One More Week

39 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath."

After reading that update, the first thing that popped in my mind was, "I carried a watermelon??" I can't believe I'm carrying around a mini watermelon right now! Well, yes I can, it totally feels like a watermelon in there!! Our appointment last week was pretty uneventful...my doctor was out of town so we saw another doctor in the practice. He said I was still at 2.5cm and he moved our next appointment up to Monday (today) to see if there was a chance my doc might want to induce this week. So this morning the doctor said that I'm still at 2.5cm and she sent me for an ultrasound to check the baby's size and the amniotic fluid. She said my blood pressure was fine, but she did notice my swelling (hard not to, my feet look like cavemen feet!). So we had the ultrasound done and he is weighing around 8lbs 7 oz!! Oh my goodness, that is a big boy! She said it could be off a pound either way, but still....that means he could be a nine pounder!! The amniotic fluid looked good so we are on track to be induced next Monday, January 4 if he does not come on his own before that. The doctor stripped my membranes though, so maybe just maybe that will get things going and make him come on out!

Our Christmas was good, although it didn't really feel like Christmas to us this year. I guess with the house stuff going on, plus baby, our minds were preoccupied with other things! We did not get Christmas presents for anyone this year so it helped that we avoided the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping. We had dinner at our house on Christmas Eve Eve for Justin's parents and grandparents, went to his parents house for dinner Christmas Eve, then to my grandmother's for lunch on Christmas Day. Somehow with all the food I've eaten over the last week, I managed to lose a pound since my appointment last week! Not sure how that happened... I got to see my brand new nephew Brayden for the first time and it was awesome! He's so cute and perfect and I didn't want to let him go the whole time! I can't wait to be able to hold my own!

My friend Nikki did not get such great news after her last tests. Her numbers have gone back up and she is now going to participate in a clinical trial that will start the first of January. I know this was not the news she was hoping for right around the holidays, but she is strong and will overcome the fear that has managed to seep inside of her right now. Please pray for her and for this clinical trial.

I am off this week so I will try to post some pictures from showers, Christmas and of course my belly :) It has definitely grown!! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and have fun plans for New Year's Eve!! Who knows, maybe we'll have a New Year's baby after all!

Ready When You Are, Austin

So I'm just on the computer...checking out blogs and catching up on email. My back is killing me from sitting here so it's about that time to make my way to bed. I watched a show on E! featuring Kendra Wilkinson from The Girls Next Door. I have never been a fan of that show, or a fan of Kendra's show for that matter, but this one hour episode was only about her baby and the end of her pregnancy. I am even more ready to meet my baby boy now after seeing that. I want that so badly it's driving me crazy!! It's all I think about and I'm just READY. I'm really hoping the doctor will tell me something tomorrow to boost my spirits. It's not that I'm sad or depressed or anything like that...I just want to meet my baby. Is that too much to ask?! You would think the waiting would be easy after doing it for almost nine months, but it is so much harder here in the home stretch. I feel like everyone around me is having their babies...{insert whiney voice here}...when is it gonna be MY turn!??!

Still Waiting

38 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.
Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)"

Well, no Austin yet. We're still waiting. So much for me thinking he was coming by today!! I guess we'll see how much, if any, my body has changed to prepare for his arrival on Tuesday when I see the doctor again. I had moved up 0.5 a centimeter at the doctor's visit last week to 2.5 cm, so maybe we're making some progress. I did NOT like the doctor I saw last week. She was the final doctor in the rotation and quite frankly, I am pretty happy Austin didn't come this weekend since she was the on-call doctor. I would not have liked her delivering my baby. Not that she isn't a great doctor....I'm sure she is. She's just a great doctor for someone else, not me and my personality. We just didn't mesh well and I don't like being made to feel stupid in a situation that is brand new to me and I know nothing about. Okay, enough about that...

Austin's room is just begging for him to take it over!! Justin has already put the carseat in my car, the stroller is out and ready for use so all that's missing is our precious baby boy!! I am so ready for him to get here and so ready for pregnancy to be over. I hate to say that because it really has been a joyful experience...until about two weeks ago! How great would it be if pregnancy was only eight months long, and this last month of miserable-ness just didn't exist?!

The contractions are still coming, sometimes very regular and other times not. Tuesday night I was up for about four hours with them, laying in bed and timing them and unable to fall back asleep b/c of being uncomfortable. They were coming every six minutes but never progressed to anything stronger like real labor pains are supposed to feel like. Every time I get a contraction, I can't help but think - Is this it?? Is this the one that lets me know that labor has started and the time has come?! But, no such luck just yet. Hopefully soon though!!

Congrats to Melinda, Justin and baby Evan Graham, as well as Jennifer, Jimmy and baby James Whit - both babies were born Friday and I'm so happy for these sweet families and their new bundles of joy!

Whoa Baby, Not Quite Yet!

37 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.
Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz."

It's amazing how much can change in a week!! Last weekend I was talking about how there has been no progression with my pregnancy. This week, it's a whole different story! Let me back up to where I left off...

So last Saturday was fantastic!! We won the SEC Championship and now we're on our way to Pasadena for the National Championship game! Right before the game started, I looked down to see one cankle! Yes, just one...but definitely a cankle!! For some reason, my swelling started the day I hit 36 weeks and decided to only go after my right side. It was a funny, yet disgusting, sight and little did I know, it was only going to get worse! The swelling has definitely increased and has moved over to the left side too, so from the waist down, I feel and look like a marshmallow!! My feet look disgusting and we just have to laugh at them.

Sunday I went to Decatur for my last shower and had so much fun! It was great getting to see old friends that I haven't seen in a while and we got tons of awesome stuff! Thanks to Becca, Anna Lee and Amanda for hosting such a great shower for me!

