Week 20 means we're halfway there and having a GIRL!

Yes. If you have heard the wonderful news, you already know. If you haven't here it is: WE'RE HAVING A GIRL!
I'm so excited and could not be happier. I think I would feel this way regardless of gender, but I'm ecstatic none-the-less. Dan and I have noticed our faces are starting to hurt due to all the smiling we've been doing over the last couple of days. Just knowing that we are having a little girl makes everything even more real. We can call our baby "her", "she", or "Aiden Ryelle" instead of "it" or "the baby".
We have decided to name her Aiden Ryelle, hence the previous notation. We always loved Aiden for a little girl (even though it is typically a boy's name. YES! WE KNOW!). And we've been scouring for a middle name to go with it when I found Ryelle in a book I was reading and just though it sounded so pretty, plus the character was described as beautiful, elegant, and everything to be admired (perfect for the little girl we're sure to have, right?). We looked up the meaning of the full name and found out that together it means "little fire on the rye hill". So let's hope she doesn't become a pyro! LOL. Though with the boys in the family determined to turn her into a little tomboy, I think that there is little chance of her escaping that fate.
Our ultrasound went wonderful (pictures to come on Monday, I hope, when I can get them scanned at my mommy's office). Little Aiden was apparently very comfy on her belly throughout most of the ultrasound. The technician actually had trouble getting to her to move from her cozy spot for different shots! Everything is developing very well and she is right on schedule for an April 12th delivery! She weighed in at 12ounces, which the baby sites say is above average, but the doctor says is completely normal. Her brain, heart, and bones are all formed very well. And she is drinking her amniotic fluid like a big girl! She had some in her stomach during the ultrasound and seemed to be taking in more, owing to the fact that she had her mouth open pretty much the whole time we were looking at her. Hopefully we'll have a good eater on our hands! We have also determined, from what we saw, that she is going to have my nose and Dan's forehead, but these seem to work for her as she is the cutest little 20week old fetus we've ever seen (not to be biased or anything!).
My check up went well. I'm still losing weight, but not as much as before (only half a pound this last month). I'm also taking iron supplements now, because I've been craving meat. The doctor says that this shows a significant iron deficiency, since I've previously been a vegetarian with no issues. So I'm eating a little poultry and taking iron pills. Yippee.
Well, here are the latest belly pics (note, these are after Thanksgiving!):




I actually thought to smile for once!





















Though I suppose, I've been smiling non-stop for about 72hrs.










And the front. Not exactly the most flattering. I blame the combination of bulky sweater and oddly designed preggo pants.








*When is your due date? April 12, 2010, Still dead on!

*What week are you in? 20 weeks

*How much weight have you gained? Now at +1/2lb

*Do you know the gender of your baby? If so, what? A beautiful little GIRL!

*Do you have a name picked out? What? Aiden Ryelle and YES WE KNOW AIDEN IS TYPICALLY A BOY'S NAME!

*Who is going to be with you during delivery? Dan and my parents (between the three of them, I know things will go the way I want them to go)

*Maternity clothes? Yep! Old clothes out, maternity clothes in!

*Stretch Marks? Maybe the lotion is working, maybe the lotion is not working, maybe I'm just hopeful.

*How are you feeling right about now? It's getting harder to get up and down and bend over. Curse my incredibly short torso!

*Have you felt the baby move? Every day! She's shocking the doctors!

*Sleep habits? Sleeping on my sides hurts too much now, so I'm taking leave from the doctor to lay on my back if I want until 28 weeks.

*Any food cravings? Apples and string cheese and poultry!

*Anything you loved before that you absolutely cannot eat anymore? I'm really having to watch my sugar intake. It gives me heartburn :-(

*Memorable Moment of the Week: WE'RE HAVING A LITTLE GIRL! I still can't stop smiling :-)

Update since yesterday!

Dan got to feel his first kick last night at about 10:30! So no more of his feeling completely uninvolved. He said he wasn't even sure he felt it at first because it was such a light push against his hand. Fortunately the baby kept at it. So he was pretty sure after a couple of kicks that he was really feeling his baby moving in there :-) Yay!

Week 19- One week until the half way point!

