Our Baby G

10 Weeks

2011-05-08T22:07:00.002-05:00

How Far Along: 10 Weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: No Change

Size of Baby: Kumquat (I've never even seen one of these)

Maternity Clothes: Sometimes... they are more comfortable

Gender: ?

Movement: No :)

Sleep: Good, especially naps

What I miss: Nothing at the moment

Cravings: Spicy food

Symptoms: Fatigue, fatigue, oh, and fatigue

Best Moment this week: Not this week - but two weeks ago was our first doctor's appointment and we got to see our little baby with a nice, strong heartbeat.

It's Spring!

2011-04-10T23:55:00.002-05:00

Raegan,

We have had quite the week.

Tuesday morning I fell while carrying you down the stairs in the garage on our way to school. I was able to brace myself with one hand and hold on to you with the other. We banged heads pretty hard and I have a nice bruise on my arm, but other than that it appears everything is okay.

We've done tons and tons of playing outside this week. It's been nice and you love it!

Silly Boy!

You are very brave. You like to climb up the slide all by yourself and then go down as fast as you can. We used to count to three first, but now you have no time for that silly business!

Friday I had to judge a contest in Stillwater. You stayed in Medford and went to Uncle Tanner's baseball game. It was storming really bad there, and there was even a tornado warning, but the sirens were broken and the TV was not working, so you, Tanner, and grandma never went to a shelter. Luckily nothing touched down, but your mama was scared in Stillwater knowing what was going on where you were!

Saturday we made a late trip to Cherokee. We went and ate with your grandpa, picked up our taxes, then came home. You like your baseball cap that grandma's friend Tammile got for you:

Today we have done absolutely nothing. We took a long nap earlier and when we woke up, your daddy had done the laundry and had cleaned the kitchen for me. We played inside, swung outside in our backyard, and you chased Bruiser and Daisy around in the backyard. After dinner, you played in the bathtub and brushed your teeth, and now you are out for the night (hopefully, probably for three or four hours ;)

Love, love, love you my sweet boy!

6 Weeks

2011-04-10T23:49:00.002-05:00

How Far Along: 6 Weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Lost 2 pounds

Size of Baby: Sesame Lentil

Maternity Clothes: None

Gender: ?

Movement: No :)

Sleep: Besides getting up to use the restroom, pretty good.

What I miss: I want a sub sandwich like you would not believe.

Cravings: No cravings, really, but the thought of most foods just gross me out. There's not a lot that sounds appealing. I tried to eat a hamburger and spit it out and almost threw up.

Symptoms: Fatigue, fatigue, oh, and fatigue

Best Moment this week: Looking for a new crib since Raegan's was recalled. And I'm adding this for this week - Worst Moment: Falling down the garage stairs before work while carrying Raegan.

5 Weeks

2011-04-05T19:46:00.004-05:00

How Far Along: 5 Weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Lost 2 pounds

Size of Baby: Sesame Seed

Maternity Clothes: None

Gender: ?

Movement: No :)

Sleep: I'm sleeping okay, just using the restroom approximately 587 times a night.

What I miss: Vanilla Diet Coke... and I really want a sandwich.

Cravings: Nothing really, ice cream a couple of times

Symptoms: Headaches, nausea, fatigue like you wouldn't believe

Best Moment this week: Telling a few more people, counting down the days until our appointment with the doctor

Dear Raegan,

I can't get over how much your simple little life is about to change. I know you will love your baby, but it will be so different to not be the only one anymore. In the meantime, your daddy and I are trying to spend as much time doing the things you love with you before we add another sweet baby into our lives. You will forever and always be the one who made me a mama, and will forever be my baby... no matter how old you may be. :)

If Only I Were a Little Bit Older....

2011-04-05T19:42:00.002-05:00

Daddy was mowing tonight and someone couldn't stop watching:

Right after he realized it may be a while, might as well take a seat:

Maybe it will be easier to do this in the yard now:

I'm certain before long you will be right next to your daddy, helping.... or trying, anyway.

4 Weeks

2011-03-27T23:45:00.003-05:00

Dear Baby G #2,

Wow! What a shocker!! I never imagined this day would come so soon or so quickly. I decided to take a test today but never thought it would be positive. I'm excited, nervous, happy, scared, shocked, and feeling every other emotion possible.

I can't wait to feel you, see you, hear your heartbeat, know if you're a boy or girl. I can't wait for you to eventually meet your big brother, Raegan. I love you already, even though you are the size of a poppy seed.

Your due date is December 4, 2011. But because I will have a c-section, you'll be here before then. Eight months is a LONG time to wait, but I'm ready for each week to change and for you to grow and develop.

Your daddy and I are excited and anxious about our growing family.

Love,
Mommy

Big Brother

2011-03-27T23:42:00.004-05:00

Dear Raegan,

Tonight, you became my big boy. Finding out you're going to be a big brother makes you grow up fast. I know you have absolutely no idea what's going on, but then again, you stayed on my lap all day today, like maybe you did.

Your daddy and I are excited, but know that you will always be my baby. And you will always be the one who made me a mama. You were so loved before you arrived and that love has only multiplied since then.

As you lay sleeping next to me, I can't believe how blessed I am to have you. I know you will be a great big brother. You're such a sweet, caring little boy and I can't imagine life without you. I look forward to this new chapter in our lives. We have until December to soak up the novelty of just having you as an "only child" and I hope to share many, many experiences with you before that time.

Love,
Mama

Sweet Boy

2011-03-09T23:28:00.003-06:00

Dear Sweet, Sweet, Precious Boy,

It's days like today, where you walk around saying, "mom, mom, mom, mom, mom;" repeatedly put your finger in your daddy's ear and crack up laughing; lick the bottom of your feet and then look at me and grin; dip your chicken in ketchup like a big boy; get all your "farm" toys out and play with them on the coffee table; and open your precious little mouth to give me kisses, that I think my heart may burst because I love you so much.

We're going to the zoo this weekend and I'm sure you'll love it! Then you're going to stay and play for a couple of days with Uncle Tanner and grandma and grandpa, and then I'll come get you and we'll have a week of Spring Break to play here at home. That means summer is right around the corner and I can't wait! Especially since I'll be home with my sweet boy that I just can't get enough of. :)

Never a dull moment...

2011-01-30T20:58:00.000-06:00

You keep me on my toes....

Christmas Break

2011-01-04T23:23:00.005-06:00

The last month and a half has gone so fast. After Thanksgiving I only had three weeks of school until Christmas break. You finally got over the flu crud that you had. On New Years Eve your daddy and I went to eat and we also went and watched Little Fockers. There is a scene in the movie where the little boy throws up all over his dad - we laughed and laughed because that was the scene in our house for the three weeks that you were sick. I'm also glad your daddy was willing to split the clean-up duties with me...made it a little easier to deal with. :) I'm so glad you're back to yourself, and eating again!

You had a big two weeks right around Christmas. You made your first trip to Branson the first half of my Christmas break. Your daddy, Uncle Tanner, you, and I all made the trip. We were supposed to go over Fall Break, but about an hour before we left we got the awful phone call that Noel had been killed while at the lake with your grandpa and the youth group. I was worried about the drive there since you aren't a big fan of the car lately. You showed me, though, because you fell asleep in Ark City and slept the rest of the 4 hours to Branson!

We got to do lots of things in Branson during our five days there. We went to Silver Dollar City where your daddy and Tanner acted goofy all day. Your daddy took you on a frog ride and I was paranoid the whole time, even though it was a pretty risk-free ride. You laughed while you were on there, so I think you liked it.

We rode on the train, which you liked also. You and I went to the Frosty show while your daddy and Tanner were riding rides. We visited a lot of shops... We went to a part of the park that has a HUGE tree house and play area. You loved playing with the foam balls inside.

We watched the first lighted Christmas parade that evening, then made it back to the town square to watch the Christmas light show, and then decided it was getting way too cold and we were ready to go! Sadly, you missed this part because you fell asleep right before the parade was starting. We laid your stroller seat back and you snoozed away -- wrapped in blankets and coats, of course. It was COLD! I was looking so forward to watching you watch the parade and see the Christmas lights, but sleep won! There's always next year!

We did lots of shopping and spent some time at the Landing. Our last night we went to the Dixie Stampede and you LOVED it!! You loved all the animals and everything that was going on. It was so much fun to watch you.

When we got home from Branson we had a day to get things unpacked, get laundry done, finish buying Christmas presents, and then it was time to go to our family Christmas.

It was nice to be with all our family and you were of course the star of the show. You love to entertain and your little personality is so funny.

On Christmas Day I cooked and your grandma, grandpa, and Uncle Tanner came to our house and you opened your gifts from daddy and I and from Santa. I think you daddy had more fun picking out gifts than you have playing with them. He got you a remote control truck that you have absolutely no clue what to do with -- but he said it was so he could play with it with you. You ended up with lots of new, fun toys and lot and lots of clothes.

On Tuesday we went to Oklahoma City to visit your great aunt and uncle and their daughter, son-in-law and grandkids who were here from Arizona. We don't get to see them very often, so it was nice to get together. Uncle Jerry and Aunt Bobbie came to the hospital when you were born -- Bobbie came back a couple of times alone to see you before we left also -- but we hadn't seen them since then.

The rest of our week was spent relaxing and playing and watching Little Einsteins. We went to Cherokee Wednesday night to watch the OSU game with Tanner, grandma, and grandpa. On New Years Eve, your grandma came to stay with you while your daddy and I went to the Vintage House and then to the movies. When we got back, we all went to Cherokee to grandma and grandpa's house. Your grandpa had his youth group kids at the house for a lock-in, so we watched some movies and then came back home about 3:00 that morning.

Saturday your daddy decided it was time to move bedrooms around. We took the mattresses from our guest bed and put them with your crib headboard in your room. We are hoping we can get you to sleep alone. In 16 months, you have never slept without being right next to me. Even the one night we left you, you didn't sleep. So... we have to get something worked out! In three nights you have slept alone in there for about 4 hours each night. Although it's not perfect, 4 hours is more than ever before!

We are also making the guest room a play room. You have so many toys and they have overtaken the living room. We are still in the process of that, but hopefully by this weekend we can get it all moved!

You are becoming so funny! You love for us to laugh at you and you love to laugh. You will come up to us and just talk and talk and then shake your head and say, "Yeah". We have no idea what you're saying, but it's something! You love to point at things and say, "What's that?" You still climb anything and everything. You love to flip all your toys upside down. You love watching Little Einsteins and Barney. You like strawberry cereal bars, yogurt, and lately, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

We had a wonderful break, but this week it was back to reality. I miss you during the day and miss being home with you, but hopefully Spring Break is here soon, and then Summer Break.

We love you little man, more today than yesterday but not as much as tomorrow.

Long three weeks...

2010-11-28T23:18:00.002-06:00

Oh, sweet boy. You have had a rough time the last couple of weeks. It started out with you getting the stomach virus that was going around. You were throwing up so, so much. Then, I thought we had gotten over it, and it reared its ugly head again. You had a second and third round of it. Also, your daddy had the virus two of the days that you did. I stayed home with you two days and two half-days. After the weekend, I was convinced we were illness-free. Then last Tuesday evening you were acting pretty cranky. You woke up at about 4:15 Wednesday morning and I knew just by feeling you that you had a fever. We got out the thermometer, and sure enough, you did. I called your grandma and she went to the school and got stuff around so she could come stay with you.

Wednesday while you were home, we kept your fever down with tylenol and ibuprofen. It finally stayed down Thursday morning, so you went back to daycare. Friday you were fine also. Then comes Saturday morning, when you woke up with a rash on your face. I really didn't think much of it, but Sunday morning you woke up with the rash all over your tummy and back. I was still hoping it was nothing, but you couldn't go to daycare without seeing a doctor first. Monday morning your daddy got up early and took you to the doctor in Cherokee. They diagnosed you with Fifth's Disease. However, by the time the rash appears, it is no longer contagious. So, back to daycare you went. Wednesday started Thanksgiving Break, so you got to stay home a little more.

Finally, three weeks later, and I think we're all better. I'm pretty sure there are some teeth coming through again, though, as you have been drooling like crazy. Your nose is also running pretty steadily. You haven't truly eaten in almost a month. When you would try to eat, it would just come back up. I'm hoping that soon you will start eating again.

One night while you were sick and throwing up, your daddy was eating sopapilla cheesecake. You were sitting with him and gave him the funniest looks while he was eating in front of you.

