July 21, 2009 - 25 Week Update

Attack of the belly rubbers!!

Those of you who are or were ever pregnant know exactly what I'm talking about! :-) Those of you who will be pregnant someday - your turn is coming! Even though I'm just about the most touchy-feely huggy person alive, I always thought I would have a difficult time having complete strangers rub my pregnant belly, as the majority of expecting moms do. The truth is...now that it's finally my turn to experience pregnancy, I really don't mind it at all! I think about how long and difficult it was for us to get to this point that I'm so touched and excited for someone, even a perfect stranger to show their excitement for us too! This past week it seems as though I have extra popped out! I have seen/felt an increase in tummy touchers as a result! Neighbors, church members, women in the cereal aisle, etc. It's been really exciting to appear to be "really pregnant" to the outside world now! For years I wondered, "what would it feel like?" "what would I look like?" and just an overall curiosity about what pregnancy would be like, that now that I'm here I just want to savor each and every minute of it! Don't get me wrong, it hasn't always been or always is rainbows and butterflies - refer back to the 1st trimester blogs for examples!! :-) Pregnancy for me is such an amazing gift that thankfulness is constantly spilling out everywhere! Thankfully for my OCD it's not a mess I need to clean up! :-)

This past week was a super busy one! Garrett went to New Jersey to watch our nephew Easton play in the USGA Junior Amateur golf tournament. We are so very proud of Easton. I know it meant so much to Garrett to be there for him. While Garrett was away, I was the preschool group leader for our church's vacation bible school. I had a blast! I had between 12-16 3, 4 and 5 year olds. It was incredible to experience God through their little eyes and hearts. Children truly are life's greatest blessing. It was funny how my belly was just about at eye level for them and so many times I would turn around too quickly and at least 2 or 3 little ones would literally bounce right off as they ran into me. Spending time with them made me excited to start back to school. Although it's not always easy and never stress-free, I am so blessed to be a teacher. With the risk of sounding super cheezy... I've always felt that my first job in life was to be a mother, but if I can also be another mother to 20-25 children each day...wow, what a gift!

With that said, as I wipe my tears and blow my nose....:-) this week has officially ruptured the hormonal floodgates! Hike up the pants everyone! With Garrett agreeing, I've been really quite mellow throughout the pregnancy thus far, give or take a few "rare moments" here and there! lol :-) The 6th month seemed to have brought with it a surge of heartfelt emotions. I was folding laundry the other night when a Wal-Mart commercial of a mom taking her son to his first year of college came on. I LOST it completely! I can't even begin to go down that road of imagining Hudson has a little boy let alone a college freshman! Insert dagger in heart right about now! I'm already gaining such a deeper appreciation for our moms and dads as I can better relate to all that they have been through for us! God bless all of you mothers and fathers for living and surviving through all of those milestone moments! I can barely make it through an ultrasound...Lord knows what will happen when he's born, or his first steps, or his first day of school.....ok...need to breathe! Tissue break!

On a different note :-)...my cravings have shifted this past week! I think our local grocery stores will be happy to have a fully stocked shelf of pickles for the first time in months as I have moved on to a new shelf! Lately, I have been all about corn and beets! Any kind of corn has been so delicious! Sweet corn, creamed corn, corn of the cob corn...you name it....I've been eating it! Beets too! I have recently been introduced the world's greatest beets! I highly recommend them!

I've always been big on most veggies but it's been kicked into overdrive! Who knows what will be next!?!

Hudon's been enjoying the veggies so much that he literally did a flip the other day. After Izzy and I went on a long walk we came home, had beets and a pbj and then laid down on the couch for a few minutes. He started kicking away so I rolled up my shirt to see him move and I could see his legs move the whole way across my belly! I wish I could have caught it on video! It was the most amazing thing ever! Garrett has been able to feel him much more now and is able to "see" him move around. I surprised Garrett the other day with a little "pre-season" football gift!

