pictures

You've all been asking for them... so here they are. They aren't the best pictures, but when have I ever been photogenic?

4 months & counting...

So can you believe in only four months Eric & I will officially be parents!!??? Not that we don't cherish being parents of our four-legged, furry, self-supporting son & daughter, but to be actual parents that have responsibilities. At least we are used to doctor's visits, being waken at 5:30 in the morning because there are birds outside, being told when they need to eat, and cleaning up poop. But no more leaving the children home on the weekends by themselves (at least for a good number of years). No more going out on the spur of the moment. Having to get another person ready in the mornings (guess that means no more getting in the shower at 9:00 to leave for church by 9:40... and yes that is both of us getting ready in 40 minutes). I think this is the point where I am supposed to start freaking out that this is actually happening. It may have actually hit me a few weeks ago, but we have passed the half way point! I guess this is the point where instead of counting up the weeks (23 weeks and counting) and I have to start counting down the weeks (17 weeks to go!)!!

movement!

Yeah! There has been movement that I can feel! It really started on Thursday or Friday. She was really active Friday morning. Then Saturday afternoon after literally going from upstairs down to the basement 10 or more times, I was lying on the bed in sheer exhaustion with my hand on my belly and it popped! I felt this little thump like on the outside of my belly! Unfortunately by the time I got Eric to lay his hand on my belly she had stopped. But she is definitely moving!!

a hit, a cold, and a heavy heart

I had my monthly visit this afternoon. I was a little nervous that I haven't felt her move yet, or at least don't think I have. But as the doctor listened for her heartbeat she wouldn't sit still, so I feel a lot better. At one point there was a loud thud. He asked if I knew what that was and I didn't. He said, "She just hit you." I'm sure it won't be the last time. Her heartbeat was 145 and my blood pressure was normal. According to their scale, I only gained a pound this month, but I don't think my scale agrees. It may be because I've been sick this past weekend.

I've been battling a cold and thought it may be affecting her. I had a fever of almost 101 Friday night and have used half of box of tissues since then also. The cough sounds like half a lung just may fly out. Luckily I am getting better. My teeth still hurt from the sinus pressure, but I am eating.

On top of the cold, I have a heavy heart as my grandfather (mom's father) passed away this morning. If it wasn't for this cold, I would be figuring out how to get to Baton Rouge tomorrow. But with the sinus pressure, I can't take any chances of making this worse on an airplane. My heart just aches that I can't be there for mom and my grandmother.

name picking

I really thought deciding on a name wouldn't be so difficult. But we can't even agree on one name, let alone two names (first and middle... not two separate names). When we think we have one that at least one of us is okay with, then it turns to: "But I knew a ____ and I just can't name my child that" or "But that's a family name of someone in our generation and that would just be too confusing" or "It has been in the top 25 names for the past 200 years" or "But look at the initials" or "You want to spell it how?" or the one that comes up the most "Nah, I changed my mind on that one." So needless to say we are no where in our name search.

We have spent hours looking at name lists on line and even checked a book out of the library of 75,000+ names. So does anyone have any tips on how you decided names or decided against names? We keep asking her if she likes certain names, but we aren't getting any responses. I know we still have four months, but this just may take us that long!!!