Happy New Year!

Hello! I haven't posted anything in awhile so I figured now is a good time. We had a nice Christmas and thoroughly wore Bear out. The poor baby slept 12 hours one night after we got home. But we were able to see all of our families! Benjamin is now totally spoiled in that he does not want to be put down unless you are going to entertain him. I am a horrible mother in that I took maybe one or two pictures (literally) the whole Christmas break. So I will have to post photos once we receive pictures from family members. :)

Chris' 27th birthday is on Monday! He keeps trying to convince us that he's only turning 25. To ease the pain of "being an old man" I'm going to attempt to make him a cookie cake for his birthday. The original plan was to order one from the Great American Cookie Co., but after checking their website I decided that I could make one for a quarter of the price and decorate it to his liking.

2009 was a crazy and wonderful year for us and I'm sure that 2010 will have its own set of trials, tribulations, and blessings. We have many cousins and friends that are expecting so Spring will be quite an exciting time! Chris will be headed up to Green Bay, Wisconsin the end of January. Hopefully he makes it there and back without too much craziness from the weather. Benjamin and I are finally on a regular schedule that has lasted more than a week. He's changing more every day and looking more like a boy, which is to be expected, I know, but he's my baby!!

Well, we hope you are all enjoying the holidays. I will try to post more often and get on the ball about photos. :) God bless you!

Boys are made of Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

Today Benjamin pooped through his outfit like he does every day and since we are at my parent's right now his extra clothes were allll the way upstairs. So I decided to just leave him in his diaper for awhile. Well, as I was cleaning up his mess he had a big sneeze and when I looked at him this is what I saw:


After I finished cracking up and taking pictures we had some play time and I tried to record him talking. However, he noticed the camera and wouldn't stop staring at it. Watch to the end....




Yes, he always has something coming out of somewhere!!

Our Bright Eyed Boy

I finally got a good video of Benjamin talking. He's so funny! For awhile I would stick out my tongue at him as part of making faces to see if he would smile or make faces back and now he sticks out his tongue whenever he talks! Haha!

There is no Normal

Today I am very excited and I hope I don't jinx myself by sharing this but for the 3rd night in a row Bear slept between every feeding!!!! Woohoo! It starts anywhere between 10 and 12 and ends between 7 and 9. Isn't it wonderful?! Granted I am still up for at least an hour during feedings, this is bliss compared to being up for 3 and 4 hours!

I feel like Ben is growing and developing at an incredible rate. He doesn't just smile when he's sleeping and has gas, but he smiles when I talk to him and smile at him and stick out my tongue at him. He has even started sticking his tongue back out at me! haha! Hope I'm not cultivating a bad habit. :) We have daily "conversations" now, too. I'll do the excited "mommy talk" and he will get a really big smile on his face and "talk" back to me. SO CUTE!!! I could just eat him up!

I'm not sure how much he weighs or how tall he is, but I do know that he is busting out of the 8-12 pound diapers and at 8 weeks old 3-month clothing fits him perfectly. He has his two month appt. next Wed. so we will get his current stats then. He will also have to get his first set of shots! :( My poor baby. I'm not looking forward to that at all.

When Benjamin was born he was the spitting image of Chris, but as he's getting older we're starting to see more of me in him (yay!). He has my eye shape, and I think my forehead and head shape. He has Chris' build, hair, eyebrows, and so far his eye color (I think, its kind of hard to tell, sometimes). And he has Chris' pretty long eyelashes. :) I don't know who's ears, nose, and chin he has. We thought at first his chin came from the Antoine side of the family, but it's possible it came from the Tull side, as well. I think he has a cross between my mouth and Chris' mouth. The hands and feet are hard to tell. I'm sure no one is as interested in all this as I am but it's fun to see how he changes and looks like different people at different stages.

I uploaded some pictures onto Facebook today, but I will put some on here, as well. I tried to take a picture of his freckles but our camera doesn't zoom in that close. They're really tiny. Well, I need to finish this up before Bear wakes up from his nap. Hope y'all are having wonderful cool weather like us! God bless you!

Benjamin's Baptism

The pictures are posted in the opposite order of when they actually happened. Sorry! It was a really nice baptism on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary church in Frenstat, Texas. Chris went to this parish throughout high school and his parents still go there. It is a small Czech mission parish that has been there for a really long time (not sure how long, exactly). The priest that married Chris and I, Fr. Stephen, drove up to do the baptism. Our good friends Chris and Kendra Bartlett are Benjamin's Godparents. Benjamin's baptismal gown is the one that my Grandma Carpenter made for Scott when he was born. It is pretty long and goes past Bear's feet but he was a little fussy and by the end it looked like he was wearing a dress because the gown was all bunched up. :) Chris' mom gave us a big seashell from Galveston and some water from the Jordan River that was blessed by the Pope to use for the baptism. Quite a few of Chris' family members were able to come celebrate with us. Unfortunately none of my family members were able to make it, for various reasons, but I know they were with us in spirit. Afterwards Chris' parents had lunch for everyone so we were able to visit. Thank you to everybody that celebrated with us and made it even more special than it already was. Well, I need to wrap it up. Bear is squirming and may be hungry again!

Benjamin Bear

Benjamin is now 1 month old! It has gone by so fast already. And he is growing like a weed. At his doctor appt. a week ago he was already 10 lbs. and 5 oz. I think he's gained another pound since then. There isn't any doubt that he is healthy and eating enough. Chris and I noticed that his cheeks will fill out right after he eats and then go down over the next couple of hours. He's like a little chipmunk storing food for later. He's quite the pooping machine, as well. I told Chris I'm going to need to start working nights at Starbucks just to pay for the diapers and wipes.

We've had lots of visitors over the last month and have enjoyed every one of them! Bear's baptism is coming up this Sunday. We're having him baptized at Chris' home church in Frenstat by the priest that married us. I'll try to post more pictures afterwards. I hope to post updates about Bear at least every month with pictures so you can all see how he is doing. He is such a cutie and we love him so much!

I had more pictures I wanted to put up but for some reason the blog wasn't letting me. I will try to post them later. Have a great week everyone! We love you, God bless you!