Thursday we went to your grandma and grandpa's house for Thanksgiving. We had a small one this year, with only my grandparents, my parents, and Tanner. It was good to be with our family, though, and they all loved spending time with you.

And, after almost 16 months, we finally left you overnight for the first time. Well, I did, I guess. You've been away from your daddy, but not me. You stayed with your grandma and grandpa and Uncle Tanner Friday night. Your daddy and I just went out to eat for his birthday and finally slept ALL NIGHT! You did not sleep all night, though. You were wide awake from 1-5 a.m. You normally wake up at home at about 1:00 and will not go back to sleep unless you are with me. We've tried and tried to break it, but so far we've had no luck. I keep hoping that one day we'll turn over a new leaf and you will finally be a good sleeper.

We have a big week with ballgames and then Saturday you'll be going to watch a state championship football game! I'm so glad you are feeling better and I'm looking forward to being home with you for Christmas break!

Happy Birthday to Your Daddy!

2010-11-26T01:45:00.000-06:00

Raegan,

Today is your daddy's 28th birthday. He is the best daddy in the world to you, and he loves you so very, very much. He loves teaching you new things and is so proud of you. You are a lucky boy to have him... but we feel the same about you. :)

15 Month Well Check and the Nasty Flu

2010-11-10T20:48:00.003-06:00

Well.... the ugly flu bug has reared its head in our house. Tuesday afternoon I had to leave school and get you from daycare because you had started throwing up. Oh my word I have never seen so much vomit, especially from such a little boy. You had no energy and you were so, so pale. It was so sad. Today you were much better and have even kept four sippy cups of pedialyte down.

I had scheduled your one-year well check for today, and then of course you ended up sick. I called and they said to go ahead and bring you in. Unfortunately, they thought you should go ahead and get your shots. So... since we were behind and never got your one year shots, you got those plus your 15-month shots. You got six total. It was a whole new sad. :(

You weighed 24.1 pounds which is between the 25th-50th percentile and 33.25 inches which is above the 95th percentile. As a baby, you were short and stubby and now you are tall and slender.

You are so much fun right now! You can say mama, dada, mine, more, eat, thank you, and hi. You also will try to repeat words we say to you.

You can give kisses, wave bye-bye, give high five, and raise your arms when we say "touchdown" (sometimes on this one -- it's hit and miss).

You eat all table foods, but you aren't much of an eater. About six weeks ago I took your bottle away and you finally took to a sippy cup.

You are the biggest little monkey ever. You climb everything. There is nothing you are afraid of.

You still do not sleep through the night. Maybe soon? It would be so nice to sleep all night long, even for one night!

Along those same lines, we still have not left you overnight. Maybe soon that will happen also.

Everyday you figure out something new, and I feel like I am constantly chasing you. Probably because I am. :)

I will take some pictures when you feel better...

We love you, Raegan.

Heart.Attack.

2010-11-08T23:02:00.001-06:00

Dear sweet, sweet, precious, sleeping child-of-mine,

If you continue to do things like STAND UP IN YOUR HIGH CHAIR AND BOUNCE AROUND, you are going to give me a heart attack. Seriously.

You fell and hit your poor little head at daycare today. You have a pretty nice size bruise on the side of your face. :( Breaks my heart. But I have a secret -- your daddy was so worried he had to go check on you at lunch. I think you have him wrapped around your finger. :)

Your 12-month well-check is Wednesday evening. Breaks my heart to think about all the shots you'll be getting. I hope daddy can make it to Cherokee to come, too. I hate seeing your sweet little face while they're giving you your shots.

I just picked up the living room -- you successfully made it look like a tornado had gone through Toys-r-Us. You're asleep, and now it's my turn.

Love you sweet boy.

Now please stop threatening my health. :)

Monkey Child

2010-11-04T22:36:00.002-05:00

Oh, dear monkey boy....

I love you, but you climb EVERYTHING. Today you tried to climb into the window seal, but I caught you first. There is nothing you cannot get yourself into/onto.

The worst part is when you look at us and just laugh and laugh and laugh.

I love you, stinker boy. But I'd be fine if you'd stop the acrobatics.

Precious Bumble Bee

2010-11-02T22:17:00.002-05:00

This year for Halloween we went to the pumpkin patch and later in the day we went to Cherokee to your grandma and grandpa's house. You had lots of fun playing football with Uncle Tanner and "trick-or-treating", which really only consisted of going to two houses.

I conned Tanner into holding you still for a picture:

The others turned out fairly good, especially since you don't believe in sitting still for more than 4.7 seconds.

We tried bribing you in this one with your football:

Your orneriness definitely shows in this picture:

Our trip to the pumpkin patch didn't exactly go as planned. You fell asleep on the way there so we had to wake you up to take pictures. Then you wanted to throw the pumpkins... I guess they looked a little too much like balls to throw. We were still able to snap a few pictures that didn't turn out too bad.

And this is what you did in between the pumpkin patch and trick-or-treating:

This picture was taken at the beginning of October, but it is a classic look of your daddy. Classic.

Later that evening we watched the OU game and then headed home late, late that night. Next year I'm sure you'll be more excited for Halloween once you figure out the treats you get!

Spaghetti

2010-10-17T22:33:00.003-05:00

Tonight you had your favorite food... spaghetti. I usually feed it to you, but tonight I decided to let you eat it by yourself. Well, you enjoyed it:

(Please ignore the crappy iPhone pics, my camera batteries are dead.)

Messy, messy

I don't even know what to say about this face, just shows your ornery self

This all led to your 2nd bath of the day

Yesterday your grandma, grandpa, and Uncle Tanner came to town. We moved your slide to the front yard and you and grandma played and played and played on that thing. Later that day I went and got you a car.

You love it! But a lot of the time I catch you doing this

You are a little monkey right now! All you ever do is climb on EVERYTHING! You are definitely all boy!

Thankful

2010-10-10T22:40:00.002-05:00

Just thinking tonight about how blessed I am to be this precious boy's momma...

He may fall asleep in his high chair mid-meal...

Or tackle his buddy Charlie...

Or fall asleep with his daddy after a long day...

But I love him. More than I could have ever imagined and I can't imagine my life without his sweet smile or bright blue eyes looking back at me.

Happy 1st Birthday, Raegan!

2010-08-15T22:12:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Baby!!!

I can't believe you are one year old. This has been the most amazing year of my entire life, but it has gone incredibly fast! Too, too fast! We have a busy week the second week of August:

13th - Grandma and Grandpa Blubaugh's Anniversary (this year was their 55th!)
14th - Grandma and Grandpa Bowman's Anniversary (this year was their 28th)
15th - YOUR Birthday!
16th - My Birthday (25) and Aunt Karen & Uncle Jay's Anniversary (this year was their 24th)
17th - Twin Cousins Chloe & Claire's Birthday (10)

So, because your birthday fell on a Sunday, and because of all the other events that happen around your birthday, we celebrated a day early. It didn't matter, because our house was packed with the people who love you and care for you the most. We had close to thirty people come to help celebrate your first year, and what a year it has been!

This isn't a birthday picture, but it's something you love to do. Your daddy has a habit of leaving his laptop on the couch and you love to come in and move it to the floor and pound on the keys. Except on this day, you decided to use it as a chair instead.

We had a western party for you, and you ate up every bit of it. Here are your cakes:

(Smash Cake... and smash you did!)

Uncle Tanner will love this picture:

On the day of your party, we had the big gate between the living room and dining room open. You figured out that you could get out of the living room and you took off as fast as you could. This picture is me chasing you in the kitchen. You thought it was hilarious. :)

You had a wonderful day, and we had a great time celebrating you! We are so blessed by you and can't wait to continue watching you grow.

You started a new daycare when I started back to school (work) and you love it there. It makes it so much easier to go to school this year. You eat big boy food and seem to really like that.

We switched you to whole milk a week before your birthday and you didn't have any trouble with it. And I have to say, I am loving that I can walk right past that formula aisle and not have to break the bank to buy any. :) You wear a size 4 diaper and size 6/9 month clothes. You are also wearing some 9/12 month things. You go to sleep at night at around 9:00 and will usually sleep in your pack-n-play (in our room still) until about 2:00. After that you usually end up in bed with us. You wake up at about 7:00 a.m. This summer you would take a morning and afternoon nap, but now you don't take a nap in the mornings, just one after lunch for about 2 hours. You must get VERY worn out at daycare because we come home and usually we both fall asleep around 4:30 and sleep for about an hour or until daddy comes home. :)

We are fixing to switch doctors, so we haven't had your one-year well baby appointment yet, so I'm not sure your height/weight.

You love to play ball and play with your building blocks and your books. Charlie loves you and you love Charlie. You love to chase him and then tackle him. Silly cat... he evidently doesn't mind, because he comes back for more. :)

You say "dada", "mama", and just this week have tried to repeat "thank you" and "i love you".

We love you, Raegan. More than you'll ever know!

11 Months

2010-07-15T02:05:00.001-05:00

Raegan,

Where has the time gone? In only a month we will celebrate your first birthday. This has been the fastest and best year of my life. I can't believe your first year of life is almost over. We have been blessed beyond measure. You are the light of our lives.

The day before you turned 11 months - July 14, 2010, you started walking!! A week later and you were a full-time walker. No more of that silly crawling business!! You LOVE Charlie, pulling Charlie's tail, and resting your entire body on Charlie. It's adorable (except for the pulling of the tail) and I think Charlie must enjoy it also.

I have absolutely no idea what you weigh or your height!! The last time we checked was at your 9-month appointment, which was 2 months ago.

On June 28, you got your first haircut! You did SO good and only squirmed a little bit. Overall it was much better than I anticipated.

You are wearing a size 4 diaper. You eat three times a day and when you take a bottle, you drink 7 ounces. Some days you may take two bottles, other days four. It depends on your mood and our schedule for the day.

We have made several trips to Medford this summer so you could see your grandparents. We have also made a TON of trips to Cherokee to swim, cook-out at my mom and dad's house there, and visit with Tanner and boys when they were staying there.

The first week of July you and I went to Falls Creek and left daddy at home. :( I'm sure it was much harder on him than me, because it was his first time away from you. You LOVED seeing your grandma and grandpa every day. There was also no shortage of kids to entertain you. You ate up every bit of attention you got. You attended services in the tabernacle, listened to Dutton Band, watched the Skit Guys, visited Devil's Bathtub, and went with mama and grandma on a three-hour, four-cart grocery shopping trip to Sulphur. I hope you get to experience these things many, many more times in your life. These are all things your daddy and I grew up experiencing and I think it is so neat that you will also.

I have only two weeks left at home with you. I can't even describe the sadness I have at having to go back to school. I have loved being here with you. You will start at a new daycare also. She is one of my good friends and I am so happy you will spend your days there. I will miss you terribly.

We are getting ready to go on vacation with Tanner and grandma and grandpa. I'm sure we will have a lot of fun and you will eat up all the extra attention you will get! We are also preparing for your first birthday party! We can't wait to celebrate our amazing gift, you, with our family and friends!

8 Months:

(You were at the no-taking-picture stage here)

9 Months:

I need to find your 10-month picture and take your 11-month picture (only a little late!).

We love you to the moon and back.

7 Months!

2010-03-21T16:07:00.003-05:00

Dear Raegan,

You are 7 months old! It hardly seems possible that another month has come and gone! I have been on Spring Break and have been home with you for the last 10 days. It's going to be so hard to go back to school tomorrow. :(

Here's a little bit about your last month:

- You still drink 7 ounces in your bottle
- You wear a size 3 diaper
- I finally put all your 0/3 month clothes in storage, as you finally outgrew them
- You wear size 3/6 months in all your clothes
- You still go to sleep around 9:00 and sleep until about 7:00
- You have one tooth poking through - we can't see it, but sure can feel it!
- You try to sing along with songs on the radio

- You smile at everyone you see, especially in restaurants or stores
- You went to church in Medford for the first time
- I'm not sure on your weight or height, but I can tell you have gotten taller
- You LOVE my iPhone -- it's the most expensive toy ever
- You babble all the time and have recently discovered you can scream
- You will scream as loud as you can, then look at us and smile

- You laugh and laugh at the silliest things
- You seldom cry, but when you do, it's more of a whine than a cry. Where did this come from???
- Your little personality is developing so fast, and you are such a ham
- We love you more and more each day!

