25 Weeks and Counting!

So much going on - so much to talk about - so little time to actually write my thoughts down. Wish I was better at this.





So, yes, I am already 25 weeks pregnant! Feeling pretty good as well. Some carpal tunnel(which sucks) and some heartburn(which I am told means the baby will have a bunch of hair ) but other than that, I cannot complain. And I won't because it truly is such a joy to be experiencing this. I can seriously sit on the couch or my bed and stare at my belly for hours. To see the jumps and pops and feel them is just amazing. Andrew and I both feel that Abbey understands something is going on and still loves curling up with me - which leads to my favorite picture of the moment:
My sweet Abbey girl sleeping all snuggled up to Tucker. Yup - that's the decided upon name! Tucker Andrew Marsh! I love it!

On the move!

So this is a quick one, but someone asked if I was keeping a journal. I said no, but I was writing this and I realized how cool this will be for me to look back on and know what I was feeling/thinking/etc.
So I have definitely popped in the last week or two. I look pregnant now! I love my baby bump! Love feeling the little guy moving and squirm and kick and punch. Love being able to see him bop around at times too! Andrew loves it when he can feel it as well - hard at times to get him there at the specific time - I think the nugget stops moving just to annoy him;)

But, I am going ot have my friend Carrie take some pictures soon! A bunch with me and the belly and Andrew and Abbey. I want to start ensuring I have documentation of this wonderful and blessed time!!!

It's a Boy!

So yes - we found out the Thursday before Thanksgiving - it's a boy! So very exciting. Andrew had said that morning that while he just wanted a healthy human, he would like a boy to carry on the family name, but he thought it was a girl. I didn't have any dreams but also kinda thought it was a girl as well. But they showed us the 'boy parts' as the nurse said, and Andrew and I both teared up. It was so sweet. And he is already the cutest thing I could imagine! Hard to believe you can be so in love with something so small that you haven't really met yet.

But while we haven't met, he has been moving around a lot! Andrew finally felt it for the first time a couple weeks ago and got all smiley. He is moving around a little more everyday and yesterday we could actually start seeing little bumps an kicks while watching my belly. Funny - we watched some tv yesterday and I sat there just staring at my stomach for an hour! So cool though!

We are so busy with so many things - work, baby, house - and there are a bunch of things in limbo right now - so it is exciting and scary all at once. We have a big week coming up ahead of us with some major things being decided on. Cryptic - yes, sorry, but that is where we are at! But through it all, we are both loving on this little boy nigget so much. He is going to love Abbey and they are going to be best buds. We can't wait to meet him!

Growing Fast!

So yesterday was our AMAZING doctor visit where we got to see the baby in the ultrasound and little nugget was MOVING! Flipping and turning, but all in the right way said the doctor. Baby moved into all the proper positions for them to see what they needed to. And yes, that includes the gender - but you will have to wait to read that til after we see family next week and tell them in person!

But SO cool to see how much nugget has grown and see the cute little profile picture with a nose and lips. And the favorite position seems to be with one hand up to its forehead in a woe is me kind of motion. Gets that from Andrew;)

We are overjoyed with this pregnancy and I am loving feeling the little one move and flip and turn inside of me. Can't wait for Andrew to be able to feel it as well!

19 Weeks!

Ok - so here is the first picture we have finally taken of my belly. Not a good one - but it was late last night and inside and, well, it's the best we could do in a hurry. I do like how Abbey is looking at me like what is happening? Missing my head - but oh well, that's not what people are looking at anyway!

Two more days until we find out the sex of the baby! I am so excited. I don't have any ideas and haven't had any dreams one way or the other. Have thought of pro's for both sides. Just can't wait to finally know! Let's just hope he/she doesn't have their legs crossed.

Feeling good aside from my hourly trips to the bathroom. Finally figured out this horrible carpal tunnel. It involves Andrew having to sleep on the very edge of the bed so I can lie on the other edge and fully stretch my arms out straight. If not, if they are bent at all, then my left arm goes tingly and numb and my elbow and middle two fingers HURT.

Got to sit at Dynamite this morning with Scott and Katherine and Rip and Natalie and hear lots of wonderful horror stories about birth and motherhood. Thanks guys! Bring it on!

Am looking for a great maternity winter coat - that is the only thing I think I still have to buy me that is a necessity. It is going to get cold here and my jackets won't zip up!

