Eleven Years

Kyle and I met 11 years ago today on President Wright's lawn. Ahhh... just young awkward teenagers! In honor of that day, here is a picture of us from freshman year. (Kyle just got rid of that shiny shirt a few months ago.)

We also got engaged two years ago today. I'd only been waiting 9 years - no big deal...

25 weeks down, 15 to go

I just had my monthly doctor visit today and everything still looks good. Yay!

I'm still waiting for the results of my gestational diabetes test, but I doubt I have it. I did, however, have such low blood pressure that the nurse had to try both arms to make sure she did it right! She asked if I was able to walk around and stay awake. I probably would have mentioned something if I was having trouble walking...

Geez, I feel like I'm not growing at all, but I've gained 2 pounds and 1 inch in just the last week! I guess it's hard to tell when I look at my belly every day. I'm in maternity clothes now and thanks to Tara I already have a wardrobe to pick from. Laura also took me shopping on Saturday and got me a really cute outfit for my showers. AND we went to Baby's R Us and Target to register for baby things. Our garage is already full of baby stuff from Sarah and Brian so I don't know where we're going to put everything!

Kyle is working at the Kansas Life booth at the State Fair now, so I'm going to go bring him a snack. And maybe get myself a Pronto Pup and an elephant ear!

Baby Pictures

sort of... I had my 20 week sonogram today and everything looked normal. Based on the sonogram, my due date was moved back one day to December 30th. I've gained 9 lbs now, so 7 1/2 since my last visit! And Swaffetus weighs about 14 oz. Kyle asked the sonographer, nurse, and doctor a million questions.

This was how the whole thing basically went:

Kyle: what's that?
Sonographer: oh, I'm just checking baby's brain.
Kyle: why? is that the cerebellum? what are you checking for? does it look normal?
Sonographer: yep, and it looks fine.
Kyle: why are you measuring it twice?
Sonographer: just to get a good range.
Kyle: hey, there's the diaphram.
Sonographer: yep.
Kyle: what's that there? what are you measuring?
Sonographer: the placenta.
Kyle: oh, right. are you checking for placental abruption?
Sonographer: yep, but it's attached.
Kyle: okay, good. you're doing a great job. both of you.
Kyle: is that the hard palate? are you checking for cleft lip?
Sonographer: yep, but it looks okay.
Kyle: okay, good.

So here's what Baby Swafford looks like...



I think this one is where it was playing with the umbilical cord!

the little arm... and hand...
and foot.

Half way there!

I'm past the 20 week point! Yay! Only 4 1/2 more months to go... I'm getting bigger, but still not huge.

AND... I can feel the baby move now! I started noticing it on our canoe trip. It feels exactly like there's a tiny person in there poking me.

Here's what I look like these days... and the view from above...

Swaffetus must be lazy

I've been trying to concentrate on feeling the baby move, but I still haven't felt anything. It should be moving around a ton, but I just don't know what kind of feeling I'm looking for. I've read that first time moms can't distinguish the baby's movements until later, but I know something has to be going on and if I just focus enough I'll be able to tell.

Once I feel it moving then I think I'll feel like I'm really pregnant. The tiredness, growing belly, sore back and feet, and big appetite just haven't really convinced me. I sometimes feel like there's no way I can actually be having a baby! I don't feel like I'm old enough to be a mom (even though I'll be thirty when it's born) and the idea that Kyle and I are going to be responsible for a baby seems ridiculous!

Maternal Instincts

I was hoping now that I'm pregnant my maternal instincts would have kicked in and babies wouldn't immediately start crying when I held them. So I tested it out a week ago at Camy and Cliff's wedding with Aurora, Chris and Tara's new 8 week old baby. She was perfectly happy when Camy was holding her, but the second I took her she started crying. And I had no idea what to do. It was just as terrifying as usual.

Kyle thinks it's hilarious and talks complete strangers into handing me their babies just to make me uncomfortable. Everyone says it will be different with my own baby, and I'm sure they're right, but it still worries me! Luckily Kyle is the Baby Whisperer so he can calm down Swaffbaby until I get it figured out.

18 weeks!

I'm at 18 weeks today. I thought I hadn't gotten that much bigger, but now seeing the picture from a month ago I guess I have! I've gained 5 pounds now, so 3 pounds just since my last doctor appointment 2 weeks ago. I've been eating a ton so I think I'll be growing pretty fast now.