It's a BOY!!!

On Monday, August 24th, we had our 20 week ultrasound. I have to say, despite it lasting over an hour, most of the time is a blur. Partly because the US technician was busy taking measurements so she really didn't say much, but also because once I heard, "I wonder what that is?" (Her being subtle about the fact that she saw the penis), all that kept going through my mind was, "A Boy? What am I going to do with a boy?" It still hasn't fully set in yet I don't think. Prior to the US, I was thinking it was going to be a boy but hoping for a girl. Every girl wants a girl, right? I guess it wasn't until after hearing it was a boy though that I realized just how much I was looking forward to having a girl.... Needless to say, I came home after finishing work, and the first thing I did was start looking for boy clothes on line. (And cleaning out the baby closet of all the girl clothes in it) I have to state my ongoing disappointment with my health insurance. I was hoping to come home with several US pictures - feet, hands, etc. Apparently, all I get is a profile picture. (The technician said that's all they give, despite taking 90+ images) And, no 4D images at all. So, I think I may look into those US places that you can go to and pay for out of pocket. I just would love to see more of the baby, and also have more pictures! Below is the Little Guy. On most measurements he was measuring farther along than what I am. And the biggest measurement?? THE HEAD - measuring in at 20w6d. He really must be taking after his father already. (And I mean in the cocky sense, not figuratively) I will let Nate speak for himself about his reaction to finding out he'll have a boy, but my very first thought was (as I looked over to Nate, dressed in shorts and a polo because he was golfing afterward) this little boy dressed in a polo with a golf club in hand. Wonder where he'll get it from.... :) 

19 weeks

19 weeks! I am so anxious for our Ultrasound next Monday. First off, because the only ultrasound we had so far was at 7 weeks. And in case you're wondering - you don't see much of anything!! Secondly, because it will be so nice to know... and see that there is a reason to my ever expanding stomach. I am starting to have an increasing harder time "hiding" the fact that I am pregnant. Especially by the end of the day - I swear my stomach doubles in size!!! Not only that, but after I eat it gets soooo hard! I have no more room in my belly at bedtime. The books have to be wrong - this baby has to be more than 6.5 inches by now :) On the plus side, each day I know this baby is growing and maturing, developing into what I pray will be a healthy and beautiful life we get to hold in the 

matter of months.

Below is a picture taken at 18 weeks, 4 days: A noticeable growth from the last one, huh? 

First "Real" Ultrasound in One Week

I put the real in quotes above because I am imagining the ultrasound that we have scheduled next Monday to be in line with the one's I have seen on television. Up to this point I have never witnessed one of those first hand. I certainly have never been a week away from knowing whether Karyn is carrying a boy or a girl in her belly. It's pretty crazy to think about. I was picturing the room and the monitor last night. What I didn't picture was any of the particulars of what I might be looking at or what I might be feeling. But I can say that I'm not scared anymore. It is going to be however it is going to be. That sentence sounds like it doesn't make sense, but I believe it is quite possibly the truest statement that will be uttered on this blog. The images, the gender, the health, etc. are not dependent on the actions of Karyn or I. In fact, at this stage they may not be dependent on anyone or anything. Even God's plan is well in motion by this stage. If He chose for us to be blessed at this point, we will be. If not, we stay the course and keep the faith.

I guess you could say that I have found a nice amount of faith and contentedness in this journey. I could never promise that things will be okay even though I say it all the time. I only know that something will result and sometimes whatever will be will be. That reminds me of something: Que sera sera:

This week will feel longer than seven days. Next Monday will not be the most pleasant morning to wake up in the world. But it will happen and it will be great.

Envisioning Our Future Family

As I've discussed at length on this blog the waiting and praying aspect of this pregnancy will not completely subside until we are holding a healthy baby in a few months. However, as time has passed and we have been reassured by doctors that things are looking very good, it is more comfortable for me to start thinking about what those first days following the delivery will look like. More importantly maybe, how will those first days feel. For some reason I have always been a "we shall see" kind of guy. Always looking forward. I am aware enough to live in the now as well, but my nature thought process involves dreaming of the future.

