It's a GIRL!

So, I have been slacking on keeping up with memories about my pregnancy. School and many other activities make it hard for me to really have any time to do anything else. I feel like I don't sit down until about 9 every night. We found out it was GIRL on February 1st, and we were so excited! Eric was a little shocked because I think he was so convinced it would be a boy, but the more he thought about it, the more he was excited. He started talking about all of the things they would get to do together like a date night, so he can show her how she is supposed to be treated by a man. I just know they are going to be best friends. We do not have a name yet because I am letting Eric pick her name. He is taking it very seriously! Thanks to my mom - we have a baby names book, which I told her not to buy because we had a boy's name. I guess she knew it would be a girl. I did actually have a dream when I was about 8 weeks or so that it was a girl, and I just couldn't shake that feeling. I have also been feeling her move, which has been the coolest thing ever! The first time she kicked me, it seriously freaked me out. I was at Winter Retreat the weekend before last, and felt her kick at one of the services. It kind of made me jump. I can't believe I am almost halfway there - 20 weeks on Saturday! I am finally starting to get a pooch. It really just looks like I have a gut. My pants won't button, but I use the bella bands, and they work fabulously on my dress pants. In a few weeks, I will probably have to give in and start buying maternity clothes, but I'm not there quite yet. I still haven't told my class (Eric said it would be weird if one of his instructors told him she was pregnant), so I guess they just think I'm getting fat. I may tell them this week because to me it is getting obvious. We are so thankful that our little girl is healthy and growing as she's supposed to! I can't wait to meet her in about 20 weeks!!!

Pictures

So wanted to post some pictures of myself - but sorry, not much change. The first one is at 10 weeks right before we heard the heartbeat. The second one is at 14 weeks. At 15 weeks, I am starting to feel a little pudgy, but no weight gain yet. I guess it is coming! I bought some clothes at Old Navy today with the thought that I will be getting bigger, and I found 5 things all costing under $15 total! I know some people hate Old Navy, but I love it and their cheap clearance sales. In two weeks, we find out! I am so excited! I just wish I would start feeling that energy burst that people talk about. I am still pretty tired. One new thing is that I am so hungry about every two or three hours. This is so different from the past when I was never hungry. I am trying to eat healthy, which is kind of hard because I have rediscovered my love for sweets! I have helped Eric put a dent in his sugar-free candy - well, I didn't really ask - I just did.

January 12, 2010

I went to my doctor's appointment visit today, and the baby's heartbeat sounded great at 166! I read somewhere that if the heart rate is above 140 or 150 that it's a girl. Eric still refuses to accept that it may be a girl. Well, we will find out the sex on February 1st!!! I am super excited about that appointment. I will definitely be finding out because I do not do well with uncertainty - plus, I have to be able to plan. For those of you who have been unlucky enough to hear me blab about my research, you know I like for things to be certain - or I like to find ways to have a plan for any situation. The second trimester has greeted me well even though I still haven't gained any weight. The doctor laughed at me when I started asking when will I start putting on some pounds! My stomach is getting a little pudgy - I don't know if it's because I don't do the ab exercises I used to do or maybe because I quit running. Some of my jeans are getting a little tight around the belly button.... I don't know why, but I seriously want the little bump! I will post some pictures this week or so - although it's not really anything exciting to see.

