She has a name!!!

For a couple of months before we got pregnant, every once in a while Richard would come to me and suggest a name. Girl or boy, didn't matter, and it was usually just out of the blue.  During one of those times he came up with a name.  I liked it, but it was VERY early on and we weren't sure what we were having yet.  We eventually decided to table the name discussion because we decided it was a waste of energy to come up with a boy name if it was a girl and vice versa.

Through that whole time one name kinda stuck.  I think its cute enough for a little girl and grown up enough for the CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation (Yeah, I have large dreams for her already).  I didn't care for the original spelling of that name though so I researched and asked some people and came up with a version of the name that I loved (Richard says he doesn't care).  

So we have a first name, now we just had to come up with a middle name.  We searched through some baby books, and I searched the database at work (helps to have a job at a university LOL) and came up with Rose.  I suggested it to him and he of course didn't like the name, and as a joke started spouting out different names or flowers, months, and seasons.  However, there was one that sounded really nice, and so her name was picked.

Lia Summer Hughes

That will be my daughter's name.  Lia Summer will be the one we go with if no other name pops into our world by the middle of June.  Essentially we are closing the door on searching for names, but we aren't locking it till mid-June. :) Oh and I will probably change the spelling of her first name several times before she is born, but that will be her name.

I want to shout it from the roof tops and post it on facebook, and tell everyone that I know that our baby girl is Lia Summer Hughes.  I want to get the cute little blankets and bibs with her initials on it, or paint the cute letters.  I have to hold off on my excitement till June though.  But our beautiful daughter has a beautiful name, and I couldn't be more thrilled!!!

Week 17-20 update

I have got to figure out if there is a way to form a template on this thing so that when I get a wild hair and decide to make an update, I don't have to scroll back through posts and copy and paste the questions then delete the previous answers LOL.  (Yeah I'm complaining because I have so far to scroll back since I post so much!  LOL :rolls eyes:)

So far things have been good lately.  As you saw in the last post (maybe) I got another temp job with Vandy, just for a few weeks, but still its a job.  Spring has sprung (lets hope a mid spring snow storm doesn't ruin that for me) and I, or rather she, has acquired a rather large wardrobe already. (Or at least I think so)

Weight Gain: If we go by the scale from this morning I am UP 2 pounds.  Not sure if I should freak out about this, or if I should just let it go.  All the websites and books say that I should have gained 10-15 pounds by now, but nope, only 2.  Now if we go by the scale from 5 minutes ago, I am up 10....I didn't know that I have eaten 8 pounds of food and water today, but apparently I have....kinda freaky, and a little gross!

Symptoms:  I feel GREAT!!! This past week I was really dragging.  It literally just hit me one day and I couldn't hardly stay awake at work.  I was like that for about a week or so, and then last night it was wonderful.  I got a full nights' sleep.  I didn't have to wake up a bagillion times to pee, or maybe I did and am now just sleeping through that part, and I feel refreshed and ready to go when normally I would be napping at this time.  Its wonderful, I just hope that it sticks around.

Cravings:  Still milk.  I am not drinking NEARLY as much of the good stuff since I started working again, I think I am down to 1 gallon a week.  I have been filling my face with water and lots of it.   I have also added chicken to the mix of cravings now too.  Not sure how long that one will last, but I want it with every meal, not sure why I don't just make it, but I do want it.

 

Aversions:  Still Mexican. 

I am loving: That I have little baby girl stuff in my house, and its all so TINY too!!!  I can't believe that I'm gonna have a baby that will fit into all that stuff!

I miss:  Being able to suck my stomach muscles in.  Not that I was doing a good job of it before hand since I did get the  "are you pregnant" question sometimes, but I miss being able to do that.  Sometimes it leaves me wondering if people think that I am just fat or if I'm pregnant.  Therefore I usually try to rest my hand on my stomach like a pregnant woman would just so they would lean towards thinking the latter LOL.

