23 weeks!

We are now over halfway there... I am so excited! A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to find out the gender, and as most of my family guessed... we are going to have a beautiful baby boy. It has been so amazing to think of all of the wonderful things that Michael and I will be able to teach our little boy. We have decided on the name of Michael Aaron Jr.Here's the little guy: (I think he is so handsome!)

These past weeks have been such an amazing experience for me. Our little guy moves all the time and loves when Michael talks to him. The other morning Michael woke up before me and started rubbing my tummy. Our little guy was so excited he started kicking a lot and woke me up. It was so adorable. I just find so many reasons to love my baby each day. Here are a few pictures my sister took that I just thought were so adorable. 

This is probably my favorite.

I loved that green ribbon!

I had painted my nails earlier that day and Jess thought this would be cute... I agreed!

Without the black over-shirt you can actually see my baby bump!

On a completely separate note, the Jayhawks are in the Championship tonight and I wouldn't be a good Lawrence Residence if I didn't say, GO KU!! :)

18 weeks!

We hit 18 weeks today... I can hardly believe it! On one hand this pregnancy seems to be lasting forever, but when I look at it, it seems to fly by. In two weeks (March 5) we are having our first ultrasound to find out the gender. I am so excited to see my little baby I can hardly control myself.

This was earlier last week, you can see I'm starting to show!!!!

Recently I have been feeling much better in the morning sickness area. About once a week I have a day where things are pretty bad, but for the rest of the week I just have to deal with the regular aches and pains of pregnancy.

BIG NEWS!!!!! Sometime last week, I think Thursday or Friday, I started to feel the baby move and kick. At first I wasn't sure, but now I feel it more often especially when I am laying in bed at night. Tuesday I went the whole day without feeling him/her kick and was actually pretty sad, because I LOVE feeling those little kicks, but as soon as I settled in to sleep after a LONNNNGG day the kicking began. I was so happy to finally feel something I didn't even care that it kept me up for a while.

Also, Michael and I finally got to use our "in-home" heart monitor thing. It took us about 10 minutes before we found anything, and I almost gave up, but then we heard the heartbeat beating so quick and so faint that I couldn't help smile. It truly was amazing.

It wouldn't be right of me to end without expressing how amazing my husband has been through all of this including sleeping on the floor when I want to sleep on the couch, mid-night trips to the ER cause I can't keep anything down, but mostly just being there to help me when I am struggling. He really is amazing and I feel so blessed to have married such a sweet man!! (Yeah, I know so sappy!)

Isn't he just too darn handsome?! I think so! 

:)

Week 10 Update!!

This week Michael and I, along with my mom and sister, got to hear our precious baby's heartbeat. It was such an amazing experience. The night before I was so nervous that they might not be able to hear it and that I would have to wait another month for my next appointment. When we got there my nurse was so nice and so comforting. She explained that sometimes it takes a while to find the baby, because it's heart is so tiny. I kept sitting up from anxiety as she searched and searched. Finally she found the heartbeat, but it was so faint I almost couldn't make it out. Then she moved around and we could hear it loud and clear. I have never been so happy to hear little beats in my whole life. It was amazing to have that confirmation that my little baby was growing.

Most days I am so sick that I can hardly make it from the bed to the bathroom. I've been to the hospital twice now for dehydration due to not being able to keep any fluids down. They started me on Zofram the first time which works great, but now my insurance is saying they won't pay for anymore. Luckily, my doctor got something worked out. The insurance is willing to pay some of the cost, but that still leaves the total cost for six pills at thirty dollars. I am now trying a different medication, but it causes me be so drowsy that I sleep for two hours after taking it. Since I take it every six hours, that's not a lot of awake time. On the bright side, it does help me keep small portions of food and water down.

This last week has been pretty rough, but I wouldn't wish it any other way. I have grown to love this little baby more than I could ever imagine. I find myself constantly thinking about all the wonderful things he or she will be able to do. That love keeps me going on hard days. I can't imagine anything being more worth it than this little baby. 

In the beginning...

Hello everyone, I wanted to write this blog as kind of a baby journal to fill my rather boring days of being sick. First I'll start out with all the stuff I know you're dying to know.

Due Date: July 27th, 2011

Boy or Girl: Unknown (but anxious to find out)

Reaction: Excitement!!! Michael and I are thrilled to be parents, but a little nervous.

Pregnancy for Mom: I am enjoying knowing there is a little baby inside and I love it already. Morning sickness has hit and I am just anxious for it to get over now.

Pregnancy for Dad: Michael isn't here right now to put in his own opinion, but he has been a trouper! He has helped around the house and kept me fed and even gotten some bbq wings when I was craving them. 

Cravings: Grapes, Biscuits and Gravy, French Fries, and BBQ Wings for Applebees