22 Weeks!

You're up to 22 weeks, little bean! This puts you at about the size of a spaghetti squash. Your eyes are fully developed now, your daddy will be happy to know, but your irises still don't have any of that blue pigment they are destined to get before too long....My tummy is, of course, still growing. Yesterday at work someone asked me if I am having twins. Ummm, thanks....About the politest way to say, "Wow, you're sure huge!" Last Friday at work one of the 4 year olds was trying to put his shoes on his feet without bending over, and he reached out and put one hand on each side of my tummy for balance like it was a handle and proceeded to wedge his little feet into his shoes. It felt so strange that I started laughing...he just looked up at me and said, "What?" I guess it is definitely a sign my tummy's growing when it starts doubling as a hand rail.

Alie's turn....

Hey Little Bean...Well, it was bound to happen...poor ole Alie has started getting jealous of you already. I brought home some baby toys that a girl at work gave me, and Alie was of course thinking they were for her, because anytime Mama brings home toys, it means she gets em...Not this time, and she was very confused when I wouldn't let her drag any of them off. And then, of course, anytime I talk to you and call you baby, she thinks I am referring to her and comes and shoves her little snout under my hand for some petting....So as you can see, that dog is already having a hard time sharing our love with you....You've been the one getting all the new goodies lately, but yesterday Alie got a present, too. Her Grandma Jerre bought her a cute red leopard bandana, which of course Alie was oh-so-proud to prance around the house in. She even had just gotten a bath, so she looked cute AND smelled good. Anyhow, you and Alie will be immediately in love, I am sure...she just may have a bit of a hard time sharing Mama's love.

Weekendin'

Hey Bean!
Finally a weekend at home!! It has already gone by fast though. On Friday night we went out for dinner at Lupe Tortillas, who, you will soon come to realize, makes the best beef fajitas in all of Texas...you might already be a fan, because you were kicking like crazy while I scarfed down my fajitas. I was laughing all through dinner because you were really wiggling around in my tummy.
On Saturday your daddy and Alie and I headed to a park where your daddy did some running and I walked. After that we ran some errands...one of which was to pick up some mulch at Walmart. I asked for 2 bags of red mulch....the guy ringing us up charged us for three, and when we went outside to get them, there was no red mulch to be seen. So...the same guy (who is the nicest Walmart employee ever) gave us the giant bags of brown mulch (that were actually a name brand and not the knock off stuff like I usually buy) and threw in a fourth for free because he felt bad there wasn't any red. So I came home and mulched away...and of course ended up using all 4. Dragging 4 bags around the yard and weeding and digging and all of those fun jobs definitely wore me out (and it was HOT and humid, too), but my gardens now look oh-so-lovely. While I was enjoying my gardening, your daddy headed downtown for his VERY LAST TEST OF OPTOMETRY SCHOOL E-V-E-R!!!! Bean, this was definitely a momentous occasion for that boy...I can't tell you how many huge, stressful tests he's had....there's been proficiencies, 3 rounds of boards, the state law exam, and various others I am sure I'm forgetting...and this set of clinicals was the last hurrah. He was one happy boy when he got home!! He wanted to celebrate with some spicy garlic boneless wings from BW3's, and of course we did (even though it was after 9 pm when he got home)....And we got seated in the booth beneath the UH banner, which I thought was a nice touch. :) You were a good little bean, too, you didn't even protest to my spicy-garlic (which are VERY spicy) wing consumption like I feared...
Today we went and met our good friends' new little guy, Corban, at the hospital, and I am tellin' ya, he's one cute little kiddo. You'll get to hang out with him soon enough, we promise!! He's just enough older than you that he can show you the ropes. PS) I made your daddy hold him for a bit so he can get practiced up for your little newborn self in a few months!!!

Just singin'

Hey Beannie...
Last night your daddy was being silly and put on a little Ben Folds concert for you. He was trying to sing all of the songs from one of the cds...that did not go very well, but it was pretty funny. And he did have to resort to getting his computer and singing along to the mp3's. Hope you enjoyed the little show. :)

21 Weeks and a whole pound!

Happy 21st, Beanie!
This week you've made it to the length of a carrot...I guess it must be one of those big carrots, because you're bigger than a banana now, too! (I'm not up on large carrots...we stick with the baby ones in this house!) Anyhow, you weigh in at almost a pound, too...My tummy just keeps growing and I've noticed that I now have the pregnant lady waddle. Guess it's something to do with my hips spreading out.
Tonight I went out to eat Italian food with your Papa John and your daddy, and you were kicking during dinner! Either you were cheering for the 'Stros game we were watching or you wanted some lasagna...not sure which.
Your daddy is so anxious to feel you kick, too, and your Grandma Candi thinks it'll happen in the next few weeks...she hopes by the time she visits in May! So save some strong ones up for her.

