Half Way There!!

Today marks the half way point we are 20 weeks along and 20 weeks to go! Our little girl is rumbling around a lot lately. I have started to feel little pains in my belly that last a few seconds at a time that I'm certain is her moving around. She and I have been keeping really busy together with the holiday preparations! I have taught her how to shop on a budget and how to decorate the house for Hanukkah and Christmas! We're looking forward to celebrating both in the upcoming weeks but most excited for the Laidlaw family to come and spend some time with us. Grandpa and Tamu Laidlaw will be visiting us through the holidays and Uncle Alec and Aunt Angela will also be coming up to play along with cousins Katie and Caroline.

We have our next doctors appointment on Monday and we are anxious to see how she is growing. I'm sure our next update will include an ultra sound picture so hang tight!

Gobble Gobble!!

It's official our little bell pepper is in fact a girl!!! Although it was anticipated from the ultra sound the doctors confirmed that pink is in our future. We are so thrilled and excited to have added another member to the family sorority! This news came at a perfect time, my dad who runs his own sorority house was in town with Mom Gen, Rachael and Marissa for Thanksgiving. It had been 5 years since we have all spent the holiday together so it was wonderful adding Blake and our little one to the mix. We were hosted by our cousins for a HUGE feast with 40 other family members. The Freeman family relatives came out of the woodwork! Eating was the theme of their visit and many of our other family friends joined in the celebration throughout the weekend as well. Baby girl had a great time playing with her Zeta, Nana and Aunties Bacon and Skip... she's a lucky one alright! The weekend ended with a trip to Tacoma to visit our friends Donovan and Jamie for a fun night of bowling. Baby and I made a great team and although the first round wasn't stellar, we kicked serious butt in the next round... which might have had something to do with the others having just a few cocktails. It's always a good time when bowling is involved!! We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!!

Whew, what a week... and a half

We'll it's been a heck of a week for us in the Laidlaw house. Last Friday I went for a check up and the nurse did a Doppler test on the belly so I could hear the heartbeat! Wow, what a moment it was, there may have been some tears. Yesterday marked the calendar with 16 weeks along in the pregnancy and I still feel GREAT!! We also went in today for another check up and ultra sound where the tech took pictures of EVERY single thing! We saw 10 fingers and 10 toes, two eyes, a nose, a mouth, bones, all four chambers of the heart, the brain, BUT no penis! The tech and the doctor are pretty certain it's a girl but we have some testing coming back in a few weeks that will determine it for sure. Blake's first reaction, "are you sure, can you double check it? maybe it's just too small to see." The pressure has been on from all sides of the family for a boy, but maybe in the next round. We're floating around with a few names so we'll keep you posted when we decide for sure. - November 14

Update: Embracing the idea of a baby girl, Blake and I went out over the weekend to check out girly things... I am trying to refrain from pink... it's a bit harder than I thought. While at Babies R Us we checked out furniture and all the other "essentials" according to the store. Once we went through almost every isle, we found ourselves amongst the clothing section where we found a Seahawks cheerleading outfit. Of course when Blake saw it, he had to have it! And there it was the moment we both embraced our baby girl!!

American Baby

Blake, baby and I voted today. Although it will be another 20 years before baby can vote in a presidential election, what a momentous time to be a part of.

Jelly Belly

13 weeks and the belly has popped out a bit. I have officially given up on my jeans and have succumb to maternity clothes. Baby and I are doing very well and staying healthy. We have our next check up after Thanksgiving which is when we will find out the sex of our little one. We are anxiously awaiting that news!!

Also, for all those keeping track... I ate my words and Blake did not carve the pumpkin... I loose.

Pumpkin Patch

So there we were in a huge field of pumpkins... what does Blake decide to do... pretend he is pregnant with a pumpkin. Although I was dying to go to the pumpkin patch and corn maze, which was apparently eaten by geese... weird I know... it was kind of a let down. But when all was said and done we had two pumpkins, one for me and one for baby (Blake has vowed to NEVER carve another pumpkin again after last year)! It's likely next week we'll have a picture of Blake carving the pumpkin... just you wait!

I drank the Chef'n Kool-Aid

Finally after 10 weeks of lies and deceit, I was able to share with my co-workers our news. Although, there are currently 3 pregnancies and 2 newborns (yeah, don't drink the Kool-Aid here unless you want a baby!), the response was overwhelming! Hugs and emails filled with support and well wishes were sent throughout the day! What a relief to get that off my chest!

We also have our second doctor appointment tomorrow, Friday! Can't wait to see that heartbeat again... and maybe hear it too. Our baby is the size of a lime right now, it's growing so quickly, it's fingers and toes are starting to move around. Blake has been such an awesome support system, he is definitely my rock. He even supports me with all the "baby research"... yes, he even read "Belly Laughs" by Jenny McCarthy!! Every night after work, he gets on the computer and (after checking Fantasy Football updates) he reads the consumer reports guide to baby gear! From strollers, to clothes, this man knows it all.

I need to give some BIG kudos to my cousins/sisters, Rachel and Jennifer for ALL of the baby gear! They loaded up our car, yes loaded there was no room for Hudson, with a bassinet, maternity clothes, a baby gym, etc, the list could go ON! So thank you for being my "suppliers", Bank of Blake also appreciates you saving us the money!