Oh Baby!!

Well we went to the Dr. yesterday. I totally thought that was going to be a long visit. It was the glucose challenge one...so I had to drink my orange...(way more disgusting than I remember) drink 30 minutes before my appt..but they couldn't take my blood until an hour after I had finished it...so 9:35...but I got called back really quickly. Saw the doctor really quickly. Everything checked out good...weight is still okay...I just hate climbing numbers..pregnant or not...but hey..it's inevitable right? She told me that they have new ways of doing Anesthesia...or something and she would tell me about them next time I come in. She said it was very exciting and just seemed like she could not wait to tell me...Why is she torturing me? What does that mean? I want to know now!! At least I don't have to wait 4 weeks, she scheduled me back in another 3 weeks but still...I bet it's not even a big deal or something I won't even understand..I don't have a clue...I'm dying to know what it is though..Because of course I imagine she tells me that I don't have to have a shot in my spine...that would be great wouldn't it? For all of us..that we could just drink some really good tasting beverage and it would cause us to go numb from the waste down...Hey a girl can dream can't she?? Got my results back, she said i passed my glucose and iron test with flying colors!!! That's always good to hear! And since the last visit Jacob and I have decided not to tie the tubes. Don't get me wrong..we don't want anymore kids..Three is still enough for us BUT we did have our own reasons for deciding not to tie them up. My doctor also told Jacob that if, when she gets "in there" and sees that the scar tissue is too bad or my uterus is too thin and it would be too dangerous for me to have another C-Section then she will recommend that I tie my tubes. She told Jacob she would even have him take a look in her "surgical field" while she was doing it..so he could see as well. I'm pretty sure when she told Jacob that he vomited a little bit..he definitely dry heaved. We trust my doctor..no need to go that route!!

Oh and we did get a time for Baby Bryant to arrive. November 9th, 7:30 a.m.. And no I expect no one to be there except for my husband and maybe my mom with my kids. That's a maybe and me being totally selfish. I know I am going to want to see my kids before I go into surgery..I will be an emotional wreck I think if I don't. On the other hand, we have to be at the hospital around 5 a.m. and I know even having the kids there at 7:30 or before that is going to be early for them...and then everyone they are around will have to suffer that day for it. So maybe I need to get all my hugs and kisses out the night before. Which, thank God, that Lindsey has agreed to bring them home to me that Sunday even though it's his weekend. I don't know what I would do if he didnt' do that for me. Oh and Mom, I'm not sure if you know this or not but we wanted you to stay the night with us that Sunday night. Mmmkay!! Awesome. So on that Sunday morning I have pre-op at the hospital at 9 a.m....more blood drawn and paper work!! Yeah!! Which, speaking of blood work, when I got it done Monday at my appt. I realized it's not the needle that really hurts or makes me feel uncomfortable..it's when the blood is being "sucked" from my body..it's the most uncomfortable feeling ever. I don't know how to describe it but that is when I said, "OUCH!" !!! I thought that was weird..but it makes sense now. Needles don't really hurt all that much..It's crazy to think that after my next appt. I will only have 9 weeks left!!

I am so excited!!! We bought a take home outfit for a girl and a boy. First thing we have purchased since finding out we are having a baby. I was just grinning from ear to ear when we left the store. I know, it seems silly, but it makes it so much more real for some reason. We have also gone through a lot of baby clothes...Jackson and Ella's...And we have been able to find a ton of newborn clothes for a boy..problem is..Jackson is a summer baby...so the seasons and outfits don't match up with this one..luckily I'm pretty sure we got some of Caleb's and Ashton's in the mix so I think we can get buy. Ella's on the other hand I have found 3 newborn outfits from all the clothes I have gone through. And I think they must be Abby's because they are summer outfits...which again..won't work..I need to find Ella's...she was a winter baby. I'm keeping my fingers crossed Crystal is going to come through for me!! Either way it's been sort of fun going through all of this stuff together. A pain too..mostly on the lower back..sitting there and pulling them out and refolding and rebagging and relabeling..and figuring out where to put all of it in the mean time...but still fun!! I mean didn't I just make that sound like so much fun!!