I am looking forward to:  Feeling kicks.  I can already tell where she is, and I think that I am starting to feel flutters, but I am not entirely sure.  Everyone says it feels like gas bubbles, or a goldfish in your stomach, but I don't feel those things.  Sometimes I think I am feeling a flutter, but then I can tell where she is and its not close to the movements, so I have no clue.  I wish ultrasounds were cheaper so I could get one when I felt them to see if its her.   

I'm spazzing about:  The every 2 week appointments.  I know that I am only 20 weeks, but I have my appointment next Friday at 21 weeks, and then a month later it will be 25 weeks, and then the next appointments will be every 2 weeks.  WHERE DID THE TIME GO?!?!?!?  Not only that, but if I get another assignment, I will have to take off work what will seem like ALL. THE. TIME!  The 2 weeks thing kinda seems like overkill, but what do I know, I'm a first time Mom. 

Milestones: We have bedding.  And not just any bedding,  its my favorite and I got a FANTASTIC deal on it too.  It is used, but I don't mind that since its in FABULOUS condition!  I am so excited to start on the room.  I can't hardly help myself. 

She also has clothes.  My mom is starting to go crazy.  Not that I mind.  It is her first grandchild, and heck the kid will need clothes.  I'm just a little worried with her wardrobe contribution and the inevitable clothing stockpile that we will receive at showers where we are going to put it all, especially since Richard says no closet organizer.

Movement:  I know she's moving from the different places that I have seen the bulge in my stomach when I am lying down, but I can't really tell when she is moving.  Sometimes I will feel pressure and then I can, but its not all the time. 

It's a...: GIRL!!!!!

Exercise:  I'm walking about 4 blocks a day.  2 on the way to the office and 2 back to my car.  Hey, its exercise.  :D

Oh and here is a pic of her bedding, and another pic of my sweet girl.  I call it her creepy alien picture. (yes, I am aware that I just called my child creepy and an alien, both could be considered insults, but can you honestly tell me that its not a creepy looking picture?) 

  The bedding is called "Banana fish Bubble gum" which I think is quite possibly the cutest name for a bedding set.  It has inspired the theme of bubbles for her room, which of course I am running away with.  

I will be hanging paper lanterns over her crib.  Possibly that many, but maybe less.  I really like the look of the lanterns, and they are SUPER CHEAP.  I can get 8 of them for $15 bucks!!!  When we get them all set up I will post a pic of the finished room. 

And 2 more pics of her sweet face.  The first one is still a cute one, but the last one is a bit alien like LOL.

Oh and on the name front, I think we MAY have a winner.  Of course that could all change, but the front runner is Lia Summer.  I think its beautiful and Richard does too because he came up with both names!!!  But we are both thinking about it, testing it out, using it on her, so therefore no facebook announcements on it yet, but maybe soon.

I hope that everyone has a WONDERFUL weekend, its supposed to be warm here I think, but possibly raining, but I intend to spend lots of it outdoors, and if I can't then all the windows that can open will be ;) 

IT'S A ******** (You have to read to find out)

Sorry I'm so far behind on this post.  You'll have to forgive me though because I have a VERY good reason.   I got a JOB again.  Still a temporary one, but hey a paycheck is a paycheck no matter who signs them right? Right!  LOL.   I started this past Monday and its at Vandy again which is fine by me.  I really like the people there and its really interesting to see how the school side of Vanderbilt functions and not just the Hospital (because I pretty much can figure out how a hospital runs ;) LOL).  This part of the assignment will last only about a month to a month and a half, same as last time, but its at one of the best times of the "season" or so I've been told.  Its when all the acceptance letters go out.  But since my job isn't the reason that you are reading this post, I will save that for another that I am gonna post tonight. (I promise I will, Richard will be doing homework).  

So without further adieu......We are having a.......

GIRL!!!!!

I was gonna post the gender pic, but the more that I thought about it, I really don't want her little parts on the internet for all to see.  So for now you will just get the sweetest little profile pic that you will ever see.....GUARANTEED!  I already know I make cute kids.   What?  She has Richard and I for parents, need I say more?  ;)   LOL

See....I told ya she was cute!