By Wednesday, it was back to summer foot wear for me - my swollen feet decided that the only thing they were going to fit into was something that was completely un-restrictive. Flip Flops. So I went to my doctor's appointment and work wearing flip flops, and had to ignore the fact that it was freezing outside! My feet appreciated being free rather than being warm. They did not check me at the doctor's office so I didn't have any news as to what my progress, if any, was at that time. I did get confirmation that my doctor would NOT make me go 41 weeks, which was music to my ears. Other than that, it was a normal ole visit with no excitement. That afternoon, however, I began to feel Braxton Hicks contractions! It was the strangest feeling to realize that's what it was I had been feeling for the last few days, but also really exciting to know that my body was preparing itself for labor. The contractions were off and on most of Wednesday afternoon and night.

Saturday was a busy day in our house - it was our weekend to get everything done in the nursery to prepare for Austin's arrival. Time to get the crib put together (since it was late arriving and didn't get here until Friday!), paint some furniture, hang decorations and wash his clothes. My best friend Jenn came to help and it felt like we got a lot done...except the crib and furniture. So Justin and I prepared for a long day on Sunday. Oh, and I did invest in some Crocs Saturday night so now my feet can be warm AND not be restricted for these last few weeks while they look like sausages!!

Sunday morning, however, had a different plan for us than putting together a crib and painting furniture. Upon getting out of bed and going to the bathroom, I discovered LOTS of blood. Considering that I haven't seen the slightest drop of blood this entire 8 1/2 months, this really took me by surprise. Had it have only been a few drops, or just "spotting", I would not have been concerned. But I called the doctor's office and within 2 minutes the on-call doc returned my call and said to come on in. Shortly after I hung up with the doc, I started feeling contractions - this time with a little bit of cramping pain in my lower abdomen. Going to the hospital was NOT in our plan for the day and all I could think about was the fact that our crib wasn't done! We honestly did not think that I was in labor and felt like the hospital visit would be pretty short, so I called a dear friend, Emily, to see if she would accompany me to the hospital while Justin stayed home to finish the crib. So Emily came to pick me and off we went. We got there around 10:00 and they put me right into a room. The nurse checked me and shocked the crap out of me by saying, "Well, you're about 2.5 cm dilated and 80% effaced! You're in early labor!!" Holy Cow. NOT what I was expecting to hear, but exciting nonetheless! Around this time, the contractions started picking up and were getting a little more intense. According to the nurse, they were coming about every two minutes - WHAT?!?! I couldn't believe what she was telling me!! Early labor?!? So shortly after, the doc comes in and checks me, and she said I was more like 1.5 to 2 cm dilated and she really felt like they should give me meds to stop labor. Since I was only a day over 37 weeks (even though he is now considered full term), she felt like if they could stop labor, it would be better than delivering and have him go straight to the NICU since they couldn't be POSITIVE about my gestational age (even though I am). Soooo, they started pain medicine and contraction stopper medicine every four hours and told me I would be staying the night. Justin came to hospital once his duties were done at home and we basically just waited it out. I still had contractions but they were irregular throughout the afternoon and night. I got an Ambien to sleep, which definitely helped, but the back pain, uncomfortable bed and every 2 hour visits from the nurse made it really hard to get a good night's sleep. The doctor came in around 7am to check me and said I was still at 2 cm. They wanted to do more blood work at noon since my blood work that morning showed a decrease in numbers. They also scheduled me for an ultrasound to make sure the baby was okay and that the amniotic fluid was still intact. Finally around 11am, they came to take me to the ultrasound and then took my blood when I got back to the room. At about 3:30, the nurse came in and said my blood count was up just enough and the ultrasound looked fine so I was free to go home "if I wanted to". Are you kidding me?!? Of course I'm going home if I'm not having a baby right now!!

Soooo after the last two chaotic days, I'm "bed resting" today until I see the doctor in the morning. I'm still having contractions, some with cramping pain and some without. They are irregular so I don't think there is anything to worry about at this point. I had some slight bleeding during the night but nothing to be alarmed over. I'm hoping to get more information from the doctor tomorrow as to why they stopped labor, and I'm also hoping to get a better idea of when to expect Austin to make his true arrival! We're not sure if the doc will keep me on bed rest or tell me it is safe to return to work. I can't help but feel like he is READY! I would not be surprised if he came by the end of this weekend, but that could also just be some wishful thinking on my part :) I keep reading that the bleeding I had is an indication that labor could be either hours or days away. Hopefully I'll have an update tomorrow!!!

It's GAMEDAY!!!

36 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly."

Hard to believe I only have four weeks to go - and that I'm almost considered full term!! At my checkup this week, the doctor informed me that nothing was happening as of now and it looks like I have a ways to go. Great! Just what I wanted to hear! I know it's still early but a little progression would be nice! As much as I have loved being pregnant, it's beginning to be very uncomfortable and sleeping is so out of the question. My hips hurt, my back hurts, my stomach burns if I stay slouched over (due to my gallbladder surgery mishap), the heartburn is an everyday, after every meal occurrence now and I feel as if I'm carrying around a bowling ball!! But I'm not complaining!! :)

Justin is painting the nursery tomorrow while I'm in Decatur for a shower, and as soon as the crib arrives, we can begin setting everything up. A little late to be getting started but since we just moved in two weeks ago, we haven't had much of a choice! I'm so ready to get his nursery ready and get his clothes washed and hung up. He is going to love all his cute outfits!