I also think we may be getting baby furniture this weekend. Jacob is so excited about that!! He even started talking about painting the room. I was like, "What? Really?"...I mean if he really wants to tape it and put primer on the walls who am i to stop him?? He is just so cute and so excited!! I love it!! We are very fortunate to have a friend that wants us to have that furniture and let us pay for it when we can. Thank you so much!! I love you!!! We absolutely don't need it yet but we are happy to start putting all of this together. If Jacob can put it together without the instructions..I'm a little worried. I cannot tell a lie.

This one time I am permitting time to fly

Well I'm updating mainly because I can but not because I have anything exciting to add..Besides it's a blog, aren't you suppose to just upchuck your thoughts on your blog anyways? Yes..I said upchuck.

Anyways, I can't believe it's the end of the summer already. I have such mixed emotions about it. Although I think my emotions are stemming more from the fact that I have a 2nd grader who is growing up so fast I can't keep up and not because he is starting school. That part I am pretty excited about. Mainly for him..he is getting bored and I know he is really excited about starting the new school year. Okay okay..I'm excited for me to. As most of you are aware, it's hard entertaining a 7 year old for a long period of time, especially when his sister is only 4 ( i say only but again that freaks me out) and a girl...Two totally different attention spans each with their very own, very different ideas of what being entertained entails. I am sad that Jackson is 7. I know I shouldn't be. And please don't get me wrong. I am so thankful that he is 7 and that he is healthy and growing every day. I know some people don't have the luxury of saying that. So I do know it's a blessing. But I'm a mom and I'm very close to my first born. He is just so darn sweet all the time and he's my baby you know..and I can't even pick up my baby anymore...because he is getting so big. I'm just glad he still likes to cuddle with me. I know there will be a day not too far from now that he won't want to do that anymore. I just miss when he was a baby...that's okay to miss that right? I'm a mom for goodness sakes!! It's normal!! Please tell me it's normal! There was a lady at one of Jacob's spouses meetings we had for his work and I remember when she stood up to introduce herself she said her name and that she was just so happy that her kids were all grown up. I couldn't believe it!! I always tell my kids to stop growing..that they are not allowed to get any bigger!! Maybe she had horrible kids..I don't know. Maybe I'm just not there yet.

Well I think I decided..although I'm not positive..and if you know me..I never am. But I think I want a boy. I mean of course I will take either..I ultimately want healthy but a lot of people ask me which do I prefer. My answer is normally I have one of each so I don't really care. And I don't think that I do but I know Jacob would love a boy. I think I am more just curious to see what our own girl would look like but if that's the case I am curious to see what our son would look like too. I just can't imagine. I think all of my nephews look like their dad...Caleb looks like his mom a little and Abby is beginning to look more like Caleb...but I also think my sister and brother-in-law resemble one another. Dark hair, big dimples...I don't know..to say one looks like Nick is to say that it also resembles their mom. Now Jared and Lisa don't look anything a like...and Maddox looks just like Jared. I don't really know what all of that means...except I can't wait to meet this baby and see who he/she looks like!! I am so ready...I am ready Freddy!! One of our good friends just had her baby, Baby Ava, and she is beautiful. We visited them again on Sunday and I held her for a long time and Steph and I just chatted while the baby ate and it was so fun and and exciting. Everytime Jacob holds her I know he gets more anxious than ever for our baby to be here.. Like I said..I am Ready Freddy!!

I got my teeth cleaned today..I know exciting stuff right. I'm in pain. Actually now that I think about it that Tylenol is kicking in. But wow!! I guess it had been so long I had forgotten the process. I will NEVER wait that long again. Like EVER. I already scheduled my 6 month follow up in December. I'm hoping I don't bleed like a stuck pig this time. Geez...

