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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!