My Pregnancy

I will admit it.  I am a procrastinator.  As soon as I announced my pregnancy I knew I wanted to blog about it.  I wanted to keep a record so I could someday, when my memories are less fresh, tell my future child about how he came into the world.  Well I never got around to it and Sammy came a month early, so I just want to write down a few things I never want to forget about this exciting time in our family.  
 

Getting pregnant was not an easy process.  I will not go into all the details, but after many, many months of disappointment and frustrations I finally got our positive pregnancy test.  Carl and I both balled our eyes out with joy.  It was the happiest day of my life since the day Carl and I were married.  

Our positive pregnancy test.

The first trimester of pregnancy was a roller-coaster.  I felt great.  I had absolutely no morning sickness.  But, frequent spotting made me wonder if this baby would make it into the second trimester. On the day after I told my parents about the pregnancy I had one particularly scary incident that brought me to the ER.  With a few blessings and countless prayers Sammy pulled through.  One positive aspect was the frequent ultrasounds.  I got to see our little peanut about 7 times instead of the usual 2 times. 

Our favorite ultrasound picture.  This was about 12 weeks.

 By 16 weeks I felt confident enough to announce my pregnancy to the world. 
I anxiously awaited the 20-week, gender ultrasound.  I thought the day would never come.  (I desperately wanted to start shopping.)  We impatiently made lists of names and began looking at nursery decorations.    I had a feeling from early on in the pregnancy that we were having a boy.   When the day finally arrived and we informed that we would be having a little man and I was not surprised at all. 

This was me at about 25 weeks.  I did not take many belly pics.

I slowly started to grow a baby belly.  I never got particularly large, but by the end you could defiantly tell I was pregnant.  (Maybe I will get the basketball look with baby number 2.)    I kept busy with work.   Carl and I put the nursery together.  I felt great. 

Mom and I hung this cute tree decal.  She also did all the alphabet cards.

Carl and I painted the letters over the crib.

This is the cute shelf we got from Land of Nod.

School ended the first week of June and I began preparing for family to come into town for my baby shower.  My mom came for a visit and we spent our last baby free, mommy/daughter week together.  I am very grateful for all love and support she has always given me.  On June 18^th I celebrated our coming baby with a wonderful group of friends and family.  It was a perfect baby shower.  It was beautiful!!!  Sammy was totally outfitted.  I feel truly blessed.  

My Hostesses and I at the shower!

I spent the next few days running around Chicago with my mom, my sister and her kids.  It was a blast.  When they left I settled into what I thought was going to be my last month of pregnancy.  I unpacked my shower gifts and started to relax.  When Carl and I celebrated my birthday on the 28^th I had no inclination that I would be a mommy in less than a week!

Me on my b-day.  Only 3 days before I delivered!

On July 1 at about 1 am my water broke and contractions began.  My life would never be the same.  I wouldn’t want it any other way. 

Blogging

I have never been much a of a writer. Especially a narrative writer, but I want a place to keep track of the exciting new addition to our family. So if you expect wit, perfection, or anything extraordinary you can stop reading. If you can look past my imperfections please keep reading. I hope you enjoy.

100 Things...just for fun!

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold the ones you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (junior high)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten cavier.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (someone bought it for me)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Volk Sister Sleepover

Carl and I spent this weekend with three of his four younger sisters; Julie, Sarah, and Amy. The crew arrived on friday afternoon and the festivites began! We went to the pool, played board games, watched Amy master Wii baseball, ate slices of pizza as long as our arms, made mini pancakes, and watched a movie. Carl and I had so much fun. We cannot wait until they come back.