Thanksgiving

My sister and Tom and my nephews came to visit for Thanksgiving. I loved having them here. The years we aren't able to all be together it just doesn't feel right. Though, it also made me wish we could be with our family in West Virginia where we spent Thanksgiving when my sister and I were kids. My sister, mom, and I all have favorites that only my Grandma can make her way-- mine is her homemade rolls, my sister loves her homemade noodles, and my mom loves the Pecan pie. After nearly blowing it up, my mom made an awesome turkey this year though... long story, but one that reminds me why family and holidays always create memories. Thanksgiving weekend signified 24 weeks-- 6 months! for Baby O. Its so hard to believe-- it is flying by. I am feeling her move a LOT now which I still love. Chris has tried a few times but says he can't feel it-- she seems to stop moving when he puts his hand on my belly. Though, I think thats pretty fitting. Those daddy hands will always be there to comfort and soothe her-- it just seems right that would start now. Because I'm posting these Thanksgivng photos a bit late, I'm quite a bit bigger than this photo. So I'll just have to get some Christmas ones up soon! Things are going so fast-- its hard to keep up. Our latest adventure has been choosing a crib which we recently managed to decide upon. Next will be tackling painting the nursery and registering for all that fun baby stuff. I'm still feeling great which I'm so grateful for. Tomorrow I go for my glucose test-- I'm a little nervous about it, but hopefully I'll do well. I've had my fair share of holiday goodies especially lately at work! But, I've been really trying to keep in mind that the baby needs nutrition in addition to chocolate :). And I've been working out regularly still- I'm still able to do a slow jog and have been doing some work-out classes though its hard not to feel a bit awkward with all that belly. Not to mention my balance is pretty thrown off these days. But we couldn't be happier. Its just now finally dropping below 80 degrees so its starting to feel like Christmas. Good thing because its next week!

Halloween

It was a Happy Halloween and Birthday for our niece Mattison (a.k.a. "Dorothy"). Baby O and I dressed up as a "dalmation" for work. We were all different animals in my office. Mason and Chris were festive and fun in their matching orange.

It's a...

GIRL!! We went for our 20 week anatomy ultrasound on Tuesday and found out my "hunch" was wrong. It was such a fun surprise-- and maybe one of the only times I actually enjoyed being "wrong" :). We would have been thrilled either way (and still will be-- we know its not a guarantee) but it is so great to be able to call her a "her" and not "it".

The best news is that SHE looks healthy and is developing well. She moved around quite a bit and the gender pictures the sonographer got she said is like she is sitting on a copier. So you're looking at her bottom and in the one that says "girl" the arrow is pointing between her legs... just below that you can see the back of a thigh. Well, you can try to see it anyways! :) In the photo on the bottom if you look closely you can see her feet. I asked the sonographer if she could show me what was at the bottom left of my abdomen because I had been feeling a lot of movement there. Sure enough, she's giving me kicks already. I love it.

The O Family visits St. Martin

We spent an amazing week last week in St. Martin (an island in the Carribbean divided into a French side and Dutch side). It was a fantastic week. We visited the beach, great restaurants, lots of family (Chris's mom was born and raised on the French side of St. Martin), not to mention shops, a casino, and fun scenic detours. One of my favorite parts was being able to experience and learn about Chris's (the Tackling) family history. I fell in love with the island and look forward to sharing the stories and experience(s) with our child(ren).

I spent the trip in mostly maternity clothes and I think I've seen the end of my pre-pregnancy clothes for a while. I really felt like my belly grew almost daily on our trip (but then again maybe all the yummy cheese, fresh french bread and chocolate croissants had something to do with it). I think the baby likes to travel. :)

I also felt the baby move for the first time on vacation. I wasn't sure until it kept happening in the days after we got home that it was indeed the baby moving I felt... but I know now that it was. Chris and I were sitting at dinner at a really nice restaurant on the beach (ironically and symbolically the building belongs to Chris's family-- its the building in the photo). I was actually talking about how I was nervous that I hadn't felt anything yet... right before I felt these funny bubbly sensations in the front of my lower abdomen. I told Chris "I might be crazy, or just hopeful, but I think I just felt something".

We also spent downtime and time on our flights going through our book of 5000+ baby names and making lists. The quality time we spent thinking and talking about the future was just as good and probably even better than all the amazing things and sights we experienced. It was a very special trip for us and one I know I'll always treasure. We're already talking about when we'll go again.

10 years!

This weekend was my 10 year high-school class reunion.

From high school to college and beyond, Robin and I 's friendship shows some things never change. We were each other's dates to the reunion while the boys decided they were just as happy not to be dragged along. We had a great time. We got to go to our Homecoming football game and watch the Hurricanes beat a local rival in the last 2 minutes of the game. We then went to the local hangout "The Roo" where the reunion spilled into the streets. Saturday night was a banquet complete with a slide show, music, and of course more after-partying at "The Roo". Robin and I played taxi (complete with pizza and taco bell runs) during and at the end of the night (or more like early the next morning) since Baby O and I were enjoying ice water throughout the evening. It was a great weekend and we can't wait for the 20th!


Here is a photo of me in my Manatee High School colors before the football game. Go Canes Go! :) These are also my 1st pair of maternity pants/jeans.

