Peanut's Debut

We got our official 20 week (even though I'm almost 22 weeks) ultrasound done today. It was so awesome! The technician gave us a 15 min video on DVD of our session plus a bunch of pictures. She even gave us a few 3D pictures for free! She said she liked us so much and thought we were so cute that she wanted to throw them in. Hurray for us! We're cute! haha. I guess any doctors office you go to will charge for 3D pictures. At least that's what I've heard. The pictures are pretty cool.

I'm only going to post a few of my most favorite pictures because there are just way too many photos to post.

Our little Peanut is healthy and strong. I guess for his age he is two days ahead of schedule which would move, for the time being, my due date to June 11th. About a month ago I had a dream that my baby was born two days early, on June 11th. Crazy! I guess we'll see if my dream comes true.

During the ultrasound, Peanut yawned for us and we got it on video. It was so adorable!! Our little guy is so stinking cute and I can't WAIT to meet him!!

I've been meaning to take another picture of my belly so I could show all of you how I'm progressing but I keep putting it off. Maybe tomorrow I'll have Preston snap one and I'll post again. I'm really seeing a difference and I really show when I wear my baby doll dresses. I had someone ask me at church on Sunday if I was pregnant. Yay! I'm so glad she noticed but she is a brave women to ask that sort of question. Thank goodness she was right.

Peanuts Big Debut!!





I love his little feet and long legs!
I think he's going to have Preston's sexy long legs :D

Week: 21 and four days
Cravings of the Week: Raspberry Lemonade
(especially the Raspberry Lemonade Freeze at Olive Garden)

OOOOhhh We're Half Way There ooooOOOO...

Yes, I'm singing Bon jovi! Today marks the half way point of my pregnancy. 20 weeks along and I can see my baby belly growing more and more everyday.

I can't believe Preston and I just found out 4 short months ago that we were expecting. Time has flown since then but it hasn't flown fast enough. We are both so anxious to hold our little guy. We have a lot to do to prepare for him so I guess it's a good thing we have more time.

I'm so lucky to have so many people in my life to prepare me for becoming a mother. A special shout out to Amanda Nilsson (my cousin-in-law) who is an amazing Douala and has studied and knows so much about parenting. She is an incredible mother and I'm so lucky to have her by my side to guide me during this exciting time in my life. My own mother and sister-in-laws have also been giving me wonderful, helpful advice that I can't wait to put into action. Preston and I are so blessed to have our family and friends. I couldn't ask for more loving and inspiring people in my life.

This week Peanut is supposed to be six and a half inches long from head to toe. That's the size of a cantaloupe! It doesn't look like something the size of a cantaloupe is in me. He's kicking ALL the time. I love not just feeling my tummy but watching it too. It looks so weird when he kicks! Peanut is also tasting the things I eat now which means I'm forcing myself, whenever I have the chance, to eat tomatoes. I HATE tomatoes but I really want my baby to like them.I haven't been experiencing any pain which is wonderful and I attribute that to my daily work out. Since I've drastically reduced the distance of running I do down to one mile, I've decided to run five days a week instead of just three. Okay, okay so I usually end up going only four days a week but I need to tell myself that I go five that way, hopefully one day, I might get up the stamina to actually do five. Preston has helped me with a little weight lifting as well. Doctors suggest not to start weightlifting during pregnancy but I've got to build a little muscle in these weak arms before my baby arrives. It's mild lifting and I don't feel like it's strenuous but I also feel like I'm getting a descent workout in my arms. It's great! I want to encourage all of those who are pregnant to do some form of exercise. From my own experience I don't think I would be feeling as great as I am without it. Hurray for staying healthy!

Week: 20!!
Cravings of the Week: Raspberry Lemonade

Baby Bump

Obvious outward signs are starting to appear.
Our little Peanut is growing and so is my belly
... FINALLY!



This last Tuesday I came home from running and noticed that my bump was starting to appear. I can still hide it in most outfits but there is no hope when it comes to my spandex Capri's and white t-shirt. My jeans don't fit anymore so I'm always wearing my workout clothes, leggings, dresses or PJ's.

