I'm In Love With A Bald Little Man

Well, it's official - I'm in hopelessly in love. Don't tell Matt, but this other guy is short, bald, depends on me to do everything for him, and (I'm sorry to say) passes gas all the time! Matt is still the love of my life, but I have to say that I am smitten with this new guy. Did I mention that this new guy is only nine pounds and sucks on a pacifer? It is sweet Aiden and I cannot believe that he has been here for a month already! I spent a lot of time this weekend thinking about our first month together and thought this would be a great place to record my thoughts, along with some of my favorite of his 4 week-old photos.


My Greatest Challenges

This first month has certainly brought many changes and change is usually a challenge. I think my greatest challenge has been nursing. The experience was not what I thought it would be AT ALL. It always looks so sweet and endearing on tv. Not so for me. It has been VERY painful in so many ways. A bout of mastidas has also been a challenge and possibly the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. Along with the pain, I am not a person who can sit still very well. I constantly need to be doing something and nursing does NOT allow that. Add that in with the fact that Aiden needs to eat every 3 hours (and for one week we had to feed every 2 hours to get him up to weight) and I am forced to sit still and do NOTHING for close to 5-6 hours a day and I am about to go crazy! Matt says his greatest challenge has been the lack of sleep. I don't think it has been as big of an adjustment for me because I really have not slept well since January and have not slept all the way through the night since October. I guess that was just God's way of getting mom ready! (Don't get me wrong, though - I am certainly tired!)


My Greatest Rewards

The first month has brought challenges, but there are also so many rewards! My favorite reward has been
Aiden's faces! He has SO many expressions and I laugh at him so often! Matt and I have named so many of his looks and expressions, such as "Blue Steel" and "Pirate Eye." He even has a face for when he is done eating, hungry, curious, and even making a dirty diaper. The best face has been his smile! He has started to smile and it is the amazing! (Don't get me wrong, I realize it is probably gas, but it still wonderful!) Aiden also gets in a deep trance when he finds the fan in either the bedroom or the den. He could watch the fan for hours!




Unexpected Twists

I can't say there has been much that has happened in the last month that I didn't expect. I was prepared for the lack of sleep, long and slow recovery from the c-section, constant repetition of laundry and bottle washing, and complete disappearance of any personal time I had before. However, I think there are two things that have caught me off-guard: the post-preggers weepy-ness and my mommy instincts. I didn't have emotional meltdowns during pregnancy, but I have had several good cries since Aiden has arrived (and over many things I would not have guessed!). The most unexpected was my gushy sob when Matt told me he has found the perfect new home for Shelly and Shelldon (the turtles I have had for years). I am not sure why, but I sat on the couch and sobbed! I knew this time would come and we have been looking for a good home for them since finding out I was pregnant, so I am not sure why I was so weepy to hear the news! The other surprise has been the mommy instincts. I didn't think that I would freak out over being away from Aiden, like I hear other new moms talk about, especially if it is just for a short time. Matt has kept Aiden once or twice at the house to allow me some "mommy time" at the pool to get some sun. I have had to force myself to stay an hour and then constantly watch the clock! The first momentary freak-out was for my 2 weeks check-up with my doctor and my sister's 16 week doc appointment. We set up the appointments together so Lauren could drive us, since I was not allowed to drive. We were running late to the appointment (no surprise) and Lauren had to drop my off before parking in the deck and going through the maze of the hospital so I would be on time for the first appointment. Since I was not allowed to carry Aiden, she would have to bring him later. No big deal, right? After signing in and being called back I constantly watched the clock wondering where they were! It took all I had not to call her after 10 minutes and ask why they were not there yet. I held off until 15 minutes went by and no appearance of my sister and son. I called and Lauren reported she was still in the waiting room because the receptionists were googling over Aiden. What was wrong with me?? Then over the weekend I got weepy AGAIN when Matt and I began discussing schedules when I go back to work in THREE weeks! I told Matt I want to go back to teaching - I LOVE teaching - but at the moment I could not bear the thought of not being with Aiden all day! All reactions I was NOT expecting from me!


The Future

In the second month, my goal is to finish Aiden's nursery. There have not been pics yet because it has been very slow coming together (I blame Tanner Time). The glider should be here soon, hopefully the hutch bookshelf will be done soon to put his books on, and Matt will finish his art work and we can get it on the wall. I cannot wait for Aiden's new discoveries - his hands, his feet, his toys, and the beach! As silly as it sounds, I am also eager for Aiden to be able to wear some of his clothes from his sweet friends! Right now he is still too small to fit into most of his clothes, so he has worn his gowns and the 2 newborn pjs I got him. He has many cute things I cannot wait to see him in (including the shark bathing suit his mom got him that I am sure he will fuss at me for later!). But for now I am enjoying every moment, knowing he will not be this tiny and cute and snuggly much longer!