The Final Showdown

Surprise! Bear will be here on Friday! At my doctor appt. this past Tuesday we found out that I was already 3-4 centimeters dilated (we were so surprised!). Since I have gestational hypertension the doctor said we would need to induce. They don't want to let me go too long without having the baby because that could increase the chances of pre-eclampsia developing and that would not be a good situation for me or Bear. So Thursday evening we will stay with Josh and Dana and Friday morning we have to be at the hospital at 6 a.m. They will hook me up to an IV and a continual external monitor, then induce! I keep going back and forth between excitement that Bear will be here and panic that something won't work out. I need to tattoo "Jesus I Trust in You" to my hand. My mind has been all over the place since yesterday's appt. This morning I cleaned house, did laundry, repacked the labor bags, washed Bear's stuffed animals, and found a pediatrician. I don't think there is anything else that I can do to get ready! Despite the circumstances I am thankful to know when Bear will be here and to be able to prepare more thoroughly. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. And Chris has been awesome. He is so solid, strong, and faithful! He's going to be such a great dad. He went grocery shopping with me yesterday and we bought what feels like a ton of food. We should be set on dinners for the next two weeks, at least!

Here is the last in utero update: "Week 39: Not much to report this week, at least in the height and weight department. Fortunately for you and your overstretched skin (and aching back), baby's growth has slowed down- or even taken a hiatus until after delivery. On average, a baby this week still weighs in at around 7 or 8 pounds and measures up at 19 to 21 inches (though yours may be a little bigger or smaller). Still, progress is being made in some other areas, especially baby's brain, which is growing and developing up a storm (at a rapid pace that will continue during the first three years of life). What's more, your baby's pink skin has turned white or whitish (no matter what skin your baby will ultimately be in, since pigmentation doesn't occur until soon after birth). A development that you may have noticed by now if this is your first pregnancy: Baby's head might have dropped into your pelvis. This change of baby's locale might make for easier breathing (and less heartburn), but could also make it harder for you to walk (make that to waddle)." -What to Expect

We look forward to having visitors while we are at the hospital. We just ask that you give Chris a call ahead of time and be prepared to wash your hands before holding Bear. And speaking of visitors, we had a housefull this past Sunday! Tina, Lawrence, the boys, Ashley, Granny, Raymond, Dana, Josh, Katie, Patsy and John all came by to see us. It was so nice to have a housefull because we've been used to living with other people for about a year now and Saturday had been a very quiet and uneventful day.

Well, I think that's all for now. Please keep us in your prayers!!! I don't know how soon I will post on here again, but you can check Facebook for any pictures that Chris may post. Thanks for all of your love and support. God bless you!

Baby Face

"Week 38: hitting the growth charts at close to 7 pounds and the 20-inch mark (give or take an inch or two), your little one isn't so little anymore. In fact, baby's big enough for the big time- and the big day. With only two (or four, max) weeks left in untero, all systems are (almost) go. to finish getting ready for his or her close-up (and all those photo-ops), baby has a few last-minute details to take care of, like shedding that skin-protecting vernix and lanugo. And producing more surfactant, which will prevent the air sacs in the lungs from sticking to each other when your baby begins to breath- somethign he or she will be doing very soon. Baby will be here before you know it!" -What to Expect

Today is exactly two weeks until Bear's due date. We all have different ideas of when we think he will come (or when we want him to come). Our earliest prediction was for this Saturday so we will see what happens! Our apartment is all set up and put together so we are ready for him. We've decided to cut back on the weekend trips and won't be traveling unless it's to the doctor appointments. Labor bags and carseat are in the car. Dinners are in the freezer. Bring on the contractions!

The doctor appt. for this week was on Tuesday. My blood pressure was up again :( but other than that all was well. It was just me at the appt. since Chris was at work (he will be able to go with me to the rest of the appointments). I did get to see Bear on the ultrasound this time. He was wiggling his toes and the doctor gave me a picture of his face. Now, ultrasound pictures are not always the cutest pictures. It looks like he has a big round chin, chubby cheeks, and where his eyes are were just dark spots. I had wanted to post it at first because I was so excited to have a picture of his face. But Chris and I decided not to. Sorry, Grandmas. Maybe we'll pass it around in the hospital. :)

The next appointment is Tuesday (unless Bear comes before then). The doctor said he will start checking for dilation and effacement at that appt. Fun and exciting! Well, laundry and dishes are calling. Have a wonderful day!

P.S. I lost my birthday calendar in the move so if you want a birthday card from us just email, Facebook, or post your birthday on here and I will put you on my new calendar. :) I try to send out wedding anniversary cards, too, so you can let us know what those are if you want. And speaking of anniversaries, Chris and I had our 3 year anniversary yesterday! Yay!

Birthdays and Cankles

Hello everyone! Hope you are doing well. We are great! In our new apartment making great progress with the unpacking, Chris has started his new job, and Bear is getting ready to make his entrance into the world. So many blessings!

"Week 37: Here's some exciting news: If your baby were born today, he or she would be considered full term. Mind you, that doesn't mean he or she is finished growing- or getting ready for life on the outside. Still gaining weight at about a half pound a week, the average fetus this age weighs about 6 1/2 pounds (though size varies quite a bit from fetus to fetus, as it does from newborn to newborn). Fat continues to accumulate on your baby, forming kissable dimples in those cute elbows, knees, and shoulders, and adorable creases and folds in the neck and wrists. To keep busy until the big debut, your baby is practicing to make perfect: inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid (to get the lungs ready for that first breath), sucking on his or her thumb (to prepare for that first suckle), blinking, and pivoting from side to side (which explains why yesterday yuo felt that sweet little butt on the left side and today it's taken a turn to the right)." -What to Expect

I've been reading up again on what my body is doing to prepare for "the end times" and it is right on track! I am pretty sure he has dropped (I don't see how he can get any lower than he already is), my weight gain has slowed down (thank goodness!), I'm definitely getting achy in some places (I walk like an arthritic grandma), and I won't go into the rest. Bear doesn't quick quite as much as he used to but he sure does move around. It's like there is a big alien blob moving across my stomach. I can actually feel and see his foot poking out every once and awhile. I love it!

We've had a busy week so far! Saturday we moved into the apartment with the help of my mom, Scott, Josh, and Dana (THANK YOU!). Mom and Scott stayed until Sunday evening to help us get a head start on placing furniture and unpacking. Monday I dropped Chris off at work, met my parents in Austin for a birthday lunch (I'm 25 now!), and went to my doctor appt. (more about that below). Tuesday and yesterday I've just been unpacking and organizing what is left. I am enjoying this quiet time to myself before the baby comes.

The doctor appt. this past Monday went well. The doctor was out of the office that day so we met with the nurse. My blood pressure was back to normal for the second week in a row (yay!) and when we were listening to his heart beat we also got to hear the blood moving through the placenta which was really cool. My parents took me to the appointment since Chris was at work. Mom was hoping to get to see Bear on the sonogram but they didn't do that this time around since Dr. Love was out of the office.