Monday I go to the doctor for my Glucose test. I don't mind the drink..I hate the needles and the blood taking. Just can't seem to quite get use to that. I bet I get a time for November 9th on Monday too from my doctor..Just a guess I could be wrong but I'm hoping I will. I don't know why, it's not like it's right around the corner or anything. This Sunday will make it 11 weeks until the baby is here..woo hoo!! Okay it's closer than I realized. This one time I am permitting time to fly.

Lastly, and it totally doesn't matter if I add this but I just want to because I am bursting at the seams for my husband. Jacob started this new job not too long ago. In the beginning I think his expectations of himself (not the job) were just a little too far out of reach...so he would become disappointed. By in the beginning, I mean the first week or two he was in the office he was beating himself up..but he has just soared. He has totally rocked this new position and it just keeps getting better and better. He has definitely earned his place and all his accomplishments. Nothing has been given to him and I am just so proud of him for that. I just love that he is doing something that he has wanted to do for so long. This is what all the other jobs he has had in his past were leading up to..what the college courses were for..and he is there..at 24 years old..living his dream. Okay well he is starting to live his dream. And he's good at it. So honey I know I tell you this every day and I know you don't really read my blogs unless I tell you to but I just want you to know that I love you and I could not be more proud of you and your hard work!!

Awww *sigh* well...it's my day "off" so to speak and I have already got my teeth cleaned, visted Jacob at his office, visited my mother-in-law at hers..gone to lunch with my husband and now I am heading to the pool for a little while. Will go work out after that. Got my hair done and CUT this week...gosh that feels so much better and fit in my kids dentists appointments on Monday too. I feel so productive!

See you later!

Doctor's Appointment #3 and Nebraska Trip

Whelp..I went to the doctor last Monday (one week ago) and apologize for not updating my blog but had a trip to plan and pack for the following Tuesday so I didn't get around to blogging about my appointment. It was pretty uneventful though. Everything looks great. My weight is good (I know that's shocking), the heartbeat sounded "perfect", my belly is measuring great, blood pressure is good....so all in all I think it went pretty well. I did have to wait close to 2 hours in the waiting room before I got to go back and see her, with my kids this time, but they were really well behaved, thankfully. I did talk to her about my working out and apparently I am going a little too hard, I need to slow down on the treadmill a little bit. (Which will be relatively easy since I went an entire week just about without working out while I was in Nebraska) We also talked about getting my tubes tied..again...and I'm pretty sure I am going for it. I was under the impression that I was going to have to wait quite a bit longer on the operating table while she did that and that my recovery would be different along with my monthly friend but she said that it takes one minute per tube, that the way they do the procedure t hese days does not effect your recovery whatsoever and that if I'm use to not being on birth control than my periods won't change much either SO....even though she wants me to think long and hard about it...I think it's a go!! I also was given a plethora of brochures...let's see...I am taking the glucose test next time I go (I picked the orange over the tropical fruit only because I am familiar with it and can tolerate it) So I got instructions on when and how to drink that before my next visit. My orange drink is sitting in my fridge as I type. I got a brochure on 4D sonograms and banking cord blood. Both of which are too expensive to do. However, I did not know that if I did bank the cord blood that the babies own cord blood doesn't really do much in the way of helping the baby whose cord blood it is..only siblings..which in our case would do nothing at all. So I felt better reading up on that and knowing it would not really benefit anyone. My next appointment is Monday, August, 17th at 9 a.m. and I get to have blood drawn!!! Yeah!! Just love the needles. Ugh..I did realize that I don't have too many monthly appointments left and anyone can correct me if I'm wrong because it's been awhile for me but I have August and then September and then after that I believe I start going every two weeks. (because my Sept appt. will be mid sept. )Which would put at about one month and one week to go. Wow..Oh and I guess the most important thing we did at my last appointment was schedule the C-Section - November 9th and I haven't got a confirmation on the time yet. I was asked to pre-register at the hospital which I have done so now I am just waiting on a phone call from the doctors office on the time. This is all very exciting!!! I can't believe it!