Today is a BIG day for Tide Fans! I'm playing on the internet, writing thank you cards...doing anything I can to pass the time until 3:00 gets here! It's crazy that it's been a year since Justin and I were in Atlanta for this very same game against Florida. I'm hoping that today we have a different outcome than we did a year ago! If we win, we'll be headed to Pasadena for the National Championship game. I just hope Austin has made his appearance by January 7 so that his first Tide game will be the biggest one of the year! I would hate for him to miss this! Not to mention he has some great UA and Houndstooth clothing to sport for the occasion! I've heard all the Auburn fans cheering on Florida and Tebow this week...makes me wonder if they'll be cheering for Texas if we win tonight. I would hope that they would cheer for their own conference but I wouldn't be surprised. Anyways, all I'm gonna say about today's game is...May the best team win. And please Lord, let that be Alabama! ROLL TIDE!!!

Moving In

35 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight."

We are finally moved in to our house!! Yes, there are still a ton of boxes everywhere. Yes, we still have a lot of unpacking to do. Yes, we have so many things to buy and are continuously making trips to Wal-Mart and Home Depot. But who cares....we're finally home.

We moved in last Saturday and were very fortunate to have so many friends here to help us (thanks to all of you!). The boys did the heavy lifting/moving and the girls helped me unpack boxes, set up the kitchen, master bedroom and bathroom. We actually haven't touched a single box since then until today! When Sunday morning rolled around, it took all we had just to get out of bed!!! My body hurt, Justin's body hurt and we were just so exhausted. After about 30 minutes in Home Depot Sunday morning, I was begging Justin to go home so I could get off my feet because they had already started hurting. We haven't had much motivation this week to get things done....we really just wanted to enjoy the first few days of being in our house and getting acquainted with it.

We had a great Thanksgiving and ate so much good food! We went to be with my family for lunch and left around 4:00 to get back to Birmingham for dinner with Justin's family. Normally we go straight to Hattiesburg after lunch to spend the weekend at Justin's grandparents, but since I had to work on Friday, we had dinner with his parents, aunt and uncle, then came straight home. I love the holiday's...I love seeing my family and spending time with them. The Vest family (my mom's side) is pretty big, as my mom has three sisters and one brother who all give kids and grandkids of their own. We always have a packed house but it makes it so special to me that we all still get together and enjoy being with each other. Not to mention the food is always amazing!

I did not enjoy having to go to work on Friday. I mean, who wants to work during the freakin' Iron Bowl?!?! Luckily some people had some up a projector screen and were able to broadcast the game in the enormous file room on our floor, so I did get to see the entire first quarter and bits and pieces after that. There were radios and laptops set up all over the floor that were also broadcasting the game, so even when I had to sit at my desk, I was still able to keep up with the game. I'm so happy that Alabama won and we have gone 12-0 two years in a row now! The game was intense and very nerve-racking, but usually that's the way the Iron Bowl goes. We pulled it out and that's all that matters. Now, time to focus on Florida and winning the SEC Championship. I can't imagine how nervous I will feel this time next week!!!

Well, as much as I love updating the blog (which I have to add I'm doing from my awesome sunroom off of our master bedroom, which looks out over our 1+ acre backyard full of trees, squirrels and blue skies), there is so much I need to get done today so it's back to unpacking for me. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and stuffed yourselves as much as I did!

34 Weeks

34 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies."

One Week From Today!!

33 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood."

Sooo, one week from today we will be settling into our new house! I can't wait to get there and get things unpacked and ready to go. We are doing the final walk-through on Wednesday night, then Justin will start taking small items and boxes over there on Thursday and Friday. All of the utilities are set to be hooked up on Friday, with the exception of cable which is on Saturday morning. We're hoping that Friday night will be our first night in the house! Saturday is the big moving day and we'll have lots of friends coming to help us!

I am finally getting around to posting some pictures from the Vinson Family Celebration we had back in October with about ten of our friends. Sorry it took so long but there have been waaaaaay too many things going on right now!


The delicious and super cute cake from Edgars!

Beth Ann, who did a great job on the event!

Aunt Beth Ann and Uncle Scottie



Excited about the "Boudreaux's Butt Paste"!

Gifts from Jody and Jennifer

Gifts from Scott and Laura

Gifts from Scottie and Beth Ann

Today was my baby shower in Birmingham! It was lots of fun and we had a great turnout. Thanks a million to Jennifer N, Lindsay, Meagan, Jennifer B and Brooke. Ya'll did an amazing job and everything was perfect! Unfortunately, I only got a few pictures with my camera so I'm only able to post the ones that I have until I get the pics from other people that were there!

Hostesses (minus Brooke)

Phi Mu girls

And finally, the latest belly pics - one from last week at 32 weeks and one from today at 33 weeks. I really have no pregnancy complaints but I have been growing significantly in the belly area the last few weeks! There are days when I can feel my stomach stretching and it's very uncomfortable. It's harder to get up off the couch and to get out of bed (which is really annoying during the eight trips I have to take to the bathroom in the middle of the night and I don't have Justin's assistance to help me up!). I get tired quicker than I did a few months ago, but I'm listening to my body when it tells me it needs a break. Oh yes, and the heartburn/indigestion. It would probably be easier on me if I had these problems before, but they are very new for me and I do not enjoy it at all.


32 Weeks

33 Weeks

I will close with some amazing news - Nikki's tumors are shrinking and her numbers are down!!! How amazing is that?! The tumor in her stomach and the tumor on her liver have both shrunk, and the hole in her stomach has closed up! She is feeling better and will continue with the oral chemo for now. I was soooo happy and excited when I read this news!! It's now been two years since her first operation and I can't imagine what this journey has been like. It is clear that the power of prayer is real, so please keep praying for her!!!

House? Check. Baby? Getting Closer...

32 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth."

I’m so behind on updating the blog!! We’ve just had so much going on lately and unfortunately it’s been put on the back-burner. I guess I need to back up to the last week of October and give a full update on everything house related!

