The Four Legged Children

When deciding that it was time to start a family both Les and I knew that we needed to move to the country. To us, this is the best place to raise children. We were very excited about buying this farm because we knew it would be great for our kids someday.

Although, at this point we were still waiting for your arrival, we already had several other members of the family living here.

The horses were the newest edition and helped to make our farm a real farm. Here I am holding Eldon and Les is holding on to Buck.

Another member of the family is Max. He is a great dog, who we adopted in January 2009. We are so lucky that he turned out to be the dog he is. This big brute desperately wanted to get in on the photo session. While Les and I were posing he continually butted his way in front of us, no matter how much we pushed him away. Finally we gave up and let him pose!

Somehow Billie and Gingi did not end up in any of these pictures. Don't worry they make their appearance later.

Special Photos

During the first week in June, just a few weeks before my due date, Lindsay came over to take my official Maternity Pictures. I had such a good time laughing, catching up and posing for the camera. Lindsay is like your auntie, because she is the closest thing I have to a sister. She was excited to do the pictures which meant so much to me. They turned out just the way I wanted. The lighting, color, and poses are just right. Lindsay has such a wonderful eye behind the camera! I really appreciate these pictures so much and am happy I have them. Just looking at them brings back such strong emotions and memories about being pregnant.

These are some of my faves.

(For those of you viewing this blog, you can watch a slideshow of more maternity pictures if you like. Just click in the sidebar where it says "Maternity Pictures Slideshow". You should be redirected to the show on photobucket.com. Once there, click on the blue square icon above the pictures and in should go to full screen. Enjoy).

Getting Bigger and Bigger

As time went on, you contined to grow. My belly started to become more and more noticable. With each doctors checkup, I grew more and more anxious about your arrival. Hearing your heart beat for the first time was so amazing. It was so fast!

During one checkup I remember, the doctor was using the doppler to listen for your heart. When she found it, you gave a kick right where she was holding it. Both the doctor and I started to laugh.

At this time I really started to notice that you liked to kick me in the ribs which was quite uncomfortable. You sat up pretty high with your feet to the left. This really made it hard to eat, because you took up so much room! You also pressed down on my bladder, making me have to pee constantly which was very annoying! At night I probably woke up 3 to 4 times just to pee.

Your little bum and back floated on my right side.

In this picture I am about 30-32 weeks pregnant. Work was getting difficult and my legs began to get very swollen. I wore compression stocking which helped but were so hot in June. I started to feel like I could not physically do as much, and was very tired again. Most evenings I would come home and just sleep. Les would have to make supper.

I started to get lots of stretch marks! I was really hoping I wouldn't get any, but I wasn't so lucky. Oh well, in the end it was worth it.

From Flutters to Kicks

At approximately 23 weeks or so, I finally felt you move for the first time. I was lying down on my bed typing on the computer when I felt this little flutter. At first I thought it was gas, but it wasn't. Then I felt it again. That's when I knew for sure. It was such a great moment for me. From then on, not a day went by that I didn't feel you moving around in there! I think it was at about 30 weeks that Les felt you moving. We had tried so many times, but you either quit moving, or he just couldn't feel anything yet. When he finally did, we were lying in bed, I think it was morning, and he said "I felt it!", "I felt it!" He was so excited.

During my pregnancy I have never been so thirsty! I would drink so much water during the day it was ridiculous. I still had the occasional diet Pepsi, although I knew I wasn't supposed to. It tasted so good! For my whole pregnancy I could never go anywhere without something to drink. I also enjoyed lots of cold fruit, especially pineapple, pears and oranges!

I didn't do a lot of shopping for maternity clothes. I just bought a few basics that I wore all the time. This included a few items that my mom bought for only 2 bucks at wal-mart. I found a lot of my clothes there, since I refused to spend to much money on clothes I wouldn't wear for very long.

Les took the picture of me in the brown shirt at 25 wks, and again in the purple shirt at 28 weeks.

You Are Really In There!

At approximately 21 weeks I went for my big ultrasound. I was so excited to see my first pictures of you.

I had a nice technician who showed me many different views and I was even able to count all ten of your toes. You were also sucking your thumb. I could clearly see your heart beating, and make out the shapes of your bones and little nose!

Les and I had decided right from the start that we would not find out if you were a boy or a girl. We really wanted it to be a surprise. However, I remember being so tempted to find out if you were a boy or a girl, once I was having the ultrasound.

Our instincts told us that you were a boy right from the beginning. Les never really waivered from that; he was certain. I tossed around thoughts of both boys and girls, but never really wished for one or the other.

Here is my first picture of you. And here I am at approximately 20 weeks (half way there)!

The Next Three Months...

Over the next three months I slowly started to notice that my clothes were getting tighter and I wasn't fitting most of my pants.

Most people still couldn't tell that I was pregnant though. By the end of January I could not zip my jeans and started buying stretchier pants.

It was around this time that I started to slowly get over the feeling of being so tired. I also felt like eating more, and the nausea subsided.

I am 16 weeks (approximately 4 months) pregnant in this picture. Now you can see my belly changing slightly.

I first found out I was pregnant...

I found out I was pregnant in November of 2008. It was hunting season, and Les was out hunting deer with some friends. So when I found out, I was alone in the house, and couldn't wait for Les to get back. When I first told him, he didn't beleive me! He thought I was joking, and didn't get too excited right away. (I have to admit I was a little disappointed by his reaction) But later (a few months) when my belly started to grow he actually began to get excited...really excited.

I kept the news quiet for the first while. We only really told my mom and dad when I was about 5 weeks along. Other than that we tired not to say anything to anyone.

During this first three months I was incredibly tired! I don't think I have ever felt so tired (well except maybe now that you are keeping me up at night)! I would sleep as much as possible. When I would come home from work I would usually take a nap...for about 1 hour...sometimes 2! I was so lucky that I didn't have morning sickness. I had some nausea, but not once did I throw up. I am so thankful for that! Meat seemed to turn me off, and so did the smell of cigarette smoke.

It was around Christmas time was when I started to tell people that I was pregnant. Everyone was excited which made Les and I very happy and excited.

I am twelve weeks pregnant in this picture and not really showing yet.

Our Journey Begins...

Dear Cody

I have decided to started this blog for you (and for me) about our life over the next year. You and I will be spending a lot of time together, since I am staying home from work to care for you. We have already spent lots of time together getting to know each other. It all started in November 2008 when I first found out I was pregnant. That's where our journey begins. I really should have been more diligent in documenting what it was like being pregnant. I guess now I have to make up for lost time. I will quickly try get us up-to-date so that each new post will be currrent and describe what is happening week to week for the next year. I hope I can stick with this. I usually forget about these kinds of things after awhile although my intentions are good. I think this will be a nice way to put together our first memories together and share our pictures. Your dad can also read it and see how you are growing while he is away at work. So here it goes! Today is August 25, 2009. Tomorrow you will be 8 weeks old!

Love, Mom