Halfway Baby!

So, we are officially halfway through this pregnancy and I can't beleive it! It seems like just yesterday I was telling Justin that he was going to be a father, but then I realize that was really 16 weeks ago. So far I've lost about 19 or 20 lbs. and began to put it on again around week 16. I've gone up about 5 overall but you can really start to see my bump.

Justin and I are really excited because on Wednesday we get to do our first ultrasound. We finally get to find out if we're having a Lulu or Mich. (Or as I tell Justin, twins! lol) And you know what? Even as much as I want to find out on Wed (and believe me I do!) I'm excited because we should at least be able to finally have a pic of our Lil One.

I went to my appointment two weeks ago. I was suppose to have one the week before but the dr. ended up having to deliver 5 babies in 36 hrs. so yeah, that wasn't happening lol. So I went to see Jodie again. This time my mom was able to go with me and you could see her face light up when she was able to hear the sound of the baby heartbeat. I was told that at 19 weeks I was measuring at more of 21 or 22 weeks. After that we were able to set up the u/s for Wed (the 8th) and we have another for the 21st of Sept with Dr. Roberts.

Justin has been such a wonderful husband/father so far. Everyone asks if he's excited and I say yeah but it's also weird for him because I had lost weight and wasn't looking any different. Now though I can see him changing. He loves the new bump I'm sporting and rubs my belly everynight before we fall asleep. The other day he even had his ear to my belly just talking to the baby. I'm blessed to have him as the father of our jellybean.

Anyway, I know I'm a lil behind on posting on here but I wanted to write and explain what's going on with the halfway point of my pregnancy. And you can believe that I'm going to write and post pics after our appointment on Wed.

Week 14

"Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kindneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth." ~ thebump.com

So it's week 14. I've put on a pound from the original 18 I have already lost since the beginning. Anyway, just giving an update. I hope to update this every Thurs. since that's when my weeks change. Even if I don't really say anything much I want to let you know what's going on with the baby.

Our New Edition

As I'm sure all of you know by now, Justin and I have a brand new edition. In about the middle of May I found out that I was pregnant. I was so excited and couldn't wait to inform Justin but he was working until about 11 that night. So I spent the rest of the day talking to my tummy and praying that Justin would come home soon. I ended up taking a picture of the test and put it as his background on his computer. Well that night when he came home, I had him turn it on and he saw it. His response? "So, you're pregnant? Well, come give me a hug." Not quite the romantic tear-filled reaction I had throught it would be. In retrospect, I really shouldn't have told him that late at night, but he's really excited about it. He's going to make a great daddy and I can't wait for him to get that chance.

I went to the dr. to get it confirmed and he told me I was 4 weeks and 5 days so we waited until that weekend to tell our parents. We told his parents by getting a onesie and writing "Aunt Hannah" on the back and putting it on Hannah. Robin seemed to really like that. Then it was close to my dad's birthday so in the card we wrote "love, Karen, Justin and Baby E." Everyone was really excited because it's the first grandbaby for each side. I think they're all going to make wonderful grandparents. And I know that the baby will be spoiled with love by everyone.

As far as what's happening in my tummy (cause I know ya'll want to know lol) I'm not really sure. We've had a couple appointments. At the last one, that Justin was lucky enough to go to, we got to hear the heartbeat for a little bit. That was really exciting because it made it feel real. Besides that, I'm 13 weeks now (I change every Thurs) and have gotten past "morning sickness." It was about once a day that I got to enjoy all that the name entailed. So far I've lost about 18 pounds. We had issues with insurance so we finally got that settled and now I'm going to Laurel and seeing the midwife, Jodie McCraken. Tomorrow we have our first appointment with her so hopefully we'll get to hear the heartbeat again and maybe get the first ultrasound set up. I can't wait to see it so I know Lulu is really in there.