Our little night owl

Hi Bean!
You have definitely been making your presence known this week...Since Sunday night I've begun feeling your little kicks. Your favorite time to get active is late at night-usually after 9pm. I must say you come by that quite honest--both your daddy and I are night owls...Last night you were going strong until after midnight when I finally fell asleep. Your daddy was really trying to feel some kicks through my tummy, but I don't think they are quite strong enough yet. Even in the past three days I've felt them stronger, though, so I am sure it's no time at all until he gets his wish. It's a great feeling to know you're in there moving around and I am so excited to finally be feeling it!! (I am sure I'll be taking that back when you're doing karate chops at my bladder or ribs soon...) By the way, your daddy amused himself by watching the Karate Kid Trilogy this weekend while I was sick, so maybe that inspired you to start kicking for me. :)

Alie seems to think she's found a nice place these days for a headrest...

Sweet friends....

Well, Bean, of course your daddy and I definitely think you need to sport some OC gear...and you got a little surprise in the mail this weekend!! Your very first OC outfit! It's kinda hard to see in the picture, but it says Oklahoma Christian University below the word hatched.

This is just a little gift to say, we are so happy you're on the way! Your mom and dad are special friends, that's true. Which is why we can't wait to meet you! Love, Heather and Amy

Thanks so much, friends--we love it!

Beating strong!

Hi Bean!
We just got back from the doctor. We heard your little heart beating away, which has come to be one of our favorite sounds. :) Aunt Karen took us right in to the doppler--I didn't even get weighed or my blood pressure taken first--she knew what we were interested in!!
I actually think I felt a few little kicks last night...We'll see if I feel something similar again soon! It was a little hard to tell if it was a baby foot or my crazy stomach making the movements, as my tummy was doing all sorts of wild things this weekend! But I really think it was probably you....Anyhow, give me a few more so I can know for sure!! In May I have to switch doctors, so my next appointment will be with our new OB.

Weekendin'

Hi Little Bean....

Tomorrow we go to the doctor for our 5 month check up. We're excited to hear your heartbeat! Hopefully you're still in there and I didn't barf you up over the weekend. Sure felt like it at times. I had a nasty case of stomach bug, and neither your nor I were very happy. You, because I didn't eat one bite all day Friday, and you get kinda cranky if I don't eat every few hours. Me...because my stomach felt like it was going to explode and other things too yucky to blog about. Anyhow, the good news is that I am feeling much better today! I celebrated finally having my appetite back tonight by eating too much lasagna, and now I have another tummyache. :(

Saturday night you got to hear your Grandbob's band for the first time! We made a brief appearance at the Crawfish Festival...Didn't stay too long because I was still feeling pretty rough, but we listened to the first set. I was sitting right in front of the amps, so I am sure you got a good dose, little one!! Hopefully you pick up some of that Lahmeyer musical talent...I guarantee you won't be getting any from me!!

Here are a couple pics from the concert:

Today I spent a bit of time in my yard...trying to tame the crazy jungle. It's looking pretty decent. Need to do a little mulching still. The sun and all the green were good medicine and really made me feel better this afternoon!! Plus I had fun discovering lots of little surprises like a big frog in my parsley and baby seedlings coming up from my bigger plants that seeded out last fall.

My good friend Tabitha is supposed to be induced tomorrow, and we are hoping that little Corban arrives healthy and soon. He and his big brother, Ethan, will quickly become some of your Sunday night chums, as they are some of the kiddos in our connection group every week. I am sure they'll show ya a good time when you arrive!!

Lookin' forward to hearing you tomorrow!! Get those kicks and that little heart ticking for us!

Your aunties....

...are already spoiling you, little bean!! Aunt Megan got you a picture frame and some cute little onesies, and of course the UT shirt is from Aunt Mandy! Thanks, aunties!!!

20 weeks

You're halfway done, little bean! Today begins week 20, AKA 5 months! You're the length of a banana from head to feet and you weigh a bit over 10 ounces now. STILL no movement yet, so I am looking forward to hearing your heartbeat on Monday at my doctor's appointment so I know you're still in there. Your little brain is really developing now, as all of those pathways begin connecting...I am definitely getting a much bigger tummy; even the dads at work are noticing I am pregnant and asking when I'm due. PS) Is it wierd that I am eating the very banana from the photo as I type this? I can't help it...I'm ALWAYS hungry!

Houston to Austin

Here's your sporty spice daddy, little bean! This is after his 100 mile ride from Houston to LaGrange. You and I were there at the finish line to cheer and of course take pictures....and soak up lots of sun! It was gorgeous except for LOTS of wind (especially for Texas). We spent the night in LaGrange and got up early Saturday morning to put that boy back on his bike and send him off through the hill country to Austin.
This is the finish line at Austin, after about 70 more miles, largly hills, through Basstrop State Park. Your daddy made great time and you, me and Aunt Mandy were waiting at the finish line to cheer him in.
Here we are in Austin after some fajitas and a shower for your sweaty daddy. This is already your second trip to the capitol, little bean, and you aren't even born yet. Hope that doesn't mean you're gonna be a politician. Maybe just very artsy or environmentally conscious, right? :)

After it's all finished...ready to head home and not wake up at 4am again for a very long time!! And I do have to say your daddy was very patient and made multiple restroom stops for me and my bladder on the drive back home to Houston. Maybe next year we'll bring you along again, little bean!!