I don't know if it was all the driving I did on Monday or what, but by the time Monday evening rolled around I had developed some definite cankles. For those unfamiliar with the term "cankle", it's when your feet and ankles have puffed up so much that there is no bone sticking out and no definition between the bottom of your calf and your ankle. For someone who normally has bony ankles and feet this was a new experience. I could roll my ankles and flex my feet and feel all the fluid that had built up. Very weird and very cool all at the same time.

This week is birthday week. Mine was Monday and my mom's is today (By the way, Happy Birthday mom! I won't say how old she is, but I will say that Bear and I will be 25 years apart just like my mom and I are 25 years apart. (; ). Next week Chris and I will have our 3 year anniversary! It feels like we've been married much longer...and I mean that in a good way!

We've had some people ask if we will keep doing the blog after Bear is born. I've thought it would be nice to keep it going so I will definitely try, but I am not promising it will happen with the same consistency. I've noticed with different friends that have had babies recently that you kind of disappear from the internet world for a while after the baby is born. We may have to content ourselves with once-a-month postings. :)

Anyway, I need to go and get started on my work for the day. Have a wonderful weekend and God bless you!

Into Month 9

"Week 36: Weighing about 6 pounds and measuring somewhere around 20 inches tall, your baby is almost ready to be served up into your arms. Right now, most of baby's systems (from circulatory to musculoskeletal) are just about equipped for life on the outside. Though the digestive system is ready to roll, too, it hasn't really gotten a workout yet. Remember, up until this point, your baby's nutrition has been arriving via the umbilical cord - no digestion necessary. But that's soon to change. As soon as baby takes his or her first suckle at your breast (or suck from the bottle), that digestive system will be jump-started - and those diapers will start filling." -What to Expect

I can definitely feel Bear packing on the pounds. My pregnant belly never really felt heavy until a little over a week ago. Now it's like somebody put rocks in my stomach. I am still hoping and praying that he will be only 6 or 7 pounds at birth. Of course, lately it seems like everybody has been hinting that they think he will go past his due date, so who knows what that will put his weight at. Bear may be a September baby! Which would be cool for him because he would be one of the first kids to celebrate his birthday during the school year. And cool for us because that means we have more time to get the apartment ready before his arrival.

Speaking of which, we are moving all of our stuff from storage into our new apartment this weekend! Well, I should say that Chris, Josh, Dana, my mom, and Scott are doing the moving. I will probably be supervising. :) I have already used our copy of the floor plan to map out where all the furniture should go. If I weren't pregnant I wouldn't worry about it and just rearrange the furniture however I want after it's all there. But since I'm not really allowed to do that I had to plan ahead of time. We are really excited about our new apartment and I will try to remember to take pictures to share with everybody.

Our doctor appt. went well on Monday. My blood pressure was much lower this time around. Thanks be to God! I was worried that it would keep going up and I would be put on bed rest, which would not be fun. Bear looked like he was doing well on the ultrasound. Now that he is bigger it's harder to tell which part of him we're looking at on the screen. I think he's going to have Chris' nose (and his "wavy black lines". haha!). I say that because when we look at his profile on the ultrasound I see a straight line coming out for the nose, whereas if he had my nose his profile would look more like a ski jump. Our next appt. is on Monday, my birthday! I'm turning 25! My birthday presents are seeing Bear at the doctor's office, Chris' first day of work, and a new apartment. Woohoo! Sounds good to me. :)

This past Saturday some of the girls from the Queen of Peace prayer group at the Mission of Divine Mercy threw us a shower. It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed seeing them again. We played a few games and discovered that Sister Amapola is the queen of word scrambles and it takes 11 squares of toilet paper to go around the biggest part of my belly.

Well, I guess that is all for now, folks. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. God has answered so many of them already! Have a great weekend and talk to you again next week! God bless you!

So much to do, so little time

We are closing in on our target date! We just finished the 35th week and we are headed into month 9! Bear could literally come any day now and be just fine. This is what he's been up to this past week:

"Week 35: Your baby stands tall this week- if he or she could stand, that is- at about 20 inches, and continues to follow the 1/2-pound-a-week plan, weighing in at about 5 1/2 big ones. While growth will taper off when it comes to height (the average full-termer is born at about 20 inches), your baby will continue to pack on the pounds up until delivery day. Something else he or she will be packing on in the few weeks that remain are brain cells. Brain development continues at a mind-boggling pace, making baby a little on the top-heavy side. And speaking of tops, it's likely your baby's bottom is. Most babies have settled into a head-down, bottoms-up position in Mom's pelvis by now, or will soon. That's a good thing, since it's easier on you if baby's head (the biggest part of his or her body) exits first during delivery. Here's another plus: Baby's head may be big, but it's still soft (at least, the skull is), allowing that tight squeeze through the birth canal to be a little less tight." -What to Expect

Our little boy is growing fast! :) We are at the point where we will be having doctor appointments every week. This past Tuesday was our last appt. Apparently, I have gestational hypertension so they will be monitoring me closely from now until delivery. The good thing about this is that the doctor will do a biophysical profile through ultrasound each week to check Bear's movement, heartbeat, breathing, and all that. So we will get to see him each week until he comes! The down side, for me at least, is that during labor I will have to be continually hooked up to the fetal monitor and IV which means no walking the halls and limited movement in the room. We are still hoping to do a natural birth as much as possible. Unfortunately gestational hypertension means I am a higher risk pregnancy so there may be more of a need for intervention during labor, especially if Bear goes into distress. I am sure it will all be fine but please pray that everything goes well for his sake!

Our other news is that Chris has a new job! He will be working as a "System Engineer" for Z2Technologies which is a government contracting company out of Ft. Hood. His office is actually in Killeen but they work with Ft. Hood and other bases. We have been apartment hunting and found a place in Temple. Chris will have to drive about 25-30 minutes to work, but we really preferred to live in the Belton/Temple area over Killeen. Chris starts work August 3 so our hope is to move up there within the next week and a half so that we can have all our stuff up there when he starts work. Hopefully this way we will be at least halfway settled once Bear comes along.

Please keep us in your prayers. We will post again next week and let you know how Monday's doctor appt. went! God bless you!

