24 Weeks & Merry Christmas!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas...I know we sure did! We were able to spend a few days in Murray making all the family holiday rounds so we were fortunate enough to visit with all of our family during Christmas. Santa even came to see Walker this year...I included a pictures of all his presents. Santa also brought mommy and daddy a new camera to DeeDee and Papa's house so that we can take pictures of our precious baby. We were very excited and have been playing with it all weekend.

In pregnancy news, Walker is now 24 weeks, 6 days. Just 15 more weeks to go! It's getting closer and closer and I'm now starting to get into nesting mode when it comes to his nursery. We have the crib and bedding and the dresser arrived last week. All the pieces of the dresser are in his room waiting for Uncle Eric to come assemble it. Uncle Eric was kind enough to volunteer to put it together so we're very thankful for that. We've also ordered the rocker so once all those things are put together I'm sure the rest will fall into place. My project for this week is to clean out his closet and install an extra shelf for all those baby clothes! He already has several outfits so I can already tell we're going to need that extra shelf.

Walker has been moving around a lot more this week and Jon even got to feel him move for the first time this past Tuesday (12/22) so that was very exciting. He's only gotten to feel him once though. He likes to move when it's just me around or he'll stop moving as soon as Jon comes over to feel him...stubborn already?! Other than that, there's really not much to share! I'm feeling great and just can't wait for him to be here. We have another doctor's appointment on Tuesday so we just pray that all goes well. We're also visiting daycare centers this week so please pray that we know which place is best for Walker.

I hope everyone has a great New Year!!

23 Weeks

I can't believe Walker is 23 weeks, 6 days today. This pregnancy is flying by...which is both exciting and scary at the same time. There's really nothing new to report. I'm feeling great and Walker is moving around a LOT. He's even getting up very early in the morning and is awake at odd hours throughout the night. I think he's preparing me for after he's born! :) I've felt him move at midnight, 3:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. and almost always by 5:00 a.m. every morning I feel him move. Needless to say, I don't sleep in much anymore. Even on the weekend I'm awake by 6:30. But I'll trade my sleep for feeling him move any day!! It's such a neat feeling and I'm so excited that I get to experience pregnancy and what it feels like to have a precious child growing inside of you. I can't wait for him to be born but I'm also really enjoying being pregnant. God has blessed me with a very easy pregnancy so far and I just pray it continues to go as smooth for the rest of the time.

Jon & I are both off from school this week so we're really looking forward to relaxing and doing absolutely nothing. We have a few more projects to do around the house to get the nursery ready and we're also planning on visiting daycare centers after Christmas as well. Our next doctor's appointment is next Tuesday (12/29). This will be the first doctor's appointment that I won't have an ultrasound so I'm a little upset about that but they will listen for the heartbeat and check other things as well. I've gotten spoiled by having an ultrasound at every visit so far so it will be weird not to have one this time. But at least I can feel him moving around all the time now so that's comforting.

Today Jon & I are celebrating our 6 year wedding anniversary! It doesn't seem possible that we've been married for 6 years already...time flies!! We're also looking forward to our last Christmas with just the two of us and we're already so excited that Walker will be with us for Christmas next year!! I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and please continue to keep us in your prayers.

22 Weeks

Walker is now 22 weeks, 6 days old! All is well with him and mommy. Just counting down the weeks. It makes me a little nervous when I look at the ticker on our blog because it is counting down the days and it is quickly approaching. I can't wait to hold him in my arms but I'm also getting more and more apprehensive about the whole delivery part of this!

Right now we're busy working on his nursery and trying to get everything cleaned out to make room for his clothes. He already has several cute outfits!! I'm feeling great and very excited that we only has 5 days left until Christmas Break. Over Christmas Break, Jon & I are planning to visit all the daycare centers that we're currently on a waiting list for to see which one(s) we like the best. Right now we're just taking it easy and trying to rest as much as possible. I have found it extremely difficult to sleep in lately. I seem to be waking up by 6:00 even on the weekends...I guess my days of sleeping in are really over! ;) But I wouldn't have it any other way. Walker continues to move a lot and I'm feeling him more and more during the day now, instead of just at night. And he also likes to move around very early in the morning too! I hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing Christmas! Keep praying for Walker & mommy and daddy!