In Awe of Aiden

To My Son, Sweet Aiden,



On your 3 week birthday, I have spent quite a bit of time today thinking about the past few weeks and the time you and I have spent getting to know each other. I cannot begin to tell you how quickly these past 3 weeks have gone by and it pains me to think that we only have a few weeks left before you and I cannot spend our days together anymore. I knew the first moment we met that you were something special. You had my heart at your first look, when the doctors handed you to me and and your big, bright eyes looked at me, and for a moment the whole world stood still.

I can't begin to tell you about our journey over the past months together. You have taught me more about myself than anyone else. I can't say that our journey together was an easy one (or is now, for that matter), but you have shown me that I am stronger than even I thought possible. Even now as I think back to the past 10 months, I have struggled to remember the throwing up, the fatigue, the headaches, the back pain, the indigestion, the sleepless nights, and the other pains and uncomfortable symptoms of being pregnant. I never thought that I would ever be able to endure the things I did and for as often or as long as I did, but knowing you were coming made it all worth it and I would do it all again in a second. While at the time the pain and sickness were all VERY real and there were many days that I didn't know how I would make it through, all of those memories vanished when you first looked at me. Even now on days like yesterday, where I was in so much pain from the surgery that it brought me to tears, the only thing that could make me feel better was to hold you and know that every ounce was completely worth it to have such an amazing little boy. You have taught me that love makes anything and everything possible.

As we walked around the neighborhood the other night, your daddy and I talked about you and what a blessing you have been to our family. We can't believe how our lives have changed in just a year - that this time last summer we were talking about possibly starting a family and now we have one! We agreed that you, Aiden, have been the greatest part of our marriage. You have made our relationship stronger and shown us that we need each other's love and support, especially during hard times. In the past 3 weeks you have shown us that communication, teamwork, and encouraging each other can get us through even the toughest challenges we will face. Your dad and I agreed that you have brought a deeper appreciation and love for each other that no one else could do. Your dad and I also agreed that you have shown us Christ's love more than anything else as well. You are truly a gift from Him and we feel so blessed that the Lord has entrusted us with you. I am not sure how anyone can look at a newborn and not be amazed at God's power and love. You are a blessing, Aiden, and your dad and I are reminded of this each time you look at us with your big beautiful eyes that never cease to make my heart melt.




To my sweet boy, may you continue to be a blessing in our lives. My favorite part of the day is our morning nap, where after a bottle and burping, you sleep on my chest and snuggle with me up under my chin for a little over an hour. I know that the time we can do this is limited and each morning I cherish each nap and snuggle. I look forward to many of the things to come in the future as well - especially the first time I can hear you giggle and talk. As I am learning each day that being a parent and a mommy brings new challenges, emotions, and desires, my prayer is that God will guide me through each day and each challenge. I will continue to pray that God will strengthen mine and your dad's marriage and guide us in being the parents we need to be for you.

Happy 3 weeks, sweet Aiden! With all my love,

Mommy

How Two Became Three

Tuesday, May 24 - The day before our due date!

Although I can't say I honestly thought I would make it this far, I was looking forward to (what I thought would be) our last doctor's visit before our little man arrived. However, the news from the doctor was the same as every weekly appointment in May - only 1 cm dialated and hardly thinned out. Matt and I were presented with two options from the doctor: we could go ahead and schedule a c-section to take the baby or we could go up to a week past our due date to see if Baby Tanner would come on his own. Since the doctor encouraged allowing him to come on his own and a c-section was a last resort for me, the decision was made to come back for another appointment the following week and see where we stand. However, the doctor did have some concerns. First, Baby T was measuring very inconsistently - every week in May was different - a week ahead, a week behind, two weeks ahead, etc. She was concerned with his size, so we were scheduled for an ultrasound on Tuesday, May 31, the day after Memorial Day, and would then meet with the doctor to discuss the results. Her second concern was that I was not having contractions yet - or the ones I thought I was having were questionable. I was having more cramping that would last for hours, rather than contractions. Matt and I were hopeful for the news the following week.

Wednesday, May 25 - Due Date

Eager to get out of the house, I ran up to the school to see my sweet kids on their last day and take them popsicles and eat lunch out with Matt. It was my first time driving in a while, but by this point I was ready to get out of the house for a bit! I knew when I took on carrying around a little one for an extra week there would be physical challenges. Once Matt got home, my back had gotten the best of me and I suggested going for a quick swim before dinner to ease the pressure off my back. Here is a quick shot of Aiden on his due date before Matt and I left to go for a swim...

