Calling all Mommies...

Alright, so I'm not sure how many of my readers have recently had babies and/or are parents - quite frankly, I don't know WHO all is reading this blog.  I see the stat numbers each day, but I kind of am wondering if my mom and sister are looking at this blog 500 times per day - because I can't figure out who else would be reading?!  :)

Here's the deal: I went to Babies R Us with my Mom, sister, and "might-as-well-be-sister" (Jenny) to look at baby stuff.  I'm telling you, I just about had a nervous breakdown in the middle of that store.  Holy overwhelming.  That was ridiculous.  After that experience, I logged in to the website, because I figured that would feel less overwhelming.  Yep, not so much.  The insanity that is registering for baby registries is SO much more than I expected.  Wow, not ready for that.

Here's where you come in...Would you PLEASE leave me a comment with your favorite NEED to have baby item?  What's worth it and what is going to collect dust in the corner?  How many of those ridiculous blankets do I really need - because probably the 8-12 Babies R Us is telling me is a little much?  Moby Wrap or whatever that other baby backpack looking thing is?  Video monitor or just the "old school" audio monitor?  Drop-ins or bottles?  I mean, I could list questions from now until this baby is born (and I'm not ruling that out at this point!)

On another note, I was recently informed that commenting on this blog might as well of been like breaking into Fort Knox - I'm sorry about that!!  I didn't realize there were 4,378 steps in order to leave me a comment!  I think I fixed that now, so there should be no reason to not leave me comments!  :)  {lets just keep our fingers crossed that we don't get spam comments now...}

You guys are amazing - thank you SO much for your help!

9 Weeks

You all know the drill, I'm writing in real time - but not publishing until we have a little more information and are sure everything is ok with the baby. I'm apologizing in advance to all of you who have asked and I have boldly lied to your face. I hope you forgive me! :)

Here is the 9 week belly pic - September 18, 2013

When she texted me this picture, I almost started crying.  For some reason, her looking down at that belly just gets me all choked up.  The simple fact that OUR baby is in there is enough to start that emotion - but beyond that, the thankfulness I have for this woman is more than I have words for.  I am so beyond thankful that she loves this baby when I can't for the next 7 months.  It is just so overwhelming to me.

Anyway, here is the side-by-side from last week:

Bigger, yeah?  I think so.  And certainly still bigger than I feel like it should be at 9 weeks - but hey, I'm not complaining!  The fact that it's visible makes it way more real to me from this far away.

The baby is the size of a grape this week:

It weighs a fraction of an ounce and is almost 1 inch long.  {how crazy is that?!} It's eyes are fully formed, but will be fused shut for many more weeks.  It's heart is finishing dividing into the 4 chambers, it's little teeth are starting to form, and it's tail is (finally) completely gone.  Seriously, can we just talk about how disgusting that looks in pictures?!  It doesn't even look human!  This week is the first week I don't get a little sick looking at it...is that bad?

This is the last BUMPdate that won't be in "real" time - on Wednesday of this week, she will be 10 weeks, so I will be able to blog it in real time.  Probably planning to have BUMPdates on Thursday's because I don't usually get a picture until Wednesday night.

We are so overwhelmed with the love and support we've been given since announcing this little blessing - THANK YOU!!

Lots of Love,

8 Weeks

You all know the drill, I'm writing in real time - but not publishing until we have a little more information and are sure everything is ok with the baby. I'm apologizing in advance to all of you who have asked and I have boldly lied to your face. I hope you forgive me! :)

Here is the 8 week belly pic - September 11, 2013

And the comparison from last week:

The baby is the size of a kidney bean

Also this week, we traveled to St. Louis to hear the heartbeat.  {9/9/13}  I didn't think this appointment could get here soon enough!  When we finally got into the appointment, he put the ultrasound machine on her belly and immediately saw this:

"One perfect, healthy baby" He says.  Julie's immediate response?  "ONE?!  Move that thing around in there?!  ONLY ONE?!"  So, the Doctor continues to search and yes, there is one perfect, and healthy baby in there.  It's little arm and leg buds were wiggling around all over the place.  And PRAISE GOD, it's little heart was fluttering quickly.  It's heart rate was 168.  Everyone says that's a girl rate.  Whatever that means.  :)

All we care about is that it's healthy and everything looks perfect.

