It's a.......

BABY!!!  We had our mid-pregnancy ultrasound today.  And yes, to the disappointment of some of you, we held strong and didn't find out what we are having; other than what appears to be a very happy healthy baby.  For us that is enough, we are just so excited to be in this spot in the first place all that matters is our babies health. 

I am pretty amazed at how much our little nugget has grown in the last 5 weeks.  To go from a mere 4 ounces all the way to 12 (aka a soda can) in that short amount of time is just astonishing to me.   Which I am sure means that I am in for some pretty big shocks over the next few months as this baby continues to grow like a little weed.  Especially since though I am just 19 weeks baby was measuring at over 20 weeks.  I guess I can thank my Mom and my good ol' Scandinavian heritage for that one.  I always knew that if I ever got lucky enough to have a baby of my own that I was destined for a large baby.  That's what happens when you were 10lbs 10oz and your great grandmother had a 14lb child.  My family doesn't have babies...we have toddlers.  ;-)

I have determined, there are truly no words to describe the feeling that you have seeing that little life growing inside of you.  It's one of those things that you know conceptually what is happening, but then to see that little person moving and growing inside of YOU is a whole other experience.  I really never knew how much I would grow to love going to the Dr. and staring at a TV or monitor for 45 minutes.  But man, my life literally has begun to revolve around these glimpses and appointments.  And wow, every time you see that baby the love that you feel just grows exponentially.  I am already overwhelmed with feelings of love for our child so I can't even imagine how much that feeling is going to intensify when I meet him/her for the very first time and hear that first cry.  I know all of you that are already Mom's are probably nodding and smiling thinking "oh she has no idea" as you read this.  I am sure I really don't...I just know I can't wait to experience it. 

Now on to the FUN stuff!  We got a few very fun pictures that I wanted to be sure to share.  I just have to say that I am PRETTY sure that Tone and are have made the cutest baby ever! 

Here is the ever necessary skull picture, I threw in the one with the labels to make it easier for everyone to figure out.  I really do find it odd that even this picture I think is adorable.  Pretty sure that means I have the "mom bug". 

Here is the profile picture.  It's a good thing our u/s tech grabbed this when she did.  As it turns out our baby may already be a little stubborn like Mom & Dad as shortly afterwards, proceeded to roll over and bury it's face as far away from the u/s wand as possible.   I just love how much you can see in this picture: the little heart, the brain and all it's different parts, the spine, etc.  SO amazing!!

The spine, and a better look at how much of an effort baby was putting into getting as far away from that annoying u/s wand as possible.  I was very relieved to hear the spine looks perfectly normal especially as we opted not to do any of the prenatal testing. 

And last but not least, the little leg, foot and cute little butt.  :)  To which my sweet husband immediately pointed out "I think the kid has my calves...those are huge!" I have determined that Tone seems to think that our baby is getting everything from him.  But in this case...I have to agree, those things ARE huge!!  Which I hope means we have a future little linebacker on our hands, or possibly a future Olympic sprinter or Volleyball player if we are having a girl. 

Hmm...well I think I promised this one was going to be shorter, but I am certain I didn't accomplish that goal.  Turns out I may just have a lot to say about our dear, sweet baby.  So I really hope you guys don't mind all the "babble", it appears I just can't help myself. 

It's finally happened, and everything else that has happend in the last 19 weeks

We are finally here...finally.  The thing we have been hoping, wishing and praying for the last three years has finally come true.  WE ARE GOING TO BE PARENTS!!!!  Granted, I realize all of you already know this, but since this is my first post I have to "catch-up" on the last 19 weeks of my life. 

