Felt a Kick!

As if this past weekend wasn't exciting enough, our baby boy gave us one more fun thing to experience! I have been feeling him off and on for the last couple weeks, but I've been hesitant to say so because it is so faint. I guess because I could associate seeing him move on the ultrasound with what I was feeling, I have been feeling him so much more since Friday. It's the coolest thing!

The best part though was that Saturday night, I was lying in bed waiting on Murray to finish up something in the office, and I felt him kick me... with my hand! He moved hard enough that I could feel him with more than just my stomach! I couldn't believe it! I of course immediately called Murray to come quick... completely freaking him out. Haha. Once he got ready for bed and laid down, I had him rest his hand on my stomach. I had to lie really still, and Murray had to be really patient, but Murray felt him moving too!

We can't wait till he is much easier to feel, but this is a memory that won't soon be forgotten! Everyday this baby brings something else unbelievable to our lives. My wish is that everyone could experience something so incredible. We couldn't be more in love already! What a blessing!

Introducing our sweet baby!

Before the ultrasound... I was really excited. I also realize my thumb might be double-jointed. Haha.

Inside the our ultrasound room. It was really nice there. Here is the big screen that we got to see our baby boy on. He is definitely cute enough to be on TV!

Here is the sweetest picture ever! Look at that sweet button nose and precious lips. He is gonna be too cute!

Here is one of the pictures taken while he was flipped upside down. He was moving all over the place during the ultrasound. They had trouble getting some of the measurements they needed because he was so active. On the right is a picture of his face close up. It's kinda hard to tell what is going on in the picture, but the mouth is open and the nose is slightly up to the right. His eye socket is the darker spot to the right, and his forehead is in the shadow so you can't see it.

Another difficult picture... this one is looking at his face straight on. It's in the top middle of the picture & pretty much looks like a skeleton because of how the bones show up. The cute part is how he has his left arm coming up, and he was actually sucking his thumb. His hands were up by his face almost the whole time.

On the left is picture of the umbilical cord. Good news... it has 3 blood vessels just like it's supposed to! Just thought it was cool to see. On the right is a picture of his arm and hand. He had it in a fist here. I think he was telling us to leave him alone. All guys get tired of the camera after a while!

Here is a cute shot of his little bottom. You can also see one whole leg with the other heel sticking up behind it. Most of the time he actually had his ankles crossed over each other. Just relaxin'!

Here is the gender-defining shot! No mistaking he is a little boy with this picture. We may have to work on the modesty because Murray and I saw his private parts multiple times- even when the ultrasound tech wasn't looking specifically for them! On the right is a sweet picture of his 5 little toes. Murray was glad to see them! =)

Here I am afterwards back at home. We had to make a pitstop at the Disney store we passed walking back to the parking garage. Haha. Every little boy needs something with Mickey Mouse! This can also count as my 19 week belly picture. Just 3 days late.

And last but not least... the VERY proud Daddy! This is his "YES!" face. =)

It's a...

BOY!!!

We couldn't be more excited! We had a great doctor's appointment and got to watch the ultrasound for an hour! Our little man was squirming all over the place. He will definitely have to get more used to having his picture taken because there will be tons of that in the future!

We got to watch him roll over, kick his feet, put his hands over his face, open his mouth, and even suck his thumb! Even better, we got to see his heart pumping away just like it is supposed to. His brain, kidneys, and all other body parts were "perfect" too!

Even before we were told it was a boy, it was quite obvious! Murray is pretty proud of that fact if I do say so myself. You should see him... on cloud nine! He is going to be such a great daddy! And I have already bought 2 little outfits from the Disney store today. I just couldn't resist!

We wanted a fun way to tell everyone even though we aren't there to do it in person. So... we sent these flowers to my mom and Murray's mom that said "I'm a BOY! Love- Your New Grandson." They both sounded super excited when they called!

We have tons of pictures so I will be posting those in a little while. Thanks so much for all the prayers that our little one would be growing and developing just like he was supposed to. God is good, and Murray & I couldn't be more blessed.

Non-Gender Baby Update =)

Since we are all waiting on pins and needles to find out whether this baby is a boy or girl on Friday, I thought I would give everyone a little something to take up some of the time between now and then. I haven't really posted about what all is happening inside my growing belly for the last few weeks, and baby has really been changing!

16 wks- 3 oz. & 4-5 in. Heart is already pumping 25 quarts of blood a day, & the eyes are in their permanent position.

