Ultrasound and Life in General

Hi Everyone! Yes we are still alive -- Life has just been very busy lately! I finally have time tonight to post some ultrasound photos from Tuesday and update you on what's been happening since the last post.

First things first -- here are the first glimpses of Baby Barnette! (Cause I know that's really what you want to see!):


You kind of have to have a knack for looking at ultrasound pictures. It's amazing how much clearer things look on the actual screen than in the photos they give you. We still don't know what it is (which is what we want) and it was interesting b/c the ultrasound tech was kind of surprised we didn't even ask her after it was over. She told us that everything looked normal and ok for now. Baby (insert name here) weighs 12 oz. and from ear to ear measures 2 inches! I was glued to the monitor and could not help but keep looking at the tiny little thing. It is so amazing what we can do with technology and to get a glimpse of life for my baby while it's still inside me was absolutely facinating. The only thing that's changed is our due date. They think it's going to be around March 13th instead of 15th but still -- it's around that date.

I think Tosh was surprised. He said he didn't think it would be as clear as it was. I wish it could've lasted much longer -- I wanted to keep watching it squirming around. She/he was butt down and you can see in the last 4 shot photo (bottom left) the baby was pointing it's finger. My mom said it was saying "That's my mommy!" but I said it was saying "Just wait'll I get outta here"!

I haven't felt a whole lot of movement and the technician said it was because my placenta is in the front and is acting like a cushion of sorts so I can't feel a whole lot. She said the placenta could be anywhere (front, back, top, etc.) and that it was normal. My belly is beginning to explode! Which leads me to the next photos! These were taken at 20 weeks 1 day. I've been trying to do belly shots once every month.



OK, so I know it's not very drastic in the photos but it sure is to me!! Tosh and I were laughing about the fact that my belly button has suddenly become an "outtie" instead of an "innie" and it's really FREAKY!!! I know there are lots of books out there for us preggies to read, but I've just decided to forego it. It's sort of an adventure that I have no control over and just seem to notice the changes as they come. For example, I feel like I'm suddenly carrying around a dumbell in my midsection even though the baby isn't huge. I feel sluggish and it's hard to bend over. So many people keep telling me I look like I'm carrying a boy and most of my family seems to think it's going to be a boy. Who knows for sure right!? Until it comes out!!

Life in general is going OK. It's very interesting how quickly you can fall into the routine of "not going to church" regularly. I thought I'd think about it all the time since we were at LBC so much during the week, but I haven't. We are trying another church on Sunday so we'll see where that one goes. We are still praying for God to send us to the church He'd have us at.

I've been working now for two weeks at the Career Coach position and this week was my first week to be alone. It's been kind of difficult. You sort of have to "wing-it" at first until you get the hang of it. Once I get access to the seniors I think it'll be fine but it's the "getting into the classroom" part that's hard. My boss is super great and she's willing to work with me when the baby comes. I've also prepped all my schools in case I go into labor and I'm over an hour away that they'd need to take me to the nearest hospital. So I think I'm covered.

Some of the nice things about being back are the fact that it's only a half hour between our families houses. We're able to go up and see Tosh's dad and still see my family too. Living with my parents of course has it's problems, but we are adjusting and they have been more than kind in providing us the space we need to be here. Mom said she doesn't see us as a burden so much as it makes her feel needed again.

They were both there for the ultrasound (Mom and Dad) and they'd never seen one before b/c at the time mom was pregnant they didn't do them. So Dad and her both thought it was really amazing.

I'll be back in Lexington on November the 9th for Angie's baby shower at the church so hopefully I can catch up with everyone a bit. I'll be by myself since Tosh must work every Saturday in November. Then I'll be back up again for Deck the Halls on November 22nd.

We celebrated my dad's birthday on the 28th this month. He had a little accident and got that cut on his nose. Here's a picture:


Tosh is doing well and enjoying the job here I think. He's working a lot of long hours and has already had to do a Hunting Fatality. He is planning on taking off when the baby comes for several weeks so we can share the experience.

I am having a lot of trouble coming to grips with the fact that we might still be here at my parents when this baby arrives. I have this grand nursery planned out in my head and it's difficult to think about the fact we don't have a home to put it in yet. The Lord has a plan though and we must just keep trusting Him and His timing -- not ours.

Midnight and Punkin have adjusted very well. They have become very vocal since we moved in. I think it's b/c there are some other dogs and cats around here and they think they should talk too. I don't know though. It's weird how much the dog barks now when he never used to and the cat meows all the time. Especially for food! They are spoiled rotten.

Okay, enough blogging for now! Enjoy the photos and I hope everyone is well. Love to you all!