The past few weeks

Some delightful things have been happening. Our little girl is so active in the morning making lying around in bed as a family extra exciting. One of my favorite things to do (besides feeling her move and having Rocky do the same) is trying to listen to her heartbeat. Our neighbor Jamie let us borrow her stethoscope a few months ago and we'd been trying to listen to her heartbeat for awhile with no luck, but now we're really getting to hear it really well. The other day it was as clear as my own. Rocky and I listened for awhile. I love the little things that remind me there's really a person inside of me.

I just got back from a conference in San Antonio a couple of days ago. I'd been wanting to take a couple of days off, but really knew I should go into work. Fortunately (or unfortunately) there's been an ice/snow storm pretty much keeping us at home whether we like it or not. I'm enjoying catching up on sleep and getting stuff done around the house. When I came home from my conference, Rocky gave me a huge surprise. He had pretty much put the whole nursery together. He painted the crib and put stuff in closets. It's really starting to look like a kid's room. I was so excited. It's been really wanting to nest recently but hadn't really had the time. It's crazy to think the due date's only 7 weeks away!

Week 30

It's hard to believe that in only 10 weeks (give or take a couple) we'll have a little girl. We'll be holding our daughter who we already love so dearly in our arms. Of course I'm not totally filled with daydreams of how great it's gonna be. First I've got to go through the most excruciating pain of my life so there's that and then there's the crying, the poo. . . I'm content with where things are; I'm in no hurry as of now.

Yesterday Rocky and I went in for our 30 weeks check up and things couldn't be better. I hesitantly stepped on the scale this time after last time's "you must have had a good thanksgiving" comment, but the scale was once again my friend saying that I'd somehow (must have been a miracle) lost 1/2 a pound. Blood pressure-- still perfect. Measurements-- textbook. Heartbeat-- steady. She's head down and ready to go as of now though that could change (though we're really hoping it won't).

Today we head up to Dallas for Winter Conference. I'm actually excited about it this year. I've only got 2 jobs so i'll be able to chill more than I've been able to for the past couple of years. I'll be working on another upcoming conference in San Antonio though so I'll need the extra time. I'm sincerely looking forward to a few weeks from now when I'll be working only part time. It seems like there's still so much to do as far as getting the nursery ready and such.

We were in Louisiana visiting family the 16-26. On December 17, we had our first baby shower. It was at Judson. There were about 30 people who came (or at least dropped by gifts). It was pretty fun. Emily who was on STINT with us was there; we hadn't seen her in a long time so it was really good to catch up. It was so cool to feel so cared for by the people of the church.

From experience, I knew I probably wouldn't be getting alot of stuff from our registry at the shower and it turned out to be true once again. We did get lots of clothes and blankets and stuff we needed (all of it in pink of course) but not too much from our registry. I feel like we've got SO much stuff already though I know there's tons more to get. It's crazy to see how much stuff a baby adds to a household. Here's a picture of me and our daughter on christmas.

28 weeks.

Obviously i had a great thanksgiving or at least that's what the nurse told me when i went to the doctor this week. so far every time i went in, my weight was creeping along at a slow pace. 3 pounds here. 4 pounds there. Well, this time i went in and i'd gained a whopping 8 pounds. i felt crazy, but the doctor said it was totally normal.

i also had to do my diabetes test this time as well. i don't think i've ever had anything to drink that was quite that sweet. got the test results back and everything's good to go. now the appointments move to every other week. it's so exciting to think that we'll have a little baby in only 2.5 months.

i saw our daughter move for the first time the other morning. i was lying in bed trying to get the courage to get up and out of the corner of my eye i saw my whole stomach move. i think that was possibly more thrilling than feeling her move for the first time.

it's been a long time. . .

. . . since i've posted anything but that's because everything's been going so well. we've got an active daughter. i'm feeling healthy. my heartburn hasn't even been quite as bad. my dream's are as crazy. the only thing that's been wacky has been my emotions. i cry alot, feel sad for almost nothing. it's so frustrating. i feel like i'm going crazy at times.

right now i'm almost 27 weeks along, entering the 3rd trimester! i'm pretty excited. our last appointment at 24 weeks was fine. we had to visit a different doctor since ours was having twins. we were a little freaked out when the doctor listened to the hearbeat and said it has slowed for a second. she listened a little longer and said everything was fine. she thought our daughter must have been squished for just a bit. weird how something so little can make you worry.

things have been crazy. our schedule's have been overwhelming with hanging out with friends, work, raising support, holidays, getting ready for baby stuff, etc. i'm ready for the end of january. even though the office will be stressing a bit after i'm gone, i'm looking forward to some time just to get stuff done here at home.

The Big One

On Tuesday Rocky and I went in for the 20 week appointment-- the one with the ultrasound, the one where you can tell the gender, the one where you find out how things are looking, the one that calms your nerves or not. . . I have honestly been such a freak emotionally since I've gotten pregnant. I had been having nightmares for about a week which only made me worry more that something was wrong. I had dreams almost everynight that something major was going to be discovered. pregnant Sunee couldn't even eat the night before the ultrasound.

Well, finally the appointment rolled around. We went right into the sonographer's room. It was pretty much like I expected-- gel on the belly, metal probe looking thing being rolled across it, and a wonderful monitor where we could watch the inside of me! Technology is wonderful. Well right off she asks if we want to know the sex, and I'm not kidding you, one second later she had our baby's "tush" (as she called it) up on the screen and was telling us it was a girl. What a shocker. We're not sure why but we really thought the baby was going to be a boy.

Thankfully that was the only shocker from the appointment. Everything else looked great! We got to see all 10 fingers and toes. Her lips and nose, her kidneys, stomach, brain, heart. She was right on target for growth. That's what I'd been praying for all along.

As we were leaving, the sonographer handed us a DVD of the experience. Needless to say, I could not wait to get that thing into a DVD player and watch it over again. As soon as we got back to the office what did I do but put in that DVD. Only to find out it didn't work! I was about to freak out, but Rocky called the office and scheduled another appointment for the following day just to get another DVD.

This was one screw up I wasn't too sad about. I meant I got to go check out our daughter yet again. It was pretty exciting all over again. This time she was moving around alot which she didn't do too much of the first time. She was kicking and flailing. Very cool.

Things are setting in pretty fast now. She's due in about 4 months. That's it. We've got alot to do-- find a pediatrician, sign up for classes, come up with a birth plan, come up with a name. . .ahhh, it's a little overwhelming to think about it all but i'm sure will be well worth it? I'm sure it will be. I can't wait to meet our little one.

Here's the ultrasound video: