Merry Christmas

I hope your Christmas was filled with love and laughter!! Our Christmas was absolutely wonderful this year. It was awesome to share this time of year with Garrett. It is amazing how you begin to look at the world a little differently. We started our holiday festivities with having our dear friends Greg & Laura and Brad & Missy over for appetizers and dessert. It certainly wasn't anything fancy, but it was a great time among friends.

Sunday before Christmas, Adam, Sarah and Luke came over for dinner. Last year we all decided that we wouldn't buy gifts for each other, just Luke. This year we agreed that we would only buy gifts for the kids and that is just what we did. Luke had a great time with the boxes and the wrapping paper!!!

Garrett and I have both been battling a cold, but that didn't keep us from doing all the holiday things that we usually do. I worked half a day Christmas Eve and then went home to my 2 guys!! Joel didn't have to work, so he had kept Garrett home with him. After Garrett and I both got up from a nap, we went to my folks for our annual Christmas Eve festivities. Dear friends of my family came over and we had dinner and exchanged gifts!!! Garrett got a great interactive dog that teaches body parts and colors. Joel and I got an awesome gift!!! Our double stroller!!!! (Now I just have to get a car that it will fit in!!!)

We then headed to Gram and Gramps house to finish out the night. We had a fun time with family and opened more Garrett gifts!!! Joel's mom bought a number of outfits for Garrett and the baby-to-be!!!! We normally would have gone to Christmas Eve services at church, but we just couldn't make it to the 11:00 service this year. 2 of us with colds and a tired baby, we didn't think we should be there. We headed home and got Garrett ready for bed by reading him The Night Before Christmas.

We woke up bright and early Christmas morning and got dressed and had breakfast. After breakfast we opened all of the gifts under the tree....which none of them were for myself or Joel!!!! The best thing about the gifts were the bows and the paper!!!

We went to my folks for gifts and Christmas dinner and then we went to Joel's folks for more gifts!!! Garrett got V-Smile Baby (among other things) from my parents and Leap Frog toys from Joel's parents!!! He is having fun with all the new toys and new sounds!!!

We have also made a few new leaps and bounds with Garrett. He started baby food this week. We started by feeding him Bananas and he then enjoyed a dinner of Carrots tonight!!! He seems to really enjoy the baby food. He wasn't a big fan of Rice Cereal, he is more of a real food kind of guy!!!

Enjoy the photos!!!

Love To All!!!

25 Weeks

I am just trucking right along with this pregnancy!!! We passed a milestone last week. 24 weeks is the point that you always want to get to becuase at that point the baby would be viable if she came early!!! We are hoping for early, but not that early!!! I haven't had may many complaints about being pregnant. The last few days, I have had a terribly sore back!! I keep telling Joel that my pregnancy with Garrett was much easier!!!

Speaking of Garrett...we went to the doctor Monday. He weighs an amazing 19.1 pounds and is 27 inches long!!! He is one big boy!! He has moved up to the 90th percentile for weight. We also had to get shots while we were there. This was Joel's first experience with shots. I always feel so bad when he gets his shots. He didn't let me put him down all night after I picked him up from Marilyn's. The little stinker is fighting a cold right now. Believe it or not, he is being very good. He doesn't really let it get him down, or bother him.

25 Weeks
~The structures of the spine begin to form -- joints, ligaments and rings. These will protect the all important spinal cord which serves as the information transmitter for your child's body.
~Blood vessels of the lungs develop.
~Your baby's nostrils begin to open. There is a study out of Belfast that suggests babies at this stage have the capability of scent preferences!
~The nerves around the mouth and lip area are showing more sensitivity now. When baby is rooting for food later on, these will be valuable!
~His swallowing reflexes are developing.
~Dexterity is improving. Your baby can make a fist and would clasp objects placed in palm.
~Your child has now obtained an approximate length of 13.6 inches (34.6cm) and weighs 1.46 pound (660gm).

More Facts

~Your little grower’s physical proportions are evening out at this point and most of their remaining development will largely be weight gain and lots and lots of nervous system development.

~This week they’ll be scootching slowly out of the old breech position and start rotating (already!) into a better position for exit during their birth. Their head and feet are slowly rotating so that the head is pointed down towards the birth canal.

~Time is short (or really long, depending on who you ask)—just (still!) 14 weeks left before you can go back to being a single-resident human.

How's Mom

~Speaking of larger, you’re obviously carrying more weight now and your back is going to let you know. Don’t let this get you down or make you feel like a weakling—it all comes with the territory of being preggers. Try to practice good posture—it will alleviate some of the back fatigue as slouching is actually harder on your back.

~It’s also common for women to experience leg cramps during this period. Go ahead, strong arm someone who loves you into giving you a massage. Or if you're lucky enough to have the extra bucks, head to a spa that specializes in pregnancy massages and get the full-treatment.

~You may have already noticed that your hair seems fuller, thicker, more plentiful and darker-- especially your body hair. There are two basic reasons for this: 1) you're shedding much less (head) hair than you usually do and 2) your body's hormones contribute to the way your body hair is growing right now. Not to worry, all the hairiness will return to normal after you've delivered your baby.

All I Really Want for Christmas

Please enjoy the video shown here. Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife have adopted 3 little girls from China!!! It is beautiful to see someone using their talents to share the awesome gift of adoption!!! I will share more of his videos with you later!!!

23 Weeks

So...did you think we had fallen off the face of the earth?? It seems like everything has been so crazy lately. I can't believe that Christmas is right around the corner. I haven't even started Christmas shopping yet!!! Does that mean I am a bad mommy?? I haven't even begun to think about what I am going to buy Garrett. What do you buy a child that has everything he could possibly want?? The way the weather is turning out, I should probably buy him a snow suit!!!

We had Christmas pictures taken on Saturday. Joel and I are so disappointed in them. It could be that the problem was Joel and I though!!! The pictures of Garrett are adorable. I look like I have been on an eating binge for a few weeks and Joel looks like he hasn't slept in weeks!! We are going to have them re-taken next week. Hopefully they will turn out better than the last ones!!!

23 Weeks

~Proportions of the body are now quite similar to a newborn although thinner since he hasn't begun to form body fat.
~Bones located in the middle ear harden.
~Your baby is able to hear. (Dads, did you know: low-frequency sounds mimicking a male voice penetrate the abdomen and uterine wall better than the higher frequencies of the female voice?) ~The eyes are formed, though the iris still lacks pigmentation.
~The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. She has begun producing insulin, important for the breakdown of sugars.
~If born now, your baby has a 15% chance of survival, his odds going up with each passing day. . ~The average baby at this stage weighs 1.1 pound (501gm) and is 11.38 inches (28.9cm) long.

~Real hair and toenails are beginning to grow. Baby continues to urinate and drink amniotic fluid, which is exchanged every three hours.

More Facts

~At this point you’ve pretty much adjusted to the fact you’ve got a moving little gymnast inside of you, but now they’re going to kick up the party a notch because they can hear and react to sounds from the outside world. Sounds from your alarm clock, a thunder roll, or that darned car honking at you across the intersection can actually jar their little ears enough to elicit a kick or violent bout of squirming.

How's Mom Doing

~If no one warned you about the joys of the pregnancy-sleep-challenge, you’ve probably already started to discover just how difficult it can be to find adequately comfortable sleeping positions.

~Plenty of good ol’ fashioned H20 (water) can help reduce swelling in your poor ankles and feet-- resulting from the pressure your now over-sized uterus is putting on your pelvic veins, thereby slowing fluid circulation to the lower half of your body. Also, if you want to further reduce the dreaded appearance of pregnancy “cankles” (calf-ankles) try to avoid sitting for long periods of time—and for the hundredth time: don’t forget to stay active! Keeping your fluid intake up is also good for your little resident swimmer as dehydration is frequently connected with premature birthing. Yep, it’s a lot of responsibility, but you can do it! You’re almost two-thirds of the way there already! Keep up the good work mom!

Love To All!!!

21 Weeks

I am 21 weeks and going strong!!! We are getting ready for an exciting Thanksgiving. Tomorrow will be Garrett's first Thanksgiving. Even though he won't remember anything, it will be exciting for Joel and I. We will eat lunch with my folks and then we will eat dinner with Joel's family. I hope you all have a wonderful day filled with family and fun.

21 Weeks

~White blood cells are under production. Leukocytes (or white blood cells) form our body's defense sytems. They help fight infections and diseases.
~Your little one's skin has changed from translucent to become more opaque. ~Your infant's tongue is fully formed. If you were able to peek you might catch your son or daughter practicing giving you a raspberry!
~If your baby is a girl, her womb and vagina are formed. Unlike males, females have a limited supply of eggs in their lifetime. At this point your daughter will have 6 million eggs. This amount decreases to approximately one million by birth.
~Baby swallows more this week. After your baby takes in amniotic fluid, his body absorbs the water in the liquid and moves the rest into the large bowel. This is good practice for his digestive system!
~Wake and sleep periods become more consistent. Some research suggests that baby sets her internal clock to match the outside world's even before birth! Your eating and sleeping habits as well levels of light and noise serve as her signals.
~Length is now measured crown to heel.
~Baby measures about 10.51 inches (26.7cm) and weighs nearly 12.7 ounces (360g).

More Facts

~Your beautiful little miracle-gro baby will be putting on a full ounce and a half this week (and weighing up to 16.5 ounces), but that’s just the beginning!

~The beginnings of what is commonly called “brown fat” is just starting to fill in to help your baby retain some body heat, which is crucial as they’re not yet capable of regulating their own body temperature.

How's Mom Doing

~Funnily enough, you may already be noticing some mild uterine contractions—don’t panic, this is completely normal. Actually, your uterus contracts throughout your whole life—only now that there's enough pressure on the uterine muscles you can feel them more distinctly when they contract.

Love To All!!

Megan White

A guy that Joel went to high school with and played football with is going through quite a time right now. His daughter was diagnosed with Cancer and has been undergoing treatment. Please check out her website www.helpmeganwhite.com and view the link below of her at St. Jude when the Today Show was there doing a story.


Giving back at St. Jude’s Children's Hospital

Half Way There

It is amazing to think that I am half way there!!!!! In 20 more weeks we will see our beautiful baby girls face!!!!! I have been feeling fine---thank goodness. I have heard that the 2nd trimester is the easiest part of the entire pregnancy...luckily I haven't had a rough part yet!!! One fun thing.....I have been feeling a number of flutters in my tummy!!!! I tell Joel nightly that his little girl is dancing in my tummy!!!! She really likes to move around when I am sitting at my desk at work and when I lay down at night to watch TV and drift off to sleep!!!

