Our Growing Family

The first part of this week was full of appointments to check on Britton and her anatomy.

On Monday I went in for my 20 week ultrasound, even though I am 22 weeks. This would have been when we would have found that we're having a girl. I'm SO glad we found out earlier...I don't see how I could have gone all this time not knowing!

When I had called to make the appointment, they scheduled me in at 4:00pm. They told me to start drinking water at 3:00pm and to drink 32 ounces between then and 3:30pm. I was SCARED! Little miss Britton makes a BIG impact on my bladder, seeing as she lays SO low! I am a frequent bathroom guest so I didn't know how I would make it so long.

I managed somehow though and even though I, of course, had to use  the restroom before I even got to the ultrasound table I just did my best to ignore it.

I got captured by the images of Britton. Every little part of her was so mobile! I can feel her kick and jab me constantly...but its always neat to see it face to face. Eventually though, I really started to hurt! I had sharp pains going from my back to my stomach. I had to ask the tech if we could take a quick break. She asked me how much water I had drank and when I told her she said "Well..why would they tell you to drink so much! You only needed to drink 20oz! Run to the bathroom!" Geeeeeezzz....thanks!!!

Once I was better I hopped back on the table to finish, feeling MUCH better.

On Tuesday, I went to my actual doctor's appointment, where she confirmed that Britton looks perfectly healthy! This was such a big relief! Not that I thought anything was wrong...but its always great to get confirmation that your baby is growing healthy and strong! Oh, and beautiful...as seen in this picture;)


I can't wait to meet her, although she has much more baking to do!

Woohoo!!! We've made it to the halfway mark!

I say "we" because I'm definitely not the only one going through this pregnancy. I told Josh we were halfway there, and we had to high five each other...hey, its a team here!

Here is my 20 week picture!

Its definitely starting to pop out now.

This is probably the best I've felt throughout this whole pregnancy. I have more energy, and don't need to sleep all day now!

One of my best friends Michelle came into town last week to help with our nursery. Josh had put his foot down and said he wanted the baby's room to be in the garnet and gold colors. While they are pretty colors...and my husband DOES have decorating skills...he wanted the room to be Florida State Seminoles colors. We compromised and I agreed to the colors, as long as they weren't decked out in FSU gear. Some women might fight to make the nursery look girly...but I love that he wants to be involved, so I'm happy to give in (only every now and then of course;)

Which is why I needed Michelle's help. I call Michelle...well, she's just my decorator of everything. She's done my hair, make-up, and dressed me up on numerous occasions. She can decorate anything. There is nothing that girl touches that doesn't turn out pretty. I wish I had that talent! But since I don't...I always call on Michelle, and she was happy to help. We all took a trip to Hobby Lobby where her and Josh went over colors and patterns. Me? I watched the kids, since I have NO clue what I'm doing with any of that. Then we came home and they worked on it for the next 3 days!
Here is the outcome:


Here are the curtains...
           

We replaced the original knobs with these. Little crowns with some garnet in them! Perfect for a princess!

Which brings us to 18 weeks!



My belly is definitely starting to poke out a bit more now, which makes getting dressed more difficult. I HAVE to go shopping soon for a new pair of pants to wear...my poor sweats are being worn constantly!

Britton is moving around like crazy now, which I adore. There is nothing like sitting there feeling your baby kicking and swimming around. Josh was finally able to feel her kick, which took awhile. It seemed like as soon as he would put his hand on my tummy, she would quit! He said that she knew it was daddy and that calmed her down:) I can't wait until Anistyn gets to feel her move too!

Last week I went to the doctor and got to take Anistyn with me. I know I've said it before...but I LOVE my doctor! She was so sweet to Anistyn. As soon as she walked into the room she said "Oh..you brought me an assistant for the day!" Anistyn, of course, felt super special. She even let Anistyn put the gel on my tummy and use the heart moniter to find Britton's heartbeat. Once Anistyn found it, she got so excited. I'll definitely have to take her again. Everything looks great with Britton too. I have to go for an ultrasound in around 2 weeks to make sure everything is on track...and it would have been when we found out she was a girl, but I'm glad we already know!

I can't believe we're already almost halfway there!

This past week has been so much fun for us. Since finding out that we're having a girl, and picking out a name...its so nice to be able to call her by her name! It makes it so much more real. It makes her seem like a real person...which she obviously is!

On Saturday we took Anistyn up to the mall and straight to Build A Bear. We thought it might be fun if we could all build Britton a stuffed animal as a first present from Anistyn. Anistyn was so excited to be able to do something for her little sister. She took a lot of time before picking out a pink dog for Britton. After a few moments Josh pulled me to the side though and said "I don't think she wants that for Britton...I think she wants it for her...". So he asked Anistyn if she wanted to make one for herself as well. Of course Anistyn agreed...and then decided that she thought Britton should have a different animal...and she would keep the pink dog of course! It cracked us up. So, Britton got a brown and pink bunny instead.