Justin and I went to my 31 week checkup on Tuesday, October 27 and got to meet another doctor in the practice, whom I really liked. So far I have seen 3 of the 5 doctors there and I'm hoping that one of those is not on-call when I go into labor. I really, really did not like him and would hate to have him deliver my son. After the checkup, we had breakfast and then went to the attorney’s office for closing. It honestly could not have gone better! We had heard so many horror stories and I was really worried that something was going to go wrong. Yes, we signed a lot of documents, but that was expected – we actually left going, "Is that it?! That wasn’t that bad!! Are we seriously homeowners after just an hour of signing a thousand documents?!" It was a great feeling and we’re thrilled at this exciting new time in our lives!!

I don’t think we did much that weekend except for pack. I spent almost all day Saturday and Sunday packing up everything I possibly could. I thought I would go insane at all the boxes everywhere! We’ve finally gotten the bed in the guest bedroom taken apart and now that we have the mattress/box springs standing up against the wall, we have a ton of floor space that is now home to all of the boxes that have been packed. I will be glad to not live among boxes anymore.

This past Friday we had our 4-D ultrasound which was so awesome! I was a little nervous because we waited until the last possible week to have it done. If Austin had chosen not to cooperate, we were pretty much out $125 AND another chance to see him again in 4-D. So, I’m really thankful that it turned out well. He is weighing in at four pounds and four ounces. He kept his left hand up at his face almost the entire time though, so he made it difficult to get some good pictures. There were a few minutes where he had his foot up there too and it looked like his toes were up his nose! He played with his foot a lot and reminded me of a little monkey in there! He looks just like his daddy…he’s got Justin’s lips and nose, and we could see that he’s already got some hair!! I would guess that the old wives tale about the heartburn meaning the baby will be born with a lot of hair is true in my case…the heartburn has gotten worse and I am not enjoying it! He also has these great big fat, chubby cheeks that are just so cute and made me laugh the whole time!! I can’t wait to see him in person! We’re working on getting the pictures scanned in so I’ll post them as soon as we do!

And I just have to add.....ROLL TIDE!!! We are headed to Atlanta for the SEC Championship in December, as we clinched the West against LSU Saturday night!!!

31 Weeks

31 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy."

Catching Up...

30 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)"

Unbelievable - I am 10 weeks away from meeting this amazing human life we have created! It's hard to believe that this time next week I'll be in the single digits of weeks left to go. Man, things are just moving right along!

Before going into what lies ahead of us this week, I'll back track for a second to give a quick recap of the last two weeks. One of my best friends, Marsha, had her baby girl on Thursday, October 8. I got to spend some time with them last weekend in Tennessee and got to meet Alexis Jordan for the first time. She is the cutest, sweetest baby!! She's got these great, squishy cheeks that you just wanna pinch! I think she cried two times the whole time I was there which was really impressive to me! She ate a lot, slept even more and dirtied many diapers! It was so awesome to hold that newborn baby and let her sleep on my chest and cuddle her. It made me realize how close we are to doing that with our own little one!

Alex

I also spent a night with my mom and brother, which is always nice. We don't get to spend much time together so it was great getting to visit with them. Even though it was short, it was well worth it. I stopped and saw my best friend, Jenn, and her hubby on Sunday and got a couple more baby items that she got for Austin!

This past week was pretty low-key, just going through the motions of every day life. Yesterday, however, got a little hairy. And yes, it was the "3rd Saturday in October", which means Alabama and Tennessee met up for their yearly match up. The game was in Tuscaloosa this year and as much as we wanted to go, it's probably a good thing we didn't because the ending of the game would have surely put me into early labor! I am amazed that we won that game, literally in the final seconds by blocking a field goal. We haven't been playing our best these last few weeks, and with this being a very deep rooted rivalry, I really thought we would have played better than we did. I'm just thankful that we pulled out a win and didn't throw our season away with one play. We watched part of the game at home, then the rest with some friends. There were about 10 of us that got together to watch the Auburn game and eat some yummy food. We had a great time, even though we were the only Bama fans there and Auburn did not exactly play very well.

Today, we are baby-sitting!! Our friends are going to a wedding this afternoon and we're going to be hanging out with their 11 month old, Amy Grace! She's a sweet, easy going baby and we love getting to see her so I know we'll have a fun afternoon! Her dad and Justin are already scheming and trying to plan an arranged marriage between her and Austin! With all of my friends having little girls, it appears Austin is on his way to becoming a ladies man!

We have a big week ahead of us - well, I guess I should say a big day on Tuesday. We are going to my 31 week checkup at the doctor at 8:00, then on to our closing at 10:00! I can't believe the day is finally upon us! We are SOOO excited and can't wait to actually move in! We've got about three more weeks before we move in but it will really be here before we know it!!

Here is my latest belly pic, taken yesterday at 30 weeks! Austin's movements have changed a little, and I don't feel very many jabs and kicks anymore. Now his movements feel very fluid and I can feel little body parts underneath my hands!! It's so amazing to feel and even weirder to see it! We'll look down and see this ripple across my belly! I'm not sure yet which body parts I feel, probably elbows and knees, but it is such a cool feeling!

I hope everyone is enjoying this fall weather! And get started on that Christmas shopping - it may seem early but it's only nine weeks away!!! I don't know how much we're going to be doing as far as Christmas shopping, but I can promise you the pregnancy will not hinder my holiday eating! I plan to stuff myself silly this year, so watch out Thanksgiving!!

29 Weeks

29 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day."

Third Trimester - Already?!?!

28 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world."

