(21wks 1day) We had the “big” ultrasound today. Most people find out the gender at this one, but we already know…and he is still a he if you were wondering. He was very very active this morning, so it was hard for her to get all of the pictures she wanted. I feel bad b/c he has so much room to play around in there right now, and that won’t last much longer as he grows. I wonder if he is going to have the same energy when he comes out! He was lying on his left side with his head down, which is my left side with his bottom under my belly button. He was moving his hands all around his face, maybe trying to get his thumb to suck. In one of the photos he has the back of his hand to his mouth. He was also grabbing at his feet a lot…and other things. In fact, the tech was thinking that he was a girl for a minute b/c Baby Watson wouldn’t sit still long enough to get a look, and when he would his hands were in the way. Imagine that. She got really good pictures of his spine, which she said was beautiful. So all that nasty milk and yogurt that I’ve been downing is paying off! We got to see the kidneys, bladder, stomach, all 4 chambers of the heart, the 3 chambers of the umbilical cord, and his brilliant brain. Such a miracle. We also got to hear the heartbeat again. All of his fingers and toes looked so cute, when they weren’t flailing around! She showed me that the placenta is on the back wall of the uterus so that is why we can feel him moving so strong & often, there is no “shock absorber” b/t Baby Watson and my belly. He is moving all the time and it feels really amazing…until the kicks are in my ribs and on my bladder I’m sure. We go for another appt in 4wks, but since everything looked great, I probably won’t get another ultrasound. How sad! I love seeing him playing around in his little world. Oh-and Baby Watson is a healthy 15 ounces right now, which is just right. So that would mean that the remaining lbs are mommy, wow!

Today was our first hypnobirth therapy session together. During the two hours, we learned what the uterus & cervix go through during the labor and birthing, reviewed some of the main points of the book, had a session in relaxation breathing, and watched three births. Very informative. The births were amazing to watch. No screaming or pushing. The role of the dad was also very noticeable, not just standing there helpless like a coach, we loved it. I am to practice and perfect my relaxation breathing everyday now, and Bryce has to help me with this. This is the technique that I will use during the first phase of labor in between surges (contractions) in order to stay calm, focused, and relaxed. Tension creates pain, so being able to quickly go into the relaxed state is super important to master. Bryce was taking notes and seemed to learn a lot. He hasn’t read the book yet, so this was all new and exciting to him. I’ve read parts of it twice already, so I wasn’t as enthused during parts of the session where she was covering parts & diagrams in the book. I don’t think Bryce realized quite how involved he was going to be, starting now. He is going to be reading the prompts and scripts to me to help me go deeper into the relation state. The baby can hear all of this, so he will know Bryce’s voice and that it relates to relaxation. We are really happy that this process will help us to bond so much with the baby before he is even born. There is a lot more to all of this, but I just want to let you all an idea of what we do at our sessions.

I'm half way there! Only 20 more weeks until we meet our baby boy. It is nice to be at the half way mark that everyone talks about. I'm definitely starting to see the changes in my body. My baby bump turned into a belly over the weekend for starters. Although it was very kind of those of you who voted that I wouldn't show until Valentine's Day. He is also moving around more. I woke up at 3am and he wouldn't stop moving until about 4:30. It feels like he is already bored! So I guess this is a big mile stone for him too.  He should weigh about 10oz and be about 10" total length. His little brain it starting to rapidly grow and he can hear. That is why we went to the bookstore yesterday and bought some Mother Goose and other books to start reading to him. It made me realize that none of the furniture sets that we looked at, which were a lot, include a book shelf. I find that odd. I also bought a lot of clothes for him, and I didn't think it would be so much fun buying little boy clothes but I was wrong! Oh, and I discovered over the weekend that he likes Dave Mathews. I was watching VH1 unplugged Friday and he started moving around alot, and he hadn't moved at all that day until then. Good taste! So now I'm playing DMB cd's in my car & at work for him.

So anyway, 20 more weeks and the real fun begins. There have been so many "phases" of this half of the pregnancy. First there was shock, then there were tears, then lots of paranoia, more tears, zero energy, then so many questions, then bliss for a while, then high anxiety & more paranoia, and now just planning...and the tears never really stopped. I'm just so excited all the time now!! And that makes me cry too! Bryce just had the shock and excitement part. No questions of course b/c he know all. We just hope this half is as wonderful and uneventful, in a good way, as the first half. And no stretch marks would be a nice gift too.

