Kick, kick, kicking!

Well, BJ's first opportunity to "feel" Baby T in my belly came on February 12th. It was a Thursday evening and he was getting ready for bed when I realized there was a thumping motion coming from my lower abdomen. I told him to hurry, which initially confused him and then he caught on. It really felt almost like a heart beat that we were feeling through my stomach, which wasn't what I expected. Pretty cool though.

There has been more routine movement from Baby T in the past few weeks....he kicks mid-morning (8:30 or 9), again after lunch, when I get home from work, and when I'm lying in bed before falling asleep. It's most noticeable when I actually stop moving around during the day.

A few nights ago, I swear he was taking a kickboxing class in my tummy. His daddy had to work midnight shift which typically makes it more difficult for me to get restful sleep, but every couple hours when I woke up I could feel him kicking. I couldn't believe the frequency!

Just last night (2/25), BJ and I actually saw my belly move as a result of his kicks. Throughout the evening he'd been kicking and every attempt BJ made to feel him caused baby to be stubborn and stop kicking. I began feeling kicking again when I was lying in bed and told BJ to come feel. He decided to hum "Green Acres" (yeah, I don't know...not going to pretend to understand) and everytime he stopped, Baby T would kick! My stomach would bounce upward with each kick and was visible to us both. We were giggling.

Now BJ is obsessed with seeing his response to music, and tonight I had ipod ear pieces on my belly for a period of time. Not as much movement today, and Baby T didn't really react.

The motion is very reassuring and helps to make me feel like everything is okay!

L-O-V-E *23 weeks, 3 days*

Perhaps the best Valentine's Day we've ever had, and that's saying alot considering there were 14 before this one! We were eagerly anticipating the weekend and the excitement of finally finding out Baby T's gender. It was a long shot, but we'd found a local place on the internet that does 3D ultrasounds and had a Valentine special. They recommended having the ultrasound done around 28 weeks, but the special would have expired by then....so at 23 weeks and 3 days we saw Baby T again. It was an AMAZING experience that I would recommend to anyone that is considering it.

Upon the technician placing the wand on my belly, she instantly said, "It's a boy!" Shock was really our initial reaction as the technician at the 19 week Level II sono said it was a girl. We'd been so disappointed by the experience and she admitted that she was unsure if this information was accurate. However, they did put it in our file and even our local doctor said they wouldn't report this information unless it was accurate. All I have to say is, "whatever!" The 3D sono tech told us that she had never had that happen before, and I honestly think she questioned herself for a second after our reaction. We both said, "what!?!" I asked if she could take a picture for confirmation. She told us that she'd seen the "turtle head" and took a picture of Baby T's package. Hehe!

We'd really been hesitant about telling everyone, and BJ had considered keeping it a surprise; however, we decided to break the news in a special way. Both of Baby T's sets of grandparents watched the 3D ultrasound from their home computers three hours way. Suzanne and the boys were with Ralph and Diane; and a family friend (Betty Jean) was with my parents. Apparently Betty Jean knew it was a boy even before the technician typed the information on the screen.

After that initial excitement, we spend the next half hour just watching Baby T move about. Due to my concern that he'd passively lay on his belly the entire time like the 19 week, I drank a little Cherry Pepsi before the appointment. This apparently made him happy and active, and the technician said it was a good thing. His little arms were moving all around and often times were waving in front of his face. We watched him yawn and even suck his thumb! It was adorable!

I may be crazy, but I can really see his daddy in the picture. I think it's in his forehead and eyes that I see BJ, rather than myself. I guess time will tell!

This experience has made Baby T more real to me than ever. Sometimes you feel so disconnected from that little person growing inside when you can't see for yourself what is going on. I find myself just staring at the pictures wondering if he'll look the same in a few months. I realize I may be biased, but he sure is a cutie. Can't wait to see him in person!

Doctor Appointment *22 weeks*

Wow! Time sure is flying. I had my monthly appointment with the physician's assistant on 2/3. This was the first time I'd met the physician's assistant on my venture to eventually meet the doctor who will deliver our child. Unfortunately, I can't say that I was impressed. She talked a mile a minute, and made me feel like a number more than anything.

