Cutest Baby Laugh

Avoiding the Strap-On Tummy

I had a really depressing moment yesterday. I have admitted that my jeans are no longer buttoning, even though I don't really appear pregnant yet. But it just becomes super uncomfortable to sit with them buttoned. So I keep doing the rubber band trick, and so far my pants have not fallen off nor have I been humiliated in public. So hey, if it ain't broke...

But I realized that eventually, none of my pants are going to fit. Now Peanut, your mom likes to think that she is pretty well-dressed. I'm not shopping on Rodeo Drive here, but I have nice basics that keep me looking professional and neat. I have great suits from Banana Republic and Anne Klein, great wide leg pants from the Gap, etc. And the thought of not being able to wear those babies for the next year is really depressing. Just yesterday, another mom of a 15-month old was telling me that she just now made it back to her pre-baby weight because she got a stomach virus and barfed for a few days.

So I broke down and decided to go shopping just to see what was out there. Passing by all my favorite stores made me wish I could run in there and pick out whatever I thought was cute, not just the things that I can tolerate. Everyone says the rule for maternity clothes should be that if you wouldn't wear it before you were prego, you shouldn't wear it now. Don't settle for mumus! But the reality is that all of the cute things that I really like are expensive. Is it worth it to buy nice clothes that I will keep and probably wear for these long months and possibly again in the future?

So after wandering around Macy's uneventfully (with a gift card burning a hole in my pocket) I gave up and went to Motherhood Maternity. My only joy came when I found a pair of super stretchy pants that had no tummy panel! They just looked like normal pants, but you could unbutton these panels inside to give them more room. But here is my problem - obviously my stomach is not going to be the only part of me to grow.... So if they fit me now, they probably won't fit me later. But the next size up was falling off of me. There was even a scary strap-on tummy in the dressing room. I just couldn't bring myself to see what I will look like when I am officially humongous.... So the only thing I bought was a black tulip skirt. Hopefully I can still feel cute when I start to really fill it out!

"Boringly Normal"

Well, I went back to the doctor again yesterday to get all the results back from my labs. No hepatitus, what a suprise! They just ran my bloodwork and told me the measurements from the sonogram, etc. My doctor's exact words were that everything looked "boringly normal." She even showed me the screen on her laptop with all my results and all the way down the page was normal. So we're doing good! I know I need to make more of an effort to exercise, so I am hoping that this continually tired phase will pass on by. I know that I shouldn't want to rush through this, but I am kind of ready for us to get to the fun stuff that will happen once we know if you are a boy or a girl.

But apparently everyone has decided you are a girl anyway! Bo's mom was telling us that she has been praying and feels that this baby will be a fountain of joy and laughter to everyone around it. She also told us that names are important, so we should look into the meanings of the names that we like. I guess we didn't really care before, but when I looked up Cameron, I was kind of surprised... It means "crooked nose." Seriously! But it also was one of the more powerful tribes in Scotland, I think. So we will stick with that...

That Glow vs. That Gripe

You know, someone has already mentioned that pregnancy glow to me... But they were talking about my husband. Apparently there is nothing that makes certain husbands more proud than telling everyone that they have gotten their wife pregnant. Everyone keeps telling me, "Bo just looks so happy and excited!" And it is wonderful to hear him talk about big plans, baby things, putting a basketball goal up in the driveway (a leeeetle early, I think...)

As for me, I am just so tired. I really have to start going to bed earlier. I am just such a night owl, and I hate getting up in the mornings. If I could work from about 10:00 to 6:00, I would be perfectly happy. I have also noticed that my new pair of jeans is not exactly buttoning anymore. I bought them about 2 months ago and was so excited that I went down a size. So much for that! It's embarrassing that I am going to have to hunt down these "extenders" things that hold your pants up before you really have to wear maternity stuff.

I gotta tell you, Peanut, you are doing some funky things to your mom's skin. I think for the first time since middle school, I hate looking in the mirror and seeing breakouts everywhere. But at the same time, nothing seems to help. How can my skin be terribly dry and yet oily enough to have pimples? We gotta get this under control!

Well, I got to see Baby Emerson at Easter and she is getting so big! I think I only got to hold her for about 5 minutes since there were so many family members fighting over her. See what we have to look forward to?