Happy 7 Months Raegan

Love,
Mommy

Copyright Issues

2010-03-15T01:11:00.001-05:00

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More Pictures

2010-03-10T18:38:00.002-06:00

Raegan,

You can take off your diaper, take off your bib, and un-clip your pacifier holder from your clothes. All three of these are not my favorite skills that you have... but I do kind of think it's funny! :)

6 Months Pictures

2010-03-09T16:14:00.001-06:00

More coming soon!

6 Months!

2010-02-21T19:53:00.002-06:00

Dear Raegan,

You are six months old! Here's what you are doing these days:

-You eat 7 ounces in your bottle, and you usually have 5 bottles a day.
-You eat baby food at night, so far just sweet potatoes and squash.
-We tried green beans and it made you have a little rash and it upset your tummy, so we don't eat those anymore!
-You wear a size 3 diaper.
-You mainly wear size 3/6 months clothes, but there are still some 0/3 month things you can wear.
-You weighed 19 pounds, 10 ounces and were 26 1/2 inches long at your appointment.
-Three days later, you had lost 5 ounces because of being sick.
-You can roll over both ways, but HATE to be on your tummy.
-You love to stand up with us holding your hands.
-You will play and play in your ExerSaucer and are so excited about it!
-You are such a happy baby all of the time!
-You still have no teeth, but slobber ALL the time!
-You still sleep in our bed in your Snuggle Nest. I am just not ready for you to be in your room yet. Maybe soon?
-You laugh all the time at the silliest things!
-You have figured out how to take your diaper off.
-You love the Pumpernickel song from your Barney DVD!
-You laugh and laugh when I call you pumpernickel!
-You go to sleep around 9:30 p.m. and wake up at 7:00 a.m.!

You have been battling bronchiolitis since Wednesday, and we are closely watching you to make sure it does not turn into RSV. You are on medicines and just feel pretty lousy. It breaks my heart! :( Hopefully soon you will return to your happy self! You have not been sleeping at night because you cough and cough all night long. Thankfully my mom came on Friday night so that I could sleep. Since I have been sitting with you all night, I had not slept in three days. I have also been very sick, so it was getting a little difficult! You and I took lots of naps this weekend, and I hope we are on the way to recovering!

About three and a half years ago, your daddy and I decided we wanted to start having children. Then, two months later, I was in the hospital being tested for all kinds of things. They ruled out cancer and a number of other things, but I was diagnosed with lupus and started on massive doses of steroids and a chemo pill. My doctor at the time said it would be at least five years before we could think about having children. Another doctor told me it could never happen because the chemo pill causes infertility.

God said wait.

About a year later, I changed doctors and she changed my medications and we began seeing some improvement. She told us as soon as my lupus was in remission there was no reason we could not have children. About another year later, all my tests were good, I had not had a flare up and we decided it was time.

We had it timed perfectly where I would graduate from college, then have 8 months to stay home with you before I would start teaching.

God said wait, over and over again.

One year later, one very, very long year later, I graduated from college, three days later I was hired for my first teaching job. Then about a week later, God sent you to us. Two days after Christmas, we found out we were expecting you. It was the perfect Christmas present.

It was all in God's timing.

About five months in, we experienced major problems and I was put on bed rest. Thankfully, it was two weeks from summer break and I had all summer long to do nothing at all so that I could do everything possible to get you here healthy. Towards the end of the summer, we set the date for your delivery.

But, it was all in God's timing.

On August 14, your grandma and grandpa's anniversary, I went into labor. Eventually, after several hours, we learned my placenta was abrupting again. After we got to Oklahoma City, my doctor said we needed to do a c-section. By the time I was prepped and you were out, it was August 15, 2009, your birthday - and the day before my birthday.

It was all in God's timing.

Here's what August 13-17 looks like for our family:
13 - Your great-grandparents' anniversary
14 - Your grandparents' anniversary
15 - Your birthday
16 - My birthday, your great aunt and uncle's anniversary
17 - Your twin cousins' birthday

On the one day that we had open, God sent you to us.

You came to us as a late Christmas present, then arrived in this world as the best birthday present I could have ever imagined receiving.

It was all in God's timing.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
~Ecclesiastes 3:11

Love,
Mommy

Happy 6 Month Birthday!

2010-02-17T20:39:00.002-06:00

Raegan,

You turned six months old Monday, I can't believe it! I have a letter to write, all about "timing" and also what you are up to these days. But, ironically, it's going to have to wait because you are sick (I think from shots, I hope anyway) and I am SICK (not from shots). So as soon as I can I'll write your 6-month letter!

Stop growing so fast,
Mommy

All Because...

2010-02-14T19:33:00.003-06:00

Two People Fell in Love!

Happy First Valentine's Day, Raegan!

I love how you are the perfect combination of your daddy and I.

You look so much like him, but have my skin tone. Your daddy gets DARK in the summer, but not me. I am always one color - pale as pale can be!

We have the same eye color, which you share with us. But my eyes are much bigger and you inherited that from me. You have short legs, just like your daddy. You have short, stubby feet and hands just like him, too. But your fingers and toes, now that's a different story! You have the longest toes and fingers, just like me.

You have such a sweet little personality. Your face holds so much expression and I just love it. We can read just what you're thinking by the look on your face.

Your hairline and ears are just like your daddy's. Your nose, a mixture of both of our's. There are so many more things, and it's only fitting on Valentine's Day, a day to celebrate love, that we realize how much of an equal combination of both your daddy and I that you truly are. Because without love, you would not be here!

I was going to take some pictures outside today for Valentine's, but yet again we had snow on the ground. Instead, I snapped pictures of you in your ExerSaucer that we brought home from Medford this weekend.

I bought this long before you were even born and had been storing it at your great grandparents' house. We kept forgetting it every time we were there. We went this weekend to visit and finally remembered! You LOVE this thing!

The first time you got in it, you were so excited. There were so many things to put in your mouth and rattle, you didn't know which one to go to first!

Happy First Valentine's Day, Raegan! We love you!

We have found...

2010-02-10T21:47:00.002-06:00

FEET!

Right now nothing else interests you!

How is this even comfortable?

Your daddy LOVES you!

And so do I!

So serious but happy ALL of the time!

I told daddy squash...

... this is not the squash face.

He gave you sweet potatoes, because you "said" you wanted the good stuff.
Silly daddy!

We had more of this last week, and could still have more before winter goes away.

I can't wait to see how your 6-month pictures turn out. We are excited to get them done. We have to wait until the end of the month, though, because of your daddy's on-call schedule. I know they will be precious, just like you!

Squash.....and a Snow Day!

2010-01-29T16:15:00.013-06:00

Raegan,

I was out of school for the last two days and I've loved being here with you! You did some of this:

and a little bit of this:

What were you watching?

You LOVE Barney. If you are ever crying or not happy, we play the Barney song and you stop immediately! Your grandma gave us two Barney DVDs Monday, and we let you watch them last night. You got sooo excited and were yelling and talking to the TV!

Outside, it looked like this:

You have been eating sweet potatoes for about a week and a half. Like your daddy, you love them, although he didn't love the ones you were eating!! On Thursday, we tried squash for the first time. You were not such a big fan and kept looking at me like, "Where's the good stuff?"

These two pictures sum up your thoughts perfectly:

And, finally, a daddy with long eye lashes + a momma with long eyelashes = double long eyelashes for you:

5 Months!

2010-01-19T21:53:00.002-06:00

Dear Raegan,

It seems like yesterday that I met you for the first time, and now you are already five months old! I love watching you learn new things and seeing daily the little person you are becoming. But, I hate that it is going so quickly. I love your little chubby cheeks, your deep blue eyes that shine like the sun, your toothless grin that encompasses your entire face, and how excited you get when you see your daddy... or me. :)

I love knowing that I have not missed any of your time here with us. Each day you change so much, and I know we can't get these days back. I am forever thankful that I have been able to appreciate each and every day with you and experience your ever-changing personality.

You are so excited for everything in your life, especially your bottles. And lately, you are completely excited by the animals. They, however, are still trying to decide just what exactly you are!

In the last two months, you have experienced your first Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. I still struggle every morning when I have to leave you, but coming home at lunch to see you and looking forward to seeing you after school get me through the day. I don't remember what life was like before you were with us, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Your daddy and I finally went out alone for 2 hours to eat on New Years Eve. We still have not left you overnight, and during the day is the longest I have been away from you. Maybe someday, but I'm just not quite ready for that yet. It took us so long to be blessed with you that I have trouble letting you go!

What are you up to lately?

-At your 4-month well-baby check, you weighed 16.10 and were 24 inches long.
-You drink 7 ounces in your bottle.
-You wear a size 3 diaper.
-You still wear some size 0-3 month clothes, but we are starting to fill out the 3-6 month sizes.
-You HATE being on your stomach.
-Because of your extreme hatred for laying on your stomach, you have only rolled over 3 times. The first time was on New Years Eve, and you grandma was able to see it with us!
-We are just about ready to switch you to your new car seat. You are no longer comfortable in your infant carrier!
-You refused to eat rice cereal, so I refused to make you. :)
-The day after your five-month birthday, you ate baby food for the first time! We started with sweet potatoes, and you LOVE them! (Your daddy is a sweet potato fanatic, so the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!)
-Your giggle makes me laugh and cry at the same time. It is music to my ears - music I could listen to all day!
-You are a professional drooler!
-Everything you grab goes straight to your mouth.
-You definitely know your daddy and I, and also your grandma, grandpa, Uncle Tanner, and Samantha.
-Everyone comments on what a happy baby you are, and they are right. The only time you are not happy is when you are extremely tired or hungry.
-When you are fussy, you want your mama. And that is fine by me. :)

We love you, Raegan.

Love,
Mommy

3 Months!

2009-11-15T20:10:00.002-06:00

Dear Raegan,

You are three months old today! I wish we could freeze time, because it is definitely going too fast! In the last month, we had your first Halloween! Next week we will celebrate your first Thanksgiving and your daddy's 27th birthday (also on Thanksgiving) in Medford with our family. I know they are all anxious to see you and spend allll day with you!

Tomorrow it is supposed to snow, so if it does, we will get to experience your first snow. It seems like about every day we could write about a first that we have had! It has been a hectic couple of weeks. This last week our daycare was closed, so in the mornings we had to find somewhere for you to stay. Last week our neighbor Susan kept you until Samantha was out of class. This week, it appears it is "Daddy Day Care" time! haha! You will stay here with your daddy until Samantha gets here and then he will go to work. I'm a tad bit jealous that he gets to stay here with you. I just don't have any time I can take off from work since I took eight weeks of maternity leave.

We found out this last week that my grandma's (your great-grandma) cancer has come back. She goes this Friday to have a scan done to see if it is contained in the one spot or if it has spread. We are hoping it has not spread and they will be able to go in and remove the lump and get all the cancer. This is not something I had hoped we would experience again, and definitely not while you are so young!

What can you do these days?

- You take 6 ounces in your bottle, but I try to sneak in an extra ounce at night to make you sleep a little longer. (It doesn't work!)

- You are in a size 2 diaper. They are still a little too big, but the 1's are too small!

- You are still wearing newborn size clothing. You wear some 0-3 month also, but you're still a little peanut.

- You attended your first basketball game last week when we went to Uncle Tanner's game in Medford.

- You babble ALL the time.

- When I come home from school, you get the biggest smile on your face and it melts my heart. I so wish I could be here with you all the time.

- You have rolled over twice in the last week. I'm not sure if it was a fluke or for real!

- If we hold you on our lap, you will push up with your feet until you are standing. We can't believe how strong you are!

- You love to have both hands full of my hair, especially when you are falling asleep. When anyone else is holding you, you grasp for my hair.

- You have reached all the milestones for your age, and are ahead of schedule on others.

- You still suffer from reflux, so at your well baby appointment in December, we will probably be changing your formula.

- When you are lying on your back, you will try to sit up. You are strong enough to make it about half-way before you fall back!

Here are some pictures from the last couple of weeks and a video of you "talking"!

We love you, Raegan, and the person you are becoming!

A letter from Raegan

2009-11-05T20:36:00.003-06:00

"My daddy has to work late tonight, so it's just me and my momma."

"She says I was a big 'ol crank pot, and it was time to cook dinner, so she decided to try my high chair for the first time."

"Here I am, two days shy of 12 weeks, sitting up like a big boy in my chair. My momma's a little sad I'm growing up so fast."

"My momma's a little indecisive..."

"...so she tortured me TWICE with these darn costumes."

