Weeks 24 and 25

Week 25

Week 24

The weeks keep flying by!!!

a perfect morning

Johnny and I woke up early and watched as the sun's rays filtered through the thick green leaves on our trees laden with morning dew. Droplets of dew and remnants from the heavy rain last night hung to everything...our snapdragon's mango colored blooms, the baby apples on our apple tree, the white fence, every blade of grass, even from our tomato plant's leaves and the garden fence.

We walked out to our garden and saw that everything was good. The green beans were sprouting their way out of the earth, the buds still curled down to the soil, defying gravity as they continue their upward climb to the sun. The tiny green leaves of broccoli and lettuce colored the deep brown soil and the cucumbers were emerging out of their mounds. The squash and zucchini have yet to make their appearance.

The squirrels were busy scurrying about and the birds happily singing their morning song. Our little girl was busy too, rolling-kicking-punching--I can just imagine her in my womb--happy and warm.

Johnny made fresh French Press coffee--the steam swirled upwards from our mugs, delighting the senses, completing the morning.

23 weeks!!

Feelin' good at 23 weeks!

Johnny and I got our garden planted this weekend complete with fencing to keep all the neighborhood rabbits away. We have 9 tomato plants (slicer and cherry), sweet corn, green beans, broccoli, lettuce, squash, and zucchini. Johnny is also growing his own cascade hops for his thriving homebrewing adventures.

It has been busy around here making preparations for our little girl. We met with our doula tonight. She is from Germany and was actually a nurse midwife in Germany! But, because it would take too long to get her U.S. nursing degree, she now is a certified doula and we are hiring her to be our birthing coach in September. We are so excited!

We have decided to switch from an OB at our old practice to a nurse midwife to deliver our baby at Clark Memorial Hospital's Family Birth Place. This change has really helped us feel more at ease with our wishes for a natural birth and we now know that everyone working with us is on the same page---valuing the fact that birth is a natural event, and for the majority of births NOT a medical emergency that requires multiple interventions! Women have been doing this for hundreds of thousands of years--Mom had all 4 of us naturally, and I am excited for the opportunity to have our little girl naturally and treasure every second of labor and delivery, no matter how hard it will be.

In other news, we officially joined Our Lady of Lourdes parish--a Catholic parish and school about 3 minutes from our house (we can actually walk to church!!). It is such an awesome community and we feel so welcomed there. We are actually already making plans for baptism!! There are tons of little ones being born into this parish--so we were advised to start thinking of a date because the days are already booking up!

22 weeks and Mother's Day Weekend

Our little girl is making it hard for me to sleep at night (just a precursor of what's to come) as I wake up 2-3 times per night and then have a really rough time falling back asleep---all I really want to do is roll over and fall into a deep sleep on my belly but that's not comfortable anymore.

She is so active and has no set wake/sleep cycle that I can determine yet. We finally got the crib from the couple we bought it from and Johnny put it up last weekend. It looks a little lonely without the mattress and bedding...but all of that will come in due time (my bedding is backordered for 2 months!!)

Johnny and I are getting so anxious for her arrival--time seems to be stationary--but we know once she is here, she will be as big as Ella before we can blink. So, we continue to savor every kick and every gentle punch as our little one prepares for her transition from womb to world.

21 weeks 4 days pregnant--MAY 1st

21 weeks pregnant and loving every minute of it!!! Our little girl LOVES to kick and roll around...last night during the PHISH 3D movie she was dancing up a storm.

Well, it's Derby weekend here in Louisville, KY!!! Oaks was gorgeous yesterday--sunny and high 70s. Of course today it is raining today and soaking wet--last year it rained on Derby too. Hopefully it won't stop the races! Off to a Derby part this afternoon:)

Diane's shower

I finally got to see Diane and her baby bump in person! Christina hosted a great shower in Cincinnati this weekend--here are some pics of Diane and me pregnant at the same time---just 8 weeks apart!!! She is due July 8th and I am due Sept 7.

20 weeks

HALFWAY THERE!!!!

I'm 20 weeks along in this picture and feeling great:) We had the ultrasound on Friday April 23 and found out we are having a little GIRL!!!!! We are overcome with joy. She is just so beautiful. Johnny thinks she already looks like me in her mouth and nose. I wish I could post some pictures of her---but for some reason the u/s pics won't upload on here.

She weighs 12 ounces and her heart was beating at 153 bpm. We got to see all of her organs and everything is developing perfectly so far:)

19 weeks

Today marks 19 weeks and 5 days pregnant. I can't believe I am already half way through my pregnancy!!! Johnny felt the first kicks this week... an absolutely indescribable moment it was to feel our son or daughter together for the first time. Our bambino is definitely more active right now at night and in the early morning hours after breakfast. He/She gives most little punches and kicks to my right side--and every time I still can't help but smile. It is more than joyous.