We have our next appointment and anatomy ultrasound in 2 weeks... we are very excited! I feel like the time is starting to fly by. If mommy's "hunch" is correct, I think we may see a boy, but who knows. Neither Chris nor I really have a preference since we can come up with a million reasons why both would be so much fun (after all, Chris was hopeful for twins in the beginning), but its exciting to think we might get to know soon.

The Belly has Begun...

So I'm just beginning my 16th week and a little bump has appeared. While its not quite evident that is a baby in there, my pants certainly notice the difference. I'm standing next to the cradle in this photo my mom took. Our neighbors/friends are letting us borrow this cradle that was crafted and handed down through their family. We're so lucky to have such great friends.

I'm happy to report I'm still feeling great. Other than our loss to Auburn last night, I couldn't be happier and am really enjoying being pregnant.

We go next Monday for our next Dr's appointment. The last one was quick and easy. We got to hear the heartbeat (160 bpm) again so that was exciting. I think at this next visit we'll schedule our next ultrasound. Chris is on the couch watching football through his eyelids so I'm off to the library to check out some pregnancy books.

Bunnies and Babies

So I just looked at a 2008 calendar and realized our due date is on EASTER 2008. So, if this baby comes on time s/he is going to share the day with someone...

22nd: my Mom
23rd (our estimated due date): Jesus
24th: my Pap Pap

But here's a pretty neat thing according to what I read online... because Easter Sunday changes dates every year based on the lunar calendar, even if the baby is born on Easter next year, s/he will not share his/her birthday with the Easter holiday throughout his/her life (even if s/he lives past 100 years of age). March has always been a good month for us... it is when Chris and I initially started dating (12 years ago) and also when we married (4 years ago). But then again, I guess if s/he decides to extend his/her stay, April could easily be our magical month. We'll see...

Practice

Today was my little (2nd) cousin Lexi's 1st birthday. The photo on the left is of me and my nephew Mason, age 2 months (Melinda & Matt's youngest). In the photo on the right mommy (Shannon) is holding up the birthday girl after digging into her little ducky cake. It was lots of fun. And there were lots of babies. At this point, its still hard to imagine holding our own. And even harder to imagine how much we will love that. I love getting any snuggle time I can get and got lots from Mason and Lexi today (but also handed Mason off when his diaper was full-- which certainly won't happen with our own!).

Our 1st Sonogram

Here s/he is... baby's 1st photos :). We went for our first sonogram on Monday. Our doctor scheduled it after our initial visit when she realized there are twins in the family and she was suspicious of my uterus size matching up with my dates. Our first sonogram revealed ONE beautiful baby and beating heart. We got to see and hear that little heart beat (the most amazing experience of our lives). I cried and cried and I think Chris may have even welled up a bit. We also got to see the baby move around which was also pretty incredible. The head and body are labeled in the photo. You can also see the arms/hands. (We also got to see the spine and legs and feet but you cannot see them well here). The white spots on the face are the facial bones per the sonographer. She took some measurements and determined I am in my 11th week. Our due date is March 23rd 2008. One day after my mom's birthday and 1 day before my Pap Pap's birthday. I also loved watching the picture move when I would laugh. Nothing I've experienced (so far) though can top seeing and hearing that little heart beat.

You're Going to Be a Daddy & Turn 30!

My sister-in-law took this photo... just after we shared news with the family and before celebrating Chris's 30th. Yes, thats the test I'm holding trying to display while Chris clutches his beer.

The day I found out we were pregnant, Chris was out on a boat in the middle of a weekend-long fishing tournament. After taking many tests the months and weeks prior and getting to know the "negative" result very well, I was sure I would see the same that day. In fact, for the first time, I sat the test on the floor and walked away. When I came back I knew before I picked it up... for the first time that little digital stick clearly displayed ONE word ("Pregnant") not two ("Not pregnant"). Of course I took another one after that, this time the kind with the lines and for all the times I spent squinting at those sticks wondering if maybe that was a line... this was obvious. My reaction to that was to look up and say "Really?!" I didn't hear God answer me, but I'm pretty sure thats because he just had--- twice!

I decided to wait until Chris got home but that meant waiting for the tournament to end, the conspiracy regarding the results to be resolved, and Chris to be there until the very end because they placed 2nd in the tournament (post-conspiracy resolution). By the time he got home, I thought I had the "playing it cool" act nailed. I had made dinner (which okay, I admit is a pretty strange occurrence in our house), and even sat down to eat first allowing Chris to tell me all about the fish and the weekend. After we finished I told him I got him a present for doing so well... and brought out a gift bag with the test in it. He picked up the bag and said "We're pregnant". I smiled and said "Just open it". So he opens it and looks at it and says "Really? We are?!" I said "I took two". He hugged me and said "Brady... mama's pregnant". That sentence did not contain "treat, walk, dinner, or poop" so it didn't do much for her.

For the rest of the night, we each took turns saying "can you believe it?" or "we're pregnant".

Good stuff.

On Chris's birthday, we gathered the family to tell them the news. We put another test in a jewelry gift box (I had given Chris a watch for his birthday) and Chris said he wanted to show everyone what I got him for his birthday. He opened the box and said "She's pregnant". Gasps, a few screams, and lots of hugs followed.

More good good stuff.

News

Oh Baby... A Baby O is on the way! We decided just after the New Year, this was the year we would try to start a family. About 6 months later, our prayers have been answered. We couldn't be more thrilled.

We just keep hoping we do better at child parenting than we do at dog parenting...

Check back in for updates and photos.

Love, Court, Chris, Brady & Baby-to-be :)