Anyways, we have picked out bedding and I am going today to get it.  Now that I have figured out how to post pics on here, I will post one as soon as I get home with it all.   AND I think that we are thisclose to coming up with a name.   Leah, or Leigha, or Leeia is the front runner (yes I know its all the same name, but if that's the one that we go with, we aren't sure how we want to spell it yet.)

BUT that's the update with that.   I will post a couple more things tonight like an update, and more about my job because I think its so neat.

And in the mean time feel free to stay and gaze at my beautiful daughter for as long as you want!  :D

Random things

• So this blog is to document my pregnancy, but maybe I'm letting it become too baby related and not so much a part of me and how I'm doing with this whole thing.  I think that I am gonna try posting more to help that out because I think it will force me to talk about something other than updates every few weeks, which if you don't know me can probably get a little boring. 

• I can't stop itching.  It is driving me NUTS!!!  My stomach my boobs, my arms, hips, back....they all itch.  No amount of lotion stops it.  No hydrocortizone cream helps either.  I am at a loss as to what to do.  I told Richard about it and was scratching periodically throughout the night.  Good news kinda is that it has turned into a form of entertainment for him, he spent nearly the entire night laughing at me and calling me a monkey LOL.  (He's not truly an ass I promise, he thinks he's trying to help by making me laugh and taking my mind off it and putting it onto how funny I look....it didn't work, he got several dog toys thrown at his head, all of which missed which just made him laugh harder).  He did at one point try to be sweet and scratch my stomach for me, but of course when you itch, and someone else tries to scratch it for you, they just can't do as good of a job as you can as weird as it sounds. LOL 

•  I'm gassy...I will get up after eating or drinking something other than water and I can let out a belch that will make my Dad proud and wake the dead.  I think its funny because I have that really weird sense of humor, Richard thinks its gross (how backwards is that). 

•  I'm getting really nervous about Wednesday.  That's the day of the big ultrasound.  At first this whole boy girl thing was a fun thing to tease Richard about.  He really wants a boy because he wants to be able to play rough and teach them how to play football and basketball, and he says he still wants to be young enough to do it while he still can (He's only 37, but with the way he talks you would swear he's 60, he's a big Drama King).  I want a little girl who will idolize her father and wrap him around her little finger (really I don't care as long as its healthy), but I want a girl.  I think it would be great.  But lately I have been second guessing myself and thinking its a boy.  I don't know why I'm going back on my gut feeling, but I just am.  Well all that and finding out will make it all the more real. 

•  I think that I have been feeling it move.  It seems a lot lower than where I would imagine it to be, but I think that I have felt it.  It usually is like gas bubbles after I eat, but I don't have to fart (sorry, TMI, but it happens) or anything like that, so what else could it be besides the baby.  I have been able to tell for a while where its at when I am sitting or lying down, but I don't usually feel it move there....I don't know its hard to explain.  But it is a good thing if I can feel it move into certain places but not feel kicks yet right?  I still worry that something has happened and the doc has made a mistake with the Doppler thing especially since all the emails that I have been getting say that I should be feeling kicks by now.   

Baby and life update (Week 17)

Now that I'm unemployed again (Oh Joy!!!) I need to get better at posting more.  Its not like I have a whole lot of things to occupy my time right now anyway other than the constant job applications and testing and such.  I need to do more research though, a way of kinds of updating my skills without taking a class and paying out money we don't exactly have anymore. 

One of my friends has asked me if I am becoming depressed.  I don't know, I suppose I am a little.  Its tough knowing that no income is coming in except maybe a 1/4 to a 1/3 of what I would normally make thanks to unemployment.  I have applied with a temp agency and they are "supposed" to be looking for something for me, but I seriously doubt it.  I mean who would want to hire a woman who is 4+ months pregnant.  So I suppose that yeah, I am a little.  I think I just need to get out and do some free things to brighten my day. 

OK, on to happier things like my BABY!  :)  It always makes me smile, even if I am freaking out.

