Baby R.....

Monday (August 26th) we found out what we are going to be having and I could not be more excited!

They day started off SOOOO SLOW, my ultrasound appointment wasn't until 1:20pm and minutes were passing like hours all morning. When the clock actually decided to move again and I got to my appointment I couldn't not have had a nicer tech. She was just the sweetest. We talked about all kinds of stuff while she was checking and measuring all the baby's parts, as well as mine to make sure everything is going well. About 10 minutes into the exam I suddenly felt sick, I was thinking maybe I should have waited to eat until after the appointment. Then my vision started to get blurry and my hearing started to go and so I told her "I have to sit up, I feel like I might pass out!" I got really hot and dizzy and started sweating. She reassured me that this was normal and that it actually happens more than you'd think. She said it was most likely due to baby pushing on nerves and blood vessels while I was laying flat. She got me a glass of cold water to drink. Once I was feeling better she resumed the exam, but I was sitting and reclined instead of flat on my back. The rest of the exam went perfectly.

I had told her at the beginning that since Aaron wasn't able to come to the appointment with me that I didn't wan't to know the baby's gender in the room and would like to have her write it down for us. Sanford is completely prepared for this request because they have special cards for each gender and they seal it in a black envelope. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. And what a precious keepsake.

Here I was debating on whether the card was going to "fall" and accidentally open before I got it to the balloon shop or not :)

The tech told me that baby looked great and measuring at about 14oz (little chunker already!) and right at 20 weeks and 3 days, and in the 75th percentile for growth, and baby's heart rate was 149. I was over the moon happy to hear all of those things! 

I rushed to the balloon shop so I wouldn't have the temptation of the card that held all the answers to my hopes and dreams in my possession any longer!! At my OB appointment everything the tech had told me was confirmed, my precious little baby is healthy and growing well.

Then back to the balloon shop to pick up my balloons and off to pick up the hubs from the hospital.

This was staring at me begging to be opened the whole time I was waiting for Aaron. IT. WAS. TORTURE!

On the way home I asked Aaron if he was excited and his reply was, "yes, I am a lot more excited than I thought I would be" That is one of the many reasons I love him. He isn't an emotional guy, but when he is genuinely feeling something it comes through. That made me even MORE excited, which I didn't even know was possible! When we got home this is what happened.....

A sweet little baby boy! We could absolutely not be more thrilled! We thought it was a boy all along, and we were right! 

Here is the card that was inside that mysterious black envelope

I can not wait to meet my little guy! We are making a list of names, however even when or if we pick one before Little Man R is here we won't be sharing. We want to be sure we picked the right one when we see him. Plus it is fun to keep some things a surprise from all of you ;) 

Diapers

First I want to get this out of my system:

FEELING BABY KICK FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS THE MOST CRAZY THING EVER!!!!!

August 2nd was the first time I KNEW without a doubt it was a kick. I had been feeling some flutters and bubbles and thought that maybe it was baby but this was definitely baby!!  I have felt him a couple time since Friday and I just love it. 

I never in a billion years imagined I would cloth diaper my children. I always thought that it would be way to much work. I was always one of those people that would hear someone was going to use cloth and I would always snicker and say  OKAY! Good luck with that! Then I would think to myself, "yea I bet that doesn't even last a week." However, now that I am a mommy to be, I find myself doing countless hours of research on all things baby. I have found out about so many truly bad products out there! I have discovered that disposable diapers are one of those products.

First they do not decompose (okay they do, but it takes like 500 years) so our landfills are packed full with shit, literally.  Then there are chemicals in them. Lots of nasty chemicals that I am not sure I want next to my baby's skin. Some of those chemicals can and have irritated a baby's skin, and caused blisters, or a rash, some have even burned some tiny baby bums! Sure maybe that isn't common, but I am not willing to chance it! This next one is really near and dear to me and really helped to solidify my decision, because of my Gram. Because most disposables are bleached with chlorine there are chemicals called dioxins leftover after the bleaching process. These dioxins stay in the diapers and are known, to scientists, to be one of the most toxic chemicals. Dioxins are also extremely carcinogenic.  According to an article I read on livestrong.com, exposure to dioxins may also cause skin reactions, altered liver function, and impairments to the immune system, nervous system, endocrine system, and reproductive functions. I could go on and on about all the research I have done about cloth vs. disposable, but I don't want to bore you! You can read much more about it here

Another reason cloth is the right route for us, is that it actually is cheaper! I was pretty skeptical on this at first because I figured with the extra electricity and water, plus the upfront cost of the diapers, that it couldn't Actually be that much cheaper. But I have found many sites that  break down the costs of each option and when you actually look at the numbers, it is really true, you save money with cloth. Especially if you plan on using them for more than one child, for number 2 and 3 you really see the savings.

