25 Weeks Down - 15 to Go!

How Far Along: 25 Weeks with Picture and 26 Weeks, 2 Days at press release :)
 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still not 100% sure on this one and I always forget to ask.
 

Maternity Clothes: Oh yes! I went shopping to get a couple of long dresses and skirts so I don't have to wear jeans unless I just want to. That's been nice - I love dresses and skirts anyway and they are super comfy and breezy! :)

 

Best Moment This Week: Feeling and seeing Lucy Paige move on the outside! Wednesday afternoon (April 3) I laid down on the bed and felt her kicking/moving really hard so I put my hand on my stomach and felt some really strong movements. It was so weird but at the same time the best thing I've ever felt. I used my phone to get a video of it because TJ was at work. He got to feel her moving around the next night.

 

Gender: GIRL!!! Lucy Paige Phelps - yay!

 

Movement: YES!!! She likes to bounce on my bladder - TJ said she'll need a trampoline when she's older.

 

Food Cravings: Nope - love the shaved ice places though!

 

Aversions: Still brushing my teeth - I have to sing songs in my head to distract myself. Such a weirdo... Minutemaid Orange Drink - LP didn't like that drink one bit. And she definitely let me know she didn't like it.

 

What I Miss: Not being poked and pricked when I go to the dr. I had the sugar test today and they had to draw blood. I hate, very strongly hate , needles in my arm. The drink they gave me wasn't bad at all - it was kind of like a flat Sprite that burned a little going down. I had heard horror stories about how nasty the drink is and what not - don't listen to everybody else's advice; I've found them to be wrong for the most part.
 

Sleep: It's been pretty good - it could be worse so I'm thankful for good rest.

 

What I'm Looking Forward To: May 2 - my next dr. appt. I'll get to have another ultrasound to make sure fluid levels are good to go and get a glimpse of how much Lucy Paige has grown!  

Baby's Lucy Paige's Size: At 25 weeks she weighs about the same as an average rutabaga and is 13.5 inches long. At 26 weeks, she is about the length of an English hothouse cucumber and weighs around 1 and 2/3 lbs.  

22 Weeks! Now We Can Count Down!

How Far Along: 22 Weeks! :) Over the Halfway Mark! Yeah! 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still not 100% sure on this one and I always forget to ask. 

Maternity Clothes: Yes, I couldn't wear my regular jeans/pants now even if I wanted to. Lucy is getting big! I can still wear non-maternity tops and so I mix in as many different tops into my wardrobe as much as I can since I can only wear like 3 different pairs of jeans. I am looking forward to Miss LP getting bigger so I don't just look fat but actually look for sure pregnant instead of just a little bit pregnant. 

Best Moment This Week: I've had so many great moments this week and since the last post! :)
a. Sweet Baby Parker (here is her sweet Momma's blog page) was born last Wednesday and I had the privilege of being at the hospital for her arrival and taking pictures of her sweet, little self with her new family. She wasn't that tiny though - she weighed 7.15 lbs and was 21 inches long and has the longest fingers! She is so beautiful and honestly, sometimes babies aren't that cute when they first arrive - but she is! :) I also got to take her newborn pictures after she got to come home! Dad, Mom and sweet Parker are doing great! And also, she is our goddaughter! I am way too excited to watch her grow up and learn about Jesus and how much He loves her. And she'll get to do this with a built in best friend - Lucy Paige!
b. Another great moment was our dr. visit yesterday. I got to hear Lucy Paige's heartbeat and hear her kicking the doppler. She has some pretty strong kicks and our dr. said that I should be feeling some really some super strong ones on the next couple of weeks. I can feel her moving around in there now but it isn't like a strong kick or anything.
c. I had my super special ultrasound done in February and everything checked out just fine. Lucy Paige's growth is right on track and the fluid levels had returned to normal (whew, that was the biggest relief for us). We confirmed that Lucy Paige is, in fact, a girl and not a boy. I had a dream that we went to that specialized ultrasound and they told us that she was a boy and I was a bit upset - but it was just a dream! :) She has the "cheeseburger" thingy - the three lines that indicate girl.
d. Finding LP some really awesome winter clothes for next winter at a consignment shop near my dr.'s office, Ladybug Lane. I got to fill a plastic bag with all it could hold and got it all for just $5!! In all, I got 13 outfits for $5 people! I totaled the price tags from the clothes and if I had bought them at regular consignment price it would have cost me around $100 - and there is no telling what I would have paid for it all if I had gotten them brand new! I am seriously thinking about framing the tags and receipt! 