Weight Gain: None, although, I am back to my pre-pregnancy weight, and I can sense the scale is about to start going up any day now.  Especially with all the milk and icecream that I am eating to try to help ease this sore throat I have.

Symptoms:  I feel GREAT!!!  I am tired sometimes, but I think that has to do with the fact that I spend all day in front of the computer sending out resume's.  Computers can be draining too.

 

Cravings:  MILK.  Well all dairy really, but milk especially.  I can't get enough of it.  I seriously went through an entire gallon in 3 days (would have been 2 if we had been home yesterday evening).  I don't want to go insane with it, but if it was all there was to drink in the house, I wouldn't be complaining LOL

 

Aversions:  Just Mexican. which I hate because I could have eaten it every single day if I could, till now that is.

 

I am loving:  That I can feel him/her.  I can't feel kicks I don't think, sometimes I think I feel it wiggling around but it always stops right when I notice it, so I think its all in my head, but there are times when I am sitting or lying down and I can totally feel a little ball move over my hip, its worse after I have eaten, and its really uncomfortable, but its kinda exciting.  Hopefully soon he/she will be big enough that it can't get stuck between my big belly and hips  (BTW my mom says it sounds like I am carrying low because of that)

 

I miss:  Being able to eat what I want when I want.  Now there are so many rules...no caffeine (which I limit myself, but still) No lunch meat, etc.  I miss my food.

I am looking forward to:  Finding out what it is.  We find out next Wednesday afternoon.  I am so excited!!!  I had said before that things were going by so fast, and now that couldn't be further from the truth.  The days are DRAGGING by!!!   

I'm spazzing about:  Finding out in a week!  Its happening so fast!  Wasn't it just a couple of days ago that I was peeing on a stick and trying not to freak out while telling Richard about the baby? 

 

Milestones: We have a crib.  It makes it all the more surreal to come into the house and see the crib sitting there next to the back door.   (Its not in the baby's room because we are using it as storage until next week.  Richard wants to wait to do anything with it until we find out what it is.  Not my first option, but I really don't want him to freak out so I agreed, I just hope he doesn't get too overwhelmed with stuff to do.  Good thing I have parents who I can call who can do things for him when he has to stay at work for hours on end.)  

 

OH and I am in full on maternity clothes.  Some regular clothes, but all maternity pants.  I got the ones with the fully panel and Richard finds them COMPLETELY hilarious and ugly, but I just can't convince him how comfy they are.

Movement:  Sometimes I can feel it moving around, but no kick yet that I can tell.  I felt one "poke" once, but not since, so I am doubting that was what I really felt.  I wanna feel a KICK!  I even told the baby last night that it can feel free to kick me hard any day now.  I wont mind it till later, I just wanna know its really in there and I'm not imaging all this.

 

It's a...: Dot still (well bigger than a dot, but I haven't seen it since week 8, so its still a dot)  7 more days!!!!!

Exercise:  Back to lying in bed all day.  especially since I'm trying to get over being sick with that crappy cold that's going around.  I'll beat it and once it gets nice I plan on spending LOTS of time outside.  Monday its supposed to be 70!!!!  LOL.  

 

Side note:  I am trying to figure out how to add pictures on here.  As soon as I do, I will add pictures to these. 

Week 10, 11, 12 update

So I figure since no one reads this blog anyway (at least I doubt it) I don't really have to update every week.  I know that I should just at least for my own reference, but oh well.  It is what it is.

Weight Gain: Still down a couple pounds. 

Symptoms:  Still none.   No morning sickness, but still some nausea.    

 

Cravings:  Nothing really.  No real "need to have it all the time" cravings.  I crave some things, but when I get them, I'm done.  I usually wont want it for a while. 

 

Aversions:  Just what I have once craved...and currently Mexican.

 

Sleep:  Still like sleep, but I can now currently go a whole day without taking a nap and I'm not dead on my feet by 4. 

 

I am loving:  The fact that its all going by so fast.  I want it to slow down a little because I honestly am a little overwhelmed, but I want it to go by fast to I can get to the really big milestones...finding out the gender, feeling it move...etc.

