Catching up

The last few weeks have passed by so quickly. Here is a run down of the fun things we have been able to do.

Labor Day week ~ Cook out/pool party w/ Friends. Leslie/John, Christi/Will, Erin and the cutie Sofi. Some how the only photo we managed to take was of Christi and Sofi. I really pray that Tommy and I are blessed w a child w/ a personality like Sofi. I just adore her. She had the attention of everyone around and loved it!! Fun & relaxing day.
We completed 12 hours of Prepared Childbirth classes. I must admit that I had a poor attitude about this after the first night of 3 hours chatting about birthing and technical terms that overwhelmed me. Our 2nd class was a Q&A w/ Dr. Harris and a tour of a Baylor birthing room. Again, a lot of information to soak in and wrap my head around. We did learn that the maternity ward is under serious construction/remodel until Dec. For now your over night room is pretty small, but the new rooms & nursery are suppose to be pretty nice and roomy... it would be nice for the construction to complete on time or early for our stay w/ Baby H in December.
3rd class was more class room time.. .breathing techniques, massages, question and answer and the famous birthing video... Wowzers.. did I need to see that?!! 4th and final class was pretty good. By this time I felt a lot more prepared and educated, less nervous about the birth and delivery. So I am please that Tommy and I hung in there for 3 Thursday nights and 1 Monday night full of information. I am sure Tommy learned more about female "stuff" that he every thought he needed to know. Thank you, Margie for all the information and making the class interactive.. we will be in touch w/ an update.

Our sweet friends Peggy & Larry married on September 6th. What a fun night.. to get dresses up and have a date night w/ my husband and friends and celebrate the gift of marriage. Congratulations Peggy & Larry. Peggy, you looked beautiful!!!!! We are looking forward to our dinner date in a few weeks w/ you and Larry.

Since I have been feeling good and healthy I have been playing catch up w/ all my precious friends. Lots of fun lunch & dinner dates. I am so blessed w/ wonderful, loyal, fun, loving friends.

Lunch w/ Johnny @ Cisco Grill- always fun. He just makes me laugh all the time.
 ( I need to upload photo w/ Johnny)

Dinner w/ Brenda @ Macaroni Grill- Oh, I love BK. The best conversations about life, love & laughter. I missed not being able to see her as often as I would like. BK is one busy girl, doing God's work and blessing the lives of so many by sharing her testimony and her gifts. Love you girl!! I am sharpened every time we are together.

Lunch w sweet Jamie @ Cafe Italia- It was fun to catch up w/ Jamie. We are in the same industry and actually had a few classes together at Jr. college. It has been fun to watch her blossom into a beautiful woman and wife. She married another friend of mine, Greg, and I just love hearing about their adventures...they enjoy traveling like Tommy and I. Maybe we will plan a trip together someday. Thank you, Jamie for treating me to lunch.
Dinner w/ Teresa @The Porch- Again, another precious friendship. T and I always share family stories, woes, and frustrations.... we always laugh about it, share advice, and keep on going. I am proud of T she just bought her first home.

T w/ Our friend RR:

Dinner w/ Stacy @ Peggy Sue's BBQ- Laughing, eating, chatting about church, relationships, and catching up. Stacy has one of the best contagious laughs. Love her.
(Need to upload new photo w/ Stacy)

Lunch @ Cafe Italia w/ Melinda & Alison to celebrate Mel's bday. The 3 of us always have a great time, but celebrating Mel is very special to us. Here is to many HEALTHY years full of LOVE, FUN, and LAUGHTER. You are special to us Melinda. P.S. Thanks for loving Cafe Italia as much as I do : )

Melinda & her husband Cory:
Lunch w/ Stephanie @ Celebration- It has been WAYYYYYY to long since my last visit w/ Stephanie. There are no words to describe how much I love, respect, and cherish Stephanie. God blessed me with this wonderful friendship and motherly love. Stephanie is a good friend, great mother & wife, christian ... who I know God placed in my life to teach me along my road. I treasure you!!

(Need to upload photo w/ stephanie)

Breakfast Double Date w/Brandon & Kalee @ Original Pancake House- So much fun to catch up w/ B&K. I am so proud of them. They have started their own business, following B's passion for RV's....yes super large luxury motor homes. B loves them.. always has always will. So he followed his passion and started his own business buying and selling. I am proud of your teamwork and leap of faith. We pray that God continues to bless you, your family, and business.

I have had so much fun catching up w/ my friends and eating YUMMY food. There were a few other bday dinners and celebrations here and there but I will save it for another long post.