"My momma said my daddy's a little goofy sometimes, especially when he is with his friend Nate. She told me they put this crazy piece of cable in my hand because they thought it was funny."

"And finally, my momma said to ignore her silly voice and my Daisy's (she's my doggy that loves me - and licking me - and is VERY protective!) loud barking and listen to me talking. By the way, I went from mad, to happy, to mad again in around 15 seconds."

The End.

Love,
Raegan

My First Halloween!

2009-11-01T17:08:00.002-06:00

Dear Raegan,

Yesterday was Halloween, and your grandma came over so that she could be here for it! Your grandpa and Uncle Tanner were going to come, too, but they got stuck in Cherokee for longer than they expected.

We had a zebra costume and a turtle costume. I couldn't decide between them, so we used them both! Your daddy took you to a few places in our neighborhood and then came back to hand out candy. I told him he should probably only give one piece at a time so we didn't run out. Well... he opened the door and said, "Dig in", so we were finished after about 15 minutes. You have a pretty silly daddy sometimes, but we love him none the less. :)

You were so cute in your costumes! I'm sure next year we will be chasing after you on Halloween!

I love how blue your eyes look in this picture!

At first, you wanted no part of the turtle....

... but you quickly changed your mind!

Your daddy and Nate thought it would be pretty funny to put a cable in your hands. I tried to say no, but I lost!

We love you so much, Ragean. You are the light of our lives!

2009-10-22T00:46:00.001-05:00

2 Months!

2009-10-22T00:04:00.002-05:00

Dear Raegan,

One week ago you turned 2 months old! I only thought the first month passed quickly! This last month has gone by way too fast. I had to do the hardest thing ever this week, and that was leave you to go back to work. I have missed you so much during the day and I constantly wonder about you!

In the last month you:

Shot up to 11 pounds, 5 ounces and 22 inches! Your weight is in the 50th percentile and your height is in the 25th percentile. So while you've grown so much from birth, you're still a little peanut.
Moved up to 5 ounces per bottle, and just in the last couple of days, you are not quite satisfied with that!
Will smile at mommy and daddy, Samantha, and your grandma and grandpa.
Have been to 6 more football games!
Have been on 2 overnight trips to Medford (with us of course).
Are sleeping better than the first 6-7 weeks, but you still wake up about every 3-4 hours, day or night.
Have started blowing rasberries.
Can hold your head up very well for only being 2 months old.
Are about to outgrow your newborn clothes. I had planned on you being in 0-3 months when you were born, so you have a TON of clothes that you will never get to wear because they are for warm weather and we no longer have warm weather!
Still have a head full of blonde hair and big blue eyes!
Get very excited when I ask you if you are a happy boy!
Have been to 5 more doctor's appointments. 2 for you and 3 for me.
Will go back to the pediatric urologist in January for hopefully the last time. The doctor told us your hydronephrosis was so minor and he wasn't even concerned about it. We have been waiting to hear those words since May. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

We are looking forward to your 1st Halloween and many other firsts that will come in the next month. Our hearts are overflowing with love and joy that you have brought to us.

Love,
Mommy

One Month!

2009-09-16T23:20:00.003-05:00

Dear Raegan,
There are two verses from the Bible that can summarize how I feel right now (and I know your daddy agrees). They are:

Every good and perfect gift is from above. ~James 1:17
and

I have prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. ~ 1 Samuel 1:27

You are now one month old! It is amazing to me how fast the last month has passed. It has been a whirlwind for sure!

Our wonderful, wonderful doctor has scheduled my induction for August 28th at 5:00 in the morning. That day was firmly planted on my calendar, I was going to stay at school until August 26th, I was going to have all my plans finished and organized and detailed instructions ready to go for my wonderful substitute. And then, August 14th rolled around, and you and God had other plans! Around 10:00 that morning in between classes I started not feeling well. It was so ironic because just two hours earlier I felt fine and was talking about how I knew I could make it another two weeks. I made it through the morning in pain, but trying to hold it together in front of my students. When lunch time rolled around, I was really not feeling well. I was in no mood to eat lunch, but I had recess duty that day, so I walked to the cafeteria to wait to go outside. Long story short, I was convinced to go home, call my doctor just to be sure, and rest.

I called your daddy and he drove me home while another teacher took my car to our house. He got me home, went back to eat with the people from his office, and I went to bed to try to rest. I would doze off for about 2 or 3 minutes and my pain would go away, but I finally called my doctor’s office and they told me to go to the hospital to get checked out. I called your daddy again, and he came home, I grabbed your diaper bag just in case, although I was certain I was NOT in labor! I also packed a change of clothes for your daddy and out the door we went. We finally arrived at a hospital that is 70 miles away at about 3:00. I was hooked up to monitors, but they just showed irritability and not contractions. I was feeling contractions, though!! They finally decided at about 5:30 that I was severely dehydrated. I was given two liters of fluid and that was supposed to stop the contractions. By this time, my mom had gotten to the hospital and the contractions were only getting stronger. Also by this time, they were showing up on the monitors.

Because I was now having regular contractions, they checked, and I was one centimeter dilated. After a long, drawn out ordeal, I was given three shots of Terbutaline to try to stop my labor. These shots slowed the contractions for about 5 minutes, and then they started back up. At one point I went to the restroom and realized I was bleeding again. This created a whole new frenzy! The nurses and on-call doctor finally decided I needed to go on to Oklahoma City where my perinatologist was located and to the hospital that I planned to deliver in. Because I was only 36 weeks along, we also needed a high-level NICU, just in case. The kicker to this was that we had to drive ourselves, and they would not transport me. So, at 10:00, with contractions three minutes apart, your daddy, my mom, and I loaded up, me in hospital gowns and IV still in my hand, and drove to Oklahoma City.

When we got in the car, my contractions became closer and closer together. By the time we got to OKC at 11:00, my contractions were a minute apart. We did not have a fun drive! I was in a triage room by 11:15 at our hospital and my doctor arrived about five minutes later. Again I was on monitors, but this time, they realized my placenta was abrupting again. The difference this time was that I was also contracting and dilating and instead of only being 21 weeks, you were now viable at 36 weeks. The next hour or two are a blur, but I remember four nurses being in the room, trying to get blood to type in case I needed a transfusion, as I was being taken in for an emergency c-section. They were practically running with the bed as they wheeled me upstairs to the labor and delivery floor. I did not go to my room first, they took me directly to the operating room, and threw scrubs at your daddy to put on! I got stuck 8 times and they finally got blood at the same time I was getting my spinal. Your daddy came in the room and sat next to me, and at 12:31 a.m., on August 15th, four weeks before your due date, you arrived in this world!

The NICU team was in the OR just in case you needed them. By the grace of God, you were only taken to a transitional nursery where you had your own nurse, and you never had to step foot into the NICU! You weighed six pounds, nine ounces and were 18 ½ inches long. You had a typical 36-weeker problem, and that was breathing too fast. I was wheeled back into my room to recover and your daddy got to go to the transitional nursery to see you and hold you. At around 5:30, my wonderful nurse had me get out of bed for the first time since my surgery. It was the most painful thing ever, but I knew it meant I would get to see you for the first time! She wheeled me down and I held you for the first time. I will never forget that moment! You finally got to come to my room at noon, twelve hours after you were born, and you never left again!

Your full name is Alan Raegan, after your daddy’s father. He’s not here with us anymore, but your daddy knew what your name would be from the minute we found out you were a boy. Your middle name was a little more difficult to decide on, but once we found this, it fit perfectly. Your grandpa’s name was Alan Rae, and I’m sure he’s watching you today.

You also chose a special week to be born. My grandparents’ anniversary is August 13, my parents’ anniversary is August 14, my birthday is August 16, my aunt and uncle’s anniversary is August 16, and my twin cousins’ birthday is August 17. What do you know that on the one day that was open, you snatched it up! You are by far the best birthday present I’ve ever received!

So now, one month later:
· You are still in preemie sized clothes
· At our one week check-up you weighed 6.8, almost back to birth weight
· You wear a size “N” diaper
· You are teeny-tiny, but have stolen everyone’s hearts
· You are flirting with four ounces in your bottle, but are not quite ready to consistently eat
that much
· You love to be swaddled
· You hate sleeping alone, so you are basically held almost all day long
· You are not a sleeper at night
· You have your daddy wrapped around your finger
· For that matter, you have our entire family wrapped around your finger
· I can stare at you for hours and wonder why I have been so blessed
· You have a head full of blonde hair
· You have blue eyese
· You will see a pediatric urologist on October 5th where we will discuss your kidney
problem and hopefully set a plan to solve the problem
· You have already been to three football games and three doctor’s appointments
· You are a wonderful traveler, which is good, because we are constantly on the go!

Raegan, we cannot imagine our lives without you. When you are screaming in the middle of the night, or just laying next to me not sleeping, I remember how long we waited for you and remember a doctor telling me we had little hope for children. I will never forget the complications we encountered on the way, the fear that each new complication brought us. But my God is bigger than the bleak outlook that doctor gave us and bigger than all my worries for the last nine months, and He knew all along that you were ours. I am so thankful He sent you to us, and cherish every minute I am given to spend with you.

Love,
Mommy

36 Weeks

2009-08-12T21:36:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

Remember when we talked about growing? Well, you did. A lot. Yesterday your estimated weight was 7 pounds, 4 ounces. At 35 weeks, 5 days, you were larger than a lot of babies are when they are born. I think overall you are in like the 93rd percentile. What does this mean? Well, average gain is 1/2 pound a week, but in two weeks, you gained just shy of two pounds. So, in a little over two weeks when you arrive, it's possible that you could weigh close to ten pounds. I just keep telling myself that it could be 4 more weeks, which would mean close to 4 more pounds. It definitely could be worse, but it looks like you will not be wearing newborn clothes for long!

After you are born, you will be started on amoxicillin and then we will make an appointment with a pediatric urologist. We continue hoping that at that appointment, everything will have taken care of itself.

We are just barely over two weeks away from meeting you. We got your swing yesterday that was partly a gift from the hostesses of your shower. We also got a few other things, too. The day is so close, it seems to be coming fast! I will be induced at 5:30 a.m. Hopefully the process will move quickly. Our doctor did tell us yesterday that if I am not progressing, he will be quick to do a c-section because of your size.

This last weekend, on the day of your shower, my mom brought our glider to us. It is special because it was my great-grandparents'. I'm sad you won't get to meet them, but I think it is neat that we will be using their rocking chair. We purchased new fabric for the pads, and your daddy has been working on re-covering them. He is half-way finished, so maybe this weekend they will be completed! We also had our shower and we were so blessed by many of our friends and family.

Here are a few pictures of your many, many clothes from the shower! I will have to change your clothes 3-4 times a day to make sure you get to use these and the clothes we already had!

Here are some closer pictures...

And two blankets that didn't make it into the other pictures...

Your swing isn't put together yet, but here is what it looks like:

There are a few things that didn't make it in the picture, but this is close enough to remember the wonderful things you got last weekend!

I have a few new ultrasound pictures, but they are not scanned. Also, as soon as Pam sends me pictures from the shower, I can add those. There are some funny ones of your daddy and his diaper-changing kit that he got!

School started today, so I have been busy, busy, busy. I have been at the school for many hours the last couple of weeks. Not only was I getting ready for school to start, but I also have to get everything ready for my leave in two weeks. This is making the time pass even quicker, but I don't mind, because that means we are that much closer to bringing you home, and we can't wait!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

35 Weeks

2009-08-05T00:41:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

We are anxiously awaiting your arrival in just over three weeks. It's hard to believe that it is that close! Well under 30 days!

Today was the first time your daddy did not go with me to the doctor. He is trying to save his leave so that he can be home for a while after you are here. My mom and brother came along instead. My doctor was on vacation, so I was just having the NST done and then the other doctor in the practice checked it. Well.....for a few minutes I was about convinced you were coming today! You kept moving from the monitors, which wasn't a huge problem. The problem was you only had one acceleration, and they really needed to see more. The nurses at one point asked me if I was pre-admitted to the hospital. That was a little nerve-racking! I was about ready to call your daddy and tell him to head out...but they pulled out their "tool" that buzzes and stimulates the baby. This is the first time they've had to use it for us, but it did the trick. It woke you up and got the accelerations we needed! The second time they buzzed you, you kicked HARD right where the buzzer was pressed into my stomach. It seems you didn't appreciate it, so next week, if you could be awake during this process, it will save me from almost freaking out and yourself from being "buzzed"!