Friday, May 27

After dinner I suggested a walk around the neighborhood, as we did most nights in efforts to bring on labor. It was not long before I was cramping and having pains. As we decided on a final lap around the circle, I struggled to finish the walk. As we got closer to the house there were moments I had to stop to let the pains pass before taking another step. We came back in the house and I went straight back to the bed to lie down. Matt and I admitted later we were both secretly very anxious and excited that night going to bed. I don't think either of us wanted to say anything, but I think we were both hopeful this was the start of the arrival of our little boy. However, we both woke up disappointed Saturday morning.

Tuesday, May 31

Knowing this would be the last trip to the doctor (and my level of comfort in dire need of help), I was eager and anxious for whatever news she had. The ultrasound also made me eager for the visit because we had not seen our little man since December. But the ultrasound turned out to be nothing I expected - he was HUGE! The ultrasound tech said his head was extremely big and that his tummy was so large the computer could not even register the size. The look on her face said it all when the computer estimated him to weight around 9.5 pounds. Her remarks to us as we left to see the doctor were, "Good luck delivering the hoss!" (Not really what I wanted to hear at the moment, as I knew that spelled out the makings of a c-section).

Matt tried to calm me in the waiting room, already knowing what was going through my head. The doctor confirmed - Baby Tanner was so big he was unable to fit through my pelvis to enter the birth canal. As a result, he was basically stuck - my body couldn't push him down (which was why I was not contracting, just constant cramping) and I was not thinned out hardly at all (because the baby was not being pushed down). She said we had two options again: schedule a c-section or we could try an induction if I still really wanted to delivery naturally. We asked her what she felt would be best and without hesitation she answered "c-section." She said she does not usually encourage moms (especially on their first pregnancy) to not attempt labor at all and schedule the c-section, but said she felt this would be a "traumatic delivery," where they would either have to break the baby's shoulder to get him out (if my body did respond to the induction, which she was not hopeful about) or it would lead to an emergency c-section (which she said she felt would be most likely). Matt and I did not hesitate to schedule the c-section for the next day, knowing it would be what was best for the baby and for me.

Wednesday, June 1 - BIRTH day!

Matt and I spent a nice, relaxing morning after getting up very early - both of us far too anxious to sleep. Before getting up, we decided on the most important thing first - our little man would be named Aiden Matthew. Aiden was a name Matt and I have both liked for a while and after seeing a very fiesty, kicking, wiggling little boy at our first ultrasound in December and learning that Aiden meant "fiery," it seemed to fit. Matthew comes from his daddy's middle name. With the name finalized, we enjoyed a calm morning since we did not have to be at the hospital until 10:00. Here are the last few shots of sweet Aiden and mom before we left to go to the hospital... (exactly 41 weeks)

Look, no hands!

Car is packed and time to go!

Once we arrived at the hospital, things moved smoothly, but quickly. I was immediately taken back and prepped for surgery. I was changed, hooked up to monitors, hooked up to an IV, and prepped about what would happen. The anesthesiologist came in and I was given the epidural. My nurse continued to tell me that I could touch my belly now, but once back in the OR, I couldn't touch anymore. She told me this so frequently, I wondered if I was supposed to be touching my belly more? I soon realized what she meant - as I left Matt to be taken to the OR, I had my hand on my belly and felt Aiden kick. However, it wasn't the type of kick that I normally felt since I realized I was numb from the chest down. This was a kick like what everyone else felt - I could feel it on my hand, but no longer feel him inside of me. I had a few tears as reality set in that this was the last time I would ever feel my little boy inside me, despite how ready I thought I was to get him out after months together. I spent the next few moments on the table with my arms as wrapped tightly around my belly as I could get them, holding my little man while the doctors continued to prep for the surgery.

As my arms were moved, the next few moments are a blur - a sheet was put up to block my view, Matt came in to sit with me, a nurse told me they were beginning, there was pressure, and then a little cry! Aiden Matthew was born at 12:24 p.m. and weighed 8 lbs 13 oz!

Love at first sight!

Aiden and Mommy meeting for the first time!

Back in the recovery room after surgery, spending our first hour as a family of three!


Not sure who snapped this one, but it has become my favorite. This is in the hall on the way from the recovery room to being moved to the second floor, our home for the next 3 days.


Once on the second floor, it was time for the first picture of our new family!

My second favorite picture of the day - just a few moments before the family came in to meet Aiden for the first time.

