Our Baby's Heart Beat: Thursday, August 19, 2010

After spending 8-days in Florida for Star Wars Celebration 5 and visiting family, we were anxious to get back home for our IMPORTANT ULTRASOUND!  This appointment was something we were looking forward too for several weeks so when the time finally came, it was a moment that words cannot express!

Since I am already emotional, hearing our Baby's Heart Beat made me CRY!!!  I believe it was at that moment I really felt pregnant!  There is a little one growing inside of me!  It is such an unexplainable feeling.  The sound of our Baby's Heart Beat is a miracle!  I can't wait to go back at 20-weeks and hear it again.  

We could actually see our Baby moving around in my tummy with this ultrasound and even the heart beating out of its little chest.  WOW!  All my Mommy friends have explained this moment but until you actually experience it yourself with your own baby...  You truly don't understand!  It was the best moment EVER!  I could have sat there all day.  Nothing can get better than my Husband there holding my hand and us hearing our Baby's Heart Beat for the first time!

The technician lady said that she was very pleased with the growth of our Baby and that everything looked great!  However, our Baby was being a bit stubborn!  She had to tap on my belly a few times so our Baby would go in the right position for more photos.  :)  

She did give us an indication of what she thought the SEX was...  But of course no telling until 20-weeks!  We are going to see our OBYGN this week, Wednesday, August 25, 2010 so she can go over the ultrasound with us and just to check up on me and Baby.  Dr. Swenson was able to email me over the weekend and this is what she said...

"This ultrasound looks great. Your next ultrasound will be at 20 weeks."

Stay tuned for another Blog Update this week after our OBGYN appointment...  I will be writing about what we are calling our Baby now and the names we have picked out if it is a BOY or a GIRL.

Thanks again for visiting our Blog...  Be sure to put in your vote on whether you think we are having a BOY or a GIRL.  Have a great week everyone!

Star Wars Celebration 5

Chris and I have spent the last week in Florida...  Leaving tomorrow (Wednesday, August 18, 2010) for much cooler weather in Chicago!  We keep saying we are not going to travel to FL in the Summer but it seems like the past few years we HAD no choice...  Brittany's Wedding in 2008, Fourth of July Weekend in 2009, and Star Wars Celebration 5 in 2010.  NOTHING IN 2011...  LOL!

Our first day here we were able to spend time with our Nephew Caleb, Brittany, and his parents.  It was so great to play with him.  We haven't seen him since our Wedding and he has gotten so BIG! Running around now and starting to talk!  Babies sure do grow up so fast!  Below is a photo of Chris and our Nephew Caleb...  He was getting ready to eat a snack!

Our stay there was short...  We headed to my Dad's the next day to stay there for a night.  He lives about half way in-between Chris' parents in Clearwater and our main destination in Orlando.  He grilled out for us...  We had steaks, salad, and broccoli.  It was delicious.  We wish we had more time to visit family on this trip but we are planning to come back in November or December for our Baby Shower!  That trip will be dedicated just to our family.

STAR WARS CELEBRATION 5

WOW...  It is really hard to explain the experience of volunteering for such an incredible celebration.  Over the years, Chris has been volunteering for Official Pix, which is a company that brings in the Star Wars Celebrities.  He has worked his way up to Floor Manager.  I had the opportunity to meet everyone in April and they asked me to volunteer.  I was excited and felt blessed that Chris and I were able to experience this together.

Chris is a HUGE Star Wars FAN!  I have to admit...  I never watched Star Wars until after I met Chris.  I enjoyed it very much and now I am a fan.  It is fun for us to get excited about things together.  It is the little things in life that are the most amazing.  Below, I tried to re-cap the 4-Day Celebration.  And, of course, added some photos!  Enjoy!

DAY ONE:  Thursday, August 12, 2010 was the FIRST DAY of Star Wars Celebration 5.  Chris was like a kid in a candy store.  To see him so happy, excited, and passionate about Star Wars brought joy to me.  The first time we walked into the Convention Center, I was like, "WOW!"  I had never seen so much Star Wars stuff in my life.  The place was filled with everything Star Wars you could think of.  It was pretty cool!  We both volunteered on Thursday.  I got to sit with Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and collect tickets.  It was great to be able to sit down since I am pregnant and being on my feet all day wasn't the idea of fun to me.  Chris was around the same area as me, managing everything.  He did such a wonderful job.  The day went by very fast...  We were in bed early that night!

