Week 20 & 22...minus 21

How Far Along: 20 weeks (I failed on the bump pics this week)

Feeling: (the weight segment has officially ended...if you would like to stay up to date on my weight gain feel free to send me a text. It will be promptly deleted along with your number. Just joking...kind of) This has been the first week where I have really felt pregnant. I am hungry but feel miserable after every meal, the heart burn seems as if it's here to stay and this lower back pain is not fun. BUT...it is going to be so worth it when we hold Graham for the first time. And I know there are thousands of women who would take every uncomfortable moment if it meant they could carry their own child, so I am choosing to be thankful!

Maternity Clothes: Still hanging in there with a few items

Gender: Boy!

Name: Graham Ryan Dudley

Movement: Occasionally...ready for those big kicks. It was amazing seeing the baby move around when I was having my ultrasound. Wonder how much one of those bad boys costs to just have around the house ;) 

Sleep: I have actually been sleeping really well. Today in class I was sitting in a chair at several of the student's table and one kid asked me, "Mrs. Dudley, are you tired?" Guess 7 hours of sleep isn't cutting it for me! Haha

What I miss: nothing big

Cravings: Not really craving anything, just nothing sounds good. I usually cook dinner for Ryan, eat a few bites and then have a bowl of cereal later. I can put away a McDonald's cheeseburger like nobody's business though.  Of course. 

Best Moment This Week: My parents came up over the weekend and we were able to tell everyone the gender. Love being able to call the baby by his name instead of just G. Although it seems as if G is here to stay as a nickname!



*Since I'm trying to catch up on these I'm going to skip ahead to week 22. Honestly, I can't remember what big happened in week 21 anyway. 

How Far Along: 22 weeks

Feeling: It was not a fun two weeks for this momma. I caught the flu, even though I got my shot in early October, and then had a long week with a sinus infection following that. Unfortunately, I had to take 4 days off from work, but the doctor was able to give me Tami-flu.

Maternity Clothes: I ordered some things from Old Navy and am loving them! My sweet friend, Katy, also let me borrow two huge tubs of clothes and I am so excited to have those! 

Gender: Boy!

Name: Graham Ryan Dudley

Movement: I started feeling kicks last week and it has been so fun! Ryan was also able to feel him kick and I loved being able to include him in that. 

Sleep: No bueno! This is mainly due to the fact that I've been sick...between the coughing, aches, and runny nose there hasn't been much sleeping.

What I miss: ready to be over this sickness!

Cravings: no real cravings

Best Moment This Week: We celebrated Christmas with my parents and Graham got some precious outfits! 

It's a...

BOY!

Say hello to 

Graham Ryan Dudley 

(G decided he didn't want to turn his face and give us a sweet little profile. Instead we got creepy skeleton baby. He's already hard headed like me)

Ryan and I are thrilled, excited, over the moon, etc that we are having a little boy!

While I'm not usually one to make a big deal about being right (jk...I totally love being right) I just knew that we were having a boy. It mainly began with a gut feeling, but then the dreams about having a boy began. There was also the fact that Graham has been so sweet to his momma and made this pregnancy so wonderful. (although I've known quite a few women having boys who have spent a lot of their pregnancy sick) Let's just hope that it's not true what they say...when you have an easy pregnancy you have a hard labor.

When we had our ultrasound the doctor told us that every patient she'd seen that day had found our they were having a boy. At that point I was pretty much willing to bet the farm it was a boy.
(bet the farm? why do I say things like this. I blame it on my parents.)
The doctor measured G's tummy, head, spine, etc and then at the very end went down to the area we really wanted to see. Before she even said it, Ryan and I both saw that it was, in fact, definitely a boy!

We love you so much, Graham, and cannot wait to meet you!

Week 19

How Far Along: 19 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +7 pounds and I feel every. single. one. The doctor has never mentioned what she would like me to gain, but I have a number I'd like to stay under. We shall see. I still have a LONG way to go.  

Maternity Clothes: I have a few pieces, but for work I'm mainly still wearing regular clothes. Ryan's favorite part of the day is in the mornings when he finds me blankly staring at my clothes trying to decide which outfit I should feel like a busted can of biscuits in. Obviously I'm kidding...about the Ryan part, not the biscuits. ;)

Gender: We know! Ryan and I are thrilled but more importantly there is a healthy baby moving around in there! 

