2nd piece of nursery furniture!

Jay's parents surprised us this evening and brought over their baby gift to us...our changing table! Yay! It is so pretty and looks GREAT in the nursery. Debbie even brought the changing pad and cover and some diapers to start stocking the table with. We are so excited! Here are some pics of the table...
we forgot to get a pic of the gift givers...Debbie, that means yall have to come back over and take one! It is so fun having furniture in there now, can't wait to get it all done and ready for our little man!

Fam time and the "Best Chair!"

This weekend was lots of fun! Friday we went to dinner with my parents and Lindsey and Jason to Joes BBQ in Alvin...if you've never been there you are missing out! The guys really enjoyed the ribs...Linds and I did too, it was kind of sick how much carnage was left on the table after the five of us finished our full of all you can eat ribs! You can kind of see the pile in the pic below, but it was just beginning here!

Saturday the guys played golf while us girls shopped and had lunch, we had a blast! Then my parents brought over their baby gift to us...our first piece of furniture for the nursery....our rocker and ottoman! YAY!!! It is the "best chair" ever...super comfy and glides so smoothly, and coincidently that is actually the name of the chair. We are really excited about it and love the way it looks in the nursery. We can't wait to rock Josiah in it. Actually, I got up Sunday morning and rocked in it for about an hour...so technically...he is already reaping the benefits of this magnificent piece of furniture...and so am I!

Saturday night Kayla, Lance, Betho, Linds, and Jason all came over and we grilled out in between shower storms, played games, watched a video of Josiah and caught up on much needed cousin time! The pic below is of my twin cousins, Kayla(top left) and Bethany (bottom left), sister Lindsey (top right) and me. I miss the four of us spending time together so much and hope we all end up living in Houston again someday. We all talk of how much fun it would be to all live on a cul de sac and raise our kiddos together!
Jay and I didn't plan it...but look how color coordinated we are! Well, that's all!

New do's and news!

It has been a super busy last week or so! Last weekend was packed full with seeing a good friend and new baby for the first time, getting a new do, an all day beach adventure (which left me with one fried foot that is still slightly purple almost a week later!), and Father's Day celebrations with Jay's dad on Sunday. I have been trying to recoop from all the go, go, go all week, but it was worth it!
This is my friend Robin with her little butterball Wade...it was so fun to see them, they don't live here anymore and I hadn't seen Wade since he was born. He is so precious...makes me excited for my little guy to get here!

My new do! I got bangs!

Jay and I on his first Father's Day! I think he has the daddy glow! =)

So, for some interesting updates....as you can probably see in the first pic of Jay and I on Father's Day, my cheeks are looking a little fuller these days. That would be due to the 16lbs I've gained so far in the pregnancy! Yup you heard me...yikes huh?! I apparantely went a little crazy the past 5 wks and am going to have to slow it down a little. So this week I have been really good on restraining from sweets that I crave morning, noon, and night...my motivation has been that tonight we are going to this wonderful BBQ place to celebrate Father's Day with my dad and they have an incredible cobbler there that I must have! All is good in moderation, right?!

Jay and I are continuing to fall more and more in love with our little guy. The more we are able to feel and see him move, the more we bond with him. A sweet friend of ours gave us our first baby books...Goodnight Moon and Dear Zoo...Jay has started reading to Josiah at night and every time Jay starts reading, Josiah starts kicking! It is so sweet. I have been able to see my belly moving when Josiah moves for a few weeks now. But the other night was the first time Jay and I sat on the couch together with my shirt pulled up just laughing as we watched our little guy bumping and kicking around in my belly. So fun!

On a sad note...I got the for sure thumbs down from my doc on going to one of my bestest friend's, Sarah's, wedding in Iowa at the end of September. I will be 36 wks prego on her big day and doc says no traveling anymore at that point! Not only have none of us girls ever missed a wedding of each other's...we are always in the wedding. I am so sad. =( She will be a beautiful bride, we are trying to get creative on how I can somehow watch the wedding via telecast or something as it is happening.

On a happy note...Jay's new job is going well, he is getting great training! My case load at work is picking up and relieving some of my boredom with paperwork...praise God! I talked with my boss this week about my plan to stay home as long as possible after the baby is born before I come back on contract basis only, it went over very well. Josiah is healthy....life is good!

Picture Time!

I've been getting lots of requests for more pics...so here ya go!

Pics from Shelley's shower!

Mom, Linds, Shelley, Me
All the pregos at the shower!
Shel and I are so happy to be pregers together!

Belly Pics at 21 wks!

Taken after a day at the beach!