Your room is completely ready for you to come home! And your bassinet has moved to its home in our bedroom. I start school next week, so I have lots to keep me busy! Our shower is this weekend, and we are looking forward to seeing our friends and family!

After a long, long day of driving, I arrived home to find this:

You see, Mr. Ieatflipflops and I have been going round and round for two weeks over this plant. He believes it is his to play in, on, and around, and I do not. I am usually here most of the day to keep him out of it. Of course, today I left early in the morning and got home late in the evening. This turned out to be the ideal time for him to completely flatten the poor plant. When I get some energy back tomorrow, I will try to revive it!

And this girl is anxiously waiting for you to come home (in barely over 3 weeks - have I mentioned that yet?!?):

When I woke up this morning I found her on top of our 6-foot chest inside of a basket of clean laundry that I was entirely too exhausted to fold and put away last night. I'm so glad it could be put to good use...ha!

We can't wait to meet you and bring you back to this crazy life we call ours!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

2009-07-28T14:13:00.001-05:00

34 Weeks

2009-07-28T13:54:00.004-05:00

Dear Baby G,

You are now up to a whopping 5 pounds, 7 ounces! That puts your estimated weight at delivery at 8 pounds. The ultrasound can be off one pound either way, so we shall see! If we were going the full 40 weeks, you would probably tip the scales at over 9 pounds! Our NST was great again, so that is good news! Also, I am going to get to attempt a normal birth. If something changes or complications arise, we will do a c-section.

We toured our hospital yesterday and I am so pleased with the choice we made! Everything is so nice and the rooms are big and new and just great! I was also impressed with the security features. The only area accessible to the public is when you first get off the elevator, and it is a waiting room. The NICU, and both wings of rooms are locked and you must be buzzed in to get past the doors. Also, the nursery is in the north wing of rooms. We are very happy with all the features of the floor. We are now pre-admitted and ready to check in on the date of my induction, which was officially scheduled this morning! Just a tad over 4 weeks away. We will check in and get started at 5:30 that morning, and hopefully everything will go smoothly and not last too long!

We are thankful that my placenta had moved out of the way for delivery! We made the decision yesterday to have your kidneys looked at after birth. The fluid is still there, and our doctor recommended it. This will consist of having an ultrasound done on your kidneys while we are in the hospital. Even if the fluid is gone by the time we have it done, we still think it is best to monitor it and make sure everything is okay. We will continue to pray about this. At next week's appointment we will have another NST and then the week after that an NST and ultrasound. That week school starts, so it will be a busy time for me!

This last week was also busy, as my mom, dad, and brother all came to help your daddy finish his building. We have a little bit left to paint, the garage door needs to be installed, and a couple of things left to do inside the house and then we are finished!!

Your latest pictures are added as well, but we only got one that I think is good because your head is so low! They tried to move you, I laid on my side, they tilted me almost upside down, all to no avail. You are lodged in there and waiting to arrive!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

33 Weeks

2009-07-21T12:13:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

Nurse Jodi (who we absolutely LOVE -- you will too!) gave you a gold star yesterday! You did so good during the non-stress test. In fact, she said my strip would have passed at 37 weeks, so at 32w4d, it was amazing! Your daddy and my mom were in the room while I was hooked to the monitors, and we all got to listen to your heartbeat and your little (BIG) kicks! Since my doctor was next door doing a c-section, I stayed hooked up for about 40 minutes instead of 20!

We didn't end up having an ultrasound yesterday because of the c-section my doctor was doing. We had to wait a little while longer because it took a little longer than expected. He told us everything looks good and because we are so far away from his office, instead of seeing me twice a week, which is what I would normally go to now, we are just going once a week until delivery. Unless, of course, something changes. We tentatively set the date for your delivery! 5 weeks away! It seems soooo close! Monday we will have another NST, and an ultrasound. During this ultrasound we will probably decide if I need to have a c-section. He was a little more optimistic yesterday that a normal delivery may be possible, but no promises. We will see what my placenta looks like on Monday. We will of course be hoping for no fluid and we will also look to see how big you are, as that could affect the delivery method.

We finished a couple of more things in your room, and we are closer each and every day to being finished! I am off to the doctor again today. Sometimes it seems that my life revolves around running to the doctor! Next week I have two appointments again! Lots and lots of driving and lots and lots of co-pays!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

32 Weeks

2009-07-14T14:13:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

I suppose I could start calling you by name, but after 32 weeks, why change now? That's right! It has been 32 weeks!! This is our "magic" number. My rheumatologist has been waiting for it, as have we. Well, I was waiting for 30, but 32 is even better. Now we have 6 more weeks until you join us. That doesn't seem like much time at all. I feel like we have so much left to do, although we really don't. If you came today (don't even think about it!) we would be prepared, but there's just a few little things I want to finish before we bring you home. I really should get those finished because school starts in 4 weeks. That doesn't seem possible, but it does!!

Saturday you must have been a little tired. You did not move much at all. I would start to get worried and I would ask God to please let me know you were okay. Within ten minutes I would feel you. It's amazing how He takes care of our smallest needs. I guess you were just resting up, because Sunday and Monday you were a wild man! Almost constant movement from the time I was awake until I went to sleep, and I imagine while I was asleep too! I am such a worrier it seems, and I shouldn't be, but it is hard. We waited so long for you that I just can't imagine something going wrong. Your kidney issues are enough for my heart to handle right now!

Remember this cute, precious, sweet, neverdoesanythingwrong, cat:

who was oblivious to your arrival? Well, I have changed my mind. I walked into the bedroom where my closets are last week, and my shoes were EVERYWHERE. Mr. Neverdoesanythingwrong just became Mr. Ilovetoeatflipflops. Not just one or two pair, but every single pair I own. He did not discriminate between the $3 Old Navy ones and the $25 Nike ones. He just couldn't be bothered with such nonsense. Apparently, a flip flop is appetizing to him regardless of the price. If he wasn't so cute, I'd be angry. I wasn't happy, but I can't say I got angry. In the four years we have had him, this is the first time he's done something like this. I am chalking it up to your impending arrival, and I can no longer say he has no clue! Ha!

And remember this sweet darling who is attached to my hip:

She is now literally attached to my hip. Whenever I am laying down, she is right there with her head and front two paws resting on my stomach. I'm secretly hoping you will kick one of these days when she is there, just to see her reaction!

I'm anxious for my NST on Monday, and hoping everything goes well. We'll also get to see how much weight you have gained in the last two weeks! We plan to tour the hospital we are delivering in in between my appointments, so I'm ready for that!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

New Pictures!

2009-07-08T17:13:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

Here are some of the pictures we got of you Monday. We have so many questions about what you will look like and what your personality will be like. When I look at these pictures, I immediately think you look like your daddy. We wonder what color your hair will be. Mine was black when I was born, then turned blonde, and now it is a light brown. Your daddy had blonde hair when he was born and now has dark brown hair. Will you have blue eyes? Our guess is yes, your daddy and I both have blue eyes and my entire family has blue eyes, so we predict blue. Will you be tall? I am tall, but your daddy is just an average height. Whose nose will you have? I have a guess! Will you be quiet or like to jabber and talk? Will you be content to do things alone or will you want to be held all the time? We can't wait to have all the answers to these questions... in only 46 days!

Here you are with your hand next to your face... the way it has been every single time!!

Once again, with the arm... maybe it makes you feel secure in there?

A spitting image....

...of your daddy! These two pictures are him through and through. The nose, eyes, and lips... all your daddy's!

You sure like that arm!

One last look at your precious face.

Here's an "old-fashioned" 2D ultrasound...just for good measure.

I can't believe you will be here so soon. We are definitely ready and excited! We love you so very much already.

Love, Mommy

31 Weeks

2009-07-07T14:43:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

We are now less than 7 weeks away from meeting you! You are up to exactly 4 pounds now. Your heartbeat was 133. You are measuring two weeks ahead, so if we were going all the way to September 10, you would most likely be pretty big. The average weight gain is 1/2 pound a week, so if that is the case, in 7 weeks you will be about 7 1/2 pounds. In your new pictures I really think you look like your daddy. I will add them in a little bit, as I need to scan them and lighten them, and I am a little tired from our weekend!

You still have fluid in your kidney, so we will continue to pray about that. We have been told that the surgery to correct this is "simple". However, the thought of my days old baby needing to be put under and have surgery does not and will not ever seem "simple" or "routine". Also, I will most likely be having a c-section. Not only because of the tear in the placenta, but it has also moved and is too low for delivery. So, unless that changes in the next few weeks, a c-section will be necessary. We did dodge a bullet with my liver function tests. They were very concerned with this because it was a possible sign that my liver and galbladder were not functioning properly. After further testing, they are okay at the time. Because I have lupus, I am at an increased risk to develop all of these other complications. Luckily I am monitored very closely, so if something should happen, we would catch it rather quickly. Also, we got very good news in the fact that there is no evidence on ultrasound of you having a heart block. This will continue to be monitored and you will be tested for any signs of neonatal lupus after you are here.

We go back in two weeks for another ultrasound and to do a non-stress test. After that we will possibly go twice a week until you are here. If we can work it out, we may only have to go once a week. Either way, I'm sure it will pass quickly.

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

30 Weeks

2009-06-30T19:50:00.003-05:00

Dear Baby G,

Not a lot has happened this last week. I have spent a lot of time in my classroom, and in the evenings, your daddy has come up there with me. I finally have all of my things organized and put away. That was no small task!! My bulletin boards are finished and you can finally see the wood on the top of my desk! Your daddy has been busy cleaning the kitchens for me, as that is not something I can do yet. This is proving to be a long process, though, as we (by we, I mean he) are only finished with one of the three. Hopefully a couple more nights will be all it takes! After that is finished, we will start painting. And again, this is something I can't do, but your daddy graciously offered to do it for me. Meanwhile, I am going to start working on lesson plans for my long-term sub. That will definitely not be exciting, although the reason I am doing it is exciting!

I feel like you have doubled in size recently! I'm sure you haven't, but it sure feels like it. You have some strange sleeping patterns just like I do right now. I definitely need to work on getting back in a routine, because I only have 6 weeks left until school starts. That doesn't even seem possible! Then, two weeks after school starts, you will make your arrival! I have more clothes to wash and put away, and I'm pretty sure you will have to change clothes about five times a day to have a shot at wearing all of them!

We are anxious to see how much you have grown when we go to the doctor Monday. We are also praying to see no fluid or dialation. We still have 8 weeks to hear that news, but hearing it next week would be wonderful! We are also ready to leave Friday and ready for the 4th of July. It hardly seems possible to me that we will meet you in less than 2 months, but we are ready!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

29 Weeks

2009-06-23T10:00:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

We've been pretty busy this week, but it made the week go fast! It seems hard to believe that we are just 9 weeks away from meeting you. We are excited and ready! We still have a few little things to finish before the time comes. We did get the new window put in your room. We went ahead and did it now so that we don't have to make a mess and worry about it after you are here. Now if all the other windows in the house were already changed out, that would be amazing! I know it will get finished soon, though!

We go to the doctor today. Two doctors actually. I am hoping to get some answers about my abnormal liver function tests. I will also have more labwork done. After three years of being a pin cushion, I can actually say that it doesn't phase me anymore. Having labwork done is just a part of life for me I guess. I am a little anxious about getting my IV started when you are born. We have been told that most likely the anesthesiologist will have to start it for me. I was blessed (ha!) with deep, uncooperative veins. I know it will all work out and in the grand scheme of things, the IV is just a minor blimp.

This is a big week for your daddy and I. Friday is our 5th wedding anniversary.

We have been through a lot of challenges in five years, some that a lot of people don't have to face until a lot later in life. When we got married we were both still in college and we were young, but we were in love and knew what we wanted. Five years later we have both finished college, your daddy has a career that he loves and I will be teaching in my "dream" position this fall. Has it been easy? Not all the time, but it has been worth it. He was my strength when I literally and physically had none, and although that is under control now, he is still my strength. He only wants what is best for he and I, and now you too. He's not afraid to stand up for his beliefs or make tough decisions with our best interests at heart.

Originally we were going to go on a big trip for this anniversary, but after a year, you finally changed those plans! So, we were then going to go on a short trip this week for our anniversary. However, since we had all the complications come up, that can't happen either! So next week we will stay over the 4th of July and have some time away from home and then go to our doctor's appointment. I would gladly cancel any plans we had or have for you, as it is definitely worth it!