I have a feeling that football season will never be quite the same at our house from now on! :-)

The other night we went with our church's youth group to Freestyle Amusement Park! I think we had just as much fun as the kids! I couldn't really ride anything, but Garrett was able to ride with the kids and I assumed the "mom post" and held everyone's things and took pictures! :-) It was a beautiful day that ended with a beautiful night of fireworks! Hudson moved and wiggled the whole time with each bang! Here are some pictures Garrett took!

This is a picture of me "kissing" a cute little snake at the park! I named him Snuggles due to the constricting he did around my neck a few seconds after this was taken! Don't worry, I bathed in sanitizer immediately following this "animal planet" moment!

Eggplant Parmesan Anyone!?!

Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

The weekly pregnancy emails I get crack me up so I'll keep sharing them!

Your Pregnancy: Week 25

At this point you're pretty much swollen all over. What started as just a "boob thing" seems to have spread from there, down your torso and out your limbs. This is definitely contagious. But even if sausage fingers and toes aren't your idea of womanly, remember that you are indeed a reproductive goddess. (You could try asking your friends to bow before you as you enter the room, but you'll probably have to settle for peeling your own grapes.)Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week?

"Why don't my shoes fit anymore? Am I pregnant in my feet, too?"

Your BodyPregnancy leg cramps are not your ordinary run-of-the-mill leg cramps. Nope, a pregnancy leg cramp will often have you leaping out of bed screaming at the top of your lungs. Leg cramps can be caused by a calcium deficiency, so be sure to get enough calcium. Even if you're lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies, there are still ways to get enough calcium in your diet that don't involve eating a 2-gallon drum of ice cream (although that does sound fun). Believe it or not, there's calcium in almonds, fish, broccoli and tofu. While they come with the territory of pregnancy, there are ways to avoid leg cramps, like warm soaks and massages. Sometime between Weeks 24 and 28, you'll get your glucose screening test to check for gestational diabetes. You'll have to drink this really syrupy, sugary soda drink, wait an hour, and then have your blood sugar levels tested to see how your body handles the sugar rush. If you get to do it at home, put the drink in the fridge to get it nice and cold. It's much easier to stomach when it's chilled. Some OBs may even let you skip the sugary soda in lieu of something just as sweet, like pancakes smothered in syrup. Hey, it's worth asking! Your baby is getting ready for pat-a-cake! Baby's hands are now fully developed and he spends most of his awake time groping around in the darkness of your uterus. Brain and nerve endings are developed enough now so that your baby can feel the sensation of touch. That doesn't mean he can feel it when his father pokes your stomach, however, so tell him to knock it off. Other highlights include: Your baby's arms and legs have grown to almost the proportions they will be at birth, which is still sort of short. So don't be alarmed when your newborn's arms barely clear his waist. Baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, clear out (like he's taken a super-dose of Sudafed) and he can practice breathing through the nose. The structures of your baby's spine are now made up of 150 joints, 33 rings and some 1,000 ligaments. Can you believe you're growing something that complicated inside of you? The capillaries, the teeniest blood vessels, are now forming in your baby's body, giving his formerly translucent skin a pink glow. The blood vessels in the lungs also develop this week. You'll see how well that worked out when your baby gives those lungs a workout while you're on line at the bank in a few months. Your baby weighs about a pound and a half and is about 13½ inches long—roughly the length of one of those recorders you played in elementary school music class. Who's up for a round of "Hot Cross Buns?"

July 14, 2009 - 24 Week Update

Hello 6 month mark!

After beginning our registry adventure last week it seems as though the nursery fairy has been following me around, buzzing in my ear, reminding me that there's "only" 112 days left until our little bundle of sweetness arrives! I didn't think the sensation of "nesting" set in until a little later in pregnancy! But low and behold...it was delivered early to the Miller house and all I can think about is nursery, nursery, and more nursery. I have a sudden urge that EVERYTHING needs to be done ASAP! I think that with school starting back up in about a month my anxiousness has skyrocketed! Needless to say, plans are underway and have begun to unfold slowly but surely in Hudson's room! The delivery of our beautiful crib seemed to ease my nursery insanity for the time being! Due to all of the other work that will be going on in his room, it will be a while before it's actually all put together. Even still, just seeing the big box of crib goodness is enough for me to feel some relief! Other than my OCD issues :-), I have never felt better! The second trimester has been so wonderful and I am so thankful for that! I've been exercising a little more due to my increase in energy! WAHOO! I think Hudson likes to work out with me! I've read that when you walk or run when you are expecting, the steady motion is really very relaxing and calming for the baby. I've actually found this to be true. It seems as though Hudson is much more active when I am finally sitting still or laying down for bedtime. He's typically very still and "quiet" when I'm moving around. Hudson is still rolling around pretty low these days. I'm finding that my trips to the potty have drastically increased with each swift kick to the bladder in the middle of the night! I can only imagine how many more trips I'll be adding each night as he continues to grow! I'm sure by the time the fall gets here, there will be a path worn in the carpet from my side of the bed to the bathroom!