Gender: GIRL!!! Lucy Paige Phelps - yay! 

Movement: She is quite the little squirmer - she likes to move around when I'm sitting down. Our dr. said I should feel some major kicks in the next couple of weeks. 

Food Cravings: None really... The Hawaiian Ice place has opened in hyt and I can NOT wait to get a pina coloda flavored one! 

Aversions: Still brushing my teeth - I have to sing songs in my head to distract myself. Such a weirdo...

What I Miss: Having energy when I get home in the afternoons. I feel like I have the most energy during the day, while I'm at work and that stinks because I'd rather have energy to the things I want to do at my house! Oh well, I just need to suck it up and do what I need to do! ;)

Sleep: It's ok - I've been tossing and turning these past few nights. Makes for long mornings for me... 

What I'm Looking Forward To: Lucy Paige getting bigger and TJ getting to feel her moving. Also, I only have one more monthly dr. appt.! After my April appt. I'll start going every two weeks for a couple of months and then it will be once a week! I'll have my sugar test at this next appt. - I've heard mixed reviews on this so I guess I'll see what it's all about. 

Baby's Lucy Paige's Size: At 22 Weeks, Lucy Paige weighs about 1 pound and is 11-12 inches long - about the size of a spaghetti squash. 

It's A...

Pregnancy Highlights for 18.5 and 19.5 Weeks! 

How Far Along: 18.5 Weeks with pics and 19.5 weeks today

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Still not 100% sure on this one and I always forget to ask. 

Maternity Clothes: Yes!! My t-shirts are beginning to get tight as well as some other things - I'm hoping to be able to remedy these problems soon! :)

Best Moment This Week: Finding out that Baby Phelps is a GIRL!!! She didn't cooperate at the ultrasound super great so the tech had to poke at her to get her moving (TJ thought the lady was hurting me and/or our little one, but it was nothing! He was being protective!). It seems like she may have that famous Morrison stubborn streak... And those of you who know me know that is my best quality! :) All of her organs checked out great - heart, brain, kidneys, lungs, umbilical cord. Her bones are forming and hardening perfectly. Her heart rate was 133 - which to me seems low, but our dr. said it was fine. Her heart was beating and all the muscles in it looked on track, so she's just fine! 

Gender: GIRL!!! Lucy Paige Phelps - yay! I know that I had a "feeling" about a boy, but I was off! A word to the wise (and I know people told me this but I didn't listen and neither will you), don't trust the old wive's tales, the Chinese, classic "tell-tell" gender signs. They didn't work in my case! All things said boy! Just wait patiently and pray for your little one until that 18 week anatomy scan/ultrasound. And yes, now we know how to decorate the nursery! I am thrilled! I'll have to do another post on all the awesome things we had already found for the nursery before we found out what the gender was (seriously, we have some great finds from thrift and consignment stores that I can't wait to re-purpose!).

Movement: Still none :( My dr. said it should be around the 20th week because my placenta is being dumb and is over my cervix and on the front side of my uterus. So it's basically (from the inside out) Lucy Paige, amniotic fluid, placenta (which is really thick), uterus, and then layers of muscle and fat and that's why I haven't been able to feel her yet. 

Food Cravings: Not really... I did really want Milo's Sweet Tea last night with our dinner - so TJ so very nicely ran down to the gas station and got it for me. It was perfect and the best way to wash down Sloppy Joe's! Not a craving really, but I've been having to drink LOTS of water so I find myself reaching for it all the time. 

Aversions: Still the teeth brushings - eww! 