Name: the initials are GRD :)

Movement: Occasionally...ready for those big kicks. It was amazing seeing the baby move around when I was having my ultrasound. Wonder how much one of those bad boys costs to just have around the house ;) 

Sleep: Has been hit or miss. Usually I have two awful, sleepless nights followed by one redeeming sleep that makes me feel as if all is right in the world again. Is it bad that more than anything else I'm worried about the lack of sleep when G comes??

What I miss: The heartburn has set in and I am missing not feeling like there is a small campfire in my throat 24/7!

Cravings: Cereal  

Best Moment This Week: Seeing our healthy baby (thank you, Jesus!) and finding out the gender! 

Tomorrow...

So tomorrow is the day when Ryan and I find out if our baby is a he or she. 

And I am a ball of nerves. 

Of course, I'm thrilled. So much so that I can't go more than 3 or 4 minutes without thinking about that exciting moment when the doctor says, "It's a _____!" I have been dreaming (literally) about this for several weeks and as the hours tick down the anticipation builds. 

But with that excitement comes worry. 

Not only will we be finding out the gender, but there will also be anatomy scans done to confirm that the heart, brain, spine, etc is all forming correctly. 

Knowing that, I find myself in a constant state of prayer. Praying that everything is developing correctly and trying to trust that no matter what, this is what God has planned for us. 

I wish I could be this super Christian that could honestly say that I want whatever He gives us. 

But I would be lying. 

I want a perfect, ten finger and toes, squishy, Ryan's thick hair, little baby. And while I hate to admit this, God already knows my heart without even speaking any words. So I pray not just for our baby, but for me too. For my eyes and heart to be open to this life that was known long before Ryan and I were even married. For me to let go of my preconceived thoughts of what I think would be perfect and to realize that maybe I don't always know what's best for me. 

I don't say this because I think that anything is wrong, in fact, I trust and know that tomorrow will be an exciting day filled with news of a healthy, growing baby. Sometimes I just feel the need to be real about things and since I don't keep a journal, this is the place. 

....and if any of my 3 readers see this tomorrow before 1:45 p.m., would you pray with me too? 

Week 18

How Far Along: 18 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I think I may take away this little portion soon.  I'm avoiding the scale like the plague, although I will have to face my fears Monday when I go to the doctor. 

Maternity Clothes: I got some maternity jeans this past week when I was off for Thanksgiving break and hallelujah amen they are amazing! So much more comfortable. A few weeks ago I went to Motherhood Maternity and was less than impressed with their jean selection, however, the other day I just happened upon a maternity section in Ross and it's great! The jeans feel just like my regular ones, except with a giant, elastic panel. :)

Gender: almost time! 

Name: After we reveal to our families next Saturday the gender we will also tell the name. Still trying to decide on a boy and girl middle name. Who knew Ryan had such strong opinions on this!?

Movement: I think so! For about a week I kept feeling this weird sensation in my stomach but didn't know if I could really say for sure whether it was movement or not. After describing it to my mom and realizing that it really only occurs when I'm sitting or still, I've pretty much decided that it's the baby moving around in there. I can't wait for Ryan to be able to feel it as well. 

Sleep: Pretty good. My go to sleep position is on my back, so I'm trying to keep that down to a minimum and stay on my sides.  

What I miss: Not much

Cravings: No big cravings this week. 

Best Moment This Week: Feeling the baby move. (and those stretchy jeans after Thanksgiving dinner were also pretty nice)

Thankful

Maybe it's my hormones, but more than ever I feel as if I have so much to be thankful for this year. 

I am thankful for my job.
I have made some of the sweetest friends, like Rebeca, who encourage me, bring yummy homemade enchilada leftovers for me to have at lunch, and know what I mean when I say that I am going to lose my mind if I hear one more person tattle. Three years ago when I was desperately looking for a job, I couldn't imagine how perfectly things would fall into place. I work at a school where I love my coworkers and more than anything those sweet kiddos I get to spend every day with.

I am thankful for our home.
 I think so many times I get caught up in wanting our house to look perfect; I focus on the rooms that still need to be decorated, the counters I want to redo and the paint that still needs to be touched up that I forget how lucky we are to even have a home.

I am thankful for my family.
(and my amazing mother and father in law, too!)
I can't wait to see my parents become grandparents and know that our baby is going to be so, so lucky to have so many people love him/her.

I am thankful for my husband.
There was an article floating around the internet a few months ago written by a women who said that she didn't believe God designed one perfect person for anyone. And while I do think that there are a number of men who could have fit the bill for my husband, I do wholeheartedly believe that God had a hand in putting Ryan and I together. I am thankful for all Ryan does for our family and I can't imagine doing life with anyone else.
Plus, there isn't anyone else who would put up with my crazy. :)

I am thankful for our baby. 

