We saw our baby girl, we see the possibilities of us.

Yesterday I had a sonogram to check the weight and growth of our baby girl.  We got to see her in 3D, which was interesting, but not as neat as all the information we got about her!

She has HAIR.  She has "long" hair according to the sonographer.  The sonographer at Dr. Kerry Kirkman's office is SO communicative!  She doesn't just shoot the images, print a few, and leave.  She spent a ton of time viewing our baby from every angle, showing us and telling us everything you can see and read from a sonogram - so freaking awesome.

You can see the sonogram pictures here.

Great lungs, spine, feet, hands, brain, bones, heart, etc.  She said that our baby was so much fun to view because she kept moving and showing new angles!  I've never heard the phrase, "She has a beautiful spine" before in my life until yesterday... :o)

Anyway, baby is 3lbs 14oz, and is measuring right on target at 32 weeks.  Approximately 8 weeks to go (to full term, 40 weeks)  So she's looking at being between 7-8lbs, not bad, fairly on average, just like my skinny mini, Aiden.  HOWEVER... supposedly she's got a "fat" face.  :o)  She looks different than Aiden did in the sonograms, Aiden was a stick the whole pregnancy and had a thin face unlike this one!

I lost 3 lbs.  Doc says not to make a habit of it - I wasn't aware of any habit I had at all during this pregnancy - and I definitely wasn't making a habit of losing weight (I thought I was gaining weight!) 

Aiden is being such a great boy lately - always getting smiley faces at school for his overall day - participating in everything, talking clearer and clearer every day, becoming more and more independent every day.  He's going to be a fantastic first born - and an amazing helper and big brother.  He's such a sweetheart.

I'm not feeling pregnant yet, not during the day, that is - until I have to bend down to get something or talk to Aiden - whoops!  My balance is bad!  And then my legs thank me for getting off of them when I lay down at night, but the feelings of the baby girl moving and reacting are constant and reassuring.  Doc says her good movement is a sign she's getting plenty of oxygen!  *takes a bow*  Not really sure how I have anything to do with that, so, Thank You God!

Anyway, been working our butts off to pay off the baby - and we're done.  $3000 for the doc, appointments, sono's, labs and delivery.  $3300 for the hospital stay for delivery room, 2 days in a private room, meals, baby's needs, my needs.  $1500 for the epidural.  (whether you agree with that or not, I felt the contractions last time pretty bad, I don't mind having the epidural and I thank God for giving mankind the knowledge to research, create and advance technology.  Heck, they keep babies alive at only 24 weeks into the pregnancy that are delivered early now, in the 80s that wasn't possible.)  $7800, DONE.  Could have been a great paydown for one of the cars, but this is so much more rewarding! 

I'd say Josh and I make a spectacular team.  When we set our minds to something, we both keep to it to the same caliper.  Josh works like crazy dealing with the "crazies" that want the expensive bikes at the shop, I do what I can to keep the average customers... well... average.  And on our days off, we work (it's my fault).  We painted a kitchen today and had to change colors half way through - we're both exhausted, but it put a little bit more money in our bank account.  Two weeks ago, we painted their master bedroom and bathroom, and last week I contracted to have hand-scraped wood floors installed in their bedroom.  Josh sells stuff and I work and we both put the money to pay down whatever we can.  Now we just have to join forces to get our OWN house up to par for when it goes on the market!  (March 15th)  The possibilities for us are endless, it seems.

My birthday is March 12th, the baby shower/birthday party is March 13th, and Aiden's Birthday (listing day) is March 15th.  Beware the Ides of March - I'd say.

Registry Updates, Baby Updates, Baby SHOWER?!

There's a few duplicate items, this is so a person can find the cheaper version.

Adding:
Amazon Registry
(Click here for direct link)

Only adding from Amazon because I can do a "universal wish list" on there, meaning I can click what I like from any website and it shows on one list, pretty much, AND it gives a person competitive prices.

Appointment update:  I had my 30 week appointment on Wednesday and I'm measuring right on target.  In two weeks, or February 23rd, I have a 3D sonogram where there going to measure size and weight and "predict" what the baby will weigh at birth (what size baby to expect within a range).

I ASKED QUESTIONS at this appointment.  The first question session during this pregnancy.  I asked the basic stuff that's different with each pregnancy.  In addition, I asked about a weird slew of things.  Baby girl is extremely preferential on what position I lay in!  If I lay on either side, she'll slowly punch the side I'm laying on until I return to my back!  Luckily she's not suffocating me yet, so I'll just keep on my back with a pillow under my knees until I can no longer breathe. 