I also cannot believe how big I am...and/or feel. Geez Louis! I mean I love it, don't get me wrong but it's like I feel like I am already uncomfortable and I shouldn't be uncomfortable yet!! I have too far to go..Either way, I'm growing by the minute it feels like. But with that so is the baby. Baby Bryant kicks and moves around all the time..Jacob has been able to feel it a few times and it's sort of all over the place now which is fun!! I was really showing at 3 months though so to be starting my 6th month I guess I would be showing a lot...and yes..Lisa Marie..I too would like to wear a shirt that says this is my 3rd baby..back off...so instead of having to tell people it's your 4th just get a shirt made. Last night I made up a "contract" if you will of all the things that I want for our baby room once we have the baby. All the necessities of course....and I put on there that we would start the room (painting included) no later than a month after Baby Bryant arrives and finish no later than Baby Bryant celebrates his 3rd month of life!! Jacob totally signed it.. I love that man and his sense of humor. We giggled over it for awhile. It was fun!

Nebraska was fun. My mom drove the entire 11.5 hours up on Tuesday morning. I figured I would be the reason why we would be stopping so much to use the restroom, between needing to stretch my legs and walk and my bladder but man Jackson might have beat me on that one. Either way the kids did great. Behaved really well with only minor arguements, most of them pertaining to the DS that Jackson has and was playing and that Ella wanted to play. But we survived. I think Jackson had a blast in Nebraska. He always enjoys seeing Jilly Bean but she had the kids she watches around a lot and Jackson really enjoyed playing with those boys. I think he was in the pool for nearly 8 hours on Friday..mostly at night but...man he did not tire of that at all. The ride back is always more grueling it feels like. Especially since the night before none of us really got adequate sleep. My mom even pooped out at the end with a few hours to go so I offered to drive. I wasn't all that tired though so we managed. We also drove straight in to Fort Worth and then headed to Bedford for a church function. Our nephew was getting baptised at Bedford splash and the event started at 7:30, which is about when we got there but we missed it..We tried..we had to literally unpack our bathing suits in the car. I think it was a good release for the kids though after having been in the car for 12 hours. They got to run around and swim some more and see their cousins. So either way it was worth it.

We dropped Jackson off at Camp Thurman today. It's a Christian based camp in Arlington that his dad signed him up for. I was nervous for him since he did not know anyone there or what to expect but Jackson was all about it. No nerves at all. Just plain ol' little boy excitement. He has really turned over a new leaf this summer - it's been exciting to watch him grow so much. He is definitely more out going, trying new things, becoming a little less sensitive. Don't get me wrong, he will always be an emotional boy but I think that is just what makes him so special.

Ms. Ella Bella got stuck with me this week since there will b e no camping for her. But we have already made some serious plans. Barbies looks to be in my near future, swimming if the weather permits and we are definitely going to get some Wii in there. Will actually probably be nice for her not to have to share it with her big brother. Today, however, is a clean up day. I have loads of laundry to do, beds still to make, sweeping, mopping and dusting to do so it's going to be one of those days. And I'm totally not working out today. I can start up that routine again tomorrow. I'm already tired just thinking of my day. I think I need a nap just to get the energy to start.

Anyways..thanks for reading..Love you all!!

Randomness

Hi all...No new baby news..just wanted to blog today. Well I guess the only new baby news I would have is that I am starting to feel the little "banana" move around some more. Not too much but enough to know that every once in awhile shim is doing a dance of some kind. I am also noticing the longer I stay on my feet the more they hurt. Seems waaaaaaaay to soon for that but whatever...I guess it doesn't matter if I think it's too early for that or not. They hurt either way.

Summer is so exhausting and I never really knew how exhausting it was until Jackson actually started school and we actually started having official "summers". But wow..these kids get bored easily. That's why I love going to the pool so much. It's free entertainment and they can last for quite awhile. Right now the kids are going to VBS at night, which they absolutely love!! I admit, it seems late (6:30 - 9:00) because by the time we get home and teeth brushed and medicine it's almost 10 before they go to bed but they are out pretty quickly. Of course, they don't sleep in the next morning..at least not like you would think they would.

