I'M A GIRL!

Profile ^

Skeletor? Scary ^

The Dr. said there were no 'twig & berries'.  And there was a clear sighting of 'hamburger buns' (see arrow above).  Thus we knew it was to be a girl.  ^

Feet ^

Fifth Month

Pregnancy is so rough ^

Candice: Things have definitely been easing up this month. I feel much better, although a little bit queasy until I eat breakfast. I'm not as tired and my appetite has improved. I felt the baby move at 17 1/2 weeks. For a couple days, I felt something that felt like a pancake flipping in my belly. But, the next week and a half I didn't feel much. My belly is getting bigger by the week. I'm fully in maternity clothes, and I don't feel so awkward wearing them anymore ( I felt like a pregnant women wannabe wearing them several weeks earlier). I'm noticing that I'm having more difficulty with things that I took for granted before- like bending over to tie my shoes. I don't know what I'm going to do in months 7, 8, and 9. I think Jason will have to tie my shoes for me! I'm trying to keep up with my running, but I only get a block or so before I have to pee really bad. I'm starting to train myself to hold it, but I can only go out for about 35 minutes or so before I feel like I'm going to bust! My doctor says this will only get worse, and usually by about week 28 most women will stop running due to their bladder issues. 

Jason: I'm getting lots o' sleep (see picture above).  Candice has really made some spectacular meals lately.  She's on a real string of first class dishes.  One after another.  They keep moving to my top 10 list.  Move over grandma you've got a little bit of competition.  But every time one gets on the top 10 list, another has to come off.  This pregnant thing seems to make her want to spend more time in the kitchen and eating different foods.  Works for me.  She hasn't been too emotional lately - good.  She keeps wanting me to tell her how great she looks and how she has ONLY put on weight in her belly.  Yep!  Sure thing!  But the other day I made her really mad when just as she was about to go through a doorway, I stopped her suddenly, turned her sideways and guided her through the door.  Hah.

Baby: My reflexes such as sucking and blinking are developing. My eyes are moving from the sides to the front of my head, and hair is starting to form on my scalp. I now have eyebrows and eyelids. My skeleton has started to harden from cartilage to bone. Pads are forming under my fingers and toes. My hearing is also improving and I can now hear my mommy and daddy. 

In The Beginning......

On October 31st, 2008, Jason and I were blessed with the news that we were pregnant. We had been trying for many months.  The Doctors had said Candice's insides were a rocky place where my seed could find no purchase.  Jason started interviewing close friends, possibly thinking he may need a pinch runner / switch hitter to step in and help things out.  But fortunately none of that was needed and you could imagine our elation when our test turned up positive that morning. At the request of my doctor, I went to the lab that morning so that they could obtain blood work that would confirm my pregnancy. It was torture waiting until that afternoon for the phone call from my doctor telling me that my lab work came back, and that I was indeed pregnant. 

Although we immediately told family and a few friends our news, it was incredibly difficult not being able to share our news with everyone in the world right away. We slowly started telling more and more people, and by my 10th week of pregnancy, we decided to make it official and announce our news to the world.

The first trimester was difficult on both Jason and I. My morning sickness turned into 24-hour sickness, and it took everything in me just to drag myself to work each day. Jason was wonderful though, and really stepped up to the plate. He would have dinner ready and waiting for me when I got home for the day, he did dishes, and a majority of the housework. To the relief of Jason and I, around week 10 my all-day sickness started to improve. I started being able to keep up with housework again, and even got back into my running (of course at a way lower intensity) and working out at the gym. 

We had our first ultrasound on November 18th, 2008. I was 7 1/2 weeks pregnant at that point. At this visit, We were able to see our babies heartbeat. It was so crazy seeing this little blob on the screen with a rapidly beating heart. On December 11th, 2008, we had our next ultrasound. I was 10 1/2 weeks pregnant. This ultrasound was even more amazing. The baby had taken on human shape since the ultrasound 3 weeks prior. There were legs, arms, and a head. The little bugger was squirming around like crazy. This time, I was able to hear the baby's heartbeat which almost brought tears to my eyes. 

Jason's Comments:  I was getting ready for work one morning when C came upstairs and she was crying.  But she immediately told me she took her test and it showed a 'blue' positive.  WOW!  That morning she went to confirm through an actual blood test with her Dr.  The first several weeks were mainly C complaining about being pregnant, sick....  No, she was actually really sick several times and always queazy.  There have been only two episodes of emotional breakdown.  One was when she started crying and laughing at the same time and didn't even know why she was crying.  It was hilarious to see.  You had to have been there.  The second emotional breakdown was when I was helping her cook one night and I messed up the dish two times on my measurements.  Well, she started crying uncontrollably again.  Oh well.  Other than this, the first several weeks have been spent with lots of prayer and thanksgiving to God for his amazing blessings.