Week Thirty-Four's Baby Bump

And I am so happy to say that after seven years, I am finally going to graduate! Today's exit interview went very well, and I have officially been given a "pass" for my student teaching!

Week Twenty-Three's Baby Bump

What We Bought After Book Buy-Back

Greetings from Netty!

We are so, so excited to announce that we are having a GIRL! Neither Jon nor I are surprised but we're so glad that we finally have the proof. Contrary to Aunt Stephie's wishes, Netty has her mother's modesty. Her legs were crossed through most of the ultrasound, but the ultrasound technician was persistent and wasn't going to let us leave without knowing the gender for sure. So Jonny and I decided that we're not quite ready to embarrass her yet, and we've opted out of posting her "parts" (or I guess lack of parts). There will be plenty of opportunities for her to lose faith in us after she's born.

 

Here is a profile shot. The little blob above her head is her fist. She's a wiggle-worm, but she kept her hand kind of over her eye. I think she's shielding her eyes from the light. It's day, after all, and if she's anything like me, she'll come out saying, "I hate sunshine! I hate it!"

 More evidence that she is in fact my child. Here is her yawn. Her nose is on the right, her chin on the left.

 This is probably the best as picture as far as a profile is concerned. The ultrasound technician was trying to get a 3-D shot, but she was moving so much that none of them turned out very clear.

This is also a good profile shot except that she's practically kissing the placenta.

Everything is still on track. Her heartbeat was very strong and clear, and right now she is in the 55th percentile for her weight. We couldn't be happier!

This Weekend: More Christmas!

Friday's date night led Jonathan and I to Walmart to buy a Christmas tree. I know it's early, but holidays at school seem to be skipped over. If I wait until after Thanksgiving to begin celebrating Christmas, I don't feel like I have enough time to truly get into the Spirit of Christmas. So we bought a tree, lights, some red and green balls, and a star. We forgot to buy hooks for the balls, so they are hanging on the tree by red and white and green and white paperclips that we had on hand. My former roommate NaDene came over for dinner tonight and the three of us cut out snowflakes for the tree with nifty Christmas scissors. We had such a fun night, and the tree has certainly rocketed us further into the Christmas Spirit!

Also this weekend I took the English content Praxis test required for student teaching. I had been studying for weeks, but I still felt anything but prepared. I took an old Praxis test this week and did really well on it; however, the test I took on Saturday was harder. I'm not sure how I did, and I won't find out until December. At least it's over now and I can stop focusing on studying for it and I can concentrate on the miracle that will be passing my classes!

I have really resisted putting a picture of my belly on the Internet. I'm self-conscious about my stomach enough as it is, and now that's the whole point of posting the picture. But Jon convinced me that yes, my middle is getting bigger but that the smaller numbers on the scale are evidence that the baby is growing, not me. We are now at week 16, and in the last week I have felt the baby move a few times. I can also find the baby sometimes when I'm lying down, even if I can't feel it move simply because of how hard it is compared to the rest of my tummy. And so, here is a picture, and here's hoping I at least look a little pregnant and not just fatter and fatter.

Phelps, Party of Three

Many of you already know, but now we have a picture to prove it. (So glad that what has been growing in my tummy wasn't just in my head!!!)

Everyone's first reaction (mine and Jon's included) has been "Wow, that was fast!" And actually, we've known for over a month now. I am continually amazed with technology--the fact that I could take a pregnancy test a whole week before I missed my period and get an accurate result.

This baby is a definite miracle. It's coming a little sooner than expected, but it is a sure-fire answer to prayer. I know many women try for years to get pregnant, and I feel very fortunate that it worked out right away for me. When I decided to marry Jon, I knew that a baby would follow pretty quickly. In fact, during the Winter semester when I was nannying for my sister, well before I met Jon, I felt that a baby was coming soon. At the time I passed it off as wishful thinking because I did not see marriage and family in my future. Now, however, it seems so simple and natural that I can't believe I ever doubted. During our first Family Home Evening we both came to realize that our baby was ready and just waiting on us. A week and a half later I took the test (three tests actually, because I didn't believe the results), and we couldn't have been happier.

Pregnant life is more difficult than I thought it would be. I'm sick ALL THE TIME. Poor Jon often has to cook on his own, often when I'm in the back so I can't smell it. Getting to class has never been easy for me, but it's become even more challenging since I have morning sickness as a very real reason to keep me in bed. I have been worried about the health of the baby, but at our ultrasound today, the nurse said the baby's heartbeat is very strong, bringing the chance of miscarriage from 20% to 1%. See the beating heart made the entire thing more real, and it also made me a little more okay with being sick. I know it will be worth it.

My official due date is April 29th. Good news for the baby is that it has one extra day to be late and still be the first April baby in my family. We've been needing one!