Belly Pics- also 21 wks...

Linds took after we had Pasta and Ice Cream!

So I look extra big!

This is what I see when I look down!

Clothed belly!

Naked belly!

Sassy belly!

This past weekend was so much fun...my sis was here! It was such awesome girl time with my long lost sis from Abilene. I am ready for her to move back home! She was here waiting for me when I got home from work on Thursday night and stayed through Sunday lunch. Thursday we grilled hot dogs and she joined me in my Prenatal Yoga workout...which by the way kicked my athletic run 4 miles a day little sister's butt! Friday we started the day with coffee and prayer time together, it was so precious. Then we painted the nursery and mom came over to hang out with us while we were at it. I love the paint color, it's called Hepplewhite Ivory, it's a yummy totally baby looking butter creamy ivory color! I have a lot of cute ideas for the room and can't wait to start putting stuff in there. Friday night when Jay got home the three of us headed out for Mexican food and then came home and watched a movie. Saturday we got up worked out together, went to Babies R Us, relaxed in the afternoon, cooked dinner together, and headed out for an ice cream treat (recommended by MaryBeth...don't have to tell me twice to go get ice cream)! Then Sunday Linds and I went to church at First Colony...my beloved church home that I miss dearly and then Jay joined a bunch of us for lunch at Orient Cafe with fam and friends. No...he wasn't playing church hookie, he went to another church where one of our surfing buddies was sharing his testimony that morning. Jay and I came home and went straight to the beach to hang together and met up with several of our friends. The guys surfed and us ladies got some sun! It was a great weekend...and now I am exhausted!

Josiah is kicking stronger and stronger all the time, he now kicks even when I am standing and moving around, he also likes to kick my bladder and other organs! He is a busy little boy!

Well, that's all folks! Here is the weekly update:

Your baby measures about 7.6 inches and weighs about 12.3 ounces. His muscles are getting stronger, and his eyelids and eyebrows have developed. Your baby's acrobatics are pretty constant, and since he responds to sound, rhythm and melody, you can try singing and talking to him. After he's born, the same sounds may soothe him. Your uterus is continuing to grow, but you're probably feeling pretty good -- no more morning sickness, and your abdomen isn't so large that it's getting in the way very much. But many women experience leg and foot cramps, as well as mild swelling of ankles and feet, around this time.

Wiggly little love bug!

Read the ticker at the top for this week...it's right on!

My little love has become quite an active little fellow the past week. Well, I guess he has probably been that active for a while, I just feel the activity a LOT now! It is so fun! I feel him on and off all day long, seems like everytime I sit down after I have been moving, he gets active for a few minutes. And I have woken up a few times during the night to him kicking away. His little kicks are turning into big kicks! If I watch closely I can see my belly pop when he kicks, punches or wriggles. I think I felt something like a somersault a few days ago! The other night Jay hadn't been able to feel him move in a few days, everytime he was active Jay wasn't around or if he was around, as soon as he would get his hand to my belly it seemed like Josiah went to sleep or something. So we sat on the couch with Jay's hand on my belly for about 30 minutes and all of the sudden Josiah kicked HARD like 6 times right into the palm of Jay's hand! I think he was showing off his strength for his daddy cause it was crazy how hard those kicks were compared to usual. It is such a sweet thing for Jay and I to share together, we both just get these giddy grins on our face and talk about how we can't wait till he gets here. Jay is so cute, ever since I've been pregnant he has been pointing out other pregnant women or other babies when we are in public. Now he points out all the baby boys, after we admire them, he says with anticipation and wonder in his voice..."We are having a boy." I can not wait to watch him with our little guy, he is seriously going to be such an awesome dad, it brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it!

Something else that has brought tears to my eyes this last week:

Thinking of my little love having to endure the pain of circumcision. It just breaks my heart thinking of how traumatic all of it is going to be for his little self. Being born is probably traumatic enough. Think about it, all babies know prior to birth is the safe haven of their mother's womb where virtually no pain or discomfort is felt. Then they get squeezed through a birth canal, lay there naked in the nursery while nurses poke and prod and test their reflexes (being naked is probably cold compared to what they are used to and they probably feel insecure not being wrapped up snuggly) then poor little boys have to endure a circumcision. Seems like a harsh entrance into the world, don't ya think?! I can't stand the thought! I just want him to feel safe and loved! Everyone keeps assuring me he will anyways, I am so glad babies can't remember such trauma.

On a different note:

We bought a car, a preowned Jeep Patriot! I love it and think Josiah does too! As soon as we sat down at the dealership to talk #'s with the sales associate Josiah started kicking. =) I think it's going to be a great family vehicle.