Hot Summer Days

We are 34 weeks now. The doctor appointments are coming more often. We had one this past Monday and it went well. My blood pressure was high again (high for me, mine is usually low) and I've gained 5 pounds in two weeks but other than that everything was fine. I'm going to try exercising every day instead of just 5 days a week to see if that helps with the weight gain (I'm really only supposed to be putting on a pound a week). And I think my blood pressure was high because I had a lot of salty foods over the weekend, it was hot, and I mostly sat around. So I will be working on lowering that, as well. We have another appointment this coming Tuesday. We'll let you know how that one goes next week!

We have a picture to post this week. It's quite a comparison with some of those earlier pictures! Only a little more than a month to go!

"Week 34: Your baby could be as tall as 20 inches right now and weighs about 5 pounds. Got male (a male baby, that is)? If you do, then this is the week that his testicles are making their way down from his abdomen to their final destination: his scrotum. (About 3 to 4 percent of boys are born with undescended testicles, which is nothing to worry about; they usually make the trip down south before the first birthday.) And in other baby-related news, those tiny little fingernails have probably reached the tip of his or her fingers by this week, so make sure you have baby nail clippers on your shopping list!" -What to Expect

And we do have nail clippers now! My aunts and Gramma brought gifts from our Alabama side of the family and took us shopping for stuff on the registry so we were able to get a lot more of the things we need for Baby Bear. It was great! He is one blessed little boy. :) Tomorrow we are headed out to Caldwell to see Chris' side of the family. They are having a BBQ for some Czech Seminarians that are here for a visit so that will be fun. Hopefully it's not too hot!

Well, we hope that everyone is enjoying their summer and staying as cool as possible. God bless you!

Month 8 versus Month 5

Sweet Baby Boy

We are now half way through the eighth month, 33 weeks along, Bear is going to be here before we know it! Last week's doctor appt. went well. I asked Dr. Love if he could tell me how big Bear is right now, but he said that it's pretty much an educated guess due to all the varying factors. Oh well. We have another doctor appt. on Monday. We go every 2 weeks now. And I guess before too long we'll go every week. So anyway, this is what Bear has been up to this past week:

"Week 33: Baby's gaining weight almost as fast as you are these days (averaging out to about half a pound a week), which puts the grand total so far at more than 4 1/2 pounds. Still, your baby has plenty of growing up (and out) to do. He or she may grow a full inch this week alone and may come close to doubling in weight by D-day. And with that much baby inside your uterus now, your amniotic fluid level has maxed out (there's no room for more fluid now). Which explains why those pokes and kicks are sometimes extremely uncomfortable: There's less fluid to cushion the blows. Antibodies are also being passed from you to your baby as your little one continues to develop his or her own immune system. These antibodies will definitely come in handy on the outside and will protect your baby from many of those playground germs." -What to Expect

I can definitely say that Bear's movement is more pronounced these days. Although he can be kind of shy at times. His most interesting moves usually happen when no one is around or looking. Chris watched my tummy with me a little last night and it looked like an alien was about to bust out. :)

We have some company coming into town today. My Grandma Antoine, Aunt Jeannie, and Great-Aunt Mary Jane drove out from Alabama to visit their Texas relatives. The women will finally outnumber the men in this house! haha!

I hope you all have a great weekend. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We are always in need of them! :) God bless you!

Our First Baby Shower!

These are some of the pictures from our first baby shower! Chris' side of the family put it together for us at Henrietta's house and we really enjoyed it. We received so many incredibly useful and super cute gifts. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! It's so nice to know that we'll have the things we need to take care of Bear. Speaking of which, in one of the pictures up there Lauren and I are holding the letters that Dana painted. They're adorable! And this is my plug for Dana: She paints letters and she does an amazing job! You can go to www.lovelettersbydana.com to get more info. :) The cow outfit was from Tiffany and came with some other cute animal outfits. On the backside of all the pants there is a different picture. For example, the cow outfit has a bottle of milk on the backside. So cute!! And in the last gift picture I'm holding up the John Deere boots Terri gave us. They are so precious!! (What's not precious is my face. I was experiencing a lot of puffiness in my hands, face, and feet that day). We had a lot of fun going through all the stuff again when we got home. Chris was so excited that he and Scott put the stroller together and figured out how the whole "travel system" works. He also installed the base of the carseat in the car so we're ready to go!

We are 32 weeks along now and this is what Bear has been up to this past week: "This week your baby is tipping the scales at almost 4 pounds and topping out at just about 19 inches. And growing isn't the only thing on the agenda these days. While you're busy getting everything ready for baby's arrival, baby's busy prepping for that big debut, too. In these last few weeks, it's all about practice, practice, practice, as he or she hones the skills needed to survive outside the womb, from swallowing and breathing to kicking and sucking. And speaking of sucking, your little one has been able to suck his or her thumb for a while now (okay, maybe it's not a survival skill, but it sure is cute). Another change this week: Your baby's skin is no longer see-through. as more and more fat accumulates under the skin, it's finally opaque (just like yours!)." -What to Expect

Less than two months left!!! Mom keeps teasing me saying that he's going to be late like I was and not come until September (I was due the end of July and didn't come until the 3rd of August). I guess we'll find out soon enough!

We have a doctor appt. tomorrow in Austin (and we're going to try and get our military IDs now that Chris is in the Army Reserves. I'm such a dork but I'm so excited about having a military ID again!). It should just be a normal appt. but if anything special comes up we will blog again before next Thursday. We had our last Childbirth Preparation class this week. Now all we have left is one Breastfeeding class (Chris asks "Do I really have to go?") and one Baby Care class.

Oh! And if you're looking for something to make you laugh (or think "these poor babies"), go to www.BabyToupee.com. I stumbled across it while reading baby articles. No, I would never put a toupee on my kid, but these pictures are pretty humorous.

We hope you are all doing well. We love you. God bless you!

7 Down, 2 To Go

We have finished month 7 and week 31!! Here's what was going on this past week:

"Week 31: Though your baby still has 3 to 5 pounds more to gain before delivery, he or she is weighing in at an impressive 3-plus pounds this week. And at 18 inches long (give or take a couple because fetuses this age come in all sizes), your baby is quickly approaching his or her birth length. Also developing at an impressive clip these days: your baby's brain connections (baby has to make trillions of them). And he or she is able to put that complex web of brain connections to good use, too- already processing information, tracking light, and perceiving signals from all five senses. Your brainy baby is also a sleepy one, putting in longer stretches of snooze time, specifically in REM sleep- which is why you're probably noticing more defined patterns of awake (and kicking) and sleeping (quiet) times from your little one." - What to Expect

It has been a busy week, even baby Bear got a little worn out! We went to Midland with the Vavra family last Friday and got everything in our place packed up and ready for moving. Chris, Lawrence, and Rogelio went back yesterday to start hauling our stuff to our storage unit in Caldwell. We will most likely end up in the Temple area (Chris is interviewing for a job out there. Keep him in your prayers!) but we're waiting until we know for sure before we start moving out there and looking for a place to live. So we are still with my parents in New Braunfels :) enjoying the 100 degree weather. :\

I just got news this morning that some good friends of ours (Chris and Melissa Martin) went into labor this morning!! Yay!! Please keep them in your prayers! We are really excited for them.

