The Mother's Day surprise!

A few days ago was Mother's Day and we thought it would be the perfect day to tell Grandpa and Grandma Hrncirik that they were going to get a new grandbaby. We framed one of the ultrasound pictures and added a text bubble of the baby saying, "Hi Grandma!" When mom opened it she looked at it for a couple seconds then a huge surprised look come across her face. She looked up at us and said, "Really?" Then dad looked over at it and said, "No way!" We all just laughed and hugged! It was so fun telling them the great news. Today they gave us our first ever baby present: some baby Q-tips, baby powder and baby wash. How exciting!

We can't wait to tell Grandpa and Grandma Newton the great news when we go to visit them in Utah in 3 weeks! We are glad that we get to tell them in person and see their reaction!

We also had a doctor's appointment today. There was no ultra sound, they just measured my belly and we got to hear baby's heart beat. What a beautiful sound!! Baby has a strong, regular heart beat. It should be in the 120-160 range and it was 140- right in the middle. My mom said that when she was pregnant with us they didn't have ultra sounds so they used the heartbeat to guess if it was a boy or a girl. I think if it was fast, they said it was a boy and a slow heartbeat indicated a girl. Lucky we have ultra sounds because baby's heartbeat is right in the middle and we would never know that way. We are going back to the doctor in 5 weeks for another ultra sound. We will be praying for a healthy, growing baby until then!

We love you, Baby!!!

Week 16

I am definitely starting to show now! Even with my roomier shirts I have a little belly.

I have started to have some strange pains on my baby belly. It's not like the tired, stretch feeling that I've had, it's like a dull (sometimes kinda sharp) pain that goes along the sides and bottom of that baby area on my belly. I really hope it's normal. It's not an unbearable pain, but it's there.

I realized something as I was thinking about this pain and what I would be willing to go through for this baby. I came to the realization that I would do anything to keep this baby. I would go through anything if I knew that it was healthy and growing.

So aside from the strange pain, I'm doing great. I feel comfortable getting bigger. It is wonderful to feel my stomach grow. Soon I should be able to feel the baby move. That is going to be amazing!

Week 15

I wanted to start recording how I feel from week to week. Sometimes it's hard to remember if I feel the same as last week or if things have changed. And when I'm huge and have totally different symptoms it will be fun to look back at the good ol' days of the 2nd trimester.

15 Weeks and 5 Days

I have been feeling pretty good this week. I haven't been constantly nauseas like I was in the past month. I just have to be careful what I eat or think about while I'm eating so I don't gross myself out and throw up.

Some days my stomach feels like it's stretching and tired so I like to lay down or take a nap during these times and when I get up I feel great.

I'm in that strange stage in pregnancy when I'm not big yet, I can't feel the baby move yet, and my symptoms are mild to none some days. I try not to worry that something has gone wrong. I don't want to pass those worried feelings on to the baby. It's hard going a whole month without getting to go to the doctor to make sure the baby is still growing and healthy. Hopefully I will get more confident as this pregnancy moves on, and in future pregnancies I won't be like this. I don't think these worries would even cross my mind if I hadn't experienced a miscarriage last year. I never thought that I would have lost that baby. You never think that something like that will happen to you. When I pray I have to ask for strength to handle whatever the outcome is.

I love to think about holding this sweet baby and spending every second with it. Right now Jimmy and I are staying in the bedroom where the baby may be sleeping when it comes. I like to think about its crib and soft blankets that will be in the room in October!

The Good Stuff

These are the things that I'm loving today, this week.... or just until my body decides to hate them.

Now that the nausea has returned I don't really have an appetite for anything except these two items. It's so weird how that happens. I actually love any frozen-fruity treat. Jambas are another favorite but you can't buy a Jamba every day so these popsicles are perfect. They are 100% juice but only have 1/4 the sugar that juice does. Delish!!

And these are my new Target pants!

They don't look that great in this picture but I think they're pretty cute and comfy! I'm not using all the stretch tummy material yet, but I'm sure I will in the next few months. Until then, I'll just enjoy the comfort!

The Return

Well Hello Nausea!