I promise to take a better picture next week!

18 Weeks and counting!

18 weeks pregnant already?! So exciting. The nugget is moving around daily and I can't wait for it to get a little bigger so Andrew can feel the movements too. He tries at times, but it is still too early.

Loving being pregnant - so excited about this little life growing inside of me. Andrew said something about my birthday yesterday (he thought I said something, but heard me wrong) I told him SO much has to happen before my next birthday. There is Thanksgiving, then Christmas, and oh yeah - a baby being born!

He went to visit his Mom for her 85th birthday and came home with the little spoon and fork he used when he was a baby - so sweet.

And in just one week we get to find out if it is a boy or a girl! So cool! Then we can spend the 8 hour drive up for Thanksgiving picking out names. And start shopping! SO much to do! So wonderful!

I want a bigger bed though. While Andrew was gone, I was able to strecth out and sleep with my arms flat and stretched out. And I had no issues with carpal tunnel. I am very happy he is home - but last night was painful sleeping. Woke up a bunch of times and finally gave up about 6:30am. Numb and tingly arms and hands. Gotta figure out how else to make this go away.

Is it weird that I can't wait til I am showing so much more? I saw my friend Nat yesterday out at lunch and she is due in two weeks. She looked great! And so cute! And with a wonderful baby belly! I'm not ready for this to be almost over, but I do just love the feeling of being pregnant and my body changing. What a blessing.

Preggo Brain and Goings Ons

So everyone has been saying that pregnancy brain is a real thing and I swear it is true! I am not usually as forgetful/absentminded as I have been latey! Yesterday I went for my haircut at 10am. Walked in and the lady said - um, that's tomorrow. Great. So I went back today and jokingly asked - is THIS the right day? Ha! I got my trim and color done!

Afterwards I had to take Abbey to the vet for an annual shot and went to Bone-A-Fide Bakery afterwards to get her a treat. FREAKED out because I could not find my wallet in my purse. Thought I had left it at the vet's maybe? Nope - it was under my armpit the whole time!

My ultimate panic attack for misplacing something was at the airport ont he way home from Hawaii 2 weeks ago. The flights was delayed, but then we got on an earlier one, I was starving and thought we would get food, but then it was like, no the plane is boarding. Then I looked in my purse and only pulled out my wedding band, not my engagement ring. I had taken them off because between pregnancy, late at night bloating, and swelling of fingers on planes, they were hurting. So I freaked! I was crying to Andrew int he middle of the airport and proceeded to dump my whole purse out on the airport floor. THANKFULLY, it was in there and I just looked int he wrong pocket. But those 5 minutes felt like 5 hours. I was so drained by the time I got on the plane.

I also have developed carpal tunnel while I sleep - so that is a pain and hurts at times. I have been trying to sleep with straight wrists the last 2 nights and it helps, but is awkward!

BUT, despite all of this - I LOVE being pregnant and am so very excited!!! We will find out the sex of the baby in two weeks! I know, I know - some of you say, yes do it! Some say, leave it as a surprise! Well, we are finding out - so there! ;) No, but really, people have very adamant positions on this and want to try to force them on us. Seriously, I like hearing friendly advice from friends. But all the unwanted and unsolicted advice from strangers or people whose opinions dont really matter to me (sorry, that sounds harsh - but no, your child isn't perfect and you do not know everything) is annoying at times and I know it is just the beginning!

But much love to my sweet hubby who is a trooper through my ups and downs and to all my sweet, wonderful friends who are amazing! I do love hearing all the stories from friends whose first baby was their dog and how they made it all work. Abbey is going to LOVE being a big sister and she will be so great with the little nugget!

PREGNANT!

So on August 3rd I found out I was pregnant! SO excited!

It was sweet cause that night I hosted an all girls slumber party at my house. At the peak time there were 12 girls ranging from under a year old to about 10 and also 12 adults. Thanks to Katherine for bringing the case of wine for the ladies. Funny cause none of them noticed that I wasn't drinking. I was sure it would come up, but nope! I guess it was just heavily on my mind right then - it was all I could think about!

I know you aren't suppossed to tell so early but I also know that it is nice to have some support along the way. So a few of my girlfriends found out.

