The big ultrasound

Well.... about 2 weeks ago we had our big ultrasound.

We found out on our anniversary and it was a great way to start the day. Steven went to work for a couple of our hours and then came home to drive me to the appointment. I had to drink a TON of water and not use the restroom for 2.5 hours. It was crazy! Steven made the comment that it felt like he was driving me to the hospital to have the baby because I got mad at him if he made me laugh or hit a bump while driving. It was painful... I don't know that it was the MOST painful thing I've done, but it definitely wasn't comfortable!

Once we there and after some measurements I was allowed to use the restroom. After that I really enjoyed the appointment. We got a DVD but I can't figure out how to upload it. I took some snap shots on the computer while I watched the video and thus the pictures below.

To start things off... if you haven't heard... and you probably have... the baby is a BOY! His name is going to be John Steven Swindell. And we absolutely can't wait to meet him. He wasn't very bashful and the lady conducting the ultrasound kept on saying, "Pretty convincing."

Boy shots

The next picture is kinda hard to see, but it's pretty sweet. It's a foot as it sweeps by the screen. In the second picture you can see toes. I like em'!

This is a picture of his little face (straight on).

The really dark spot are his eyes and

half of face is blocked by the placenta.

Profiles of his spine, stomach & legs.

Picture of the back of his neck & spine.

Profile of him face down.

His hand is touching his neck.

An arm and hand in a fist.

Brain!

Back of the neck

Heart rate measurements. 15o bpm.

Profile of his face... so sweet!

Baby Crib

As soon as we found out we were pregnant Steven said, "I want to build the crib!" I followed with, "and I'll make the bedding!" We are just plain nerdy... but I love it because we are so right for each other!

Anyway. I will post about the bedding when we get to it but we have gotten quite a start on the crib and I'm pretty excited. Here is a little preview...


First and foremost... SAFETY!
We've researched online and this is what we have gathered.

-The crib mattress must fit securely in the crib. If two adult fingers can fit in between the mattress and the railing then the space it too wide. Two adult fingers is a little over one inch... we designed a crib spacing of 3/4 of an inch.

-From the top of the crib, the mattress height should be two times the depth of the crib mattress. Crib mattress must be less than 6 inches deep... so for an infant we planned 12 inches and a baby that can sit up we planned 18 inches.

-The railing spacing must be at most 2 inches. Ours is 1.5 inches.

-Some drop down side have been recalled, so we designed a stationary side.


The Design!!!
Here are some pictures of the preliminary drawings. Steven came up with this and as you will see below we tweaked it together. The big cross is a cut out and the two little crosses are carved.

Side View

End View

Then we found google sketch up! Below are some 3D views of the crib. This is the most recent design. We took away the larger boards on the sides, but other than that it is pretty similar.

End View

Side view

mattress is at the lower level

mattress at the higher level

Soon to come... pictures of construction and the final crib!

4 (but really 4.5) months!!!

We have had a busy December, and thus this is not a 4 month post.. but a 4.5 month post! Which means we are half way!

I can't believe how fast the first half went by. However, I have noticed with the decrease in pace (no school work or major deadlines) and finding our that the baby is John I am growing more impatient. Even though we are half way, we still have a long way to go!


Changes for Me this month
-I've begun to feel movement, and I just love it! He is pretty consistent but I can't wait till he can respond to some of my (or Steven's) pokes.

-My stomach is really getting firm around my belly button and beginning to poking out of my shirts! As a result I've had to work really hard on my posture... otherwise I pay for it in lower back pain. I recently went to the doctor to get realigned and they tired and tired and tired... then sent me home and I was sad. The next day my back popped back into place and I felt great, Praise the Lord! I've found that keeping up with my stretches and doing lower back exercises really helps my back, but I think back pain is going to be a theme.

-I'm still battling dry skin... thank you hormones!... and the weather.

-A new development for this month is an INSANE hunger in the mornings. It is crazy! Usually I can't sleep because I've got to run to the restroom or my back hurts... but now we are adding a growling stomach into the mix.

-And finally the days of running and falling into a wonderfully soft bed face first... is over... sigh. I can no longer lie on my stomach. Which isn't a problem until one of those urges to fall into a soft bed comes along. :)


Changes for Steven
-Fallon's tummy is much bigger and I enjoy touching it more now that she is showing more.

-Finding out that the baby is John has increased my desire to meet and hold him.

-Fallon has been complaining about her lower back more often and is have trouble sleeping at night... I really wish she could sleep-in though.

-I've kinda given up feeling John move until later on in the pregnancy, but I still want to feel him kick!


Changes for Baby John!

This little man is up to a lot this month!

-finger prints are forming

-he is growing hair on his head (I hope he born with a lot)

-he is beginning to produce Meconium... can't wait for the first diaper changes ;)

-kidneys are working... oh diapers!

-he can hear me and other people talking

-fat is forming to insulate his newly formed organs... most energy goes into this task

-he is beginning to swallow the fluid and possibly suck his thumb

-he is able to feel things with his hands... maybe even respond to our movements by the end of the month

-by the end of the month he should weigh a pound... probably larger! we have a history of large babies in our family

:) :) :) :) :)

We still do!