My pregnancy has been a dream so far and I cannot even put into words the joy it brings me to know that there is a precious little baby growing inside me. I can't even type any more on that topic or I'll become a crying mess and I've already done my makeup today. :)

But more than anything I am thankful for Jesus. 

I am thankful for my Saviour who not only gave His life for me, but has blessed me beyond measure. I pray that I always have a spirit continuously praising and thanking Him for his faithfulness, love and undeserving grace. Homes, husbands, children and loved ones are all just the icing on the cake, because if we truly know Jesus then we understand that He is all we need in this life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Week 17

Sorry for the sleepy eyes, this was taken right before I left to teach Sunday school. 

How Far Along: 17 weeks (I skipped week 16 because, well, nothing had really changed and I also couldn't manage to take a decent picture. Call me vain...whatevs)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: + 4 pounds (give or take a few) 

Maternity Clothes: Still just my trusty ole Bella Band

Gender: T-minus 11 days! 

Name: We've got one for each gender! 

Movement: none yet

Sleep: Has been ok...nothing to write home about. I was already a frequent wake-up-and-pee'er so now it's even worse. 

What I miss: I am dying for an adult beverage. I think it's mainly because I know I can't have it, because I would go weeks without one before getting pregnant. 

Cravings: I hit another low point in my pregnancy/life this past week when Ryan and I went to Cici's after church. If you remember I talked about my previous low point here . I may have taken two pieces of BBQ pizza (my absolute favorite) with me in my purse. Ryan was mortified. I wish I could say I regret it, but I kinda wish I would have taken more. :) 

Best Moment This Week: Momma got a new car! Post coming soon! 

Week 15

How Far Along: 15 weeks 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: + 4 pounds...guess those cheeseburgers and chocolate donuts are catching up. 

Maternity Clothes: none yet. I am planning on going to get a few things this weekend. 

Gender: we will find out on December 2nd! 

Name: We've got one for each gender! You'll have to wait and see! :)

Movement: none yet

Sleep: I've been sleeping great this week and have held off on my urge to buy one of those pregnancy pillows. So far I'm just using two pillows on either side...quite clever, right?! ;)

What I miss: Nothing really

Cravings: I'm still on the pickle kick, but this week I haven't had any other really strong cravings.

Best Moment This Week: I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, so it was nice to hear the heartbeat again. I also go to schedule our sonogram to find out the gender! The countdown is on until December 2nd! 

Gimme the Pickles

I'm just going to be honest and throw something out here...before I got pregnant I thought pregnancy cravings were a bunch of hokey. (yes, that word is hokey...like in the hokey pokey. I have a very refined vocabulary)

I knew that they were real, but I didn't think they could be so random and so very I HAVE TO HAVE IT THIS VERY SECOND OR I WILL NOT SURVIVE like.

My very first pregnancy craving hit in the middle of Wal-Mart. I had run in to buy some apples for a taste test we were going to be doing in class the next day and somehow happened upon the pickle isle. Suddenly I felt as if I needed to have those pickles and I needed them right that second. I snatched up a jar and purchased them along with a few other things. Now, here is where the story takes a turn...

When I got into my car I realized that I was still thinking about those pickles. So obviously-I turned on the car, grabbed the jar, opened it and sat right there in that parking lot and ate devoured 3 pickles. It may have been a low point in my life. I mean for Heavens sake! My house was 15 minutes down the road!

My pickle obsession continued on until a few weeks later I took it to the next level. Ryan walked in the kitchen to find me doing this:

Drinking the juice.

 I wish I could say this was a one time occurrence, but sadly I have done this several more times. #sorrynotsorry

This past weekend I came face to face with my problems when I moved a few things around in the refrigerator only to find that I had four jars! I think somewhere there is a rule stating that if you have more than two jars of pickled objects in your refrigerator you are either a redneck or have an obsession. I'll stick with the latter.

Y'all are just gonna have to love me through it. 

Week 14

*this is a bit late...I was actually 14 weeks on Wednesday

How Far Along: 14 weeks 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Do people really lose weight during pregnancy?! I am not that person for sure. I go to the doctor Tuesday, so we shall see. 

Maternity Clothes: none yet. I do have a Bella band and have worn that with my jeans several times. Most jeans still fit, but are getting a bit uncomfortable. For the most part I can still hide my tiny bump pretty well. 