I think I am going to start putting my Christmas decorations out this weekend. I know that Joel has a job this weekend...I don't know if he knows it yet or not though...he is going to be putting the Christmas lights on the house!!!! I absolutely love the Christmas season...the sounds, the smells, the sights...

20 Weeks

~You're half way there!
~The rapid growth stage is about over. While things have slowed down, this next stage is vital to survival.
~The baby's heart grows stronger. Find a quiet place, lay flat on your back. Locate your own heartbeat by finding your pulse. Next lay your hand on your belly. You may be able to distinguish the two heartbeats!
~Her legs are reaching their relative size. With the increase muscle develop occurring as well, you will start feeling much more than tiny flutter kicks soon!
~Immunities are being transferred from you to your baby now. These immune cells will protect her from viruses you've already had for up to six months after birth!
~The nerve cells for taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch are now developing in specialized areas of the brain. Production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and make more complex connections.
~Your baby may startle in reaction to loud sounds. Amazingly, she can actually hear noises outside of the womb. Familiar voices, music, and sounds that baby becomes accustomed to during her development stages often are calming after birth.
~If your baby is a girl, her uterus is starting to develop. She has approximately six million eggs in her ovaries. About one million will remain at birth.
~Baby is about 6.46 inches (16.4cm) and weighs around 10.58 ounces (300g).

More Facts

~Your little monkey now has teeth buds, although they’re hidden beneath the gum line. And finally! Their limbs have reached their relative proportions—no more alien baby!

~Their cute pink lips are more defined, and might be helping out in a bit of prenatal thumb-sucking.

~At this point, your little one really looks like a miniature baby—and we do mean miniature as your little swimmer currently weighs a mere eighth of their final birth weight. With half the pregnancy behind you, the most significant gains are yet to come!

How's mom doing??

~Not that we need to tell you, but your baby may sometimes seem like a kick-boxer in training with no appreciation for your exhausted-pregnant-momma sleep needs.

~Your little independent thinker will continue to operate on their own time table throughout the rest of the pregnancy. And you thought rebellious behavior only started around puberty!

That's all for now. I go to the doctor tomorrow, so I will try and post a report then!!

Love To All!!!!

19 Weeks

It is amazing to think that I am almost 5 months along!!!! I have been gathering some interesting facts from a number of sources. Some of them are quite funny. Enjoy!!!!

19 Weeks

This is something I have been suffering from lately----I call it my "Brain Damage"~What was I doing? Forgetfulness is a common occurrence in pregnancy. Try making lists to remind yourself of your tasks. This is normal and that the tension it causes usually just makes it worse. Take that deep breath and chalk it up to baby-making.

~Your baby has the same awake and sleep patterns of a newborn. He has a favorite position for sleep and recognizable active and rest periods.
~Throughout baby's body, nerves are being coated with a fatty substance called myelin, which insulates the nerves so that impulses can flow smoothly.
~Scalp hair becomes apparent this week. It has sprouted and continues to grow.
~The milk teeth buds have already developed and over the next few days the buds for the permanent teeth will begin to form behind the milk teeth.
~If baby is female the uterus starts to develop. If you're having a girl, the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes are in place. This is us!!!!!
~If it's a boy, the genitals are distinct and recognizable.
~Your baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and his or her kidneys are making urine.
~Your little one's size is around 6.02 inches (15.3cm) and 8.47 ounces (240gm).

More Info

~This week your lil’ fetus will start on an appetizing diet of amniotic fluid which they are now capable of swallowing, digesting, and passing the fluid as far as their tiny “large” intestines. Fortunately for you, this nice little lump of baby-poop won’t be coming out while they’re still in your womb. Some time shortly after they’re born, this fun lump will become the first in a long line of baby poops. (What finally comes out— commonly known as “meconium” to the science world, will be black and sticky, and you’ll be very glad it happens only once!)

~And how's mom doing? Unlike generations of women before you who were taught pregnancy was practically an ailment (10% of women DID die in childbirth back then), we now have scientific evidence that exercise is a good thing when you’re pregnant. In fact, most physicians recommend continuing or starting a pregnancy-friendly proper exercise can do a lot towards increasing your overall flexibility (at a time where your body wants to stiffen up) thereby somewhat reducing the pain and tension during labor exercise regimen.

Thank you to everyone for your kind words and your thoughts and prayers during our rough weekend, our wonderful adoption experience, and my pregnancy!!!!!

Love To All!!!!

Pictures

Hanging out with Mom waiting to get ready for church.

My First Halloween

Do I really look like a monster??


I am more like a pumpkin!!!

This is while we were waiting outside the courtroom.

Boy or Girl

Do we start buying pink or blue??? Is the peanut a boy or a girl???We had quite a trip to Colorado. We drove to Kansas City on Thursday. We almost made it to the hotel we were staying at, but then the unthinkable happened!!! We were sitting still on 71 and out of nowhere, BAM. An old man apparently did not feel the need to stop when the rest of the traffic stopped. He actually rear ended a car and then bounced off of her and into us. Luckily we were all safe. Our car is still in Harrisonville and we are now dealing with insurance companies!!!!