Thanks for the prayers!  :)

7 Weeks

You all know the drill, I'm writing in real time - but not publishing until we have a little more information and are sure everything is ok with the baby. I'm apologizing in advance to all of you who have asked and I have boldly lied to your face. I hope you forgive me! :)

Here is the 7 week belly pic - September 4, 2013

Again this week, I looked at her belly and didn't think there was much growth.  Don't get me wrong, it still looks WAY bigger than I feel like it should be at 7 weeks, but it didn't seem bigger than last week. Even when I put the side-by-side, I didn't see a huge change.  When I sent it to my sister she thought it looked "fuller" - I guess I can go with that.

The baby is the size of a blueberry this week :)

As I'm writing this, it's September 8th and tomorrow we get to go to St. Louis to see the baby or babies heartbeats.  I just cannot contain myself.  It has been SO difficult to not tell people where we're going and even more difficult to not know if we're having one baby or multiple babies.  We are over the moon to be given the opportunity to be parents in the first place, we prayed for one baby - we are BLESSED to be expecting one baby.  But the thought of TWO babies - that just makes my heart beat faster.  Both excited and nervous beating to be honest.  The thought of more than two babies terrifies me - so we're not going to talk about that anymore right now.  :)

Among the things I'm most excited for after tomorrow's (September 9) appointment would be calling family who doesn't already know and FINALLY being able to press "Publish" on all of these posts I've been hoarding for weeks so I can keep all of you updated.  In addition, I'm excited to finally be able to stop lying to people's faces when they ask me for updates.  I thought that part would get easier, but it hasn't.

Thanks for all of your prayers, friends!

6 Weeks

You all know the drill, I'm writing in real time - but not publishing until we have a little more information and are sure everything is ok with the baby. I'm apologizing in advance to all of you who have asked and I have boldly lied to your face. I hope you forgive me! :)

Here is the 6 week belly pic - August 28, 2013

I didn't feel like there was a very big difference when I first looked, but upon creating the side-by-side, I think it grew!

We both cracked up at this side-by-side because she's wearing almost the same thing.  Poor Kanga!  She's also not feeling very well.  Like, not feeling well at all.  Nauseous all the time, sleepy - just icky.  The good news is that means rising hormones - the bad news is that between being a mommy, a wife and a teacher - she doesn't really have much energy.

The baby is the size of a lentil:

Also this week, on Labor Day weekend, Julie sent me this picture randomly:

The text said: "Babys K at the mall" - I just LOVE the fact that she thinks of sending me pictures like this.  Seeing that belly grow makes it seem a little more real to me. {August 31}

Only a couple of weeks until we get to see a heartbeat!

5 Weeks

You all know the drill, I'm writing in real time - but not publishing until we have a little more information and are sure everything is ok with the baby. I'm apologizing in advance to all of you who have asked and I have boldly lied to your face. I hope you forgive me! :)

Here is the 5 week belly pic - August 21, 2013

If you're thinking to yourself, wow - that looks like it's grown a lot...lemme just tell you, you're not alone.  I about had a heart attack when I saw that.  In fact, I texted her back and said "What in the world is going on in there?!?!"  Thankfully she's perfectly confident in herself because perhaps that might've been offensive to some - but she knows I love her!  :)

Here's a comparison between last week and this week:

Keep growing baby!  :)

It's the size of a sesame seed this week -

Keep Praying, Friends!

4 Weeks :)

You all know the drill, I'm writing in real time - but not publishing until we have a little more information and are sure everything is ok with the baby. I'm apologizing in advance to all of you who have asked and I have boldly lied to your face. I hope you forgive me! :)

Back today with yet another "pregnant person" thing I had mourned that I would never get to participate in.  God's sense of humor never fails to amaze me.  :)

Here is the 4 week belly pic - August 14, 2013

Could she be any more adorable?  Nope, prolly not.  Bless her heart, when she texted me this picture, she said two things: 1. don't be alarmed by the size of my belly already and 2. I won't be offended if you cut my head off when you post this to your blog.  Haha!  Nope, not posting headless pregnant women on the blog - your adorable face is gonna be on this blog every single week - and all my readers are going to love it!  :)

The baby is the size of a poppy seed.

Now that is unbelievable.  A poppy seed.  How does that grow into a baby?  It's a miracle for sure.

Happy Day!