Oh yea...

Oh yeah, little bean...
I found out yesterday that my levels on my thyroid and glucose tolerance tests came back good....so I am celebrating with a blackberry sprite from Sonic. The sugar already has you dancing around in my belly. :)

Super Star Bellybutton

Hey Bean....
Well, one of my favorite things about being pregnant is a little strange...okay, kinda a lot strange. Anyhow, I have never really been too fond of my belly button. That thing is deep enough to stash spare change or small trinkets inside. However, now that your little bod has been pressing against it in an ever-increasing fashion, I dig my new belly button! It's cute and of a normal depth. Matt says it looks like a little star with five points....and who can beat that? A star bellybutton...

26 Weeks!

Hi Beany!
Welcome to 26 weeks! You now weigh about a pound and 2/3 and are 14 inches long, approximately the size of an English cucumber. Your main activities this week include fattening up a bit and practicing your breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid (AKA your own pee....ew....have fun with that!
This week is also an important week in your ocular development!! Your eyes are now opening and blinking....your retina is forming, and you respond to light shined at my tummy, which indicates that your optic nerve is functioning! Your daddy will be keeping close tabs on your little baby blues, so know you're in good hands!! I am sure you'll have your first eye exam before you're even a week old...
I had my 26 week checkup yesterday. Your little heartbeat sounded great. I also drank the glucose for the tolerance test. I had heard a lot of people tell how horrible drinking that stuff is, but I actually didn't mind it too much. It tasted like the bottom of a shaved ice (one of my current craves)....I had bloodwork done after to check the glucose tolerance, as I said before, and also my thyroid levels. I find out Friday how everything is doing. I go back at 3o weeks for my next checkup, and I imagine they will also schedule my final ultrasound. The most exciting news to me yesterday (besides your heart sounding great) was that the tech didn't even bruise my arm one bit when she was drawing blood. I usually have a gigantic, ugly purple splotch for a week after bloodwork. Yeaaa!
In other news, your daddy and I are apparently already failing you as parents, according to some....Why, you ask? Because we don't have a name picked out for you months in advance. So sorry little one....Guess you are figuring out early that we are going to be the slacker-type.... (Can you tell I am getting very weary of being hassled about not having a name???) Anyhow, little one, we probably won't decided for sure until you are born, so can you politely ask all your fans out there to chill out and let us do things in our own time?????
And in yet other news...I saw a picture of myself from the side that was taken over the weekend and it was a little shocking...guess I had been used to seeing my big tummy from straight-on, so the side view was....well...huge. I am beginning to even outgrow some of my maternity clothes and definitely feel like a gigantic cow a good deal of the time. Don't get me wrong, I am so thankful that you are growing every day, but it is just a bit difficult to not feel like a swelling blimp as this happens. :)

Long weekend...

Hi Bean!
Well, you've officially been on campout #2 now! We had an awesome time camping at McKinney Falls near Austin this weekend with good friends. It was very hot, especially for my pregnant bod, but we managed to find several nice cool water holes to submerge ourselves in....combined with a few late-night outdoor showers on the side of the Renneberg's camper....we stayed cool enough.
On Friday we drove with Martin and Jacque to Austin and met Michael and Tiare for pizza, then we had a late-night jaunt to a scary HEB to buy some ice cream, and off to the campsite. Saturday we checked out the swimming area at McKinney Falls and then also went into Austin and hiked back along Barton Springs and swam a bit there. Michael and Tiare introduced us to their favorite shaved-ice stand, which has been a constant craving of mine the past couple of months, so I was a happy camper...literally. Sunday we floated the Guadalupe and I am proud to boast that I made it through with not a bit of sunburn or any scrapes or bumps...a rarity in river floating trips. Besides all the adventures we had some great food cooked by the spectacular chefs at our campsite. I also spent a good deal of time in my hammock. It was definitely a great way to spend a long weekend!!!
MORE PICS HERE....

More books....

Today, Bean, I shopped for some books for my summer program at Half Price Books. I did my best to resist all of the adorable baby books they have, but I did break down and buy you two new board books. I am telling ya, kiddo, you have a gigantic basket of books already and you're not even born yet!! Aunt Karen gave me the CUTEST dog book on Tuesday, too. But I guess if there's one thing a person can never have too many of (in my opinion), it's books!! Your daddy and I are getting anxious for you to be on our laps (instead of IN my lap...) browsing through a few from your immense collection.

Hope your thumb's green....

Hi Bean!
Today I was outside watering my garden when I saw this little froggy hanging out on my mister. It was too perfect, so of course I had to have some photos. Don't worry, you can hang out with me in the garden lots when it warms up next spring...You'll be a fall baby, so by April you'll be plenty big enough to soak up some sun and grow some flowers.

Six months and a LOT of belly...

Here it is...my big ole belly at 25 weeks. Some mornings I wake up and look down. surprised, because I forgot it was there. :) I am thankful for every little bit it grows, though, because that means that you are more and more developed, little bean!!

25!

Happy 25th week, little one! You are now about the size of a rutabaga! Pretty funny to me because this is my Grandpa Staudinger's favorite vegetable to talk about....Don't worry, I am sure even though you're the size of a rutabaga, you are a lot more beautiful. You weigh a little over a pound and a half. Your hair is growing and you are getting some baby fat built up. Your little nostrils are beginning to open and you can start to smell scents soon....I am noticing you have a preference for hanging out on the right side of my belly...my tummy tends to stay pretty lopsided these days!!

Look, Bean! It's your Daddy!