The rest of the day, unfortunately, is nothing much than a blur. Once on the second floor I was put on morphine for the pain, which my body did not react well to. The medicine had me VERY out of it - I look very confused in most of the remaining pictures of the day and Matt said I often would daze out, where I looked awake, but my eyes were closed. Along with slurred speech and not making much sense, the hardest side effect was the vomitting - NOT an easy task for my stomach and abs and stitches and staples after the surgery.

We spent the next few days in the hospital soaking up every moment of our sweet little boy. There were even a few moments early on Friday morning after a 4 a.m. feeding that Matt and I sat in the hospital bed and watched our little boy in amazement as he peacefully looked at us, I am sure wondering who these silly people were that kept kissing him and talking to him as the sun came up. I repeatedly told Matt parenting was not this easy and we should not be fooled - we had not heard the child cry more than a whimper during our time in the hospital. The doctor even commented that he was the best baby she had ever had for a circumcision - he barely made a peep. However, all that changed on Saturday.

Saturday, June 4

Saturday was meant to be our discharge day and we had BIG plans. I had bought the perfect outfit, we were going to stop by Star Lake for a quick picture on the way home to show Aiden where his mom and dad had their first date, their first kiss, and their first walk on the night they were married. We would then wrap up by taking too many pictures once we arrived home to commemorate the occasion. But life never happens that way. When the nurse came in to go over our discharge information around 1:00 p.m., she had to do her final check of Aiden before we left. She said she would go ahead and remove the bandage around his circumcision, despite other nurses telling us it would come off on its own. She struggled to remove it, and once it was finally off Aiden began to SCREAM. And he screamed and screamed and screamed. Matt and I wanted to wait to leave the hospital until Aiden finished crying, but 2:00 came and went, then 3:00, then 4:00. Aiden continued to scream - he would not nurse, he would not sleep, he would not take his pacifier, he could not be calmed. Then 5:00 came and went and we were approaching 6:00. With our nerves on end and needing to just get out of the small hospital room and knowing that pharmacies would be closing soon, we decided to put our screaming child in the carseat and just tough it out. Fortunately, the car ride home pacified Aiden to a quick nap, while his mom lost it. I cried the entire way home - knowing my sweet boy was in so much pain and there was NOTHING I could do about it. (Although at moments I thought punching that nurse might actually make me feel better) Once we got home and Aiden was out of the car, the screaming started again and continued through midnight into the early hours of the morning until exhaustion set in - for all of us!

Overall parenting has been quite an adventure - as you can tell! I am sure we have not seen the last of the ups and downs, but it has been such a wonderful experience. I feel the best thing to leave you with are the things that have filled my mind the most over the past two weeks (well, besides Aiden!) - James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" and Psalm 127:3 - "Children are a gift of the Lord."

Showered with Love

I don't believe a child has ever been so "showered" in his life! While I should be catching up on all the thank-yous for the six showers, the carpel tunnel in my hand will not allow me to write with my right hand. So, on (possibly, hopefully) my last day of being home alone, I have been thinking of the last few months and the arrival of our little boy. Here's 3 of the 6 baby showers...

My 8th Grade Cheerleaders

On the last day of March during the week of SAT testing, Jana suggested we eat dinner together to relax and take our mind off school and babies and testing. She suggested Jackson's in Homewood and I was in! But once we walked in the door, I realized I had been set up! In the upper balcony stood 17 squealing cheerleaders who had decorated the balcony for a baby shower for our little boy! (Who this group has named "Logan") We spent the next few hours giggling, eating, opening gifts, and guessing what the little guy would look and act like. As we opened gifts, we got to "ooo" and "ahhh" at all the little baby things. I even got to hear stories of how THEY chose each gift in the store - and see pictures of one cheerleader (who shall remain nameless) that actually crawled in one of the cribs at Buy Buy Baby! The girls were the perfect little hostesses! An afternoon of laughter was just what I needed during that stressful week!

His precious gifts!

My girls

Opening gifts

More gifts!

At dinner with his sweet cake

The girls at dinner

My 6th Graders

On the day of our 1950s party at school, my 6th graders wanted to throw a shower for our little boy. (Who this group named "Cameron") Some of my sweet parents came in and decorated my room while the kids were at pe and we had so much fun once they got back! We got to eat a few snacks, play a name game for the baby, and even guess our classmates from THEIR baby pictures. A few were easy and obvious, but none of the kids guessed mine! When it was time to open gifts, the kids had gone in together and got Baby Tanner an exersaucer - which all the kids quickly named the animals on the toy after each of them! These kids have been such a big part of my pregnancy, as I was innundated with questions EVERY day about his name, what he will look like, what I think he will be like, how I was feeling. I think some of my kids were just as excited as I am! Even on some of the days I didn't feel so good, their excitement made me excited and joyful. Mrs. Brown and I had set up to skype with the kids from the hospital so they could meet him, but I guess Baby Tanner is on a different schedule. I already miss my kids since I have been gone and they will truly be a group I will never forget!