A Panda Cake

Today is my 26th birthday. That doesn't really seem that old to me, but I guess I would have thought so back when I was ten years younger. I will be a mom before I turn 27! Bo tells me all the time that he doesn't want to be an "old dad" who is too run down to play with his kids, but all it makes me think is, "Does he think that I am an OLD MOM?" It's not like I am gonna be on one of those makeover shows in six months with bad roots and outdated clothes saying, "I know I just let myself go!"

Well, my sister Amy came to visit San Antonio this weekend, and she had a very special birthday present for me. She found a copy of my favorite book when I was little. I tried to find a picture of it online, but it was printed in 1978 and no one seems to have one. The book is called "Panda Cake" and is the story of a family of pandas who gather all their favorite ingredients to make a very special cake. If there is one thing I love, it is a good piece of cake! That story had been read to me so many times (when I was probably 4 years old), that I memorized the words even though I couldn't technically read them off the page. The book Amy found online was in decent shape (considering it is 30 years old) and it was such a nice surprise! Our first baby book. Hope there are lots more to come!

A Scorpio?

Well, the sonogram yesterday gave us some very interesting information. Don't get too excited, it was only one heartbeat! But after measuring the baby, they told us a very accurate estimate of how far along I am and when the baby is due. We were way off! They say that I am 7 weeks, 4 days along and that puts the baby's arrival somewhere in the neighborhood of October 25.

I was excited to see the tiny guy on the sonogram and the heartbeat sounded very strong and fast. But thinking that the baby was coming in September made me feel like a kid that was just told Christmas is being pushed back a month. It already seemed far away, but now it is even farther! I think this may actually work out better when it comes to my maternity leave with the holidays approaching then, but this could definitely necessitate a change in wardrobe:

Now the birthday could be all the way past the libra time frame and on into the scorpios! Here's what they have to say:

"i'm wise beyond my years
i will be a leader
love to win
magnetic, intense, creative"

Interesting, huh? Sounds more like their bossy mommy than the laid back dad!

From the book, "Prayers for Expectant Mothers"

My Lord and my Redeemer,
Inside me is a sanctuary where you abide. Inside my womb you fashion our child and define every feature. The thought of your work is more than I can comprehend, and yet, I delight in knowing that you are here. I have seen pictures of babies in the womb, and I am amazed at your work. My child at each stage of development is such a marvel.

I smile to learn that the first organ to function is the heart. Would a lesser designer have begun with the brain? And so, I ask for my baby, that its heart will be perfect. Four flawless chambers beating in perfect sync. From there I envision the rest of the body that has just begun: spinal cord, lungs and brain. Oh Lord, our Creator, please complete each detail with precision and strength.

As the face and limbs begin to form, please grow sturdy bones and sound muscles. Make our babies eyes much stronger than mine. Give this dear little one ears that will hear for a lifetime. Give it a strong mind that will serve as an oasis for truth and wisdom. Lord, please oversee my baby's growth. Give our child legs to run and arms to hug. Fashion hands that are skillful, yet loving. I trust you to provide all that is needed.

Remember my baby until its growth is complete. Keep it safe inside me until the time is appointed. I have faith because you are the maker of all, you stretched out the heavens, and spread out the earth. Your presence gives me peace, and I will wait patiently while you work.

Isaiah 44:24 This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.

The Floodgates have Opened

Well, let the fun begin! The word is out to all of our family and now on MySpace. Tomorrow is the sonogram so I can't wait to see the heart beating and finally have evidence of this tiny person!

The weird thing is that we just found out that our kiddo is going to have another cousin! Bo's aunt on his dad's side was telling the news to her son and he said they are expecting too! (Sorry if our news sort of burst their bubble...) His wife is probably about a month behind me, so we will have lots of stories to share and cute baby pictures together for years to come. Keep Desiree in your prayers!

Bo's dad's side of the family was so funny when they found out. His dad jumped up to hug me and actually was very excited to call people and tell them he is gonna be a grandpa. I think he is totally convinced that it will be a little girl. He and my niece Miriam must have teamed up! When I talked to her on the phone last week, all she wanted to know was, "When is she gonna get here? What will you name her?" When I told her that we don't know yet if it is a girl, she seemed a little bummed... :)

Well, I will share more tomorrow. I need to see if Bo can figure out how to post the video of when we broke the news. He recorded it just for fun...

