Half Way There...

We're at 20 weeks today...can hardly believe it's half way over. We have an appointment with Dr. Cowan next Thursday (one week from today) to confirm the sex and then---let the buying begin! We're getting kind of anxious (at least I am), Brian's pretty sure. Speaking of Brian, yesterday he was filmed (as an extra) for the t.v. series, Friday Night Lights. He said he had a blast (but he no longer wants to be an actor) :o)
The only complaints I have right now are my lower back killing me and I can't seem to get a good night's sleep (partially the dogs' fault and partially because I have to get up at least twice every night to go to the bathroom). I really just need one night of uninterrupted sleep. Every time I get out of bed to pee, the dogs sneak into the "warm spot" and even though they only weight about 25 lbs each, trying to move their dead weight is not the easiest thing in the world. I swear they weigh more when they're sleeping.
The deal with my back came on pretty suddenly over the last couple of days and it's gotten so bad that I've woken myself up the last two nights because I'm crying in my sleep. Once I get up and moving around it's bearable, but during the night it's awful. I guess no good thing comes without a price. Maybe I just need a pillow wedge or something.
On a happier note, Baby is moving around...some days it seems like she's trying out to be an acrobat and others I don't even notice her moving. We still haven't decided on any names, but are considering a few:
Camryn Elizabeth or Camryn MacKenzie
Madelyn Elizabeth or MacKenzie (insert middle name here)
Ah well, we still have some time to figure it out. Who knows she may have named herself already and is just waiting to be born to let us know.



P.S. This is how the boys were sleeping when I got up for work today. Nothing like playing hide-and-seek (in plain sight)-Lefty's really hard to spot.

19 Weeks...

I feel like a freakin' house. However, a house with energy...so there's somethin'. Our 20 week sonogram was pushed back from next week (the 8th) to the following week (the 15th) so that's kind of a bummer, but there are worse things. One extra week until we're sure and then bust out the paint!!!

Boy Tacos...

Too funny. So a little background on the shirts...Brian and I have dinner with his mom (and Joey) just about every week and one of the places we frequent is Chuy's. Well, every time we eat there Joey makes a comment that he's going to buy Brian a "My taco sparkles shirt" (which happens to be hot pink-insert joke here). Anyway, tired of the constant 'all talk, no show', Debbie decided to buy them Both a shirt. Let me tell you, they looked great! We laughed until we cried. The pictures can be found below-'nuff said:

18 Weeks...

...1 day.


So okay...yesterday was technically 18 weeks...but today is close. I forgot to take a picture yesterday so today it is.
Things are going better...its hard for me to get up in the mornings because I'm so tired but I think that's more from the dogs constantly stealing my spot throughout the night (usually when I get up to use the bathroom) than from any lack of sleep. But, once I get going things get better. I'm not dragging through the days like I was. Also, (Brian says) I'm a lot happier. He brought me flowers again yesterday...what a sweetheart.

That's about all that's new. We're waiting on the 20 week sonogram (April 8th) before we know FOR SURE that we're having a girl, but we're both pretty confidant in the doctor's opinion that we are. I guess we'll see in 2 weeks.
According to the website baby-gaga, Baby weighs in at about 7 ounces (that's almost 1/2 a lb.) and measures 6 inches (which is about the size of a bic pen with the cap on). Also, if she is in fact a girl, by the end of this week her uterus will have formed. Also, the nerves are forming myelin and there are now two layers of skin (epidermis and dermis). She's come a long way since we started (and has a long way to go still), but when Brian and I first found out we were pregnant, she was the size of a period at the end of a sentence "." now she's 1/2 a foot long! Amazing. Oh?! And I almost forgot...according to Parents.com, Baby may be able to hear now. Guess its time to brush up on the ol' story-tellin' voices. :o)

Houston Weekend...

Brian and I drove down to Houston this weekend (Thurs night) to spend some much-needed time with the family. Apart from marking the 17th week of my pregnancy, Thursday was also my step-dad, Paul's birthday. So, Happy Birthday, Paul!
That night we made the mistake of trying to sleep on an air mattress with two dogs (who happen to both have long, sharp nails). Anyway, Brian sent me to the couch, and he ended up on a deflated air mattress (which means, he ended up on the floor).
P.S. not Brian in the picture below...random one from the internet that I found funny.

Friday morning Brian, my mom, Paul, and I all went for breakfast, then Brian and I took off for his Aunt Donna's house. We had a wonderful time visiting with Donna, grandma, grandpa, and Cameron. All too soon, it seemed, the visit was over. Hopefully we'll get the chance to see them all again soon. We were both exhausted (having not slept well the night before) so we rented a room at La Quinta (they take dogs). We slept a little better that night, but I think we were both too exhausted to actually get a good night's sleep.
Saturday we spent with his kids and then with my mom. I miss my mom...wish she lived here. Anyway, she took me maternity clothes shopping and I got some really cute stuff. (Thanks mom). Brian and I also had to buy jackets because it was in the 30s and we brought t-shirts (we should probably check the weather forecast next time).
Sunday we slept a little late, had a great brunch and then spent a little more time with my mom before heading back home. It was a great weekend followed by a wonderful night's rest in our own bed. Man, it was hard to get out of it this morning for work. I needed one more day so I could lay around and be lazy. Stupid working for a living...who's up for some lottery tickets?

Bowling with the kids...

If you're in need of a good laugh, take some kids bowling (or you can just take Brian, he's pretty entertaining too). We had a great time Saturday, bowling with the kiddos. We took them to eat for lunch and then clothes shopping. Joey had fun with the clothes, Brody complained his feet hurt and he was ready to shop for toys (just like a man-or at least just like his father). Anyway, after all that we took them bowling for what turned out to be disco bowl.
Joey's bowling technique was just to try to get the ball down the lane. At one point the ball actually parted the pins without knocking them down. The important thing though is that she had a lot of fun. Brody, on the other hand, practically threw the ball down the lane, but he was careful not to get a line fowl, pin-wheeling his arms at the last second to stay on his feet.
All-in-all a really fun day spent with the kids. Sue is doing a great job with them. They are so easy and fun and happy. I hope my child is that well adjusted.

The Greenbelt...

For my birthday, Brian and I met up with Gina and Adam and took the dogs down to the Greenbelt. It was a new experience for the boys and they had a blast. The water was so cold that when we took our shoes off and stepped in, our skin turned pink and our feet went numb, but it didn't stop Stanley and Lefty from having a ball. They would have chased their toy all day (in their new life vests) had we let them. Stan's old vest was chaffing and Lefty needed one period because he has a habit of dropping the blind side of his head into the water so he half drowns. Anyway, we set off with the spankin' new vests, a new toy, a Gina as our guide.




At one point in our journey, Brian almost had to jump in and save the boys from drowning. They found a ridiculously huge stick that they decided they wanted to chase. We decided to let them go after it a few times without the vests (it was a whole get them dressed again and then carry the wet vests decision)...but it was almost a horrible mistake. Neither dog would let go and both were pulling the other under...standing on the bank, I ripped Brian's glasses off his head while he started pulling off his shoes (I was seconds from pushing him into the ice cold river) when the boys made it back far enough to grab one stick end and drag them in...






Bless Brian's heart, he doesn't know how close he came to catching pneumonia. Anyway, we were able to wear ourselves and the boys out thoroughly, so, mission accomplished. In fact, Stanley was so sore that he's had trouble with the stairs the last 2 days...