Sporting a noticeable bump:)

Cumberland Trip

We decided to embark on a little get-away at the end of Johnny's spring break and came upon this lovely bed and breakfast in the heart of the Cumberland's and foothills of Appalachia (pronounced like -Throwin' an "apple at cha") called "Cumberland Manor Bed and Breakfast."

This house was built in 1890, a Victorian era home, overlooking historic downtown Middlesboro with views of the Cumberland mountains.

Our room (the Kennedy Room) was on the 3rd floor at the very top.

Here I am...18 weeks pregnant!!!

Jill, the innkeeper, was a FABULOUS cook--we started out with a fresh fruit cup and bran and berry muffins, followed by fluffy pancakes and biscuits and gravy...YUM!

Overlook on Ridge Trail with views of Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky.

Week 17

Here I am...week 17! We had our 16 week check up this week and got to hear the heartbeat again at 158 bpm. I have gained 8 pounds (and all of that happened in the last 5 weeks!)

Our little one is the size of your palm...or a large naval orange (4.5 to 5.5 inches long).

In 3 weeks, we find out the gender...can't wait!!!

More pics from Megan and Ella's visit (March 26-28th)

Starring the cutie herself....Ella Kate:)

Megan and Ella's Visit

We had a GREAT time last weekend with Megan and Ella and tons of family in town.

those big blue eyes...

she loved her Great Grandmothers

Wish Megan and Bob lived closer!!!!!!

Weeks 15 and 16

Johnny playing a song for our baby....I had to get a picture of him on the same wall I am getting all of my profile shots:)

WEEK 15...

WEEK 16 (4 months already!!!!!!!!)

yup....there's the bump!!!!

We all went out to Ramsi's Cafe on the World the weekend before Dad's birthday. It was over and hour wait, but so worth it. The food was fabulous and the company was even better.

CAN'T WAIT for Megan and Ella to come to town this weekend... wish Bob could be here too!

Weeks 13 and 14

Week 13....on my way to work! It was so cold here that week....our little one must have thought we lived in the arctic. By the end of that week, I was really starting to feel better, I think I even started cooking again...major feat!

Stats:

- baby is as big as a peach! (3 inches long)

Week 14...Our baby is a big as a clenched fist.

Our adorable little one is thumb-sucking and toe wiggling this week and is 3.4 inches long!

3 months pregnant and counting!!

We are so happy to finally tell it to the world...we are expecting a little one on September 7th!!!

At our 12 week ultrasound today we:

Heard the heart beat (175 bpm)

Saw our little one's arms and legs just a-swingin' and a-kickin'

Found out the head to rump measurement is 2 1/2 inches (right in the ballpark for week 12)

Became even more in love than we could ever have imagined with this tiny baby

It has been an exhausting first trimester! There were many nights I went to bed around 8:30pm and slept until 6:30am (of course that was interrupted by many trips to the bathroom due to my super squashed bladder). The nausea was horrific....lasting from week 6 to week 11, and I still have to be careful around some smells.

Not too many craving so far...although there was one week when all I wanted was Mexican food. I have been drinking TONS of milk...which is not typical for me, but it tastes good...so I guess little one likes it too.

Here are some profile pics:

6 weeks

12 weeks

12 weeks

Febrewary

Snow has been on the ground for ages it seems. I am in desperate need of spring! The sun was out today...slowly melting away traces of winter.

Johnny has been brewing like crazy the past two months...he has pumped out an Imperial Porter, an IPA, and a Rye Pale Ale. My job is to help with the bottling...quite a fun little task actually:)

We enjoyed a nice weekend with Jason, Vanessa, and Elias in Indianapolis---complete with a rememberable Bela Fleck-African Project show at Butler University (Renee and Mike had tickets too---it was sooooo good to see them), staying up way past our bedtime catching up with friends, pancakes in the morning, and out to eat for lunch before returning home to watch Purdue win!

I have to work tomorrow...but will have a 3 day weekend coming up.

Fun things to look forward to:

Megan and Ella visiting (hopefully)

Renee and Mike's spring break and camping at the RRG

Diane coming to town soon

SPRING!!!!!

News from the New Year

We enjoyed a nice New Year's Eve with Derek, Christina, and Nala.

Some sad news from Hycliffe...our lovely little fish, Mr. Coy, who so proudly owned our little pond in the back yard, was found floating belly up 2 days ago. He was a good pet....and we will miss him. We inherited him from the previous owner of this house and he had been with us since May of 2009.

I think we will fill the pond with new Coy fish this spring.

December 22: Our annual viewing of "A Christmas Carol" at Actor's Theatre

Ben and Dad

Johnny and me

Aunt Netzie and Mom enjoy their after dinner coffee.

The gang is all here...except for the Engelens...we missed you this Christmas season!!!

Renee and Mike