My 31st birthday was pretty uneventful but that is really what I expected. Actually I enjoyed it a lot. I love uneventful, relaxing days. I did want to go work out but the kids didn't want to go up there with me so I let them win that one...I figured i can make up for it on Saturday morning. There is something so rewarding about working out when you are pregnant. I mean I think there is something rewarding about working out when you aren't pregnant too but it's so different when you are with child. It's like you aren't competing against any other skinny person in there. It's obvious you aren't in there to loose weight...you can't go full throttle and run faster than the girl next to you on the treadmill but more than that it just feels good. Like you know you aren't doing this to loose weight, you aren't going to loose weight so I could easily throw in the towel and forget it but for some reason..it makes me want to do it more. Maybe because there are no expectations but it feels good to do something good for my body and my growing babies. It feels awesome. So everytime I get another work out under my belt, it's definitely a feat for me! Sorry I went a little off the subject there...Jacob got me a phone for my bday and honestly his best card yet. He gets me cards all the time, for no reason at all. They always HAVE to be from hallmark and have to be the 'between you and me' kind. (these are jacob's standards not mine) And well..the card he got me for my birthday this year has taken the cake. They are all perfect but this one was the best. I cried..actually I don't know if I cried because how heart felt the card was or because I am growing another human being. Probably both.

So it's another year I don't have my kids for the 4th of July, or for Jackson's birthday but this will be the last year. Lindsey and I made a deal and well I just have to hope he sticks to it. If he doesn't then I have the law on my side for next year. We are going to friends of the family for the 4th. I'm not big on the fireworks display, I never really have been but I do look forward to the pool...oh and all the food. Which reminds me, if none of you have read Allison's blog with her recipe on her baked potato salad or casserole..now I can't remember what it is...but the recipe is on her blog. It sounds so delicious I can't wait to attempt to make it. It actually sounds quite simple which is why I am going to give it a go!! I will let you know how it turns out Alli.

Well my kids are bored now so we are going to go find something fun to do!!! Pool is closed today..!! That is the worst!

Amy B.

Doctor's Appointment #2 and SONO!!!

Well as I promised I am updating to let everyone know how the sono/appt. went today. I am extremely happy to report that everything looks wonderful! Sonographer said that we are off to a great start and that everything looked to be right where it was suppose to be! Of course on the sonogram there are very few things that I can make out, especially now when the little BB is only just over a pound. But he is a great sonographer and went over every single thing that he saw to help us know what we were looking at. We managed to make it through without finding out the sex!!! Which I am thrilled about and very surprised at myself but it just makes me that much more excited for delivery day. That was the first thing I said when I layed down to start the sono, "we are not finding out what we are having!!"....and of course it absolutely drives Jacob nuts to know that the sonographer knows the sex of our baby..but he didn't make a record of it so I'm positive if we went back, even today, he wouldn't remember...out of sight, out of mind. Anyways, he did ask us what we thought we were having and I said a girl...only because this pregnancy is more like my pregnancy with Ella then with Jackson but I know that means absolutely nothing. I figure I would just guess..cause why not..it's fun!! The sonogram was very reassuring to me today. I get those updates from Babycenter and My Pregnancy and first of all it tells me that I am 20 weeks pregnant..well actually it will tell me I am 20 weeks on Sunday but I am actually 18 weeks and 2 days..so I guess that means it is off a week...or wait..5 days..whatever, close enough I guess. But what it also says are things like,"by now you should be feeling that little bundle of joy moving everywhere" or " it's so exciting because you should be feeling your baby moving all around you like crazy"...and I have felt nothing!! Nothing at all really. So the first thing I saw on the sonogram was the baby's heart beat and I took a very deep sigh of relief...just what I wanted to see!!

