26 Week Update

The weeks are literally flying by! We are now at 26 weeks, and I just can't believe it. Pretty soon we will be in the third trimester, wow!

I am currently battling a cold, which just sucks...what I wouldn't do for just one DayQuil! So, I've been trying to get as much rest as possible (ha!) and drinking lots of water. I am going to get a flu shot at my next doctor's appointment on the 2nd of November, so hopefully that will prevent me from getting anything worse.

The baby has been a little more active, and is starting to get some good kicks in. He is the most active around 9:45-Noon. Yesterday he found my ribs, uh oh! Long days are starting to wipe me out more than they were a couple weeks ago. The doctor and various e-mails that I have been getting (pregnancy sites, etc.) have mentioned that I should start getting our birth plan finalized, so I suppose I should start on that! :) All I know right now is that I am not interested in an epidural (at the moment) and I do not want an IV stuck in my arm the entire time (anyone else sense a needle phobia theme?). I wonder if this qualifies as a birth plan?

In other news, Ryan and I went to Julian, California on Sunday to check out their version of Oktoberfest. It is a small town, about an hour and a half south east of Fallbrook. Jordan Frederick (a girl from Odessa going to school in SD) came with us along with one of her friends. It was a BEAUTIFUL day and well worth the curvy mountainous drive out there. It is a cute little town, and was PACKED with people. We had lunch at the Miner's Diner and then got some delicious, famous apple pie. We walked around some of the local shops and then called it a day and came home. It was a nice way to end the weekend.

Ryan and I in Julian, CA

Within the next couple days, Ryan and I will be finalizing our travel plans for Thanksgiving. The plan, as of now, is that we will get into Spokane on Thursday, November 24 (Thanksgiving Day) probably sometime in the later afternoon/evening. I plan on having a Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house in Odessa on Friday and then the Baby Shower will be on Saturday! Invitations for the baby shower will be going out soon, and everyone is more than welcome to join us for both that, and our Thanksgiving dinner on Friday (just let me know so we have enough food)! I might stay until Monday or Tuesday, but Ryan has to leave sometime on Sunday. We are both feeling a little homesick and cannot wait to come home for a couple days. Maybe the cold weather will chock us back into appreciating living in San Diego County a little more :)

Letter to Gavin

Dear Baby,

I can't believe that you are going to be here in two and a half months (give or take some time). I am both so anxious and so scared out of my freaking mind to meet you! Everyone talks about how scary and hard the labor of birth is, but in my opinion, I think that will be the easy part, it's the next 18+ years I am worried about! Don't get me wrong, I know the labor will be really painful and don't be surprised if my first words to you are, "I love you, but you are so grounded for that..."

Right now, I am 25 weeks along and this pregnancy has been, well, an experience! I am really sorry if you can hear and understand the names I call you under my breath sometimes when I am trying to sleep and you are making it 100% difficult. Just so you know, I have given up sleeping on my stomach for you - you're welcome. Other than that, you have been a good baby throughout the pregnancy so far! I have only puked once on your behalf (thank you!) and for the most part, have felt pretty good! I like to feel you move around, I especially love to hear your heart beat when we go in for our dr. check-ups! The doctor always comments on how strong and loud your heart beat is.

Slowly but surely we have started to collect and buy things for you; you're not even born yet and you are taking up a good chunk of our closet (like father like son)! Actually, you are! Your ultrasound picture looks exactly like Ryan, from the forehead to the nose. You will recognize him when you are born, especially when he laughs, because we do a lot of laughing around here. Your dad is excited to meet you, too! He is going to be the best dad in the world, and will probably embarrass you by making faces at you in public to try to get you to smile or giggle.

I can't wait to see what you look like and who you look like as well as which features from which family you resemble. I am so curious to see what your personality is going to be like. I hope you get your temperament from someone other than your dad or I! Just a heads up, to fit into our family, you better have a sense of humor. If not, you're in for a long haul between your dad and I and your grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Your dad and I can't wait for you to start giggling and doing the cute things that babies do. Basically, you are going to think it is normal to have a camera in your face, 24/7. I can't wait to take you to the beach for the first time, and on fun little adventures. You might grow up thinking that it is normal to dress in a costume everyday...but know that it is not, it is just your mommy thinking it is ridiculously cute.You also might grow up thinking that it is the 1990s, because your dad and I love basically everything about the 90s, especially the music - don't worry, you'll learn to love it too!

There are so many things I want to share with you and show you, and I just can't wait for you to be here! Most of all, my number one wish and hope for you is for you to be healthy and happy - no matter what that may be. I love you so much already, and I will see you in a very short couple of months!