21 Weeks

Walker is now 21 weeks, 6 days. This week has been pretty calm once we had our ultrasound on Monday. Nothing new to really report. He keeps moving around like crazy so that makes Mommy and Daddy feel good! I'm feeling great and we're just patiently counting the weeks until we get to meet him! I can't believe that this time next year we'll be getting ready to celebrate Walker's first Christmas...so exciting!! Here's a belly picture at 21 weeks. Please continue to keep us in your prayers!

21 Weeks

We had our growth and development ultrasound today and everything went GREAT! They checked the brain, heart, kidney's, stomach, spine, legs, arms, hands, feet, umbillical cord, bladder, basically EVERYTHING. Walker looks just like he's supposed to and is measuring right on track at 21 weeks. We're very relieved to have this behind us and even though we still have a long way to go, we're so thankful that everything is going well and he looks healthy and strong! I've included several pictures that I thought were neat!

20 Weeks & Baby Name!!

Baby Bell is now 20 weeks, 6 days. Tomorrow he'll be 21 weeks!!! Tomorrow we also have our growth & development ultrasound. The doctor said it should take about an hour and from what I understand, they check EVERYTHING to make sure he's developing like he should and everything is working like it should. Mommy & daddy are both anxious for tomorrow to be here.

He is really moving around now. Mommy can really feel him move now but so far daddy has yet to feel it. I'm sure he'll be able to any day now as his kicks and hits are getting much stronger! :) I typically feel him move about three or four times during the day for about an hour off and on. It's such a neat feeling...I can't wait for Jon to feel him too.

Other than him moving around like crazy we have nothing new to report...oh but we do have his name picked out if anyone is interested in hearing it...

From the beginning, we were set on a girl name and we were just sure that's what we were having so when they said it was a boy we really had to think about what we wanted to name him. We had several options in mind but weren't completely sold on any of them. SO...after lots of discussion we have finally decided on a name...Walker Benjamin Bell. Walker is my mom's maiden name and Benjamin is Jon's first name (as well as his dad, granddad, great-granddad...it goes back for years and years that any Boy Bell's have Benjamin in their name.) We both really liked using family names and we also wanted something that was different so we finally decided on Walker. We're so excited to finally have his name picked out and be able to share it with all of our family and friends. We were going to try to wait until he was born to tell the name but I just couldn't wait that long! :)

In nursery news, we have the dresser/changing table here and it is just waiting for Daddy to put it together and we have the chair ordered and all of our bedding has arrived. We're slowly getting everything ready for him. Other than that...everything is wonderfully boring. I'm feeling great and getting bigger every day! :)

Stay posted for an updated picture and news from our ultrasound tomorrow. Please pray that all goes well!

19 Weeks

I'm a little earlier than usual with my weekly posting but we're heading into a busy weekend so I thought I better do it now. Baby Bell is 19 weeks and a few days. All is well and I think I've felt him move a few more times. So far it hasn't been anything that daddy has felt yet but I'm sure that will come soon enough! As far as our busy weekend is concerned...mommy and daddy are heading to Murray tomorrow night. Daddy's headed to a football game and Mommy is going to a Thanksgiving dinner with all her friends from college. Should be lots of fun. Then on Saturday, we have tickets to see New Moon (the new Twilight movie!). THEN on Sunday, mommy is headed to Louisville for a conference with other teachers. By the time I get back, Baby Bell will be 20 weeks!!! Oh and for those that are wondering...we have a name picked out but we're keeping it quiet until after Thanksgiving. We plan on telling all of our families at Thanksgiving so it will be public knowledge after that! :) I knew I couldn't do a weekly post without a belly picture so I've included one above. I feel like the picture makes me look bigger than I actually am but oh well! So far I'm in maternity pants but maternity tops are still too big. But my regular tops are getting shorter and shorter so I'm sure I won't last much longer in those! Keep praying for baby (and mommy and daddy)...big ultra sound coming up on the 30th!

Baby Kicking???

