Shamu has escaped from Sea World

Baby boy apparently isn't quite so little. In fact, I'm 30 weeks and he's already measuring 4 pounds! That means he could be a 9 pounder if he goes full-term to 40 weeks. I guess this is payback since I was a 9 pound baby. Two weeks ago I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and I've had to go on a strict limited carb diet. Hopefully, this only lasts the duration of the pregnancy. I'm also hoping that since I've been able to control my sugar level with diet alone that baby will not be affected. Other than the GD, I've been feeling pretty good. I'm tired a lot and I'm starting to have aching pains in my hips, joints, etc. I guess this is all par for the course and a part of pregnancy. Robin has been working so hard on getting the nursery fixed up. He and my dad spent days priming the walls and painting. Once all the furniture gets here and we get everything set up, I will post pictures.

Baby Boy at 24 weeks

Holy cow! I'm 24 weeks already. Only a few more weeks until I enter the 3rd trimester. This pregnancy is flying by and I'm trying to enjoy every minute of it. Here are some of the latest developments. My lower back has begun to ache when I sit or stand for too long. I guess it's all the baby weight in my belly I'm gaining. Or the fact that my breasts alone have gained 5 pounds. I am usually on my feet all day long teaching and Robin has been on my case about getting off my feet more. I know he's right and I need to get in the habit of sitting down periodically or I'm going to have elephant cankles by the time this baby gets here. Speaking of this baby, we still haven't decided on a name. Is this normal to have this much trouble deciding on a name? Anyway, the small flutterings I used to feel have turned into full-on rollings/twistings/turnings. And baby has become somewhat predictable with his waking/sleeping patterns because he always wakes me up in the morning moving around and he really gets going after I eat. Oh, and when I use the hairdryer in the morning, he gets pretty active. I've completely forgotten all about how bad I felt and how sick I was during the first few months. I guess that's why women have more than one baby!

24 weeks - Look this shirt makes me look like a watermelon!

Baby Is A...

BOY! We found out that our little baby is a boy. And he's a big boy, too! He is measuring a week and a half ahead of schedule, so we've got a big boy on our hands already. Dawson is beyond excited to be having a little brother. Robin and I are also excited. Now we just have to figure out names for baby boy. Anyone have any suggestions? The morning sickness has finally ended (I think). I still have to snack every couple of hours or I start to feel sick, but at least I'm not throwing up anymore. You can definitely tell by looking at me that I'm pregnant, even strangers are noticing my belly. I started to feel baby boy moving a couple of weeks ago (maybe around week 18). It still feels like little bubbles popping in my belly. I can't wait for Robin to be able to feel baby boy from the outside.

20 weeks pregnant

Profile pic of baby boy

Outstretched Hand - Look at those long fingers!

Yep, he's definitely a boy!

Another reminder that he's a boy!

Facing downward - Look at his little spine

I Freaking Love My Husband...

Oh, honey. I truly, madly, deeply love you. And not just because you are the handiest man EVER. And you can fix anything. Okay, well that's part of it. You see, this weekend amongst the subzero temperatures we experienced in the north Georgia mountains, we had a plethora of problems. Friday night our heat stopped working. We thought (even though the gas gauge said we had 40% of our fuel level) that the gauge had frozen up and we were out of fuel. We spent the night Friday using our electric heaters and trying to stay bundled up. Saturday morning the gas man refilled our tank and to our surprise, the heat still wouldn't work. Great. Then Robin discovered the kitchen sink wasn't draining. Double great. So Mr. Handyman himself goes into the basement to discover that the drain line connecting the kitchen sink/dishwasher/washing machine is frozen and all of the water has backed up and flooded the HVAC unit. Truly great. Robin spends all day Saturday and Sunday working tirelessly to fix our house issues. By Sunday afternoon, he had the heat working again. Eureka! By Sunday night, he had the drain pipe thawed and we could once again use the kitchen sink/dishwasher/washing machine. Double eureka! I really love him. A lot.

Christmas 2008

Robin, Dawson, and I had a fantastic Christmas! We got up at 8am, opened presents, played with presents, ate a late lunch/early dinner with my parents, brother, his fiance, and 2 nephews. I can't believe that I'm already 15 weeks pregnant! Next Christmas will be very different, as we will have a 6 month old baby under the tree. Grandma Barbara, we missed you very much at dinner! Can't wait to see you soon!

15 weeks pregnant. Can you see the tree around me???

Our Christmas tree in the living room with all of our presents

Dawson's face when he first saw his presents

Dawson opening his Nerf machine gun

Dawson opening his Wii and his Wii games and accessories

Dawson and all of his presents. We spoiled him a little. Okay, a lot. It's his last Christmas as an only child!

12 weeks and I'm not just a blimp. I'm a freaking zeppelin!

Ummmm, Houston? I have a problem. I realize that I'm a biology major and a high school science teacher, but I somehow never realized how much my body would change when I'm pregnant. I didn't even realize how big my belly had gotten until Robin took these belly pics tonight. I almost vomited when I saw how big my belly is. Robin has been telling me for a few weeks that it's very noticeable I'm pregnant but I just dismissed the idea. I kept telling myself it was way too early to be showing. I thought women didn't show until their fifth or sixth month. Okay, apparently that's only skinny women. I know I should learn to be comfortable with this "new" body and that I will have it for a long time. Robin keeps telling me how cute it is and rubbing it. Like I'm Buddha. He says it's a great baby bump and I should be proud to show it off. He also says maybe we're having twins! WHAT?!?! Oh, and just to show you how sensitive the men in my life are...yesterday morning Dawson (my little fashion critic) asked me if I had stuffed a pillow under my shirt. While I looked shocked, he proceeded to touch my belly and tell me how hard it was and I should be thankful that I didn't have a squishy gut anymore. Oh great. The baby is due around the first of June and I honestly could not be more excited. Baby belly and all. Oh, and the great news is that I haven't thrown up in 2 days! Maybe I really am on the road to better days. My newest symptom is a major face break out. And I'm craving oranges. Does this mean I could be having a girl????

12 weeks

I'm having a baby!

So I haven't updated the blog in a long time. But there's a good reason. I promise. I'm 12 weeks pregnant! I'm beside myself with excitement and joy, but baby seems to enjoy making mommy sick. Very sick. I've been suffering from all day sickness for the past 6 weeks. I'm hoping that as the first trimester comes to a close, so will the all day sickness. I haven't cooked a meal in 6 weeks. When will food start to sound good again??? We told Dawson when I was about 9 weeks and couldn't hide the vomiting anymore. He was super excited about being a big brother. I still don't think it has sank in for him as I'm just starting to show. As a matter of fact, I don't think it has sank in for Robin and I either. We still look at each other sometimes and whisper "We're having a baby?!?!" We haven't had an ultrasound yet as my doctor only does one at 20 weeks to determine the gender. I think we'll know in February if the baby is a boy or girl. Any advice from you experienced moms???

I took this test because Robin didn't believe I was pregnant. He kept saying he couldn't see 2 lines.

I took 6 pregnancy tests before it finally sank in.