Announcing Baby - Coming Easter 2011

Baby at 14 weeks.  Arriving April 23, 2011


I can't believe the day is finally here that I announce that soon my husband and I will add to our list of roles "daddy" and "mommy."  I am in the middle of my 15th week of pregnancy, almost to the fourth month marker, and everything is going just as planned.  The heartbeat this morning was beating fast and strong and we were lucky enough to get a sneak peak ultrasound last week courtesy our brother-in-law (the equine surgeon--why picture above says "Equine A").

I am due April 23, 2011--the Saturday before Easter.  I found out I was pregnant on August 13th--Friday the 13th--and the day before my birthday.  This also happened to be three days before my original due date and I couldn't help but feel that I was finally coming full-circle after a rough year.  I've debated whether or not to talk publicly about the miscarriage--and I certainly don't want to make a big deal of it--but it played a big part in my life over the past year.  I had a blighted ovum and Scott and I found out during our first ultrasound appointment right after the new year.  We held our breath as the technician poked around my empty gestational sac and muttered apologies.  I had a D&C a few weeks later and over the next months a series of ovarian cysts.  It was a stressful and depressing time, but we had to have faith that when it was our turn, when the time was right, we would be blessed with another pregnancy. 

The pregnancy has been a smooth one.  A little bit of sickness, but mostly your garden variety.  The last time I was "sick sick" was the night of the readathon when I probably pushed my body a little more than it was used to (ie staying up until 11 rather than 9:30).  Most of my yickiness has been associated with smells or things that gross me out enough to make me gag then dry heave.  Now that I'm passed it (mostly) all I can do is laugh a little.  I used to be of the camp that morning sickness was all in the woman's mind.  Now I believe differently. 

We will find out the sex in a few weeks but haven't started discussing names seriously. I'm one of those that has had girl names picked out since I was little--never thinking that my husband might not like them!  For now, we call the little guy Baby Billy Bob.  Somewhat of an inside joke, but a joke that I hope ends promptly when B3 is born!

So, if you've heard me mention food 10 times a day on Twitter or talk about how I'm holding up my pants (or husband's jeans) with rubberbands, now you know why.  And if I disappear for a few days or don't get around as quickly, it's because I'm flat out exhausted.  But I'm doing the best I can--trying to figure it all out now so I don't have to disappear in six months!! 

And if you're thinking that little Baby Billy Bob looks like an alien with a handgun, we think that, too.  Edited Note: other more appropriate items in comments below include bottle, e-reader, and book.  I blame the handgun comment on us being Texan.  ;)

A very excited mommy to be,