Seeing the doctor was a bit more anti-climatic compared to the sonogram. Pee'd in a cup, took my blood pressure and apparently while I was doing that apparently Jacob ,again got friendly with Nurse Nancy, because when I got back to the room the first thing she said was..you know you won't feel your baby moving probably for another 4 weeks...or at the very least it will start moving from here on out. I looked at Jacob and he just smiled and said.."I know..I talk a lot, I had to tell her.." Which was cute!! And of course, that too made me feel better. My doctor came in and we talked again about scheduling the C-Section. She said technically we cannot schedule it until I am 24 weeks, so I guess the next visit. Originally she said the earliest we could schedule it is November 7th, (my due date is still November 17th) But I realized that was on a Saturday and asked her if she did that on Saturday's, assuming she didn't. So now we are tentatively thinking November 9th. She also told me that she delivers at both Harris and Baylor downtown. When I first heard that my ears perked up...I know Baylor is new and has all the bells and whistles...but I asked her what she thought was better. She said based on the care you receive she thought,for a C-Section, that the "care" was better at Harris. She said if you enjoyed delivering at Harris last time then I wouldn't change a thing. And I did..very much so. I loved every single person (nurse) that helped me...and Ella..so I'm sticking with Harris. I will miss the flat screen t.v's though!! I think honestly, my doctor has delivered there for so long now that she knows the staff so well and because of that she is more comfortable doing the surgery there. I think she feels like she can vouch for them. Just a guess. She did say she would be more than happy to do the surgery at Baylor if I choose to do so and that it's an awesome hospital. But..I'm just sticking with what I know. Happy Happy Joy Joy!!


Whew...anyways...other than that..we have been keeping very busy. Actually Jackson has been keeping us very busy. He is on a swim team and has practice every day in fort worth tuesday - friday. His last meet he won first place in the relay and the free style and 3rd place in the butterfly and the breast stroke. He is doing awesome and very proud of his accomplishments thus far. I could not be more proud of him. The competition is good for him and I'm glad he is apart of it. Poor Ella doesn't get to do much at least compared to Jackson. He is signed up for VBS for a week, another camp in Arlington for a week,and just yesterday his dad and I decided to sign him up for basketball camp the first week in August. Goodness Gracious!! I think with all this going on it is going to make my last 4 1/2 months go by pretty fast!! This just means Ella and I get to do more tea parties, play barbie and pixiehollow...together...oh and paint..she loves to paint!! I started working out this week again. It felt so good the first day. Was harder the 2nd day and today will by my third. I skipped yesterday, after mowing that yard I was exhausted. I was just tired and sore anyways...but I am about to get b ack in there and do my two mile walk again today. So that is about it.

Thanks for reading! Love you all!!

Amy B

First Doctor's Visit

Well it finally came...Yeah!!! I was so nervous today and I don't know why. I guess I just have gone 4 months without so much as hearing a single heart beat or seeing a single picture so I was ready to hear the life inside me...And I did!! First of all, I realize I may have posted the wrong doctor date on my blog below. I apologize to those that I didn't tell but I figured it was just one day off and I would be coming here with all the doctor details anyways so it didn't matter much. Also, Alli, I apologize with grouping you in with the "people" that think I'm crazy for n ot finding out the sex. We hadn't really talked about it much but I appreciate your support. And yes, I need a new bra!! Hahaha!

Okay so I told Nancy, the nurse, when she let me in the room that I was nervous. That I had never gone 4 months in either of my other pregnancies before seeing a doctor so she understood but just laughed it off and said I was cute. Nervous but Cute!! However, to put my mind at ease, before we did anything else, other than peeing in a cup, she let me hear the heart beat so I could put my mind at ease for the rest of the visit. What a wonderful, beautiful sound that was! I thought maybe I could cry but I was more happy than anything and it totally put my mind at ease. That is what I had been waiting for all these months. And let me tell you, it was waaaaaaaayyyy better than Christmas.

My appointment was at 8:30 and I don't think I have ever been in that office when there were such few people in there. It was greatness. I only had to wait 20 minutes before they called me back, compared to my usual hour. Needless, to say I am going to try to make all my future appointments early in the morning. So I peed in a cup first. That went well...I had to go so bad though I almost forgot to pee in the plastic cup they so graciously provide for you.