Izzy, Hudson, and I have been listening to lots of music during the day. It's amazing to watch how reactive Hudson is to certain sounds. Before when I would talk to him it seemed as though he would just settle in and lay still while he listened to me. Now when I talk to him I almost always get an immediate kick or wiggle! I love it more than anything. It's so funny to watch how he moves when I sing to the music we are listening to! He's probably trying to get me to stop! Or...he may just be telling me how he already has a crush on Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift, since those are the songs I've been belting out the most lately! Bon Jovi also has a way to get him moving!

I could seriously just go on and on forever! Each day brings a new story, a new memory, and a moment closer to meeting this precious gift of ours!

Well, our little trip to the "produce aisle" will resume next week! Hudson is still about the size of a Papaya! Here are some fun facts about week 24 to read in the meantime!

Your Pregnancy: Week 24

At about this time the reality of having a baby is definitely setting in (maybe it's the fact that you can't see your toes). Be sure to talk about how you're feeling with your significant other, girlfriends, siblings, parents, doctor, hairdresser, the person sitting next to you on the bus ... whomever! It's totally natural to be freaking out. Voicing your concerns about mommyhood will help you actually get used to the idea.Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...What You're Thinking:

"OK, seriously, where are my toes?"

Your BodyHair growth during pregnancy is another one of those wacky symptoms you didn't expect. And though you may be wondering who's slipping Rogaine into your shampoo bottle, if you're among the lucky ones, you're relishing your new, flowing locks. You can thank your pregnancy hormones for your suddenly thick crowning glory. During pregnancy your hair's natural grow-shed cycle slows, leaving you with more hairs on your head at any given time.

Your baby isn't just sitting around (on your bladder) doing nothing, he's working hard preparing for life outside the womb—perfecting his lungs and packing on the pounds. He'll gain ½ pound this week alone.

Other highlights this week:

Things are starting to get a little crowded inside the old womb as baby grows bigger and bigger. Your ribs are probably pining away for the good old days when they didn't have a foot permanently lodged between them. Hate to break it to you, but it's going to get worse before it gets better.Your baby's ears are fully functional now. And since they are, you may notice that loud noises and sudden movements can startle the little bugger. He's getting used to the everyday sounds inside the womb: the sound of your heart beating, your lungs inhaling and exhaling air, the growling of your stomach because your partner promised he'd be right back with that double cheeseburger and he's taking forever! He'll even be able to hear your voice when your partner finally arrives and you ask him where the bleep he's been! So talk nice! Baby's got a fully developed inner ear now. This means his sense of balance is working and he can tell whether he's hanging upside down or right side up. He can also feel you moving, so go ahead, pop in your favorite tunes and boogie.

Your little Wiener schnitzel is about the length of a foot-long Chicago hot dog and weighs about 1 1/3 pounds.

July 7, 2009 - 23 Week Update

Never a dull moment...always an adventure! I'd say that would be a pretty good theme for this past week! 5 years ago today I was laying on a beautiful white beach watching the sun sink below a turquoise sea, drinking a delicious pineapple concoction complete with a little pink umbrella wearing a little pink bikini with the words, "just married" in rhinestones on the bottoms. Tonight, I lay on my bed with my legs propped up high on some pillows to help ease the throbbing, drinking lemonade and eating cake and pickles researching consumer and safety reports on nursery furniture while I watch Hudson's little legs kick the right side of my belly...thinking about that little pink bikini from way back when and how it would probably make for a better eye patch than a pair of swim suit bottoms for me now! lol Ah, how times have changed. The glory of it all is that I wouldn't change anything at all. If I have learned anything at all, it's that God is always on time. Everything happens just as it's supposed to. Which brings me to where I am today, right where I'm meant to be.