Hopefully next week we will have some pictures to put up. I think I've said that for a couple of weeks now. :) We just haven't gotten around to taking pictures. Hope ya'll have a great weekend. Please pray for us! God bless you!

We've Reached the 30's!!!

I can't believe we are 30 weeks! That always seemed so far into the future and now it's here! Bear has definitely been growing. I can feel his whole back pushing out on my stomach now. And he gets the hiccups quite often. It's pretty cute. I love feeling him move around! This is what he has been up to this past week:

"What's 17 inches long, just over 3 pounds in weight, and cute all over? It's your baby- and he or she is getting bigger by the day (in case you couldn't tell from the size of your belly). Also getting bigger daily is baby's brain, which is preparing for life outside the womb- and for a lifetime of learning. Starting this week, your baby's brain is starting to look like one, taking on those characteristic grooves and indentations. These wrinkles allow for future expansion of brain tissue that is crucial as your baby goes from helpless newborn to responsive infant to verbal toddler to curious preschooler and beyond. Your baby's bigger and better brain is also starting to take on tasks previously delegated to other parts of the body, like temperature regulation. Now that the brain is capable of turning up the heat (with the help of that growing supply of baby fat), your baby will start shedding lanugo, the downy, soft body hair that has been keeping him or her warm up to this point. Which means that by the time your baby is born, he or she probably won't be fuzzy wuzzy anymore." - What to Expect

So I guess I need to start eating my brain food.

My mom went with me to birthing class this past week since Chris was out of town. We learned about relaxation techniques which was very helpful. As I was telling Chris about it all last night he requested flash cards because he didn't think he would remember everything. There is quite a bit to remember! We also had to practice breathing which I felt kind of silly doing but I'm sure it was important to learn about so that I won't hyperventilate during labor. At one point they were telling us that during the active stage of labor hormones are released to help your body cope with the pain. Mom whispers in my ear, "Not enough". Hahaha!

Not a whole lot more to share right now. Please keep us in your prayers!! We have a whole lot up in the air and we are praying the it will all happen in God's perfect timing and that we can trust in Him!

Smarter than your average Bear

Hello everyone! Hope you're doing well. It feels like this past week has flown by! Last Friday we had our monthly doctor appt. and all went well. I had my blood sugar tested and they said they would call if anything was abnormal. So I'm guessing everything is fine since they haven't called me yet. After that we spent the weekend with our friends the Bartletts playing games and being entertained by their little girl. Then we spent Sunday through Wednesday with Chris' cousin and her family helping them with one of their projects and entertaining little miss Katelyn Pearl.

Tuesday night was our first "Prepared Childbirth Class". We got to watch Bill Cosby talk about childbirth and then we got to watch a real life childbirth. That was interesting. When it was over I believe I turned to Chris and whispered "holy crap!". The good thing is it didn't scare me away from still wanting to have a natural childbirth. I am actually more motivated to have one now. I think seeing an actual childbirth helped because now I can more accurately visualize myself going through labor and delivery. Oh! And I felt my first Braxton-Hicks contraction this week. It was prety neat. I've read all about them so when it happened I thought "So that's what it feels like. Exactly how they say".

Bear is still growing. I love feeling him move around. It's pretty funny sometimes. He doesn't follow the standard moving around after I eat. He prefers to move around early in the morning or late at night. Or when I get up in the night to go to the bathroom. Hopefully this isn't a pattern for post-birth. And he is definitely getting heavier. Everybody pray for no more than 7 1/2 pounds!!!

"Week 29: Your baby can be as tall as 17 inches now and can weigh nearly 3 pounds. Though already coming pretty close (within 3 inches or so) of his or her ultimate birth length, baby still has lots to gain. In fact, over the next 11 weeks, your baby more than doubles- and may even come close to tripling- his or her weight. Much of that weight will come from the fat accumulating under his or her skin right now. And as your baby plumps up, the room in your womb will start to feel a little cramped, making it less likely that you'll feel hard kicks from your little one, and more likely that you'll be feeling jabs and pokes from elbows and knees." -What to Expect

P.S. I don't have a picture again this week, but just picture huge. :)
P.P.S. Happy *0th Birthday, Dad!!!

The Joys of June

This past week: "Week 28- This week, your amazing baby has reached 2 1/2 pounds and may be almost 16 inches long.  Baby's skill of the week: blinking.  Yes, along with the other tricks in a growing repertoire that already includes coughing, sucking, hiccupping, and taking practice breaths, your baby can now blink those sweet little eyes.  Dreaming about your baby?  Baby may be dreaming about you, too, courtesy of the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep he or she has started getting.  But this little dreamer isn't ready for birth day just yet.  Though his or her lungs are nearly fully mature by now (making it easier for your baby- and you- to breathe a little easier if he or she were born now), your baby still has a lot of growing to do." -What to Expect

So here we are, into the 3rd trimester and the book is telling me that Bear and I will be getting even bigger!! Augh!  I am getting to the point where I don't realize how big I am and I keep running into things or trying to walk through spaces that I used to fit through but can't anymore.  I get stopped short whenever I go to give Chris a hug.  Soon we're going to have to resort to side hugs and arm-length pats.  

Now that the weather is getting much warmer and I have a maternity swimsuit (no Shamu jokes, please) I have been alternating my days between walking and swimming for exercise.  It feels weird to be immersed in water with a huge belly.  Bear is slightly bouyant, I think.  

We've been having fun predicting different things about the birth.  I am predicting (and praying) that Bear will only be about 6 pounds, super cute, and a sweet boy.  Chris is predicting 10 lbs., a cone head, and a super star jock. A friend of ours predicted that Bear will come on August 15th, which I am totally cool with. Earlier than the end of August but not too early. 

We have started asking St. Gerard Majella to intercede for us.  He is the patron saint of expectant mothers, so I guess we're asking more of an intercession for me than for Chris. Haha! 

Bear is definitely getting taller.  The other day I felt his head pushing out right under my sternum and he was kicking me in my lower abdomen at the same time.  I guess he's enjoying himself.  