I am starting my 5th month now and Andrew has been meaning to take pics of my belly week by week, but we have yet to. Maybe we will start tonight! Not showing too much, but I sure can notice. It has been so wonderful letting everyone know and hearing so much happiness from so many people I love so dearly.

Andrew has been amazing. He wants in on every doctor's visit and everytime we read something about what I should be doing or eating, he wants to run to the store for some organic milk or tofu or whatever it said I should be getting more of. I love him so much and am so blessed to have him in my life. We have been reading a pregnancy journal every night. It is sweet. We let Abbey up on the bed and I read what is going on with the baby and my body that day. Almost 5 inches long right now!

Speaking of Abbey - Andrew swears she knows I am pregnant. That dog sense kicking in - she loves to snuggle up with me and watch over me. It has been great chatting with some of my friends about their experiences with dogs and first babies. I love all of your advice and stories - so please keep it coming.

However - seriously people, keep the bad stories to yourself. Don't try to scare a pregnant lady about how horrible your labor was and the pain and bleeding you had a month beforehand and then got put on bedrest. I understand it isn't going to be like popping a daisy out - but don't think of the worst story you can and tell me.

I do love being pregnant though. I haven't enjoyed every moment - but I still love it. It has been hard laying off the exercise - my body hasn't enjoyed the strenuous stuff the last couple months. I am going to try to get back into some of it. I have been doing some yoga and walking - but really want to do more.

We find out in a few weeks if it is a boy or a girl - SO excited about that! I have thoughts about each. Andrew says he just wants it to be human and healthy. Sounds good to me! Then we can start working on names. I really haven't given it much thought - too many to think about with both genders in mind. Nice to narrow it down. I have a feeling it may be a girl and would love one. But would also love a little boy. And I like the thought of a boy and the Marsh family name living on. That is sweet.

So - I am going to try to keep up with this more in the next 5 months and beyond. We'll see how that goes. I am BAD at blogging and keeping up with it - but I know a lot of folks I don't talk to often - family especially who don't live close - would love to keep up on the little nugget!

Spring/Summer 2010

So really there is a big skip here in time, but life has been CRAZY since Andrew came home.

A couple days after he got back, I ran in the Black Mountain Greenway Challenge 5K and got 1st Woman OVERALL! Wahoo! Never done that before and never will again!

Summer has been busy with XTERRA and work and getting ready for the Sourwood 5K. That was just this past weekend and went VERY well. I am so lucky to have such great support from my friends who I got volunteer and the community and all the runners. It was a terrific day and the only thing bad is that Andrew and I were blown out exhausted at the end.

Winter 2009/2010

So Andrew and I both got the opportunity to work at the Olympics this year! We spent our time in Whistler working with the Broadcasting Services - too cool! I spent 20 days at the Nordic Ski Jump Venue and met some incredible people and had the most amazing experience.


First off, it was a difficult January being home without Andrew. He got the job and left 3 days later and I was on my own for the most amount of time EVER. Not just lately, or since I met Andrew, but EVER. He left a week before Christmas and I was on my own to do the shopping, pack up the car and the dog, and drive north to visit family. He did get to come home for 3 days for Christmas - so that was nice! He came into BWI since I was already there and we went to his mom's for a few days.


While visiting family I met up with 3 friends that I had not seen since high school graduation! Jenny and Marilena and I had a great dinner and caught up on life and babies and everything - such a great time! I also went over to Amy's house and met her two sweet boys and drank some coffee and chatted like old friends (ha! we are!) It was great to put some negative feelings about high school in general in the past and have a good time with these terrific ladies.


I also had a blast hanging with my nephews and sledding with them and Abbey and throwing snowballs! I went to dinner one night with my big sis and had such a wonderful time. She is such a smart and beautiful woman and I am so happy to be related to her.

So then I came home and spent January getting work taken care of and missing my hubby like crazy!! Thankfully I have some awesome friends and they helped to make the time go by faster and funner (more fun, I know!)


Then it was off to Whistler! It was such an incredible time and I could not begin to tell everything about it. Here is a link to all of the pictures of my time! I know, lots of trees and mountains, but it was so pretty!



So at the end of my time, I had to say goodbye to Andrew again and head home for another month without him. It is great to be home - I really love Black Mountain and my life and my friends - but I miss him a ton.
April 1 my sweetie comes home, and we celerate our 2nd wedding anniversary on the 5th! I am a lucky girl!