Last Thursday...

This Thursday, we celebrated Justin's birthday with a fabulous dinner at Ruffino's, but last Thursday, we had a fun time at the kick off party for the Young Gun's - a young professional group supporting the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. (Got to love living in Cowtown - seriously, I do). As as sidenote, I thought I would share (after looking at these pictures) that I really really miss being tan (or tan-er). I know it's bad for you and all, but I MISS it.

Here are some pics from our fun evening...

The ladies and their husbands...

My bestest...

That couple...

The Girls...

Happy Birthday JMS!

Happy 27th Birthday! I can't believe this is the 9th birthday that I have been able to celebrate with you! You are an amazing husband and best friend - and will be the best Dad and role model for our little boy! You have a contagious positive attitude - and a constant smile on your face - just a few of the things I love the most about you! Happy Happy Birthday!

6 Month Bump & Junk in My Trunk

Since I am the only one at work today on this lovely icy day - and by only, I mean, I think I am the only person in this six story building besides the old security guard downstairs, who does nothing but sleep anyway, so he doesn't count - I thought would take the opportunity to procrastinate and document the 24 week bump.

So the last few weeks have been pretty good - not near as many nauseous moments or sick spells (yea!) - and I am finally on medicine for this lovely acne (it's safe people) although I don't think it's working. I did notice last week as I was walking through the mall to find a dress (instead I bought a double doozie cookie from the cookie company) that I definitely have more junk in my trunk. Seriously. I was walking, and my backside felt bigger. I could feel it with each step. I was kind of horrified. I immediately went home (after stuffing my face with the cookie in the car) and checked myself out. There it was.......a STRETCH MARK from my hip area to my backside. Oh, and what do you know? A matching one for the other side! Sorry if this is all TMI. Okay. I know, I know, I know, I knowwwwwww that you are supposed to gain weight during pregnancy. Good for the baby, blah, blah blah. Yes. My husband has me eating healthier than ever before. I expected to gain weight. I am gaining weight. But THERE?!?!? Why does THAT need to get bigger?!?! So that I am balanced and don't fall over forward due to the weight of my every growing belly?!?!?! So now I get to have a big rear AND a big stomach? No one warns you of these things! Just saying.

So here is the bump at 24 weeks. Like I said - I am alone at work today - and I took this with my phone in one of our exam rooms. (I work for a doctor). Please ignore the fabulous elastic waist band of my maternity jeans.

I Am Addicted...

I am not embarrassed or anything that I am addicted to a book that revolves around a teenage vampire love story. I am not embarrassed that while I can't stay up at night to read What to Expect When You Are Expecting, I can stay up late at night three days in a row to read the first two books in this vampire love series. I don't have to be embarrassed - my husband is totally embarrassed for me.

Precious Babies

Two weeks ago, one of my best friends Melissa, and her husband Greg, went to the doctor for her first sonogram at six weeks, and left with devastating news. The baby was there, but its heartbeat was low - way under 100 - and there was debris in her baby's yolk sack. Her chance of miscarrying this precious little one was great. They were told for Melissa to take it easy, stop eating a few things - and to return in two weeks (today at 11:00 a.m.) to see if the baby still had a heart beat. This Monday, my friend and Melissa's best friend, Lindsay, who is 19 weeks pregnant was told that her quad screen blood test came back positive, more specifically, positive for spina bifida. Her appointment for a stage 2 ultrasound with the genetic counselor was today at 10:00 a.m.. What are the odds that two best friends would have two crucial appointments concerning their unborn child on the very same day? I can't imagine being in either of their situations - playing the waiting game to know if your baby is alive, healthy, etc. Both of their attitudes have been amazing - and their faith in God and His plan is something to admire. When you go to the doctor, you expect and want to hear GOOD news - and to leave with bad news/uncertainty is heartbreaking. Everyone has been on their knees praying for Baby Jones and Baby Garrett - and the power of prayer is amazing! Baby Garrett is a HEALTHY Baby - without spina bifida! Baby Jones looked PERFECT, had a great heart beat, measured well, and is right on schedule - Melissa is released from her specialist now! GOD is GOOD and I cannot wait to celebrate with Melissa and Lindsay - and meet their precious little ones - JMS's future Baylor roommates, of course!

John Marshall

Like most girls, I started dreaming up baby names when I was just a little girl. For example, Peggy Eileen, my beloved Cabbage Patch doll, and then there was Desiree, my favorite "actual size baby" baby doll. But Peggy and Desiree? Seriously?!?! No offense to those with that name, but what was I thinking? Then I met my husband my freshman year at Baylor, and started dreaming up names for our children - which, if he knew at the time, probably would have freaked him out and caused him to run far, far away - especially since I always included his middle name Marshall into my first/middle name combinations, whether for a boy or a girl. He would totally have thought I was a freak. I never really thought of boy names - because, why would I have a boy? I don't know boys, I come from an all girl family, I never really babysat boys, etc., etc. etc. But, in the back of my mind I always knew that if I were to have a boy (pending my husband's approval) that he would be named John - after my Dad, Granddaddy (my Dad's father), and my Great Grandfather (my Mom's GDad). After we got married, and were no where near having children, J would humor me and discuss baby names with me. We would always spend lots of time on the girls names - and briefly make name combinations with "John." As soon as I saw the magical digital word "pregnant" appear on that test - I KNEW I was having a boy and J and I decided to name the baby after his grandfathers and his father - giving our little guy his Dad's initials as well. During "the" ultrasound, I felt a tad bit like Miranda from the SATC episode where she "faked" her ultrasound when she found out she was having a boy. The ultrasound tech pointed out the obvious part, all excited, and Justin and I were like, "yep. ummm hmm." - honestly more concerned with counting ten fingers, and ten toes. We just KNEW we were having a little guy - and were thrilled to be able to leave and actually say HIS name out loud - John Marshall!!! And I think we have officially decided to call him "John Marshall" - "John" sounds a little too serious (to me) for just a little baby!