We have a doctor appt. tomorrow.  Again, nothing out of the ordinary as far as OB appts. go.  We'll update you next week and maybe we'll have some pictures then, too. Thanks for all the love and prayers! God bless you!

2 Down, 1 To Go!

We are officially 6 months along, entering the 7th month and the 3rd trimester!  I can't believe Bear will be here in 3 months!  Things have been going pretty well.  Bear is active and growing.  Am I seriously going to keep getting bigger?  Augh!  Here is what he was up to this past week: 

"Week 27- Your baby graduates onto a new growth chart this week.  No longer will he or she be measured drown to rump, but rather from head to toe.  And this week that head-to-toe length is a full 15 inches (more than a foot long)!  Your baby's weight is creeping up the charts as well, coming in at just over 2 pounds this week.  And here's an interesting fetal factoid:  Your baby has more taste buds now than he or she will have at birth (and beyond).  Which means that not only is your baby able to taste the difference in the amniotic fluid when you eat different foods, he or she might even react to it.  For instance, some babies respond to spicy foods by hicupping.  Or by kicking when they get that spicy kick." - What to Expect

It's been a somewhat busy week, at least for everyone else.  Two out of three brothers were in town this past weekend and dad was home, as well.  (We missed you Carl!).  We went to visit my mom's parents in Canyon Lake on Sunday to celebrate the holiday weekend.  On Monday Kevin went back to Corpus and Chris left on a trip for work.  My dad's parents came into town on Tuesday afternoon and then my parents and Scott left for Belgium Tuesday evening.  (so lucky!).  Grandparents Antoine and I had fun hanging out, sharing stories, and going through the amazing amount of maternity clothes they brought from my Aunt Angela.  (I will never have to buy maternity clothes again.  This is awesome!).  They left this afternoon and Chris will be home this evening.  Tomorrow we are going to try and head up to Georgetown for my cousin's graduation.  

Oh! And this is an interesting factoid.  On Bear's due date Mars will appear as big as the moon!  So look for Mars to get bigger in the sky during August.  :)  

I think that's about all the information I have right now.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers!!  And have a blessed Pentecost!  

26 weeks and counting

Baby Bear is growing!! Here's what he was up to this past week:

"Next time you're browsing through the meat department, pick up a 2-pound chuch roast.  No, not for dinner- just so you can get a sense of how big your baby is this week.  That's right- your baby now weighs a full 2 pounds and measures in at 9-plus inches long.  Another momentous development this week: Your baby's eyes are beginning to open.  The eyelids have been fused for the past few months (so the retina, the part of the eye that allows images to come into focus, could develop).  The colored part of the eye (the iris) still doesn't have much pigmentation, so it's too early to start guessing your baby's eye color.  Still, your baby is now able to see- though there's not much to see in the dark confines of his or her uterine home.  But with the heightened sense of sight and hearing that your baby now possesses, you may notice an increase in activity when your baby sees a bright light or hears a loud noise.  In fact, if a loud vibrating noise is brought close to your belly, your baby will respond by blinking and startling." -What to Expect

I can feel Bear moving a lot more.  He used to just move when I was resting, but now I can feel him when I am moving around, as well. He's definitely taking up more space in there.  My stomach has been feeling stretched the past couple days (a sure sign of growth) and before too long I think my belly button will become an outie.  I've already had to put aside a few maternity clothes.  Some of them because they were too hot for the warm weather, others because of the expanding belly.  :) 

Things that have happened this past week: Scott was confirmed on Sunday.  Kevin was his confirmation sponsor.  Carl graduated from "The Basic School" for the Marines and starts his flight training soon.  Rogelio had his 9th birthday.  I have a part time job from home that is primarily making phone calls.  Chris is signing up with the Army Reserves here in San Antonio (same Reserve unit he used to be a part of).  And I think that was it for this past week.  May and June are busy months so it seems like there is always something going on. 

This coming week is the last week of our second trimester. The third trimester always seemed so far off but now it's almost here!  Keep us in your prayers! God bless you all. 

25 Weeks, Going on 26

Hello everyone! Hope you're enjoying the warm weather. I'm thinking that I may melt into a pile of goo before the baby even gets here. :) The appointment last Friday went well. As expected it was just a normal check up. I was weighed (let's not even go there)and measured. We got to hear Bear's heartbeat again. Supposedly it's strong enough to hear with just a stethoscope or by putting your ear to my stomach- only Chris is allowed to do that. Unfortunately there won't be any more sonograms. Those are so much fun! We were also able to ask Dr. Love about where we should deliver since we're pretty sure we'll be in this area. He recommended that we deliver at St. David's Medical Center in Austin. His office is right there and he said the drive shouldn't be a problem since the likely-hood of me having a short delivery is very slim (awesome). We're excited that he will be delivering Bear. He's an excellent doctor and we've been going to him for, gosh, 3 years now.

We signed up for some Childbirth Preparation classes at St. David's, which also include a breastfeeding class and a tour. We're really looking forward to them! Last week we made some birth announcement cards (my mom has lots of craft stuff and I needed a project) so those are all ready to go if Bear decides to come early. All the cards are different but here's a sample:


I have obviously warmed up to the whole "Bear" thing that Chris came up with and although we won't be naming the baby "Bear", as Chris had originally hoped for, it has made it a whole lot easier to postpone coming up with a name for Baby Bear.

Discerning a name for your baby is a whole lot harder than I imagined. I knew it would be hard, but oh my gosh, the pressure!! It's all in my head, though. None of our family and friends have done the pressuring. Just me to myself. I think the meaning of a person's name is special and important (we ruled out Ignatius when I found out it meant "firey one". That and the possibility of red hair from either of us is just asking for trouble), and I really want the name to be pleasing to God, one that He wants for our baby. And then we both have such big families that it's hard to pick a name that isn't already being used by an uncle or cousin. So anyway, I could go on about this forever, but my main point is that we have narrowed down the name choices considerably but we won't be "officially" naming him until he's born. I want to make sure the name fits him. Kind of like that episode of Friends (shout out to Dana) where Rachel has her baby and neither one of the names she picked out fit, so they had to pick a third name. Names are important and there's no need to rush.

