Belly progress and baby kicks

I am now at 21 week, over halfway! My morning sickness has GREATLY lessened and I'm sick much less often - still no cravings though and I still can't eat candy or drink Mt. Dew :(

My belly is growing slowly but surely (Dec. 19, Jan. 6 and Jan. 21 in order):

So, I was in bed a few days ago reading a book before bed and something amazing happened: I felt a weird fluttering, something that is absolutely different than gas or grumblings in the tummy. So I put  my book down and started talking to duck baby. When I stopped talking I felt it again, a kick or a punch (or something anyway) that is the first sign that is not on a computer screen, my baby is moving! You know me, I totally started crying.

I have to be paying attention for the most part because it's so subtle but it's definitely different than anything I've ever felt. It's coming more easily now and by the time Brett gets home from Detroit maybe he'll be able to feel it too.

This is such an amazing time and I feel blessed to be able to participate in such a miracle. God does an amazing thing when we are allowed to participate in creation.  

Duck Baby

Update: I am currently 17 weeks along and my baby bump is starting to look like a baby bump and not just a tummy with too many burgers in it! I'm not anywhere near as sick as I was the first three months but I am still constantly aware of feeling slightly off and my tummy is always a little queasy. I have not yet been able to feel him kicking or moving but I'm sure that's coming soon.   

Now on to the post: So  many times when people get pregnant I hear them call the baby cute little names: sweat pea, bean, speck, etc. I think this is because it's really hard to keep calling the baby "it" before you know the gender. I always wondered, how do you come up with a cute name? Do you just choose something? Because sometimes it sticks past when the baby is even born. I didn't realize this, but now it seems as though nicknames come naturally when you get pregnant.  

At our first sonogram appointment (I was then 6 weeks pregnant) this was the picture we got: 

After we left the doctor we kept giggling about how very much our baby looked like a duck floating along in there. The next few days Brett started asking me how "duck baby" was doing and it has just kind of stuck. Even though we now know that it is a boy, we still mostly call him "duck baby."  

So there you have it, in case you were wondering, this is why we call him "duck baby."

Baby: It's a...

I think that whichever gender duck baby was, Brett would have been happy.  He is just so excited to be a dad.  I know that I would have been happy either way too - either way this baby is such a blessing, such a gift after so long waiting and hoping and praying.

We went last Tuesday to the doctor and once again saw a healthy and active baby. I am totally amazed at how much this baby moves: jumping around and moving it's mouth already and pumping it's fists and kicking me in the...well I'm not really sure because I can't feel it yet. Do we already have a hyperactive child or is this normal? We don't know, but we are so glad that the baby is healthy.

When the tech finally got some cooperation (it's hard to figure out what's going on with gender when the baby won't sit still) we saw that...

IT'S A BOY!

No question, it's a boy.  I cried, Brett cried...we are so excited!

We had already been thinking about names, we have several great ones for a boy.  We hadn't really come up with a girl name we loved yet, so that works out.  Also, the room we are making into the nursery, it's already blue, so bonus! He'll have lots of boy cousins to play with : Our AJ (Jen's boy) is three and Baby New (coming in February to Ash) will just be 3 months older!

We are excited to meet you, baby boy!

Thankful Thursday

Today my whole Thankful Thursday post is dedicated to my husband.

Many of you know Brett, but I don't know that you know him really, as he is with me.  I wish you could see this guy. Over the last three months I have been sick, cranky, hard to deal with, sick, emotional, tired, sick, and generally require a lot of care.

He rubs my back when I'm sick, he takes my attitude with calm and grace, he continually tells me he loves me and is supportive, he holds me when I cry and speaks rationally when I can't see it.  He has taken over most of the cleaning and laundry duties and won't let me do too much.  He gives me daily foot/hand rubs and brings me breakfast in bed.  He has taken to working most days at the church (he usually works from home) so that he can be with me. There's so much more and I could really go on and on...but let me just say he not only does all of these things, he does it without complaint.

I am truly blessed.  This man is wonderful, caring and truly my favorite. I thank God for him every single day. And I know that even though I'm worried about parenthood, this kid will have an amazing dad.

Monumental: Having a Baby!



Moments in life that are monumental:

2) Having a baby

Brett and I have been married now for over 8 years.  We love being married, every year is better than the last.  It has been hard at times, but even in the hard times I'd rather be with him.  We love our life! 

A few years ago we decided we were finally ready to expand our family.  There have been so many hiccups along the way...I won't go into detail... but for the last few years we hoped and prayed and tried.

Within this last year we had finally gotten to the point that we said, "we're ok if it's just us." We really do love our life.  But we decided that we should find out what was going on.  Why couldn't I get pregnant? At the end of the summer I made an appointment for myself. 

Shortly after I'd made the appointment we began to see signs. Three weeks after our anniversary, while we were on our anniversary trip, we began to suspect that I might be pregnant. We took a test: yes! We went to our family doctor: yes!! He moved up our appointment with the gynecologist: yes!!! We were expecting!

It's hard to explain the rush of emotions that overwhelmed us in that week...and since then.  It's hard to explain how hard it's been to keep this from everyone.  I am now 14 weeks pregnant, we are expecting baby Spangler in June 2014 and could not be more excited. 

To keep up with baby, momma and daddy come here!





For Loss

I am a fairly sensitive person, I always have been.  I get caught up in not only my own feelings but the feelings of others.  I have a deep sadness this week in the wake of yet another tragedy that took many lives way too early. 

I know that God too is weeping along with the families in Connecticut this week.  It gives me great hope for humanity when people join together to mourn with those who are experiencing loss. 

Here is a video from "The Voice" this week:

Thankful Thursday #20

Today is my 33rd birthday, a time to celebrate and a time to be thankful for another year of life.  Today I am thankful for:

1) That life is good

2) That I have been married for over seven years and it keeps getting better and that I keep learning new fun things about my best friend.  I love you, Brett.

3) My family - all of the weird, loving, fun people in it

Psalm 136: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!