Thank you God for all these friendships. Each person has a special place in my heart and brought so much joy through the years. I am looking forward to baby h meeting them and their families over the years to come. My prayer tonight is that you meet everyone of these friends right where they need you. That you teach me to be a great friend and sister in Christ to them.
Thank you for giving me these special people to do life with. I am blessed.

NOTE: I need to remember to take photos w/ friends at the actual events... no excuse because I typically always have my camera w/ me. 

Weeks 25-28

Baby H,

Hard to believe that it has been a few weeks since I recorded all your growth and activity. I have been feeling great (until this week) and staying busy socializing w/ friends for lunch and dinner dates, date night w/ dad, and staying pretty active running errands (all the things I missed during the few months of all day sickness).

You are moving and kicking a lot. And of course Dad & I love every minute of feeling your movement and wondering what you are doing inside my tummy.

Week 25 Your weight is about 1 1/2 lbs. Crown to rump length is about 8 1/2 inches.

Week 26 Your weight is about 2 lbs. Crown to rump length is about 9 1/4 inches and you are starting to put on weight.

 

Week 27 ~ This week begins the 3rd trimester. Your weight is approx a little more than 2 lbs. Your crown to rump length is estimated 9 2/3 inches & your total length is about 15 1/4 inches. WOW.... you are growing and so am I : ) Around this time you begin to open & close your eyes while still inside my uterus. Your movements are more frequent and some times pretty hard. When you kick i can see my tummy pop up.

Week 28 Your weight is nearly 2 1/2 lbs. Crown to rump length is close to 10 inches. Your total length around 15 3/4 inches. Your eyebrows and eye lashes are present. The hair on your head is growing longer.. I would love for you to be born w/ a lot of brown hair, but we would love your little bald head too.

On Monday we had a check up. Dr. Harris said our growth was looking good. I only gained 3lbs this past month. I passed the glucose screening...the glucose fruit cocktail drink wasn't so bad. But, I am thankful to not have to sit through a 3 hour test. Your heartbeat was 140. Our next visit is in 2 weeks.... wow, a reality check that we are getting so much closer to meeting you. Only 12 weeks till due date.

We love you Baby H!!! Keep growing strong and healthy.
Love, Mom & Dad

24 Week Check Up & Baby Bump

Hey Baby H,

One week ago we visited Dr. Harris for our 24 week check up. Your heart rate was 134 and sounded great. I gained 6 more pounds making the total so far 21lbs (I think I should be around 15lbs right now and only 26-30lbs for the whole pregnancy. I am not too concerned about the numbers as long as we are both healthy)...wowzers!! Dr. H is not concerned about the last 2 spurts in weight gain, but on alert. So, we have to lay off the yummy french fries, burgers, and late night Sonic treats...they are still allowed, but in moderation. Next visit in 4 weeks we take the Gestational Diabetes test. I hear the fruit punch/glucose cocktail that I need to drink about 45 minutes prior to the blood test doesn't taste so bad.. I am banking on that.  We are also praying that we are free and clear of  gestational diabetes.... for your sake and mine. Over all it was a quick and pain free visit.

Week 23....Your weight is almost  1 lb. Your crown to rump  length is approx. 8 inches. You are about the size of a small doll. 

Week 24.... Your weight is about 1 1/4 lbs.  Your crown to rump length is approx. 8 1/2 inches.  This week while I was relaxing and reading a book I could feel you bouncing a lot and noticed my belly  "bopping" up and down, you had the hick-ups and I could feel it. You still like to kick and move a lot in the late evening when I am first settling down for night in bed. Some days you have been very active even during the day. I sure do love to feel you move no matter what time day or night. 

I know that you are getting bigger and bigger w/ each week and I hope you already feel how much we all love you. Your Coco says that you are going to feel super loved because every time she sees me I am always touching and rubbing my sweet, growing belly, just so you know I am already loving on you.  She is right!!! I love rubbing my belly knowing you are inside. 

WEEK 24 BABY BUMP

Mommy and Daddy love you, Baby H. We pray for your health day and night. We are excited to see your precious face in December. Till then, stay comfy and keep growing big and strong. In the next few weeks we are doing a lot to prepare for you, prepared childbirth classes, reading, praying, celebrating, getting all the items needed for your room,  & meeting w/ a few pediatricians to find the right one for you to care for you (and answer all of mommy's questions/concerns through out the next several years).  This week we hope to really start considering  the perfect name for you. So, far lots of ideas, but I am waiting for God to lay the right names on our hearts... we can make a short list and when we see your face we will know what name God had planned for you. Will you carry on a tradition and be T. E. H. IV or will your initials be something completely new to our family. We shall wait and see. What ever names make the short list, we pray for a good strong name of character that fits you. 

Good night sweet baby, You are covered in love and prayers,

Mommy and Daddy