18 weeks!

So here we are at 18 weeks and there is much to update....

1) The quad screen results came back negative! That means Nugget does not have Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, Trisomy 18, or a neural tube defect. Praise God!

2) Starting wearing maternity pants this week. Thanks so much to my neighbor Hannah who gave me so many maternity clothes, I don't think I will have to buy any!

3) Nugget starting kicking at 17 weeks. It felt like 4 little popcorn pops. I have to lay still to really feel it, but each night I feel him/her jumping around~ wow!~

4) Sickness is still a thing of the past! I feel great in my second trimester with less heartburn, more energy, and no vomiting. Headaches have started in the late evening, but no complaining here!

5) Dustin and I are truly getting soooo excited. The reality of Nugget's arrival is really starting to sink in. I can't wait to hold our sweet baby.

6) Jan 18th is our next doctor's appointment. We will have another ultrasound and find out for certain the sex of the baby and have the full anatomy scan where they will check how Nugget is growing and developing.

This is such an exciting journey! Thank you Lord for our sweet Nugget.

Jumping Bean!

What an experience. We got to watch Nugget on the screen for an hour! I just can't even list all of the blessing and things we have to be thankful for....

• he has two arms
• two legs- which we were told are very long!
• two big feet
• two hands (each with five fingers)
• a brain with two hemispheres
• a nose
• a ear (only saw one side of his head)
• a tummy (which Dustin said looked like a beer gut)
• a racing little heart beat
• an umbilical cord
• he liked to touch his hand to head a lot (I wonder if he will sleep that way?)
• very active little Nugget~!

If you have watched any amount of TLC or Discovery like I have, you know these are all BLESSINGS! We watched in aw as our little kido literally punched and jumped around for an hour. He was so active! Elise told me to get ready for when I can really feel all of that movement, I will really feel it! We couldn't believe how something three inches big was so volitional and so intentional. He responded every time she moved the wand and bounced all around. Now... I keep saying he, but we only got one shot of his/her bottom and she was unable to tell for sure if we are having a boy or a girl. At her first glance and with her gut instinct, she thought boy but we will have to wait till another ultrasound to know for sure~ It doesn't matter to me~ We got to see this precious life, acting sooo ALIVE, and to experience something so special and new. What an awesome God~

Stomach Bug

So... after 5 days in a row of night sickness, the stomach bug hit. Thankfully we were not sick during the concert, but as soon as we made it to the parking garage, the vomiting began! The next day at work, I had a complete emotional breakdown, crying in the bathroom, and could keep nothing down. My co-workers insisted I go home which I did around 11:00. By the afternoon, Mom had brought me a snack and a drink which soon came back up and by the time Dustin came home from work, diarrhea and a low-grade fever had set in. We made it through the night and by Friday morning I was feeling much better. I took the day off from work as I was sooo tired and weak from the day before... and of course... the ultrasound was scheduled for that afternoon!

Andrea Bocelli Concert

Wednesday night Dustin and I (and Nugget) went to the Andrea Bocelli concert at Toyota Center. While some might not think this is a big deal, I was sooooo excited I could hardly stand it. Andrea Bocelli was on my bucket list and something that I had always hoped to one day see! Two days before we found out we were pregnant, I saw the ad for the tickets. I waited in the driveway for Dustin to get home so that we could get tickets. To say the least they were VERY expensive, but we agreed and bought the tickets. Thank goodness that was before we knew Nugget was coming because knowing me, I know I would not have spoiled myself with buying these tickets once I knew we had a baby on the way.

So.... the night of the concert..... it was AMAZING. We had tickets on the 9th row in the lower club section. Former President Bush (41) and First Lady Barbara were there. They received a standing ovation from the entire crowd when they were seated! Wow! Of course I cried! I cried multiple times throughout the evening and Dustin kept reminding me to calm down.... Dustin leaned over during a song as said this was Nugget's first concert.

I am so excited to experience of his/her little firsts in life. First cry, first diaper, first feeding, first crawl, first steps, first... first... first... first day of college. Thank you Lord that you have entrusted us with this life. Wow!

First Trimester is Finished!!!!

YEA!!!!!! This post marks the end of our first trimester! It has been a roller coaster of emotional, hormonal, sleep filled and toliet filling days.... but will all that said, we are getting so excited to see our little Nugget. At 12 weeks, Nugget is the size of a lime!

Dustin's new hospital opened last Wednesday. On Friday I went to the hospital after work to visit and meet his staff and co-workers. It was so nice to put names to faces of all the sweet people he talks about. Everyone was so encouraging and expressed how amazing Dustin is to work with and what a great job he has done! It made me very proud. While we were there, we met the L&D director, Elise, who offered to give us an ultrasound this week. I started crying when she said we might be able to see the sex of the baby! What an early Christmas present! Today I got an email from Stephanie at the hospital, confirming our appointment for Friday at 4:00! We are soooo excited. Even if we don't find out if Nugget is a boy or a girl (it is still really early) it will be so neat to see how much he/she has changed since our last ultrasound 7 weeks ago~

Nugget now...

• has fingerprints
• is developing vocal cords
• is the size of a peach (Wow!)
• is almost three inches long
• weighs almost an ounce
• is looking more and more human everyday~

Blessing beyond measure! We have been entrusted with a precious life which we are already so grateful for~

Thanksgiving

Today was a great day filled with turkey (which of course we did not eat), ham (which we tried to eat a few bites) , chicken and dumplings, cranberry, corn casserole, brussel sprouts (which I tried to make fir Dustin and he didn't like them), glazed carrots, gravy, dressing, pumpkin roll...... and the list goes on! Nugget got morning sickness finished by about 4:30 this morning and we went back to bed unitl 7ish. So.... we were well rested and feeling good to enjoy Thanksgiving. This year we each shared what we were thankful for. It was emotional as each person shared something thoughtful and Aunt Linda said she was thankful for everyone in the room and thankful for the baby that will be here soon~!

David and Kristi sent us home with so many goodies- a bumbo and rattles, Leap and Lilly, and infant toys out the wazzooo! I am so thankful for.....

-our little lime that is growing so fast!

-great family to share in this journey with us

-my sweet husband who is working so hard right now

-blessings beyond measure~

Baby's First Music Video

So Monday we got to hear Nugget's heartbeat. We couldn't stop smiling. Now I think I want to record each ultrasound and heartbeat to capture these moments! I think I was a little bossy getting Dustin to record this, but he was a trooper! Thanks Dad! Dr. Hughes answered so many of my questions and my weight was down again! Yea! I guess now that the night sickness has subsided, maybe I will start gaining a little. Nugget- we are getting so excited to meet you!