I have to admit that I started this blog in part to keep family and friends up-to-date on what's going on in Baby Bell's world. But I also started it as a way to keep a journal of the pregnancy and birth of our little one as well as all the fun moments once he arrives!! :) That being said...I may post trivial things on here simply for the sheer purpose of documenting it to be read by our little one (or his mommy and daddy) at a later time.

BUT, I do actually have exciting information this time around. I think I FINALLY felt our baby boy kick for the first time today. I've felt little flutters here and there but nothing I was absolutely positive was the baby. But tonight I felt a very definitive thump inside! So exciting!!! It brought tears to my eyes because it actually makes me feel like there's a little person inside me. Even though we've seen his picture and seen videos of him moving around and heard his heartbeat, there is nothing like feeling him for the first time. Now here I've gone and been all sentimental and it might have been gas...but I will be shocked if that's the case!

18 weeks

Baby Bell is 18 weeks 6 days today....tomorrow he will be 19 weeks! It's crazy how fast this pregnancy is going by!!! In a week we'll be halfway there. As far as nursery business goes, mommy ordered bedding and DeeDee ordered the crib in the past few weeks so all that came in this past week. Needless to say, this weekend was full of projects. Uncle Eric, Aunt Jennie and the kids came to Paducah and the boys spent all day Saturday painting the nursery while Aunt Jennie and mommy went shopping. They got it all painted and it looks great! On Sunday, Daddy put the crib together. We just love the way it looks!! Hopefully, once the rest of the bedding and furniture is in, it will look more put together. So much fun working on his room!!

Other than that, everything's been pretty uneventful. I'm feeling great and I think I've felt him move a couple of times but I'm not sure. It's still early though so I'm sure he'll be more active in a few weeks. All I've felt so far are just little flutters so I'm not sure if it's him or not! Oh and I did get the H1N1 vaccine on Friday. I found the preservative-free one at the Marshall County Health Department so I drove there on Friday after school. Jon and I had gone back and forth about it but we prayed about it and decided it was the best decision for me to get it. I feel so much better going in to the holiday season knowing we're both protected!! I have not gotten the regular flu shot and as of now I don't plan on it. I was just so relieved I found the preservative-free vaccine. That made me feel so much better about getting it. We go on November 30 for our 20 week ultra-sound so please just continue to pray that everything goes ok and that mommy and baby continue to stay healthy and strong!

17 Weeks

Ok...so I was a slacker last weekend. Here is a picture of baby Bell at 17 weeks! Sorry!! :)

16 Week

Baby BOY Bell is 17 weeks today! Above is a picture of my belly at 16 weeks. I decided to be brave and take one of just my belly!! :) It feels huge but I feel sure it will get a lot bigger by the time the baby gets here. Everything is pretty boring on the pregnancy front. I'm feeling great...so good, in fact, that I wouldn't even know I was pregnant if it weren't for my belly!

Daddy starts playoffs this week so we only have a few weeks left of football. It will really be boring around here once that's over...until April that is!! :)

I have been looking at baby bedding and furniture so that's been exciting. I think I've found the bedding that I want to use. The picture is above so let me know what you think! We also think we've found the furniture we want to get but we haven't ordered it yet. That's about all the baby business I have to share this week. Everything is wonderfully boring! :) Hope everyone is doing well. Continue to pray that mommy (and baby!) can stay healthy and not catch any of the flu that's going around.

It's a Boy!!!

We had our 16 week sneak-peek and it's a boy! We are SHOCKED!! We were so sure that it was a girl that we had prepared ourselves for that, but we are so excited!!! The ultra sound technician is absolutely positive that it's a boy. Jon just knew that at the 12 week ultra sound he saw "boy parts" and the lady just laughed. But today she told us that she had written a note in her chart that she thought it was a boy then. And they were both right! I've included a few pictures so you can see for yourselves. The baby was going crazy moving around all over the place but she got some really good shots. You should have seen us in the room. Jon's going crazy in the room and the baby is going crazy on the screen. It was hilarious!! Just like daddy already. ;) I didn't think a boy would be as fun to shop for but I ran by the mall today after the appointment and somehow ended up buying 4 or 5 little outfits! :) I'll have to try to control myself!!!

