Bounces & Kicks

      I'm 23 weeks now and his kicks are increasing. He's now a foot long and weighs 1 pound :) He can hear my heartbeat, our voices, and any other sounds. I feel kinda silly sometimes talking to my son cause I feel like I'm talking to myself, haha. His movements are causing my belly to bounce and move when he kicks me (but only sometimes) and I love it!!! Sometimes I'll just sit down and poke him to get him to move around. Yesterday at my internship I had placed a binder on my belly as I was typing on the computer when suddenly the binder bounced up right as he kicked. It wasn't a huge bounce but I could see it from the corner of my eye :) I'm so grateful for our healthy, bouncy, baby boy. We've started to buy a few clothing articles for him and looking at cribs and baby stuff!!!! We are soo excited :) Kyle likes to lay down next to me on when I'm sitting on the couch and talk to him. It makes me smile greatly. He's going to be such an excellent father, I just know it. Oh and one other thing, my belly button is soon to pop completely out, haha. Right now it's a little more than halfway out. 

Since he'll be born in the fall we hope to buy something like this for him to take for his newborn pictures :)

Halfway There

      I've hit the 20 week mark...WOOT! That means only 20 more weeks until Baby Charlie arrives!!! :D Thankfully it's been an easy pregnancy. My nausea didn't last long (even though at the time it felt  unbearable, forever, and that it would never end), I haven't had unbearable aches or pains, I've had energy, and I've been abel to sleep wonderfully (with only a few occasional bad nights). I'm starting to feel our son move and feel his kicks :) What a neat experience.  It no longer feels like flutters and tickles, it's more of a pounding feeling now. It makes me sad, though, that Kyle can't feel his kicks yet when he puts his hand on my belly :( I've noticed our baby likes to move quite a bit shortly after I've eaten a meal and sometimes a snack.  I love being pregnant!

This is me at 20 weeks

Gender Time

It's been a while since my last post. But not to worry, nothing too exciting has occurred. The exciting thing now is we found out the gender of our baby...

IT'S A BOY!!!! WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SON :)

What a neat experience this ultrasound was. For 20 minutes we got to see our bouncy baby boy and find out that all is well and healthy with him. What a blessing! We saw how his organs are developing, got to hear his heartbeat, and see him move around more. Everytime I laughed he bounced up and down, haha. The sad part is we didn't really get to see his face expect for once.  He kept hiding it against my uterus. He wasn't shy, though, in announcing his gender that's for sure. We found that out right away, and I was right :) This whole time I've had a feeling baby charlie (that's what we call him cause it's a unisex name) was a boy. Kyle didn't really have a feeling for either one. My mom even knew it was a boy from the first time she saw my belly in April. We are thrilled to have a son. I think more so Kyle cause he'll have someone to teach and play football with :) October 2 couldn't come fast enough!!

This is me at 19 weeks when we went in for the ultrasound

And this is Baby Charlie :) Seeing his profile face gets me so very excited to know what he looks like and to hold him. It makes everything so very real that it blows my mind. Look at his little nose and lips. AH, I can't wait :) 

Good News....

FIRST TRIMESTER IS OVER!!!!!!! NO MORE NAUSEA!!!! Back to my normal self :D

That is all.

Strengthened

      I've been feeling weak and overwhelmed with school and work lately. I just wish I could take a break and have my mom come here, or me go to my mom. I feel kinda gypped out cause I don't get to have my mom take care of me during my pregnancy like she did for my sister-in-law and my sister. It sucks living away from home sometimes. I don't feel like going to class or work. I feel like quitting my job so I can have one less thing to stress about. I feel like dropping out of school but I know I'll regret it because I'm so close to being done. Homework is so difficult to do because all my classes consist of working with a group, which adds more stress to my days. I'm up to my eyes with research, papers, meetings, and projects. But even though I've been feeling so overwhelmed and ready to give up, I have felt strengthened. I have felt the hand of the Lord carrying me through what I cannot do myself. At the end of the day I look at all that I have accomplished, despite feeling sick and tired, and know that it was because of His help. I have received the motivation and help that I need to accomplish my tasks of the day through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I know I wouldn't be able to successfully accomplish what I need to do were it not for that. I am so thankful for the atonement and all that it has done and will continue to do for me in my life. 

"My [daughter], my precious child,

I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

Heartbeat Fast

      We got to see our baby and hear its heartbeat for the first time on February 28th :D The experience was amazing!!!! We have been so excited for this moment. It helped make the pregnancy more real (as if the constant nausea wasn't real enough, haha). Laying on the chair and feeling the coldness of the blue ultrasound jelly being squeezed onto my stomach was so anticipating. The doctor then pulled out the ultrasound camera thingy and pressed hard on my abdomen. Instantly we heard a fast, humming sound. It was the heartbeat of our child :D It was  such a tender moment as we smiled and held each others hands.  It was as though time stood still for a few seconds. It's heartbeat sounded like that of a hummingbird. Shortly after, the doctor turned on the camera and there our child was..as small as it could be. Our smiles intensified and it was as though we couldn't smile any bigger!! He or she was wiggling around. It's tiny little arm buds started flapping like we were being waved to :) The doctor measured the baby and found that I am right as planned...9 weeks. Making it's due date October 2, 2012. 

Nausea

       The first trimester is miserable. I have constant feelings of nausea for the majority of the day but can't throw up (unless I make myself throw up). My new food aversion...those egg, melted cheese, and sausage sandwiches. I can't even think about it, let alone smell it or see it (even if its wrapped). Meats are also something I can't eat much of. My energy? It's non-existent. Making my responsibilities difficult to do. Man, who knew something the size of a blueberry could make you feel so sick. I've missed some of my classes quite a bit which is highly unlikely of me, and work (even though it's only two hours a day) is a drag. All I want to do is eat kiwis and strawberries and lay on my couch all day.  I can't wait until this trimester ends. All I can say is thank goodness for Kyle. He has been such a patient and helpful husband. He always makes sure I'm comfortable and happy. He even holds my hair back and rubs my back when I'm throwing up (until I told him to stop cause I didn't want him to see). Now he just waits outside the bathroom with a hug ready for me.  He helps me around the house with dinner and cleaning when I don't have the energy or strength to do so. Another reason why he's the best. Maybe I should invest in those SeaBands my classmate was telling me about....that would be very helpful.

This is how I feel like...