12 Days of Junkie

Thanks Jessica for getting me hooked on blog giveaways! I love them now. I have yet to win, but I have heard great stories from those who have, and have gotten great idea for myself and presents for others! Check out this site. It showcases moms! Tip Junkie is great! Here's the link. http://tipjunkie.blogspot.com/ Enjoy!

Good Read!

With all the political stuff that's going on today, I wanted to post something different! I saw this on the internet, and I loved it! Those of you with kids, let me know what you think, and tell me if there's something that changed when you had a baby!

Things That Change When You Have a Baby

*Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid.

*The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.

*You respect your body... finally.

*You respect your parents and love them in a whole new way.

*You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.

*You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.

*Your heart breaks much more easily.

*Every day is a surprise.

*Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you, (Hooray for poop!)

*Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

*You finally realize that true joy doesn't come from material wealth.

*You now know where the sun comes from.

*You don't mind going to bed at 9 p.m. on Friday night.

*You realize that the 15 pounds you can't seem to get rid of are totally worth having.

*You discover an inner strength you never thought you had.

*You no longer rely on a clock — your baby now sets your schedule.

*You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you'll be late.

*You learn that taking a shower is a luxury.

*You find yourself wanting to make this world a better place.

*If you didn’t believe in love at first sight before, now you do!

It's a GIRL!!!

So, we found out last friday...it's a girl! We are so excited, we can hardley stand it. All of our sisters are very excited also. I've already bought her two new dresses and some cute pink onesies! I can't believe I'm going to have a daughter...it's amazing! We haven't decided on any names yet, but here are a few we like. Let us know what you think. Audrey, Dylan, and Carlyn. Jason's dad's name is Carl, so she would be named after her grandpa. Her middle name will probabley be Faye, named after my mom. I'm realy liking Carlyn and Dylan, then Audrey. So, we'll see. I am feeling much better these days...although I've been told not to get too used to it, the third trimester will bring many uncomfortable days. I may change my mind later, but I say nothing can be worse than being nauseous and throwing up ALL day. So, bring it on! We have started picking out stuff for her room, and I am getting very curious to know what she will look like. For those of you who don't know, Jason is half black, half Italian. I'm white as white can be, and my whole family has blue eyes! So, there are many options in our gene pool! I wonder if she will look anything like I picture her to be...only more beautiful, I'm sure. So, any advice from those mom's of little girls???

She has huge feet! Right now, they are 3cm long, and she's only 17! That's almost a quarter of her whole body!

These 3-D pictures are amazing! Everyone says by her features, she will look like Jason! We'll have to see!

3 white lines means it's a girl!!!

20 weeks...halfway there!

Updates!

So, I haven't written in a while. I know, I'm bad. But, I have recently just uploaded some pictures of labor day weekend...I know, a bit late! But, I will post those soon, along with those lovely belly pictures! So, we have our next ultrasound on October 10...this is the one where we find out if it's a boy or girl! We are SO excited, we can hardly wait. I'm not sure either way, I'm leaning towards a boy, but was leaning towards a girl up until 12weeks. So...who knows! Either way, we will be so excited and happy! On another good note, I have been feeling much better!

I have recently decided to apply to Missouri University for my masters program. They have a distance learning Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program, and for this I am grateful! I think this will help with a baby coming! I will apply in February and be done in about 1 1/2 to 2 years. Then...no more school! The program will be tough, I'm sure, but it is what I have always wanted to do and I am determined to do it. Even more so now, that we will have a family. This little baby is more motivation for me to go back to school and in the end have a better job and life for our family. I refuse to work weekends and holidays for the rest of my life! I want to be off and enjoy life with my family, and I cannot wait to be able to do this (especially since the holidays are coming up and I have to work Christmas this year...boo). I will continue to work, part time or full time, I'm not sure and where I'm not sure either, I've been thinking about this also! I am very excited to embark on this new journey as well as a little (okay, more than a little) nervous!

