Meeting Baby Jackson

We get to "meet" Baby Jackson on Feb. 8th at our ultrasound and we can't wait. They couldn't have picked a better day. Now I can stay up and watch the Super Bowl on the 7th. Of course, anyone who has been around me these days knows that I probably won't be able to stay up that late unless there is a lengthy nap sometime before kickoff!!! Scheduling the ultrasound was probably the most exciting part from today's appointment besides hearing the heartbeat again. He/she's still in there and his/her heart is beating away. Music to my ears!!!

P.S. Pray that all of our (routine) bloodwork that we had done today comes back okay.

17 weeks

The baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — its lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. S/he weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and s/he's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. S/he can move her joints, and the sweat glands are starting to develop.

Not much to show yet...I think it just looks like I ate a good meal. This isn't the best shot either. Hopefully we will get better at these- we do have 20+ more weeks to practice!

A few of my favorite things that my students have said so far:
“Aren’t you worried about your baby getting sick with everyone coming to school sick?” (It is nice to know they care- although I think this was a little unnecessary worry.)
“You do know that you aren’t going to lose weight, right?” (I have been walking the halls during lunch to get exercise, which didn’t make any sense to one student.)
“You don’t look pregnant. Well, from that angle…”
“Are you sure you are pregnant?”
“She has gotten mean since she’s been pregnant.” (A student who hadn’t done his work all week and lost points for it said this to another teacher. Luckily, he is the only one that has said this so far!!!)

Still feeling good! Back to the doctor on Monday.

16 weeks

An update...

Right now our baby is the size of an avocado- 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His/her:

• legs are much more developed
• head is more erect than it has been
• eyes have moved closer to the front of his head
• ears are close to their final position.
• Scalp pattern has begun.
• toenails have started growing.
• heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day.

I promise some tummy shots soon but there isn't much to see...yet.

A New Year's story

Some of you are aware that my neighbor is also pregnant. Well, after the ball dropped on New Year's she and I offered to take her dad back into town as he had been drinking. The best part of the story is that WE- two COMPLETELY SOBER AND PREGNANT women- got pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving. ALLEGEDLY, Bri made a wide right turn and crossed the center line. I couldn't help but laugh. I'll bet that cop was disappointed; he really thought he had something!!!

New Year's Resolution

I think maybe my New Year's Resolution should be to do a better job of keeping up with this blog. Part of the reason I didn't put anything up for so long was that we wanted to personally tell as many people as we could about the baby. I will try to do better and I am sure once he/she gets here I will have plenty to blog about (and so little time to do so)!

More belated holiday pics- (Kolton and Karter)

Kolton in his "tree stand" with his new bow and arrow
New computer

Kolton opening gifts.

Karter opening gifts.

Playing in their toy

New caps

Kolton and Karter in their new caps that they got for X-mas.

Baby Jackson gifts

Baby Jackson made out well this Christmas!!!

Holiday Spirit

I did get into the hoilday spirit a little bit this season around the house:
I know our tree looks a little bare...I never did find the ornaments this year!!!
????

Great fudge recipe (easy and pretty): http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes.aspx/cookie-cutter-fudge/2ce455b3-74f6-40d3-bdbf-2fbb1fa9b5d0

Visiting friends at Christmas

At Christmas we were able to share our BIG news- in case you didn't know we are expecting a baby in July- with our friends from MI.

Here I am telling my best friend. She is due in March!
Group shot.

Belated Holiday Pictures- Christmas

My Christmas gift from Kyle was a clock that I wanted from a store in Manchester.Funny story- I had seen this clock in a store window in Manchester so I went in and asked the price. The store owner jokingly said, "You would like that clock since it happens to be $300." I told him that it wasn't in my price range and he assured me that I should come back next week for the 20% off sale. I don't know about you but a $240 clock isn't really in my price range either so I kind of gave up hope. Well, appearently right before Christmas it went on sale again and the store owner actually called Kyle and suggested that he buy it for me for Christmas. Talk about a good salesperson!!

Belated Holiday Pics- Thanksgiving

Chowing down!
Karter eating "his" cheeseball that he wouldn't share with anyone else.

Kolton enjoying his meal- although he made it clear that he DID NOT like the jello!!

This year we hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house for the first time. It went really well. Thank goodness my mom came early since she did most of the work. Unfortunately, a few family members didn't make it.