Walkin' in the woods...

Hi Little Bean!
I loaned my laptop to a friend for a few days, hence the lack of posts much lately...Plus nothing too exciting going on.
Today your daddy, Alie and I headed out to a nature preserve a few miles from our house. Your daddy ran and Alie and I walked the trails. When I first started out, you were really pushing against the left side of my stomach. Not the little fluttery kicks like usual, but this one felt like you were jamming your elbow or foot into my tummy. It wasn't the most comfortable, so I told you to go to sleep while I walked. I think when I am up and about it usually puts you to sleep, because you mostly just kick when I am sitting or laying still. I guess it must feel kinda nice to be rocked in my tummy, so it lulls you to sleep. Kinda like a hammock...speaking of which, Matt bought me one on Sunday that I am itchin' to try out. We didn't get home from the woods early enough tonight to bust it out, but maybe tomorrow. I can't wait to lay in it out in my garden, listen to my pond gurgle away, and relax!! I'll let you know how it works out....

Who's your daddy?

Click here for video....

Love in a box

Today, little bean, I came home to a surprise! My best friend Nikki in Montana sent me a "mama care package!" It was a box filled with goodies such as tummy butter, bubble bath, chocolate, dill pickle-flavored sunflower seeds, and a book. I definitely feel the love!! One little confession I need to make, though, little bean....back in the day Nikki always said she wanted a girl someday and I said I wanted a boy. I told her if I had a girl I'd trade her....well, don't worry, bean, I am definitely keeping you around!! I've changed my mind ever since I saw your sweet little fingers a few months ago. :) Anyhow, don't worry, Nik, I have put in a good word about you to the bean and she is already a fan. She thinks you should plan a visit next fall so the two of you can get to know one another. And thanks again for the goodies!!!!!!! I'm off to take a bubble bath!

24 weeks...equals 6 months!

Happy sixth month, little bean!! Today your daddy was holding my tummy and laughing at how big it is getting...but I could now tell him that's because you are as big as an ear of corn!! I can definitely feel that you are getting bigger, because now you can kick/punch opposite sides of my tummy at the same time. Guess you're stretching out and letting it fly in there!! Your taste buds are developed by this week, so I am eating lots of mexican food so that you learn to love it and fit in with your daddy and I!

Who's winning now?

John and I are having a "who has the bigger belly" contest....

Picture one is from March.

Picture two is from May.

I am definitely winning now!!

Fun Times!!

Wow, little Bean, it's been a busy week since I last posted!! Last Thursday your Wyoming grandparents got into town and stayed until yesterday. You were a very good "grandbean" and kicked several times for your grandma to feel, and on Monday you were even kicking hard enough for us to see by watching my tummy. On Monday night we were vegging out on the couch and feeling around to wait for a kick and your grandma and I felt something that sure seemed like a little tooshie pushing out against the side of my tummy.

On Monday I had my 6-month check-up with my new doctor. I really like him a lot. Your Grandma Candi came along with me and heard your little heartbeat. I go back in two weeks for a thyroid test and a glucose test.

I actually got to celebrate Mother's Day with my momma for the first time in several years, which was a nice treat! We had a little bbq on Sunday night and Matt's mom came over, too. By the way, little bean, you and your daddy and the furry two all gave me a great Mother's Day present--my very first!! You all surprised me with some very nice sunglasses that I had been drooling over in the optical shop at UH. I love them!!! Your daddy is being sure to remain the "sunglasses police," too, to make sure I don't scratch them. :)

The biggest news of the weekend is that your daddy is now officially a doc! We partied it up on Saturday with tons of friends and family, and then Saturday night he graduated. You were very proud, I could tell, because you were kicking through the whole ceremony!

You also got some goodies from your great aunt Glenda and your auntie Chelsea.....Thanks!!!

For more pictures of the festivities.....click here!

Up to 23...

Happy 23rd week, little bean! You are weighing in over a pound by this point and up to eleven inches. You're about the size of a large mango...which, coincidently, I have been eating a lot of this week! Mmmmmm....You are hearing lots of noises and feeling movements from the outside now. I wonder if you can feel our hands on you?

In other news, we signed up today for childbirth classes for three weekends in August. June is already booked and we can't do July because I will be in Wy one weekend and at Grandaddy's wedding the next....So August it is. Our last class is August 26th, so if you could, it would be nice if you'd wait to come until after we've officially graduated from the class. Might be better for both of us. :) My parents, your grandparents are getting here tomorrow and will get to set their eyes on the growing lump that is you. Your grandma is going with me to my doctor's appointment on Monday....

My first....

Today, little bean, I got my very first mother's day card! My sweet friend Tiffany sent it to me!

Nice little Saturday...

Hi Beanie!
Guess what!! Your daddy finally felt his first kick...You were kicking like crazy last night. While we were eating dinner last night I had my arm resting across my belly and you kicked hard enough to move it. Then when we were watching TV in bed last night, you were getting after it again, and your daddy felt you! Finally....we have been trying for a long time. You are kicking harder now, just not real consistently, so it was hard for him to get a feel. He was so excited about it that he couldn't sleep and that poor boy had to stay up until 5 am playing video games...I think since he's so practiced with all-nighters he should be the one to get up with you in the night, right???

Tonight we went to our first 'Stros game of the season. Papa John got us tickets. I was worried my jersey wouldn't fit, but I got the top buttoned up and that was good enough for me! The weather was great, the Astros won, and we had awesome seats. Don't worry, I promise you'll have a little Astros outfit and we'll bring you along to a game or two.