Pics

Sorry for the delay. I had to scan the images onto a CD to be able to post them. Here is our darling little girl!

I think her nose is the cutest!

These are her feet. Crossed and lady like.

We're starting the modesty lesson early, so I won't post the "money" shot.

She's flexing her muscle for us. See her bicep?

Also, Justin sent me flowers! I received them before the big u/s. Isn't he so sweet?!!

IT'S A...

HEALTHY GIRL!!!!!!!!!

stay tuned for pictures of our little girl!

So what's up with baby

Pregnancy has been treating me very kind so far. I received my first pregnancy comment today! I had a flat tire and the dude from AAA changing the tire asked how many months I was. Bold, but I didn't mind one bit. Next week I'll be 5 months, so it's about time for me to start showing. I had another question at a meeting at work today. A guy from another agency asked when I was due, I hadn't seen him in months. He was a little nervous asking, since he wasn't sure. Once it got around the meeting that I was pregnant, at the next break the facilitator said, "The pregnant lady would appreciate a break!" I could have done without that one AND the facilitator was a woman! Anywho, we decided to skip the break and the associate commissioner asked if I was going to be okay with that. Wasn't that sweet and thoughtful? (Although somewhat embarrassing) Since I received those comments it confirmed my thoughts that I had "popped" over the weekend. There is a big difference between last week and this week. I'm wearing the same dress for consistency.

WEEK 18:WEEK 19:

My appointment with the midwife went great. She was super sweet and spent a great deal of time with us. She was with us the entire appointment and we saw no one else! She said I was measuring 18 weeks, right on schedule. We heard the heart beat again and it was perfect! She went over my entire medical records with the two of us and patiently explained everything and answered all the questions we had. We told her we weren't so sure about the due date; we thought it would be later, but she did all the figuring and came up with the same dates. I now know my blood type and I don't have to have the RP shot, which was concerning me, since my grandmother had to have them. I guess concerned is a strong word, I was very curious. I haven't been all worried about every little thing. Today I signed up for our birthing and breastfeeding classes. They will be in October and November, which seems far away, but they will be here before we know it!

I've felt the baby move for the first time 2 weeks ago at work! It felt like a marble rolling around in my stomach. Since then I have felt the classic, "gassy" feeling that was the baby. Most of the time though, it tickles my tummy! The baby seems to do the most movement after I've eaten fruit! Although, today I've felt the baby move a lot. I have felt 3 strong kicks, but nothing that could be felt externally. I can't wait until Justin can feel the baby; he is being so patient.

We've begun our preparations for the baby's room. Justin had all of his clothes in the "nursery" and I transferred them all to our room! Can we say reorganization?! The nesting has kicked in and Justin nor I mind. It's a good thing! We won't do anything else until we know what we are having (unless the baby refuses to cooperate). We find out the baby's gender on August 11th...ONE WEEK away! I can't wait. I haven't had any baby dreams and I have no gut feeling. It's going to be a big surprise!

It's not from being bored...

We've had plenty going on, I just haven't been into blogging. I haven't even really been blog stalking. Really! Instead of giving a blow-by-blow, I'll have a few pictures to summarize our life the past month. The only thing I don't have a picture of is our anniversary. Can you believe I let it pass without blogging about it OR taking pictures??! We went to the Cheesecake Factory and shopping for the big day. It was nice to get away and spend quality time with each other. We have had a wonderful 5 years!! And as everyone likes to tell us, or lives will never be the same, so you better enjoy this "last one."

tubing with Mama & Leigh (not pictured: Justin, Daddy, Uncle Larry, Aunt Donna)

Kama (Justin's sister) came for a wonderful visit and brought her doggies.

"Cousin Camp": Lucy, Sage, Mongo

Bethany's wedding (Our friend from MS State)

At the wedding w/ Brad & Lindsay Abbott (she's my mod friend;)

Updates

Baby update:



(1) My next appointment has been delayed one week, 7/28. It's really not a big deal since it is just a check up, no fact finding. The reason for the change is Justin and I decided to investigate a midwife. My OB/GYN is great and I have no doubt in his abilities, we decided that we prefer more personal interaction and time with the one who will deliver our baby. A few other factors include the birthing process. It's not rushed, the midwife coaches you and it's a bit more natural, but not sans the epidural. I'm not that tough or brave. I'm looking forward to meeting her!
(2) I had Justin make the first "craving" run last night, which he was very willing to participate in. I wanted a salad. At 9:30 p.m. Where did I want the salad from? Zaxby's, all the way across town. It was soooooo delicious and hit the spot. Justin got a Starbucks out of the deal.


