36 Weeks and a Surprise

There is something to be said about a woman's intuition...

I have been experiencing menstrual-like cramps and pretty intense pelvic pain for a couple of weeks now.  The doctor just said, "Oh, the baby's head is just really low."  Well, I had my 36 week appointment today and found out that although I am not currently dilated, I am 80% effaced and the baby's head is fully engaged at zero station.  I knew something weird was going on with my body, because something just didnt feel right.  The doctor is not worried at all and we will just have to see what happens at next weeks appointment.

Rueben and I, along with the encouragement of my parents, have decided to have the baby back home in Silverdale where we are from.  All of our family is there and it just makes sense since this is where we will make our permanent home.  We were planning on moving after the baby was born but it just happened to be good timing so we are all packed and ready to leave.  

Its bittersweet though.. leaving a good job and close friends I have made here.  Don't get me wrong, I am stoked to get home to family and friends!  It will just be an adjustment to not come home and lounge on the couch with Lisa watching Jon & Kate +8.  We have had some good times and you will be missed so much Miss Wisa!  

Lisa, my roomie for the past year and a half and great friend!  Luv ya girl!

35 Weeks

Just hit the 35 week mark. Its funny, you wait so long to get here and yet there is still so much time to go. Currently planned, I will be induced on July 2nd. That way we can get Rueben home for the birth. With all the contractions I've been having, you'd think the baby was ready to come now! I haven't quite reached that "uncomfortable" stage but I'm sure its on the way. Sleeping through the night is virtually impossible now. Oh well...

I attended my birthing class this weekend. It was actually really interesting and I learned so much more than I thought I would. Lisa went with me as my "coach" it made for an interesting and funny weekend. Thanks so much Lisa!

Hubby is doing fine. He has been able to contact me a few times a week, which really puts my mind at ease. I can't believe he will be home soon. I am so excited that all I do is daydream about it! I'm praying constantly and hoping God returns him safe and sound and keeps his troops safe as well.

Maternity Pics

Rueben had been asking for quite sometime if I would get professional maternity pictures done. Well, I had plans on doing them anyway, but I kept making excuses like "They are just too expensive," so that I could surprise him with them. Having this planned for a few months, I was excited to finally get them done and was very pleased with the outcome. I had them done with Elisha Rain Photography in Seattle. Elisha is very down to earth, extremely pleasant to be around, and really makes you feel comfortable in her studio. I would recommend her if you are looking to get maternity pics done.

Her website: http://www.elisharainphotography.com/

I was planning on surprising Rueben with these photos for Father's Day but I was a bit too excited to wait and I had to get them printed right away. Regardless, he loved them. There are some that he liked that I will not post ;)

Here are some of our favorites..

Baby Shower - May 16th

It's been a few weeks since I have updated and there have been many fun events that have happened since. I attended the wedding of my dear friends Alissa and Mitch. The wedding was beautiful and turned out to be a gorgeous spring day for their May 16th wedding..and if you know Washington and weather, you'd know that it was just plain luck they had warm sunshine! Congrats to the happy couple!

Also my mother and bestie threw me my baby shower. It was lovely! They really put some time and effort into it and it turned out wonderful! Every little detail made the shower truly memorable. My mother-in-law was unable to make it (her eldest son graduated from Georgetown Law that day) but she was still able to add sweet little touches like the flowers grown from her garden and a very creative and fun gift for the baby (pics below). I was kicked out of the house until after the shower started so I was completely surprised to walk into the house and see all the beautiful decorations and food that my mom and Andrea, and her helpers put together. I saw all my fabulous girlfriends from high school and college and family friends. All in all, it was a wonderful day! It went by so fast that I feel like I was trying to be everywhere at once, so for those of you whom I didnt get the chance to really visit with, I apologize. When the little one comes, I'm sure we will have more time.

Mom and Andrea had this cute idea of putting up baby pictures of Rueben and I. They were so cute!

My mom and her helpers, Kristina and Anita, my brothers' girlfriends. They really helped in putting everything together for that day. Thanks gals!

Mom.. I mean... Grandma-to-Be and I.

Bestie, Andrea! :)

Cute little diaper cake that Kristina made. I'd never seen one of these before! How creative!

This was the gift that Rueben's mom, grandma, and brothers put together for us. It was adorable! It was a baby bath tub filled with baby clothes on a clothesline. The clothes ranged from new born to 18 months and went all the way into the kitchen. This little girl has everything she will need for a while!

Momma's Gettin' BIG!!!

Well, here we are at almost 31 weeks.  I am feeling ok but a little sore in places.. I guess just the usual fatigue that comes with pregnancy.  On a great note, I am looking so forward to some the events coming up this month.. my friends wedding, my baby shower, and a trip to the Oregon Coast with the family to see my brother Michael!!  I am so excited to see friends and actually have some FUN!  

Rueben and I are still working on the baby's name.  We are so close to a final product but who really knows.  We may just have to wait to see her to decide!  

Speaking of hubby..  he is doing well.  Unfortunately, due to his hectic schedule we don't have the chance to talk quite as often as we did last month.  Its taking some getting used to, I was a bit spoiled talking to him a few times a week.  I am just missing him alot and anxiously awaiting his return home!

