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!