Welcome back! I wasn't expecting you... but that's how you roll, isn't it?

Regretfully Yours,

Julie

P.S. Are you going to stay long? Just wondering.

The BEST feeling in the world....

is knowing that you are in my belly, Baby!
We went to an appointment yesterday and you are still there!!! Daddy and I are SO excited! We both went in hoping for the best but knowing that the possibility that things were not good was there also. The doctor did say that a loss of symptoms can be a sign of miscarriage so we are glad it was not in this case!

You are so cute in there!! When you first appeared on the screen you were laying on your back with your arms and legs bent. We have a fantastic doctor who shows us extra care and support. He spent time with us to make sure we got to see that everything was ok. You were moving a lot. It was SO cute! You must have decided you needed to stretch out because you pushed your legs out and stretched. How darling! Your little legs are so skinny and cute. Besides your little head and body, we got to see your arms, legs, eyes and bladder. I can't wait till we can feel you moving around! We just love you to pieces, little Baby!
Love,
Mommy

All scrunched up!

Stretching!! Good thing I can't feel it yet!

The Name

Dearest Baby... who will soon have a name,
We've had quite some time to think of names for you! Although we don't know your gender, we have two beautiful names picked out.

James Hamilton

and

Mary Alice

Both names are dear to our hearts. The boy name, of course, is your father and grandfather's name. Two great men with wonderful qualities who have worked hard to set a good example and provide for their families. The second name belongs to your great-grandmother. She is a noble woman who keeps her covenants and continues with a positive attitude and great faith.

I hope that some day you will understand the importance of your name and love the people/person you were named after as much as I do.

I love you!

Love,

Mommy

The Faith of a Child

Dear Baby,
We are so blessed. Your Aunt Rachelle just told me something beautiful. She told me about when your cousin Juliana started fasting last year after she was baptized in July. Rachelle asked her what she was going to fast for and she told her mom she was going to fast for me. Juliana didn't know why she was fasting for me but felt like she should. That just touches my heart more than words can express.
Daddy also told me about another close friend of ours that has been praying for me. I don't see this person very often. Maybe once a year. But every morning he prays with his family. They pray for whoever comes to their mind and they kept thinking of me. I am so grateful to him and his family.
These things show me that my Heavenly Father is watching over me and cares for me. At some points during the past year I was not able to fast or pray for myself. But I had no idea, until now, that I was receiving strength because of the faith of a small child and a good friend. I know that it was because of people like them that I was able to get through last year. My Heavenly Father carried me through those times. He is always aware of us and will make our burdens light.
We are loved!
Love,
Mommy

The Bump?

Dear Baby,
Yesterday I started noticing that I may be developing a small bump. A baby bump! There is a little extra padding on my belling as it is, so it doesn't really show; but along my belly, in between my hip bones, my stomach is getting harder. I guess that must be my uterus expanding. I love reading my baby books that show what is happening week by week. Every week there is a picture of your actually size and I like to hold it up to my belling and imagine you in there. I can't believe you are actually there growing and developing into the baby that we will get to see in 28 weeks! I can't wait!
I love you!
Love,
Mommy

The Symptoms

Dear Baby,
Are you there? The symptoms are gone. They just disappeared on Saturday and I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it feels great to not have to hold down vomit all day. But on the other hand, it makes me so nervous because I don't feel pregnant at all anymore. I'm not tired, I actually feel like I could be loosing weight and my stomach seems like it's getting flatter. When I woke up Saturday morning, I felt just like I did when I woke up from my D&C last year. Everything was gone. That time I knew for sure even the baby was gone. Right now I'm just confused. I tried to look it up on the internet. I hate doing that because then I'm just reading other ladies' experiences and everyone is different. Maybe I should call my doctor but I don't know. I was really nervous several weeks ago when I started bleeding but everything ended up being fine. I have an appointment on the 15th so I guess I should just wait. I keep telling myself that there's nothing the doctors can do about it if something is wrong and that I should wait for the appointment. The little baby ticker says that you are 2 inches long this week. I hope so! I really, really want you to be growing!
I hope you're doing ok, Baby. I love you!
Love,
Mommy