Pregnancy pictures

We've been having pregnancy pictures done with Kim Kelley Photography.  She's been doing a great job.  We started at 18 weeks and have been going for "progress" pictures every four weeks.  She is doing an amazing job.  A sample of her work is below.

Photo from 18 week session with Kim Kelley Photography.

Jamie and Cyrena

Hijacked image of Jamie and Cyrena before deployment

I just wanted to take a moment to say how great it is to have people who are willing to serve where they are needed in the military.  Our good friend, Jamie, was deployed this morning.  It is sad to have to see couples separated for long periods of time and my heart goes out to all couples, but especially to my friends in that situation.  We love you Jamie and Cyrena!

Sharing pregnancy with others

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about how blessed Scott and I are.  We are blessed through our blessings and the blessings of others.  How?  Well, I always wanted to be able to have friends and family pregnant at the same time as me so that my child would be fortunate enough to grow up with lots of little friends and cousins around the same age.  As I continued to get older, losing hope of pregnancy and thinking more and more of adoption, I began to think my child would not have any friends his age until beginning school.  Lo and behold, Micah will have many little friends his age to play with.  I actually think more women are pregnant at the same time than I have ever known to be pregnant (not to mention the babies born right before God blessed us with pregnancy).  What is even more of a blessing for us is that two of the couples who are pregnant have struggled with infertility, much like Scott and I have.  Knowing that, how can anyone not believe in miracles?  I love being able to share pregnancy with others.  Praise the Lord for miracles and blessings!  I wouldn't want it any other way!

On a side note...I grew up around mostly little boys.  It's beginning to look like Micah might have just the opposite situation.  One of my best friends had a little girl three months ago and my next door neighbor is pregnant with a girl.  One of my other friends who is pregnant, I have a feeling will have a little girl (she will find out soon).  Either way, he will be blessed with friends.

Update:  I was wrong about my friend.  She is having a little boy!

Micah's Nursery

Scott and I spent several days of the Christmas break working on preparing Micah's room.  My only wish for Christmas was to get as much of the room completed as possible.

Scott worked diligently on painting Micah's room.

 After buying Micah's crib with Christmas money, Scott played the good Dad and put it together after working 32 hours (not to mention the 7 stitches in his hand).

Real men read directions!

Making sure everything is in place.

Making sure all screws are tight.

The finished product.

And the matching dresser

The tree wall decal put the nursery on halt.  I had an idea of where I wanted everything but I wasn't sure how much room the tree was going to take.  If finally came in 3 days after the latest it was suppose to get here.  That morning I put tape to mark where I wanted everything on the walls.  There are still a few touches that are missing from the nursery...dresser, changing pad, etc., etc.  We have a quote above the crib expressing how we feel about Micah.  Now I'm just waiting on Scott to hang things on the wall and build me a valance.  Once that is done we will have all we can do to the nursery at this point done.

Looking back and anticipating the future

2010 was an awesome year!  In 2009 I thought I would dread 2010 because I would turn 30, but as the new year rang in I didn't have the dread I had feared.  I never could have imagined how great the year would turn out to be.  We celebrated some very important milestones this year.  In May Scott graduated the Paramedic Program at ICC in Tupelo and was recognized for having the highest GPA in his class.  GO SCOTT!!!  I couldn't have been more proud of that man.  In June I celebrated my 30th birthday.  Turning 30 wasn't bad like I had anticipated.  I actually enjoy being 30, because I realize that the previous 29 years molded me into the person I am today.  I'm comfortable with myself and love my life.  It takes some people much longer than 30 years to get to that point.  September 23rd marked 10 years of marriage for Scott and me.  I am so blessed to call him husband.  God really blessed me when he put him (and his family) in my life.

We have also experienced many firsts in life this year.  In February I officially started in my first official professional position.  About time I put that college degree to use :-).  So far I must say that I really enjoy my new position and hope to continue my career.  After receiving his Paramedic license in May, Scott began his first post as a paramedic.  I honestly believe he was born to do what he does.  He loves it and does a great job from what I can see.  He has a true love for helping people.  In June we celebrated the milestones of 2010 with an awesome cruise (our first) with some great friends.  It was our first but definitely won't be our last if we can help it.  We had such a wonderful time.  In August we began the process of buying our first home, which we closed on in October and moved into in November.  But many of our most cherished firsts this year are a result of the most important first we have ever experienced...our first pregnancy.  Little did we know that right after we started looking into our first home a little one was making himself at home.  We conceived our first child around the middle of August and discovered our miracle the first weekend of September.  Since our blessing was discovered we have experienced the first heartbeat, first ultrasound, first picture, first movement, first kick...I'm sure I've forgotten some of the important things that have happened to us in 2010, but none compare to knowing we have a son on the way.

As wonderful as 2010 has been, I wonder if 2011 can even compare.  But even as I wonder that, I know that it can be even better than 2010 ever thought of being.  2011 will also have many important milestones for the record book of our lives, as well as many firsts.  Many of those are unknown to us but we look forward to the most important one...welcoming Micah Aiden Dean home as part of our family.  I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us and to experience life with that precious little boy.