Love,

Mom.

Update & a Special Surprise !

We had our 24 week appointment on Wednesday. (It was supposed to be Tuesday, but don't even get me started on that one!) It went really well, and because of the time mix-up, Ryan wasn't able to go with me :( It was a very fast appointment, and baby is still doing great! His heart beat was 150, and the doctor commented on how loud it was! 

Now that we have finally decided on a doctor (we've gone through a couple) here is the link to her webpage so you can see what she looks like and her little bio: http://www.vistawayobgyn.com/id10.html. All of the doctors and nurse practitioners have been really nice, but Dr. Grauer has been my favorite.

And now for the super surprise....Ryan and I have finally decided on a name!!

Gavin Scrupps

*Please note the middle name isn't 100% but it will be either Timothy-Jay or Jay-Timothy.

24 Weeks and Travel/Fun Updates

We are already at 24 weeks, and I just can't believe it. There are roughly 16 months left, and to be honest, I am getting super nervous. I am really excited to meet our little guy, but at the same time I don't know what to do with an infant! I am going to be somebody's mother?! Now that thought alone is enough to scare anyone. I am not the type of person that likes to not know what I am doing, so this whole parenting thing is going to be...interesting... :) We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow for our 24 week check-up and this time, I am going to be prepared with my list of questions. Usually I go and I am so overwhelmed I don't even know where to start, but not tomorrow! I'll post another update to let everyone know how it goes.

 

It has been a VERY, VERY busy two weeks! I am so excited for everything to settle and slow down a bit. I just got back from Montana last night, around midnight. I went up to Havre, MT to go to a very good friend's wedding. 

Sadie asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding and I was so honored! We grew up together, and some of my earliest memories include her and her family. She was one of my first friends when we moved to the hi-line, and even though we have been living a long way from each other, whenever we get together, we are giggly little girls as though no time has passed at all. Her and her now husband, have two little boys, Hunter and James (Jimmy) who are roughly 3 yrs and 1 yrs of age. When Ryan and I move back to Odessa, I think it will be fun to visit them as often as possible so our kids can be good friends, too! Sadie was one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen, I am convinced she could be in a bridal magazine :)

My Aunts, Shannon, Sandy and Janet as well as Janet's mom Carol all got Ryan and I some baby gifts! I will add pictures later, but they found the cutest clothes! I was getting a kick out of the little University of Montana Griz overalls, they are TOO cute! (Pictures to come!).

I didn't too many photos of the weekend, but here are a couple of the wedding and my travels too and from:

 Mmm, Ugly burgers!

 They don't call it Big Sky Country for nothing! This was taken above Great Falls, MT

Also, from last week, I don't think I mentioned in my last post that my best friend from Odessa, Sara, and her boyfriend came up to visit. They had tickets to watch WSU play against San Diego State and it worked out that I could spend time with them as well! Well, a few months ago, Adam shared that he was going to propose to Sara while they were down here! He proposed last Friday and I am SO happy for them! I can't wait for their wedding next July! 2012 is going to be an epic year, that is for sure!!! 

Speaking of weddings...Ryan and I are still waiting to set a date for ours until we find out his deployment status. Things are very up in the air right now and keep changing every 30 seconds. Hopefully we will find out soon and can choose a date!

23 Weeks

23 Weeks

Wow! I can't believe that we only have about 17 weeks until we meet our baby boy...let the nerves set in! I have been feeling a lot more movement the last couple weeks, and he has gotten a couple good kicks in that always startle me.

We have tentative plans to have a baby shower in Odessa the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which would be November 26th. As soon as things finalize, I will let everyone know! Ryan and I have it narrowed down to two or three names, and I believe that once we have it decided we will let everyone know :)

Well, here are some unrelated new things that have been going on the past couple weeks:

 AHHH! Miss Kitty makes me laugh.

 A couple weeks ago, Ryan and I went and visited the San Luis Rey Mission, it was really cool!

 Of course, we had to get our PSL!

 His and Her's PSL :)

 Another picture of The Mission

 In the Sanctuary at The Mission

 This is a photo from The Hoedown we had at work the other day. One of the programs we do is Therapy Riding. This is a demonstration of that, the rider has Down Syndrome and he had people who walk along side him while he rides. While he rides, he practices using his body to sit up straight, keep his balance as well as coordination. It's pretty cool!

 Our baby's first combine :) My parents sent this to us last week!

My Aunt June & Uncle Ron sent Ryan and I this photo frame. It is gorgeous!!! It is personalized and says Ryan and Kelsey's Fairy Tale. I love it :)