I seriously cannot believe I am in my 3rd trimester already (or that I'm carrying around a Chinese cabbage in my belly)! It has really flown by - even looking back when I felt like it was going so slow, it's almost hard to believe I ever felt that way! We have so many changes coming our way, I'm amazed that I haven't had a mental breakdown yet!

I'm assuming I passed my sugar test since I haven't heard back from the doctor about it. I had the abdominal/kidney ultrasound done Monday morning and of course that came back normal - I knew it would. I knew it was a waste of time but try telling a doctor that. It's going to take an endoscopy to see the problem, which is obviously not going to happen any time soon. So now I'm just doing my best to deal with the pain.

Sleeping is getting harder. I'm so paranoid about sleeping on my back, it keeps me from sleeping at all! Then when I do sleep, either my hips start hurting from being on my side or the pain in my stomach wakes me up. It's pretty annoying, but this too shall pass. Hey, only 3 more months right? I can make it.... I keep telling myself that, and even though I have no choice but to believe it, it doesn't make it any easier.

So we are set to close on the house October 27 - less than 2 weeks from now! I can't believe it! We really have a lot of packing to do, but we still have plenty of time to do it since we won't move until November 21. It almost makes it harder to seem real when you close a month before you move, but I know those last few weeks will go by so fast. I've got my 31 week appointment and closing on the same day, then the next week we'll get to see Baby Austin in 4-D! I'm super pumped about that and just really hope that he cooperates enough for Mommy and Daddy to get a good glimpse of our baby boy up close and personal! He is extremely active in my belly and has got some pretty strong limbs. He definitely throws a good punch already and has got some kicks that would make Chuck Norris pretty dang jealous. All in all, it feels like we have a strong, healthy baby boy in there!

Here are some of the latest belly pics from a few weeks ago!

26 Weeks

27 Weeks

Weekend Update

Well, I just got back from the doctor's office - I won't know the results of my sugar test until tomorrow or Monday. I had heard how awful that drink tastes, but it actually wasn't so bad to me!! It reminded me of those orange drinks you got in elementary school, when you had the choice between orange "juice" or chocolate milk. I told the doctor about the stomach pain I've been having, which I think is all due to my gallbladder removal this time last year. The pain has gotten significantly worse in the last few months, and it's in my stomach and in my back. The pain wakes me up in the middle of the night and keeps me awake, which is really frustrating. I really didn't think it would make a difference to tell her about it because I know they can not check to find out what the problem is until after Austin is born. But she decided to order an abdominal and kidney ultrasound and also did some blood work to check my liver enzymes. My ultrasound is Monday morning so we'll see...

This past weekend we had a get together with a few close friends to eat, drink (well not me of course!) and watch football. We wanted to plan something like this so that we would have some time to spend with these friends before Austin comes and turns our lives upside down! It was meant to be a "Vinson Family Celebration" and I really didn't want it to be a "shower" where people felt obligated to bring gifts. So we were very shocked and so excited that we got some presents!! They catered BBQ, got an awesome cake from Edgars and had very cute decorations. Austin got tons of onesies, hats and socks, we got our diaper bag, some hangers, outlet covers, sleepers, and a few more odds and ends. It was really awesome to spend time with everyone and we're so grateful for the gifts! I will post some pics as soon as I get them uploaded!

This weekend we are going to the Widespread Panic/Allman Brothers concert on Saturday night. Some friends are coming in from Tuscaloosa to "tailgate" and watch the Bama game before we go. I'm so excited!!!

The house procedures are going great...the inspection was done Monday, and it turned out really good. We're having the appraisal done this coming Monday and we're still set to close on October 27! I just can't believe we're so close to the end now!! We are BEYOND excited about it!

27 Weeks

27 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle."

I don't have much time for an update this week but I will post something about our weekend later. Today is my 28 week appointment at the doctor's office and I will have my glucose test done. I'm hoping and praying for good results!!

My Stomach has the Hiccups!

26 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:
"The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days."

Well, it's been a pretty long week and an even shorter weekend - whoever decided we should work for five days and only be off two should really be shot!! Last weekend was really nice though, even though it was also short. We went to Tennessee to visit our friends Marsha and Jeff and their kids Micah and Jenna. Their upcoming arrival, Baby Alex, will be making her appearance in about three weeks so we wanted to get up there and spend some time with them before things got really crazy in their house. We also stopped by and spent some time with my mom and brother on Sunday since her birthday was on Tuesday. It was really great to see her, even though the visit was short.

This week we put an offer on a house. The counter offers have been going on all week and I think we are about 99% close to making the deal final. We're meeting with the owners tomorrow night to sign the contract, unless we hear otherwise. It's been pretty stressful and an experience that I have not enjoyed in any way. The good thing is, I know that we'll be in this house for a really long time so it will be a while before we have to do this kind of negotiating again. I'll be very glad when this whole thing is over, and will really be thankful when closing day arrives. It's hard to believe that we are so close to owning this house, and I'm trying not to let myself get too excited because you just never know what could happen between now and closing day. We are hoping to close on or about October 27 - exactly one month from today!!! Scary....but very exciting!

Austin has been moving around like crazy!! It's funny to sit there and watch my belly moving and jumping and I feel like I could just stare at it forever! Justin went to the Bama game yesterday and I watched the game from the couch. During the 2nd quarter, it was almost as if Austin knew what was going on in the game. He did not stop moving the entire time!! We've already got us a little Bama fan!!! I'm pretty sure he got the hiccups too, because he was jerking in the same rhythm and did it about 15 times in a row! It was too funny!!!