His gifts in his nursery once we got them home

Checking their answers in the name game

4 of my sweet girls - Hannah, Simone, Lucy, and Millie Grace

3 of my memorable boys - Sam, Ben, and Faulkner

4 more of my sweet girls - Mariana, Hannah, Lizzie, and Sara

Eating our yummy snack once they got back

The precious decorations - including the wreath we are taking to the hospital to put on the door

My 8th Grade Cheerleaders (my new squad)

In late April my newest 8th grade cheer squad wanted to host a shower one day after school for our little boy. (Who this group has named "Austin") We met at Dorothy Pate's house, where all the girls were dressed up and ready to giggle! After eating a few snacks, the girls were eager to open gifts! We had a fun afternoon laughing and getting to know each other! I cannot wait for a new year with these amazing girls! I think they are all just as excited about meeting Baby Tanner as I am!

Half of the girls

The other half

We all wanted to feel him jump and move!

His gifts in his nursery when we got home

COUSINS!

While I cannot wait to be a mom VERY soon, I have something new to countdown to - I am also going to be an aunt! Lauren and Hunter announced they are expecting in November! Since they shared with Matt and me as soon as they found out, we were able to schedule one of our doctor's appointments together - Lauren for her 12 week appointment and me for my 38 week appointment. She and Hunter got to hear our little man's heartbeat and then I got to hear my neice/nephew's heartbeat!! It was a lot of fun and probably the only doc appointment we will get to go to together!

Right before leaving the hospital - Lauren at 12 weeks 4 days and Leslie at 38 weeks 6 days

Out to eat with the family one last time before Baby T comes

An update: I am now going into my third day past our due date of May 25. Being uncomfortable has definitely become an understatement and has just moved into funny now. To get up and out of the bed in under a minute has become a thing of the past - as well as rolling over during the night. There is still a fair amount of indigestion that keeps me up at night. The new symptom that popped up in the past two weeks has been carpal tunnel. While it has affected both hands, it has really affected my right hand the most. A lot of easy tasks have become impossible - especially holding a pen to write. It is a challenge to hold a hair brush, hold my toothbrush, stir a pot, hold a glass, or grip anything, so I drop things constantly! (So much for all the thank-you writing for his 6 baby showers I was planning to do on my time off!) It has been quite annoying to say the least!

The doctor this week did not share encouraging news. While he is dropping a good bit, there is still not much dialation. We are scheduled for an ultrasound on Tuesday before our doctor's appointment because he keeps measuring inconsistenly every week - either ahead of schedule or behind. Hopefully the ultrasound will reveal how big he really is. If all goes well at the ultrasound and doc appointment (meaning he is not too big and a c-section is necessary), we are scheduled for an induction first thing on Wednesday morning. We have joked that he can either choose his own birthday or we have decided it for him! Hopefully by this time next week, we will be parents!

Here is an updated photo. With the pain in my lower back this week, we decided to go to the pool after Matt got home from work. This is Baby Tanner on his due date - May 25 - before we went swimming.

Beach Bum with a Bump

Baby Shower

First, an update on our first baby shower! The week before spring break several teachers at the school hosted a wonderful shower for Baby Tanner. I always love the showers at the school because it is one of the few times we get to see the teachers from the other grades. It was quite an overwhelming experience! First, I am not one that likes to be the center of attention in a large crowd and opening all the presents in front of everyone was interesting. It was unbelievable to look down the table and see so many gifts lined up for our little man - almost every teacher in the school sent a gift! The shower certainly made it much more real! Bringing everything home and going back through it all helped Matt and me to realize just how truly blessed we are. It was amazing to see such an outpouring of love for our little guy!

My sweet hostesses and coworkers - Elizabeth, Casey, Jana, Pam, Kim, April, Darby, Landon, and Donna

I was lucky enough to have my mom and both my grandmothers come to the shower! 4 generations in one picture (if you count the one in the tummy!)

Aunt Lauren even came to join the fun!

The baby bump and our class pet - the bear (long story)

As many of his gifts as I could get in one picture, not counting the items packed up in the boxes. LOTS of precious clothes, his bouncy seat, diaper pail, activity mat, bottles, bath tub, video monitor, noise machine, toys, bottle warmer, and lots and lots of accessories!