What I Miss: Some of my favorite t-shirts! 

Sleep: It has gotten so much better! (knock, knock, knock on wood!)

What I'm Looking Forward To: Next Wednesday - We are going to UAB for a specialized ultrasound. My amniotic fluid levels were low when we went last week and even though Lucy Paige's organs checked out, our dr. wanted to do the specialized ultrasound just to be sure. And that's fine with me! I'm thinking the levels were low because we had been at a church-wide camp the previous weekend and I didn't have access to water liked I'm used to at work and home. I could have (and should have!) just taken a case of water to keep with me but I didn't think about it. I'm a bit anxious about this appt. and ready to get there and check things out. I know Jesus is in control of her little life and mine, so every time I feel that anxious feeling I just have to remember Who is ultimately in control and let Him by my peace. Which is good for building patience - and I'll need it to deal with Lucy Paige's stubbornness! :)

Baby's Lucy Paige's Size: At 18 weeks she was about the size of a bell pepper and at 19 weeks she is about the size of an heirloom tomato. 

17 Weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights

 

How Far Along: 17 Weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I am not sure - according to my bathroom scales, I haven't gained any weight. I'll ask the Dr. when we go back February 12. (I probably won't tell you though - it's none of your business! Ha!) 

Maternity Clothes: As much as I can! I found 3 pairs of jeans, an awesome jersey knit skirt, and two shirts at Taylor Bugs, all 50% off! I spent $30 on all of that! I have a friend who is giving me some next week too! :)

Best Moment this Week: Getting to spend time with my Pop for the first time since Granny passed away. I have been so sick with the flu and crud that goes along with it and didn't want/need to go see him with and get him sick too. It was such a blessing to get to see him. That day I also stopped by the hospital to see my mom - she is a nurse and works there a few days a week after school. She brought out the doppler and I got to hear Baby Phelps' heartbeat! It was a good, strong 163! That is seriously the best sound on the world!

Gender: Honestly, I have this "feeling" that Baby Phelps is a boy. I don't have a preference as to what gender he/she is, I just want to know so I can start the nursery! There are too many things I love for a nursery and none of them are gender neutral. 

Movement: None, yet. I know it's coming though! I can't wait! 

Food Cravings: I have been craving milk, and I hate plain, white milk. Still do too... So I have had lots of cereal! A new favorite place that TJ and I discovered today - Steve's Grocery in Concord. Oh my word people, it's a gas station that serves deli and specialty meats, BOILED PEANUTS, pizza, hamburger steak, slurpies, all the wonderful gas station staples and gas! It is seriously so good.  

Aversions: Brushing my teeth - that is the only thing that makes me gag. I hate it!  

What I Miss: Being able to not have to go to the restroom every 30 minutes. 

Sleep: It's not been too bad - I have to wake up every hour and a half or so to go to the restroom. There is also this thing called a sciatic nerve that runs from your hip and down through your leg. It is a beast and I don't like it. It gives me issues when I lay down at nights. But it's all worth it in the end, right? :) 

What I am looking forward to: February 12 and 13! The 12th is our next appointment and if Baby Phelps cooperates we will find out the gender is, well the ultra sound tech and Dr. will know! We will actually find out the next day, on my older sister's birthday. I am excited to know what he/she is. I didn't want to find out at first, but TJ has convinced me that we "need" to know, which is fine because I need to decorate the nursery! 

Baby's Size: At 17 weeks, Baby Phelps weighs as much as a turnip, around 5 ounces! Baby Phelps is around 5 inches long from head to bottom. 

A Year of Updates Part Two

I know, I know... You've all been waiting in suspense for my next blog post. Well, wait no longer! It's here! :) I need to update you guys on the other things that happened this past year; so here we go!

Warning: This is not a "hey, I'm going to read this to make me feel better" type of post. It's got a couple of stories about death, but ultimately it's about God's great love for us! So, just be warned!