Then there is the fact that I will be staying home with the baby, so there really is no excuse for me not to use cloth. Sure I will need to do a couple extra loads of laundry each week, but once that becomes a part of my new routine, It wont be a big deal.

It took us a while to actually nail down this decision, but now that we have I am really happy and confident in our decision. I am so lucky in the fact that, I know so many new moms. It is so nice to be able to have a question about something and get the opinions of 10-15 different mommys. A huge thank you to the moms (and the dad), that answered the billion and one questions I had about cloth. You all helped me make a very informed decision!

Yay for saving the planet, the baby penguins, and the baby bums!

(Please be aware that if cloth is not for you, I understand, and I am not passing any judgement! It is a huge decision and not one for every parent. You have to do what works best for you and your family!! :)) 

Belly catch up!

Here is my current progression of belly pics!!
Disclaimer: I feel as though some of these are misleading due to the unfortunate amount of bloating I experienced during my first trimester! You have been warned :)

10 weeks (we were in Miami)

11 weeks (just moved up to Fargo for good)

12 weeks (finally got my chalk board done!!!)

13 weeks

14 weeks (had a helper for this picture)

15 weeks

16 weeks

17 weeks (I really popped this week!)

So there you have it. Like I said before I had a ton of bloating my first trimester and looked way bigger than I actually was. Luckily MOST of that is gone now but some days I still feel like unless you know I'm pregers, you would probably just assume I REALLLLLYY like cookies, ice cream, and doughnuts:) Today I am 17 weeks and 4 days. I will try and remember to post these as we take them from now on!

Update:

Here are some more pics! I decided I would just keep editing this post so you can see all the pictures together. I like to see how my belly is changing :)

18 weeks (FINALLY got the board hung up!)

19 weeks (black tank against back chalk board= bad idea!)

20 weeks

21 weeks BABY BOY!!!

Times are Changing!

WOW! What a crazy busy and happy spring and summer it has been so far! I will do my best to catch you up!

The most exciting thing to happen by far was this.....

 WE ARE GOING TO BE A MOMMY AND DADDY!!!!!

 I will be sharing more about that later. How I found out, how I told Aaron, my first reaction etc. etc.

My baby brother graduated! Which is crazy because when I look at him I still see they little boy that my sister and I used to dress up in pink dresses!

He made such an adorable little sister ;)

How is this even possible?! 

My baby cousin who is like my baby sister ALSO graduated!!

So grown up and so gorgeous!

We moved!!! It was disastrous at first, but it turned out alright. So far we like it. We absolutely LOVE that we got lucky enough to rent a house and NOT an apartment ! No loud neighbors, no taking the dogs down 9 floors, no weird hall smells, Just US! The girls love, love, love having a back yard to run and play and chase squirrels in, and I love watching them play! Plus, we have a fire pit!! Which I am IN LOVE with! I love summer camp fires!! And now we get to have one ANY time we want! I will post some pictures when I remember to finally take them.(I've been suffering pregnancy brain something fierce!)

Our new home for a few years!

We had another fun and successful Relay For Life!

Partying at the amazing campsite Tonya and Mariah set up!

We went to Miami and watched Aaron Graduate Medical School! I never thought I could be this proud of someone! 

He is in the middle of the stage!! Such a proud moment!

Air-boat ride though the Everglades!

 That pretty much brings us to now!  Aaron is almost done with his first month of his intern year!! Only 11 more months of being an intern! It has been a rough start with crazy long hours, but it can only go up from here! It is still crazy to me that we are here, at this point. This is what we have been looking forward to and waiting for the last 4 years....and we made it!! We are here! I am so excited for Aaron to be done with school and to get to see him actually put to work all the stuff he has learned. It's so surreal when he makes a call to the hospital and says " Hi this is Dr. Robertson....!!!!!!" The first time it happened I was like OHHHHHMYGAWDDHEIS!!!! I was in awe! He is going to be a great Doctor!

Gettin' Dirty

Today Tonya and Mike came out to the farm and we went 4 wheeling. IT WAS SOOOO FUN! We got filthy. Can't wait to do it again!