This blog is going to change. Before it was just about the two of us going through life and now it's about us as a family. I'm so happy that the Lord has blessed us with this little one and I'm honored that He would give us the chance to be parents. It is my constant prayer that the baby will be normal and healthy, as far as any child is, and more importantly that we will be good Christian parents and can raise him or her in the path of the Lord. I hope you all enjoy keeping updated as we go through this journey to parenthood.

What I've Learned...

Today is my 25th birthday. As a child, the mere thought of this "old" age sent my head spinning, as I see it does with my own kids at work. Yet now that I've hit this magic age I just don't feel it. In an instant I went from a little girl in pigtails to a grown woman with a family. It's as if I went to sleep and woke up in someone elses' body.

I was telling my friend that I feel at this age I should have learned something by now; a little insight into this world in which I live. Honestly though? I wasn't hit with a lightning bolt today which suddenly explained the world so instead I made a list ~ a list of 25 things that I have learned in these very few years upon this Earth.

~Faith will always help see you through no matter what the situation.
~Spend as much time with loved ones as you can
~Drinking and darts are pretty much a bad combination no matter the circumstance
~Bad things happen. It's life. Hold your head up and keep on moving.
~When hunting for a good looking guy at the Ren Faire, you will inevitably get lost and drive around York and Southern PA the REST of the day.
~Always go all in for love. Don't be afraid of what will happen. Otherwise nothing ever will.
~The Laurel Festival monkey has always had, and will always have, the ebola virus.
~Enjoy good food and drinks. Don't worry about those few extra pounds. You look great!
~Free furniture creates some of the best memories
~Always tell people how much you love them. You may never get the chance to say it again.
~Never trust a tattoo place which sets up shop at the county fair.
~Cherish the past. It's where you came from. Look towards the future. It's where you're going.
~Having your body covered in liquid detergent is not cool the next day.
~Dance in the rain.
~Enjoy growing older but always keep the child in you.
~Always try to travel. There's so much of the world to see. But when you do, don't forget the small town and raised you. It's always better at home.
~Don't worry about your weight, gray hair or wrinkles on your face. Each of these "problem" areas has a story story to tell of romantic dinners out, excitement and adventure and deep laughs shared by friends.
~Hobos are scarier than most people give them credit for.
~Never get too old to laugh until you cry.
~College days and nights make for some of the best memories you'll ever have
~Taking pics are some of the best ways to remember special events and to be used for blackmail later.
~Celebrate every day because you never know when it may be your last.
~Don't always focus on just the big events. It's the small, everyday things that create life.
~Always eat the whole fortune cookie to make the fortune count
~Friends and loves come and go. They can either break your heart or lift you to the heavens, but each relationship makes you the person you are today.

So yeah, I have learned these few insights but was it a spark that suddenly gave me all the answers? Of course not. But maybe I'm not suppose to figure it out. Maybe no one is. After all, life is a mystery that may never be uncovered. That's why we all need to make our own list and just live life to the fullest.

Here's to many more birthdays for us all!
xoxo

A New Year

So this is the new year. I understand now what people mean as they talk of the years going by faster and faster. I can't believe that it's 2010 and I'm almost 25! How crazy haha.

Justin and I are both doing good which we thank God for everyday. We've been married for 2 years and 4 months. And after all of this time we've decided it's time to start thinking about children. (I figure I can put this in since I'm doubting the number of people who actually read my blog lol). I've gone off the pill and now we start our journey. Justin and his mom believe that it won't take long, but I'm not so sure. I've always been a very superstitious person in the fact that I'm worried if I want something bad enough God isn't going to give it to me purely to have to me learn to trust His Way. He did bless me with a wonderful husband which I am forever grateful. So anyway, we are going to try and see what happens. I hear that as long as it's before a year we will not have to see anyone until then.

So we will see. Whether it takes us a few weeks to a couple years, I am going to be happy in my husband and my faith. I hope that God decides to bless us with a child, but if that's not in His plans for us I pray that we will be given the patience and understanding which we will need.

I hope you all have a wonderful 2010!