IT'S A...

boy boy boy boy boy boy boy boy boy BOY! boy boy boy boy boy boy boy boy boy boy

We couldn't be more excited and are praising God that we got an amazing look at our son during the ultrasound yesterday.  

Highlights of that for me were:

1. Hearing and seeing the heartbeat and all four chambers

2. Seeing both hemispheres of his brain

3. Watching baby boy move around as I felt his little punches and kicks

4. Seeing his cute little profile and face when he turned at looked straight at us in the camera :) 

5. Seeing all five fingers open on one of his hands

6. Seeing some of his tiny bones and ribs

Ok...so the entire experience was amazing.  I told the ultrasound technician I'm pretty sure I could stay there all day and watch our little guy move around.  I can't wait to interact with this little boy and be able to love on him and look in his eyes and kiss his cheeks and feel his little fingers and toes!!!  I decided that I didn't want to hear what the gender was in the doctor's office (I knew I would need to jump around and squeal and be giddy and Dave would not like that in public ;)) So, I told him to come up with some way to surprise me with the news.  We would be happy either way, but it was exciting for me to think about this being his little secret for the rest of the day.  This is what he came home with:

So...he did a good job :)

I can't wait for this mini-Dave to arrive!

First family photo

Wanted to share a few of these lovely photos taken by my wonderful cousin, Ashley, who we were able to visit with the weekend before last!  She snapped our first family photo... 

The fashionable and very generous baby bag from Ash and Ryan..thanks again!! 

The Webbubers ;)

Dave figured out how to use the timer on our camera :)

In other news, we are 18 weeks today!  (Little Lewis is about the length of a bell pepper)  Got the baby room painted this past Saturday.  I would take a picture but it's just an empty room, so not very exciting at the moment.  I'm looking forward to registering soon--we are hoping to find out the sex a week from today!  So far, we have had a few people guess that it's a girl and no one has guessed boy...I can hardly wait to find out and start looking for all the fun stuff that baby will need.  Any suggestions for what items you mommies out there are either really glad to have or haven't used as much as you thought you would?  Or wish you would have had sooner?  I want to take as many of your suggestions into consideration so hopefully the selection process will be less overwhelming--there are so many baby things out there nowadays!  I started a running list this morning while I was eating breakfast and and still have a lot to add to it. 

Also, just want to take time to say that I am grateful for tomorrow being Good Friday and for Easter weekend to again remember the price that Christ paid for our sins, and to celebrate His power in defeating death by rising again so we can have the hope of everlasting life with Him.  I cannot imagine entering into parenthood without the hope of knowing that although I am weak and bound to fail in countless ways as a mother, Christ is all sufficient and I can rest in His hands and put all of my hope and trust in Him.   

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” - John 10:10, 11, 18, 28-30 

Apple's First Outfits

We are hoping to find out the sex of our little one at our next ultrasound at the end of this month (can't hardly wait for that!)  In the meantime, we'll continue to have fun referring to our baby by whatever produce item it is compared to that week.  This week it's grown to be around 4 inches long, about the size of an apple :)

So, this weekend we went to a yard sale hosted by the family I was a nanny for last year.  I always love getting to see their sweet, smiling faces!  

 

I decided to sift through the bins of baby clothes and found a few gender neutral onesies and sleepers.  I got super excited about washing and folding and putting them away, imagining the day that I'll get to see our guy/gal wearing them!  Also got a maternity top and dress for when I'm busting out this summer.  Thanks, Lakins!  

Can't flip that picture for some reason...

Clearly, the overalls are all boy, but they were too cute to pass up.  I'll hold on to them until we find out which it is!