Since I'm pretty sure you didn't come to the blog to hear me ramble about names, we are 25 weeks along, almost 6 months!! Almost done with the second trimester!! Here's what Bear has been up to this past week:

"Baby's growing by leaps and bounds (and inches and ounces), this week reaching 9 inches in length and more than 1 1/2 pounds in weight. And there are exciting developments on the horizon, too. Capillaries are forming under the skin and filling with blood. By week's end, air sacs lined with capillaries will also develop in your baby's lungs, getting them ready for that first breath of fresh air. Mind you, those lungs aren't ready for prime-time breathing yet- and they have a lot of maturing left to do before they will be. Though they're already beginning to develop surfactant, a substance that will help them expand after birth, your baby's lungs are still too underdeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide from the blood (aka breathe). And talking about breathing, your baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open up this week. This enables your baby to begin taking practice "breaths". Your baby's vocal cords are functioning now, leading to occasional hiccups (which you'll certainly be feeling)." -What to Expect

Thanks so much for tuning in. See you next Thursday!

Bear Goes to the Beach

This past week: "At a weight of 1 1/2 pounds and a length of about 8 1/2 inches, your baby has outgrown the fruit references and is now the size of a standard letter (but would take a lot more than a standard stamp to mail). Baby's weekly weight gain is now about 6 ounces- not quite as much as you're putting on, but getting a lot closer. Much of that weight is coming from accumulating baby fat, as well as from growing organs, bones, and muscle. By now, your baby's tiny face is almost fully formed, and achingly adorable- complete with a full set of eyelashes and eyebrows and a good sprinkling of hair on that head. Is your baby a brunette, a blond, or a redhead? Actually, right now, he or she's snow white, since there's no pigment in that hair just yet." -What to Expect

So we are officially 24 weeks now! Going into the 25th week. 5 1/2 months along! Time is flying by quickly. Baby will be here before we know it. :) And he must be growing because I've gained weight but I can't figure out where it's all going! I think he's filling up the space in there, too, because I feel his movements a little more than I used to. Sometimes I wonder what kind of acrobatic feat he is trying to accomplish in such a small space.

This past weekend we went to Galveston with Chris' family. It was lots of fun! I took a nap everyday, Chris built a sandcastle, and the 3 boys provided entertainment for all. :) At one point, while trying to keep the boys occupied, Chris asked them what they thought the baby's name should be. The oldest (almost 9) said, "Diamond!". Chris replies, "Diamond is a girl's name!". "Oh, I mean, Trevor!". The middle (age 7) says, "St. Michael!". "Yes, St. Michael is a good name.". The youngest (almost 5), "God!". hahaha! I have posted some pictures from the weekend below, courtesy of Tina Vavra photography. :)

We have a doctor appt. tomorrow but we're not having a sonogram or anything. It's just a normal check up, as far as I know. So I will wait to post about it until next Thursday. Hope ya'll have a great weekend! God bless you!

original castle

above: castle after some kids rode their bike through it (took out a tower and part of some walls in the back). We were hoping they rode their bikes into the big hole we dug nearby but there weren't any tell-tale signs


below: Chris honing his castle making skills; a new tower and a chapel complete "Baby Bear's Castle"

23 weeks

The baby is coming in 4 months!!!! Yay!! It is weird to think that we have less than a month left in the second trimester. Chris, my mom, and I have been doing some registry shopping lately and Chris was getting really excited. He wanted to tag anything that had a bear on it. :) And he was fascinated by all the high tech baby gear. It was so fun to see him get excited about picking out stuff for baby bear. He's so excited about our little boy!

Here's what "Bear" has been up to the past week: "A window into your womb would reveal that your baby's skin is a bit saggy, hanging loosely from his or her little body. That's because skin grows faster than fat develops, and there's not much fat to fill that skin out yet. But don't worry- the fat is about to start catching up. Beginning this week, your baby (who is around 8 inches long and just over a pound in weight) begins to pack on the pounds (which means you will, too!). In fact, by month's end, your baby will be double the weight he or she is now (fortunately, you won't be). Once those fat deposits are made, your baby will be less transparent, too. Right now, the organs and bones can still be seen through the skin, which has a red hue thanks to the developing blood veins and arteries just underneath. But by month 8, no more see-through baby!" -What to Expect

In other news, our area (New Braunfels) has been affected by the swine flu. I don't think there are any "confirmed" cases, but there are over 100 "probable" cases. They have closed all the schools and cancelled all public gatherings. Even mass was cancelled!! Fortunately no one in our family has been affected by it, other than we are all stuck at home with each other. :) But keep all those who are sick in your prayers! Hopefully this thing dies down as quickly as it started up.

I guess that's all for now. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We are entrusting everything to God. :)

Cinco Months!

Here's what was going on this past week: "Forget about ounces, baby. This week, we're talking a whopping weight of 1 pound and a length of nearly 8 inches, about the size of a small doll. But your doll is a living one- with developing senses, including touch, sight, hearing, and taste. What's your baby touching? He or she may grab onto the umbilical cord (there's not much else to hang onto in there) and practice the strong grip that will soon be clutching your fingers (and pulling your hair). What's your baby seeing? Though it's dark in the uterine cocoon- and even with fused eyelids- fetuses this age can perceive light and dark. If you shine a flashlight over your belly, you might feel your baby react, perhaps trying to turn away from the "bright" light. What's your baby hearing? The sounds of your voice and that of your partner, your heart beating, the whoosh-whoosh of your blood circulating through your body, those gastric gurgles produced by your stomach and intestines, the dog barking, sirens, a loud TV. And what's your baby tasting? Pretty much everything you're tasting (so pass the salad)." - WtE

So the baby is one pound but the picture looks like he should weigh a little more. Haha! I tried the flashlight thing but he didn't do anything. Maybe he was sleeping. And I know that he's been having a treat for the ears with all the gas I've been having lately. We're getting closer to picking out a name. I'm not going to say what it is yet because we haven't officially decided. My mom did say that his middle name should be "holy"......then he'd be "something something Holy Moses"!! hahaha! Our poor boy.

Well, we are officially 5 months along now. Yay! The next doctor appt. will be the first week of May. Not sure if there is anything special that will happen at that one. Just a normal check up. We will write more again next week. Hope ya'll have a great weekend! God bless you.

Moving Right Along

As of today we are 21 weeks! One more week and I will officially be 5 months. Yes! I feel the baby every day now. Chris can feel him every once and awhile. It's hard to guess when he's about to give a good, swift kick. Sometimes when he's moving around I'll tell Chris to come put his hand on my stomach, or I'll put my hand on my stomach, and he'll just stop moving. He must be a little shy. Either that or we're invading his privacy. Haha! Apparently he can taste what I'm eating now so I'm trying to make sure I eat lots of fruits and veggies. For his sake and mine. Between my last two doctor appointments I gained 10 pounds! They were only a month apart! So I'm hoping that doesn't become a trend.