So much to update on!!!!

Steven and I have had a wonderful two years of marriage (and we had a great day celebrating it). I'm amazed at how fast the time has flown by. God has blessed me so much with Steven Andrew Swindell!

We had a wonderful celebration on our Anniversary. To start the day off we had the privilege of bonding with our baby a little more. We know our baby now... He is John Steven Swindell!!! We couldn't be more delighted. We were excited to meet the baby before, but now it's just ridiculous. I will post more later.

Then we headed to a state park to hike! It's cheap and good for momma and baby. We actually explored a little of Huntsville State Park. We are always amazed by God's creation and it was so much fun walking and talking about John!!! (I just love saying that!)

Then we headed towards Houston. We shopped a little... well is it really shopping if you don't buy anything? We are having a hard time with Christmas gifts this year. I'm sure ideas will come! We also looked at baby clothes!

Honestly, (this is silly, but...) it was a wee bit difficult realizing that I wouldn't be able to indulge in those adorable baby girl dresses and bows and ribbons and little Marry Jane's and.... But then we found the sweater section at Kohls... little vests, sweaters and Polo's just melt my heart. I will still get to dress up a baby!

Okay.. back to to our Anniversary. We finished the day off with a lovely dinner at my FAVORITE restaurant... Olive Garden. OH so yummy!

We've only celebrated two years, but both times it hits me at the end of the day. Man... I just love having an entire day to spend with my sweetie. Talking about the past year and planning for our future... no other "task" except each other. I love Anniversaries and I propose we start celebrating every month... or day! We are blessed to wake up each day with each other!

YAY MARRIAGE!!!!!!!!!!

:)

Bum giv'n genius!

I really want cloth diapers this year for Christmas... but some people need diaper this year. I'm glad to say that we are going to support Bumgenius, flip & econobum all the way! I'm very impressed with Cottonbabies.com

To come: an updated cloth diapering report... I just have to graduate first!

Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving was great! Although, I am worn out... we had a blast visiting with both sides of the family. The hardest part for me was all the sitting in the car... the baby is in a growing stage (and I guess has been for all of it's life) but I'm really starting to feel it now. Once we arrived at our destination and I could stretch out I was a much happier camper.

The holiday started at my mom's house. We basically ate food and talked! I love Thanksgiving. I didn't take a ton of food pictures because... let's face it, those get old fast and never turn out as good as they really look. However, I couldn't resist taking a picture of our turkey. My mom has a rotisserie and it was so good to eat and look at! I brought one of my pumpkins, and even though it didn't ripen up enough to make a pie it made a lovely little decoration.

After lunch/dinner we had a little birthday party for my youngest sister. She turned 2o on Thanksgiving day this year.

After watching the Cowboys we went to see a movie. The Blind Side. All I have to say is, "Go see it!" It was great and Steven and I will probably purchase it. I was prepared for a tear jerker, but I didn't cry once (& have I mentioned that I am pregnant?). There were tons of hilarious parts and the story was wholesome.

These next couple of pictures are kinda random... but I wasn't sure where to put them. The first one is of my brothers "play" fighting... I thought it was funny. Then the law growing in my sister's gutters... sorry Amanda, it just cracks me up! An of course the cuteness that is Charlie... he was helping us decorate the Swindell's place.

On Friday morning we gave my old cat Buttercup (who I don't think I've ever blogged about) to my old roommie Amber. Amber and her kitten, Dante, are going to give Butter a try. I really hope it works out because we aren't sure what we are going to do about Buttercup if it doesn't. Buttercup is a wonderful cat, but Steven's mother is allergic and she hissed at one of my friends' baby carriers. I'm not sure she would do well with young kids.

It was an interesting morning. We put both cats in separate carriers and put the carriers next to each other. The kitten was adorable... it just meowed and played with anything it could find. My ol' Butter on the other hand was ridiculous. She hissed and growled (the lovely way that cats do) and continued to show extreme disapproval. Everyone is hoping Butter get over herself and learns to love the Dante. I think he would make a great playmate if she would warm up to him.

After we got the cats situated, we drove to Angleton. Nothing to eventful happened. We talked about baby stuff and listened to the Christmas music on the Christian radio station. Aside from the pain of sitting for 6.5 hours, it was a lovely drive.

On Saturday we helped the Swindells decorate their house. Jim thinks he sucker us into it, but I really enjoy helping. You just can't not be in the Christmas spirit when there is music and lights all around. After decorating we had an amazing meal with the Family... we had so much to be thankful for this past year!

While decorating we moved away the couches for the tree I took a picture of Cathy's new quilt (made by a friend down the street). I love this quilt! It is a civil war reproduction quilt and the colors are so beautiful. The picture doesn't do it justice, but I had to try. I would love to be able to make one like it (smaller of course) because Steven likes it too!... and he usually doesn't like quilts. I took a picture of my favorite block... it's kinda like the colors I would like to do the baby's room in.