Love you all..

28 Weeks and 3D Pics

Here we are at 28 weeks. Like I always say, "Time is flying!"

I had my 28 week ultrasound. According to the tech, the baby is looking really good and really healthy and right on target for July 8th. Here are some of the 3D ultrasound pictures:

Technology is insane!! I can't believe I saw my baby girls face! Right now she is in the vertex (head down) position but she still has a bit of room to move around in there. She measures to be about 15 inches head-to-toe and weighs 2.4 lbs. This last trimester she will just be working on putting on more weight. So exciting!

Update on Hubby:
Rueben is back at TQ.. somewhere in between Ramadia and Fallujah. He has been putting in lots of long hours training for a new position. He seems to be doing well and time is going by so fast for him as well! Before we know it, he will be home, and baby will be here :)

Proposal Pics

So, I finally received the proposal pics from Rueben's mom this past weekend.  I am so glad I finally have them!  Anyhow, these pictures were taken on December 19, 2008.  

I was in the middle of the room opening my white elephant gift during Rueben's family's Christmas gathering and was totally shocked by the creative way he asked me to marry him!  :)

I know the Charmin is a romantic touch.. the ring wasnt actually in the box, it was a plastic ring and at first I really didn't get what was going on (such a dork)!

Ok, now I get it!  When he asked me, my heart fell into my stomach.  I was so nervous and excited, I dont even think I said "yes" right away!

Rueben has always been great at surprising me and I absolutely LOVE surprises!  This was by far the best stunt he's ever pulled!  

My favorite picture!!  Us...

26 Weeks

Well a couple more weeks and I'll be into the 3rd trimester.  I'm still in awe of how quickly time is passing!

Here is a pic of this enormous belly!  I'll update again in a couple of weeks when I go home for Easter to see the family including my brother Michael!  Haven't seen that stranger since Christmas!

Update on hubby:

Rueben is currently on his way to his old base.  He will be going back to sleepless nights running missions and the very busy work schedule he had just months ago.  I ask that everyone please keep Rueben in your prayers for a safe and healthy return home.  3 more months!

Does this child ever sleep?

Well, I am wondering if this baby ever manages to get any sleep.  She is constantly moving!!  It doesn't matter what time of day.  Sometimes I'll feel a hard thump and I just wonder what kind of acrobatics she is doing in there.  As of this week, she should be measuring about 8 inches long and a pound in weight.  It certainly feels heavier in there.  

I have been feeling some tightening in my belly.  Sometimes it hurts and other times it almost just feels like cramping.  Totally normal, I hear.  

Update on hubby:

He is headed back to the original base he was at when he first got to Iraq.  Although I am not happy about that he has reassured me several times that everything will be fine.  I can only put my faith and trust in the Lord that He will keep Rueben and his men safe.  Rueben will get to that base around the 1st of April.  That means only 3 more months!

23 Weeks

Well, I am slowly recovering from a cold.  It put me down for about 3 days.  I was convinced that because I've been hyped up on so many vitamins I wouldn't get sick this year.. I jinxed myself.  Therefore, the weekend was quite uneventful.  I managed to get most of the baby registry done (which was done with the help of Bre-thanks girl!), still working on a couple of other things.  

The only eventful thing that did happen this weekend was the new little addition to the Kat/Lisa household, Macy (Lisa's new pug mix puppy).  She is absolutely darling and only weighs about 1.2 lbs at 6 weeks old.  Lisa rescued her from the Prosser Animal Shelter.  Lisa is going to make a good real mommy one day, lol!

Word is...  Momma Gina is suppose to be coming out here next weekend.  Fun stuff!  I am looking forward to it.. I'm sure it will entail alot of wedding/baby planning :)  

Update on hubby:

He will find out on March 11th if he is going to transfer to another base or not.  He has been busy taking care of his guys and making plans for us when he gets home.  Oh, and in less than 3 months he will be home!!!!  YAY!  Time is flying and I hope it continues on that way.  All I can do is day dream about him actually being here with us and our small family.  I love you sweetheart!

The Beginning of the 6th Month..

I can't believe I have almost reached my 22nd week.  Time is flying!  And this belly is getting HUGE!  My roommate Lisa and I were just talking and she said I popped in the last week or so.  Its getting harder and I feel movement all the time.  Today I think she had the hiccups, a rhythmical move.  It made me giggle.  

Anyway, I spent the weekend at my parents house.  My mom and I ran many errands and met with a wedding planner.  She also took me to go baby clothes shopping.  That was fun and if I hear "thats so cute" again in the next week or so I might go insane.  It's pretty much a given phrase when looking at baby girl clothes :)

Rueben and I chatted on Skype this weekend.  He seems to be in good spirits, being that he was laughing at me most of the conversation.  He never says much about what he's doing over there, which is fine, he mostly just asks about me and the baby and ideas about the future.  He is a planner and has been using his down time to do research for the next steps in our life.  I can't even fathom how excited I am for him to come home and to our little family.  I miss Rueben terribly.  I wish he could be here to experience this pregnancy with me.  But I have been doing everything in my power to keep him as informed and involved in whats going on with baby and me.  I have sent him a couple books to read and I email him with weekly updates on baby.  I think he is beginning to grow attached to her now.  He always says hello to the baby and is constantly asking me to send her his love.  He is going to be such a wonderful father.