Beach Bum(p)

Since last week was spring break, I had a decision to make. Should I be a responsible, soon-to-be mom and stay home to prepare for our upcoming arrival OR be impulsive (and possibly a little selfish) and go to the beach. Well, realizing it will probably be the last time I relax, I chose the later. :)

It was such an amazing trip! I went with 4 friends from school - Jana, Casey, and April. We could not have asked for a better trip! We went on a long walk every day, ate out every night, did some shopping, and in 4 days spent the days on the beach in 75 degree weather without seeing a single cloud! One of the highlights of the trip was digging a big hole in the sand and laying on my tummy for the first time in months! It felt SO good to stretch out my back and I even took a pretty good nap. You should have seen the faces of the group that settled in next to our sandy spot. Boy, were they surprised when I stood up from my belly-down nap! It was such a great trip and I was excited to think about the next time I put my toes in the sand I would have a baby in my arms and not in the tummy!

The view from the beach - if you look closely the black fin just below the horizon is the best picture I had of the pod of dolphins that swam by right past the sandbar!

The tummy-sized hole! Casey dropped her phone into the bottom for a better shot :)

Me and Baby Tanner. I don't think anyone is ever a fan of a bathing suit pic, but if you can't get away with it when you're pregnant, when can you get away with it?

Final Update

We had our 30 week doctor's appointment yesterday and all went well. Matt even had an unexpected good day at work (Mondays are usually rough for him) and was able to leave early to go with us! My blood pressure was good and his heart beat was nice and strong. I teased the doctor that I thought about making a sunscreen smiley face on my tummy when getting a bit of sun and she laughed. She said all is well and looking on schedule (little does she know I am giving him nightly pep talks to come a week or two early!) :)

PAST DUE

My apologies to our friends and family on how late this blog post is! (Especially my sweet out-of-town sister-in-law who can't be here as much as she would like) It has been something I have put off and the longer I put it off, the more overwhelming it became. Hopefully this can fill you in on the last few months of our life in the Tanner house...

It's A Boy!

Thanks to a friend of Matt's, we were able to find out we were having a little boy a few weeks before our scheduled appointment so we would know before Christmas. On December 11 we went up to Huntsville to stay with my grandmother and uncle and visit Meghan at the hospital for the ultrasound. She was able to take a few pictures and tell us we were having a little boy! Matt and I were SHOCKED! We were both convinced it was a girl! The night before we took several online gender predictor tests - all said girl. Chinese calendar - girl. I was SO sick (still was at that point), and so many told me that meant one thing - a girl. We were so surprised and went out that night to buy a baby name book, since the only names we had been considering were for girls! The visit was SO much fun and since we grabbed a chocolate milkshake for mom on the way to the hospital, our little man was quite active! He was kicking and moving and stretching - Meghan had no trouble getting a good shot to determine the gender. The hard part was getting him to hold still for a picture!

Our actual ultrasound appointment with our doctor was on December 27 and she confirmed it was a boy! I was so excited because she let us bring Aunt Lauren and Aunt Meredith, who was in town for the holidays. It was so fun to have them along to see the baby and get to hear his heartbeat. However, I don't think we did a very convincing job of acting surprised at the news that it was a boy :)

Here are a few pictures from those ultrasounds, probably the last time we will get to see the little guy until he arrives:

Head, Tummy, and Arm

Head and Hand - sorry, we can't tell if he has daddy's dimples yet :)

Looks who found his thumb! Our video shows him sucking it and swallowing!

Tiny foot

Since then...

I first felt him kick on December 31 while Matt and I were out running errands. I am not sure if I felt him before this and just never realized what it was, but while we were in the car I was sure of it! Well, as the month of January went by, Matt became frustrated that he couldn't feel him too. I would try, especially at night laying in bed, but the kicks were so far apart or Matt's hand wasn't in the right spot and we would give up. At our doctor's appointment on January 26, he asked our doctor how much longer. She promised it would not be long - and she was right. That Saturday morning while we were laying in bed, Matt got to feel him kick and kick and kick! While Matt is able to feel him more often, there are still times where we laugh and say the little guy isn't a performer. He can be so active, but when Matt puts his hand on my tummy, all goes quiet. I told him it's because he's scared of daddy already. :)

February 23 was my glucose test, which I grew very nervous about. I knew several friends who struggled with their tests and was worried about making it through the test and then the results. This would also be my first doctor's visit without Matt and I was nervous without the support. However, the test went ok and the results were great - sugar levels were good, iron levels were good, weight gain was good, and heartbeat was strong - all good news to mommy's ears!

Baby Bumpdates...