Garrett was wonderful on the plane to Denver. He slept the majority of the time. We felt very blessed to have him be so good. We made it to our court appearance and it lasted a total of about 10 minutes!!! The plane ride home was nothing at all like the plane ride going!!! Garrett screamed the majority of the time!!! Poor little guy...actually Joel and I were feeling pretty sorry for ourselves!!!! We did make it home and we are thrilled to not have to go back to Colorado again!!!

I will post Halloween pictures, Garrett pictures, and crash pictures later!!!!

Oh....I guess you are still waiting for the news..........................................
You should definitely start thinking...................................



Pink---Garrett is going to have a baby sister!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween!!!! I love to see all of the kids dressed up!!! Today we are having a Customer Appreciation day. We are seeing so many kids dressed up today!!! We have had an appearance from Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Superman, a Power Ranger, Grim Reaper, and some cute little fairies!!!!!

We will be trick or treating tonight. Ok....not really trick or treating, just going around to family and friends so they can see how cute G-Man is!!!! Garrett is going to be a pumpkin tonight!!! Today he is dressed in a cute little outfit that says Daddy's Little Monster across the front!!!! Pictures will come tonight!!!!!

Tomorrow is a big day for us!!! We find out what is cooking in this tummy of mine!!! Hopefully I will be able to post the news tomorrow after we go to the doctor. We are heading out tomorrow to stay the night before we fly out Friday morning!!!! We will be having our court hearing Friday afternoon and will then fly back home Saturday. It will be a quick trip, but it will be great to get it over with.

18 Weeks

Vernix (a white cheese-like protective material) forms on baby's skin with the lanugo (soft, lightly pigmented hair covering the body and limbs); both serving to protect your baby's skin during the months in water.
Your placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby. Don't forget those prenatal vitamins!
Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs. He'll be putting these lungs to good use in just a few months!
Her vocal chords are formed. She goes through the motions of crying but without air she doesn't make a sound.
Features of your baby's heart, including ventricles and chambers, should be visible during an ultrasound.
Your baby measures about 5.59 inches (14.2cm) this week and weighs about 6.7 ounces (190gm).

Love To All!!!

17 Weeks

This week has been a crazy one!!!! Garrett has his first cold. He woke up Monday night---actually early, early Tuesday morning, with a stuffy nose. He was up the majority of the night. Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep. I felt so bad for him. He was so stuffy and snotty that he kept choking. Luckily my mom was able to come over and pick him up so I could get ready for work. She kept him Tuesday while Joel and I were at work. Garrett amazingly slept through the night last night. I think he was totally exhausted. He was still stuffy this morning, so my mom kept him again today. He seems to be a bit better today. We are going to go back to the babysitter tomorrow. I have been afraid he might get the other kids sick, even though he hasn't had a fever. I am hopeful that we caught his cold early enough and started giving him Tylenol early enough that he won't stay sick!!!!

Other than that, nothing else has been going on for us this week!!! It is amazing to know that I am already 17 weeks pregnant. 1 more week and we will find out what is swimming around in this tummy of mine!!!

17 Weeks

~You can feel your uterus just below your belly button now. It should be the size of a cantaloupe or a little bigger now.
~By week 17, your baby weighs about 4.97 ounces (140gm) and is 5.12 inches (13cm) long.
~He or she has a much more normal "human" appearance now. She holds her head more erect and her body and limbs are longer in proportion to her head.
~Pads are forming on his tiny fingertips and toes. Soon those individual swirls and whorls will be apparent.
~Her eyes are looking forward now, but they are still firmly closed.
~Meconium (composed of products of cell loss, digestive secretion and swallowed amniotic fluid), is accumulating in the bowel. This black gooey substance will become your baby's first poop!
~The umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger and continues to rush blood and nutrients to your growing baby.
~If your child is male the prostate begins to develop.
~Her skeleton is tranforming from cartilage to bone. The bones remain flexible to make the journey through the birth canal easier.

Love to All!!!

16 Weeks

Not a whole lot to report since Monday's appointment. The picnic last night was fun. It amazes how early it is getting dark though!!! It was totally dark at 7:15. Thank goodness some of the kids had on shoes that lit up when they ran....we never would have found them!!!!

We definitely will be making a trip to Colorado on November 2nd. We received a letter in the mail this weekend that gives us our hearing time and everything!!!! We will be flying out of Friday morning and coming back Saturday afternoon. I hope the quick trip and the flights won't be too hard on Garrett!!!

Garrett is doing great!!! He actually slept through the night last night. He does that occasionally, and every time he does, it feels so good!!!! He loves to gab in the car on our way to Marilyn's in the morning. It is so much fun to hear him "talk". The weather is starting to feel like football weather.....we are going to have to get Garrett a new Chiefs outfit. He has one that he can wear, and one that he has outgrown!!!! I have a feeling he will grow out of his one pretty quickly!!!!