I have a doctors appt on Thursday evening.  Nothing too exciting the just usual check up.  In about 6 weeks or so we will do another ultrasound but this time it will be 3d.  We'll be able to actually see the baby.  Very exciting!  

Take care everyone.. all my love.

It's a GIRL!!

Well, its been 18 weeks now.. As you can tell from the pictures the belly is growing!! I wish it would slow down or I'm in trouble :)

Anyhow, I had my 18 week doctors appointment this week. My friend Andrea made it out to come with me. Unfortunately, the phones in Iraq just so happened to be down when Rueben was suppose to call so sadly, he missed the big news. We got to see the baby move (dancin' like its momma - as Andrea would say). The ultrasound tech even said "this baby has the widest feet I've ever seen!" Lol.. those come from daddy! It is truly the coolest thing to see your baby move, see and hear its heart beat, and count all the fingers and toes. The baby is perfectly healthy (all the tests came back normal) with a heart beat at 145 bpm. In the meantime, we waited to find out the sex until Rueben called, but as time soon ran out, we just had to know. It's a GIRL!!!! Rueben finally called a couple of hours later, as he was a bit disappointed he didn't get to be there. Finally, we can stop calling the baby "it". She has an identity now. We are thrilled about our little baby girl. Rueben will be wrapped around her finger and I will have a little mini me to dance in the living room with. Mom says its payback :) And I think I realize that. Rueben and I are excited and still debating some names, but we are VERY close to the final product. The grandparents are excited and so are the uncles. This little girl is going to have all these manly men wrapped around her finger and I can't wait to see it!

I am so excited now to look for baby girl items. I even picked up a bright pink Jordan onesie set today.. you know, for Rueben. Oh, I forgot, she has been moving so much! I can finally feel her. The books are right, you really feel a close bond with your child. Especially when you feel it move and know what the baby is. I really feel like I am enjoying my pregnancy.

Andrea and I enjoyed our little weekend together. We did a little shopping and even got mani/pedi's, being that its getting difficult to paint my own toes :) I asked her/told her if she would be my matron of honor.. I think behind the tears she was happy about it :)

So, lots of really wonderful things happening... I'll keep you updated!

A Little History

So I guess I should catch some of you up on our lives and future plans.. I'll make it somewhat short :)

As many of you know, Rueben and I met 3 1/2 years ago in college at Central Washington University and started dating almost immediately. I was the patient football girlfriend (Carrie and Nicole, you know what I mean!) but nonetheless, we had some great times! We graduated in 2007 and 2008 and have been pursuing our careers since. I was recruited to work for Bechtel National, a international construction company in Richland, WA at the Hanford Reservation. I am a Safety and Health Specialist, which means, I look out for the construction workers to make sure they dont kill themselves (kind of like OSHA). Rueben has been in the National Guard for almost 9 years and was activated last spring for ANOTHER tour in Iraq. He is a Staff Sargent and is in charge of about 12 young guys. I am very proud of Rueben. He possesses all the traits that a strong, smart soldier should and is so good at what he does. That is why I have no doubt that he will be home in just a few months for the birth of our little one. All I have to do is call to let him know when its "time". Being a military wife is going to be interesting, but who am I kidding?? I've been a military brat since the day I was born and I've got a good mentor, my mother. I'm sure she will have lots of advice to give me. :)

Rueben came home during the month of December for his two-week pass. During that time, on December 19, 2008, his family had their Christmas gathering. He invited my parents as well. We had a wonderful meal together and afterwards, while everyone sat around to participate in white elephant he proposed! It was a complete surprise! And the ring was amazing!!! He is always so good at surprising me. Anyhow, we have set a date for our wedding celebration for November 7, 2009. Lots of planning ahead of us, wedding and baby!

In the meantime, please keep Rueben in your thoughts and prayers..

My First Blog

So I decided I would start a blog for family and close friends. As you all may know, Rueben and I are expecting our first child July 8, 2009. Today I am 16 weeks 3 days along. Time has been flying! The first trimester was pretty good other than being tired and little to no morning sickness, just a little bit of food rejection. Now, in my second trimester, I feel great and energetic. I talk to Rueben quite often and since we began talking on skype he gets to see my belly and even talk to the baby (so cute)!

My next doctors appointment is on February 5th. I will be 18 weeks by then and will be having an ultrasound to find out the gender of the baby. My dear friend Andrea is flying out to come to the appointment with me (thank you girl) so I dont have to go alone. Rueben will be there as well. He will be on the phone when we hear the news and I've even been directed to bring the video camera with me (Andrea has her work cut out for her :) Don't worry grandparents, you'll know soon enough! So place your bets now.. Girl or Boy???

We are excited either way, although still debating some names for either gender, but really just hoping for a healthy child. God has blessed us so far and I can only continue to ask for his many blessings throughout the pregnancy.

I hope everyone is doing great! All my love..