Gender: I am 95% sure it's a boy, but we won't be able to find out until mid-December

Name: We've got one for each gender! You'll have to wait and see! :)

Movement: none yet

Sleep: Besides getting up to go to the bathroom a million times, I've been sleeping pretty well. This past week I've had some allergies which have kept me awake for a few hours a night, but hopefully that goes away soon. 

What I miss: Being able to drink cokes or take an allergy pill without feeling like I'm poisoning our baby! Even though my doctor has already told me not to worry about drinking a Diet Coke once a day and even given me a list of meds ok to take, I still do. 

Cravings: Food in general :) cheeseburgers, pickles, turkey sandwiches, and poptarts have been constantly on my mind. Of course I never wanted to eat sandwiches until I got pregnant and now I constantly want Subway. I've been avoiding the lunch meat though due to the listeria factor. So annoying.

Best Moment This Week: Ryan and I are going to look at cars today. I don't really look forward to a car payment, but I'm excited to have something bigger to fit all the stuff that comes along with a tiny baby! Not to mention having a four door vehicle will be awesome!  

Catching Up...

I haven't been posting these weekly updates since it was still so early in the pregnancy, but now that we are into the second trimester it's time to do a little catching up!

After our first doctor's appointment 

(I already feel like I was so much skinnier. Lord help me cause I've still got a LONG way to go!)

We had our first officially appointment at 9 weeks where we got to see that sweet baby for the first time. The doctor said everything was measuring perfectly and the heartbeat was at 175. One of the best parts (besides seeing our baby) was Ryan's reaction. I can't wait to watch him as a dad. 

(in addition to watching my face get larger, you can also see my roots grow out at an alarming rate!)

So if you're a bit confused as to why is says baby G instead of baby D it is because Ryan and I have already decided on a boy and girl name...and ironically both names begin with the letter G. 

I've been going back and forth as to when to start the weekly updates, but figured I might as well. I know one day I will enjoy looking back on this exciting time in our lives, so get ready for more weekly baby G lovin'!

It's all in the Details

So how did all this baby business come about!? (well, you know how that happened, but I'm talking about the other detailed stuff ;)) 

Shortly after Ryan and I got married we began discussing when we might want to have kids. Maybe some people wait a few years into the marriage to approach that topic, but not me. Why would I wait when I could plan it all out! (I know, I have a problem y'all)

 We both agreed to see how we felt after a year or so and then go from there. April came around and in a casual conversation about babies Ryan told me that he was ready. What I thought would be the most amazing, exciting feeling for me turned to fear.

I wasn't ready.
 I feared the unknown. I feared that we would never have enough money. (which we won't) I feared how my relationship with Ryan would change. I feared that we would have a hard time conceiving. I was basically consumed with fear. At one point I even feared if having kids might be something that I had always just THOUGHT I wanted.

Then we began that bible study about praying circles that I talked about in an earlier blog post. I realized that it would happen when God was ready. Not me.

Don't get me wrong, I still had my "plans" about when it might be the perfect time for us, but I also knew without a shadow of a doubt that if it didn't work out that way it was because God had something different in mind.

And here we are now.

Things happened much faster than we anticipated and I will never know why God chose for it to work out like that for us. But I am so, so thankful it did.

I found out I was pregnant on Thursday, August 26th in the most interesting of ways. I had taken a pregnancy test the Sunday before and it was negative. That Thursday was Meet the Teacher night and I was busy getting my class ready. As I was working in my room a colleague came in and told me she had the strangest dream that I was pregnant! I laughed and thought that it was quite ironic since we were trying to have a baby. A few hours later another teacher I work with came up to me and said, "Katelin, that's so weird that Kasey had a dream that you were pregnant because yesterday when we were in our faculty meeting I looked at you and for some reason I had an overwhelming feeling you were pregnant!" Again, I laughed but then thought maybe there was something more to these "feelings"!
  (side note: both of these women were actually knowingly pregnant as well! Sometimes life is just too funny) 

On my lunch break I went and bought a pregnancy test, took it and saw this:

and then this...

Can I just tell you that in that small classroom bathroom where I had just taken those pregnancy test  I had a moment where I threw up my hands and praised Jesus.

Of course I wanted to run and tell everyone, but before doing that I had to tell my baby daddy! :)

Since I had Meet the Teacher, I wasn't able to tell Ryan until about 8:45 that night. Longest afternoon/evening of my life!

Ryan was excited, shocked, speechless, etc and for a minute or so he thought I was playing a joke since just a few days before I had taken a negative pregnancy test.

