Pregnancy Updates

So, I think we can all agree - I am getting better about posting. Yes, it's been a month since my last post, but if you look at my previous track record, I am clearly improving! So, at my last post I was in week 17 (although the picture posted was taken early on - about week 12). At the time of this post I am halfway through my 20th week. Over the past 2 weeks really, I have really noticed some changes in the tummy. I thought it would never come and I was discouraged thinking - I am almost 5 months pregnant - how come you can't tell!? Everyone told me to be patient and that it takes a while to show with your first one, but I was still ready to show off to the world that we are having a baby! So, I'm pretty excited now that people can pretty much recognize that there is a baby in there (instead of just all the whispers of "Wow - she must have been eating a lot of cookies lately - she's packed on the pounds!") And I'm able to wear more maternity clothes which is fun! Such cute stuff out there. And soooo comfortable! I have also felt the baby move (first time was April 4th @ 18 weeks) - that is the coolest and craziest thing! Baby Bear typically moves at night as soon as I lay down in bed. Brett has been able to feel it too! We are just in awe of this whole experience and what is going on inside of me!

The pictures below are the last few stages we have taken. You will probably notice a change in each of the pictures but I really didn't notice it in the way I looked too much until this week - I think the most recent one definitley shows the change! (By the way, I think I look bigger at 15 weeks than I did at 18 weeks...do you agree? I didn't feel bigger then, but the picture to me looks that way)

This is me at 20 1/2 weeks (last night!)

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This is me at about 18 weeks

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This is me at about 15 weeks

Our next Dr. appointment is next Friday (May 9th). This is the appointment where they do the "big ultrasound" as they call it (is this a medical term?) and check everything from head to toe to make sure all the development is going well, check the blood flow, heart, amniotic fluid, etc... Please keep us and Baby Bear in your prayers as we check in on the growth, progress and overall health of our little one. This is also the appointment where we find out (assuming Baby Bear cooperates that day) what it is.....I hope it's a baby! No, in all seriousness - neither of us care if it's a boy or girl. We just want a healthy baby and uncomplicated delivery for everyone. We both feel that it's a girl but we have no idea where those thoughts/feelings come from. We either have great intuition or we are going to start off being horrible parents because we don't even know what our own child is! We are so excited to find out (well, maybe me more so than Brett). I can't wait to start picking out things for the nursery, choosing colors and of course, buying clothes! There is so much to do to prepare for our little one and I am definitley ready to get started on all the things that require planning and organizing.

Just to let you all know - we will definitley be sharing the news with everyone on the gender, but for those of you that don't know - we will not be sharing the name until after Baby Bear is born. That is just one thing that we want to keep for ourselves and share with each of you on the birthday. We have already faced some resistance on this (namely from the mother-in-law!) but everyone is being pretty understanding and respecting our wishes. Brett's mom is very talented with a sewing machine and loves sewing, creating and embroidering. She wants to know the name ahead of time so she can get a head start on putting the name on everything this child is going to own! There are a ton of other cute things that she can do, but all the name stuff will have to wait. Sorry Cynthia (and anyone else that was anxious to start embroidering things for our child!)

Well, that's all I have for now. There will DEFINITLEY be another post after we find out what it is (hopefully just a day or two after, not a month!). I wanted to thank all of you that responded to the last post with such great advice, ideas and must-haves. It helps a lot in the crazy world of never ending choices! Thanks to all of you for your kind words and encouragement for us. We are so blessed to have each of you in our lives and look forward to sharing more as it unfolds.

Love to you all!

Big News!!!

So, I am the one that updates my blog about once every 6 months! So unless I have told you that I have made an update, you may not see this post until 4 months from now. I always say that I am going to get better about posting and maybe this time I actually will. The reason I think I might this time is because.....I'M PREGNANT!!! It's not that I have all kinds of extra time on my hands now or a tremendous burst of energy, but more so because I really want to document this time in our lives and also be able to better share my experience with those that are not here in Texas to experience this with me. Since they can only hear about the changes from me over the phone or from others, I want to be able to share as much as possible and keep them as involved as I can.

So, of course Brett and I are so excited and maybe a little nervous too about the impending changes in our lives. It is just incredible to us that we are going to be parents and be responsible for this new little person. We are so blessed to not only have each other, but have amazing parents and families, wonderful friends, great jobs that we love, a beautiful home and almost 2 years of marriage in which we have created some amazing memories. Now we get to add another blessing to the list! We are just ecstatic and thank God every day for what he has done in our lives and what he continues to do.

This is our little angel - we can not wait to meet him or her! We find out in about a month whether we will be welcoming a boy or a girl!

As far as my pregnancy, I have been feeling GREAT! I haven't been sick at all (sorry to all of you that did experience that - I have heard the horror stories and I know it is not fun). I have gained about 2 pounds total (as of 16 weeks) and I'm not really showing yet. Both the lack of weight gain and not showing have honestly had me a little concerned just because I feel like I should be progressing more than that at this point. I know everyone is different and my Dr. says that everything is fine, but it is still hard not to worry a little bit. As you can see from the picture above, everything looks ok in there and we have heard the heartbeat at the last 2 appointments so I know there is nothing to worry about - I just assumed there would be more physical changes by now. I haven't felt any kicks or movement yet but I have heard it is pretty typical for that to happen around 18-20 weeks so I am not worried about that. It has been a very easy pregnancy so far and I am so very thankful for that. It almost makes it seem not real at this point but I know my little one is in there and growing stronger every day. Brett and I already love this little thing so much and we are so excited for all of the changes ahead!

So, I am ready for the advice to start pouring in! For all of you moms out there, I need to know all of your must haves and words of wisdom. What can you not live without and what would you consider now to be unnecessary? I am talking everything from Diaper Champs or Genies to burp cloths to pacifiers to certain brands that you are faithful to. We are going to start registering for most things after we find out boy or girl but I want to start making a list of all the necessities. Anything you can share would be great!

I look forward to sharing this experience with all of you and asking for your thoughts and advice. Thank you to all of you for the love you have shown us. Please continue to pray for us and Baby Berend as we all prepare for the journey ahead.

More posts and updates coming soon....I promise!

Love to you all!