 

I miss:  Being able to eat what I want when I want.  Now there are so many rules...no caffeine (which I limit myself, but still) No lunch meat, etc.  I miss food.

I am looking forward to:  Well I'm not really sure.  I don't know what is supposed to happen next, but I look forward to feeling the baby.   

I'm spazzing about: There is a baby in there!.  Still hard to believe.

Best moment this week:  Hearing the heart beat.  Doc said it was 160 beats per minute.  That only leads me further to believe that its a girl. 

 

Milestones: We got a good stash of baby clothes this week from Richards cousin.  They are so cute, and SO TINY!!!  One is orange, Richard says its going...but it has the cutest little duck on it, so it stays ;)   Can that be a milestone? 

Movement:  Sometimes I lie on my stomach hoping to feel that little flutter. Sometimes I feel this little bubbly feeling that you read about on the Internet, but it seems like it would be too high, but I think that if I lie on my stomach I can feel it, and I think that I can, but only time will tell.

 

It's a...: Dot! I'll let you know in March.

Exercise:  I am actually getting some.....I have a new job and have to park about 2-3 blocks away and I walk there and back every day...that counts right?  Its better than laying in bed all day ;) LOL. 

Gender Quiz

A long time ago one of the blogs that I follow listed this quiz as a post when she was pregnant with her first.  I just remembered it and thought that it would be fun.  I had always thought for as long as I can remember that I would get pregnant in November....that came true.   I have also thought for as long as I can remember that my first child would be a girl.....so of course since I'm only 10 weeks, I wont know for a while still.  But that doesn't stop me from doing all kinds of quizzes to find out.....so far most have pointed towards girl.  Lets see what this one says.....

Boy or Girl? 21 Old Wives’ Tales That May Tell You*

Sleep Position
Pay attention to which way you lay down in bed tonight. If you prefer sleeping on your left side, you’ll have a boy. Right side? You’re pregnant with a girl.
GIRL – I prefer sleeping on my right side, but have been making a solid effort to lie on my left as the circulation is supposed to be better for baby.

Upset Stomach
Little girls aren’t always sweet. Extreme nausea means you are having a girl.
BOY.  Some nausea, but overall no problems (Knock on wood!)


Soft or Dry Hands
If your hands are dry during pregnancy, you are having a boy; soft—expect a girl.
BOY.  But my hands are always dry.

Food Cravings
Your favorite pregnancy foods may tell you what sex the baby is. If you’re craving citrus while pregnant, you’re having a girl.
GIRL — My cravings have been for fruits and orange juice (among a couple of other things)  But I would count orange juice as a citrus fruit

Adult Acne
If altering hormones makes your skin break out, expect a girl.
BOY — It broke out at first, and I still have some, but thats not unusual for me, but I'm still gonna say boy.

Graceful or Clumsy Pregnancy
If you feel as though you’re gliding through they day, you’ll have a girl. Stumbling? It’s a boy.
GIRL --- Usually I am pretty clumsy.  But not lately.  

Face Weight Gain
If your face gets fuller, it means you’re having a girl.
I’ve only just started to gain some weight, so I don’t have the answer for this yet. But when I’ve gained weight in the past, I’ve gained in my face, so — GIRL.

Sugar and Spice Food Cravings
Craving salt during pregnancy? Potato chips, pretzels, and popcorn means a boy is on the way. Need a little something sweet? Ice cream, chocolate, and candy means you’re having a girl.
GIRL. Mmmm, ice cream.  I have actually not been craving either, but I seriously don't want ANY of those salty things and normally I LOVE me some popcorn, so definitely girl

Mood Changes
If you’re experiencing pregnant mood-swings, expect a baby girl to arrive soon.
GIRL — Although I would say that I haven't been that bad, but Richard may have a difference of opinion.

High or Low Pregnant Belly
If you’re carrying the baby low on your stomach, expect a boy. If it’s high, you’re having a girl.
I don’t think I’m far enough along to answer this, but when I look at my stomach in pictures, it seems to me that my whole stomach is getting larger, not just the lower part, so I'm going with GIRL.

