30 weeks

30 weeks and I'm starting to feel like I'm in my third trimester now. I'm feeling more exhausted, emotional, and just heavy lately. Jack's movements are getting bigger and, although still really cool, starting to also get uncomfortable at times. I'm wondering how much bigger I'm going to get in the next couple months! I know the baby's not done growing yet, and don't get me wrong, I definitely want him to grow; however, if that can happen without my belly getting any larger, that would really be great! Not sure I'll have much luck with that, though.

Shopping Spree!

Ed and I visited the outlet mall for a few things last weekend, and while we were there, I couldn't resist going into the Carter's outlet "just to look around."

Yeah right!

I ended up with a whole pile of outfits in my hands. Ed also joined in some of the madness and couldn't help but want to purchase some cute soccer outfits for little Jack. In the end, we knew we couldn't afford to purchase all of that stuff. We worked hard to limit our choices. After many minutes of mulling over which to choose, we finally settled for the little brown dinosaur outfit and the zip-up soccer hoodie that Ed really loved.

After this, we couldn't stop! We went into Old Navy to look at something for Ed and decided we HAD to stop in the baby department. I saw little giraffe onesies that I couldn't resist. "It will match his safari animal bedroom!"

I had already been eying a cute little giraffe at Target, so once we bought the little onesies from Old Navy, we stopped at Target and got the giraffe. It will go perfectly in the nursery! We decided we better get out of the stores and get home before it got too out of control! This can definitely be addicting!

For Baby Jack

Dear Jack,

I can't believe it is almost time to meet you. Your daddy and I are so excited. I can constantly feel you squirming around in my belly, and I can't help but think that maybe you are excited to meet us too! I am so curious about you. I can't wait to see what you look like and what kind of personality you have, what your likes and dislikes are, what you dream about, and what your voice will sound like. I try to picture you in this house with us, as a little baby with your little hands and feet, and then as a toddler running around the house and laughing at your daddy's jokes. I keep picturing what our lives will be like when you arrive, but I know it will be so much better than I could ever imagine! I already love you so much! I love it every time you kick or move and let us know you are okay. I love to hear your heart beating every time we visit the doctor's office. I love planning for the moment you will be born and for the many moments after. God has given us such a precious gift, and daddy and I are praying every day for you and the person you will grow up to be. We know that God is watching over you and that He has big plans for you. I can't wait to finally meet you and hold you in my arms!

Love,

Mommy

20 Questions: Revealing Baby P's Name

According to most soon-to-be parents, choosing a name can be a daunting process. For us, however, choosing the name was fairly easy. Revealing the name has been the more complicated task. From the beginning, Ed was set on keeping the name a secret until the baby was born. I, on the other hand, am horrible at keeping secrets and didn't think that I would be able to wait 4 months to tell. It became especially hard around Christmas time when we made the decision final and started calling him by name when we were by ourselves. Once we started this, it was hard not to slip in front of friends and family. With both of us being on different sides of the fence, Ed and I never officially decided that we would for sure wait to tell until the birth, so it was hard when people started to ask us about it.

Finally, during a New Year's Eve party at a good family friend's house, the pressure began. Our friends kept asking us questions about the name, and they put more pressure on when they realized that I wanted to tell! I kept looking at Ed, and he gave in saying that we could tell this group but no one else (which ended up not being the case since it was hard to stop once we started!) I probably asked him 10 times if he was really sure about it. When he assured me he was, we decided to make our friends guess with a game of 20 questions. As the game started, more of our friends and family gathered around and excitedly worked together to come up with yes or no questions about what we decided to name our little one. Different people were throwing out possible questions to ask, but also shouting, "That's not a question!" just to make sure we didn't answer or count that one. It was really a lot of fun! Finally, question number 13 was the winner. The name was revealed . . . Jack Edward.

Because we had so much fun with it, Ed and I made a whole bunch of people guess our baby's name in this manner during the following weeks. We also decided to announce the name in the shower invitations which was a good compromise for us. Ed felt that this was a more official way to announce it and was satisfied to the point that he no longer felt the need to wait. I'm glad because I am sure that it would eventually have slipped from my mouth at some point!

28 Weeks

I finally entered the third trimester this week! I'm definitely feeling a bit bigger, more exhausted, and more emotional lately. Ed could easily verify that last one. Our little one is still very active. I can constantly feel him moving all around. It's fun to see him moving too! Usually, whenever he is moving the most, he stops as soon as I call Ed over to see! Ed finally got to really see him kicking and shifting the other day, which was really fun. We keep wondering which part of him we are seeing and what he looks like. I guess we will find out soon enough. Our doctor's appointments have been going really well and everything is normal and on track. We are going every 2 weeks now. We also signed up for birthing classes, which will start in March. Things are moving along so fast; it's hard to believe that we are already less than three months away from meeting our little one!