Belly Update, 25 weeks!

Only 15 weeks to go! We've started counting backwards now because it makes it seem like it's right around the corner. I hadn't really thought about the fact that we only have a little over three months to go, until week 23 when Josh said "17 weeks to go". All of the sudden it hit me, that's not very long! Here's the latest belly pic.

4 weeks

20 weeks

25 weeks

Probably good that it came before the holidays, the picture after Christmas may not all be baby growth! We'll update again after things slow down from the holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Doctors Appointment

We went for another routine appointment last week. Everything went well! I've gained another 5 lbs. for a total of 16 lbs. and my belly measured 25 cm. After 20 weeks, the doctor started measuring my belly at every appointment. The measurement (in centimeters) is suppose to correspond to the week of pregnancy. So...I was 23.5 weeks pregnant at the appointment and my belly measured 25 cm. According to Dr. Birch, the measurement should be within 2 weeks of the actual week of pregnancy. So we're a little ahead...maybe Owen will be a March baby after all.

We also got to listen to Owen's heartbeat again. It was beating strong at 140 bpm...but apparently Owen didn't like the sound of his own heartbeat, because he kicked so hard that Dr. Birch had to re-adjust to find his heartbeat again. Owen has become an active little guy lately. In the past, I had to lay on my back for Josh to feel his big kicks. But now....his kicks are so big that you can see my whole belly move.

Apparently, Honey Nut Cheerios and a glass of OJ are the wrongs things to eat before a prenatal doctors appointment. They found sugar in my urine and had to test my blood to make sure my sugar levels were okay. Everything was fine...but Dr. Birch suggested that I have more of a bland breakfast before my gestational diabetes test.

I'll have my glucose screening test for gestational diabetes at our next appointment on January 6th. This will be our last 4 week appointment...then we'll start going to the doctor every 2 weeks. We'll also schedule our follow-up ultrasound during this visit. Dr. Birch is wanting us to have the ultrasound done at the Breast Clinic sometime between 28-30 weeks. So...we'll get a chance to see our growing boy again in just a few weeks.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

Some friends of ours, Chris and Cassady, hosted an ugly Christmas sweater party last weekend. After briefly shopping for Christmas sweaters we decided to make our own. We bought some cheap sweatshirts and then picked up some random decorations from the craft department. Josh came up with the idea of having real Christmas lights, so he searched the light department and found strands of lights that ran off batteries! We had Josh's mom decorate the shirts with snowmen (mine's a snowwoman), bells, snow, and a strand of real lights. On Josh's left shoulder it says "Feliz", and on my right shoulder it says "Navidad", so when we stand together it adds an extra touch of "corny" for extra enjoyment.

Josh and I in our "Feliz Navidad" Snowman Sweaters

Chris and Cassady
Christie and Cassady

The T.E.A.M. Christmas Party

My work Christmas party was last Friday night at the Springdale Country Club. There was a big turn out this year, thirty-five of us girls and all of our spouses. After dinner we played "Dirty Santa". The Starbucks giftcards were a hit this year for all the girls that require that boost of caffeine to get through the day. We typically wear scrubs at work, so this is the one time of year that we get to see each other all dressed up. We had a lot of fun eating, drinking, and dancing the night away.

All the Girls!

Us...

Caroline, Karen, and Kate

Josh and Jimmy

Jim Bob and Amber

John Michael and Karen
Karen, Caroline, Christie, Carmen, and Shayna

Josh, John Michael, and Ross

rEcess

Recess is a parents night out for kids with disabilities. We have been volunteering with Recess for about a year now and have had a blast with the kids and getting to know all the other volunteers. Josh has been paired up with Samuel for a little over a year now and they have become best buds!! It's awesome to see Josh interacting with the kids that I work with every day. This month Recess was Christmas themed. The kids made snowflake ornaments and sang Christmas carols. The "Twelve Days of Christmas" was very entertaining...each kid chose something they wanted for Christmas and the list made up the twelve days of Christmas. Some of the things that the kids came up with were hilarious...1 bag of chex mix, 2 guitars, 3 lego agents, 4 puppies, ...and a partridge in a pair tree. I wish we had the video camera!

The "Twelve Days of Christmas" Recess style!

Josh and Sam

Josh and Sam laughing at the Christmas carols

Levi and Ethan watching the Bee Movie

Lance snoozing...