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!