Sleeping on my side stinks. That's all. No particular reason why, except maybe it is b/c I am now told that I "have" to sleep that way. I didn't mind that position before I "had" to. I was up all night last night, switching sides. And I know the left side is better for me, but I need some options! Almost all of the hundred times that I woke up, and couldn't get comfy to fall back asleep, I was on my back. I think I need one of those little foam wedges that babies use to sleep with. Again, if this is my biggest complaint I know I am blessed, but I just wanted to acknowledge the little war I am having with myself. I won't even start on the no crossing the legs rule, but don't laugh if I start to sit like a truck driver.

What a year, or least the last half! We have spent 7 New Year's together, and our resolutions are a little more family oriented this year. Our #1 is to the be the best parents we can be, which inlcudes keeping our faith and marriage strong. We are looking forward to all the joy and new experiences this year has in store for us, and the sleeplessness too. Leigh wished us a year of diapers full of happiness. She thinks she is so clever! This past year was so full of blessings, even if it takes a little reflection to recognize a few of them, but it will always be a year to remember. I am so glad to have had so many old & new friends be a part of it all. We cannot wait to share our little miracle with all of you this year though!!

 I’m not the only one welcoming a precious baby this year, and I send lots of love & future play dates to all: Amber, Ashlee, Kim, Lesley & Tracy.

(18wks 4days). Our baby boy gave us the best Christmas gift! I (we) felt him kick and “swim” around!! Wednesday morning at about 8 o’clock he started kicking and then moving all around my belly. I just laid there for a minute to make sure that a kick was what I was feeling, and then grabbed Bryce’s hand. We just laid there with his hand on my belly for 20 minutes or so and enjoyed the little show that Baby Watson was putting on for us. At one point Bryce would poke at him and the baby would kick back. I hope he knew that his daddy was the one annoying him and not me, ha ha. He has been so low this whole time, and now he is high up by my belly button. Aww, he knows I’m talking about him b/c he’s moving around right now! So b/c of his new position, by bump is more noticeable, but I’m still fitting my clothes. I joke that I forget I’m pregnant b/c I’ve had such an easy time, but now I’m so excited that I have his little activity time to remind me.

We had such a wonderful Christmas with all of our family. We started in Baton Rouge on Monday and ended in Houston last night. Very hectic as usual, but we manage to get all of our family in. Baby Watson even got some beautiful, and helpful, gifts. We are truly blessed to have such supportive & loving family and friends. Some of you are just too much!!! All we could talk about was how amazing next Christmas is going to be with our little boy in our lives. 

And a big congrats & lots of love to our friends Sara & Rocky who welcomed a beautiful little girl into the world on December 18. Happy Birthday Fehrle Rodriguez!

(17wks 1day) We had a routine check up today at the OB. She just went over the results from all of the blood work & ultrasounds from the genetics center and confirmed that everything looked fine. We then listened to the hearbeat, which was fast and strong! She said that had only I gained 1 lb since my last visit on 11/19, but that it was ok this early and that I would start gaining more. I have to continue the iron supplements for the entire pregnancy, which seems so long. She also set my appt for my "big" ultrasound for 1/14. That is when we count the fingers and toes, etc. We already did that a few weeks ago at the other place, but I still cannot wait to see him again. He will probably look so big! The dr. also told me to have fun opening gifts this Christmas b/c I won't exist anymore after the baby comes! I picked out the crib and paint colors for his nursery yesterday. The hard part is going to be finding the fabric to make the bumper, blanket and curtains (Amber's making it, not me!). I can't wait to get started!

Today I had a consultation with a Hypno Birth therapist. It was so thrilling and I’m very excited about this technique. I’m planning on having a natural birth, with no drugs, so using the breathing and meditation involved in hypnosis birthing will certainly reduce the discomfort and raise my awareness during the delivery. Bryce is actually excited too. He is very supportive of a natural labor b/c he knows how important it is to me, and the baby. This also really increases his involvement in the labor and birth of his son, which I think is beautiful. The private sessions start in January, and he will join me for all 6 of them. Her sessions include a lot of teaching about fetal psychology and exactly what is taking place in my body that you don’t learn at Lamaze or childbirth classes, it is not just me being hypnotized. The most important thing about this is the emphasis on the baby having a calm and safe birth, and no intervention of instruments. There is a lot of home-study involved as well, so this will definitely be a fun journey for us over the next 5 months.

 http://hypno-birthing.com/