I can't wait for you to meet your daddy! You are already at the center of his universe and you have not even arrived yet! I know you will be blessed by him just as I have.

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

2009-06-16T16:15:00.001-05:00

28 Weeks

2009-06-16T15:47:00.004-05:00

Dear Baby G,

Another week has come and gone! Yesterday's appointment was good, however the fluid is still in your kidney. We will continue to monitor this and pray that it is gone by the time you arrive. Speaking of the time you will arrive... we only have 10 weeks left!! Because of all of the different conditions, and due the the fact that we are 2 1/2 hours (on a good traffic day) away from the hospital, your delivery will be scheduled. And yesterday, our doctor told us for the last week of August. We don't know a specific date yet, but I do know that that is only 10 weeks away! That doesn't seem like much time at all!

Also, I can start doing "normal" things again. I do not have to be "resting" all day anymore! However, I still can't do anything too strenuous, or lift anything, or over-do anything. But it will be nice to have a little bit of freedom! You weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces yesterday. You are still measuring two weeks ahead. Your heartrate was 140. Everything but your kidney looks perfect. Also, I took the one-hour glucose screening test again. After I drank the wonderful (yea right!) tasting drink, you went crazy! This created quite the challenge for our ultrasound as you would not stay still! I have been blessed with incredibly difficult veins, and the nurse was not able to get any blood from me. So... since I had already ingested the wonderful drink, they pricked my finger to do my test that way. My number was 97, and it needed to be under 135, so no repeating the test or worrying about that again!!

We got more pictures yesterday, but you were hiding your face the entire time with your arm! I rolled on my side to try to get you to move, but that did not work! Above this post is a slideshow of your newest pictures.

I also found out that I will be able to start the out the school year. I will be there for two weeks and then start my maternity leave. This will be close to enough time to get things established and meet my students. I have some work to do this summer because I am moving classrooms and teaching an entirely new subject! All of my things have been moved, but they are nowhere near organized! Also, we (and by we, I mean your daddy) are going to paint the classroom. It was actually his idea, but I'm not going to argue with him! I just went and picked out paint samples and I'm excited to get everything finished and ready!

We bought your changing table yesterday and it is put together and in your room! Also, we got the closet system for your closet, but it's not in there yet! We have to go back to the doctor next week and then to my doctor in Enid in the afternoon of that same day! I think these next 10 weeks will probably fly by because I can actually do something now! We are anxious to meet you!

Love,

How your baby's growing:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

27 Weeks

2009-06-09T13:41:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

27 Weeks! I feel like this is a major accomplishment. It doesn't seem possible that about 6 weeks ago, we were hoping for 6 more weeks, at least. Now, six weeks later, we're hoping for another 6 weeks! Our "big" goal is 32 weeks, but we'll take every week after that we can get. As of right now, it does not appear that we will be meeting you too soon. If everything stays the same, which we are trusting that it will, we look forward to meeting you in late August or early September, depending on your growth and how my doctor thinks it will be necessary to proceed.

I am working on designing a book that will have all these letters in it. I found the website and it allows me to design every aspect of the book and then it is printed and will be an actual hardback book. I am excited to see what it will look like when it is printed, and excited that we will have this book to forever read and remember this time! I know we were very fortunate to be able to experience this, and because we are not guaranteed another chance, I am glad we will be able to look back on this time and remember everything about it!

I discovered last night that Mountain Dew makes you go wild! I seldom drink it, but for some reason last night I did. You were flipping around and kicking and who knows what else for about an hour! If I ever have doubts about you moving enough, I know what will do that trick!

There are several little "friends" waiting to meet you at our house. Bruiser and Daisy are dogs and I think they are oblivious to the changes that are about to happen! Charlie is a cat, and he is oblivious as well. Those three are pretty much attached to your daddy's side at all times, so really, they could care less about what is going on with me! However, meet Roxie:

For the first year and a half we had her, she was miss independent. She still runs and hides behind the washer when the doorbell rings, but at any other time, she is no further than ten feet away from me. At night, if she doesn't make it under our bed (or on top of it), she will sit at the door and loudly let us know she expects to be let in. I will let her in most of the time, because I don't want to listen to it ALL night! This has only gotten progressively worse since I have been home all day, every day for nearly six weeks. She is awaiting your arrival, and there is no doubt in my mind that she knows exactly what is going on!

I have officially hit the point where sleeping "good" is no longer an option. Most nights it is hard to fall asleep before 4:00.... a.m. Then, about 4:30 p.m. comes around and it is hard to NOT fall asleep. Not being on a schedule has totally messed with my sleeping. Throw in 4-5 trips to the restroom a night, and it creates some un-restful sleeping! We go back to the doctor Monday. We have another ultrasound, and of course, we will be hoping to hear that the fluid is gone from your kidney! I will repeat the glucose screening test that I did back in March, I believe. We are hoping for the same results as last time! I am also having some issues with my liver function. Not sure when this means at this point, but the lab work I had done last week in Enid showed some issues. So, we go in two weeks to my rheumatologist and back to Enid to my doctor there for more lab (oh joy!) and appointments. We are anxiously waiting to "see" you again on Monday!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

26 Weeks

2009-06-02T14:45:00.003-05:00

Dear Baby G,

This has been another uneventful, boring week! Although your letters for you wall are finished and hung up! We also got a few other things finished in your room. All that is left is to decide on a changing table and then add a few more little things that have been purchased but not put in there yet, and we are finished!! I am also hoping to talk your daddy into getting a closet organizer system because we are out of room to hang your clothes in the closet... which is absolutely crazy, I know!

Today marks 100 days until we meet you. I would looove for you to make it the entire 100 days. We need all the time we can get so that your kidney can clear up on its own. I have to remind myself how lucky we were that we made it 21 weeks without any problems. I will never forget that day in church when I realized something was wrong. Nor will I forget your daddy and I running out of the church and going to the hospital. All I can remember from the ride was that I kept saying no, no, no over and over again. I was absolutely terrified. We waited so long for this, and I just couldn't stand the thought that it could end badly. So luckily, although it a serious complication, it has stayed stable to this point. Throw the kidney issue in on top of it, and it's just a little added stress. You are worth every bit of it, and we can't wait to hold you and be told that you are perfectly healthy. So, we pray that that happens in no less than 100 days. :)

Yesterday we told our family the names we have chosen for you. I like them more and more each day. Your daddy picked them both out, so I think it is extra special for you. Our cats are well aware that you are on your way. If I forget to close the door to your room for 30 seconds, I can guarantee that both of them will be in there sleeping next to your crib. I have also caught this a few times:

Your bassinet is awaiting its permanent home in our bedroom, and has been in the living room for a couple of weeks. Charlie has decided it's a wonderful place to nap, but also a wonderful place to hide out and then pop up to surprise Roxie. They may have a not-so-pleasant discovery when they realize the bassinet does not actually belong to them! :)

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday in Enid. By committee, we got me there and back. Because I'm not driving right now, and in order to save all of your daddy's leave time that we can, it was a marathon chauffeur day! My grandparents picked me up and took me to Medford. When my mom was finished with summer school at noon, she took me to Enid to my appointment. Everyone was asking if we had found out what I was having yet because last time I was there, we didn't know! They also wanted to know your name, so it was fun to get to tell them that, also! My mom also had an appointment, so as we were on our way there, we just happened to see Pam and Shirley. Since they were already in Enid, I ended up riding home with them to save my mom a trip here and then back home to Medford. It sounds like a long, eventful day full of switching vehicles, which it was!

We have started to see "little" bulges on my stomach where you are pushing with a hand or foot! We are anxious for our next appointment and to see how much you've changed in this short time! I'm sure it will be here before we know it!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

25 Weeks

2009-05-27T10:22:00.004-05:00

Dear Baby G,

We're going to start off with the good and exciting things first. Medically - my tear has not gotten any bigger, which is a praise. There is still a blood clot in my uterus. Your heart is still beating strong (149) and everything else developmentally is good. I know you aren't reading these yet, I can't wait until the day that you can, but I have been telling you for weeks now to grow, grow, grow. Well, you did. In fact, you're quite the big little baby. You are measuring almost two weeks ahead. You weighed two pounds, two ounces (could have been three ounces, I was thinking about a million things when she told us). Our doctor said he would just continue to watch and see what happens. Your daddy and I almost wonder if this isn't a blessing, because should you have to come into this world early, maybe those extra pounds will help!

Also, after my appointment but before we came home, I ran (well, not ran! walked!) into Hobby Lobby and went straight to the letters I wanted for your room got them and the other things I needed to make them! I can't wait to start them later today. I had found letters on the internet that I really wanted, however, I can't justify spending $200+ on wooden letters to hang on the wall. So, I found these and I am going to customize them and they will look almost identical for about $150 less.

We also saw my rheumatologist yesterday. Everything lupus-wise is great. That is also a praise. Because it is so unpredictable, we did not know how my body would react to you. We couldn't ask for better results! Monday night your daddy was finally able to feel you kicking! It took about an hour, because he would move his hand and I would poke my stomach and before his hand was back on there, you would kick me! But, finally.... he has felt you kicking.

Now for the not "bad" news, but things that need to be prayed about. You have fluid in one of your kidneys. We had found this out at your last appointment, but it was on our way out and our doctor didn't seem worried about it. Yesterday during our ultrasound, the fluid is still there. So, I asked questions about it. I know the explanation in my head, but not well enough to relay it on here. What I can relay is that if this does not resolve itself, there is a possibility that you will need surgery after you are born. He said that usually this will fix itself by the time babies are born. This is what we are praying for.

Also, we are praying that the bleeding will stop. It has once, but we really need it to again. We also continue to pray that the tear does not enlarge. This is very preliminary, but we received two bills from the emergency room yesterday and they are outrageous. If you know the story and what happened, I think you will agree. We probably have a long process of resolving this with the insurance company and the hospital, so we are praying for this also. I am still on bedrest, which really is no surprise. The risk is just too much for me to do anything. However, I can leave the house occassionally, so that will be a blessing! Not that I have anywhere to go, but still having the option to be out of the house once in a while is good.

To end on a good note, we got more 3D pictures yesterday. This time she also gave us a CD with the pictures on them, so that saved some time by not having to scan them! Everyone who knows my family says that you look just like a little Tanner (Uncle Tanner to you). Your daddy says you look like his baby pictures. We are going to get some of his pictures out later and compare. Here is probably the best image from yesterday:

A little Aaron.... or Tanner?

I have prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him.
~1 Samuel 1:27

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing
Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Stay in a little (a lot) longer...

2009-05-21T19:19:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

As much as we would love to meet you, right now is just not the time to make that happen!! We need you to stay put for another good 4-5 weeks, and really, a whole lot longer. So, keep growing and gaining weight and getting those lungs mature, so that God forbid you should have to come early, things will be a little better.

Until our appointment, we will pray that things change again for the better!

Love,
Mommy

24 Weeks

2009-05-19T14:10:00.003-05:00

Dear Baby G,

I can hardly believe that it has been 5 months since we found out we were expecting you. The time has passed very quickly! This past week has gone fairly quickly, and I am thankful for that. Although nothing too terribly exciting happened, it was just a busy and full week.

We finally got all the odds and ends out of your room. We got the bedding put on your crib and it looks great! Sunday we (and by "we" I mean your daddy) got your room painted and then last night he got the chair rail painted and put up! There is one spot on your chest he needs to touch up tonight, and then he will move that in there. I am excited to get everything arranged and ready! There are a few more little things I am planning on getting to finish the decorating, but for the most part we are finished! Now that we finally have a name, I can start painting your letters for the wall.

Within the last two weeks, you have started kicking hard enough that you can see it through my clothes! Everytime you are kicking, I will call your daddy to come and feel and the instant he gets there, you stop! This has been going on for close to a month!! It seems like you know what he's coming for, and you just don't want to cooperate. I'm hopeful that one day soon you will decide to be cooperative!

We are anxious for our appointment next Tuesday. We would go Monday, but they are closed for Memorial Day. We are praying that nothing has changed because at this point, that's the best news we can hope for. Also that the blood clot has not gotten any larger. I am also hopeful that the issue with your kidney has cleared itself up. We do have several things to check on, but I am trusting nothing will have gotten worse!