That's all people...if you made it this far through my novel I am impressed! I am 20 wks....half way through! Woo Hoo!

You’re 20 Weeks Pregnant. You're at about the midpoint of your pregnancy. Your baby measures about 5.6 to 6.4 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 9 ounces. He can hear sounds by now – so talk to your baby often. Baby will even cover his ears with his hands if a loud sound is made near you, and he may even become startled and "jump." Your baby is moving often, too -- twisting, turning, wiggling, punching and kicking. Can you feel him? Your uterus is just about even with your navel and your waistline has pretty much disappeared. But don't worry, it is only temporary!

Nesting!

This past week or so has been busy with nesting activities! First, last Friday after we found out we were having a boy, I went with my mom on a hunt for baby boy bedding. It was actually a rather hard task to find something I liked. I finally settled on this adorable but very boyish (still getting used to things not being cutsy and girly) bedding at Baby's 1st called Boxers or Briefs. I love the name! It also lends itself nicely to a surfer baby theme...which was a selling point for us! I had been telling Jay that we were not going to do any themes because I just wasn't into them, most that I saw kind of cheesed me out. But this one is really subtle. In fact there is nothing surfer in the bedding, just some surfer wall art that matches the colors in the bedding. I found an overstuffed glider I am obsessed with and picked the fabric for it, and picked the paint color for his room. I can't wait to get it all set up!!! Then Saturday Jay and I worked all day cleaning out and organizing our garage...and it looks awesome if I do say so myself. Sunday we washed and detailed both of our cars inside and out. We were just going to do mine since we are trying to sell it and get me something more baby friendly but decided to do them both while we were at it. It is time to say goodbye to my pretty red Acura Integra! Two door and standard just wouldn't be very convenient with a little one. All week we have been working on getting the car ready to sell and looking and test driving cars we are interested in buying. So far we are leaning towards a pre-owned Jeep Patriot. It is a little higher off the ground than a car, roomy like a small SUV and has the gas mileage of a car! And with gas prices rising like they are...that is very important to us! We will see what happens.

Josiah has been kicking more and more these days, I love it every time I feel him. We have been talking to him a lot and can't wait till he gets here.

Speaking of nesting though...I have got to go clean my house!

Here is what took place this week:

You're 19 Weeks Pregnant. Your baby measures about 5.2 to 6 inches from crown to rump and weighs about 7 ounces. (Our baby was 9 oz already last week though!!! Big boy!) The baby's skin is developing and is transparent, appearing red because of the visible blood vessels. A creamy white protective coating, called vernix, is also developing. As your baby continues to grow, you may be feeling some mid-pregnancy aches and pains -- lower abdominal achiness, dizziness, heartburn, constipation, leg cramps, mild swelling of ankles and feet, and a backache are all normal. Dilated blood vessels might cause tiny, temporary red marks (called spider nevi) on your face, shoulders and arms.

Seeing Josiah

Yesterday was an amazing day! The experience of that ultrasound was seriously so cool. It was so special finding out that we were having a boy...and it was fun that both Jay and I were right on our gut feelings about it too. But the whole ultrasound was awesome! We got to see Josiah's brain in detail, four chambers of his heart, ventricles, major blood vessels, kidneys, bladder, stomach, spine, eye lenses, bones, knuckles, etc. It is unbelievable how much you can see on ultrasounds. And it was such a reassuring experience because as the tech and then later the doctor showed us each organ they would say, "looks good, looks normal, looks perfect, looks beautiful..." I was whispering praises to my King with each good report! Isn't God amazing, with all the things that have to develop perfectly in a baby, it is such evidence of miraculous creation when babies are healthy. God is in the business of fearfully and wonderfully making babies! And it is so precious to see Josiah as he is being knit together in my womb.

It was also a really fun experience, the doctor was quite the comedian and had us rolling about Josiah's "manhood." He had a few other names for Josiah too but I don't want to embarrass him before he is even born so I won't say what they were! Lets just say I learned a lot about baby boys that I was clueless about until yesterday. =)

Oh and start praying for me at delivery now because most babies at this stage of development are 7oz and Josiah is 9oz already, he is a big boy! They said there is a chance that I could be about 6 days further along than they thought but that it also could just be that he is gonna be a big baby. I love chunky babies! I can't wait to see what he looks like and really hope he looks just like Jay!

It was so sweet watching him squirm around, touch his nose, scratch his head, and kick at the tech when he got agitated at the prodding! I wanted to kiss him and am all the more eager to hold him in my arms!