It really was one of my favorite memories and we are so excited for this journey!

first comes love, then comes marriage...

...then comes a baby in a baby carriage! 

Ryan and I are humbled, blessed and so very excited to announce we are adding a pumpkin to our patch! 

Details coming soon! :)

Twenty Six

This little cutie turned twenty six on Friday!

can you say business in the front, party in the back :)

Last year for Ryan's 25th I went all out and had 25 gifts waiting for him when he got home. This year I did the opposite. I got him a card and a small gift and then told him to pick out something he wanted. Wife of the year. 

We celebrated by going out to dinner at H3 Steakhouse in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

I'd like to say I'm not a meat and potatoes girl, but I totally am.

And it was delicious.

After dinner we walked around a bit, and then headed to Trader Joe's. We like to keep it simple and practical around here. :)

Of course on Saturday we watched the Aggies where I acted in not so lady like ways. 

And finished out Ryan's birthday weekend with his family coming over for dinner Sunday night. 

Love you, Ry! Hope on your birthday you know just how loved, appreciated and important to me you are! And I promise to have something really awesome for you next year! ;) 

One Last Hurrah

At the end of July, Ryan and I had one last Summer hurrah when we went to Sandestin, Florida with his family. Glynda and Dan (my sweet MIL & FIL) have a time share there and we were so lucky to get to tag along with them! {warning...picture overload occurring in this post!}

Loaded down and headed to Florida!

We drove to Louisiana and spent the night in New Orleans. Can you believe I had never been there!? It was so nice to break up the long drive with a little layover!

We met up with the rest of the family for dinner and then went out on Bourbon Street with Lyn and Bethany (our niece and nephew...who are our age. don't worry, we didn't take 12 year olds out to see the sights :) )

Ryan enjoying something yummy!

Let me just say that I was not prepared for what occurs here. My eyes may never recover. Lord. Have. Mercy.

The next day we got up and enjoyed some beignets from Cafe du Monde (where I forgot to take a picture. bad blogger) and then walked around a bit.

We finally reached Sandestin Sunday evening and got right to work relaxin'!

Ryan had to do a little work, but with a bay view it wasn't too painful!

I finally got to read 'Sparkly Green Earrings' and it was hilarious! The perfect beach read! Thanks, KGK! :)

Ryan also was lucky enough to get a brand new background for his phone while we were there! Lucky him! #selfie

 One night Ryan and I went out for dinner and drinks and I may or may not have had a little too much fun. As in the equivalent of college fun. Well worth it though. :)

 Baytown wharf was a quick 5 minute walk from where we were staying, so we ventured down there several evenings. Ryan had to have some cotton candy and I went ahead and booked a dentist appointment to fill all the cavities he was bound to get while enjoying his sticky treat.

Glynda cooked dinner one night for all the family and it was delish!

 Ironically, we were in Florida for our engagement date, so we went to dinner at Bud and Ally's which is the same restaurant that Ryan took me to right before he proposed!

Left: me at dinner right before Ryan popped the question

Right: now!

(yes, I wore the same dress. I'm a sucker for a before and after and to be honest, that maxi is one of my faves. My sister will tell me how ridiculous I am for doing that, but I own it)

Funny story....when we sat down to dinner at Bud and Ally's Ryan and I looked at the menu and decided that nothing there really sounded good. So we ordered an appetizer and then hit up a burger stand where we enjoyed a hot dog and corn dog. No one could ever accuse me of being high maintenance when it comes to food! I'm an American food kinda girl all the way!

Here we are in the (round about) same spot where Ryan proposed! Can't believe it's already been two years. I know in the blink of an eye it will be 20.

Florida was the perfect way to end our summer.
Beaches, family, yummy food, and my favorite guy. What more could a girl ask for?

Love, Sweet Love

28 years ago these two kids got married.

They said "I Do" to love, faithfulness and a life that was sure to be full of ups and downs. 

Together, they have raised two daughters (well, almost... Macey still has one more year!), shared lots of laughs along with plenty of tears, and made sacrifices that I have only just begun to understand. 

Those bangs. Thank goodness I wised up and let those babies grow out!

I am so grateful for parents who taught me the importance of forgiveness, loving deeply, and most importantly loving Jesus. 

Thank you, Mom and Dad for giving me a curfew even when my friends didn't have one, fixing my car every time I got in a wreck (not that I've had many of those or anything), and taking me to church on Sundays when I would have preferred to sleep in. 

I pray that one day Ryan and I will be the kind of parents to our children that you have been to me.

Happy 28th Anniversary!