Baby Weight
If you’re carrying baby in front, it’s a boy. Is the baby weight spaced all around your middle? It’s a girl.
Same as the last question, but we’ll go with GIRL.

Pendulum Test
Dangle a chain with a charm over your palm. If it swings back and forth: boy. In a circle: girl.
GIRL.

Model Your Hands
“Show me your hands.” If you would hold your hands palms up it’s a girl. Down? You’re having a boy.
I think that I would show my hands palm down, so I'm gonna say BOY


Toddler Advice
Get baby advice from a nephew or friend’s little boy. If a toddler boy shows interest in your belly, you’ll have a girl. If he ignores you, it’s a boy.
I don't know any toddlers  :(, so I cant go by this one. 

Eat Garlic
Guess the baby’s sex by eating garlic. If the smell seeps out of your pores it’s a boy. If there’s no scent it’s a little girl.
I didn’t try this, but I would guess GIRL since I always smell like garlic after I eat it. 


Key to Pregnancy
If you pick up a key by the round end, you’re having a boy. If it’s by the long end? A girl.
It really depends I think, but I am gonna say that I pick them up by the long end.  GIRL

Even and Odd Numbers
If your age and year of conception are both even or odd, it’s girl. One even, one odd means a boy.
BOY.

Baby’s Heartbeat
If the baby’s heart beats more than 150 times per minute, you’re pregnant with a girl. Less than 150, it’s a boy.
GIRL --- 159 BPM

Stress Test
A child tends to be of the same sex as the parent who is less stressed at the time of conception.
I know that I am usually less stressed than Richard, so I am definitely gonna say GIRL on this one.


Dream Meanings
If you dream about having a girl while pregnant, you will wind up having a boy and vice versa.
I had a dream last night that I had a boy, but they wouldn't let me see it because I couldn't remember his name, yeah, random piece of information LOL --- GIRL. 

Breast Size
If your right breast is larger than the left while pregnant, you are having a girl. If the left is larger, it’s a baby boy.
GIRL, need I say more? LOL.

* Source
15 for GIRL  and 5 for BOY, and one I couldn't answer.

If I belive any of these, it’s overwhelmingly GIRL. But who knows?
So, what do you think? Are we having a boy or a girl? About 90 percent of the people in my life think we’re having a boy, and usually solely on the fact that I haven't had any actual morning sickness, just some nausea.

Week 8 and 9 update

Yeah, I did it again.  I forgot and now I am lumping two posts into one.  But hey, I'm still posting which is a milestone for me LOL. 

Due Date: July 31, 2011 

Weight Gain: I am down about 5 pounds. 

Symptoms:  Still none.   I thought that my morning sickness started, but the more that I think back on it, I think it was just a 24 bug.  I literally went from eating anything to not keeping ANYTHING down and then back to eating anything again.   Hence the 5 pound weightloss. 

 

Cravings:  Nothing really.  Although whenever I eat anything, its usually the best thing I have eaten in a while, and I could keep on eating it.  

Aversions:  Those are pretty much gone.

 

Sleep:  I still like sleep, and find myself sleeping later and taking a nap during the day.

I am loving:  The fact that its 2 days from being 2011....The year that I meet our baby, the year that I become a Mom, the year that Richard becomes a Dad...its all just surreal to me.

 

I miss:  Feeling like myself.  I'm not complaining honest, but I really miss not crying at the wierdest commercials or TV shows.  I miss waking up and being ready to go.  Now I cant get going till about noon.

I am looking forward to:  My next Dr. appointment.  Jan 19th.  The good lord willing, I should be able to hear the heartbeat then.  I'm super excited.  

I'm spazzing about:  Its been about 20 days since my last appointment.  Too long to not be seeing my baby if you want my honest opinion.

Best moment this week:  Christmas of course, and everything that goes with it.  The food, the presents, the being with family.  