Dear Peanut

What's up, peanut? Today you are making your mommy feel kind of crappy, but you know we love you anyway. I sent your daddy a picture today of my tummy so you could say hi, but he apparently didn't quite understand. He sent me a picture back of his tummy, which might actually be a bit bigger at the moment. (Not for much longer, unfortunately....)

I was thinking today about how small you are, and how that almost makes it harder to believe that you are even in there! I think once I really start to look pregnant and see your little beating heart in a sonogram, that it will hit home a bit more. Right now we are a little nervous about planning and dreaming too much since you are still a ways off. But your Aunt Amy said that we only have nine months to dream before it is all too real, so who cares?

We are thinking that if you are a girl, your name will be Cameron Haley. Your daddy actually picked it out all by himself. When he was a teacher, he had way too many students that left bad impressions on names, so Cameron was one that was still perfect in his mind. I just want to make sure no one calls you Cammie! I figure you should just name your kids what you want people to call them. All of my life, I have to tell people that I go by "Katie" even though it is really "Kathryn."

If you turn out to be a boy (and your mommy guessed right) then your name will be Zane Holbrook. Your middle name will be the same as your Great Grandpa, John Chalmers. Your daddy loved him very much and respected him for his giving nature. And as for Zane, be glad that your mommy has some restraint! Your silly dad wanted to name you Zeigan but it sounds too much like a kind of beer. So we compromised. I think it will be cool that I can call you "Z" and wear jerseys that say "Z's MOM" on the back. With your daddy's genes, you will be an awesome athlete!

Okay, enough for today. I have so much more to tell you...

All in the Family

This is my sister Rachael's daughter, Emerson. She was born Dec. 26th, so she will definitely be the cousin closest to our baby in age. Rachael was excited that she would have someone to play with. Seeing pictures of her and hearing stories about her already rolling over makes me think about all the excitement we have yet to come.

Bo is terrified that we will have a child with red hair (even though that is what my mom openly wishes for...) He says that he always got teased and hated his red hair when he was younger. I would love for our child to have his blue eyes, good vision, and perfectly healthy teeth. Let's just say that my family genes in those areas are not so good. (Thanks Dad!) All my sisters and I have dark brown eyes and dark brown hair just like our father. Mom's red hair and green eyes are nowhere to be seen.

Well, in just over a week we will go in for the sonogram that will give us a better estimate of a due date. I am really hoping it is October. My normal doctor says that she has too many other scheduled deliveries for the month of September, so if I am due then, she will have to pass me over to another doctor in her practice. I guess we will see what God has planned!

And on that note, I will really be praying for God's direction as to whether or not I should go on our last scheduled summer trip to Guatemala. I selfishly feel that I have worked the previous two years and don't want to miss out on seeing the church dedicated and all the fun stuff ahead. But at the same time, I will be taking a week of vacation from work to go, and my internal alarm went off thinking that I might very well need it later. I know God will provide and protect me if I am supposed to go, so we will ask for that decision to come to me quickly and surely.

Surprise!

Well, the news is about to be all over the place. We told my mom Friday night and sure enough, she cried. She kept saying, "Really?!?" And then she clapped and did this goofy little happy dance. She was so excited. Now we just had to convince her not to tell everyone in Abilene because Bo's family won't hear until Friday.

We went to a couple's baby shower last night for some friends for church, and most of them found out then as well. We got lots of hugs and congrats, and it almost felt like now we will be part of that club - the parents. Everyone says you can't understand what it is like and how much your life changes. I am excited and yet a little weirded out. Bo and I are going to have a lot of changes this year! No more plans at the last minute or being lazy around the house on Saturdays. And it is unbelievable how much stuff you are supposed to get for this tiny new person.

We have already decided which room will be for the baby and how we might decorate it. We think we have already decided on names! Not that we are planners or anything. Of course we want to find out if it is a boy or girl!!! How can anyone not? I don't do well with surprises. But apparently all our friends and family do...