I would like to also share with you that Nikki received some news here recently that the doctors discovered a small hole near her duodenum during an endoscope. They sent her for a CT scan, which showed that there is a large growth that came from her liver and grew into her stomach. She has been told that the surgery to remove it would be so extensive that she wouldn't survive it. She has started radiation and they have mentioned her participating in a clinical trial. The radiation has her very tired and she has also been running fevers. I just couldn't believe this when I read it - her 28th birthday was Monday. It's still just so hard to believe what she is going through. I am so amazed at how strong she's been throughout this entire journey. Please, please keep her in your prayers. I hate being so far away and knowing that praying is all that I can do. But if it's really all I can do, I'm gonna do it and I'm gonna do as often as possible. Please join me in doing the same.

I hope you all have a great week!

25 Weeks

25 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:
"Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture."

Daddy's Turn

24 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:
"Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon."

Not much to report this week except that Justin finally felt his son moving for the first time! I was lying in bed Friday night when he started his nightly ritual of moving and shaking. I just knew that Justin would be able to feel him and as soon as he put his hand on my belly, Austin gave him about six good kicks or punches right underneath his hand!! It was really exciting! Then on Saturday I was on the couch reading and I had my book propped up on my belly. All of a sudden my book started bouncing! I called Justin over and lifted up my shirt and we just watched him going to town! My stomach was jumping and jerking like crazy!! It was really cool to watch and I can't imagine how those movements will look in a few months! I'm sure it looks like an alien has possessed your body (that's what I hear anyways).

Hope you are all having a great week! Here is a pic that was taken Friday at work - I was amazed at how big my belly looked!!

September and Football and Baby, Oh My!!

23 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb."

I'm so amazed that I'm starting my 6th month already! I can't believe how fast it's gone by lately. I'm also amazed that it is September and football season has finally started!! The fall always seems to fly by because of football season so I know that I really need to savor these next few months, because they will be over before I know it! After reading this week's baby update, it made me glad to know that Austin can already hear the sounds of Alabama football - we're getting him broken in already!!

Last Saturday night we went to an engagement party for our best friends Scott and Beth Ann. Justin and I are both in their wedding in March and could not be happier for this couple! They are so amazing and such wonderful friends, and we are so honored to be a part of this special time with them. I did have to miss my 10 year high school reunion last weekend which was kinda sad. I have been looking forward to it for so long now, but I felt that being with Scottie and BA for their party would mean a lot more in the long run. At least I have a 15 year reunion to look forward to now!

The week was pretty uneventful and work has been going great. I'm really loving my job and getting back into the swing of things. It's so comfortable and laid back and it's so nice hanging up the phone without tears streaming down my face or cuss words coming out of my mouth!! It's been a great change and something that I really needed.

Justin was out of town from Sunday until Thursday, and I'm so glad he made it home by Thursday since it was his 29th birthday! He really couldn't believe that he is now 29 and one year away from 30!! That night was really nice..first off just having him home was nice, but also because college football finally kicked off and I don't think I could have given him a better birthday present than that!! We ordered pizza and took over the couch for a couple of hours, enjoying the sights and sounds of football. By the time Saturday rolled around, it was almost impossible to believe that Alabama would be kicking off that night. You wait so long for something, and when it finally arrives, it's almost hard to believe that it's finally here!! That's how we felt all day! It felt good to watch GameDay again and it felt even better when they talked about Alabama! We went to a friends to watch the game and eat, and life couldn't have been better! We could have played better, especially in the first half, but hey - we pulled out a W and that's really all that matters! I really can't wait for next weekend since we'll be back in Tuscaloosa for a REAL Game Day!!!

Yesterday was also great - we spent some time with our friends Jeff, Marsha and their daughter Jenna. We also went to look at a house that we are really hoping to get! It has everything we've been wanting in a house and it just feels like this is the house for us. Ironically, it was Marsha that put us in touch with the owner, as they have been friends since middle school. I'm really, really hoping that all works out with this house!!!

Hope everyone has had a great Labor Day! ROLL TIDE!!!

***The pic below is from two weeks ago when I was 21 weeks. It's the latest one I've taken and I forgot to post it then!

What a Long, Strange Week it's Been

22 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily."

To say that this week has been slightly crazy would be an understatement!! We hosted a couple's baby shower on Saturday night that turned out really nice, then on Sunday I went to the movies with a girlfriend and Justin and I went to Babies R Us for the dreaded registering experience! It was pretty overwhelming at times, but I think we managed to do okay! We also went to the mall to pick out a few maternity shirts that are becoming more necessary every day. I can still fit into most of my pre-pregnancy clothes, but they aren't near as comfortable as elastic banded pants and loose fitting tops! After that we went to a friends house for dinner and relaxing.

Monday was my first day at my new job and it went really well. Things are already starting to come back to me and soon it will feel like I never left! That night, Justin and I both ate some leftovers and hung out with a friend. I went to bed pretty early due to my constant back pain. There is one spot in my back that has been bothering me for about a year and a half. It is the same spot that tends to be a symptom of gall bladder problems, and I really hoped that when my gall bladder was removed last year that this pain would go away. Now I'm starting to wonder if it is a result of my favorite blue chair. It usually doesn't start hurting until the end of the night when I'm relaxing in my chair watching TV or reading. Usually when it starts hurting, I either go and read in bed or move to the couch. Monday night, I went on to bed.

I woke up at about 2:30am to go to the bathroom, but I was having a hard time getting back to sleep. My stomach was feeling very weird and I just did not feel very good at all. Around 3:30, I realized why I wasn't feeling well when I had to run to the bathroom to throw up. Immediately I began to be concerned - I NEVER throw up. When I am throwing up, something is seriously wrong with me and I know that I must be really sick. I knew it had nothing to do with the pregnancy because I had not been throwing up at all in the last 5 1/2 months. While I was still in the bathroom, I heard Justin get up and run to the other bathroom. Okay, that's weird, I was thinking.. He came in to check on me and I asked him if he was sick too. He said yes, but he thought maybe he was sick because he was worried about me. I wish I could say that was the end of our "sickness". Little did we know, it was just the beginning.