16 Weeks
~Fat begins to form underneath skin, providing your baby with insulation for the coming months.
~Did you know that both baby and placenta are now about the same size?
~Your little one has reached 4.57 inches (11.6cm) and approximately 3.53 ounces (100gm).
~His head and neck are held straighter now.
~This is a week of "mights!" You might hear the tiny thumps of his heartbeat with an external monitor now. The genitals are developed sufficiently that an experienced sonographer might be able to determine if your baby is a boy or a girl.
~Her heart is pumping as much as 6 gallons of blood a day and beats at a rate about double your heartrate.
~If you could take a peek inside, you would witness your child's reflexes in action! (Sucking, swallowing and blinking are now evident.) She is probably even hiccuping even though you don't feel it yet!
~Your baby has learned to breathe! This is apparent from the regular movements of his chest. Isn't it amazing that he is able to breathe "underwater," inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid? These actions help the lungs to develop and grow.

157 bpm

I had my monthly appointment yesterday with my doctor. After waiting for 2 hours I was finally able to see her. Why is it that doctors are always running late??? I don't know that we will ever get an answer to that question!!! Once I did see the doctor, she said everything was fine. My belly is measuring right on target for 16 weeks. It was great to hear that, considering everyone keeps telling me that they think I am carrying twins!!! I can't wait for the ultrasound on the 1st---being able to prove to everyone that there is only one little bean in there will be wonderful.

Believe it or not, I have only gained 7 1/2 pounds during my pregnancy. I have set a maximum goal for myself of 25 pounds. I would like to stay under that though. I know as time gets closer, that number will start climbing, but I would like to try and maintain the most healthy weight possible. I had worked so hard to take some weight off, I don't want to have to do it all over again!!!

We are having a picnic tonight for our Sunday School class. Hopefully it will stay light enough that we will be able to see one another. It totally amazes me how dark it is getting already. I dread this time of year. I love the sunlight and the long days. However, I love the fall season!!! It has started feeling like fall lately. I actually wore a sweater to work yesterday. I don't know that anything feels better than putting on a sweater and a pair of jeans!!! Speaking of jeans....I got another pair of maternity jeans over the weekend. Why is it that these maternity stores think that because you are pregnant, you are 6 foot 5????? I would have to wear 6 inch heels to keep them from dragging the ground!!! I am going to try and exchange them this evening!!!

Love to all!!!!

Great News

Great news came to us today!!!! We had been told that we would be traveling to Colorado in January or February for our finalization. I spoke to the agency in Colorado today that handled our placement and they gave me some wonderful news. November is National Adoption Awareness month and November 2nd is Adoption Day in court. Well.....Joel, Garrett and I will be traveling to Colorado for our day in court on November 2nd!!!! Our finalization won't actually occur until January, but we won't have to be there for another court appearance. They will do our finalization as a paper hearing with a judge. I had been worried about traveling to Colorado after the first of the year due to being further along. Thankfully the Lord was looking out for us again!!!!!
15 Weeks

~You may begin to feel some fluttering movements as baby kicks, flails, twists and turns (but don't panic if you don't yet). She can also grasp, squint, frown, grimace and maybe suck her thumb!
~Your baby's legs have grown longer than the arms and the body is now longer than the head.
And you'll be happy to note that he is moving those arms and legs often!
~His skin is very thin -- so thin blood vessel are visible. It's covered by a fine, soft layer of hair called lanugo. Lanugo comes from a Latin word meaning "down." This hair is thought to help insulate your little boy.
~The three tiny bones in his middle ear have begun to harden. The auditory centers in your baby's brain haven't developed yet, so she might not really understand what you say but her hearing capacity is in the process of developing.
~Fingernails and toenails are growing.
~Eyebrows are beginning to grow and even the hair his head is sprouting. It will probably change color and texture after birth.
~All this and your little one is an amazing 3.98 inches (10.1cm) long and may weigh 2.47 ounces (70gm).

Who is gaining weight???

And the answer isn't me!!!!! Ok...maybe I am gaining a little!!!! But Mister Garrett, also known as G-Man, is gaining weight like crazy!!!! We went to the doctor today for for our 2 month checkup. I know, I know, Garrett is 2 1/2 months, but it was the earliest we could get in. 2 month checkups also mean an array of shots!!! He had to get 3 shots and an oral vaccine. I felt so bad. My heart was breaking because I couldn't do anything to make him feel any better.

Have I kept you waiting long enough. Garrett weighed 14 pounds 13 ounces, 24 inches long and has a head circumference of 16 1/2 inches. He is in the 75th percentile for his head circumference and his height. He is in the 90th percentile for weight. I was guessing that he would weigh about 15 pounds. I guess I was pretty close.

Love to All!!!

Bye Bye 1st Trimester

It is hard to believe that the 1st trimester is over!!! I have been very fortunate with not having any morning sickness!!! Since I have been back to work, I also find that I don't really need a nap. I don't know if it is because I am so busy, or if I am finally over the hump of being completely exhausted. I am thinking that I might finally be over the hump. Don't get me wrong, by the time 9:00 gets here, I am ready for bed. I actually went to bed at 9:00 last night and was asleep by 9:15-9:30. I sure felt well rested this morning. I hope everything is well with everyone. Fill me in on what is going on in your world!!!

Did you know the babies vocal chords are developed!!!! The little bean can cry!!!!
14 Weeks
~Thyroid gland has matured and your baby begins producing hormones which will be used throughout his or her life.
~In boys, the prostate gland develops
~In girls, the ovaries move from the abdomen to the pelvis
~Your little one may have learned to suck his thumb by this point!
~Your child's bones are getting harder and stronger by the day!
~Your baby's skin is very transparent still
~Lanugo (very fine hair) covers the baby's body and will continue to grow until 26 weeks gestational age - Generally this will be shed prior to birth. Its purpose is to help protect baby's skin while in all that water!
~Your baby is 3.42 inches (8.7cm) long and weighs about 1.52 ounces (43 grams) - approximately the weight of a letter!