July 10, 2004 was a beautiful hot summer day in the little town of Punxsutawney. It rained every single day that summer and I can still remember the look of amazement on everyone's faces that day when the clouds cleared and the sun came out the morning of our wedding day. It was 6 years to the day of when we began dating...it was the perfect day, and the beginning of one incredible adventure after another! 5 years has gone by so quickly! Next year's anniversary will be an extra special event! Not only will we have Hudson with us to celebrate, but it will also be the wedding day of Heather and Jason!!! Wahooo!! We can't wait! We are so excited to share our special day with them! It's official! I don't think anyone in the universe could possibly squeeze any more love into July 10th! I think it should be National Love Fest Day! :-)



July 9, 2004 -
Rehearsal Dinner
Night

























July 10, 2004 -
Our Wedding Day


This year to celebrate, we spent the weekend in Savannah, Georgia, Tybee Island, Georgia, and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Yes, all in one weekend! We definitely love to explore and took the opportunity to see and do all that we could in a weekend's time. We of course, took our Izzy with us! The three...well, four :-) of us had a wonderful time. The weather was beautiful and any kind of a getaway is always fun! On our way to Savannah on Friday, we stopped in Charleston to begin the baby registry process at BabiesRUs. Let me tell you, there could have been a reality show based solely on this trip! Being the nerds that we are, we were totally prepared. We had combined checklists of both the top consumer and safety ratings concerning baby EVERYTHING, along with at least 5 pages of tips and suggestions from veteran moms. Needless to say, we were there a loooong time. Nearly 4 hours later, we closed down the store! We had a blast! Although it was overwhelming at times, it was one of the most exciting things we have ever done! Garrett and I have been fortunate to have taken some pretty amazing vacations and gone on some incredible trips all over the country during the past 5 years, but nothing compares to the excitement of picking out items for your first child. It seems as though each month of this pregnancy has brought with it moments of sincere "realness". This night was one of them. I remember somewhere between the stroller isle and the pack and plays we agreed that we couldn't imagine a more perfect way to spend an anniversary evening. Here is a picture of us taken by a lovely BabiesRUs employee to capture our registry experience on our 5 year anniversary!



We just couldn't help ourselves! On our first trip we bought our stroller/car seat combo, a crib, and bedding! What can I say?! When you couple our excitement with a sale...things get crazy! :-)














All "4" of us in beautiful Savannah

The "3" of us at Hilton Head

The lighthouse at Tybee Island



































On our way home, we saw a
seafood restaurant called
"Hudson's"! We couldn't
help ourselves! We pulled
over and bought t-shirts!



























Well, as far as the produce department goes...Hudson is still about the size of a papaya! But here are some neat things I've read about "Week 23"!


"...Your baby's got a while to go before his lungs will be ready for air and is practicing his "breathing" on the amniotic fluid—sucking it in and out of his lungs. Other highlights this week:Fat production is in overdrive at this point (for the baby, not you! Well, OK, maybe for the baby and you). Your baby will basically double in weight over the next four weeks! You'll be happy to know the same won't apply to you. Your baby is starting to look more like a newborn as his skin becomes less see-through. His body is looking more proportional now, although his head is still kinda big compared to his cute little body. Your baby is about 11½ inches long and weighs 1 pound, or about the length and weight of a Harry Potter book."

June 30, 2009 - 22 Week Update

Another exciting week has come and gone! This summer has already proven to be packed full of wonderful memories! Our busy summer schedule has really made these past few months start to fly by! Garrett and I made a major decision to start off our 22nd week! As you know, we have been very serious and committed to keeping our little guy's name a big secret until his big arrival this fall. Much to our surprise, our beautiful nieces, Katie and Charlie guessed our name! Before the whole world had heard about it, we decided to surprise our families with a special little package announcing our decision!