I've been feeling a lot better, except for the tiredness that is always there. Although naps are great, sometimes I just have to fight them off when there are things to do. I DO have things to get done afterall! I have been feeling Britton a lot more. Not straight kicks or punches, but I feel her moving around. Anistyn and Josh still haven't been able to catch her in action...so I'll be so excited when they can join in on that!

Here is my 17 week picture! I'm having a really hard time with maternity clothes. My belly is of course getting larger, and my jeans definitely don't fit. But its soooo very hard to find maternity pants for myself. My legs and such aren't bigger...just my belly and a little bit of my hips. I tried looking for some pants this weekend, but to no avail. I don't mind what I wear at home...I'm always in some comfy sleep pants and a t shirt anyways. Its when I do have to go places that I realize that none of my jeans fit anymore! Hopefully I'll have some luck in finding a good pair or so this week!

                 Britton Mckenzie Freeman

Last night after we came home we instanty started looking up names. We really wanted to get used to calling her by a name...not just "she" or "baby".

It took a TON of debating between Josh and I. A lot of no's were said...and I was starting to think we would never agree on a name! Then he said "What about Britton?"

I instantly loved it. Such a unique, pretty name! Josh thought Mckenzie flowed with it...AND he put his foot down and said he really wanted that to be her name. I can cave every now and then, right?

I think its a beautiful name...now I can't wait to put a face to the name!

In other baby news...I think I've been having some braxton hicks contractions. These sharp pains will shoot through my stomach and I read that its common in second or more pregnancies to have braxton hicks in your second trimester. I don't think they're round ligament pains...which I had in the first trimester. These feel stronger. I'm not worried about it, but its definitely something I'm going to ask my doctor at my visit next week!

Its a GIRL!!!!

My hunch was right!

Josh, Anistyn, and I were so excited to be able to find out!

I loved the place we went to. I layed on a super comfy little bed with a computer screen next to me that the tech and I watched. Meanwhile, there was a HUGE projection screen in the center of the room that had the ultrasound splashed on it. You know, the kind we used to use in school to watch slideshows and such? SUCH a great idea!

The little one was fast asleep when we first got a peek at her. I was actually a tiny bit worried at first when I didn't see her moving at all..but we heard her heartbeat and the tech just assured me that she was doing what babies do best...sleeping! We had to start bugging her a bit, and then she actually turned her back to us! It was so funny to see her putting on a little show. She did a headstand also, which I could completely feel. It took awhile, but the tech was so patient and actually laughing right along with us at her. It was great to have someone that really enjoyed their job...whats better than watching little miracles everyday??

She finally decided to show us the goods...and it was definitely a little girl in there! The ultrasound was only supposed to last about 10 minutes...but we were in there for around 30 minutes! She also let us take a look at her in 3D...which I wasn't expecting,but it was such a great surprise! It was just amazing getting to catch that much of a glimpse of what she does. We got to see her drinking amniotic fluid, which I didn't know they did. The tech answered all my questions too...she told me about the different changes the baby will make and really took a lot of time to teach us about the miracle going on in my belly. This place was amazing and I'm so glad I found it!

When we got home, we looked at her video and pictures again. They gave us a dvd and I thought it had the pictures on it...but its actually a video. So I had to take pictures OF the pictures with my camera. So, I apologize for the bit of flash that might be in the pictures...I did my best!


Here she is stretching out her little legs!


She looks a little cramped here! Mommy isn't providing much space...but i'm loving her headstand!




Thats a girl!

The 3D picture...isn't it amazing? Look at that tiny lttle body! The tech said she's the size of my hand right now. She'll definitely need some fattening up!

This was one of my favorites...waving to the camera! Look at that tiny hand!

In 3 hours we are going to the imaging center to find out the gender of our little one. I am so very excited.

Throughout the whole pregnancy so far, I've been looking at all the old wives tales and such to try to determine if its a boy or girl. Here is just a few of them

I've had a ton of morning sickness...which would mean girl.
The heart rate was fast....which would mean a girl.
I've been having headaches...which mean boy.
I've gotten pregnancy acne...which means girl.
I've been craving salty food...which means boy
Age of conception + month of conception = even number...which means boy.
The chinese calendar says boy.
I've swung a necklace over tummy and it was boy...

Josh is stil holding out a tiny bit of hope for a boy...but I'm saying its a girl. At our ultrasound on Friday I think I saw girl parts. Lately I've been having dreams ABOUT us finding out...and it being a girl. Anistyn...well, she says that she wants both, which is clearly out of the question! I have a feeling she'll be happy either way though...and so will I!

I will of course, be posting tonight...but I can't wait to fnd out if it will be a little boy or girl joining our family. We love him/her so much already. I also can't wait to experience this with Anistyn and Josh...life is great. Stay tuned!!!