Back in the Saddle Again

Well...today is my 2nd day back at work. It has been really nice being around my co-workers and my friends!!! Believe it or not, it feels like I haven't even been gone.

My dad is watching Garrett on Monday's, and the he is going to the babysitter the rest of the week. Marilyn is a great lady! I feel very fortunate to have such a wonderful woman taking care of my little man. It wasn't quite as hard as I thought it would be when I left him this morning. I think it is because he was happy, smiling and laughing. He cooed the entire way to her house. It was the most awesome thing to hear in the morning. I did just call to check on him and he has had a few fussy spells, but he is sleeping now. Hopefully he will take his long nap now and give Marilyn a break until Joel or I can get there to pick him up. My hope is that he will be an even better baby for Marilyn tomorrow!!!

Have a great week!!

Prayers for Mandy

My friend Mandy recently had a baby girl...a week and 1 day ago to be exact!!! Mandy had a C-section last Wednesday due to her high blood pressure. We were hopeful that everything was smooth sailing after that (or as smooth sailing as having a newborn can be), but unfortunately Mandy has had some additional complications. She had to be admitted to the hospital again because of her blood pressure. She was to be released from the hospital today, so hopefully everything will be great from this point forward. Please keep Mandy, Kevin and Baby Emma in your prayers.

Is Fall in the air???

Is it finally going to cool off??? The temperature wasn't suppose to get over 74 ° today, but when I got in the car it was registering 81°!!! Do the meteorologist really know what they are talking about? It is almost October...are we still going to be wearing shorts? Fall is my favorite time of the year. The brisk air, the changing colors, and all the fabulous craft fairs!!! There are a couple of craft fairs that are my absolute favorite and I like to be able to wear sweatshirts when we go....not T-shirts and capris!!!!

13 Weeks

Did you know...The placenta weighs about an ounce. It will weigh about 1.5 pounds at birth.

~Your infant is about 2.91 inches (7.4cm) and weighs around 0.81 ounce (23gm) - This is about the same weight as 4 quarters.
~If you could peek in again you may spot your baby as he begins to practice inhaling and exhaling movements
~Eyes and ears continue to move and develop
~Baby's neck is getting longer, and the chin no longer is resting on his chest
~Her hands are becoming more functional - Your baby may find it comforting to start playing with her fist.
~At this point all nourishment is received from the placenta

Love to All!!

12 Weeks

A lot has been going on this week!!! My friends Kevin and Mandy had their beautiful little Emma yesterday. I was lucky enough to get to see the 3 of them today. Emma is absolutely gorgeous. She looks so tiny compared to Garrett. She came into the world yesterday morning weighing a massive 5 pounds 14 ounces!!!! Check out a few pictures on their blog...there is a link on the side.

It is hard to believe that I am already 12 weeks. My maternity clothes are really starting to fit, although I have a feeling that some people probably look at me and think to themselves, "I can't believe she hasn't lost any of her baby weight yet." I am sure there will be more strange looks the larger I get. It is amazing to think that as fat as I feel, I have only gained about 6 pounds!!!

12 Weeks

~Vocal cords begin to form - While perhaps not quite ready to be introduced to the nearest opera stage, your infant will use these immediately following the moment of birth. Bet you can't wait to hear that first cry!
~Those precious eyes begin to move closer together - Are you wondering if he will have mommy's crystal green eyes, daddy's laughing brown ones, or maybe out of the gene pool will emerge grandma's clear blue!
~Ears shift to their normal place on the side of the head
~Intestines move farther in to your child's body
~His or her liver begins to function - Responsible for cleansing the blood, storing nutrients, and providing needed chemicals, this is an important event!
~The pancreas begins to produce insulin
~Guess what? Your baby's average size is now at a whopping length: 2.13 inches (5.4cm) and weight: 0.49 ounce (14gm)

167 BPM

That is how fast our little beans heartbeat was going today when we heard it!!!! It is amazing knowing that there really is something growing inside my belly!!!! Thank goodness there is, or how would I explain the pudge that I have developed??? We had our first appointment with the doctor today and it went great!!! She has been my doctor for a few years, but imagine her surprise when she found out we were having a baby!!! She said she has been thinking about us since she found out....the day after we found out. She keeps telling us that we "are doubly blessed". We go back in 4 weeks for another checkup and then we get to the BIG ultrasound....will it be a boy or will it be a girl??? Let us know what you think!!!!

Love to all!!!!!

11 Weeks

Every week I have a hard time believing that I have made it another week. I continue to get a more pronounced "bump" on my belly!!! I have always heard that you don't start to show until your are about 14 weeks...I sure think I have had a bit of a "bump" for a few weeks now!!! My mom said she always started showing early on...I guess that is where I get it!!!

Garrett is doing great. We got his 1 month pictures delivered to us yesterday!!! He is so cute. I will try to scan some of them in and show them off in a day or two. He is sleeping pretty well at night. Joel usually gets up with him around 3:30-4:45, and then I get up with him when he gets up next. He usually gets up again around 6:45 or so!!! If I am lucky, I can get him to lay down for another couple of hours!!! Believe it or not, he is asleep right now and he has been asleep since 10:00am. He has slept through driving to town, going to the bank, going to the beauty show, eating lunch, and now blogging!!! I think I am going to have to go wake him up as soon as I am finished here!!!!

