Isobel, it's YOU!

Hey my little sugar plumb. See, the knowledge of your "girlness" is already causing me to cause you cutesy, girly things (but I don't care).


Tuesday was the most fantastic day for your dad and me (and also a pretty great day for all of your grandparents, aunts, uncles and honorary aunts and uncles-our friends).  We went into the doctor's office hoping to see you and let the technician look at everything.  Our bodies are made of so many parts that have to grow and work just right for us to be healthy--The technician took time to check out how everything is growing: your brain and spine, your heart and organs, your fingers and toes.  We got to watch you move around and open your mouth.  We were just mesmerized looking at you.

The technician and doctor told us that you look 100% healthy and that they didn't see any reason to do more testing.  They also told us that you are a girl! We thought it would be fun for your dad to find out first and then tell me.  I had to close my eyes when the screen showed your girl parts and it was so hard not to look because I was excited to know!

Taken right after we found out!

Your dad told me that you're a girl, with tears in his eyes.  He is so eager to protect you and provide the loving, stable, silly environment that you will need.  He is a little nervous because he grew up with uncle Jordan, his brother, and they didn't have sisters.  Since I'm already a girl and grew up with a sister, your aunt Sammi, I think I would've been more nervous to have a boy.  The truth is--we were very relieved that you were healthy and either gender would've been fine.

But remember--The Lord gave me dreams of you, my love. I have seen your face and have heard your infectious little giggle.  On Tuesday morning, when we saw you on the screen, I felt like I was seeing you for the first time since my dreams.

When we shared the news, everyone shrieked (Gma Terri "MeeMaw") and cried (your JoePa cried a little!) and thanked God for you.  We posted a few of your pictures on Facebook and so many people said how beautiful you are.  We agree.

Tuesday-come now!

We are so excited to see you on Tuesday morning--We will be into our 19th week and it'll be at Obstetrix, with a fancy ultrasound machine and a trained technician.  The doctor will look at all your parts and make sure that everything is development and growing like it should.  If we're lucky, we will also find out if you are a little boy or a little girl--I hope you cooperate and show us your stuff!

Your dad and I have names picked out for you on both counts, but they aren't 100% for sure.  It is important to me, especially, that we decide as soon as possible because I want to start calling you by name.

Isaiah 43:1
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have
redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

We will love you so much, regardless. It just feels like we are going to meet you at this appointment; that we get to learn a lot more about you now--We get to see your face and all of your parts, watch you move in there...and maybe start calling you by your name.  I've read that you are hearing things outside my womb now, too.

Your aunts, uncle and grandparents are looking forward to knowing more about you too! They can't wait to start buying you clothes and decorations for your room.  

Our society has very firm opinions about how males and females should think, feel, act and look--sometimes I think these opinions are a bit extreme and silly.  Boys wear blue and green and brown and girls wear pink and purple and frilly things.  We aren't going to make you stand out looking strange, but I definitely want you to know that all colors are appropriate for you to wear and love--Boys and girls only have one standard to go by, for how they should be, and that's in our Father's (God's) image.  LOTS more on that later. Like, for instance--did you know that pink used to be reserved for boys only and blue for only girls? And this was only 100 or so ago!  Culture shapes identity, but it doesn't really create our identity. Only God does.

http://www.gender-focus.com/2010/09/23/pink-for-girls/

Love!

Popcorn!

This week was week 18 for us and an exciting thing started happening-I felt you inside me!

At first, I wasn't sure it was you...it felt like a little push outward here...and then there. I had read that it feels like a tiny butterfly fluttering or like popcorn popping and I think the latter is the best description.  I decided not to be too excited about it until it happened a few more times and I could make sure that this was you.  By the next day, I'd felt you a few more times and it felt so good to be able to feel you in there moving.  I've been talking to YOU all the while, but this is the first time that I've noticed you making contact with ME! Now, I know that you've really been moving in there for weeks, with your reflexes and bones developing fast.  You weren't trying to "speak to me," but it was still very neat to feel you for the first time.  People tell me that I'll get tired of you moving around in there, and I believe them.  Your aunt, Kristina, told me that she could see your cousin's (Caden) knees and elbows making dents into her stomach when he was almost ready to come out!

One night, when I was feeling you pretty often, I told your dad that I could feel you. He put his hand right where you are now, in my tummy, and he said that he thinks he could feel you moving in there too!

After your aunt Sammi and i went and bought some maternity basics for mom to wear, I've started feeling more comfortable in my own (growing) skin.  I've also been trying hard to eat my veggies (although I really don't want them at all!) and get some activity in on most days.  It's been hard to make the time because I can't seem to get enough quality sleep these days--I wake up often during the night, just trying to get comfortable, and it's been leaving me craving more.  But I know that the exercise helps and will keep helping, when I can make it happen!

The Pooch: It's YOU.

Hi sweetie pie. Earlier this week, I went to see the midwives.  It was a quick trip--We heard your heartbeat loud and proud on their doppler and I found out that Dad and I will get to see you again in only 2 weeks--On Tuesday, November 13th! There's a good chance we'll find out for sure if you're a boy or a girl and we are so excited.  I think we've missed looking at you since the moment they turned off the ultrasound a few weeks back...I'm sure you have grown a ton!

Mom's tummy has started poking out this week, making it kind of awkward to find clothes to wear to work in the mornings.  I've even felt a little off balance, with you moving in there! People say that I should be starting to feel you move inside me, but I don't think I've felt you yet.

I found a blog with this great idea for my pants tonight:

I'm definitely going to try this soon! Actually, your aunt Sammi and I are going to check out a couple more stores for maternity basics and cute baby stuff tomorrow. I'm so lucky to have her close by, and that she's willing to help your mom get up the courage and energy to learn how to do this "mom" stuff! For some reason, mom and baby shopping really overwhelms me...and she's just fine with it. We're a good team. :)






Love you! Sleep well in my tummy tonight--Feel free to move and kick and show me you're in there!