This is my precious Granny. She passed away December 28, 2012. I was, unfortunately, not home to get to say goodbye to her, but it was just how Granny would have wanted it - TJ and I were with the youth on a trip. And I don't regret that one bit, TJ and I got to spend time with her on Christmas Day and she would have rather for us to have been with the kiddos than with her. She loved that TJ is a minister. She loved that we devoted time to the "young people" and tried to help them know Christ better. This was taken on mine and TJ's wedding day 4 years ago. I am so very blessed and humbled that I got to know her and have her in my life for 25 years. She taught me how to shop, eat good food, love people no matter what, how to love my husband by the way she loved Poppa, and most importantly how to have a relationship with Christ. She was loved by so many and we are all so blessed to have known her. I stopped by to see Pop yesterday. It was the first time since the funeral - I have had the flu and did not want to get him sick. He was doing pretty good. We talked for a few hours and he seemed to be in good spirits. He talked about Granny and how much he loved her. He talked about the day they got married - over 70 years ago by the way! He said that she made him a better man. If you're reading this please take a moment to pray for the widows you know in your life and also, take some time to visit them. James 1:27 tells us to look after orphans and widows in their affliction.

And on a lighter note (in a way...), we adopted a sweet kitty named Calvin! :) We decided to get another cat in August this year because we, ahem TJ, loves cats and we were beginning to get lonely without one running around the house. Our sweet Jay-Bird died in January 2012. I actually found him, Jay, when he was a few months old at a vet's office while visiting my parent's dog who had been hit by a vehicle. (side note - my parent's dog, Scout, was just fine. She had to stay at the vet for a week to be monitored and I just wanted her to know that she was a good dog and that we weren't leaving her there.) While at the vet, they had a cute little "vet cat" - a cat that lives at the vet because someone dropped him off and the vet didn't want to put him down. I thought he was the cutest cat ever! He was so soft and instantly "took a liking" to me. He was black and white and had a black dot on his forehead. I called TJ when I left the vet and told him about the cat. TJ said he'd go by and check him out. He did and came home with him too! I wanted him to have a "j" name and couldn't decide on one that fit him so we went with Jay. This was in the Spring of 2008, before TJ and I got married. Jay loved TJ so much because it was just the two of them for a little over 6 months; they lived in the bachelor pad. :) When I moved in Jay was tolerant of me and then he grew to love me just like TJ. He was a very strange cat, he hated when other people came over, especially my dad. He was comfortable with just the three of us. Skip ahead a few years and we have moved to Hyt and Jay starts having issues with his kidneys. Our amazing vet, Hyt Vet Clinic - Dr. Champion Jr, took such great care of Jay. He really was so compassionate and kind during our time we spent with him. He gave Jay an experimental treatment for his kidneys, it was kind of like dialysis, but it did not work. One night, after coming home from a terrible, no good, very bad day I found Jay laying in the floor; his back legs weren't working and he was in really bad shape. It was around 8:30pm and our vet was closed so we had to take him to the afterhours vet in McAdory. They were awesome there too. We made the decision to put him to sleep so he wouldn't have to suffer. It broke our hearts. We took him to Lawley the next day and buried him close to his outside kitty friend, Oreo. Here is Jay....

 

 

Like I said we adopted Calvin in August 2012. He has been so much fun! We actually went to PetSmart to find a female kitten, but this crazy male cat would not let me pet any other kitties in the cage! He would either knock them out of the way or position his head to where it would always be under my hand wherever I put my hand. I told TJ that I guess he was the one we were supposed to get and we got him. His name was Gilligan then. It was a terrible name. :) And since he "chose us" (as a nod to our Calvinistic friends) we named him Calvin. It really does suit him perfectly. He is such a Mama's Boy. He also passes gas something fierce. It smells worse than a grown man's. And here is our sweet Calvin...

 

 

I honestly can't write too much else from 2012 that I can remember. If I think of anything noteworthy I'll let you know! :) We find out what gender Baby Phelps is on February 13! That is my sister's birthday too! Much love peeps! Until next time!

Baby Bump! (or its just my fat that I normally suck in, but whatever!)

