20 Weeks!

Hi Baby,

We are now officially half way to the big day. Of course there isn't a guarentee on what day you will decide to join us, but I am considered 20 weeks today. So exciting! You have been growing eye brows this week and hair on your head. That is if you don't take after me because I didn't have any hair until I was 2. So we are hoping you take after your father with that.

I still feel you kick. Somedays it is wild and crazy kicking and others it is nothing. Dad really wants to feel you kick and has been trying desperately to get me to eat ice cream every night (even when I already had my daily ice cream earlier in the day) in hopes to give you a sugar rush so he can feel you.

We bought a cute picture frame for you and put your ultrasound picture in it. Our first pictures of you. Here are your ultrasound pictures. Look how cute you are!

I can't wait!

Love you,

Mom

Alcohol

Good Morning Baby,

I want to share my thoughts with you about alcohol abuse and alcoholism. This is a disease that runs strongly in both my side and your dad's side of the family. It is said to be inherited, so something that you could very likely be prone to.

I want to start by saying I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with drinking, as long as you can control your drinking and control yourself while drinking. We have lots of friends and family who drink and do just fine with it and absolutely love it. I am sure that you will get to a point in your life when you want to test the waters and try it to and may even drink on a social level. That doesn't really bother me. But when drinking you have to know that you have to be able to control yourself.

Recently, I have been exposed to many major conflicts in my life where alcohol has played a major role and there has been trouble and a lot of regrets. I hope that you aren't ever in this situation. I want to promise you that I will never expose you to people who are drinking heavily and I will always protect you! I promise you now that I will never put alcohol before you and will always do my best to make sure that you don't experience any negative effects of others' drinking while you are in my presence.

The major point I'm trying to make here is to make good decisions for yourself and be in control of yourself. It is ok to go out and have fun, but remember to make smart choices. I also vow to make the best decisions in my life so that you can be raised in a happy, healthy environment.

I love you,

Mom

Kick...Whoa!

Hi Baby,

The coolest thing happened last night. I was laying in the bath, reading, and I felt you kick. This is somewhat normal but I thought to myself, "Whoa! That was a strong one." Then I felt it again in the same spot. So I looked down and you kicked me again and I actually saw my belly move!! It was the coolest thing ever!! I waited another few seconds...staring at that spot and sure enough...you kicked me two more times and I saw my belly move.

Although I am hoping and expecting that this will happen a lot during the next 21 weeks, It was so exciting to see for the first time. Thank You!

Love you,

Mom

Big News

Hi Baby,

Well we found out big news yesterday! You are a boy!! Which, I'm pretty sure you already knew, but it was a lot of fun for us to get to see. We went to our ultrasound and the doctor measured a lot of your different body parts and we were able to see that you look pretty healthy. You were moving all over the place. It surprised me that I can't feel you more than I do. At one point your head was down and your feet were up by my belly button. Then at another point the doctor got a side view of you and you were moving your arms all around. You were punching or dancing or something but it was so cute!

I am going to start getting your bedroom ready now and buy you some furniture and bedding and all sorts of stuff. I will try to make it really cute for you!

We are still thinking of a name. We are thinking Bracken but we haven't decided for sure yet and have no ideas for middle names. I think names are so important because it is something you will have to live with and I hope we can find something that you really like. Your dad looked up my name in the baby book and it means "short tempered" and he laughed at me. He thinks it fits me well but I dont completely agree. I promise not to be short tempered with you!!

So relieved to know you are healthy in there!

Love you,

Mom

A Quick Hello

Hi Baby,

We are just sitting here waiting for the oil to get changed in our car. I hope you are ok down there. I think about you constantly. Monday is the big day! We get to see if you are healthy and growing the way you should be and hopefully get to see if you are a boy or a girl. The poll on my blog is pretty even. 11 say girl, 9 say boy. I just really hope you are healthy down there. I worry about you so much. I still have been having sharp pains down there and my back has been really hurting. I hope you can't feel any of this! Wanted to tell you a quick hello!

Love you,

Mom

Side Pain

Hi Baby,

Hope you are well! Last night I went to dinner with dad. We went to Olive Garden and as we were pulling in I started getting the worst side pains. It hurt so bad! It about took me out! I could barely move and it brought tears to my eyes a few times. I think it might have been gas (I hope). I got so worried about you. Then I got the same pain but not as sharp a few times today. I really hope you are alright. I hope you can feel me rubbing you and hear me talking to you. I love you and hope everything is ok down there!

Love you,

Mom

I Think I Felt You!!

Hi Baby,

So, I THINK I have felt you. Not positive, but I have told three people and all of them say it sounds like it. Of course one of them is your dad and how would he know, right? It has been three days in a row though, so the odds are looking good. The first time was on Saturday when I was shopping with Shantel, then on Sunday when I was walking in my bedroom, then last night when I was laying in bed (twice). It just feel like gas bubbles so I haven't been sure but Becky and Linda both say that is what it feels like.

I am really hoping it is you! Feel free to keep on kicking me (for now at least...I will ask you to stop once you come out).

Love you,

Mom

Poll

Hi Baby,

So I just added a poll to my other blog on what people think you will be. A Boy or a Girl?? I am excited to see what people think! I voted girl so right now it is 100% of the votes a girl. But I guess I could vote for dad then it would be 50/50.

I hope everything is going good down there! I have been eating A LOT of icecream and feeling really bad about it...oops?? I try not to, but when I want it I feel like i HAVE to have it. I hope you like chocolate chip because I have wen't through almost an entire bucket...yes, one of those cheep, huge buckets...in a week and a half. I am going to really try to watch it from now on though. I came into this pregnancy knowing that I would eat so healthy and get so many vitamins, but that went down the drain after only a few weeks. I'm going to get back on track though! For you!!

I have also had really bad headaches all week. I have had to take Tylonal three times this week. Although my doctor and everyone else in the world says it is fine, I just would rather you not have it in your system, so I feel really guilty about this too, but they have been REALLY bad. I don't take anything until I have to lock myself in my room and turn off all the lights because it hurts so bad. I hope it isn't affecting you at all though.

I found a really cute crib for you!! I hope you like it. I'm still going to go shopping some more and look around, but I found one online that I liked a lot. Maybe one day you will see it!!

Love you...can't wait to see you and hold you in my arms!

Love,

Mom