Everything looked good and HE and mommy are measuring just right! We go in a month for our 20 week growth & development ultrasound. That's the big one and they said it should take about an hour so please continue to pray that everything is ok. I also asked about the swine flu shot and they recommended that I get it. I'm still not sure about it but I hate to go against my doctor's wishes as well so please just pray for wisdom for Jon and I that we can make the right decision.

15 Weeks

I just realized earlier that tomorrow I'll be 16 weeks so I had to have Jon take a picture today of my belly at 15 weeks...the time is flying by!! It's not a very good picture because it was taken with his phone. We're currently shopping around for a new camera but until then the phone will have to do! No interesting pregnancy news to report...praise the Lord I'm still feeling great!! But Tuesday is a big day. We go for our 16 week sneak-peek! I hope baby is cooperative and we will get to find out if it's a he or she. We both think it's a girl but we'll be thrilled with either. As long as it's healthy we could care less! :) Stay tuned for a post on Tuesday!!

14 Weeks

Well, since I'll be 15 weeks tomorrow, I thought I'd better post a 14 week blog/picture. Mommy and baby continue to do well. We spent most of last week at the beach with the grandmommy-to-be. We had such a nice time visiting, relaxing, eating and shopping!! :) Daddy stayed back in Murray for football. We did get a few things for baby but there's not much to buy when you don't know the sex of the baby yet. It makes me wonder how anyone doesn't find out what they're having. I couldn't stand it!! Speaking of which...we find out in a week and 2 days. We are so excited. Right now everything is perfectly normal and uneventful in our world. Baby is continuing to grow which means that mommy's bump is getting bigger. I'm starting to actually resemble a pregnant lady instead of just someone who ate too much for lunch! :) Here is a pic of my belly at 14 weeks. Please keep us in your prayers...we're so blessed that things have gone well so far. Please pray for continued good health for me and the baby.

Hello 2nd Trimester!!

Well, praise the Lord for the second trimester of pregnancy. All the books say that this is the golden period of pregnancy and even though I'm just two days into it...I have to say I agree. Even though I haven't been sick or had any weird cravings (yet!) so far during my pregnancy, I have been so tired I can barely keep my eyes open by the time school is over. Of course it could be the kids too...but I have no doubt that the little person inside of me is to share some of the blame! :) BUT...the past few days I've had so much more energy that I can actually come home and do things instead of dropping down on the couch. However, I still plan on using the "growing a person is hard work!" to get out of doing dinner. We'll see how long that lasts...

Anyway, here's a another picture of the baby (at our 6 week appointment) and one of my belly from last week (12 weeks). I think it's safe to say it's gotten bigger since then, but I guess that's a good thing!

Well, after 5 1/2 years of marital bliss we are expanding our family! Baby Bell is due to make his/her arrival on or before April 12!! We are so excited about our new baby and can't believe how much we love him/her already!! I'm 12 weeks 6 days along and so far everything looks great! We've had 2 ultrasounds so far and they all say baby is healthy and doing GREAT! At our 12 week ultrasound we had some testing done to check the fluid at the base of the baby's skull. Thicker fluid can sometimes be an indicator of a genetic disorder, but our baby's fluid was just where it should be so we're thankful for that. We'll have more in-depth testing done at our 16 week ultrasound...and we'll also get a sneak-peek at whether baby is a he or she!! :) We can't believe we get to find out so early! Our 16 week ultrasound is October 27th so we're counting down the days!!

So far baby has been very kind to mommy...no morning sickness, just very tired, but I'll take that any day! Let's hope the rest of the pregnancy continues to be as uneventful!! Please continue to check the blog for updates on baby. I'm not promising to update daily but I'll at least shoot for weekly until we have more exciting things to post...like pics of the baby. I'm hoping the blog can keep everyone up-to-date on what's going on in our world of pregnancy. And I'm sure everyone will want to check back more frequently once baby is actually here for all the cute pics of him/her. Please keep baby and mommy (and daddy!) in your prayers and that we have a healthy and safe pregnancy.