17 wks- 5 oz. & 5 in. Practicing sucking & swallowing for after birth, & fingernails & toenails are starting to grow this week!

18 wks- 5-7 oz. & 5 1/2 in. Our baby can hear us now because the ears are fully developed! Still working on sense of smell, taste, sight. The nervous system is also becoming more developed.

19 wks- 8.5 oz. (half a pound!) & 6 in. Adding on that important layer of brown fat to keep warm after delivery. Kidneys are fully functioning & producing urine!

20 wks (not quite yet, but still)- 10.5 oz. & 6.5 in. Baby is going to start focusing on gaining weight so belly pictures over the next few weeks should start getting really interesting! Sleep patterns are pretty much developed at this point. Let's hope the baby doesn't take to my "staying up all night" work schedule!

Stay tuned for the next post. Hopefully it will be exciting & full of good news!

Valentine's Day

Fair warning... this is a post intended only to brag about what a sweet husband I have. I worked the night before Valentine's Day, and he had to be in early that morning so we totally missed each other coming and going. We did get to spend some time together Sat. night once he got home from being on call at the hospital, but he didn't want me to come home to nothing so...

here's what he left on the kitchen table for me!!!


Isn't he so sweet!

Murray's Birthday Celebration!

Murray and I have had a lot going on the last few days! His birthday was yesterday, but with our work schedules we didn't really have the chance to go home to celebrate with family. Luckily, his sweet parents made the trip up here this past weekend to make his birthday extra special! We had the best time hanging out with them- although I'm pretty sure Murray & Mr. Walter saw enough of the mall for the next couple months! Haha. We really did spend a lot of time shopping- for maternity clothes and to get ideas for baby clothes. I know at least Mrs. Jennifer & I had a great time! We also were treated to some really nice meals which was great! Definitely didn't help the pregnancy weight gain, but that's what birthdays are for- right? We couldn't have asked for a nicer visit or thank the Butlers enough! You guys are the best! Here are a couple pictures from this weekend.

Yesterday, Murray & I did some celebrating on our own for his birthday. First, the weather here was AWESOME! Sunny & 60 degrees- in February! God gave him a much better birthday present than I did! My sweet husband couldn't think of anything he wanted for his birthday so he ended up with a really exciting present from me... a new travel coffee mug and a fogless mirror (with a clock) to shave in the shower (our old one fell off the wall and broke). Honestly though, he was really pumped about the present. Haha. To redeem myself for lack of a better present, we did spend the evening doing stuff centered around him. Luckily he got off of work a little early (guess they knew it was his birthday) so we went to the gym to workout. He really did want to do this- I promise. After coming home and getting ready, we went to eat at Merle's BBQ- one of his favorite restaurants in town that I'm rarely (pretty much never) in the mood for- and then went to see the movie of his choice- Taken. It was a really good, intense action movie. After the movie was over, we headed to Chili's for his birthday cake!

Here are a couple more pictures from his birthday night...

I think that Duke was a little worried about his parents in the picture to the right. Doesn't he participate in family pictures well though? =)

I am so thankful for the wonderful man I was blessed to marry. He makes everyday things so fun and always takes such good care of our family. He couldn't be a better husband, friend, Christian leader, or soon to be daddy! This new year of his life is going to be full of exciting changes, and I am so glad to get to experience them all by his side. Happy Birthday Murray! I love you!

Old Wives' Tale

Murray and I are getting really excited about our ultrasound date on Feb. 20th, but it is still so hard to wait! We want to know right now whether it is a boy or girl. I posted a while back that we were both feeling like it will be a boy, and I don't guess that feeling has really changed too much. However... Fox news had an article on pregnancy myths- one of which could predict your baby's gender- so of course I made Murray try it with me.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,338029,00.html
2. Pendant Test- Hold a necklace with a heavy charm over a pregnant belly — legend says if the pendant moves in a circular direction, it's a girl. If it swings back and forth, it's a boy! (Did it swing circular AND back and forth? Be careful — it may just be twins!)

Now remember, Murray is supposed to have the really steady hands of a surgeon so there shouldn't have been any extraneous variables there, and I didn't tell him whether the circle or line meant boy or girl so he couldn't make a biased movement. The result... a definite circle! So we may feel like it is a boy, but, if these old wives are correct, we just may be getting a girl. Guess we will still have to wait and see what the ultrasound shows, but it was fun to try!