I also asked about INDUCING and what their policy is on it.  Supposedly it's extremely strict at this hospital - they'd let you go 10 days after your due date!  WHAT?!  Here I was looking forward to possibly a little earlier than the due date - since I'm not a fan of the number 19 - not that that has anything to do with anything.  I like 18, 16, 14, and 12 - It's just what I'm feeling for this baby.  I wonder if we should do predictions? Hm...

And lastly, I asked if there was such thing as a "husband stitch" or "lover's stitch."  Evidently it's so common they have a medical term for it - but I won't say anything more. :o)

Movement: Josh felt her move - one of her only "violent" movements, and he felt it!

House update:  We're pushing the listing date to March 15th just in case the house sells super-fast - we don't want to be homeless people giving birth with no home to send any necessary invoice to!  ... Wait, maybe that's a good thing?

Baby Shower/Birthday Party:  It's on.  Planning on March 13th, the day after my 25th birthday,  at my house possibly from 2pm-6pm+.  I'm not making any decisions on this except the time and place (and maybe the invites if Rebekah and Gabby let me.)  As I was making my list, I was thinking, "Wow, I don't know many people well enough to invite to this!  Nobody is going to want to come!"  So, I'm probably going to expect around 6 people!  (Have I made any friends since I've been here?  Anyone that would actually want to hang out with me 8 months pregnant?!) 

How about this; e-mail me your address if you want to come, and think you can.

New Hair, New Concerns, New Resolve.

Finally got my hair cut since before I found out I was pregnant!  (I believe it's been 7 months, that's a LONG time for me!)  My jaw nearly dropped off, I've never been really much of a talker, but I couldn't help it this time!  The girl that cut my hair is my age, has a 3 year old boy and a 2 year old girl and was extremely helpful in giving me some new ideas to style my hair! 

What a happy day for me.  Yeah, I know, not the greatest picture... especially by the back door and the light switch, but I was making sure Aiden was eating his dinner (he has a tendency to run laps around the dining room table and takes FOREVER to finish his food) and decided to take the opportunity to snap a photo.  Yeah yeah, you can't really tell what the deal is with my hair (and this is after a nap!), but it supposedly is a mommy-friendly long cut - and she taught me a few tricks to keep it "good looking."  If you're a mom, you know this is a treat.

About the baby, I'm definitely feeling her a lot more each week.  At my last checkup (there was a job-shadower there, memories!), the baby had a good heart rate and was a good size.  Actually, I was measuring at 29cm, 1cm bigger than my weeks-to-date!  She hasn't started turning yet but she should soon, her head was in the upper right side and we could FEEL it!  I FELT HER HEAD!  :o)  It was tiny, fit in the palm of my cupped hand.

I start my every-two-weeks visits next week, and I have a 3D ULTRASOUND on February 23rd! 

Concerns:  I'm SCARED.  Everyone and their mom's DOG has been saying "Are you having a boy?" after viewing my evidently low carrying position.  I don't know what the theory is with low=boy but I don't like it.  Our gender prediction ultrasound took long enough as it is (Baby Girl wouldn't open her legs! haha, Thank God...), I don't need random people inserting their theory virus before even asking when I'm due!

Of course, the census is still widely shocked that I'm 7 months along.  When I'm dressed, I guess you can't tell I'm pregnant?!  My hairstylist today said she didn't even notice!  I told her she thought I was fat and was just being nice... haha... she probably did.

WE HAVE A NAME.  But am I ready to post it here, yet?  We love the name, and are proud of our decision.  Maybe I'll post it with my baby shower information - I haven't figured that stuff out yet.  I'm thinking that maybe I'll have a baby shower/birthday party for me.  (No, I won't expect cards or gifts for my birthday, just registry stuff would be a blessing!)

Our house goes on the market March 1st.  Evidently the realtors want to list it higher than our initial discussed price because of the value it offers comparatively on the current market!?  I'm just praying about the situation now, I want to keep this in God's hands and remember why we're selling - to restart, and hopefully become debt-free.  As of right now, our debt looks like 2 cars and a house.  The way we're rolling, we'll have Josh's truck paid off in no time, and since my car is the lowest note we should be debt free by the end of the year if we sell the house quick!  (Imagining the entire mortgage payment amount going to the cars on top of the original payments -DREAM-).

Anyway, I'm enjoying my days off so far, 1 down, 2 to go.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to First Thursday at church this week.  I love this church.

More later.