21 weeks

We had a wonderful vacation and neither of us were ready to come home! I wanted to take the beach with me, but it wouldn't fit in my bag. We had a blast just spending our last vacation where it's just the two of us for a little bit. We putt-putted every night and found a WONDERFUL hot wings place. We found our baby's going home outfit, which is incredibly cute. Of course, we did buy a few more outfits, but not too many. It was hard not to go crazy at Carter's because they had everything for $3. I probably would have bought more if I could find the 3-6 month old clothes. Oh well!

Our little boy has been kicking more and Raun got to feel him move for the first time on our vacation. He likes to kick Raun right before we go to sleep...I can tell a difference between his kicks and his punches at the moment because he doesn't have to much strength in his arms yet. He also likes to move when I have some piano students who mess up a lot and play loudly....he always kicks me then! Time is going by so fast. We're looking forward to May because our crib gets delivered and the downstairs will hopefully be done so we can move all 3 rooms around. It's driving me nuts because I really want to start getting things ready, but we can't just yet. I think I'm driving Raun nuts!

20 weeks...

We've been enjoying our anniversary trip to Myrtle Beach. It has been very relaxing and I must say I'm getting good at putt-putt golf. We try to play almost every day, at least once. Keeps us busy! Our baby has been moving A LOT during this trip. He seems to get really hyper when I eat jolly ranchers. Sometimes at night, he makes me laugh because it tickles and other times....he hits and kicks me in two completely different places at the same time. I'll update more next week, but here's some pictures of our trip so far!

It's a.......

Today was such a wonderful day! Raun and I got to see our baby for the first time today. It was so wonderful and yet very unreal at the same time. I don't feel ready or old or wise enough to be a mom. There's so much I don't know! I know that mommyhood grows with the baby, but it's scary to realize that we're held responsible for another tiny life.

Mom came with us to see the ultrasound and then we met Raun's mom for lunch at the hospital (since she works there). The ultrasound was incredible! I had prayed that God would make it obvious as to what our baby was because I really wanted to find out. Before my appointment, I figured that I would drink some coke just to make it a little more active and to increase my chances of it moving around and not just sleeping. It worked! I thought my plan was original, but the ultrasound tech said that every mother has done that. Guess it wasn't so original after all. Maybe it's mother's intuition early? Doubtful, I know!

As soon as she put the stuff on my belly and got it rolling around, she asked me if I wanted to know what it was. I, of course, said "yes!!!" She said, "well, it's defnitely a boy." I'm not for sure what I was expecting, but I said, "That's it? Just like that?" She said that she was measuring the femur and well, our little boy decided to make it obvious about its gender. Raun and I just knew that we were having a girl because everyone thought that I had been carrying it high like I was having a girl. I think only 3 people have said a boy! Raun and I were a little in shock because it wasn't what we expected. Once the shock wore off, we were excited. We got to see him sucking his thumb and at one point it looked like he was waving. He is registering with a due date of August 29 (still Labor Day weekend) and I would already be 20 weeks as of tomorrow. I'd be okay with him coming early! Not too early, though. We've got lots to do and I have to work on his scrapbook. His heartbeat was nice and strong at 156 this morning and it was 158 by my afternoon appointment. They said that the heart sounds great and there were no abnormalities that they could spot. Praise the Lord! I would be okay if God blessed us with a disabled child, but I don't want to wish for it to happen. I declined the genetic test for Downs and Spina Bifida because I know that nothing would change in us about our view towards it. I know that God won't give us more than we can handle, so if He blesses us with a typical child, then great. If not, then that's great, as well. We'll just have to deal with it from a different angle. We are going to watch the immunizations though, since boys are at a higher risk for autism. I have a feeling we'll be signing a lot of religious reason forms for a little while. Oh, well. If it keeps him from getting autism, then it's worth it.

Can't wait to go shopping on our vacation! What a great way to mark this wonderful day!

18 weeks and registered for baby Taylor

Nessa's dog, Maggie, (a boxer) loves my pregnancy pillow! She made it her bed.
Jen and Maggie dancing.
The Roomies
Suzzy also loves the pregnancy pillow.
17 weeks

One week from tomorrow we get to find out if we're going to be blessed with a boy or a girl. So far, all but one person has said that we're having a girl. We'll see if everyone's right! Then comes the fun part...picking a name. I think we have a boy's name figured out, but we're still stuck on several different names for a girl. Gotta be prepared for both, just in case the doctor's are wrong.

I had a great weekend with Jen and Nessa. We had a lot of fun catching up with each other and of course, lots of laughter. It always feels like we never left each other when we get back together. I'm so glad that God has blessed me with such great friends that have walked through the good and bad times with me and we still maintained our friendships and instead of it falling apart, like I'm sure we all thought at some point, it grew stronger. Jen showed us her house online and it was beautiful and we even got to see Josh's (Nessa's husband) lovely face on the webcam...all the way from Afghanistan. I'm so glad that they have that so they can still talk every day and, in a sense, remind themselves of what it's like to be together. She's such a strong woman. Jen and I were amazed because we didn't think that we would have the strength to let our husband go for 15 months. We love you, Ness!

I've been cleaning and organizing my house and trying to get things ready for the crib that comes in May! Who knew that you could accumulate so much stuff. Cleaning out and taking things to Good Will is on our agenda for this weekend, as well as finishing up taxes. I look towards our anniversary as vacation...Raun sees it as a reminder to get his taxes done!

Mom came to visit us on Monday and stayed the night. We had so much fun. She helped me register at the different places for baby items. I'm so glad she was there because by the end, I felt like I was barely chugging along. It's amazing how a baby takes so much out of your body. She's been laughing at my craving for Sonic tator tots dipped in LOTS of ketchup, though. She was great at helping me figure out what would be great to register for. Combined with my polling from friends who have had babies, I think we figured out some things that would be good. We did find a great stroller and car seat, if I must say so myself. She tested it out first and it passed the grandma test, so I got to try it out. I was a little unsure whether or not you are supposed to register for diapers and wipes. I wanted them, so I did register for two different packs, but I'm hoping people know that any diaper and size is okay. If anyone knows how you're supposed to do that, let me know! Raun was glad that he didn't have to go, but we did go beforehand to pick out a few things.

I've been feeling more pressure on my bladder lately and more fluttering...usually after my Lucky Charms at night. Still no hard kicks, though, although it could be anywhere between now and week 20 that I feel it kick.

I got a call yesterday to speak at Southern Adventist University about music therapy and health. I am so excited about that opportunity. It will be neat to promote music therapy and the growing field. I'll let you know how that goes...I don't think that it will be until after our trip, though.

I'll be sure to post next week after the ultrasound!