11 Weeks

~Nearly all structures and organs are formed and beginning to function.
~Fingers and toes have separated - Take a glimpse at how incredibly precious your child's tiny feet are at this point.
~Hair and nails begin to grow
~The genitals begin to take on the proper gender characteristics - It will be just a few more weeks before your ultrasound can show if you are having a boy or a girl! Have you been dreaming of pink or blue?
~Amniotic fluid begins to accumulate as the kidneys begin to function - This fluid, consisting primarily of water, helps provide a cushion for your baby while she's nestled within your womb.
~The muscles in the intestinal walls begin to practice contractions that digest food.
~Your baby is about 1.61 inches (4.1 cm) long and weighs 0.25 ounce (7gm).

Love to All!!!

Dreary Monday

Today has been quite a dreary day!!! It seems like it has been rainy for weeks now!!! I do believe fall is in the air though. I am happy about that since fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the crisp air, the changing colors, and the fall holidays!!! There is nothing better than orange, red, and yellow leaves on the trees, a cool breeze, and the smell of apples and cinnamon candles burning. That smell was of course before I was pregnant. I lit an apple candle yesterday and had to quickly put the lid back on it!!! I don't know how I am going to make it through fall and winter without the warm smell of apples!!!! Hopefully it will pass!!!

Garrett is growing like a weed. It seems like he has doubled in size!!! I don't notice it as much when I am holding him, but when someone else is holding him and I see him across the room, he looks HUGE. I am anxious to hear how much he weighs!!! I really need to take him to the hospital and have him weighed...I will be surprised if he isn't over 10-12 pounds!!!! Maybe I am exaggerating, but he sure feels that heavy...or I am just getting weak!!!

Do you know how difficult it is to find that "perfect" pair of jeans??? Imagine trying to find pants that you think you look good in, that fit your body, that don't make you look fat...when you are pregnant. I tried on a couple pairs of pants today at a maternity store and I thought I could just cry!!!! I wanted to sit down on the dressing room floor, put my head in my hands and cry and scream!!!! The next time you are trying to find the perfect pants, think about how bad you really don't have it!!! At least you don't have a belly to try and make look cute while you are trying to make your butt look cute!!! ;)

UPDATE:
Let's just say I am breathing a HUGE sigh of relief right now!!!! My friend Laura just called and gave me the best news!!!!! Her husbands mom babysits in her home and she agreed to take Garrett!!!! Finding childcare has been the biggest worry for Joel and I. Trying to find someone that you trust your most prized possession with, someone who is trustworthy, someone who is kind, someone who is wonderful...is not an easy task!!! Thanks to Greg and Laura, we have a great home to take Garrett to while we are at work!!!!! We OWE you guys!!! Love you guys!!! Thanks for everything!!!

Oh My Toe!!!

Quite a title huh?? Can you believe I think I broke my toe??? So...I have a 6 week old, I am pregnant, and now I have a limp!!! I walked out of the bathroom last night (with the light on) and walked right into the quilt stand in our room!!!! I heard a pop and then I felt excruciating pain!!! Joel heard the "thud" and then the moan and then the fall to the floor!!! My toe is now purple, swollen, and sore!!! It hurts to walk, to put pressure on it, to let a blanket fall on it...basically to have the toe attached to my foot is utter misery!!! I guess if it doesn't fall off, it will get better!!!

Joel and I had a great anniversary. We ate at our favorite restaurant, had wonderful dessert and decided we didn't want to go home!!! It was Garrett's bath time and Joel's mom said she would give him a bath. So...we decided to do something other than going home. We both thought at exactly the same time the exact same thing, let's go play mini golf. That was the excitement of our 5th wedding anniversary!!!! It was a great day!!

Can you believe I am 10 weeks already? I can't!!! We are 1/4 of the way there!!! My clothes are really not fitting now!!! My mom took me Friday and bought me a couple pairs of pants and some great tops. My mother in law then took me Saturday and bought me some more great tops!!! I am now living in my maternity denim capris!!!!! Luckily I have not had any morning sickness. I have had a few mornings after getting up to feed Garrett (about 4:00am) that I have felt like I was going to vomit, but luckily a handful of pretzels kept it away!! Pretzels have become my newest love!!! The make my tummy feel better anytime I feel a little yucky!!!

10 Weeks

~Baby is now called a fetus in "medical terms". You, however, may have chosen the name "peanut," "angel," "jumping bean" or simply "miracle."
~The most critical part of your infant's development is complete. Now you are headed into a period of rapid growth.
~While a bit strange to envision, your baby's head is now about half its length - Soon the rest of the body's growth will catch up but this area is prepared to keep up with the rapid brain development!
~Eyelids fuse shut and irises begin to develop - Eye color is also determined by this point.
~Placenta begins to function this week or next - The placenta is the organ responsible for both the provision of nutrients along with the removal of waste to keep your baby growing strong!
~Your baby will be about 1.22 inch long (3.1cm) and weigh 0.14 ounce (4gm) at the end of this week

Love to all!!!