Jason has recently been doing some side work with one of the other firefighters he works with. This guy has a company that does large landscaping. Basically Jason gets to drive a tractor, mow about an acre or two and get paid PRETTY well to do it! He only does it on his days off in the morning and he's done by the afternoon! He likes it and he's learning a lot about owning large pieces of land (which just means he wants some!) The guy he works with has chickens, roosters, geese, horses, goats, and more on his farm! I got to go the other day and it was pretty fun to hang out with all the animals. Jason is doing all this side work so he can save to buy a truck! Sounds like a pretty good idea to me. Save up, and then no (or little) car payment!

So, Jason and I are just trying to prepare for all these changes that lie ahead for us. We are very excited and feel very blessed to have the love, family, and support that we do!

One tiny baby!

That's right...there is one baby in there! We were so excited to see the ultrasound and our baby. It is amazing and there are no words that can describe the feeling you have when you see what you have created actually growing inside you. The cougar was laying on his/her side the whole time. The x-ray tech would try to wake the baby up or try to move him/her, but no luck. Cougar would stretch the little arms and legs he/she has and would go back to sleep. It was actually pretty cute. The x-ray tech had me get up, jump up and down, stretch, touch my toes to see if we could get the baby to move. No such luck. All that did was give the cougar the hiccups!!! It was so funny to watch. The whole little body would jump with each and every hiccup. It was so fun to watch. They gave us a DVD, but I cannot get it to work to post it on here. So, that will have to wait. But, here are some pictures of the little one.
We will have another ultrasound in about four or five weeks to find out if we are having a little Jason or a little Lynda!!! We cannot wait. Jason can barely contain himself. Before the ultrasound I thought it was a girl. But now, I keep calling the baby a him...look at his hand, look at him move. So, now I have NO idea! I know some mom's have a feeling...I have no clue. Some days I think it's a girl and some I think it might be a boy. So, only time will tell and the next ultrasound! I will keep you updated on that for sure! As for me...well, I've been feeling better. Not 100%, but I'm not sure I will for a while. I have my good days and my bad days. Some days I feel great, and some I feel nauseous all day still! I always get sick, good or bad day, around 7:30 or 8:00 every day. So, I'm thinking that's when the little cougar will some day make his/her appearance. We'll just have to wait and see! So look at the pictures, and take your guess...boy or girl???!!!

The Heartbeat!

Jason and I had our 12week appointment this past Friday. The Doctor said that everything looked good and then we finally got to hear the heartbeat! It was pretty amazing. Jason never fails to make me laugh when we are in the OBs office! While Dr. Damore had the doppler on my belly, Jason had to say..."Wow, it sounds pretty windy in there!" He's too funny, and that's why I love him! I cannot explain the feelings when you hear your baby's heartbeat for the first time! So, everyone is asking...there was only ONE heartbeat??? Well, yes...only one. BUT...the doctor said that even if there were two (or three, let's hope not!) that she would only hear one, because the baby is so small that it would be pretty difficult to decipher if it was only one beat or two. So, we wait again! But, wednesday is our first ultrasound...two days!!! We are so excited, and a little nervous. Working where I work, it's hard not to be nervous...I know too much! But, I cannot wait to see our little baby for the first time. I will update on Wednesday...with pictures!!!

Two more weeks!

So, just an update on how things are going! I've been sick, and some days are good, some not so good! I'm hoping this only lasts another two weeks, and then I will be feeling better...hopefully! In two weeks, we also get to go to the doctor and have our first ultrasound! YEAH! We are so excited! My mom still thinks it's twins, I just think it's one...but I'm leaning towards a girl, right now anyway! All I want to eat is fruit! I also am starting to show...already! I know, everyone says...no, you're just bloated or you can't be showing yet...well tell that to the baby, cause when I show people, they say...wow, you are showing! Crazy!

Also, we have started calling the baby Cougar, until we know what it is...why??? Well, Jason thinks Cougar is a tough name, and we were listening to a John Cougar Mellencamp song and he asked if we could have part of the baby's name be cougar...I immediatley said NO! He then said if we did, when it grows up and plays golf....it could be the Cougar against the Tiger!!! My husband is crazy! Anyways, as a result, the baby is Cougar, until we know what it is and we give it a name. Although, Jason still is trying to convince me to have the middle name be Cougar if it's a boy...oh man! I'll update again for sure in two weeks after the ultrasound!