Then my husband came back in the room with me...went over some questions with Nancy and everything was hunky dorey. Listened to the precious heart beat and let me tell you - Jacob's face lit up!!! It was adorable. Then I was off to get my blood work done. I left Jacob to man my purse and chat it up with Nancy while I did that. Umm yeah...the needle prick was not unoticeable, and most of the time..I think it's going to be way worse than it is but this time...well all I am going to say is that I don't look forward to getting my blood drawn again anytime soon. Or maybe I will just hope it's a different nurse. I went back to the room and learned that I had to do a papsmear! Yeah...Jacob didn't know what to do with himself while that was going on. But he survived it and whatever him and Nancy chatted about gave Nancy the impression that I "have a good, sweet man". I'm gone for like 5 minutes with a needle stuck in my arm and Jacob is shmoozing with the nurses. Figures. (hee hee) Papsmear was over rather quickly and then we got to talk to my doctor about this pregnancy.

It was Jacob's first time to meet my doctor. And I love her. She said she is going to treat this like my first because this is Jacob's first baby and she was so, so happy for him! Yes, for him. I mean I'm sure for US but she looked mostly at Jacob while she talked to us. I actually liked that she did that. I think that she put Jacob more at ease honestly. I was also told that my C-Section scar was the best she had ever seen in 20 years (by the nurse). I mean I guess there can be "bad" C-section scars but I never really thought about it. So whatever, when your pregnant you will take any compliment that comes your way right? So I took it. And gave Dr. Bradford all the credit. I am sure you are all wondering why no ultrasound. Dr. Bradford basically said, they do an ultra sound at about 10 weeks and 20 weeks. The 10 week US is to pretty much confirm that you are pregnant and/or confirm if you are pregnant with just one. (By the way when she did the pap she said that it felt like I just had one baby in there) The 20 week one is for more than just finding out the sex. She said the baby is not quite big enough yet for her to be able to see all the things she wants to see. (Regarding any abnormalities) So she wants us to come back in in 3 weeks to do that US. Where I will not be finding out the sex!!

Which leads me to my last update. We did tell her that we didn't want to find out. More so me than Jacob. And of course she was completely gung ho for that!!! She loves it because it is a surprise for her too. I told her how my sister is plotting a plan to call up there and pretend she is me and tell them that I changed my mind. (your such a dork Lisa) And well she said basically how it works is that in 3 weeks I will get my US done..and the US tech will take all the necessary pictures. But if I don't want to find out that he will not take a picture of the sex of the baby. That it will not be written down on my chart and Dr. Bradford will not be told of the sex either. So, Lisa Marie, I know you thought you were going to be sneaky and find out for yourself....but now you can't. I won't even have a picture of the little one's gender. I might not even show you ultrasound pictures because...I just don't trust you!!!!!

I will more than likely be having this baby on Saturday, November 7th. I need to talk to Lindsey to see if he will let me have the kids that weekend and if he agrees then I can tell you for sure that it will be that date.

So that's it - I will be back later for any more news or updates. Thanks for reading. I know it's a lot but I want you all to feel like you are there with us. Love you all!!

NEXT APPOINTMENT - THURSDAY, JUNE 25TH, 9 A.M.

P.S. We did talk about getting my tubes tied. We are pretty sure this is going to be our last baby but she doesn't want to do it unless we are 100% sure. She is a little hesitant because #1 We are so young and #2 This is Jacob's first baby. So we may look at other options but we have time to think about it. As far as a fourth C-Section goes, she says it's hard to tell until she gets in there but usually a good C-Section scar means it healed really well internally too. We shall see. No need to hurry a decision on that one.

P.S.S. Dr. Bradford's favorite holiday is Thanksgiving only because her Christian beliefs keep her from really picking her favorite one - Halloween!!! I was like OMG - ME TOO!! Now I know I picked the right doctor to deliver this baby! hahaha!

LOVE YOU ALL
Amy B.

