17 Weeks and Counting

Baby and I are feeling great. Cravings: besides the occasional want for juice instead of plain water, Brandon has been spared any late night pickles and ice cream run. Nausea: this has for the most part all passed. Even my prenatal vitamins are going down easily. Heartburn: only one episode to report, but one was enough. Baby Movement: I have not yet felt a flutter, but they say in the next couple of weeks that this will come.  

  

                 17 week photo op

Baby Prep

Now that I am into my second trimester and feeling better, my mind is going 90 miles an hour to what things around the house need to be done. Before the baby is even here, he or she has already got us busy as ever. Although Brandon has given up his Saturday job, I've filled what free time he had with my honey-do list. We can say they we have, as of this weekend, moved Brandon's clothes from the nursery closet into our now shared closed. Re-design our closet--- check. Brandon is also working very hard to finish our sunroom addition to the house. It's coming together quite nicely and I can't wait to see the finished product. I've already in my excitement bought the furniture, now it just needs a floor and ceiling and a little paint. 

The Heartbeat

We were able to hear the heartbeat for the second time today. It is such a wonderful sound and makes the experience that much more real. The doctor reported that the heartbeat was very strong and about 150-160 beats per minute. Brandon has been getting advice from his co-workers and was told that the faster heartbeat meant it was a girl; slower a boy. When the doctor said 150-160 beats per minute, we asked if this was faster or slower compared to the normal. She responded with "it's just normal.... and you can't tell the gender of your baby from the speed of the heartbeat". So I guess she has heard it all. So we still have a 50/50 chance either way.

We have made our appointment for the next ultrasound. December 19th is the big day!! We will find out if we are having a little BO or a little Linferd!    

Our Trip out West

4 months ago we headed off to hike the Grand Canyon. And what an adventure it was. For 2 days, Brandon, David, Shawn, and myself saw no one but each other. We hiked almost 10 miles a day and conquered a 3,000+ ft elevation change. What a feeling of accomplishment we all had; not to mention sore muscles. After leaving the Grand Canyon, we headed to Boulder, UT. A place where you'll never meet nicer, more resourceful, and grounded people. Also the only place in the US that I've ever visited that didn't have a grocery store, convenient store, or fast food. The trip was one of the best we've ever had. The experience makes you sit back and evaluate what's important in life. Not material things or your 9 to 5, but family, friends, enjoying life to the fullest.

The trip was just what we needed. A short month later, Brandon and I found out that we were expecting a baby! From that moment, our life changed. We started thinking of where the nursery would be, what are our favorite names, calculating a due date. We are starting an adventure and looking forward to each and every moment.