One more post!

Your daddy sang you James Taylor last night. Didya like it?

From your Grampy...

Your Grandpa's name suggestion of the day....Gertrude.
And for tomorrow (since we'll be in LaGrange for the MS150 and won't talk to him) he is suggesting Starla....What'd ya think? ;)

The Shrine

Hi Little Bean!
The first year your daddy and I were married I put all of my birthday cards up in the miniblinds in our kitchen and your daddy nicknamed it "the birthday shrine." For every card-receiving occasion since then, we've kept the shrine alive and hung up our cards. Well, little one, it's finally your turn! These are the well-wishes and congratulations we've received about you!! So here's the little Bean Shrine!

PS) Some of the great plants below the window are new! One of my favorite friends gave me a little jar of fresh herbs that I am trying to sprout! That's basil in the green seeder hanging next to the cards. I am already hoping you'll inherit my kinda-green thumb, so I thought you'd want to know!

News of the day...

Well, little bean, you are officially growing like a weed, because my tummy is getting bigger very rapidly. Tonight I tried to wear a shirt I wore last Friday and it no longer fits. Yikes! Your daddy says he has definitely seen a change in a week. I can't fit into any of my regular pants anymore unless they are extra stretchy (sometimes you just need stretchy pants -Nacho Libre)...But don't worry, I dig weeds, so go ahead and keep on growing. Interestingly my stomach has developed a strange itchiness, not sure if it's related to my stretching skin or what. I look like your daddy when he has poison ivy digging away at it, but it just ITCHES SOOOOO MUCH!

I talked to your Wyoming grandparents tonight and your grandpa has gotten into the business of name-suggestin'. Tonight's gem was Penelope. Hmmm....

Last night I told your daddy you could hear him now, and so he sang you a few tunes...a bit of Foo Fighters, an old country song by Dolly called Joline, and the wierd song from Walk Tall, a ridiculous movie he is obsessed with this week. We'll see if tonight brings some new selections.

More books!!

From your Grandma Candi:
Tell Bean I bought her some books today and will bring them when I come to Houston. The book people had a couple cute book sets in the lounge that have fun stories and sparkly pages. There is one about sea creatures, one about farm animals, and then the other set has a duck story, rabbit story,frog story and fish story. Cute little pictures in them.

*diecinuevo*

 
You, little bean, are nineteen weeks along today! That's about the size of an 8.5 ounce/6 inch heirloom tomato (interesting vegetable choice, huh!). You can hear my voice and even your daddy's! Now you can hear him tell you "goodnight!" Your brain is really developing in the sensory areas...smell, hearing, taste, etc. Apparently lately you like the taste of McDonalds chicken Mcnuggets, cause I've had a mighty cravin' for em!!

 
Here is your Grandpa and his new wheels, little Bean. He said no baby seat on this one, but he might be talked into giving you some rides on his mountain bike someday! Funny, your daddy said the same thing about his new bike. Don't worry, I am sure you'll be on a bike of some type well before you're big enough to pedal!!

Names, names, names...

 

Last night, little Bean, your daddy helped your Grandbob and Grandsue move some furniture from Katy. I stopped by to say hello, and your Grandbob thought we needed this book...Guess he wants you to have a name or something! :) I can already predict that your daddy's gonna have a fun time trying to find the worst names possible in the book (and it was published in 1941, so there might be some pretty interesting ones). He's pretty silly, that daddy of yours...Anyhow, neither of us are in a big hurry to search for names, but we'll keep it around in case we get desperate. I guess we are just hoping the perfect name will just appear to us magically. ;) Don't worry, though, we promise you won't be Bean forever!

YEAAA!

The 'rents are coming!! My mom and dad booked tickets today to come in May for Matt's graduation. They are staying about 3 days and I am so excited!!! Yeaaaa! My grandpa is also coming!!!

Campout!

This weekend, little bean, we went camping with friends at Double Lake. The rain cleared away for us and it was a beautiful weekend!! We did some hiking, some canoing, some marshmallow roastin' and some relaxing. Don't worry, we'll have you out there with us camping soon enough...I started my camping experiences around the age of 5 or 6 months, and by next spring we figure you'll be ready for a few campouts, too! Maybe your daddy will even give you a canoe ride...He's a master paddler!
more camping pics here....

Silly Kitty!

Beaux was very pleased that we bought him a new stroller. His feelings might change when he finds out he has to share it with you, little bean!!

E I G H T E E N!!!!

Hi Bean!

Today marks week number 18 for you! You're now the size of a bell pepper. Your ears now stick out from your head and you are really increasing in size the next few weeks. Guess my tummy will be, too!

Your arm and leg movements are supposed to be increasing nowadays...Still haven't felt any of your wiggling yet....