17 Weeks.

Jellybean:

You don't look much like a jellybean anymore.  We went to our ultrasound appointment on Monday and saw you for the first time since I was 7 weeks pregnant.  What a change!  You have a head, arms, legs, tiny feet and tiny hands... in fact you now have everything you're gonna need out here, you just need to grow.  You were moving everywhere, kicking, and even rolling over.

You're about the size of a turnip now.  She measured you and you are 5 inches long from crown to rump and your legs are 2 inches long, making you a total of 7 inches when you're stretched out straight.  We also found out what kind of jellybean you are... a blue one!  We were right, you're a boy.  We still haven't decided on the perfect name for you, so you'll have to be our little jellybean for a little while longer.

I was so excited when she told us you were a boy.  After our appointment your Grandma and I went shopping.  We already bought you several little outfits.  I can't wait to have you here and see you in them.

Since my last letter to you, I've felt you move again.  In fact, you're quite the wiggle worm, I've felt your little pokes and prods at least once a day.  I can't wait to feel you move more frequently.

We were busy this week, cleaning out the house and having a garage sale with Brooke and Jonathan.  We got rid of lots of things, and made a little money to help buy furniture for your room.  It's empty now, ready to be painted when your Daddy gets home from Las Vegas.

We talk about you all the time.  I had no idea I could love someone I've never met so much!

Anxiously awaiting your arrival,
Momma

It's a BOY!

Today we went for our gender ultrasound at Baby Views.  It didn't take long to find that our little "Jellybean" is a boy.  I've gotta admit, I was a little relieved.  I had my mind made up that he was a boy, and I think it would have taken some time to readjust my mindset had it have been a little girl.  During the ultrasound, she went through all of his body parts.  He looked perfectly healthy, and we're so very thankful.  He was moving all over the place, until the end of the ultrasound when he curled up on his belly and went to sleep.

The proud parents - we both wore blue unintentionally.
I didn't even see Gary before he left the house.

Sweet little profile.

No doubt about it, it's a boy!

My mom went with us to the ultrasound, so afterwards we went to shop for little boy things.  These are two of my favorites.  I can't wait to see how cute he looks in them!

We're thanking God for our little blessing tonight, and looking forward to all the joy he will bring this family over the years.

16 Weeks.

Little Jellybean:

I feel like you and I both grew a lot since last week. You're the size of an avocado now, measuring 4 to 5 inches and weighing anywhere from 3 to 5 ounces.  Your ears are in place now, meaning you can probably hear my voice all day long.

This week I think I may have felt you move for the first time.  I was laying on the couch watching a movie with your Daddy when I felt something strange.  I grabbed his arm and told him to pause the movie and tried to focus and see if I could feel it again.  A few seconds later, it felt like someone thumped me from inside.  It only happened once, and I would have to be laying very still to notice it again, but I'm pretty sure it was a tiny kick from you.  I can't wait to feel you more!

This week your Daddy went to donate blood so we could find out his blood type.  When he told them about you, they gave him a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal to give you when you arrive.  It turns out he has a positive blood type, meaning I need to get a shot since I'm a negative blood type in case you are a positive like him.  He had a good experience donating, so he plans to go again soon.

Only a few more days until we go for our ultrasound to find out if you're a boy or a girl.  We're counting down the hours, we can hardly wait to see how much you've grown.

Keep baking (and wiggle around some more for me, please),
Momma

15 Weeks.

My Jellybean,

This week you are around four and a half inches long, about the size of a large navel orange.  My clothes are getting tighter, so I know you're growing.  People are even beginning to notice my belly growing.

On Monday we went to see Dr. Chang for our monthly appointment.  He found your heartbeat easily.  It was beating around 150 bpm this time.  Your Daddy and I both agreed it sounded louder and stronger than last month.  Dr. Chang also approved our request to have an earlier ultrasound at Baby Views on the 25th.  That means in less than two weeks we'll know if you are a little boy or a little girl.  Now that it's getting closer, I'm starting to second guess my instinct that you're a boy.  Either way, we absolutely can't wait to know for sure, so we can start planning for your arrival.

I'm feeling much better now that we're well into the second trimester.  I think I'm even getting some of my energy back.  I'm looking forward to enjoying this trimester of my pregnancy, taking advantage of the extra energy to clean out the junk we don't need in order to set up a perfect little space for you.

We love you,
Momma

2011 Grant Get-Away.

[I'm playing catch up a little bit here] 

The weekend of the Fourth, Gary and I drove to Nashville, TN to spend the weekend with the Grant side of the family at their annual "Grant Get-Away".

The weekend included: a walk around Vanderbilt's campus, seeing the Andy Warhol art exhibit, shopping, eating too much, watching the Casey Anthony trial for hours at a time, buying a new pair of cowboy (or should I say cowgirl) boots, and a night out playing shuffleboard and line dancing at the Wildhorse Saloon.

I'm impressed with his family's ability to gather most every family member once a year for a trip spent together.  It's a great time to catch up with family members who live all across the country at least once a year.

Gary and I with his immediate family and grandparents.

Boot shopping.

Wildhorse Saloon with Gary's cousin, Jon, and his wife, Katie.

4th of July 2011

14 Weeks.

Jellybean:

This week you have reached the size of a lemon, weighing about 1.5oz.  You are doing a lot of moving around by now, but you're still too small for me to feel you.  I can't wait to feel you fluttering around for the first time.

You're also starting to get some hair.  I think you'll be born with a head full of hair, because you give me crazy heartburn!  I'm feeling better, but being pregnant and working on my feet all day has me napping on the couch by 8pm most nights.

My belly is continuing to grow, and the scale confirms for me each morning that I am in fact pregnant. Sometimes it still seems to be sinking in... I think it will feel more real when when my bump is so large I need maternity clothes and I can actually feel you dancing in my tummy.

We go visit Dr. Chang in less than a week.  We're hoping and praying he gives us the go ahead to have our early ultrasound to determine your gender in 2 and a half weeks.  We are anxious to start calling you by name.

We're reading up on all things pregnancy so we'll know what to expect in the coming months.  Sometimes it's scary, but mostly it's exciting.

Keep growing strong in there,
Momma