Half-Way

Half-way there and "growing" good.

Yesterday, we passed the 20 week mark, meaning we are officially on the count-down to Baby Louey's arrival and the end of this incredible marathon.

The two photos on the left mark my bump at 18 wks (left) and 20 wks (right, with glasses.) As you can see, I did grow a bit over the past two weeks. And we are very excited about that growth. Most "normal" pregnant women freak out as they get bigger, but Dan and I are embracing all changes. At least we're movin in the right direction. (I can always worry about body-image issues next April!)

Mum-to-be is starting to feel more like a person, and less like an incubator. Morning/afternoon/night sickness has scaled down to just morning sickness and is nothing a good brekkie (or a good chuck:) can't help. My energy has boosted and my mood is better.

Louey is VERY active and I love feeling him practice his gymnastics routine. Look out the 2030 Olympics! This afternoon, we are off to a doctors appointment to have my prenatal obs checked. I.e. blood pressure, fetal heart rate, etc. Appointments always frighten me a little, but the positive outcomes alway warm my heart and give me hope.

We have plenty to keep us busy over the next 2 weeks. At least until we pass "that" period. We've invisioned this time to be quite difficult, but we are pulling together and trying hard to remain as positive as possible. Hopefully the next few weeks fly by as fast as the past 20 have.

Next Friday, while we prepare for our Annual Thanksgiving Down Under (our 8th!) we have anatomy scan (18-22 week ultrasound.) We are SUPER excited, and still reserved a bit. This is the milestone that we never got to with Gabe. Hopefully, everything will go well and if Louey cooperates (and that's a HUGE "if" based on past scans) we might even get a glimpse of what's there or what's missing. Stay tuned for results...

Week 18

It's hard to believe that we've made it to week 18. And while we very happy that we've made it this far, I doubt we're comfortable enough to announce our success on a rented billboard.

Like first time parents, jumping into the unknown...think "baby steps." One milestone at a time.

The four (and a half) of us went away to the beach during the Melbourne Cup long weekend. For you Yanks reading...the Melbourne Cup is the horse race that "stops the nation." With school and work cancelled, and every shop in town closed, we decided to head up the east coast to spend some time relaxing in the sun. It was a well deserved break and one that did us all well. We returned refreshed and ready to take on the next few weeks.

This week we met with our OB and talked about my progress and how well everything was going. We had a quick peak at Baby Louey, who once again, thought the ultrasound was an audition for Cirque de Sole. He (it) seems to be growing well and putting on the weight that he should be. He's also very active, which, while I'm enjoying it now, I might feel differently once he get bigger and stronger. Daddy Dan is very eager to feel Louey move (as he never got to feel Gabe) but will have to wait a few more weeks.

As you can see in the photos, I am showing (much sooner than I did with any of the boys) but I'm not really that fussed and actually like "looking" pregnant. BUT I do not need any comments regarding my size...as one woman found out the hard way when she told me I "was huge." My reply..."Bite me."

PLEASE NOTE: I use the word "he" but we do not yet know the sex of Baby Louey. We are due to have our anatomy scan in about 3 weeks (end of Novemeber) and will hopefully find out if we're expecting a Lou or Louisa. Of course, at this point, we can only hope and pray for a healthy baby, that's a given. But if we find out, we will share.

Peace, love and belly rugs until next time.

xoxo

Bumps, bumps, Show us your bump!

Bumps, bumps, everywhere. When I asked Dan to take a photo of my bump (as a record) Ashton decided that he too, should show us his "baby bump." And then, innocently, suggested Daddy show us his. (What a good sport.) So these are our baby bumps, at 18 weeks.

The story behind "Baby Louey"

It just dawned on me that I ought to explain where Baby Louey got his/her name.

PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE NOT NAMING THE BABY LOUEY, LUIS, LOUISE, ETC.

We were just calling the baby "the baby"...like any expecting family does. Only, Ash would sometimes get confused and tripped up, and called the new baby "Baby Gabriel." Don't want or need that.

So we said to the boys, "Maybe we should give the new baby a name that we can use until we find out if it's a brother or sister (and name it for real.)" They both liked that idea and Ashton cheerfully exclaimed "How about Baby Louey!?" Don't know how he came up with that one, but as funny as it sounds...it has stuck.

And everyone is getting so used to talking about "Baby Louey" that Dan and I are starting to get worried that it'll be hard to refer to him/her by anything different. YIKES!

Virgin Blog

Hello all reading this.

After viewing similar blogs that friends have set up for their soon-to-be babies, I thought I would try one for ours.

Yes, you read that right... Dan and I are having another baby!!!

Baby #4 is due the day before Good Friday (April 9th.) What else could the Easter Bunny bring, besides chocolate (and maybe Peeps...if Grandma remembers) that would make it the best Easter ever???? A new baby!!!

We are all very excited (and of course, very scared) but mama and bubs are doing well and we all have our fingers, toes and eyes crossed.