The boy...

I have started being able to feel the baby move around during the day recently. I used to only be able to feel him when I was laying down. So, I used to come home from work and veg out on the couch with the excuse of "but this is the only way I can feel the baby." Guess that won't work for me any longer. Rick still can't feel him yet, but as his little kicks get stronger and stronger everyday, I know it won't be long!! Here is our 18 week shot!

IT'S A BOY!!!

Rick and I had an appointment at the OB today at which we discovered that we are having a BOY!! YEA!! He was somewhat uncooperative in the beginning but with some finagling we were able to conclude that he is a boy!! We're super excited! He looked healthy with all his internal organs functioning as they should. He crossed his little ankles so we could see his tiny toes. He's precious! I have included pictures of him as well as a picture of what he is doing to me! Enjoy! And congratulations to his Grandparents and Aunts that love him very much!

Tippers (AppleJack)

Ok ok, so my husband and I have strange pet names for each other, the baby and of course, the big baby (so called because at 18 lbs, she is the largest dog in the family). But Tippers, or TipperTot or The Baby or Toes or Apple-ie-Toes (as her Grampy calls her) had a stressful day yesterday. Rick and I left work early, since we had an abbreviated lunch break, and were home by 4:30ish. When we got home, The Baby greeted us like usual, but we noticed that her "I'm so glad to see you" whimper was much more high pitched than it normally is. It sounded more like she was crying. She was loving on Rick and then started to walk over to me when we noticed that she wasn't putting any weight on her back right leg. She was crying!! She was hurt!! Well, in case you haven't figured this out, I'm pregnant. I can't handle the Tippers being hurt not pregnant, but I REALLY can't handle it pregnant. So, I suggest we scurry on to the vet since I knew they would close at 5:00. We rush up there and see the doctor. He said that she has strained a ligament in her knee. So he gave her a shot of Cortisone for inflammation and the canine variety of Celebrex for her to take for 6 days. My poor baby!!! How did it happen? We have no idea. However, there was a baby shower gift left at the front door by Mr. UPS so we imagine that on her way to greet Mr. UPS she either jumped straight down from somewhere high, or she got it tangled in a blanket as she jumped up to run to the door. Either way, she was utterly pitiful and it broke my heart! Apple is a 7 year old Chihuahua-Dachshund mix and I love her more than any human should love an animal. She is my baby!!

7 weeks old


Watching TV with her Daddy


Helping her Daddy check his email


Loving on her Mommy

Sex and the City

Ashley and I went to see Sex and the City this weekend and I am sorry, but I LOVED it! It was exactly what a hormonal pregnant woman needed. I cried, I laughed, I cried some more...it was fabulous! Thanks Ash!

One more week until we find out if Beebop will be shaving legs or a face!

16 weeks....that's 4 whole lunar months...4 more weeks and we'll be at the half way mark! Woohoo!!

Sarah is seeing BLUE!!

I have just learned that my BFF, Sarah Jane (Manson) Ewing, who lives out in sunny Corona, California and is five weeks further along than we are, is expecting a son on her second go round! Sarah gave birth to baby Tyler Curtis on June 23rd of last year. And as of today, the Ewing family has been informed that Ty is expecting a baby brother. Congratulations to Sarah, her husband Matt and their son Tyler!!

The Ewing Family (Ty-7 weeks old

)
Daddy is chatting on the phone and has no idea that we can't see!!

Insurance...eek...

Rick and I have an appointment with the university's insurance lady today. There is so much to think about and plan for when you are having a baby...it's slightly overwhelming and we are only in the 16th week. Hopefully, if we can take care of this sort of stuff now, we can minimize stress further down the line. Hopefully.

Here is our 15 week photo...

When food is art

Who comes up with this stuff??? Do you have to take a class to do this???

Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday was our 2 year Wedding Anniversary! So, we decided to buy each other furniture for the nursery. I have included a photo.

We went to Captain D's Great Little Seafood Place for dinner (Rick has been trying to get me to go for MONTHS!! But I was always to nauseated to even think about it. But alas, on our Anniversary, I gave in.) Here is what we were doing last year...

And two years ago...

I felt a flutter for the first time yesterday. I felt it twice! Very exciting. I haven't felt it since, but we are only in the 15th week, so I don't expect too much. Below is our 14 week photo.

My darling hubs was all over the Tuscaloosa paper this morning. Check out this link!

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080521/NEWS/355031078/1007

If you click on the video link below and watch the video of AIME (where I work) student Austin Cone speaking about the car seat technology, you can see a man in the top right hand corner wearing a pink shirt and brown pants about halfway through the video. That's my precious baby daddy!!

Mommy-to-be Day!!

This past weekend was Mother's Day! Happy Mother's Day!! My little Beebop gave me a Mommy-to-be card! Wasn't that sweet of little Beebop?!? Beebop's Grammy and Grampy Mims sent me one too! It's kind of exciting getting to celebrate a pseudo Mother's Day. While it's not totally official...I am totally a mom already. I am nurturing like a mom, feeding like a mom and best of all, worrying like a mom. I'm in the club!

We had our four month doctor's appointment yesterday. I so love our doctor! For all of you out there saying a few prayers for the baby-to-be, could you add one thing to the list? Could you pray that Dr. Madden would be on-call when we go into labor? I really want him to be the one to deliver us. WE LOVE HIM!!! Anyway, back to the appointment. We heard a little thunderous heartbeat again yesterday. The first time it was only 124 beats per minute. Yesterday it was 165 beats per minute. Beebop must have been napping on the first go round! We talked to our level-headed doctor about all the good stuff: cord blood banking, AFP testing, amniocentesis...the scary decision making stuff. But that was about it.

I have included the 13 week belly shot. This was taken after church on Mother's Day.

Rick's Birthday and ride-along

So, last week was Rick's 31st birthday!! Woohoo!! Good times....getting older...We did a little shopping, did a little dining out, and then spent a quiet evening at home. Our friend Rodney surprised him with a mini-guys-night-out on Saturday. And then Sunday, we headed back to ole Talladega for a ride-along that I bought Rick for Valentine's Day. It was great fun. Three 180 mph laps around the track in the passenger seat of a race car. The hubs likes to go fast. Hence the reason we are building an RV-10. I have included a picture of my adorable little husband in his getup waiting to feel some G's!!!

I have a great video of him from up high doing one full lap, but it is pretty long. So I have included a video from the ground level of a portion of his third lap. Enjoy!