Ice, Ice, Baby

So somewhere around 5 weeks ago (and I'm embarrassed to admit this post has been in drafts for about 4 weeks. whatevs.) Ryan and I had a gender reveal party planned with our families. 

I ordered cute invitations online, pinned numerous party inspiration pics on Pinterest like every good party planner, and even ordered a Chick-fil-a tray! 

Pinterest ideas + Chick-fil-a = total party success

Right?

Enter Icemaggedon 2014. 

I didn't just make that word up. That's seriously what people in DFW were referring to the ice storm as. Meanwhile, folks north of the Mason Dixon Line are laughing hysterically at us all while they scrape layers of ice from their cars daily with their bare hands. 

Needless to say, this really put a damper on our plans. Thankfully my parents were still able to drive  up. I think after waiting a week to hear the gender they would have risked hell or high water to come. Ryan's parents and sister also made it and although we missed a few more of our family members, we were so excited to share our big news! 

Our lives are about to become full of dirt, bruises and trucks and we could not be more thrilled!

*I did mention to Ryan the other day that Graham may be more into music and stuff like that rather than baseball and sports. He begged to differ. :)

Week 24

How Far Along: 24 weeks

Feeling: Overall I'm feeling great. It is amazing to me how much your body can change and adapt during pregnancy. I can't get over how my belly button has changed and although there is no outtie yet, it kinda freaks me out how shallow it has become! I'm still having heartburn and Graham has decided that hanging out on my bladder is fun. You know what's not fun, when you sneeze and have to change underwear. That's what. Just keeping' it real, folks. 

Maternity Clothes: Since adding a few more maternity items to my closet, getting dressed has been much less stressful. It seems like in the past week I have officially popped and I think I've come to the realization that it's time to stop trying to wear my old clothes.  

Gender: Boy!

Name: Graham Ryan Dudley

Movement: Lots and lots of kicking going on! We were actually able to record a video of my stomach moving from G kicking and send it to my mom.

Sleep: I've been pretty tired lately and other than getting up to use the restroom 10234 5 times a night, it's been good.

What I miss: nothing much

Cravings: I've been really into cereal and oranges...and really just food in general. #iwannaeateverythinginsight 

Best Moment This Week: We have been working a lot on getting the nursery in order and Ryan built some shelves in Graham's closet this past weekend. I'm loving how it's all coming together! 

Week 23

How Far Along: 23 weeks

Feeling: pregnant! 

Maternity Clothes: Wearing lots of leggings! I got a few staple maternity items for Christmas and getting dressed has been much less stressful 

Gender: Boy!

Name: Graham Ryan Dudley

Movement: We have one active little boy! I feel him kicking all the time and love it. At my monthly doctor appointment the doctor was listening to his heartbeat and commented on how active he was in there. 

Sleep: has been pretty good

What I miss: being able to hop out of bed like it ain't no thing! I can only image what week 38 is going to look like haha

Cravings: no big cravings and I think I'm officially over my pickle hangup. 

Best Moment This Week: Ryan and I finally agreed on Graham's bedding (who knew he would have such a strong opinion on this?!) and it's officially ordered! We also painted the walls and have started getting the nursery in order. 

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?