Tanner is currently my alarm clock. (Our little man still doesn't have a name yet, so we just call him Tanner. All of us except my cheerleaders, who have become impatient with our decision and just call him Logan - not sure why) Tanner wakes me up pretty consistently between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m. with his kicking. Matt and I laid in the bed this morning for over half an hour and laughed at the movement of my tummy! This morning was beyond just kicking - Matt said he looked like he was trying to stand up and pop right through my tummy! We could not believe how active he was!

Pregnancy Symptoms: I am glad to say the nausea and vomitting has subsided, but been replaced by heartburn and reflux. The biggest adjustment has been having to sleep sitting up, which took some time to get used to. I am also struggling with a lot of back pain. By 8:00 at night my back is DONE and I can't even sit up. I am trying to make an effort to stay off my feet as much as possible while I am teaching. I have also seen a little bit of swelling, especially with my feet. I am hoping flip flop weather will be here before my feet quickly grow out of my shoes! I can't say I have had a craving yet, but there are still several aversions: Chinese food, anything tomato - pizza, marinana sauce, etc. Mexican has made a slow comeback, though, so Matt is happy.

Our first baby shower was this week, hosted by the teachers at the school. While I was so excited, it was all very overwhelming! It certainly made things seem SO real! Almost every teacher in the school gave our little man a gift and the amount of baby stuff still sitting in our den (until the nursery is painted) is unbelievable. Matt is convinced this little boy will not wear the same outfit twice for the first few months (but I don't think that Matt realizes this little guy will require his clothes to be changed on several days). Along with clothes, bottles, toys, blankets, we also got a diaper pail, activity mat, bouncy chair, bathtub, baby monitor, and a friend of ours made a wooden elephant that was the centerpiece on the table that matches Tanner's nursery. (pictures to come later - my mom had the camera) Some days the word "blessed" is the only word that comes to mind.

As we start our 30th week, our main goal is to get the nursery painted now that we (think we) have picked a color. I am heading off to the beach, but Matt has taken a few days off work to paint while I am away. Pics to come when I get back.

ThankFULL

I am now in my 15th week, and while I can't say things are great, they are better! Pregnancy has certainly been a roller coaster! Along with the extreme morning sickness (I have seen the inside of a bathroom more than the inside of our new house), there have been a whirlwind of other pregnancy signs. The last few weeks have brought the worst acne of my life (my blunt, pre-teen 12 year-olds are asking ME what all the red bumps on my face are), extreme exhaustion (I feel like a toddler from all the naps I take), sudden bouts of nausea that require me to eat immediately (I carry around a small convenience store in my purse), excessive burping (my husband is now calling ME gross), 2 a.m. trips to the restroom (I am convinced my body thinks it is preparing me for 2 a.m. feedings), and several other symptoms that would just be too much information.

With all that said (sometimes it is good just to get it out!), these things have not been my focus, just challenges to overcome. A few weeks ago I was able to get up early and felt good enough to go to Frist Priority (thank you Zofran!). In reflecting to prepare the devo that week, I did a lesson with the kids on being thankful in honor of Thanksgiving. Our target verse for the week was:

"Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

After a VERY emotional week, I thought what better for a blog post than a list of the top 10 things I am thankful for?

1. a patient and understanding Heavenly Father who has given me so many unexpected blessings in my life
2. a quirky, patient, fun husband who began embracing his new father-to-be responsibilities with a smile several weeks ago - from holding back my hair to getting our new home ready for a family of three
3. a new little baby bump that has popped out in the last week for me to rub and poke at and talk to that shows the healthy little one snuggled up inside
4. a mom who has cooked for us every day and helped me in so many other ways at a time I needed the help the most
5. a dad who has "played it cool" about becoming a granddad, but deep down I know he is so excited because he has put his new "James Bond" car outside in the cold and frost at night so his preggo daughter can have his warm spot in the garage
6. an excited sister who, I am convinced, has already bought more stuff for the baby than I have
7. an amazing support system of women at work who have helped me get through the last few weeks in every way imaginable
8. a great group of excited kids at school who ask me EVERY day OVER and OVER if it's a boy or a girl, when it's due, (yes, they forget their homework too), if I am feeling ok, and what we are going to name it
9. one of my sweet little girls who gives me a hug at least once a day, although she has no idea how much I look foward to it (6th graders don't dish out many voluntary hugs to their teachers) and every time she does it makes me excited for May and the chance to hug our little one
10. amazing friends that I don't get to spend as much time with as I would like to, but are always there for me to celebrate new adventures

A Tiny Tanner!

