25 Weeks on my 25th Birthday!

As I celebrate my 25th birthday today, we are also celebrating Adalynn's 25th week of life! "Keep cooking Sweetie, only 15 more weeks to go!" So, we're both 25 today, in a manner of speaking! Here's a shot of me today on my birthday, as you can see little Adalynn is growing! She should weigh about a pound and a half now and is around 13 1/2 inches long. I am still feeling fabulous and loving every second of this experience. We enjoyed lunch with the Dresser's yesterday and dinner with my family tonight to celebrate.

Jinx and I leave on Saturday to spend a week at the beach with some friends! And we can't wait! Jinx plans on fishing, golfing, and relaxing! While I plan on sleeping, reading, and sunbathing! It will be nice just to be away from work for a week and to have some down-time to spend together as a couple before we become 3!

After much pleading and begging on my part, Jinx agreed to taking Bradley birthing classes in preparation for our little one's arrival. Our classes start June 8. I am very excited about the class, and can't wait to learn what to expect and how to prepare for labor and birth. I'll keep you posted on the classes once we get started.

24 Weeks down, 16 Weeks to go

We had our monthly check-up with the doctor this morning, and all is well! We are both growing like crazy and things are right on track. Blood pressure, weight, measurement, and baby's heart beat all looked good! Today I got my stomach measured for the first time, too. The measurement is taken from the top of the pubic bone to the top of the uterus, and should correspond in centimeters with the number of weeks gestation you are. Cool, huh? On Wednesday we'll be 24 weeks along, and have officially entered the 6th month of pregnancy. That is a BIG milestone in my mind because, if absolutely necessary, Adalynn could survive outside the womb at this point. Of course we want her to stay in there and cook until her due date, but it is comforting to know that she would be ok from this point on.

Adalynn should weigh well over a pound by now, and be around a foot long! And the uterus is now the size of a soccer ball, which seems about right. Most days it feels like there's a soccer ball tucked under my shirt. My belly has really shot out in the last few weeks. Last week when I was at Sam's, a complete stranger asked me when I was due. It was a very proud moment for me!! :) People are always afraid to ask for fear that you aren't pregnant, but I will happily announce that it is now apparent to the outside world that I am indeed 'with child'. Adalynn is on her way to being a very active little girl. I love feeling her kick, twist, and turn so does her daddy. I imagine that she is already practicing her little ballerina twirl in there! :)

Our 28 week check-up is on June 14. I will also be taking the glucose tolerance test that day to check for gestational diabetes, a high blood sugar problem that some women develop in pregnancy. I have to fast beginning at midnight, then drink a big sugary drink, wait an hour, then have blood drawn to check how well my body responds to the massive dose of sugar. Let's hope I pass the first time, otherwise I'll have to take the 3-hour test and drink twice as much. Fun stuff!

On the Daddy-front, patience is not a virtue. Jinx is SO ready for Adalynn to be here!! I think that he is more anxious than I am. He will be an amazing Dad! He plans on them spending many hours together cuddled up on the couch during football season. I can't wait to see him with her, I know he will be an incredible father. He's already made some dad decisions for her, as well, including - she won't be dating till college! :) Bless her heart!

Pregnancy is so wonderful, everyone should try it at least once! I could do this again and again... and again - that would make 4, right? LOL! I just feel so very blessed to be carrying a life. It's indescribable!

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle
is the Hand that Rules the World!

Blessings on the hand of women!
Angels guard its strength and grace,
In the palace, cottage, hovel,
Oh, no matter where the place;
Would that never storms assailed it,
Rainbows ever gently curled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Infancy's the tender fountain,
Power may with beauty flow,
Mother's first to guide the streamlets,
From them souls unresting grow—
Grow on for the good or evil,
Sunshine streamed or evil hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Woman, how divine your mission
Here upon our natal sod!
Keep, oh, keep the young heart open
Always to the breath of God!
All true trophies of the ages
Are from mother-love impearled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

Blessings on the hand of women!
Fathers, sons, and daughters cry,
And the sacred song is mingled
With the worship in the sky—
Mingles where no tempest darkens,
Rainbows evermore are hurled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world.

By: William Ross Wallace

Following up to Mother's Day, I'd like to say a special thank you to my Mom. For carrying me for 9 long months, loving me before I was even born, and sacrificing your wants and needs for all of your children. For being present at EVERY school awards assembly, staying up extra late to make birthday cupcakes or jell-o jigglers for my entire class, and for molding me into the woman that I am today. I am only beginning to understand the depth and richness of love that a mother feels for her child. Thank you, Mom, for all the years of unconditional love, even when I was at times unlovable. I hope to be as great a mom to Adalynn as you have been to me. I love you!

What's kickin'?

I'll tell you what's kickin, our little lady!! :) She is all over the place these days. Jinx even got to feel her kick for the first time on Tuesday! It is so cool to be able to feel some of her stronger movements on the outside now instead of just the inside. She is very active and must be developing some good, strong muscles in there as much as she moves.

Oh yeah, we've picked a name for our baby girl, Adalynn Renee'! We just really liked the name! Lynn is my Mom's middle name, and Renee' is mine.

Things are moving right along as we prepare for our precious daughter. We started our baby registry last weekend, picked out the bedding for the nursery, and even have the bassinet set up. My Mom is very sentimental about certain things, and I'm awfully glad! She still has the bassinet that she used for us kids as infants, and that is what Adalynn will be sleeping in for the first weeks we have her home. :) A good part of our Saturday was spent picking out paint colors for the nursery and moving things to the attic so we can make room for baby. We can't wait for everything to come together, and see the nursery complete! At least we've made a pretty good start. It feels so much more real now that the spare room is slowly beginning to look like a nursery. She already has a nice little collection of clothes in the closet thanks to her Nanny, Gran, and Aunts! And I couldn't help but buy some sweet little hairbows while out shopping today, so she will certainly be well-dressed if nothing else!

And finally, here are some stomach shots. The one on the top is at 6 weeks, and the one on the bottom is today at 21 1/2 weeks.