Finally, on Sunday we took Christmas card photos and the Padres, Steven and I headed to a Texans vs the Colts game. The game was good until the end when the Texans decided to give up. It was fun to watch live NFL so close though!

We have so much to be thankful for!

Steven mentioned to me on Friday (during our long trip to Houston) that it only makes since that we transition into Christmas after Thanksgiving. He said that on Thanksgiving we share all the things that we are thankful for all the blessing the Lord has brought us... including the best gift of saving the world with His son, Jesus. Then we get to enter into a season of worship because Emanuel has come! It's a wonderful time of year and we love soaking it up!

Dudley William Davis

Dudley was born April 5, 1967 and passsed away November 14, 2009. Dudley was a man of many talents. He was the first on there when you needed him to be, with a smile on his face, it didn't even matter if he knew your name. He had many passions in life, first being God, his beloved family, his Park Lake Church family, being a deacon, and spreading the wonderful news of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Dudley had a flair for cooking and would feed anybody! He loved many and is loved by many.

Dudley is survived by loving wife Jenny; daughters Savannah & Natalie; son Tate; brother Steve; sisters Roxanne Edwards & Sharon Staggs as well as many other relatives and friends.

To Steven and I, Dudley was more than an uncle, he was a friend and a great example as a spiritual leader for his family. Dudley did not have a funeral, he had a celebration. We are thankful that he is now with our Lord Jesus.

3 months!!!

2 months==================> 3 months!


I can’t believe how fast my first trimester when by. I had a lot of expectations about pregnancy that turn out to not be true for me. I’ve had it easy, but even now I still don’t feel very “pregnant” and that makes me sad.

We can’t believe that in a mere 6 months we will get to meet our first child! We won’t find out the sex of the baby for another 6 weeks, but we are having fun wondering if the baby is John or Madeline. I really don’t care which God wants us to give us, I’m just so happy we are pregnant! Steven kinda wants John Steven to come first. He isn’t sure why, but that is what he says!

We had a doctor’s visit on Monday and it was fun as usual. The main highlight was that we were able to hear the heartbeat. The baby’s beat was 141 beats per minute… and it was loud and easy to find… a comfort to me. We asked a lot of questions and got some information clarified by my doctor. We are definitely first timers and I’m thankful my doctor has patience with us.

Changes I’ve noticed

Most of my changes are still because of the shift of my hormones. My vision has gotten worse and I had to see the eye doctor (but I still need to fill my prescription). I also have a lot of little black hairs on my arms and legs… it only really bugs me when I wear long sleeves. And I have had the itchiest skin… one day I almost made myself bleed!... don’t worry I invested in some better lotion and clipped my nails off. The hormones have made me cried over the stupidest things. I cried over a Claritin commercial because the vet was so nice to help the little girl with her cat… even now, I’m a little emotional about it. And there have been plenty of perfectly legitimate things to cry over and I just don’t hold back the water works. And finally, I smell the strangest things and I think that is a hormone thing as well. Last weekend I woke up wondering why my sister’s house smelled like mustard. She didn’t even own any mustard, but I swore it smelled like she had been cooking with mustard.

I think the hormones also have something to do with the way I feel about myself. Last week I felt so bad about myself. It’s just so hard to me to gain weight when just a few weeks ago I was trying so hard to lose it. I found out at the doctor’s appointment that I have gained 6 lbs. I think it’s due to unhealthy eating when I didn’t have an appetite… if I wasn’t feeling like eating I chose to eat whatever I wanted. Looking back I don’t think that was a good idea, but I was trying not to starve the baby. Anyway I’m on a better track now so I will go from here. Six pounds isn’t that much to lose after the baby is born. I hope to gain no more than an additional 20 pounds.

A non-hormone issue that I’ve noticed is round ligament pains. The round ligaments hold up the uterus and many women can feel them stretching when they first have their baby. I’ve had them for a while, but they just recently increased in intensity. I say that, but they aren’t painful… it’s more annoying than painful. When I went to my chiropractor last week he had my masseuse massage my lower back and love handle area. They next couple of days I felt great, and I highly recommend getting prenatal massages!

Sometimes I look crazy, because I’m always poking at my lower abdomen. I make Steven and anyone else poke my stomach to try to feel the baby. I’m not expecting it until 4 ½ months, but I can definitely feel a bump down there… unfortunately, my abs were never that tight before. I think at Thanksgiving people should be able to feel it and then see the bump at Christmas. At the doctor’s appointment my doctor showed me exactly where the top of my uterus was (just two inches below my belly button). I was surprised at how high it was… I was aiming about 6 inches below my belly button.

Changes Steven has notice

I have noticed that Fallon’s lower stomach is firmer and slightly larger. Her back has gotten narrower as a result of thing rearranging. But other than that things are just like they were when she was at two months.

What the baby is up to!

This month the baby will add 2 inches of length, going from 3.5 inches to 5.5 inches! The bones are beginning to harden and the baby begins to move more… I will be able to feel the little kicks at the end of the month. The baby may suck its thumb during this month. The baby will begin to start building a layer of fat to insulate itself… up to this point it was focused on building major organs and the body structure.