On April 16, DH and I found out we are going to be parents! While we weren't necessarily expecting it right now, it was a wonderful surprise! The reality is sinking in, and we are very excited. This will be quite an adventure, for sure! The estimated due date of Baby Hughes is December 27, 2008. We will have a very interesting Christmas this year!

 

While I find it kind of weird to not only take, but share a picture of something I have peed on, here's the proof. The one on the bottom is the cheap-o Dollar Store test I happened to have on hand that fateful night.. I was feeling weird, and was "somewhat" late (although I'd been irregular for a few months, so I didn't think much of it).. DH convinced me to take it, "just for fun." The one on top is the one we ran out to buy that night after taking the first one! You saw two terrified looking people in their PJ's with their jaws on the floor at Wal Mart at 11:30 pm? Yeah, that was us.

 

The beautiful flowers DH bought me the next day. I'll spare you the super sweet, mushy message from the card. That boy is going to be a wonderful dad. :-)

 

 Here are some pics from my first ultrasound on May 7. He/she really has my eyes, huh? Hehe... Our original calculations had me at 8 weeks along that day, but based on it's measurements, the ultrasound tech thought I was more like 6 weeks, 4 days.  At first I was a little bummed to be less far along than I thought I was, but then we got to see and hear the heartbeat.. It was pretty much the coolest thing ever. :-)

 

     

                                                                                                (my dad, brother and mom)                                              (MIL and FIL)

We decided to share our news with our parents on Mother's Day. We wrapped an "I Love Grandma" bib, and presented it to them just like it was a normal Mother's Day gift. They were both in shock! There were some loud squeals from my sister in law (inside California Pizza Kitchen, at that), and some tears from mom and dad.. We told my IL's while we were at their house the Friday/Saturday before. They made sure to tell us "you know we'll be buying you EVERYTHING, right?" (and we believe them!) Both couldn't quite figure out what to make of the bibs, and we had to assure them that it wasn't a gag gift "from the dog."

 

 

 Ultrasound on June 20 (12 weeks, 6 days). 

It actually looks like a baby now, not a blob! It was so neat to see him/her move around, and flail his/her arms and legs! I'm looking forward to being able to feel the movements soon! The heartbeat was strong (165bpm), and the ultrasound tech said it was measuring right where it should be. I had the first trimester screening, and the tech said that all looked just fine and well within the normal zone. We'll find out for sure a little later on. Our next appointment is on July 21 (just a Dr's visit), and we'll have a Level 2 ultrasound on July 28.

This shot is from the top of the head, with the left arm/hand waving at the top! We said he/she was having a dance party in there!.. hehe.

Closeup of the profile... pretty blurry though.

 

ITS A GIRL!!!

During our third ultrasound on July 28 (18 weeks, 2 days),  the baby was luckily cooperative, and we found out that we're having a girl! It was my hunch all along, and we were so thrilled to be able to give her more of an identity!

Here are a few shots of Miss Holly Kathryn (as it stands right now... Names are always subject to change, I suppose!) 

Isn't she beautiful? (Mommy might be a little biased)

The obligatory "money shot".. I'll be honest here. I have no idea what it is that the arrow is pointing at. Nothing in this shot is recognizable to me...But, if the Dr says those are girl parts, that's what we're going with!!!

Little Miss Acrobat... Holly decided to flip over for this one.... Show off. ;-)

And let the pink, ruffle-y, pastel-y, cuddly insanity  begin.....

Here are from shots from our first shopping spree.. It's already apparent how hard it's going to be to contain myself in the baby clothes department! For the record though, my mom (most insanely excited grandma ever, I'm pretty sure), bought the majority of these. And three were a gift from some friends. (See, I'm not so bad after all! hehe)

 

   (I promised DH that even though it's a girl, she can still wear the bulldog pj's.. hehe.) 

 

 

 

 

So, I think I might be the only pregnant woman in history that doesn't want to take a bunch of pics of her belly. I'm not feeling all that cute these days, my friends! 

But some of my friends insisted, so here it is. Here I am at 23 weeks, 5 days. I swear, I've exploded in the past couple of weeks! I'm dressed in black because it's slimming. Doesn't the camera add like 25 lbs? Yeah, that's it. Either that, or because I'm a ninja. A pregnant, swollen ankled ninja. ;-) 

And of course, I'm being a smartass in the pics. Because that's how I roll. Plus, let's be honest. You can't take a self portrait in your bathroom mirror and be serious about it.  hehe.

 

9/8/08 More nursery updates...

Ok, so it's just curtains. But I think they're so cute! I love the touch of pink on the curtain rod (the balls are pink crackled glass, if you can't tell), and I thought the curtains looked so sweet and girly.. I keep going in the room to look at them. I'm easily amused though. :-) We plan to replace the blinds with 2" wood blinds in both front rooms soon too..

 

 

 

...And the glider. Added on 9/13. We were going to refinish my grandmother's old maple rocker, but it was going to be expensive to have it done, and I'm putting my poor dad to work with enough stuff! Plus, it didn't rock well on the carpet in this room. We got this one from Target for less than $150! It's not the most fancy, but the neutral color goes well, and I like it a lot!

 

 

10/13/08   Sweet Jesus!!!!!!!!

Oh, sorry. I just thought I just saw a picture of an enormous version of myself. Wait...What? That is me? Yep. The baby explosion continues. Here I am at 29 weeks, 3 days... So, will someone please explain to me where 11 more weeks of baby is going to fit??? And for the record, it's no coincidence that I"m eyeing the bottle of Tums in this pic. We're BFF's these days. 

 

 

 

 4D Ultrasound, 10/25/08 (31 weeks)

Here's our little lady! Holly was (relatively) cooperative, and let us get a good peek at her little face. Isn't she precious? The general consensus so far is that she looks most like daddy--or at least that she definitely has daddy's nose. We also confirmed for 100% sure that she is definitely a girl! The final countdown is on, and we are so excited to meet her. 

 

 

 

11/1/08 Nursery Updates!

We're getting closer!

 

(Beautiful monogram canvases made by "bypami"... I LOVE them!)

I painted the beat up white wooden dresser knobs to make them look a little better!

Belly Shot 11/26/08

35 weeks, 4 days 

(same shirt, same pose as last time..hehe)

 

 

A final belly shot...12/18/08

 I've since decided that I don't care to see pictures of myself, so we'll consider this one the last one I post! Again, the same pose and shirt for comparison!
 38 weeks, 5 days