I had hoped the doctor would approve us for another ultrasound as we were disappointed by the experience at St. Mary's. It makes me feel somewhat guilty saying that as we were obviously very pleased to find out the cyst was gone, but I also think these rare moments when you're able to see your child inside your tummy are opportunities for bonding. The doctor's response was very brief and she indicated that we should be happy there wasn't a cyst. Furthermore, the baby was fine and they would not write a script for a sono. Very disappointing. The other reason we wanted to have another chance to see Baby T was because the technician was unsure of the gender, so we wanted confirmation of what they had said.

I had previously decided I wasn't going to spend the money on a 3D sono, but didn't really know of any other way to achieve our two goals - seeing the baby and determining the gender. I did a google search and found out there is a facility minutes away in Glen Carbon - Ultrasound Zone, LLC. They're also running a Valentine's Day Special, so I asked BJ if he'd be open to having it done. We decided this would be our Valentine gift to one another. I can't think of anything more perfect! We have an appointment on 2/13.

The only other new medical concern, is that my iron came up low so I'm taking supplements daily. I was surprised to hear this information, as the nurse on the phone said this may be why I've been lethargic...well, I hadn't been lethargic. In fact, I've had tons of energy lately. So, I've been taking my supplements and oddly have felt more tired since I started taking them. Weird.

With my boost in energy, I've been cleaning and organizing closets. I also went through the clothes my sister had given me to sort out what I felt we could use. My plan is to have a garage sale before Baby T's arrival. I definitely want this opportunity to get things organized before I have my hands full!

We wrapped up our registries (Wal-Mart, Target, and Babies R Us) this weekend! It's so hard trying to figure out what to register for. Fortunately, there are lots of mommies in my life to offer some advice! Amanda and my mom are throwing me a shower for friends and the Jennings/Bush side of the family on 4/18. We're going to have it here so I don't have to transport gifts. I'm very excited to see everyone!

My Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades!

Another step toward completion of the nursery! BJ had a couple days off and decided that he would begin by painting the ceiling and accent walls white, which were previously a cream color. We had gone to Home Depot and used their color match system to make a funky green that was found in one of the dots of our bedding. I'd also found a diamond pattern I wanted to add to the wall.

Interestingly, the same day BJ started painting, my parents called (1/23) to ask if we wanted help painting the room. I wasn't going to pass up on the opportunity for some help. From what I've read in the bible (a.k.a., What to Expect When You're Expecting) it stated that most paints are safe for pregnant women to be around, but you never know when new research will be found linking some type of concern. So, I didn't want to paint the room myself, and BJ can't stand to paint!

Nana and Papa Jennings arrived later that night and we talked about the plan for completing the room. Fortunately, Amanda's hubby (Chris) has a system at work that allowed him to put in the dimensions of our room and tell us the measurements for taping off the diamonds with painter's tape. We discovered the only new concern was keeping the tape straight and ran out to purchase a laser to assist with the process.

It was late by the time we arrived home, and decided it best to leave the activity until the next morning. It took quite some time and all four of us working together to tape off the diamonds. I was so glad when they could finally start painting, but it was killing me that I couldn't help out. My mom painted a small area with the green paint and it was hideous!!! I started crying immediately (thank you pregnancy hormones), and became more frustrated as nobody else seemed to understand my concerns. BJ kept saying, "it's fine" and that he just wanted it finished. I couldn't believe it...it looked like a combination of poo and vomit! There was no way our baby was going to have a nursery with poo colored walls!

As we're still unsure of the gender of the baby, this sent us back to the drawing board to choose a color. We were left with pale yellow, bright yellow, pale blue, red, or brown...BJ had said he didn't want to use blue, as he felt it was not gender neutral if we had a girl. So...considering red and brown would probably darken the room, we decided on pale yellow. We hopped in the car (again) and went to the local Ace Hardware to see what they had to offer. BJ giggled a little and said, "it did sort of look like baby poo on the wall" in reference to the green. Lovely. We had great customer service at Ace and they helped us make a yellow. It was a bit brighter than I had anticipated, and thus the room was given the name, "my future's so bright, I gotta wear shades."

It was not the most relaxing day and there was some argument involved, but the room is painted and it looks great. I can't wait to put the curtains up, put the bedding in the crib, and start putting things on the walls. It's all coming together. I hope Baby T loves their room some day!