Happy Birthday, Dad!

We had the loveliest time for Memorial Day and Dad's birthday this past weekend. We packed up early Friday afternoon and headed north to Dad and Irene's beautiful "retreat" on Lake Conroe. It was a full house on the way up; Grant and Stephen in the front seat, me, Harley, Allie and Baby Walker in the back and Shelby and Shiner in the cage in the bed of the truck. It felt like when we drove our blue aerostar to Arizona.... packed and things everywhere - of course minus the 25 hour drive. I say their place is a "retreat" because that's what it feels like when we're there. You wake up in the morning to the smell of dad cooking breakfast, a pot of coffee brewing and you read the newspaper in the crisp morning air on the front porch overlooking the lake. No alarm clocks, no work, generally no phone calls... it's just you and whatever you want to make of it.

Grant and Stephen ransacked good ole Conroe Wal-Mart for a few board games and we had the BEST fun with that. I'd have to say that we have one of the most competitive families I know. Who knew we were so good at drawing with our eyes closed, sculpting stuff out of clay or spelling words backwards?? But don't ask Wade how to spell Hawaii backwards nor ask me to charade out the word "Toaster". What?! Needless to say my motions of toast popping out of the toaster were quite hilarious. Michelle wasn't able to make it out to dad's because Nick's birthday happens to fall the day after so they were celebrating with friends at the Astros game and what not. We'll have to bust out the board games for Father's Day when we're all at the house and see what happens!

I also got to spend some precious time with baby Walker while the fam went out on the boat. He loves his Auntie Krystal!

I had an OB check this morning and everything was wonderful! We are measuring a week and a half early so at about 16 weeks. Baby's heartbeat was a loud and healthy 160 bpm. Go Baby! I had a lengthy convo with Dr. Plavidal with regard to the child birthing classes, epidurals etc and it seems that I have a lot of research and reading to do. Two more weeks until we find out what it is hopefully!!! June 8th here we come!

Perfect

So, I am going to update you with a few postings all in the same day... I'm cheating, I know but time slipped out from under me in the past weeks.

As you all know we decided to proceed with the genetics screening at 12 1/2 weeks gestation. Grant and I decided it would be best for us to be as prepared as possible so, why not? During the ultrasound we had yet another VERY active baby. We thought we might be able to get a sweet peek at the gender but the genetics center we went to charged an additional $150 for the confirmation and we thought, no thanks.... after all what were we going to do differently in a months time?!

Everything came back normal for Downs, Trisomy 13, 18 and 21. A perfect child in my belly... all of God's handy work in our lives. Life is so wonderful I'll tell you.

I smile every day for the gifts that God has given me. A patient, loving and supportive husband and now a perfect child for both of us to bring into this world. God is so good!

Genetics and Such

Yesterday we had a peek at our sweet little baby during the genetics testing. She kept flipping around and was VERY active. The ultrasound results came back normal and the blood work should be back in a week. I thank God every day for the sweet blessing of our child and cannot wait to hold her my arms. PS can you tell I think it's a girl. ha ha. I think we may have a pouter on our hands.... the sonographer said it's bottom lip was just a hangin out.

Baby Walker

I have had the pleasure of spending a few days here and there with my wonderful sister, Allie, and her new baby, Walker. He is the most precious thing I have ever seen and is such a good baby. Allie had a c-section so the recovery has been lengthy for her but that just leaves more time for hog aunties like me to hold the sweet bowl of sugar. It will be so neat to have children only 6 months apart!