I can't believe that we are almost half way there! Where has the time gone!?! This has definitely been a very good week in the realm of pregnancy. Excluding one midnight trip to the bathroom, I have been relatively morning sickness free! Thank goodness. All I can say is: IT'S ABOUT TIME! I know that Dan is quite ready to have a wife that is back to normal, instead of one that can't get off the couch half the time.
On to other matters: I have finally purged my closet and drawers of all the clothes I can no longer wear. This being said, my father can no longer say that I have too many clothes. Dan has more on his side of the closet than I do (something I thought would NEVER happen). I just can't believe how much of my clothing no longer fits. I can't wear hardly any of my regular pants anymore, even with the belly band. They just look rather ridiculous at this point. So I gave in and shipped them away to storage land. However, I am starting to stock up on maternity clothes. So this should help the clothing shortage :-) As sad as I was to them go, it is good to know that the clothes I'm now reaching for will definitely fit me! No more guessing game (at least for a few more weeks, I hope!).
As of last Friday the baby has moved from fish flipping, fluttery fun to full out kicking (not hard, obviously, but definite jabs). The baby has been moving SO MUCH this week. I usually feel lots of little kicks toward evening (5pm or so). But I'm also getting little bits in the early afternoon, and once in the middle of the night! That was quite strange to wake up to, especially as he/she was kicking down instead of out, something I hadn't experienced before or since :-) A very strange feeling if ever there was one! It is so wonderful to have a constant reassurance that everything is still going okay in there. I feel even more connected to this child now that I can't fool myself into thinking I've just had one too many tacos. Dan still hasn't felt any kicking, though we've tried. Really hoping that the kicks will get even stronger over this coming week or so, so that Dan can feel his little boy/girl moving around. He handles the lack of involvement well, but I can tell it's really killing him that he can't feel anything yet. Hopefully soon!
Speaking of exciting things to come, next Tuesday is the date of our next ultrasound! I simply cannot wait to find out what we are having! It will be so nice to refer to the baby as a boy or a girl and give him/her a NAME! Another great part of this appointment is that we will have ultrasound pics of our little one to show everyone during the Thanksgiving festivities! So this next blog will be a little late in coming out so that we can make sure to tell the family face-to-face. Then cyber world can have its chance at the info!
Here are the weekly belly updates (all I can say is if I'm not having twins, that is going to be one big baby!):















































*When is your due date? April 12, 2010

*What week are you in? 19 weeks

*How much weight have you gained? Still at +1lb (even with clothes on I swear I'm still losing)

*Do you know the gender of your baby? If so, what? I still think boy, but I don't think I would be completely shocked to be told it's a girl either...

*Do you have a name picked out? What? Boy: Kellen Daniel, Girl: Aiden Mirth or maybe Aiden Ryelle

*Who is going to be with you during delivery? Dan

*Maternity clothes? Yep! Old clothes out, maternity clothes in!

*Stretch Marks? Does lotion even work? My poor tummy will never be the same!

*How are you feeling right about now? Hard to stand up for long periods of time without back pain. Nausea and headaches seem to be decreasing though.

*Have you felt the baby move? DEFINITELY! I LOVE IT!

*What is the latest thing you bought for baby? Still waiting to do all the registry stuff until next Tuesday when we will really know what we are looking for.

*Sleep habits? Sleeping on my back hurts, so I toss and turn a lot of side to side.

*Any food cravings? Apples and string cheese

*Anything you loved before that you absolutely cannot eat anymore?Nothing new and I can eat some more dairy again! Yippee!

*Memorable Moment of the Week: Feeling the first actual kicks/jabs!

Oooohh! Look what I found!

Baby Names

Names

Pregnancy

The Old Wives Predict...

It'll be a boy! But only by a slight margin :-)
Tons of you have been asking me if we know, want to know, and when we'll know if we're having a little bundle of pink or blue. I know we're excited to find out, but until November 24th we'll just have to let the "old wives" give us their predictions :-)
I found this site online that lists characteristics of carrying boys and girls. So here they are for your viewing pleasures.
I've placed an asterisk next to all the ones that apply to me.

It's a boy if:
• You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy
• Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute
• You are carrying the extra weight out front *
• Your belly looks like a basketball
• Your areolas have darkened considerably *
• You are carrying low *---There is still some discrepancy on whether or not I'm carrying high/low, but the general consensus is low. Really, there is no place for this baby to be but simply out. I have the shortest torso ever!
• You are craving salty or sour foods
• You are craving protein -- meats and cheese *--- but I'm only indulging in tuna occasionally
• Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy *--- Wearing socks/booties to bed most nights.
• The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy
• Your hands are very dry
• Your pillow faces north when you sleep
• Dad-to-be is gaining weight, right along with you *--- well he was. Now he's on a diet and losing! So I don't know if this counts :-)
• Pregnancy has you looking better than ever *--- I feel like I do. Since I'm gaining belly weight and not gaining weight overall, it has me slimming overall.
• Your urine is bright yellow in color *--- I think this just means I'm not drinking enough water
• Your nose is spreading
• You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves in circles *--- It moved in an odd pattern (back, forth, round, round, back, forth...)
• You are having headaches * (So bad)
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an even number