Here is a picture of the special story our family members received!








Because the words in the picture are so tiny,
I have copied and pasted the story below to
share with everyone!

"We are SO EXCITED that we are having a little man!!! We are almost too excited. Our initial plan was to wait to tell everyone the baby’s name the day of his arrival, but it has become too hard to keep from everyone. Our beautiful nieces, Katie and Charlie, were bound and determined to hunt down our precious name after we reluctantly gave them a few clues. Never would we have imagined that they would ever come close, however, we underestimated their detective skills! Upon searching, they came across our special name! We were shocked! Their excitement has urged us to share what we have been waiting for what seems like an eternity – the announcement of the baby’s name!
We have a little story that inspired the baby’s name.


Once upon a time there was a little boy who loved to visit his grandparents with his family. He would play for hours outside and listen to his grandparents tell stories from the past. As the little boy grew, so did his love for this special “place.” In this “place,” the little boy had a father and grandfather who distilled in him the power of chasing dreams. One day, the little boy was no longer little. He grew into a young man who had found his one true love, a love his parents promised he would find. One starlit summer night, he wanted to share this special place with her. The two teenagers sat under the stars for hours has he shared all of the memories he had treasured at this special “place.” Memories from the past quickly melted into dreams of the future as the young couple began to plan of a life together there under the same blanket of stars a little boy once played. Each summer, the couple would come back to what became their special “place.” Here they talked of getting married, moving away, and beginning a family of their own some day. 11 years later, the couple is now happily married, living in South Carolina, and expecting their first child. Dreams really do come true. This special place is very much real in the lives and hearts of Garrett and Deanna. For these reasons, we are so very proud to announce that Hudson is on his way. God has blessed us with a rare and precious love story that we hope to pass on to our children. Our hopes and dreams as children have carried us to where we are today – together expecting a child of our own. We are thrilled to share our love and anticipation with those we love the most. Hudson Jesse Miller is already blessed to be welcomed into a family such as ours."

All Our Love,
Garrett, Deanna, and Hudson
xox

So that's the big news! Garrett and I are thrilled to be naming our son after the little town outside of Punxsutawney where Garrett not only grew up, but where we fell in love. Jesse, as most of you know, is a very special Miller family name that we are proud to continue. Such a very meaningful name for a very long awaited little man!


Just when we thought the week couldn't possibly become any more exciting, Mike and Ann came in from NC for a long 4th of July weekend! They brought a special present for Hudson! A super cute outfit and my favorite...his first pair of swimming trunks!! As big of beach bums we are, he will be spending lots of time in his new beach babe attire! Of course a visit from Ann never comes without a shopping trip or two...or three...or four! The four of us went over to the outlets and Garrett found the most adorable little shoes for Hudson! Who knew they made baby Nike Shox?!? We couldn't resist! They are the tiniest things ever! Although he won't be walking yet when he'll be wearing them, at least he'll be super cute! I'm learning that the practicality of baby clothes and paraphernalia goes right out the window when cuteness is involved!























Sweet little preppy outfit and trunks
from Mike and Ann!


































Hudson's new little sneakers beside
Daddy's sneakers! They are soooo
"preciously" tiny!

Overall, we had a wonderful 4th of July! Although I had looked as though I had participated in a watermelon eating contest, I enjoyed spending the 4th with my little watermelon! We had a wonderful time with Maggie and Dave on their boat and had lots of quality beach time! I'm already learning what a little "ladies man" I have on board as I noticed for the first time this past weekend that Hudson is much more reactive to a woman's voice than he is to a man's! When he hears daddy's voice he is much more relaxed and often just rolls around. However, when he heard Ann's voice he practically kicked his way out with excitement! It's amazing too how I've picked up on when I talk to him throughout the day, even if he's moving like crazy, he stops at the sound of my voice. I like to think that it's calming to him and reminds him that he's safe and sound. What a wonderful week!

The 4th of July Crew!

Hudson and the Ladies! :-)

Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop. The baby is about the size of a papaya during weeks 21-24