We took turns throughout the rest of the night running to different bathrooms, either with diarrhea or to throw up - or sometimes both. Next thing I know, it's 7:00 and I have to make the decision on what to do about work - I mean, it's my 2nd day back, I can't call in!!! So I decide to get in the shower, hoping that would make me feel a little better. That didn't quite go as planned since I couldn't stop myself from throwing up in the shower. GROSS!! By this time, Justin was feeling a little better and was ready to go to work. I, on the other hand, was feeling worse. I was so weak and tired, I had no energy, and I was still throwing up! I slowly got ready and made my way to work - thank goodness I have a great boss who sent me home right away, and was completely understanding that I was very, very sick. I stopped to get some Gatorade before I got home and began taking tiny sips of that, hoping it was going to stay down. No such luck. I had already put a call in to my doctor and was waiting on them to call me back with some advice. I was still going to the bathroom about every 30 minutes and was unable to keep even the smallest sip of anything down. At this point, I was beginning to get a little worried because I knew how dehydrated my body was getting, and I knew Austin was getting absolutely nothing from his mommy. Poor Justin didn't make it to work without pulling over to throw up and continued to throw up once he got there. He waited for another supervisor to relieve him and then he came on home to join me. Let me tell you, we were miserable and pitiful, but at least we were in it together! Finally my doctor called back some time after 1:00 and sent me straight to the ER. I called my in-laws to see if they could take me, because by this time, Justin's sickness was over and he was finally able to fall asleep.

We got to the ER at about 2:00 and were told we would be waiting an hour and a half to two hours. GREAT!! Luckily the bathroom was near, but seriously, who wants to throw up and do their business in a single male/female stall right outside the ER?!?! After about 30 minutes I was called into triage. Immediately when I got in there, I knew that I was about to pass out. I can always tell when it's coming on and I looked at my mother-in-law and told her. The patronizing nurse was telling me that I would be fine, just let her get the blood pressure cuff on. I'm thinking, Lady I am not fine and you will understand when I'm face down on your floor!!! I told her again, I AM GOING TO PASS OUT!!! By the time she got the blood pressure cuff on, while still feeling like I'm going to faint, I felt a vomiting episode coming on. I barely got the words out and she barely got a bag for me..next thing I know I'm throwing up in triage while my mother-in-law is holding me up so I don't hit the floor when I pass out. By this time, my blood pressure had been taken and it was 79 over something..never saw that bottom number. It didn't matter, it was low enough for her to call for a stretcher immediately, and they ended up pulling another patient out of a room to get me in one.

The only good thing that came out of this horrible triage experience was that we didn't have to wait in the ER for two hours!! I would have much rather gone through that than to sit in that waiting room, running back and forth to the bathroom. Once they got me on the stretcher and into a room, they started an IV and hooked me right up to some much needed fluids. They did lots of blood work, checked for a bacterial infection and an upper UTI (which is ironically what I thought I had until Justin joined me with the sickness). They also checked the baby, and his heartbeat was normal and everything appeared to be okay. They found I had blood in my colon, which kinda freaked me out. My potassium was very low, as well as my blood pressure. Once all of those things were under control, and after a few bags of fluids, I got to go home around 8:30 that night.

It took a few days for Justin and I both to get back to normal, but finally by Friday I think we were both as close to 100% as we were gonna get. I can't even begin to tell you how awful this 24 hour period was for both of us, but he would agree that it was much worse for me. In the nine years that Justin and I have been together, I have never seen him that sick. Whatever we had, we had it bad!! We were both relieved when it was finally over for good, and definitely relieved that nothing was wrong with Austin. I will be a happy camper if I never get that sick again!!

I'm going to switch gears here for just a moment. For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while now, you all know about my friend Nikki. Amazing, optimistic Nikki, who never seems to let her particular "sickness" get her down. Here I am complaining about a 24 hour stomach bug, when she's fighting the battle of her life. I read this week on Nikki's blog about her treatment she's been getting from her new doctor in Indiana. I wish I could say that the update was good. Apparently, Nikki was pretty sick herself this week and also had to take a trip to the ER. They found that she was extremely anemic and her hemoglobin level was dangerously low. They admitted her and she had to get two bags of bloods before they released her to go home. After recovering from the ER experience, her and hubby Tom went to Indiana to see the doc, where he gave her some not so good news. Her numbers have continued to rise. This was not supposed to happen with this treatment! The numbers were supposed to be going down, down, down. How can they be going up?? So the doctor decided to stop the treatment and change to a pill form of chemo that she will take for 21 days before she is tested again. This treatment will keep her from making the frequent trips to Indiana. The doctor told her that this treatment is the last "conventional" therapy there is for her to try. If this doesn't work, she will begin seeking out any and every clinical trial there is out there. Nikki said she is focusing on the positives (as always) and has been doing lots of praying and meditation. She is now focusing on a healthier lifestyle and doing everything in her power to make this treatment work.

Isn't it amazing how strong she is?! How incredibly brave and positive she is? I don't know why this continues to amaze me - I saw it in person just a few months ago and it's not like this is someone that I didn't grow up with, someone I didn't know like the back of my hand. It just renders me speechless to talk about her journey and how she continues to stay so optimistic throughout this fight. I pray to be like her. I pray that she can continue to keep up the fight, no matter how hard it gets. Please join me in this prayer for her. I believe in the power of prayer, and so does Nikki. She can fight this and she can beat this, I know she can. Let this be a lesson for all of us - remember when your sick or having a tough day, remember Nikki and how many times she's been sick and how many tough days she's had to face. She's still fighting and so can we. It puts so much into perspective for me and she'll never know how much she has taught me. Please pray for her, it would mean the world to her. I love you Nikki and you're always in my prayers!!!