Agriculture update:


(1) The garden is going great guns. We have had tons of rain, which hasn't proven to be the best thing for the garden. The tomatoes have been beautiful and absolutely divine! The plants reminisce of Jack and the Bean Stalk. Cucumbers and zucchini have been great too. The peas are probably rank up there with the tomatoes. They are so wonderful!!! Our okra is also producing and is tasty too! We have had a few unsuccessful products. The squash plants have given us one, count it, ONE squash. The corn took the dirt nap. Not sure what happened there, but we only got baby ears before the stalks began to die :( The garden hasn't produced as much as we anticipated, so there hasn't been giving away of veggies, in fact, Leigh has been supplementing our harvest with others. It could be that we are not fertilizing enough or it could be the organic fertilizing. Whatever the case may be, we are enjoying all our produce! It's actually looking pitiful right now. It's probably because of our multiple weekends in a row we were gone.

(2) Have you ever been around really old pecan trees? Well, our yard consists of 8 really old pecan trees. Pecan trees are weak when they get old and tend to drop limbs when it becomes too much. Coming home from lunch today I didn't notice is right away, but one of our trees dropped an impressive branch. So big that it took down a limb from another tree. I called Justin and told him to bring a chain saw home, we'll be needing it.

GUESS WHAT???!!???

We're having a BABY!!!

Surprise, surprise!! Even more of a shock, our bundle of joy is due to arrive December 28th! I'm 16 weeks along.

We are excited and sometimes I can't believe it's real. Justin mentioned, the morning sickness and headache aren't enough for you?? Yes they are but still, a baby?!!

I had some suspicions in early May, but a home pregnancy test (hpt) came back negative. Then on Mother's Day walking into church I was all of a sudden sick to my stomach. I knew then, I had to take another test. I waited until the next day and it was positive! Justin didn't really believe the results, neither did Leigh when we told her later that night. Since this is our first rodeo with pregnancy, we were sure about the accuracy of the hpt. The next day I called my OB/GYN.

I told the nurse, "I think I'm pregnant."

The nurse said, "You think? Did you take a hpt?"

"Yes."

"Did it come back positive?"

"Yes."

"Well, you're pregnant. Congratulations!" (like duh...)

"Oh!"

My doc was booked for a month and then we was going on a mission trip to the Amazon for two weeks! We called our parents and Justin's sister and told them the news. Needless to say they were all very excited.

After our vacation to the beach, the next Tuesday was the big day. I assumed that we might be 8 weeks along. I told the doc all my info and he gave me the due date of 12-28. What? 12 weeks??? I told him that I didn't think so, so we scheduled an ultrasound.

As we went in for the ultrasound I told the tech that I thought the doc was wrong and that I was maybe 8 weeks. She said, "Well, it looks like the doctor knows what he's talking about."

Needless to say that was a shock. Most of the time when people go in they over estimate, so I thought I was 8 weeks and that I was probably over estimating...nope, not this time.

The ultrasound was amazing, especially since we were expecting a shrimp with heartbeat to show up. But instead we saw our baby, that actually looked like baby and had a great profile. The baby was flipping around, kicking it's arms and legs, arching it's back. It was amazing! Justin and I just looked at each other in shock and said, "It's real. We're pregnant." We also got to hear the heartbeat, which was unbelievable, once again we weren't expecting it.

We decided that since we were so close to the 4th of July we would just wait to share the news and tell my grandparents in person. We hadn't been able to tell any family face-to-face and I'm so glad we waited. (Sorry everybody else) Telling Geems and Papa was so fun. We even took a video of it.

Sickness wise, it hasn't been too bad. I have had some morning sickness, most of which is gone now. I do have terrible headaches. And if I get too hungry or too hot, I'll toss my cookies. Speaking of cookies, don't give me anything sweet. I'm not into it, at all. Give me cheese, cottage cheese, peanut butter, nuts, potatoes, meat, bread. I'm sick of crackers though. I haven't gained any weight yet, I've actually lost 2 pounds...I'm sure that' going to change quickly. I'm not showing hardly at all. Which I'll be excited when I "pop!"

My next appointment is the 21st and the second week of August we'll find out the baby's gender. Justin, of course, wants a boy. I'll be great either way. Once we find out the sex, I'll get a poll together to guess all the other stats.

VIDEO OF US TELLING GRANDMA & PAPA...They thought the box that contained a picture of the ultrasound was something that would jump out at them...you'll see what I mean.