Lucky 13

Random Updates:

• We had an appointment and ultrasound yesterday. The baby is looking perfect. It seemed to enjoy headstands and kicking its little legs straight up in the air. We got the best "frog legs" picture. Sadly, the leg shot was awesome but it's still a little too early to determine the sex. It did the cutest thing ever and laid its hand across its forehead. {We've got a dramatic one already!}

• I agreed to participate in a research study. I guess that's what you get when you decide to deliver at a research hospital. I have sort of mixed emotions about it, but we get extra pictures of our baby throughout the pregnancy and we also get compensated for our time with about $250 in gift cards, which is more than my insurance co-pays.

• I found a bargain in maternity clothes. Babies R Us will no longer have a maternity clothes section so EVERYTHING was marked down to $5. SCORE! I'm still wearing regular clothes, but some of my jeans are getting a little snug so I've started using a rubber band to help me "button" them. 

•  I'm loving summertime. Well, not so much the allergies (which is weird because I don't usually have allergy problems), but I LOVE being able to relax and not worry about studying. I was going to take classes in July but decided I'd rather enjoy this summer and get the house ready for baby. 

• And one thing that I LOVE about this summer is that we're going on our BABYMOON! I had no idea when I booked this surprise trip that it would turn into a "babymoon" but we'll take it! I've let some secrets slip because I want to make sure everything on the trip will be "pregnancy friendly" (aka- good water, food, transportation, etc). We get to celebrate: Med school being finished for the year, Tony's birthday, Father's Day, and our 8th Anniversary! 

• I made it to the second trimester with no morning sickness and then late last night, it got me. Pretty sure it was just a bad combination of a long day, lack of food, being tired, and taking vitamins before bed. Oh well, I still feel like I can't complain. 

pretty sweet note left for me (and the little one)

12 Weeks

How far along?   

12 weeks

Baby's Size?

The size of a plum!  

Boy or Girl?

We don't know yet. Mommy has a hunch that it's a girl, but will be happy with either. Daddy says he'll be really happy with either.

Fun Facts About Baby?

The baby is beginning to demonstrate reflexes like grasping, sucking and even hiccups, even though Mommy can't feel them yet. Most of the critical systems are fully formed. The baby is about to enter the growth and maturation stage, in which the organs and tissues will grow and develop rapidly. The brain is developing fast.

How is Mommy Doing?

• Symptoms?   Feeling so good that sometimes it's hard to believe I'm pregnant. Never had morning sickness. (YAY!!) Occasional dizziness or shakiness if I go too long without eating (especially in the mornings). Tired but I've been able to get lots of rest. Naps are amazing!

• Mood?  ENJOYING summer! Less stress means a happier and more relaxed Mommy!

• Cravings?  None really. Every once in a while I really want a sno-cone, but WHO doesn't want sno-cones this time of year?!? More foods are starting to sound appealing again, which is good.

• Dreams? Latest crazy dream: I was in a hospital room in labor, but we couldn't find a doctor anywhere. I couldn't hold it any longer, gave one easy, pain-free push (total dream!) and Tony caught the baby while my parents and brother watched (mildly creepy). Then we were all trying to figure out where/how to clamp and cut the umbilical cord. He put the baby on my chest and told me it was a girl, 9lbs 9oz and that it was 2-something in the afternoon. [we'll just have to see if this is any weird foreshadowing.]

• Body Differences? A little pooch after I eat. My belly is starting to feel harder with a little bulge under my belly button. I just feel like I'm entering into that "pudgy or pregnant?" stage. 

How is Daddy Doing?  So good and so excited it's crazy. He's finishing up the school year and can't wait to have a break to relax with me and start getting the house ready for baby! 

How's the Nursery?  We were SUPER blessed with gifts from the Ellen show. We now have most of the big baby "stuff" but nothing is set up yet.

We're Looking Forward To:  Another appointment next week! And SUMMER break!  

An Exciting Week: The Reveal, Ellen, and Mother's Day

Last week was quite the exciting week!

I was so blessed to get a ticket for the Ellen Mother's Day Show. It aired on Friday 5/9/14.
So, we decided to reveal the news before I went to the show. We felt so loved by all the congratulations and well wishes!

[In an ideal situation, we would have probably waited until further into the second trimester to publicly share the news, but come on, it's the Ellen Show and it's a once in a lifetime opportunity! Also, the doctor made us feel more confident about how everything was going. And.... pregnancy is just a hard secret to keep sometimes! So, the news was out just after the 10 week mark.]


Then I was on my way to LA!

It was the most exciting hour in the world! The Ellen studio has to be the most happy place on earth. The show was awesome. Mila Kunis was great, Keith Urban was awesome, and the gifts were just unbelievable! I'm still in awe! I CANNOT wait to use all these awesome things!! I feel so grateful and blessed.

Here's a quick list of all the goodies the audience received:
Bonavita Peyton Lifestyle Crib
Quinny Buzz Xtra Stroller
Mima Moon Highchair
4moms rockaRoo swing
Sleep Number Bed
6 months supply of Huggies
$200 Babies R Us gc
$200 Lowes gc
$250 Carousel Designs gc
$300 DSW Shoes gc
1 year supply Beech-Nut baby food
Summer video monitor
Maya Brenner necklace
$300 Chasing Fireflies gc

Fortune Cookie Sushi Booties

Keith Urban's 'Fuse' cd

This trip would have never been possible without the help of my mom! I'm so glad she was there to help me with everything, plus, it just made the whole experience so much more fun. After the show, we loaded up the boxes in a rental van, found a FedEx and headed to the airport. We took a red eye home, landed in OKC at 9am and my mom drove me straight to my last final that started at 10:30am. Whew, it was so tiring and stressful! BUT, totally worth it!  Side notes: The pickles they gave out were awesome. The line to the bathroom was really long. Watching pregnant women dance is hilarious!

This weekend is Mother's Day. We've had a great time visiting with Tony's family. We also had our first visit to Babies R Us as a family of 3, just to browse all the cute and fun baby stuff.

My Mother's Day present was two pretty rose bushes. They're PINK roses, maybe that's a sign?!  It feels a little surreal that it's my "first" Mother's Day. To be honest, I've just been cuddled up on the couch watching chick flicks on Netflix. I'm sure this will be the first and last celebration like that! It's been nice to have a lazy and relaxing day. I think I might choose a steak and potato for dinner tonight. Tomorrow I will be in Tulsa to see my mom.... and spend a week just hanging out!

The older I get the deeper my appreciation becomes for how amazing my mom truly is. I have always wished that I could grow up and be a mom just like her. Even if I could just be half the mom she is, I'd be happy. I pray that someday my child looks up to me and loves me the way I love my mom. There are just no adequate words for what an amazing woman and friend she is to me-- she has always believed in my dreams, inspired me, loved me, and supported me. Every day I'm so very thankful that God gave her to me.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms in this world! I'm excited to be joining the club!