I finally went shopping yesterday for some maternity clothes in efforts to find pants that fit but instead I walked away with 5 new shirts that I can't wear until my belly grows a bit more and two more pairs of leggings, one of which I may return. Maternity clothes are expensive, especially pants! Does anyone have suggestions one where to shop? I hear the Forever 21 in Salt Lake has a Maternity section and their pants are really cheap. I'll have to find some time to head up soon and check them out.

Week: 19 and five days
Cravings of the Week: Meat, Orange Julius
and Raspberry lemonade

Whippersnapper!

We're going to have a son!!!!

We got our wish! Preston and I both wanted a boy. I thought our Peanut was going to be a girl just because I wanted a boy so badly. We are very excited and seeing him on the ultrasound was so neat. I didn't want to turn it off. I love my Peanut so much already!!!

We went and had an ultrasound done yesterday morning but it wasn't the medical ultrasound so we won't know details on Peanuts size and weight until we get the medical ultrasound on Feb 3rd. Preston and I didn't want to wait another month to find out the gender so we popped on into another doctors office and had them check it for us. Yippeee!!!! They only printed off 3 pictures for us. The disc of photos and a video would have cost an extra $20 and our doctor will be giving that to us for free so we will wait and have a video and digital images soon!

Preston felt the baby move three days ago! It was only one kick that he felt even though Peanut is moving all the time now but it was a big one. Preston actually thought that I had flexed my stomach on purpose because it was such an obvious movement but the baby is still below my belly button and my abs aren't down there so I can't really flex that area without moving my whole stomach. Proof!

Ever since Preston has felt the baby kick and now that we know the gender, I can tell this baby thing seems more real to him. I love seeing the excitement on his face when we talk about Peanut. I love that Preston is just as thrilled as I am about the idea of being a parent and having a family of our own. I am one lucky girl!!

Week: 17 and six days
Cravings of the Week: Chinese food!!!

Squiggle and Squirm

Felt baby move for the first time last night.

Great way to end the year!
We also bought our crib last night from Ikea.
It is SO perfect.
It was rated #1 on ConsumerReport.
Just the look I was going for.
Sturdy.
Cheap ($100)
On sale.
$80!

We celebrated the coming of the New Year with my brother, Evan, and our best friends Cherylyn and Matt. It was a relaxed evening with lots of conversation and fun. Cherylyn is also expecting a baby and she is due in April. We are looking forward to raising our little munchkins as first time moms together.

Week: 17

Cravings of the Week:
That one restaurant in that
one town, in that one state,
that we had that one time.

A New Addition

We're Expecting!

Due: June 13, 2011
Current Week: 16th
Gender: We'll find out Jan 8th

After trying for several months, Preston and I finally have our very own peanut on the way!
We're hoping for a boy but I think it's a girl which we are just as excited about.
Names have been picked but will not be divulged until baby's birth day.

(Picture taken by my sister-in-law, Annie)

It's been difficult for us to keep our big news on the down-low for so long but this Christmas we finally spread the word to our family and friends. We told my parents during our visit to Washington for Thanksgiving. Here are a couple of pictures of the announcement we gave them. My parents are thrilled and needless to say, we spent Black Friday at Carter's and Children's Place.

Prestons family found out on Christmas day when Preston's youngest brother broke the news during his phone call home from his mission in Argentina. We wanted Landon to be a part of that moment and Preston felt that because Landon is always the last to hear any sort of news, it would be wonderful for him to be the first to know our exciting news. The family was gathered around the phone on speaker and as the call came to an end, Landon said to his mom, "momma, you better go through my closet and pick out some hand-me-downs just in case Preston and Kara have a boy", and the news was broken. Christmas was extra special for us this year :)

As for my pregnancy, things have been going very well. I haven't been too sick which I am so grateful for. I was queasy from weeks 7 to 10 and only had my head in the toilet once. We've heard the heart beat which was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had and we're looking forward to the ultrasound on January 8th.

I'm not showing yet but I'm expecting to see some slight changes in my figure over the next couple of weeks. I can't wait for my baby bump!

Week: 16 and two days

Cravings of the Week: tangerines and garlic bread


Oh, and a Merry Christmas from Duke!