Baby Vinson Has a Name!

21 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now."

It's really hard to imagine our baby boy being as long as a carrot!! In the ultrasound pics, his legs sure did look long, but at the same time it was a little hard to see because he is all scrunched up in there!

I feel like there is so much to do all of a sudden! We have really got to get our registry finished and more importantly, we have got to shop around at day cares! I have a list of some that I want to check out - moms please feel free to leave some suggestions because we could use some help in this category!! I'm starting my new job on Monday which seems to add just a little bit more stress to everything. I'm trying not to worry though, everything will get done!

Nothing much has changed in my pregnancy - my trips to the bathroom during the night seemed to ease up, but apparently I was just having a lucky week. I'm back to 3-4 trips again. It sure does make it hard to get a good nights sleep though! My boobs still hurt like crazy. I am really shocked that hasn't eased up at all, and it has been my biggest complaint these last five months. Oh yeah - I guess I should fill you in on the name we have picked out. It wasn't a hard decision for us, as we've had our names picked out for a long time!! Baby Vinson is now Austin Daniel!!

Ultrasound pics below! The last one is a 4-D of his face...it's still a little early to see too much but if you look hard, you can see his eyes, nose and mouth!

Halfway There!!

20 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.) He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion."

Finally, Baby Vinson has an identity and a name!! We're having a BOY and his name is Austin Daniel!! Our ultrasound on Thursday was the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my life. My mom and Justin's parents joined us and we were all able to see his stomach, bladder, aorta, spine, ribs, diaphragm, brain, both arms, hands, legs and feet. Oh yeah, and his little peepee!! As soon as the ultrasound technician got in between his legs to look, it was very obvious that he was a boy!! I was just so thankful that he cooperated!! He moved around a lot, kicking and stretching in that tiny little space that is his temporary home. I couldn't believe how squashed he looked in there!! It was really cool to see him moving and stretching - now I know what he's doing when I feel him moving around in there! The technician let us see his face and arms a few times in 4D - WOW! I can't imagine how awesome the 4D will look in 12 more weeks when he is even more developed! His heartbeat was 145 beats per minute, just one beat lower than it was at 8 weeks. He was measuring at 5 months, 5 days which is exactly where I was in the pregnancy on Thursday. Looks like our due date of January 2 is accurate!!

My mom and I went to Babies R Us after the appointment to look around for a while and I registered for a few items that did not need Justin's "manly approval"! :) I'm hoping to get all of the registering done here in the next week or two so I can get it off of my mind!! We've finally picked out some bedding that wasn't too plain for me or too "sissy or girly" for Justin. We're finally getting to where we can go and look at some of the houses that we have picked out, now that Justin is no longer working out of town. Hopefully within the next few months, I'll be able to do the "nesting" thing and start setting up the nursery in our new home! You have no idea how much I am looking forward to that!

More than anything I'm excited to meet this little guy that is growing inside of me. It is so much more real when you can feel him moving, but nothing compares to seeing him and how much he has grown from the little blob he was at 8 weeks to the growing little boy he is now at 20 weeks. It's amazing to be able to see the changes that are occurring in your body! I can't wait to see his face and get to know him! I have read about the special connection a mom feels with her baby while she's pregnant, and now I finally understand what that means. It was hard to feel a connection with something when you couldn't feel it there - now that I can feel him and actually picture what he's doing when I feel him moving, it just really puts things into a new perspective for me. We're so excited to meet our little guy!

**Ultrasound pics to come!

A Week of Changes

19 Week Update from BabyCenter.com:

"Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on his skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid."

I can't believe how much has happened this week! The week started off with feeling BV move for the first time! I still can't believe how incredible the feeling is. I have felt it moving off and on this week, mostly at night - I still smile very big every time I feel it!

Then on Thursday I received a job offer that I absolutely couldn't refuse! I will be going back to Regions to work in my old position in the mortgage department. The opportunity kinda came out of nowhere - basically I got a call one day from a recruiter at Regions, and he wanted to know if I was interested in the opening. Let me preface this by saying how stressed out I've been lately about many things that pertain to my current job. Our insurance is changing and the amount I will be paying once the baby comes was completely outrageous - although Justin tells me not to worry about it, that is easier said than done for me. I have worried about it since I found out and was just really stressed out about what we were going to do. Not to mention the job in itself is pretty stressful, and things have been especially hard for me to deal with since I have a heart condition and extreme anxiety. Normally those things can be combated with medication, but not so when you're pregnant. I have been worried about what the stress has been doing to my body, and my baby, and the more I worry over that, the higher the stress level goes. So when I got this phone call, it felt like an immediate answer to prayers. The job was put in front of me without me even looking for it - another reason why I felt I could not pass this opportunity up. I didn't feel that God would put this opportunity in my lap if He didn't want me to take it. Sooo, after telling the recruiter that I was interested, he began to tell me about the changes that have taken place in the department since I left. One of those changes being the salary! I couldn't believe how much the salary had gone up since I left! Regions has got some great benefits that are hard to find in a small company like the one I've been working for this last year. Knowing these benefits and how they were going to make life so much easier for my family, there was no question in my mind what I had to do. I went through the formalities of talking to the manager, going through a background check and drug screening, and I received the formal offer on Thursday! My first day will be August 24!!!

In other news, we find out the sex on Thursday!! FINALLY! I'm so tired of calling BV an "it"!! It will finally have an identity and a name! Our parents are going with us to the ultrasound so it should be a really exciting day!