Doctor Appointment

Today I had my "24" week appointment...which is weird considering that I am just now about to hit the 23 week mark, but for some reason they have me coming in a week ahead of schedule, which is fine by me...they are the medical professionals, and if they want to change things up, they can!

So today, she found his heartbeat - which is always music to my ears, especially since J made me return my fetal doppler as soon as I could start feeling JMS move. He is so frugal. Sad. She also pulled out the measuring tape for this appointment, which hasn't happened before. I had some concerns about JMS's movement. Starting at 19 weeks, this little guy has been dancing up a storm. I feel him all the time - and I love it!!! I love that I can feel him, and that J and my family can feel him. It is so special! Well...starting Friday, I think I only counted feeling him once or twice. The same Saturday, and Sunday. Of course I was worried about it, but I am trying not to be the paranoid patient, and I know that baby's movement patterns can change all the time, but still - I was worried! I mentioned this to Dr. K - and her answer? A sonogram! I love my Doctor. This is not the first time she has given me a sonogram to ease my mind.

Apparently, JMS likes to worry his Mama. He has switched positions to where his feet are kicking my (sorry this is gross) placenta...which makes the movements harder to feel as they are (gross) "padded" by the placenta, and feel waaayyyy softer than if he was just kicking (again, sorry for the grossness) uterus? He made some big kicks while we were watching him, and while I couldn't feel those, I could feel his punches. And of course, while I am laying on my bed talking on the phone tonight, he starts moving again like crazy. Ohhhhh how no one can describe to you the worries that come along with being pregnant, until you are pregnant! :)

Anyhow, my next appointment is in 4 weeks, and they sent me home with a lovely little bottle of orange glucose to drink ahead of time. I have been warned about this appointment - and just hope I can swallow the stuff, and keep it down. I am guessing it will taste better if I refrigerate it beforehand?

We are so thankful for this healthy baby boy that God has given us, and even more thankful that we have had an uneventful pregnancy thus far! God is Good!

Baby, Bedding & Bump

A friend had her first baby, a precious little boy last night! I can't wait to get the details from her on the whole experience - especially since she had him at the same hospital where I will deliver JMS. It's a "Southwest" hospital, located 20 or so minutes from our house. Most girls I know have had their babies at the newly remodeled and super cool (it has a SPA and you can upgrade the thread count on your SHEETS, and the L&D rooms are amazing) Baylor Downtown hospital, which is literally 7 minutes from our house, BUT I love love love my doctor, and all of the other doctors in her group (all female). Sooo I guess I am willing to sacrifice a spa, sheets and flat screen TVs for having someone I know and trust deliver my little one. Congratulations to Jen & Kurt! Jen will be an amazing mother - and I can't wait to watch her raise her little man!

And now for the bedding! We set it up with the crib (our crib is white as well) and I LOVE it - and am so happy! I know it's probably early to get the bedding, but I have had it picked out since last May, when I spent hours online helping a co-worker pick out bedding for her little guy. It just so happened that the week we found out that we were having a boy, the company was having a 30% off of bedding holiday sale! Yea! My favorite part, is that the company sells coordinating "big boy" bedding, which is perfect, since we will keep a full size bed in the baby's room.

And for memory's sake, the 21 week bump. I can't believe I am half way there!

20 Week Update

I know that I have a lot of posts to catch up on...like our trip to the doctor for the "big" sonogram...telling our parents over Christmas that they are going to have a grandson...and writing about how Justin got to feel JMS kick for the first time on Christmas Eve...but I will do those eventually.

Just a few quick notes to myself on what pregnancy is like this week/what is going on:

• JMS moves ALL the time, and lets me know that he doesn't like it when I try to sleep partially on my stomach and partially on my side, or when I cross my arms and leave them on my stomach...I LOVE it! :)
• Sleeping is starting to become uncomfortable...the best is yet to come, right?
• I am craving cereal like crazy - doesn't matter what kind, as long as it comes with ice cold milk!
• Justin wants me to put in here that I am craving sugar, but I disagree.
• I have to wear the Bella Band with all of my pants now.
• I broke down and bought maternity jeans...so worth the money!
• We bought a crib and mattress - because I read somewhere that you should buy the mattress ahead of time so as to let it "air out" so the fumes don't do something horrible to the baby. Who knows if it is true - but it freaked me out enough to go ahead and buy the mattress...
• We ordered the bedding! Yea!
• Best of all...I found out that two of my very best friends are pregnant! yeaaaaaaa!!! Baby JMS will have some great company in July and September of 2009 - and Justin and I could not be more thrilled! :)

Proof We Celebrated the New Year

Seeing as how I am pregnant and tired all the time, and how I had to work all day on the 31st, and how my office had a full clinic/day of work scheduled for the 2nd, combined with the fact that I would not be partaking of any adult beverages, I knew that New Year's Eve 2009 would be pretty anti-climatic...BUT we DID celebrate it in a very fun, low key kind of way. Dawn and Taylor graciously opened their home for several couples to ring in the New Year together. Here is how the evening went:

The boys played/gambled with dice?!? Who knows?!?!?
The girls (plus Taylor and Brian) spent some quality time indoors, playing Apples to Apples...a fun game that can become quite competitive! A few of us hanging out before the game began...

So there it is - proof that we celebrated the New Year! Sadly, those are the only pictures I have, and I didn't even take them! We had a great time and were home and in bed by 12:45 a.m. (yea!)

I cannot believe that Christmas has come and gone, and 2009 is here!!! Happy New Year!!!