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Thursday, April 18, 2013

24 weeks and fun facts

Now that my pregnancy is getting real up in here, I thought I'd share some fun facts about this pregnancy (really just things I want to remember).

24 weeks
(I just love how A's hand is popping out around me to touch my belly) :)

Fun facts as I hit the "6-month" mark:

- Name: Baby boy does not officially have a name. He does however have his first batman t-shirt.

- Heart rate: Baby boy had a heart rate of 151 at the last doc appt. Maybe he is hyper. Or I eat too much sugar.

- How I feel physically: I feel the same as I did with Avery's pregnancy for the most part (Lucy's felt different). Cravings, same. Weight gain, same. Uncomfortability factor, same (yet earlier). But I'm tired. I feel like I am further along than I am.

- Cravings? I love sweets. I'm trying to control myself. So much for the old wive's tales saying that "boy" pregnancy cravings like salty stuff and meat. I don't even want chocolate, just sugary candy and lemonade. Oh, and peanut butter, lots of it. (However, now that I think about it, that may not be able to be counted as a craving because I want PB all the time).

- Size? Measuring just a couple days ahead. Oh, and I gained TEN pounds between my last two appointments. YIKES.

- What's up next? I have another ultrasound scheduled on May 10th at 27 weeks. They will be checking the positioning of the placenta. It was down very low and in front at our 18-week scan so they just want to check in again to make sure it is far enough away from my cervix. If possible I will also be having them show me baby's genitals since I didn't see them at the 18-week scan and have only seen a picture. I'm still not convinced 100%, people. :)

- Movement: I can feel baby move all the time which is thrilling. It never gets old. Never. I don't care if it's in the middle of the night, it's amazing and makes me feel beyond blessed and humbled to be carrying this little life.

- Avery's favorites: tickling my belly and telling me she thinks baby is laughing. Also, ringing the "doorbell"(AKA my belly button) and saying "ding dong, baby." (Sidenote, my belly button has been an outtie for weeks now - third pregnancy and thankfully I have embraced that more gracefully this time around!).

- Jeff's favorites: Ringing my bellybutton doorbell. He's, like, 3 years old or something. Oh, wait, he taught Avery that! Also, he likes to talk about all of the music he and baby will be listening to together. I won't bore you with the specifics, but thus far only 2 bands have been "approved" by moi. :)

- Nesting activities: Going through Avery's old stuff and figuring out what to give away, let others borrow, and what to consign. Next up: Getting Avery into her big girl room! This was going to happen two years ago and yet she is still in the nursery. It is time!

- Questions, questions, questions. I have been fielding all sorts of questions from Avery about the baby. Fun ones like "Is baby brother going to help us bake cupcakes?" and really crappy ones like "Is this baby going to die?" We keep it interesting around here. Always keeping me on my toes.

- How I really feel emotionally: I'm anxious yet happy, fearful yet excited, paranoid yet peaceful, and at ease. Basically I'm a typical pregnant woman, right?

That's all for now!


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Avery's Baptism - April 7th, 2013

April 7th was a very special day, as our little girl got baptized at Myers Park United Methodist Church, and Jeff and I officially became members there, too!

Avery had a lot of questions as we prepped her for the baptism. The most concerning? "How will my hair dry???" Easy answer: "Just like after a bath, but quicker." 

Another question: "Why do I get baptized?" Us: "It's to signify becoming a part of God's family at our church." Avery: "But I'm already a part of God's family" (as she launches into "We're brothers and we're sisters in God's family" song).

Nana and Papa came in town for the occasion, and got plenty of love from the grandkids!

Hugs from Parker!

Pastor Bill Roth baptized Avery
(Fun fact: He baptized her little sister Lucy in the NICU too!)

Aunt Megan, Avery, Aunt Erin, me, and Aunt Jeanne

With her cousin Mary Ellison

Papa, Nana, Avery and Grandpa

Avery giving Alex a squeeze!

With her Daddy

What a special day with family!

Celebrating post-church with a BIG cake!

At brunch after church

Thank you to all who were able to come and join us for this wonderful milestone. It was a fabulous day and Avery loved having you all here to celebrate with her. Although she's right - she was already a part of God's family - this special ceremony meant so much to our family as we made a whole-hearted promise to raise our daughter in the church and according to God's teaching.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

It's a...BOY!

Boy, oh, boy! It's a BOY! Just like that, our lives change forever! :)

Last Saturday we learned that we will be welcoming a baby boy into our family. With great excitement, joy and pure fear (yep) two people who considered themselves total "girl parents" are wrapping their minds around the idea of a little man coming into our lives and stealing our hearts.

The "mystery" cake, baked by my great friend Heather!
A little nervous to find out brother or sister?
The family guesses... pretty split!

The following series of cake cutting photos crack me up... between my face and Avery's, oh my. Haha, these will make us laugh for many years. The three of us were all shocked! :)

Here we go... 
We haven't even found out yet and Avery's already got her hand over her mouth.
Can you tell I'm surprised? Haha. 
Days later, Avery was still saying, "Maybe blue means girl and pink means boy, Mommy!"
Everything about this photo makes me laugh.
There you have it - blue icing in the middle means BOY!
The ultrasound tech put photos in the sealed envelope, so here we are checking them out!
Yep, it's a boy!
Excited to start the journey as the thankful and proud parents of a little dude!


I am VERY glad we found out this time around, because I couldn't go through an entire pregnancy again making assumptions, especially since my guess was so entirely incorrect. It was fun to play the guessing game with the first two pregnancies and it was a beautiful thing to be surprised with our girls, but I knew I needed the info this time. I knew I would be insanely emotional either way after our loss and that it was better if I absorbed the news before I was looking my baby in the eyes.

As the news sinks in, I can sense God's healing and redeeming grace reaching down to touch us. This time I get to imagine my sweet boy's face. The baby boy who will complete our family in ways I can only dream of... a precious gift from heaven above.

Man, we can't wait to meet our little super-dude! Hooray!

Easter Weekend 2013

Getting Ready for the Easter Egg Hunt at St. James Plantation

No pictures, please!


Meeting the Easter Bunny!
With grandpa and BeeGee

After she got clocked in the face with the swing, she was still in good spirits!

Dying Easter eggs


Mr. Bunny hid her basket Easter morning.


After church in Southport, we found this pink bench. Avery said, "Oh I love it! It's PINK!"

Me and Ave being silly

Well, this one's a framer!

Back to the BEACH!

21 week bumpity-bump



After church on Easter morning

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