It's a girl if:
• You had morning sickness early in pregnancy * (Well, is it still early?)
• Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute *---(146-150)
• You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear
• Your left breast is larger than your right breast
• Your hair develops red highlights
• You are carrying high
• Your belly looks like a watermelon *
• You are craving sweets
• You are craving fruit *--- (APPLES!)
• You crave orange juice
• You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy
• You are moodier than usual during pregnancy *--- (I cry all the time. Commercials for hospitals and anything having to do with children, happy or sad).
• Your face breaks out more than usual
• You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread
• Your breasts have really blossomed! *--- (And if they could find a stopping point, I'd appreciate it!)
• Your pillow faces south when you sleep
• Your urine is a dull yellow color
• You hang your wedding ring over your belly and it moves from side to side*--- (see above)
• You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived and the sum is an odd number* (22 + 7 = 29)


Anyway, hope you enjoyed. Feel free to send your remarks. I love getting everyone's opinions to see who is right and wrong and how the general consensus ends up. The tally stands

BOY: 20
Me
Dan
Aunt J.J.
Steph Cornthwaite
Rose Witteveen
Angela Hamm
Roxie Glaze
Dan's work (we'll say about 7 people)
Kaitlyn Disher
Stephanie Clouser
Dana Kinney
Soon-to-be Uncle Johnny
Meghann Hampton
Dan's mom

GIRL: 14
Cousin Jessie
Cousin Jill
Michelle Dehart
Julie Parmenter
Hannah Dutton
Jessica Wilson
Rachel Peine
Julie Hinton
Tyrone (Dan's work)
Kaleen Dowdy
Ellen Pashley
My mom
Pat Pinkard
Aunt Pam

Twins (Since there has been significant input in this area): About 5
Aunt Terry
Several People from Dan's work
I wouldn't be surprised!

Okay, so I'm a bad blogger who missed week 17. On to week 18!

So, to those of you who keep up regularly, so sorry for the lack of update over the last week. I did some subbing and then I've been sick off and on. Thus, it kind of slipped my mind. Sorry.
As to the update:
This has been a week for the beginning of back pain! Yes. I am now so big that standing on my feet to long makes my back hurt. :-(
So BIG you say? Oh yes! I actually went into my mom's office and was asked by one of her co-workers, "Wow! How far along are you again?!" I am officially way bigger than my week number gives me credit for. However, it definitely helps me to feel more pregnant. Which I LOVE!
Unfortunately pregnancy is also kicking in other unpleasant side affects such as cold symptoms. For the time being I am a Halls addict. As gross as they may be, they help!
To top off the bad news with the good, we will be finding out in a couple of weeks what the sex of our baby is! We are super excited! We still seem to be getting a 50/50 response on the expectations of boy and girl from all our family and friends. So it will definitely be a surprise to us all.
I've been feeling lots movement lately. The movement has definitely moved from fluttering, fishy movements to actual movement. It feels like someone is just pressing up against the inside of my abdomen, which I suppose they are! It's so great! I love feeling that actual pressure and movement. I can't distinguish body parts and Dan hasn't been able to feel anything yet, but hopefully soon!
Onto the belly pics:



















































*When is your due date? April 12, 2010

*What week are you in? 18 weeks

*How much weight have you gained? Still at +1lb

*Do you know the gender of your baby? If so, what? Definitely feeling it's a boy, but I almost feel guilty saying that...

*Do you have a name picked out? What? Boy: Kellen Daniel, Girl: Aiden Mirth

*Who is going to be with you during delivery? Dan

*Maternity clothes? Yep! I can still wear my old pants if I wear the belly band, but I'm getting to the end of my options there.

*Stretch Marks? Make me very sad :-(

*How are you feeling right about now? Back aches, head aches, nausea off and on STILL... but feeling pretty good at the moment.

*Have you felt the baby move? Oh Yeah! Right now actually!

*What is the latest thing you bought for baby? My parents just bought the baby a teddy bear and my mom made BOOTIES! So cute!

*Sleep habits? Lots of pillows.

*Any food cravings? Apples!

*Anything you loved before that you absolutely cannot eat anymore?Nothing new

*Memorable Moment of the Week: Feeling movement in a completely new and different way!