Only 7 weeks left!

My doctor appointment this week went really well. I'm still on bed rest and will continue to see my doctor every week now. Although being on modified bed rest can sometimes make me feel extremely LAZY, my body feels so much better. I was talking to Oma tonight about how I can't believe I worked at the preschool until I was 7 months pregnant. I really had no idea how big I had gotten! I just dealt with the horrible backache, pelvic pain, and round ligament pain...and I actually thought I was just complaining a lot! If I had known that pregnancy should never be that painful I would have left that job a long time ago!
However, leaving all my coworkers was tough! I spent almost every day with the same ladies for the last three years. It's strange not seeing them every day now. I also miss working with Oma. My mom is my best friend, and it was always so nice to see her on my breaks. But I make up for it by visiting almost every night of the week! :) And the ladies from work are having a baby shower for me next week. It will be SO NICE to see them again! I'm also excited to start getting diapers for Gracie!
And being on bed rest has given me the chance to really enjoy my pregnancy. I have time to feel all of Gracie's kicks and spins, and I get to really start planning for her. I also find myself daydreaming often about what she'll look like. I can't wait to paint her nails and do her hair! And of course I can't wait to snuggle her and kiss her beautiful face. Also - there is just something about the feel of a baby's hair on your face while you're snuggling. I can't wait to experience that with her! Not too much longer!
Before I go - I recently got my car seat for Gracie. Is it weird to say that I love how my car looks with a baby seat in the back? :) I just LOVE it!

A late update

Wow, time sure flies. We are now 32 weeks pregnant and I cannot believe how big I am getting! The updates should come more frequently now as I am on bed rests! During my doctor appointment last week my doctor noticed that my blood pressure has been increasing slowly over the last few visits. That, along with headaches, seeing spots, and unrelenting heartburn, cause my doctor to believe I'm experiencing pre eclampsia. Two good things came from this finding:
1. I am now resting more, and feel TONS better than I did during any point of my pregnancy.
2. I now have weekly ultrasounds to measure the amniotic fluid. This means I get to see my little sweetheart every week now :) And boy is she growing! I am proud to say that as of right now she has NOT inherited her parents' habit of procrastinating! She is already in the head-down position, so we are locked and loaded...ready to go!
Last week I did the 24 hour urine sample for my doctor. The lab results came back positive for protein, and a high amount for what is considered normal. I'm waiting for a call back from the nurse today to let me know if they confirmed pre eclampsia or not. If it is pre eclampsia my doctor will induce my labor early. As long as Gracie is ready I'm totally ready too :) I have to say though, that last doctor appointment was very scary. And I'm so lucky to have a WONDERFUL mom; she's coming with me to my next appointment this week. It will be nice to have the support and company while I have the ultrasound and non stress test.
Annnnd I just got the call I've been waiting for. No pre eclampsia! What awesome news :) I am still on bed rest until my appointment later this week but...WOW what a relief! So I suppose that means I wont meet my little girl until 40...or 41...weeks, BUT at least I'll know she's completely ready to enter this world :)
I'm going to end this update now...the heartburn has snuck up on me again! Here's the most recent belly picture from last week :) Enjoy!

Dear Gracie

Dear Gracie,
I am so excited to be your mama! Ever since the minute I found out that you exist, you have been the only thing on my mind. And now I can feel and see you kicking around in there every day. I just can't wait to tickle those little feet and kiss those little hands! You have changed my life so much, in a good way of course, and I cannot imagine what life would be like without you. I already know that you are where my life begins, and I haven't even met you yet! It's crazy to think about how much I already love you, I wonder if I'll just explode once I finally meet you! You are my everything, and everything else in my life revolves around you. Please always remember, YOU ARE SO LOVED!
Love always,
Mama

Such a big miracle in such a small child!

With the holidays coming up, blogging has taken a backseat to everything else in my life. But, I thought I should update today while David is still snoozing.
We had our big ultrasound appointment on the 16th. The days leading up to the appointment seemed to move so slowly, and now time is permanently set on fast forward. Seeing our baby in baby-form was amazing. There was actually a little human on the screen instead of a tiny dinosaur! It was amazing to see the little one kicking and fist-pumping! And now, after calling the baby "peanut", "little ginger", and "baby G" for 20 weeks, we can now call our baby...

GRACIE!



As you can see from the picture, we were completely shocked! A baby girl was really the last thing we had expected. We had all the little boy clothes to prove it! Gracie will be the second girl born into the Storm family in 55 years, and the first in about 25 years. She is just absolutely amazing already!

This is my favorite picture of Gracie :) Her nose, ears, chin, lips...her EVERYTHING is just so precious. I cannot wait to kiss those cheeks!

She loves lying on her belly...just like mama!

Sweet little baby foot! I can't wait to tickle those feet and paint those toenails!

Long legs...just like daddy!

She already knows she's beautiful! :) During all the face pictures I could see her smiling. What an angel!

It was so special to have Oma with us for the ultrasound appointment. She was just as shocked as we were! I don't think anyone expected the baby to be a girl. Even Grandpa was taken back by the news! Grandma and Grandpa Storm were both thrilled as well :) Our little girl is already so loved!
18 more weeks until we can all snuggle Gracie. I don't know how I'm going to wait that long!

18 weeks - almost halfway there!

As of Wednesday I am 18 weeks pregnant! I can now feeling our baby move around like crazy! Our little one is already on an opposite sleep schedule than myself, so I'm really trying to enjoy my sleep now while I can!
Other exciting news - David and I rented a fetal heart monitor for the rest of this pregnancy. I can't imagine being pregnant without it! Whenever I start to worry because I haven't felt the baby in a while I just listen to the baby's heart beat before I go to bed at night. David really enjoys listening to it too.
And we scheduled the BIG ULTRASOUND APPOINTMENT! I am SO thrilled! Our appointment is on November 16...so only 11 days left! Then I can finally start calling the baby it's name - either Gracie or Gabriel.
As far as cravings go, I haven't experienced anything too crazy. Before becoming pregnant I hated milk. I thought it was the most disgusting thing. Now I can't get enough. I go through a gallon every couple of days! Now after writing about this I can't stop thinking about it. I think I might need to go have a cup...
Here is the most recent belly picture :) Enjoy!

17 weeks, 4 days

We have a bump!

David and I decided to start taking pictures of my belly since I now officially am growing a noticeable baby bump. I bought my first pair of maternity jeans yesterday and I cannot express how much I LOVE them! What a difference :)
Here is the first picture of our baby bump.

13 week and 4 days pregnant

Looking at this picture makes me so happy! I cannot believe how blessed we are to have a little one on the way. 

Oh energy, how I have missed you.

Yes, you read that correctly. I had nearly forgotten what it felt like to get up in the morning and actually stay awake for more than two hours. I spent the last two weeks sick which landed me in the emergency room with a swelling throat. After a week of antibiotics I am feeling 100%, but now the daddy to be is sick. So, that means I've been his personal nurse all weekend. Lucky for him I'm feeling like I've had a caffeine IV drip. Maybe peanut knows to take it easy on me right now :) I did make a comment yesterday during our 1,000th visit to Walgreen's this week alone.
Me "If you think you feel sick now, try being pregnant!"
Daddy to be "I don't care about that right now! I'm sick!"
Hmm...it's a good thing that women have the pleasure of growing humans instead of men ;)