I find myself starting to do that again as the reality of this pregnancy sets in. My mindset to this point has been guarded. I refer to this mindset as cautious optimism. At some point, as expected, the cautious component has eroded a great deal in recent weeks. I sat in front of the television the other day before going to bed and I started thinking about what are family will be like come January 2010. I could not help but smile. I had our puppy, Eleanor, sleeping on my lap and the thought of a newborn baby in my mind.

As you can see the excitement is starting to break down the fear for both of us. Less than two weeks until our ultrasound. I have a hunch that we'll see a little girl in there, but I have no basis for that other than a gut feeling. I have five total nieces and nephews with four girls and one boy making up the group. All I care about at this or any point during the pregnancy is that baby and Karyn are healthy. However, on August 24th my mental picture of our quickly approaching future family will take on much more detail. Stayed tuned....

Weekend with Alayna, Alicia and Rusty

We just concluded a great weekend with Alayna, Alica and Rusty. We're so thankful that they made the trip up from Lincoln to visit us. Selfishly, it was too bad that the weather didn't cooperate yesterday. My baseball game was postponed to Monday, but we had the whole day to hang out. Alicia and Rusty were gracious enough to bring their P90x workout regime with for the weekend. We made it through the "motherload" workout, Plyometrics, on Saturday morning. Karyn got a kick out of it. I can only imagine how funny at times it was to watch us struggle through various segments. I've decided to enlist in the program as soon as I can get a copy of it shipped. Don't worry I won't post before and after photos on this site.

Anyway it was great to see the new baby and the new parents in action. Weekends like this make me really miss all of my family a great deal. Since this site will be limited to family I feel obligated to state or restate my open invitation to all of our family. You can visit at any time and we would strongly encourage you to think about relocating to the Madison area. I'll offer to help on both sides of the move if necessary.

17 Weeks

And another week flies by!! I am now 17 weeks and 2 days. The past few weeks have been trying for me: and to quantify this, I am not complaining - just documenting. I am hoping down the road this little one will wonder, "How was it being pregnant?" And I want to be able to remember, both the good and bad. So really, this is just for accuracy reasons :) About 2 weeks ago, because I was having such a tough time sleeping, I bought a body pillow. All in all, this has been a worthwhile purchase. I have to admit though, I still do not sleep well. Most nights I am still getting up 3-4 times to go to the bathroom. And after that, it takes me at times quite a long time to get comfortable again. However, last night I was able to sleep from about 10:30 until 5:00 am!! I wonder if its because I was tired after volleyball? If so, I should play every night. My wonderful husband has been opting for the couch most nights as of recent. I think its a win - win though: I can toss and turn and usually sleep better and Nate LOVES the couch. Believe me: I haven't even asked him to sleep somewhere else.... I think this was his suggestion! I am cranky when I get woken up by him after a bad night sleep.Just the past few days, I have been feeling a bit more nauseous in the morning, mainly when I am brushing my teeth. It goes away when I am done, but its still odd because that had not been happening for a long time now!
I feel really good almost all day long - baby must like my job: even all the bending, reaching, stretching, etc that it brings me. However, once I am done with work, we have an entirely different story. I start to become very uncomfortable in the evening. At times its even difficult for me to eat supper - yet I always manage to cram something in! My stomach starts to feel very hard with aches and pains galore! My doctor told me at my 16 week checkup that its due to ligament/muscles stretching. That means its going to get worse, huh? Ironically, I feel the best when I am lying on my stomach with a pillow under my stomach/chest area or lying flat on my back. The baby/belly doesn't enjoy much time on my sides, especially when I am already feeling achy.
Every once and awhile, I feel like I may be starting to feel the baby move??? And I try not to get too excited, seeing as how it may just be gas (yes, still lots of that feeling going on)!!!I am somewhat amazed that we're already at 17 weeks - only 3 more weeks until our next ultrasound! I am excited to find out if its a little boy or girl in my belly! Nate is convinced its going to be a girl, but I have no feelings one way or the other at all! And no crazy dreams or premonitions either....
Below is a picture taken on August 1, 2009 (16 weeks 4 days)

My regular clothes are starting to get uncomfortable. I still wear almost all my regular pants because maternity pants are just too big still - they almost make me look worse! I have definitely been wearing maternity tops at tops however! And thanks to my sister Kate, I just doubled my maternity wardrobe!! So, thanks!