Happy Anniversary

Today is our 5 year anniversary. In a way it is hard to believe we have been married 5 years, but it also feels like we have been married forever!!!

Tonight we are going to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. Grandma Cindy is going to babysit Garrett!!! We are looking forward to a great Northern Italian cuisine...this restaurant has the BEST steaks. I can taste it already!!!!

Thank goodness it is a 3 day weekend!!! Not that it really matters that there isn't any work on Monday, considering that I have been staying home, but Joel will be home Monday morning!!!! YEA...that means I can try and sleep in!!!

Have a great weekend!!

Double Stroller

Who would have thought that so soon after bringing Garrett home I would be on a hunt for a Double Stroller????? I thought my days of researching baby gear was over for a while!!!! Well......as most of you know, I LOVE my stroller. It is totally the Cadillac of strollers!!!! I must say it is the coolest stroller I have ever seen. Well it gets even better!!!! I was doing some hunting for double strollers today and guess what I found? A Double Stroller in the same brand and print that I have now!!!!! Who would have known that something like this would get me so excited??!! Check it out.

9 Weeks

I am 9 weeks along today. Believe it or not, I haven't had any morning sickness. (knock on wood) I have had a couple of mornings that I thought I could easily be sick, but fortunately I haven't. Monday night I thought I was going to lose my cookies though. I don't know what happened. I got home from choir practice, gave Garrett a bath and sat down to feed him. My tummy started to feel a little yucky, so I asked Joel to make me a cup of tea (I am starting to feel English with the number of cups of tea I have been drinking). I drank my tea in hopes that I would start to feel better. Needless to say, I put Garrett to bed and went to bed myself. Once again, I was lucky to not lose my dinner, but I felt awful!!!!
~Baby has begun movement - While still too small for you to feel, your little one is wriggling, shifting, and dancing already! Makes you almost wish for a window to peek in whenever you want!
~Most joints are formed now - and trust that your little one is practicing bending and flexing.
~Fetus will curve its fingers around an object placed in the palm of its hand - This is amazing to see! At only nine weeks, if you happen to have an ultrasound, you may observe your infant fascinated by everything he or she can lay their fingers on (mainly other fingers, toes, ears and nose!
~Fingerprints are already evident in the skin
~Average size this week -- length 0.9 inch (2.3cm), weight 0.07 ounce (2gm)

Coffee Bean

Did you know that the baby is the size of a coffee bean??!! If the baby is only the size of a coffee bean, why is that I feel like I have gained 10 pounds and that my clothes don't fit??? I guess part of that could be because it is too hot to get outside with Garrett and walk. I would love to know when a cold front is going to coming through (and staying).

Not much else going on with us. I started working from home this week. It isn't quite as easy as I thought it would be, but I am making it work. Believe it or not, it would have been easier when we first got home. Garrett doesn't sleep as much now as he was before. He is sleeping better at night though. The night before last, he only got up once in the middle of the night. Last night he got up around 1:30 and then again at 5:00. We think he is finally starting to get the hang of the fact that he is suppose to sleep at night!!!

8 Weeks
~Cartilage and bones begin to form - At the end of this week your baby will have already completed 1/5th of the journey 'til his birthday!
~The basic structure of the eye is well underway - The position is more "newborn" like already!
~The tongue begins to develop
~Intestines move out of the umbilical cord into the abdomen.
~Body grows and makes room - Two months along and this little one is growing inside and out by leaps and bounds!
~The fingers and toes have appeared but are webbed and short
~Baby's length (crown to rump) is 0.61 inch (1.6cm) and weight is 0.04 ounce (1gm)

It's so Hot!!!

Can you believe how hot is here??? We have been over 100° for the last week!!! At least I think it has been that long!!! I have been so miserable. I finally got Garrett out of the house and went to the mall yesterday. I was tired of staying inside and figured if I was going to go somewhere, it was going to be somewhere with air conditioning!!!!

Garrett is doing fine. Today was the first day that he was not a perfectly easy baby. He screamed for almost 4 hours this morning. It is so hard not know what he needs of wants!!!! Luckily he finally calmed down and we met Joel for lunch.

I am 7 weeks along today. It has been great not having any trouble with morning sickness. I have had some days of feeling blah, but by the time I eat breakfast, I am better. I have been suffering from terrible headaches though!!! My MIL says it has nothing to do with my pregnancy. Apparently the ragweed count is really high!!! The only think that really stinks is that I can't take anything for my head. I can take Tylenol, but that doesn't work. I did go by my in-laws house today and get my MIL old fashioned ice bag. I put it on my head for a while this afternoon and it really helped. I am ready to go lay down and put it back on my head!!!! Hopefully Garrett will remain good for Joel and I can hopefully get rid of my headache!!!!!

That is all that is going on with us!!!! What is going on with you????

Yes...you read the title correctly

We are a growing family of 4. Can you believe that??? Joel and I brought little Garrett home and less than a week later, we found out that we are expecting!!!! We certainly were surprised. After trying to have a baby for 4 years, we decided that the Lord was giving us the courage and strength to proceed with adoption. We are so thankful that we went through the adoption process, we now have a beautiful little boy!!! We will also be adding another addition to our family sometime in April. Our due date is April 3, 2008!!!! We are very blessed to be given these 2 miracle babies!!!!

Here is the first picture of our newest addition.