20 Weeks--We're Waiting Patiently!

Half~way There!
BY week 20, your baby-to-be is gearing up for the next phase in his development—filling out. His organs are getting into their proper places. His kidneys are now in position with their familiar bean shape. His testes have reached their position. His brain continues to form and grow. His teeth are beginning to appear, and he can swallow. If you haven't been able to feel him move, chances are you'll be feeling him move more and more over the coming weeks. (I haven't felt any butterfly tickles yet but am waiting; I may have missed what indeed could've been our son moving about but haven't realized it...this is all so new!)

A Momma's Update:
1) Still feeling awesome!
2) Challenging to find clothes that work
3) Still on a quest for the perfect "modern" bedding--feel like it will set the tone for the nursery
4) Still haven't started dewallpapering/spackling/sanding/priming/painting the nursery walls. I blame this on Shawn's busy work schedule (bless his heart). Anyone wanna help?

This is for Paula!

Paula tagged me, stating I need to post 10 random things about myself, so here goes:

I was born without an “internal compass”—must have “turn right at Wendy’s” type of directions.

When I was little, I chewed a piece of meat for about 6 hours on a road trip as I was too afraid to swallow it.

I cried when I received my first Care Bear…Barbie…Cabbage Patch kid.

Every day is a high school reunion since there were only 4 graduates, including me, and I married one of the others.

I think that spiders eat people. Does that mean I have arachnophobia?

If I had the chance (money) to go back to school, I would major in Gerontology and/or Social Work.

Pet peeves: ignorance, judgmentalism, the sound of nail clippers, car alarms

I used to dress up like Laura Ingalls Wilder. I would love to know what it was like to live in a sod house, churn butter, do the covered wagon thing.

Experienced “the peace that passes all understanding” that the Bible describes, for the first time, in May 2006.

Soft spots for: the elderly, babies, animals…chocolate

I tag: Andrea M.

Easter Greetings!

OUR Easter was superb! First off, my sister Erin and her hubbie Ryan stayed with us Friday night. We grilled chicken and Sissy made a delectable dessert (it involved crumbled Keebler SoftBatch cookies--hello? heaven on earth!). We also went on a nice walk by the river so Marley could show them his "territory."


Saturday morning we went to Sedgwick County park to walk 2-miles in the Easter SunRun, a fund raiser hosted by Youth Horizons, a local non-profit organization with programs in place to end the cycle of fatherlessness. Shawn's sis and mom walked with us, too. Then after the walk the guys watched March Madness while the gals went to dinner and a movie.

Bright-eyed before the walk

Marley's favorite place

Sunday Shawn and I celebrated Christ's resurrection at River (Community Church) then had lunch at Carlos O'Kelly's. Shawn had to rent a Toyota Hybrid for a photo shoot at work, so we took it for a spin in the afternoon before he was off to work!

My darling friend Amanda posing with me in our Easter best!

~the end~

19 Weeks, Unless Doctor Decides to Change It

YOUR baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces (our baby weighs 7),

and he 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. This is a crucial
time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating
specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch (time to break out the Mozart?).

Sonogram March 20th=best day EVER

AFTER waiting for what seemed like eons, we were thrilled to rise from our slumber early Thursday morning to go and see our sweet baby (via sonogram)! This may seem weird, but at first I was afraid there wouldn't be a baby in there, because I haven't felt any movements yet, so I was really relieved to see that there is indeed a baby living in there (wildly performing Olympic-level gymnatistics!). Everything is progressing smoothly and the baby is a healthy 7 ounces (they think perhaps I'm only 18 weeks as opposed to 19 but will leave it up to the doctor to vote whether or not she'll move out my due date--plus, doesn't baby decide anyway?) And, the best part is is that we found out we're having a BOY!!!!!! Bet we caught you by surprise, eh? I had been praying for a boy!!

I now have a mommy "brag book" in my purse, which includes all 20 sonogram photos, so if you run into me while out and about, be prepared! I can't help it, as I'm overcome, overjoyed, exceedingly grateful, in love, smitten, and wrapped around our baby's teeny tiny finger!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

THE ladies from the small group I attend came over for a St. Patty's Day party. The "rules" were that one should bring a food item with a green ingredient in it, and wear green! We snacked on the goodies and had wonderful conversation. They were delightful company. Love and blessings, girls!
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18 Weeks-Closer to the Halfway Mark!

HEAD to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs - movements you'll likely start noticing more and more (I haven't yet!!). Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound. (ours  is this week--the 20th!!)

I had time to write to the baby this week. It really helped me connect to this little person growing inside me. The emotions coursing through me are numerous and intense. Many unknowns remain at this time, but my God has given me an enormous amount of peace {and grace}. How blessed Shawn and I are to be on this journey! It's ok not to "know everything." It's ok to let this run its beautiful course. To soak it all in. To be amazed at the changes in my body. To anticipate looking into this child's face. We're in a good place.

This Seems to be All about Food

SHOPPING, eating savory food, and celebrating Andrea's birthday comprised our weekend. After several hours shopping on Saturday (eek--I'm looking for maternity clothes now!), we ate at Carrabba's (Wichita's best Italian food joint), then went back to our house to devour Andrea's Dairy Queen ice cream cake (a tradition in Shawn's family).

Sunday we drove to Winfield for brunch at the spectacular Southwestern University (Harold is the head honcho of food) Sodexho cafeteria--seriously, locals, not only students, flood the cafeteria's gates on Sundays after church for a $6.00 smorgas board of breakfasty foods. I was delighted they had provided peanut butter so I could properly douse my Belgian waffle. That evening we headed back to Wichita in time to enjoy the warmer weather via a leisurely walk with "the mutt," and watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition!

Ok, enough about food & being a couch tater--check out the pics:

Brenden didn't like one of the Jelly Bellys.

Goofballs

Maggie and Marley in Harold/Kathy's "in progress" living room

~the end~

17 Weeks

YOUR baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and he's around 5 inches long. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.

Before my hot date with Shawn

On my way to work! Finding proper attire is challenging.

Max's One-Year Birthday

OUR nephew Max's first birthday was Sunday, March 2nd. It's hard to believe he's been blessing us for an entire year! He's growing! His birthday party occurred in Lincoln, NE, at his grandpa Rich and grandma Elaine's (Megan's hubbie, Stephen's parent's house). The whole Dunning clan arrived to shower Max with love, kisses, and presents! He was such a good sport and let his big brothers assist in opening the gifts. He even got to dive into his own little "Max" birthday cake!

Mom and Dad accompanied us on the trips there/back, and we stopped in a few places on the way there--first, in Concordia, where we took pictures of a beautiful convent very close to the hospital where my late Grandpa Ray was successfully treated for TB a long time ago. And, second, in Hebron, NE, to visit the church my parents were charter members of in the 70s. On the way home, we met Ash and Drake from NYC at a gas station off I-80; they were roadtripping on the way to Boulder and we planned a quick rendezvous.

It was the most delightful of weekends and we were sad to bid all goodbye. But what a gift to be together with family and appreciate the joys/blessings children bring!

16 Weeks Already!

AT 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

So I know Cap'N Crunch Crunch Berries isn't the most nutritious of breakfast choices, but I have really been craving them! Admittedly, they help me get outta bed in the morning!

Charred Dinner

Lesson Learned: Don't put Shawn in charge of the grilled cheese & soup gourmet dinner!

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