WHOMP....There it is!!!

August 20th: All the baby books say "the quickening" (as in, the first time you feel the baby move) should occur between 16-20 weeks. I was getting a little worried, when we had gotten to the 19 week anatomy scan, and I still hadn't felt her move! At that visit, I discovered I had an anterior implanted placenta, which means I might not feel the baby move until 22-26 weeks!! That is a long time!!! I was really disappointed.

I had assumed that the first time I felt her move would be subtle. Others had told me it felt like a flutter or like gas. Things had been CRAZY busy on Night Float this past week, so maybe I had just missed the little flutters. However, last night was no flutter.

I was sitting in bed reading after Richard had gone to sleep, when she kicked me. She kicked me really hard. Multiple times. If there was a sound effect associated with this kick, it would definitely be a "WHOMP!" I was so excited, I cried. Then she kicked me again, and I laughed. Which only made her kick me more.

I had no idea how this would make me feel. I thought I knew we were having a baby, but last night it became infinitely more real. It is a real baby in there. Our baby. I didn't know I could love someone I had never met... this much! I can only imagine what seeing her and holding her will make me feel.

Thank you Father God for the gift of this little girl! Please make us into the parents you want us to be, and teach us how to love her the way you love us!!

Baby Cakes

August 12th: I thought this was the cutest idea, and a great way to announce the sex of the baby to the rest of the family. It is called Baby Cakes. The basic gist is that you have the ultrasound tech write down the sex of the baby, and then seal it in an envelope. You then give the envelope to the bakery at Publix (Yeah Publix), and they will make you a white cake with either blue or pink icing on the inside. Then, when you cut the cake the colored frosting is revealed!!!

So, the day after our ultrasound we announced the sex of the baby to our families with a baby cake!

The cake says "Congratulations! We are having..." There are Bee's on the cake, which Alyssa thinks are symbolic for "B's"... for Baby or Blakely. Hmmm... we will see.

Cutting the cake.... will the frosting be blue or pink?....

It's a GIRL!!!!! It's a GIRL!!! It's a GIRL!!! Yeah for Blakely!!!

I love this picture!! My mom and sister were actually there for the cake cutting, but several people had to be present via speaker phone. In the background of this shot, you can see Rich's phone with his parents on the line, and my Mom's phone with Daddy on the line. Everyone was very excited... and there were several tears. After all, this will be the first Grand baby on BOTH sides, and the first GIRL for the Monk's!!

Sooo.... introducing Ms. Blakely Haynes Monk!!! She will be making her debut this coming New Year!!

Everyone is so excited to meet you, sweet girl!! Gigi and Alyssa can't wait for your first shopping trip!!

Can't wait to meet you, baby girl!! Mommy and Daddy are so excited you are going to be ours!!!

ANATOMY SCAN!!

August 11th: Today is the big day!! The day that Richard and I find out if we are having a boy or a girl!! We have our guesses, but today we will find out for real! Unfortunately, we are not announcing the sex to family until this weekend.... so you will just have to wait. :)

However, I will let y'all enjoy the ultrasound pictures today.... with a few edits! ;)

This picture makes me laugh. It looks like the baby has a "Jay Leno" chin, but he/she actually has their arm up near their face. Don't worry baby, I will love you EVEN if you do have a "Jay Leno" chin!!

Alyssa thoughts this picture looks like my me a little bit.

Look how cute this little foot is!!

Heart beat is 153!! Old wives tales say 140-150 is a boy, and 150-160 is a girl. We will have to wait and see if they are right... or not.

I love this little munchkin, but some of these 3D pictures are a little creepy looking.

I don't know it you can see it, but the baby was sucking his/her thumb during the ultrasound. So cute!

Alyssa thought this picture looked a lot like my mom. Good thing my mom is a cutie! If it turns out to be a boy, I am going to be REALLY interested to see what a male version of my mother would look like.

Look at theses sweet little legs and feet!! He/she had his/her ankles daintily crossed during the whole ultrasound! So sweet!

I know you really can't tell from an ultrasound, but this little baby is going to be a cutie! Trust me... I know these things!

So I know what we are having.... Richard knows what we are having... and our OB and Ultrasound Tech know what we are having.... but YOU DON'T! You will just have to wait and see with the rest of the family tomorrow night! Baby Cakes here we come!

Happy 29th Birthday!!

July 28th: Today is my 29th birthday!! I am currently on the ward's still, so we won't get to celebrate with the family until August. However, Richard surprised me and picked me up at work and took me downtown for dinner!! We went to Social first for appetizers, then went to SNOB (one of my favorite restaurant's)!!

When we got home from dinner, we found my birthday present from my parents on the porch!!

 They got me (and the baby) the Kendall Crib from Pottery Barn!!! I absolutely love it!!!

I had picked it out Month's ago, and I could not believe that my Mom had gotten for me!! What I love best about this crib is that it will look great in a girl or boy babies room. Right now it is still in the box, so for now I will have to imagine what it will look like!! Can't wait to put my sweet little baby in this crib!!

Month 4 Photo

July 25th: Trying to keep up to date with my monthly photos is harder than I thought. I just keep forgetting. So the month 4 picture was kind of rushed. I had forgotten to take the picture, so Alyssa shot one really quick at Zaxby's while we were out to dinner. My apologizes, but here it is....

I think this might be the first picture where you can see my bump!!

Sorry for the quality of the photo. I promise to do a better job with the month 5 photo!! Until then....

Decorating Ideas and Baby Names

July 20: Now that we are getting REALLY, REALLY close to finding out the sex of the baby, I wanted to share our baby names and my decorating ideas.

WARNING: All of my decorating ideas are BOLD colors. I know that traditionally baby rooms are usually done in pastels, but I am not a pastel girl. Also, bold colors are good for the baby's brain development and stimulation.

If it is a boy, we are planning on naming him Hudson Jeffery Monk. Hudson is a family name from Richard's side of the family, and Jeffery is my Dad's name.

I loved this Eric Carle Themed baby bedding!! My mom was a Kindergarden teacher, so I am very well versed in "The Hungry, Hungry Catapillar."

If it is a girl, we are planning on naming her Blakely Haynes Monk. Blake is Richard's grandmother's maiden name, and Haynes was my Mimi's maiden name. I knew I wanted to honor my grandmother in someway in naming the baby. I love you Mimi!! :)

For anyone who has ever been to my home, you will KNOW that I love the color red!! I love this red, pink and teal bedding!! I think it is bold, fun and sophisticated. It also will look really good in my house!!

We are on countdown now to Anatomy Scan, scheduled for August 11th!! We will know shortly.... is it a Blakely or is it a Hudson!!!! Can't wait!!!



Boy or Girl???

July 14: Okay, so the title may have gotten several reader's really excited. Unfortunately, I am not announcing the official sex of the baby. However, as a consolation prize, I am announcing the sex of the duck baby (see post from July 1st if this confuses you)!!

IT'S A....

GIRL!!!

The duck baby is a girl!! I am super surprised by how fast duck babies grow up... in only 2 weeks, she went from an ambiguous little duckling to teen, girl duck! So, if my prediction holds true that means Richard and I are going to have a little girl, too!!! Cross your fingers... only 3 weeks to my anatomy scan!!