I will remember the morning that we found out for the rest of my life.  It started out like a normal "having people over" Saturday morning.  Which means, my hubby was out of bed with a quickness at the crack of dawn so he can start his meat preparations.  See it was already a big day in our house, we were celebrating Tone's birthday...which also means he is allowed to make copious amounts of meat and his wife (the vegetarian) can't say anything.  Because I was feeling exhausted (little did I know why) and the idea of prepping meat at 5:00 in the morning on a Saturday didn't excite me all that much I stayed in bed until about 8:00.  We had decided the night before that it made sense for me to take a pregnancy test since I was "late" so far in June.  I honestly, hadn't really thought too much about it since it had happened before and we had started the adoption process.  So I had come to terms and was looking forward to becoming a mom on that path.  All of which meant I was certain I was just going to take another pregnancy test just to take one.   Now when I say that I have become to despise those little plastic things over the last three years, well that is literally an understatement.  Taking one of those had become to being equal in my mind to being force fed a rare steak, plucking out all of my eyelashes one by one, sliding down a banister of razor blades...well you get the idea.  Part of me was half convinced they really didn't work and it was just another ploy to get us women to spend money on something else.   So needless to say I was really not looking forward to the task ahead.  Long story short (and I will spare you the details) before I knew it...I looked down and the digital display said "pregnant".  I think I literally did a triple take before it set in what it said.  To which I immediately began to scream "OH MY GOD!!" over and over and over while running through the house, flinging my "pee stick" as I ran to find my hubby so we could share in this moment together. 

I didn't want to get rid of my "stick" after I saw it, I was so afraid that if I didn't stop staring at it, it wasn't going to still be real.  So I decided to take a picture of it, so I would have it to look at whenever I had a moment of disbelief (which there were plenty) over the next few weeks. Plus I decided it was a lot more sanitary to carry around a picture vs. the actual "stick".   It's hard to know you're pregnant when you're not sick (don't get me wrong I am NOT complaining) and are just overly emotional (which as you all know isn't all that unheard of for me), so it was nice to have this picture to fall back on.  I literally think this may have been my favorite picture, until I saw my nugget for the first time. 

Fast forward 3 excuciatingly long weeks to our first pre-natal appt.  I was SO nervous before and during the appt until I saw my little nugget.  I think it was mainly because we were so used to getting the rug pulled out from underneath us, there was a little voice in the back of my mind that was certain it was going to happen again.  It was so bad I was shaking (literally) and my blood pressure was 140/100 or something ridiculous like that.  After what seemed like three hours it was finally time to do the ultrasound.  I think I literally held my breath until I saw my little nugget for the first time, and then saw the heartbeat.  It was the cutest little alien I had ever seen in my entire life.  I immediately started crying and fell head over heels in love.  There it was, my proof there was a baby, that it may actually REALLY happen.   

Tell me...isn't that the cutest little "blob" you have ever seen! Or is it just me???  :)


Now was that dreaded 4 week wait until I was 12 weeks and officially in the "safe zone".  Talk about the longest 4 weeks of my entire life.  Now that I was finally pregnant all I wanted to do was shout it from the rooftops, and I had to keep it all locked up.  Which became increasingly difficult as each week went by as my clothes were getting tighter, and tighter and my "growing" secret was getting really hard to conceal.  I think it was pretty obvious by the time we started to spill the beans that I wasn't just getting chubby.   It was at our 12 week appt we got to hear the heartbeat for the first time.  Wow...how amazing is THAT?!?!?  I thought I loved my little nugget before...turns out nope..that little sound made me fall even harder for our baby.   

We then had to have another ultrasound the following week so I was able to see our baby again.  Which now looked more like an actual baby.  While we were watching the baby put on quite a show, there was playing with feet, a little thumb sucking, hands by the face, legs tucked under, and all other wonderful things that I was amazed to see someone that was just 4oz do.  And yep...you guessed it...I fell even harder.

Isn't that the CUTEST little profile...ever?!?!?

Now here I am pushing 19 weeks (tomorrow) and all is well.  Baby is growing like a weed and I have started to feel movements pretty regularly.  We are treating every single day as though it is the blessing that it is and I am loving every moment of this new chapter of our lives.  I honestly have been so fortunate with my pregnancy so far.  Other than some swelling...okay maybe a lot of swelling and a sore back I have felt so good (sorry Tiff).  But to be honest even if it had all been awful so far I would still love and cherish every single moment.  

I have my mid-pregnancy ultrasound on Wednesday and just can't wait to see my little nugget again.  I really don't have any idea how we are already almost halfway there, but I can't wait to get to the finish.  I can't wait to see what the next 4.5 or so months have to offer, and for the day that feeling our baby move is something that is a regular thing.  I will definitely post pictures after Wednesday and any videos that I can.  I will also go back through and find all of my belly pictures so far so you can all see how far I have come.  :)