The Baby Blog

Well I had a friend request that I blog my pregnancy because she feels like she does not know my uterus at all...So, this is for Erin. I did, however, tell her that there really isn't much going on with this pregnancy. I haven't been to the doctor yet, which is so weird for me. I have been pregnant twice before and I think both times I went to the doctor I was right around 8 weeks. I am just about to start my 16th week and I have yet to see a doctor. (My insurance kicks in on June 2nd) So in 6 days I get to hear my babies heart beat for the first time. I feel like Christmas is less than a week away. I just cannot wait. Yes, I am actually excited about them sticking needles in my arm to take blood and to pee in a cup.



Anyways, as I said I am about to start my 16th week. At least that is what baby center tells me on my weekly email updates. The baby is about the size of an apple and I felt it move (flutter) for the first time on Memorial day. It was a nice, comforting feeling that something is going on in there. I am not sure about my weight gain and I can tell you now that as I progressively get larger in the pregnancy I will probably NOT update you on the weight gain. As of now I think I have gained about 3 - 5 pounds. My scale always fluctuated so I never really know and I don't know how much I weighed to begin with. I can tell you that other than my belly most of my weight gain is in my breasts!!! This was always the worst part for me. My breasts growing to God awful sizes while I was pregnant. They protrude more than my belly does and they will for awhile! I have not really been pukey sick. I have definitely had the dry heaving thing going on but not enough to the point where I had to run to the toilet. I just sort of went about my day dry heaving. It was odd to say the least. I have been more exhausted in this pregnancy than my other two. I don't know if it's because it's my third, or if it's because I have two other kiddos to keep up with or a combination of both but wow - am I tired!! Lucky for me I get a good nap in almost every day. Thank goodness my 4 year old still needs naps!



I started wearing maternity clothes a lot sooner than I wanted...and maybe sooner than I really had to but my husband just told me one day to embrace it. Embrace the pregnancy, the belly, the big boobs..everything. I think he just got tired of me unbuttoning my pants when I sat down at church every Sunday morning. Whatever it was I'm glad I listened to him. I feel better about it. I don't care that I have to wear them or that I look bigger than 4 months....honestly..it feels better to have them on. I can breathe!



I was working out vigourously in the first month of my pregnancy. I just kept up the same work out routine that I had previous to getting pregnant. I loved it actually. But the more pregnant I got the more tired I got and the longer I went without seeing a doctor it worried me. I spotted one day and that pretty much made up my mind. I decided not to work out until after I go to the doctor. And when I do, I have to start out slow. Walking. But that's okay. I actually miss going to work out - it's crazy i know..and I want to find a pregnancy pilates class. I love pilates...but I'm sure a regular class is not the same as a pregnancy one. Oh...and I need a new sports bra too!! Otherwise, I might knock people off the treadmill. Seriously.



I have also decided that I am not looking to the internet anymore for anything "odd" that I may have going on with my body. I had myself almost convinced that I was going to die. I mean really. That's just horrible. I had some brown spotting for about two days..maybe a little bit longer. I had some pains in my lower pelvic area too. I was just scared out of my mind because I had the two together. I felt better after talking to friends but that was not before I got on the internet. BIG HUGE MISTAKE. Won't do that again! Ever! Everything is fine now. I still have the pains when I move or sneeze but no more blood. See why I can't wait to go the doctor!!!



Well, Jacob and I have decided not to find out what we are having. Actually, I decided that and he half heartedly agreed with me. I just think that there are few suprises in life...and usually if we do get surprised by something rarely is it good. I think it will be so much fun. Besides that I either have friends that think I won't go through with it and I will find out (Brian - shame on you) or I have people in my life that just hate that we are not finding out (everyone else in my life excluding Erin). I just think with a C-Section especially I will know down to the minute almost what time we will be having this baby...and there are no surprises in that..and I really want Jacob to have that moment where he gets to walk out of that operating room telling our friends and family that we have a new daughter or son. It's so rare and no one ever does it anymore and I want to do this. I also look forward to creating that memory and that moment with my husband when our baby is born and we find out if we have been blessed with a little girl or little boy, and that moment will be all ours! What a wonderful moment for us to share, just him and I in that operating room.



Okay well unless something crazy happens...I will update after my first doctors appointment next Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. It will be a long one too so be patient!



Love you all!!!



Amy