I'll post more on our crazy year tomorrow. Today I wanted to document my expanding belly. I can still wear some of my regular clothes, but they are becoming uncomfortably tight. I have a pair of maternity jeans and just this week (the past four days) I've worn them twice... They are so very comfy. Everybody should wear maternity jeans/pants, even if your not pregnant! :) TJ and I thought it would be fun to document the growing belly, known as sweet Baby Phelps from now on. It has been fun so far. I'm not the biggest fan of being in front of the camera; I'd much rather be the one taking the photos, but I am not going to be selfish because I want Baby Phelps to see how much he or she is loved. So here is what we have so far...

 



A Year of Updates! :) (part 1)

Well, it has been 13 months since my last post on thankfulness. I feel like a slacker but then I think back to what this past year has held... It has been full of ups and downs.

In December 2011 I started working at Student Life - a ministry designed to support the 24/7/365 job of the Church to support their Children and Student Ministry. While not every day is full of the wonderful parts of ministry, it is good. I love being able to help serve churches, volunteers, and ministers in the areas of growth and discipleship. I can say this because TJ is a youth minister and I have lots of minister friends - Youth Ministers are some of the most helpless creatures ever created! I'm kidding - but only a little ! :)

We also started doing a small group/Bible study group with three other couples around that time. It has been challenging and rewarding. I have grown to really count these people as some of my best friends - and they truly are friends because they've seen me at some of my worst moments. I believe that God, in His perfect design for us, created us for community. We are designed to "do life" with other people. I mean God Himself is three persons existing as One, Great God. He said to Himself in Genesis, "Let us create man in our image..." So yes, there are times when I need alone time and space, but I truly love the community TJ and I get to be apart of weekly.

We had the chance to go to the beach with our small groupies in June. It was great - great weather, great friends, and the best seafood in the world! Amber and I did a spray tan before we left so we were looking good too! :)

In July our sweet friends, Andrew and Rebekah, told us they were expecting their first little one! :) It has been such a privilege for me because I have gotten to document, through photos, Rebekah's expanding belly! (Side note - Rebekah and I do photography together! :) She is super talented and we both enjoy working together and I think we do a pretty fabulous job. Here is the link to our Image 1:27 Facebook Page - Enjoy!) Below is one of my favorites that I have taken of them so far!

We had a super busy summer and fall with all sorts of youth ministry activities.

BIG NEWS! We had our FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY November 1, 2012!!! We decided to keep it low key because we had so much going on. We stayed home, painted cabinets, and just hung out together. It was so nice! We did have a great dinner at Surin 280, I got to get the soup that I just love! It's a coconut, curry type soup. I could seriously drink like hot tea or something... Ahh, just thinking about it makes me want to drive to 280!

Another BIG thing happened in November... Are you ready? We found out that we were expecting our first baby! AHHHHH!!!! Crazy, right?!?! It was (and still is) so surreal. I took the test while TJ was still at work with one of our church members, Rick, and I remember just laughing to myself, thinking that it couldn't possibly be real. Well, those things don't lie - I did another test and sure enough before I could even cap that thing, those two little lines showed up! It was so hard to wait that hour to tell TJ but I really wanted to tell him in person. I went to pick him up from Rick's house and he just kept jabbering away. I tried really hard to get him to leave so I could tell him. Finally, I got him away and told him to stop the car and I just said that I had news... He looked at me like he thought I had done something terrible - I just gave him the pregnancy test and he was just as stunned as I was! We both just laughed, like it was a joke. But it is no joke! I am 14 weeks and 3 days... We got to see Baby Phelps at our 6 and 10 week appointment and then, just yesterday, at the 14 week appointment we got to hear the HEARTBEAT! Best sound in the whole world! And when we go back in a month we have the chance of finding out what gender Baby Phelps is. We are still in awe that God has picked us to be this kid's parents, we will do our best - with help from Jesus! - to raise this child to love the Lord and love others.

I'll have to add another post in the next day or so because we had a little more happen too. I just don't want this post to be too long! Until next time, learning that melodious sonnet!