Love,
Mommy

How Your Baby's Growing:
Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

23 Weeks

2009-05-12T11:32:00.003-05:00

Dear Baby G,

It hasn't quite been a week, but because we are going to the doctor on Monday's now, I will start doing this sooner in the week. I have been busy all morning putting grades into the computer so that in a couple of weeks I am not rushing to finish before I have to have them turned in!

Yesterday I finally got to leave the house!! We had to go back to Oklahoma City to see our doctor. We had a pretty long appointment -- it always takes a little longer while we wait to move into an ultrasound room, and then the ultrasound itself takes a while! It's always worth the wait, and it's always fun to see you! Yesterday you were quite contrary! Your hands were up covering your face almost the entire time! The ultrasound tech that we had yesterday switched it over to 3D several different times. We could see your arms covering your face and then finally, once, you moved them just long enough that she could get a good picture in 3D. We have about 5 pictures in 3D, so that is exciting! We got a regular picture of your foot and also one of your hand spread out where we can see your fingers!

After the tech does the ultrasound, our doctor always comes in the looks for another 10-15 minutes. The good news we got yesterday is that the tear has not gotten any bigger. Also, your Uncle Tanner graduates from 6th grade on Thursday, and we do get to go to that! The bad news is that there is still a blood clot inside of my uterus and I am still on bedrest. However, I was very happy that the situation did not get any worse. I want you to stay in there as long as possible, and keeping the tearing to a minimum is extremely important!

Our doctor told your daddy to take me to eat and go a couple of places before I had to go back home and do nothing!! So...we went to eat at P.F. Changs - one of our favorite places. I also wanted to look at some bedding in person, as I have just been shopping online. Your daddy had a completely different idea than what I had been looking at. While in the store, he found a set that he really liked. I just happened to look in a different part of the store and found another set that was the same theme, but I liked it a little bit more. Turns out, so did he, so we went ahead and bought it and all the other accessories that go with it for your room! I am so excited. He has big, big plans after the room is painted and ready. I can't wait to see what he does to it!

After a really long day, we left to come home. The entire three hours in the car were spent trying to decide on a name! We had picked about five names that we both liked. Then, I remembered a name I had not told him yet. When I said that name, he immediately liked it, as it starts with the letter he had really hoped to use. It is also significant in another way, too. So, we said this name with your other name and our last name and I am almost 100% positive this is the name we are using. Unless, of course, when you are born we totally change our minds. But I think this one could be the one!

So much has happened in the last few days, although it seems like it is going so slow! I'm excited to have everything picked out and am hoping that your daddy and my mom can get quite a bit organized and ready for your room. I still am not supposed to do much of anything, so working on your room is out for now. I'm also excited about your name and I think it will be perfect! I am anxious for Tanner's graduation Thursday, and then we won't go back to the doctor for two weeks! We will keep praying that things will stay the same!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

22 Weeks

2009-05-07T19:15:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

I wish I could say this week has gone fast, but unfortunately, it hasn't! I suppose not being able to do anything at all would cause that! We are blessed with some wonderful people in our lives that are taking care of every need we could possibly have.

Because I have been in bed since Monday when we got home from Oklahoma City, there is not much to share. We go back to the doctor on Monday. He will do another ultrasound to check everything. Although I know he said there is no possible way for this to "fix" itself, I am praying and hoping that somehow that may have happened!

You weighed one pound, two ounces on Monday and your heartbeat was 161. Everything was perfect with you! You are still measuring a little over a week ahead, but that's okay too. That may help us in the long run if we end up having to deliver early. You were still a boy and this time you were showing us that fact very clearly. There is no doubting what little parts you have!

We are taking this day by day, because really, each day is important now. We are anxious for our appointment on Monday, and me probably more so than anyone. I will actually get to leave the house then, even though it will just be straight there and straight back.

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

2009-05-06T10:49:00.001-05:00

21 Weeks

2009-05-02T18:22:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

This week has gone fast again. Only three more weeks until school is out. I'm sure they will go quickly too. We go back to the doctor on Wednesday, so we are looking forward to that.

Today, your daddy antiqued your chest that I bought. I was so glad he decided to do it, because that was one thing I was dreading! We also bought the paint for your room, and will probably paint tomorrow. We were going to do it today, but we have run out of time. We are leaving in just a little bit to go bowling, so tomorrow will have to be the day! I'm excited to get it painted and then get the chest moved in with your crib and start putting all of your things where they belong! I have about three bedding sets that I am trying to decide between. That will be the next thing we order. I'm ready for that too!

Last night I was laying in bed and I would poke my stomach and then you would start kicking me. This morning right after I woke up you were also kicking away. I could feel it from the outside too, so hopefully next time your daddy will be in the house where he can feel it. And.... when I sneeze it feels like you are doing flips inside of me. It's a pretty crazy feeling!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
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.

20 Weeks

2009-04-23T17:11:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

We have made it to the halfway point! I am so excited and surprised at how fast and uneventful it has been! Our next "big" milestone is 25 weeks. At that point, if for some reason my health took a turn for the worse, you would have a chance at surviving. It's good to know that, but I definitely don't expect that to happen! We are monitored very closely, more so than normal, and that has only worked to our benefit!

This week, your daddy and I were watching a show on the Discovery Health Network called Special Deliveries. This episode just happened to be filmed at OU Medical Center, and my doctor was the one delivering most of the babies throughout the episode. He has treated women with severe risks and complications. It was interesting to see him on TV when we see him every month! I feel re-assured knowing that he is the best at what he does and does it so well that they featured him on a national television show!

Also, last weekend, we experienced our first tornado warning! The storm was so loud with the hail and the wind that I did not hear the tornado siren go off. Our neighbor called our house and told me it had blown, so I put the dogs in the closet in the middle of the house, grabbed a skillet, and took off running to the neighbor's house to get in the basement. The hail was fairly large and was coming down fast, and I paid for it! I had welts immediately and then bruises all over the next day. The most important thing was being safe from a tornado, though, and I managed to make that happen! I'm sure there will be many more experiences. We are considering putting in a tornado shelter at our house. We also had lots of damage to our house -- the windows were broken, and the gutters, roof, and garage doors are all completely ruined. So, we get to go through the wonderful process of getting everything fixed!

You are growing quickly now, and we can't wait to see you at the doctor again. You have been kicking a lot this week, and it makes me smile each time it happens. Hopefully we will soon be able to feel it on the outside, too!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He'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 his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

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

19 Weeks

2009-04-15T22:02:00.001-05:00

Dear Baby G,

This is about 2 1/2 hours early, but I missed last week, so it all evens out. We have had a very exciting two weeks! First and foremost, you are healthy which is exactly what we had prayed for. Your heartbeat was in the 150's, and you are measuring 5 days ahead. That is perfectly fine and you are doing so well in there! We got to see all of your major organs and even the blood flow in and out of your heart. It was amazing! In the beginning of my pregnancy, we declined the screenings that they offer. We will love you and accept you no matter what, so we figured that there was no reason to undergo those tests. There is not a day we regret that.

We will keep monitoring your heart closely. Babies born to women with lupus are at a slight risk to have neonatal lupus. The chances of that are very slim. Also, a very small percentage of those babies born with neonatal lupus have a heart block. So far everything looks great with you heart! We have faith it is going to stay that way!

We also found out last week that you are a boy! Your daddy and I had made a bet right before we went into the ultrasound room from our exam room. I had a feeling since day one that you were a boy, but I figured it was just wishful thinking. So... I said girl, and he said boy. Luckily for me, we didn't wager anything! There really was never a doubt in my mind that you were a boy. Your daddy was so excited and he still is. The good news is that your daddy will no longer be the only one left to carry on the Gottsch name! I couldn't be happier about that.

This last week we visited some of your family on your daddy's dad's side. We were in Enid and stopped by to visit them and we ended up staying for close to five hours! They are great people and we can't wait for them to meet you! We also went to our family's house in Medford for Easter. You should see all of your things there! I couldn't believe all of the things you have already and we still have 4 1/2 months to go! I had been shopping one night and found a blue onsie that had pictures of tools and said "Daddy's Little Helper" on it. I bought it because I thought it fit perfectly! Well, Sunday while we were at my parent's house, I saw that my mom had bought the same onsie, except in the next size up! It definitely shows that I wasn't the only one thinking that way!

We bought your travel system last week also. We had been looking for a while, and we really liked this one. We had decided to wait and see if you were a boy or girl before purchasing it. That same day, we went after we were at the doctor and bought it! Your daddy put it together last weekend while Matt and Lindsey were at our house. They were also there when we put the crib together! They seem to be around at the wrong times! :) We are closer to choosing your name! We have one that will be used no matter what, but whether it is the first or middle is still up in the air! Your daddy has come up with some pretty silly names, but I'm fairly certain he was just kidding! We have decided on your bedding for your room, and we are ready to start painting as well!

This has gotten pretty long, but since I skipped a week, I suppose I am making up for it! I can't tell you enough how anxious we are to meet you. You are our little blessing that we tried and waited so long for! The fact that I have not had any problems other than the occassional cold (which I have right now) is amazing in itself. We have been so blessed and fortunate! You will be surrounded by unconditional love the minute you enter this world -- something everyone should experience. We love you and thank God for you each and every day!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
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.

17 Weeks

2009-04-04T22:34:00.002-05:00

Dear Baby G,

I am a little late writing this because your daddy and I were gone on Thursday and Friday. Today we have been busy doing things around the house, and most importantly, putting your crib together! We bought your crib and mattress yesterday before we came home. I was just going to look, but your daddy wanted to get it yesterday, so we did! He pokes on my stomach all the time and asks if you're moving around in there and all sorts of other stuff. I think he is excited! :) He doesn't show excitement a lot, so you've made quite an impact already! Anyway, your crib is ready for you, and Wednesday we can get your bedding! I can't believe in only 3 days we will know if you are a boy or girl! I'm ready, but our appointment isn't until 2:30, so I will be anxious all day. Of course, we are anxious to see all your organs and see that you are perfectly healthy. We have faith that you are!

I still can't believe we are almost half-way there. Time is going by so fast! Summer will be here soon, and then at the end of summer, you will grace us with you presence!

How your baby's growing:
Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

16 Weeks

2009-03-27T13:58:00.001-05:00

Dear Baby G,

We are now less than two weeks away from finding out your gender! This week has been pretty uneventful. However, Wednesday night I am almost certain that I felt you kick for the first time. I have felt you moving occassionally, but this was definitely something different! Also, last night you were moving around like crazy! It's exciting to feel!

We are in the middle of a major winter storm right now. We are hoping and praying that we don't lose power. It's very cold right now and sleet was falling just a few minutes ago. It looks like we'll be stuck inside for a couple of days, but that's okay with me! I'm still amazed at the changes you go through each week. Before we know it, September will be here!

How your baby's growing:
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

15 Weeks

2009-03-19T21:58:00.000-05:00

Dear Baby G,

This week has gone so fast! I'm sad that my spring break is almost over, but then again, I am excited because we are that much closer to learning if you are a boy or a girl. I still have only had dreams that you are a boy. I am planning on working on your room tomorrow. I bought the first piece of furniture for your room today. I was in Oklahoma City with my mom and we found a chest that will be perfect for you. I'm going to do a few things to it to make it fit the room more. Those things will come after we know if you are a boy or a girl, though. I would have bought your crib today, too, but we just didn't have room because the chest is so big! Your daddy and I will be going back very soon to buy your crib! I'm excited for that, too!

I took the one-hour gestational diabetes test last week when I was at the doctor. They have a "no news is good news" policy.... and we haven't heard a thing. So, we're assuming that it is good news and that everything was fine!! We have cleared so many hurdles already that a lot of people don't understand. I am thankful each and everyday for how smoothly things are going. I am getting my energy back and I haven't been quite as nauseous lately. I will deal with it for another 5 months if I have to, though. Whatever I have to go through to get you will be more than worth it. I have given myself 78 shots since I found out I was pregnant. When I see a needle it's like second nature to me now. That is good, since I have about 200 more shots to give myself! Overall, we have had a stress-free, problem-free, blessed pregnancy. I have faith that it will continue that way! You are growing so fast, and it is very exciting!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

14 Weeks

2009-03-15T19:08:00.001-05:00

Dear Baby G,

This is a little late, but only three days! We went to the doctor on Wednesday. Your heartbeat was strong and in the 150's which is perfectly normal! A little slower than before, but that is exactly what it's supposed to be! We still don't know what color to buy, but that will change on April 8! We will find out that day.

