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!