Well, it is official! In May we will become a family of three! This post is long overdue, since Wednesday will begin my 14th week. Matt and I found out we were pregnant at 5 weeks, much to our surprise. I actually took the pregnancy test with little expectations, brought on from the months of negative results before. In fact, I took the test and left it for some time before even remembering to come back to check it. When I did, Matt was confronted with a teary, speechless wife and couldn't understand why!

Matt and I decided to wait to tell anyone until our scheduled ultrasound in the 7th week. (Well, other than the few teachers at school who figured it out!) With this being the first grandbaby on both sides, we wanted to be VERY sure of all the details and hear the heartbeat before getting the grandmothers too excited. So at 7 1/2 weeks we were off to the doctor for the first time and got to see...

So I admit that it looks a little more like a worm than anything, but the heartbeat was music to our ears! It is also not a very good picture, but that is a long story involving unclear directions, a clueless first-time mommy, and an incompetent ultrasound receptionist. We were able to share the good news with the soon-to-be grandparents (who were more than elated) and even the soon-to-be GREAT grandmothers!

Matt and I initially agreed that we would wait until the safe 14 week marker to share the news with anyone else, especially my kids at school. However, things don't always go as planned. The week before this ultrasound morning sickness kicked in. The week after this ultrasound, things took a turn for the worst. At this point, Matt and I had just moved in with Mom and Dad, which is a true testament to God's timing. Morning sickness was in full swing, holding true to its name. I was sick often, especially at 7:00 a.m. Eating became a daunting task, despite many possible remedies - small meals, snacking, hot foods, cold foods, setting an alarm to eat in the middle of the night, crackers, bland foods - everything. In a time where each day was a struggle of nausea and exhaustion, my sweet mom was there to cook and help me out, especially while my poor husband was trying to manage the move to a new home (and the temporary home).

Another saving grace in the toughest weeks was my friend Jana. Being sick at promptly 7 a.m. didn't allow me to get out the door until around 7:45 and some days 8:00, making me late for work for several weeks. Jana and I were able to come up with a system where I could leave the work for my kids at school to get started and Jana gave up part of her prep period everyday for weeks to get my kids started in the morning. For a while I was able to get away with various excuses to my 11 year-olds: traffic, car trouble, a meeting, sick, etc. As I have told Matt often on our cheer sleepovers, it's when the kids are quiet that you have to start to worry. After a few weeks, the kids stopped asking why I was late and even asking me if I was feeling ok when I came in. I should have known then that they knew. The kids who can't figure out what to do if they forget to get a fork when they go through the lunch line had put the pieces together to figure out their teacher was expecting.

So at around 11 weeks and a series of a long, bad night that led into a bad morning that sent me home from work barely able to walk, my doctor finally switched me to a new, stronger medication. Since then, there has been a complete turn-around! While I have still lost close to 10 pounds since the ultrasound visit, I have been able to eat better and keep the meal down. I am sure the weight will come back (and much faster than I expect), especially since the little guy decided to pop out last weekend!

My favorite part of being pregnant has been telling family and friends. Telling our parents was certainly fun. Then there was nothing like sitting around a table at Yogurt Mountain with some of my favorite girl friends explaining the layout of our new house - the bedrooms upstairs, including the one that will be the nursery in May - and seeing their faces and the shocked, "nursery?" "May?"

Then there was the day I got to tell my kids at school. Matt and I painted letters the night before that would be hidden in the library. In pairs, the kids had to find a letter, bring it back to the table, and unscramble the message. In the end, here is what they came up with...

Then there was telling the cheerleaders. After school Jana and I met with our 8th grade girls and Jana did such a great job telling them after their "disappointing practice yesterday" and how their behavior "didn't show the positive role models they could be," they would be completing a brief team-building exercise before going home that afternoon. The girls solemnly began unscrambling the letters, which had been dumped out on a table. The mood completely changed when Amanda was the first to unscramble a word and shout out "BABY!" and Savannah unscrambled "Tanner!"

My high school girls have been the most excited about the possibilities of a baby, asking every time I see them "WHEN?" and leading me to make something up. In scheming with my favorite high school senior cheerleader, Shea and I decided to tell the cheerleaders the same way I was telling my kids. Alison, a pledge sister from college, is the new college counselor at the high school and helped us in getting one letter to each cheerleader through the day. At practice, Shea instructed the girls in putting the letters together and solving the message. Here was the pic and text message I got shortly after 3:00... (note the use of "Furlong" rather than "Tanner" since most of the girls had me as a teacher/coach before I was married)

Overall, pregnancy has been quite an emotional, exciting, unexpected journey with more twists and turns sure to come. At latest, we will find out if it is a boy or a girl the week after New Years. If things go well, maybe we will be able to find out a bit sooner than that!