DAY TWO:  Friday, August 13, 2010 was the SECOND DAY of Star Wars Celebration 5.  Chris volunteered on Friday and I did not.  It was a busy day for Chris...  Being on your feet for that many hours is exhausting, even when you are not pregnant!  I ended up going to the Convention Center early because our hotel room was a bad area for Internet and cell phone service.  I got some work done that day and the most important part was seeing Chris in-action.  It made me smile to see Chris working with all the Star Wars Celebrities.  There was definitely A LOT more people there on Friday.  Great day!  We ended up in bed early again!

DAY THREE:  Saturday, August 14, 2010 was the THIRD DAY of Star Wars Celebration 5.  And,  a very important one.  We got up at 6 AM to get tickets for the George Lucas and Jon Stewart Event.  We got into the digital room, which is not the main hall BUT it was still an experience of a lifetime.  

The best part about the MAIN EVENT was Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) coming out on stage!  It actually gave me goosebumps!  Being there with my Husband was more than I could ever ask for...  It is so hard to explain but an amazing moment.  This is something we will cherish for a lifetime...  Maybe next time we will be able to meet George Lucas in-person!

The rest of Saturday, Chris spent touring all the exhibitors at the Convention Center.  I decided it was time for me and Baby to take a nap.  I went back Saturday evening to pick up Chris.  His feet definitely were hurting after spending a full day since 6 AM on his feet.  OMG!  I almost forgot...  We got a photo with Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker).  That was a present from my Dad for Chris' birthday.  Chris wore a long-sleeve shirt that his parents got him for his birthday...  He said World's Best Dad with Darth Vader.  I wore a shirt that said Future Jedi Coming Soon!  It is an awesome photo!  I am hoping we will be able to get a digital copy so that we can post it for friends and family to see!  Below are some more photos of Saturday.  I will post most of them on FaceBook.

Chris and Anakin Skywalker from The Clone Wars

Me and Ohsaka from The Clone Wars

Chris and I with Jabba the Hut

Chris and I with R2D2 in One of the Many Exhibits

Chris with a Storm Trooper and Darth Vader (His Shirt Says World's Best Dad with Darth Vader)

Chris and I with the Carrie Fisher Poster

The rest of our time in FL is going to be spent with Chris' family...  His birthday is Friday, August 20, 2010 so we are taking him to dinner tonight.  It was a GREAT VACATION but looking forward to heading back to Chicago.  We get to hear our Baby's Heart Beat on Thursday, August 19, 2010.  BE SURE TO CHECK BACK FOR ANOTHER UPDATE!

Doctor's Appointment: Wednesday, July 21, 2010

As most of you know, during our first Pre-Natal visit on Wednesday, June 30, our doctor thought maybe we were having twins.  She wanted us to come back in 3-weeks.  I can't believe it has already been 3-weeks.  Time sure does fly-by.  So, that was the reason for today's appointment.

Well...  WE ARE NOT HAVING TWINS!  There is only one baby growing happily inside my tummy.  We were both a bit relieved as twins would be a huge responsibility.  As you can see from the photo below, there is a "line" at the top of the ultrasound.  Our doctor said that this could be from a twin.  

All of my blood work came back normal...  I am very healthy!  Our doctor said that everything looks great!  We go to Evanston Hospital on Thursday, August 19 for an Early Ultrasound, which means we will be able to hear our baby's heartbeat.  We are very excited about that!!!  Our next OBGYN visit is on Wednesday, August 25!

Be sure to stay-tuned for more updates...  We are traveling to Florida August 10 through August 18 for Star Wars Celebration 5.  We will be visiting Chris' parents and my Dad also, which will be nice!  Looking forward to it...   

Oh, and by the way, for all of you who know the story behind "222," the last four digits of the labor and delivery at our Hospital is "2222."  That is the strangest thing!  I bet our baby will be born on 2.22.11!

Our Big Surprise - Telling Dad and Sherry

Two-days after leaving Michigan from my birthday weekend, we drove back to New Buffalo to meet Dad, Sherry, Mom, Bruce, Ashlee, Kyle, Lisa, and Tony for dinner. Everyone knew about OUR BIG SURPRISE but Dad and Sherry! Again, I felt like it was the longest drive to MI.

We had a trip planned to visit Chris' family in Harrisburg, PA the following day through Sunday. That was the time Dad was in-town from FL. So, it worked out perfect that we were at least able to see him in-person for dinner. I wanted to be able to tell everyone OUR BIG SURPRISE in-person.

I found a picture frame that said Grandpa on it... I put a piece of blue construction paper in one photo slot and a piece of pink construction paper in the other. The main part of the frame had a photo from our first ultrasound. We said it was a late Father's Day present from Chris and I. And, we hoped that he liked it!