 

Milestones:  The baby is a strawberry, or green olive or grape depending on which website you look at.  If you ask me, none of those are the same size, so I'm going with the largest....a strawberry.  It went from a sesame seed to a strawberry in 4 weeks!  How WILD is that?!?! 

Movement:  None yet, but hopefully soon I will feel that flutter in my stomach.

 

It's a...: Dot! I'll let you know in March.

Exercise: None, of course.  I'm lazy as usual.  ;)  Someone inspire me.

Pregnancy weeks 4-7

The first few weeks after finding out were fairly uneventful so I am lumping them all into one big post and I will post the 8 week update in a couple of days at the beginning of the 9th week.  I wasnt really sure how I wanted to do that, but someone mentioned once that she posted the weekly update at the end because thats what happened that week.  Makes sense to me, so thats what I'm gonna do too.

Due Date: July 31, 2011 

Weight Gain: No change in the past few weeks, maybe a pound difference, depending on what time of day it is

Symptoms:  None really.  I have had some nausea, but nothing a few crackers couldn't handle.  Other than that, I was feeling pretty good.

Cravings:  Nothing really.  Mostly I dont want anything.  I think that I do, but when I get it, it doesnt sound appealing anymore. 

Aversions:  Just about everything.

Sleep:  I like sleep, always have, that hasnt changed, and I haven't noticed any increase in fatigue, although sometimes I do take a nap

I am loving: Christmas almost being here.

I miss:  Being able to eat things that sound good.

I am looking forward to:  My first appointment.  I wasnt sure what was going to happen, but I was excited that Richard was finally going to meet the doctor.

I'm spazzing about:  My first appointment because I wasnt sure what was going to happen.

Best moment this week:  Well since this is lumped all into one post, my best moment of those weeks was probably the weekend we went on vacation to Gatlinburg with some friends.  It was a nice weekend away

Milestones:  I dont know of any off hand.  Other than the fact the baby is finally big enough to be "seen", and not the size of a sesame seed or poppy seed.

Movement:  None yet, but hopefully soon I will feel that flutter in my stomach.

It's a...: Dot! I'll let you know in March.

Exercise: None, of course.  I'm lazy anyway.  Maybe I'll try it at some point.

Telling the parents

Yeah, 2 posts in one day.  Its a Christmas Miracle ;)  LOL.

So the day before Thanksgiving we went to go see Richard's parents and tell them about the baby.  Richard made up some excuse about going up there and we sat and talked for a while about football, the news, Thanksgiving and what I was supposed to bring to Jackson, all that other stuff.  Then he tells them that we are going to have a baby.  Not that big of a reaction from them.  They already have one grandchild, so really its probably like a "been there, done that" kinda reaction.  But they are excited about it and ask me how I am feeling.  Its sweet.

The plan was to go to my sister-in-law's house to tell her or to at least tell her the next day at Thanksgiving, but I guess Richard's parents were so excited about it after all that they called and told her for us.  Not what I was hoping for, but it is what it is,  and if I could change it and tell her first, I totally would so that she could hear it from us. 

Then a few days later we go to tell my parents.

We go up there with the story that we are going to get a Christmas tree from a farm up near their house.   Our tradition is that we cut down a fresh one every year, and just about every year we have had a problem with either the local farms running out due to drought or waiting too long or just going out of business.   We already had our tree, but we needed a story, so that's the one that Richard and I came up with to give us an excuse.

We get there and they aren't home so we wait for about an hour.   Once they get there we chat for a bit and then I tell them that we lied and that we didn't come up there to get a tree, we went up there to tell them that we are having a baby. 

This is their first grandchild so they are beyond super thrilled.   My mom jumps up and down, crying, laughing, and squealing...oh and clapping.  My dad just starts crying and shouting YES!!!  LOL.  At one point he even thanks Richard.  So we are all chatting some more and every once in a while my Mom erupts in bouts of crying and clapping.  I don't know that I have ever seen her so happy. 

So that should bring you up to speed on all the major details about how I told Richard, and our parents and such...now let the pregnancy posts BEGIN!  :D