We hope you all had a blessed Easter. We were able to see Chris' family on Easter Saturday at his Granny's 80th birthday and on Easter Sunday we saw some of my family. It was a good weekend! Tomorrow we're going to Pflugerville to celebrate the little girl of Chris' cousin turning one! They grow up so fast! And speaking of family, I would like to give a shout out to my Aunt Angela. THANK YOU for the maternity clothes!

I don't have any pictures to put up this week. Maybe next week. Here's what the book said about baby developments this past week: "How big is baby this week? About 7 inches in length (think large banana) and almost 11 ounces in weight. And talking about bananas, you might want to eat some this week if you'd like your baby to have a taste for them. Some carrots, too. That's because amniotic fluid differs from day to day and depending on what you've eaten (hot chili one day, sweet banana the other), and now that yuor baby is swallowing amniotic fluid each day (for hydration, nutrition, and also to get practice swallowing and digesting), he or she will be getting a taste of- and a taste for- whatever's on your menu. Here's another baby update: Arms and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are now connected between the brain and muscles, and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone. Which means that when your baby makes his or her moves (which you're probably feeling by now), they're much more coordinated- no more jerky twitches."

Thank you for all of your prayers. God hears them!! :) Let us know if there is anything you need us to pray for. God bless you!

Happy Bear

Hope ya'll are having a blessed Holy Week. We are now 20 weeks along. Halfway through the pregnancy! This past week seems like it took a lot longer to go by than the week before. I feel the baby move at least once a day now. He doesn't hit or kick strong enough for Chris to feel it yet, but this coming week his arms and legs will be growing and movements will become more coordinated so I am sure it won't be long.

We are super excited about having a boy and Chris is happy that the nickname "Bear" has completely caught on. I told Chris we could name the baby Theodore and then he could be our Teddy Bear. Chris didn't like that idea as much. Mom and I were fabric shopping and found some really cute polar fleece fabric. Mom is going to make a baby blanket. We thought it was perfect for our Baby Bear! I posted a picture of it below.


I am eating a ton of food now. Some days more than others, but overall a whole lot more than I used to. Apparently my eating habits are entertaining because I have attracted a variety of comments throughout the pregnancy. All I can say is I bet Bear likes my eating habits. :) Especially the nuts and berries....get it? Bears like nuts and berries...we're calling the baby "Bear". haha! I'm sure somebody out there will appreciate this.

Anyway, here's what happened this past week: "You've got a baby the size of a small cantaloupe in your melon-size belly this week, about 10 ounces and 6 1/2 inches (crown to rump). Your ultrasound this month should be able to detect- if you want to know- whether your baby is a boy or a girl [boy!!!]. And oh boy- or girl- has that baby been busy. If you're having a girl, her uterus is fully formed, her ovaries are holding about 7 million primitive eggs (though at birth, the number of eggs will be closer to 2 million), and her vaginal canal is starting to develop. If you're having a boy, his testicles have begun their descent from the abdomen. In a few months, they'll drop into the scrotum (which is still under construction). Luckily for your baby, he or she still has plenty of room in your womb, which means there's plenty of space for twisting, turning, kicking, punching, and even an occasional somersault. If you haven't felt these acrobatics yet, you almost certainly will in the coming weeks."

So that's pretty much it on this end. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We know they are working. The baby is healthy and Chris has found a good job here in New Braunfels. We are taking each day as it comes, waiting to see what God has in store for us. Oh! And for those who are interested, the Divine Mercy Novena starts tomorrow (Good Friday) and ends on Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter). Google "Divine Mercy Novena" and you'll be able to find the prayers for each day.

May God bless you and our Blessed Mother pray for you as we remember the death and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord!

It's a Bear!!!

The doctor appt. went really well this morning. We have pictures!! It's a boy! Chris said "I told you!". haha. It was so cool to be able to see him and all his little parts and his movements. Adorable!! So needless to say we are super excited. Thanks be to God!!

Boy or Girl?

We have been taking everyone's guesses on whether they think the baby will be a boy or girl. Most people have said boy (augh!) but a couple have said girl. If all goes well at the appointment tomorrow we should be able to find out for sure! I will post again to let ya'll know whether or not we found out and what it is if we did find out. We are super excited!

As of today I am 19 weeks along. This is what's going on this week with the baby: "This week your baby is hitting the growth charts at 6 inches long and a full half pound in weight. What fruit is it this week? Your baby's about the size of a large mango. A mango dipped in greasy cheese, actually. Vernix caseosa- a greasy white protective substance (it resembles cheese)- now covers your baby's sensitive skin, protecting it from the surrounding amniotic fluid. Without that protection your baby would look very wrinkled at birth. The coating sheds as delivery approaches, but some babies born early are still covered with vernix at delivery." -What to Expect When You're Expecting.

So that's pretty much what's up for now. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We are always in need of prayers! God has done so much for us and we are eternally thankful to Him and to all of you that have helped us along the way. God bless you!

P.S. This photo was taken right after dinner so I am convinced that some of that belly is not baby. :)

Silly Old Bear

Today we are officially 18 weeks and starting month 5. Yay! If God wills it, we will have a doctor appointment next Friday and may find out if the baby is a boy or girl. I can't believe we are already to that point!

The baby was having a party in the womb last night. I don't know if it liked my singing, my dancing, the two cups of hot chocolate, or the fact that it was the Feast of the Annunciation (always cause to celebrate!) but the baby was definitely getting its groove on. Chris even felt it thump a little (although he joked he might have just felt my gas bubbles).

My mom has patterns for making stuffed animals and so I tried out my sewing skills. Chris picked out the bear pattern to be used (of course) and as you can see it turned out cute and silly looking at the same time. :) If the baby ends up being a girl I will have to add some flowers to the bow or put a bow on its head or something.

So here is what's going on this week of the pregnancy: "At 5 1/2 inches long and about 5 ounces in weight (about as much as that chicken breast you're having for dinner, but a lot cuter), your baby is filling out nicely and getting large enough that you might even be feeling those twists, rolls, kicks, and punches he or she is perfecting. Another set of skills your baby is mastering now is yawning and hiccuping (you might even begin to feel those hiccups soon!). And your one-of-a-kind baby is truly one of a kind now, complete with unique fingerprints on his or her fingertips and toes." -What to Expect When You're Expecting

Please keep us and our baby in your prayers. Everything is in God's hands. :)