January 4, 2010

I am now 13 weeks along, and we'll find out the sex of the baby in four weeks. Eric is praying for a boy. When we pray together at night, he asks at least every other night if God would give him a boy. I don't have the heart to tell him that was determined at conception.... I would be happy either way, but I kind of think it's going to be a girl. I have no reasoning except that I woke up several days ago, and can't shake the feeling that it is a girl. Latest girl names: Audrey Belle or Kiley Belle (Eric's mom's maiden name is Bell, and I think it is so cute as a middle name). I have always said that I wanted two boys, but I am really just thrilled that God gave us a child whatever it is. What is weird is that I haven't gained any weight over the break despite all of the food I have eaten. I can feel my lower stomach bump - you can't see it, but you can feel it. I know most women would want to slap me in the face for complaining about this, but I kind of want the baby bump. However, I do like that I can still wear all of my clothes. That is pretty awesome! I guess maternity shopping will have to wait another month (or two???). The baby now has two pieces of major furniture! My parents were very generous and bought our crib, which is actually different from the one I originally picked out, but thanks to my researcher dad, he found a better quality crib for only $20 more dollars. It looks almost exactly like the other crib I fell in love with, and it comes with the toddler rails as well. On Saturday, Eric and I found a dresser at World Market for $300 off! It is super nice, and it should match the bed okay. We could not believe our good luck! Thank you God! And thanks to Randy's generous Christmas gift, I only had to pay for half of it! Here are links to the baby's furniture so far:

http://www.walmart.com/Delta-Canton-4in1-Crib-Espresso/ip/10811674

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3557715

Both of the pieces look much darker than the pictures here, and I think they will go very nicely together! It feels great to have two major purchases taken care of, and we got awesome deals!

December 29, 2009

I found our crib!!! I got distracted from working on my proposal, and started looking up buying guides and reviews, and found the one we'll get! It's on this website at Wal-Mart:
http://www.walmart.com/Baby-Mod-4in1-Crib-Espresso/ip/10756405?selected_variation_0=10756405&qty_0=1&upc=0004851700797®istry_id=86203639034&shopFor=true

I'm so excited! It is such a good buy, and it includes the rails to convert it to a toddler bed. It meets all the safety criteria too, and there are no drop sides. It is top-rated on all the websites, and out of 112 reviews none were below 3 stars. The average was like 4.99 stars. I'll probably wait to purchase it, but it feels good to start this task of finding stuff because I will have to research everything we buy. I can't help it - it's how I am wired, and my dad is notorious for researching things to death!

December 21, 2009

So, we have finally told all of the parents and some relatives! Eric made a video of the heartbeat, and he made a video to tell my parents. We'll attach it soon, so everyone can hear the heartbeat (if you want!). I can't describe the feeling of hearing it, but it was amazing! It's so crazy to think there is a little life growing inside of me. My mom bought me a journal and a book of baby names - I guess they didn't like the girls names I mentioned! Now, I can't wait to know the sex of the baby. Jolie is going to do a sonogram for me on Wednesday - she said to make sure it's not twins - the perks of having a best friend that is an OB/GYN resident. Twins run in Eric's family, so she said it's possible, which totally freaked me out. I think I will faint if we see two, but I guess God never gives you more than you can handle, but one seems like a lot to handle!

December 2, 2009

So, we have told Eric's family, and it was exciting! I feel like the two and a half weeks until I see my parents and brother is forever away. Eric and I are excited about the fact that we will have our baby at the next Christmas. We have already started our own traditions such as watching certain Christmas movies, and we have a ritual for putting up the Christmas decorations which is topped off with a Christmas movie once everything is set up. We can't wait to start new traditions as well as have Santa Claus!!! We do know one thing - this is the last Christmas that we will get a lot of presents, but you know what that's okay. I actually had to seriously think about what I wanted. I guess you finally just realize that you have all that you truly need, and when I try to think about shopping, all I think about is the baby and what it is going to need. I am getting more and more excited about becoming a mom. I guess now that I am almost 9 weeks - I feel more comfortable getting attached to Baby Ballard. I didn't want to be pessimistic, but I knew how badly I would hurt if the baby didn't make it. However, it was such a miracle that I got pregnant in the first place that I knew God had a plan for this baby, and He knew our tight schedule. I can't believe I have held onto this secret from our friends and my family for 5 weeks!!!! December 18th, and I get to tell!!! YAY! Two weeks from tomorrow, and I get to hear baby's heart beat, which will be such an awesome experience.