We've been shopping for things for you, but haven't bought much yet. As soon as we hear boy or girl, though, we will buy the things we have already picked out! Still no first names, still trying to hash that out, but we have plenty of time. I am finally on Spring Break, so my goal is to get your room as close to emptied out as possible. We are anxiously waiting for April 8!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

13 Weeks

2009-03-05T17:24:00.002-06:00

Dear Baby G,

I am so happy, still, to be finished with the first trimester. Hopefully I will get my energy back soon. The nausea has definitely diminished and it has been nice! I am noticeably showing now, and several people have commented on it this week. It's exciting! Also this last week, I have been feeling lots of fluttering in my stomach. I am certain it was you! It's such a good feeling to know you are in there and moving around!

We have been discussing names more lately, but still no front runners. However, your daddy has had your middle names (boy or girl) picked out for a loooong time now. Probably for almost two years. I think they are both good names, and either way I will like them! Now when it comes to your first name, well, that's not going as smoothly. There are a couple of names we had discussed years ago, and they are still in the running, but who knows! I had a dream again last night that you were a boy. I'm not sure what that means!

On Wednesday we go to Oklahoma City to the doctor again. I am doing the 1 hour gestational diabetes test early because women with lupus are more prone to developing it, and developing it earlier than normal. I am hoping everything goes well with that. We also are having another ultrasound. I have been secretly wishing that you will be cooperative that day and that they could MAYBE give us an idea on what little parts you have. I will be one day shy of fourteen weeks when we are there, so it's still a little early, but I know it could possibly be done. Only time will tell.

I am so glad this week is almost over. It is the end of the nine weeks for me, so I have had a lot to get finished. Next week I have 3 school days and 2 nights of parent/teacher conferences until Spring Break! I can't wait!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

12 Weeks

2009-02-27T18:56:00.003-06:00

Dear Baby G,

We have been on quite the journey so far! It has been over two months since we started. We've survived lots and lots of shots and lots and lots of nausea. The first trimester is over and we started the fourth month today. So many changes have happened already, with more to come. Your organs and important parts are all developed and now it is time for you to grow, grow, grow.

I am anxious to go back to the doctor again. Even more anxious for April 8. I hope you are cooperative that day and let us see if you are a boy or a girl! I am hoping soon to be able to finish emptying out your room. Maybe over Spring Break, which is only 2 weeks away, and I couldn't be happier about that! We have several names picked out, but we have definitely found more girl names. With that being said, you're probably a boy. Who knows? I have had three dreams now that you are a boy! Time will tell!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

11 Weeks

2009-02-19T20:10:00.001-06:00

Dear Baby G,

Another week has come and gone very quickly. It has been a busy week, but a good one. You are growing so fast, it's exciting every week to see all the changes you have gone through. We only have one week left until I am in the 2nd Trimester, which will be a huge milestone, even though for us, 10 weeks was a major hurdle! I am anxious for our next appointment in 2 1/2 weeks. My doctor told us that the next ultrasound will be the most visible and clear. I feel lucky that I have an ultrasound at every appointment. We have had 2 appointments and 2 ultrasounds. We get to see you growing stage by stage.

I have a busy night still. I have lots and lots of papers to grade and I need to get supplies ready for science experiments at school tomorrow. We are still anxious to meet you and on April 8, find out if we should buy pink or blue. That's right, I finally talked your daddy into finding out!!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

10 Weeks

2009-02-12T20:49:00.000-06:00

Dear Baby G,

10 Weeks! Wow! It seems like only yesterday that around midnight your daddy and I went to Wal-Mart and then came home to find out about you! That was nearly two months ago. The last two months have been wonderful! We went to the doctor again yesterday. Your heart is beating 173 times per minute, which the doctor said is wonderful! You're doing so good in there. I also saw my doctor that I see for lupus, and she said hitting ten weeks is a HUGE accomplishment for women with lupus. So, one hurdle down! We saw you again on the TV hooked up to the ultrasound machine. Your heart was beating away and we could see your little legs. It's amazing how much you have grown in only 4 weeks since we last saw you. You very clearly looked like a baby, our baby! :)

We can't wait to meet you and love you. We are anxious for your family members who already love you and check on you and ask about you to meet you. I know they will love you as much as we do. We made copies of the ultrasound pictures to give you your grandma and grandpa, and your great-grandparents. We are 1/4 of the way there, and September will be here before we know it. The last 2 months have gone so quickly, and we are thankful and feel so blessed. We go back to the doctor again in 4 weeks, where we will once again see you on "TV". We can't wait!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:

Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

9 Weeks

2009-02-08T15:04:00.002-06:00

Dear Baby G,

I should have written this on Thursday, but this has been a long, stressful week! So, I am writing three days late. Another week is gone and another one is half-way gone! We go to the doctor again on Wednesday. This last week you went to your first OU basketball game. We went to the Ford Center in Oklahoma City and watched the OU women play Tennessee. It was loud but fun. We watched more home videos of your daddy this week. They were really funny! Someday you'll be able to watch them and hear your grandpa's voice since you won't get to know him. We're both really sad about that, but you will know how good of a man he was and how much he loved your daddy. I know he would have loved you, too.

We are still working on emptying out your room. Hopefully soon it will be finished. It was a busy week at school, so I didn't have much time or energy to work on it! Maybe this week I will have a little extra time. I still haven't been throwing up, but I am nauseous a lot and my gag reflex is really sensitive! And, other than being completely exhausted all the time, I feel pretty good! Whatever I have to go through to get you will be more than worth it. We've also made it a month and a half taking the injections. Your daddy was giving them to me for a while, but I have been doing it for the past couple of weeks. They aren't too bad, but my stomach is bruised pretty bad! Hopefully we'll get some more pictures of you on Wednesday, and we're anxious to hear your heartbeat!

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

8 Weeks

2009-01-29T22:40:00.000-06:00

Dear Baby G,

Today you are 8 weeks old. Or I am 8 weeks pregnant. Whichever. This last week has gone incredibly fast. I am thankful for that! We go back to the doctor in less than 2 weeks. It was snowy and icy here this week. I was getting out of the truck and fell on the ice in our driveway. I was scared, but thankfully I halfway caught myself on the running boards and just knocked my elbow and tailbone pretty hard. It could have been much worse! Everyday you are changing so much, and it is exciting to think about how much you've grown and developed already!

We started emptying out the office in our house so that you will have a room when you arrive! Your daddy worked really hard on it last weekend, and I think we'll have it completely empty after this weekend! Until next week, keep doin' what you're doin', and I'll do my absolute best to keep you safe and healthy!

Love, Mommy

P.S. I forgot to write earlier that I have had several doctors tell me I would probably never be able to have children. You are such a blessing and our little miracle. After almost a year, you have made us the happiest people ever. We have planned and planned for you and tried and tried, and now that it's finally here, we couldn't be more happy or feel more blessed. You will forever know how badly we have wanted you and how long we have tried and waited on you. You are our miracle and I thank God each and every day that He sent you to us.

How your baby's growing:
New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

7 Weeks

2009-01-27T22:14:00.000-06:00

I wrote this last week, but forgot to post it here!

Dear Baby G,

This week I went to the doctor for the first time. Your daddy, me, and my mom all got to see your heartbeat and hear it also. It was fast and strong, so keep up the good work! You looked teeny tiny on the screen, but knowing your heart was beating was wonderful news! We got a picture of you to take home, too. We have been showing it to lots of people.

I told the kids in my classes at school about you yesterday. A lot of them are excited too! You just already have so many people who are anxiously waiting for you. You will be surrounded with love no matter if it is from your family or those who are close enough to be your family. We can't wait until our next appointment to see you and hear your heartbeat again!

How your baby's growing:
The big news this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.If you could see inside your womb, you'd spot eyelid folds partially covering her peepers, which already have some color, as well as the tip of her nose and tiny veins beneath parchment-thin skin.

Both hemispheres of your baby's brain are growing, and her liver is churning out red blood cells until her bone marrow forms and takes over this role. She also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. A loop in your baby's growing intestines is bulging into her umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from her tiny body.

6 Weeks

2009-01-15T19:39:00.001-06:00

Dear Baby G,

I can't believe another week has flown by! Time is passing so quickly, but I'm not complaining! In about 4 days we will go to our new doctor for the first time. We are hoping we get to hear your heartbeat since it's about time for that! I have figured out this last week that there are a few foods that I just need to stay away from... if not, I am sick, sick, sick! I am still nauseous and tired all the time, but it makes me smile knowing the reason.

Along with the day we got married, the day we found out you were coming into our lives was one of the best days of our lives! We are all so very excited about you. Even your daddy, although he doesn't show it to me a lot, I've heard from quite a few people who say he's really excited. It melts my heart and I can't wait for you to meet him. Last night we watched videos of him when he was a little boy. He thinks it'd be fun to have a miniature Aaron, with the same personality as him when he was young. Don't tell him, but I think it would be too.

We love you with every ounce of who we are already. That love will only grow stronger each and every day.

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing: This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean.

5 Weeks

2009-01-08T18:09:00.003-06:00

Dear Baby G,

Another week down, which means another week closer to meeting you! We've endured one week of those horrible shots. Spicy foods are in high demand right now. I have been blessed with all day sickness and I'm completely exhausted!! I also started teaching this week. I'm still trying to talk your daddy into finding out if you are a boy or girl, but I don't know if that's working or not! Keep growing and holding on and I'll do all I can to protect you.

How your baby's growing:
Deep in your uterus your embryo is growing at a furious pace. At this point, he's about the size of a sesame seed, and he looks more like a tiny tadpole than a human. He's now made up of three layers — the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the endoderm — which will later form all of his organs and tissues.The neural tube — from which your baby's brain, spinal cord, nerves, and backbone will sprout — is starting to develop in the top layer, called the ectoderm. This layer will also give rise to his skin, hair, nails, mammary and sweat glands, and tooth enamel.His heart and circulatory system begin to form in the middle layer, or mesoderm. (This week, in fact, his tiny heart begins to divide into chambers and beat and pump blood.) The mesoderm will also form your baby's muscles, cartilage, bone, and subcutaneous (under skin) tissue.The third layer, or endoderm, will house his lungs, intestines, and rudimentary urinary system, as well as his thyroid, liver, and pancreas. In the meantime, the primitive placenta and umbilical cord, which deliver nourishment and oxygen to your baby, are already on the job.

Lovenox

2009-01-02T16:26:00.002-06:00

God definitely answered a prayer for us today. I am taking injections of Lovenox once a day until September. These injections cost $1000 a month without insurance. We had some issues with our insurance Wednesday when we went to pick them up. However, our insurance changed yesterday to a new company, so today I went to deal with the pharmacy again. I was able to get 30 shots for $40. So instead of paying $1000 for one month, we will only have to pay $40! This is such a relief!

4 Weeks

2009-01-01T22:52:00.001-06:00

Dear Baby G (as Alyssa has so affectionately termed you),

Your daddy and I have been anxiously awaiting this moment. We found out one week ago that we were expecting you. It has not been an easy road, and the next 34-35 weeks will probably be a little tough too. You see, I have lupus and that makes it a little more complicated to bring you into this world.

Today I took my first injection of Lovenox in my stomach. This is to protect you and keep my blood from clotting. I know I wouldn't be able to give myself a shot in the stomach if I wasn't getting you in the end. You are worth all 260 shots I will give myself by September.

You are so very loved already. There are lots of people that can not wait to meet you! I promise we will love you and care for you each and every day of your life. We can't wait until the day you arrive and we bring you home to meet all of your family and friends, and of course: Bruiser, Daisy, Charlie, and Roxie. You will be the most perfect addition to our family.

Love,
Mommy

How your baby's growing:
This week marks the beginning of the embryonic period. From now until 10 weeks, all of your baby's organs will begin to develop and some will even begin to function. As a result, this is the time when she'll be most vulnerable to anything that might interfere with her development.Right now your baby is an embryo the size of a poppy seed, consisting of two layers: the epiblast and the hypoblast, from which all of her organs and body parts will develop.The primitive placenta is also made up of two layers at this point. Its cells are tunneling into the lining of your uterus, creating spaces for your blood to flow so that the developed placenta will be able to provide nutrients and oxygen to your growing baby when it starts to function at the end of this week. Also present now are the amniotic sac, which will house your baby; the amniotic fluid, which will cushion her as she grows; and the yolk sac, which produces your baby's red blood cells and helps deliver nutrients to her until the placenta has developed and is ready to take over this duty.