Dad didn't get it at first but Sherry sure did! She is a Grandma and has seen several ultrasounds. Eventually, I said to Dad, "WE ARE PREGNANT!" He was VERY SURPRISED. Like I said with the other surprises, it was PRICELESS! See the video below...

SURPRISE Dad and Sherry!  WE ARE PREGNANT!  This is truly a PRICELESS moment and so thankful we were able to get a video and this awesome reaction photo!

My Dad and I...  Such an amazing moment!  So thankful that we were able to tell him in-person!  This is my Dad's FIRST GRANDBABY!  There really are not words to explain this special moment...

Our Big Surprise - Telling Mom, Bruce, Sister, and Kyle

Since my birthday is July 5 and we always go back to MI to celebrate, we thought it would be the perfect time to tell my Mom, Bruce, Sister, and Kyle. Since we found out Sunday, June 13, I had plenty of time to plan out OUR BIG SURPRISE. My Mom just thought it was normal that I wanted everyone together for a birthday cook-out! I didn't want to wait until my actual birthday, which was Monday so the plan was to have my birthday cook-out on Friday, June 2 (good thing Mom went for that)!

I definitely think that was the longest drive back to Michigan EVER! I couldn't stop thinking about the surprise! Not to mention, I think I went over the speed limit the whole time. When we got there, we had to wait about another 2-hours before everyone got there! I couldn't take it anymore...

The idea was for Chris to give me a birthday present, which I already knew what it was! I made a art piece that said "We're Pregnant GramJo!" and framed it. Little did they know it really wasn't a birthday present for me... See the video below for OUR BIG SURPRISE!

Well...  I would have to say that they all were VERY SURPRISED!  No one knew that we had started to try for a family so that made the surprise even bigger.  Not to mention, this is my Mom's FIRST GRANDBABY so we are very thankful we were able to get this on video.  Chris and I are all about surprises...  If you haven't noticed yet!  

Here is a photo of the reaction from my Mom and my Sister!  This is PRICELESS!  I am so glad Chris was ready with the camera because this has got to be the BEST PHOTO!  Great job, Honey!

Here is another photo of my Sister, Me, and my Mom!  It truly was perfect!  My Mom has the frame in her house and looks at it everyday!  I love you, Mom!  I hope I am the greatest Mom just like you were for Ashlee and I.

Our Big Surprise - Telling Mom K & Dad K

Every year at the end of June, Chris' parents come to visit us in Chicago!  Perfect!  We were so excited that we were able to tell them in person and not on the phone.  This was about a week and a half after we took the Pregnancy Test so we were very anxious to tell someone about OUR BIG SURPRISE!  

We picked them up from Midway Airport around 11:00 AM on Thursday, June 24, 2010.  It was about an hour drive back to our house with traffic!  Mom K said in the car, "I can't wait until you have a little one."  This was after we were talking about Caleb (our Nephew)!  I couldn't believe she said that...  Thankfully I was in the front seat and just smiled!

Since we hadn't seen Chris' parents since our Wedding in October, we wanted to be able to show them photos and our Wedding video.  Well...  We couldn't take it anymore. and wanted to tell them almost immediately when we got home!  This is how the conversation went...

Chris:  "Mom and Dad...  Did you sign our Guest Book from the Wedding?"

Mom K and Dad K:  "Yes!"

Chris:  "Well, we would like you to be the first to sign this... 

We had bought a BELLY BOOK (A 9-Month Journey) the day before we found out we were Pregnant!  It was the perfect book to surprise his parents.  Mom K knew right away and had the greatest expression on her face.  Dad K didn't get it right away...  But he sure did when I said, "WE ARE PREGNANT!"

Here is the photo of the reaction from Mom K and Dad K when we told them WE WERE PREGNANT!  I love her face!  Another PRICELESS moment!

Pregnancy Test Day

When I woke up on Sunday, June 13, 2010 at 6:30 AM, something told me to take a Pregnancy Test. Since Chris and I decided we wanted to take it together, I woke him up. Three minutes seems like a LONG TIME when you are waiting to see if it says Pregnant or Not Pregnant. FINALLY... It said PREGNANT!!! Chris and I were both extremely happy, especially since we had only been trying for just over a month!

Chris' Reaction: Cool! It really works! WE DID IT!

My Reaction: What? Really? OMG! I am PREGNANT! I am going to be a Mommy!

We feel truly blessed to be starting this next chapter in our lives... It is a very exciting time! That is one of the main reasons why I wanted to start a Blog. It is a perfect way for family and friends to keep up with Our Journey of Life. I will do my best to keep our Blog up-to-date with photos, videos, etc. We want all of you to enjoy this special time in our lives!