2011 RESOLUTIONS

I've never been big on New Year's resolutions.  While I have made some changes at the beginning of the new year in the past I consider them more life style changes and don't usually proclaim them to anyone besides myself and God.  This year, however, I think I will make a few resolutions.  In no particular order:

1. Rediscover things I have enjoyed in the past.  While sewing curtains for Micah's room I realized that I have so many hobbies and interests that I threw to the wayside years ago.  And I really do love to do some of those things.  I'm going to take time to enjoy activities of the past.
2. Take life as slow as I can.  There really is no need to rush or stress about getting things done.
3. Dedicate myself to family and friends.  The most important thing is family and friends.  I want to make time to let them know how much I care for them.
4. Enjoy every second of my pregnancy and steal every second away with my little man when he arrives. 
5. Date more.  Scott and I use to go on dates all the time.  Between our schedules in the past we have neglected that part of our life.  It's time to start dating again.
6. Make it a priority to spend time with the Lord each day.
7. And the old standbys - keep the house and finances in order.

Micah Aiden - The story behind the name

I've been meaning to post the meaning of Micah's name for a while now.  His name has special meaning.  It wasn't intended but is pretty cook that all of our names will begin with M and his initials will be the same as mine.

Micah Aiden Dean

Micah is a variation of Michael, which is Scott's first name.  It is a Hebrew name meaning "who is like God or gift from God".  We chose it because of the "gift from God" meaning.

Aiden is a Gaelic name meaning "little fire".  This name was chosen from a list of names I composed that I thought sounded good with Micah.  Of the list of names, this was our favorite.  We definitely didn't choose the middle name based on anything besides simply liking the name but after learning the meaning it fits.  In high school several people called Scott little dynamite in football and a few people called me firecracker.  And it appears Micah is already going to be a "little fire" all his own.  His little light won't be put out!

It was a Merry Christmas

After ten years together this was the first Christmas Scott and I weren't able to spend together.  It was inevitable that he would eventually have to work on Christmas Day and this year was that year.  We've known for a while how his schedule would fall.  We were okay with him having to work that day since we don't have children yet.  However, once Micah arrives he'll want to be home on Christmas Day.  We were actually blessed this year because Thanksgiving was on his rotation too, but Thanksgiving fell on his kelly day. Even still, I really missed having him with me that day and hated that he missed the festivities. 

Christmas Eve I spent the morning and night fixing a Christmas meal for him to take to work with him.  I didn't want him to miss out on eating a traditional meal (although he doesn't seem to like many of what I consider traditional foods).  Between cooking, we went to our parents' houses for him to celebrate with them.  We ended up having a great Christmas.  Micah, although he isn't here, received several sweet gifts.

10 years of 2 stockings. This will be the last.  :-)

 Scott called and woke me Christmas morning to make sure I saw it was snowing.  Yay!  Snow on Christmas morning!  This is a first for this Mississippi girl!

The view from our back door.

The snow flakes were so big and fluffy.  Very pretty!

I was so excited that I didn't even think about the mud on my shoes!  I left a trail from the front door to the shower.  Oops!

Loaded up and ready to go.

Micah's first pack of diapers - a gift from Nanny.

This outfit was so cute that both Aunt Kristi and Nanny bought it for Micah's Christmas!

Mom bought Micah several outfits.  I think this might be Scott's favorite.

Micah has a great head start on onsies! Thanks Grandma!

My favorite!

Another gift from Aunt Kristi and family.  This sweet giraffe sings his ABCs.

Baby scrapbook from Mamaw!

Aunt Cyrena gave Micah this sweet little lamb.

Micah's first piggy bank from Mamaw and Granddaddy.  They even put the first deposit into the piggy bank!

Sweet baby fireman boots from Uncle Lacy and Aunt Pat.

Sweet baby shorts.

Things I want for Micah

When I was a child my parents didn't give me every little thing I wanted, but they always made sure I had what I needed.  I want that same thing for my son.  I want to give him things without having him expect to get every new thing that comes onto the market.  I want him to have a simple childhood.  I looked forward to Saturday morning cartoons.  Do children do that these days?  I'm not sure they do because they can have cartoons any time they want.  I want Micah to understand that you have to wait for some things, which is why I want him to be a Saturday morning cartoon child.  I want him to find ways to amuse himself other times.  I want him to try new foods, push his limits, find a mud hole to play in, play in the rain...I want him to have a childhood close to what I had.  The way I was raised made me the person I am today.  It taught me to appreciate everything, no matter how small.  I didn't get to do many of the things I wanted to growing up simply because my parents couldn't afford it.  I thought at the time that it was unfair and even pouted at times but what would I have learned if I did get everything I wanted?  I'm thinking not much.  Instead, I grew up knowing that I couldn't have and do every single thing I wanted.  But I also knew that my parents sacrificed so that Jeremy, Timothy, and I could have nice things.  When I got older I learned that they sacrificed even more than I realized so we could have some of the things we wanted.  But they never sacrificed time with us.  My parents were always there for us.  I was spoiled on love, not on things.  I want Micah to know that kind of love from Scott and me. 

I hope my parents know how much I love and appreciate them.  They were the best and still are pretty great!

"Project Nursery" - The Beginning

Project Nursery has begun! Tuesday and Wednesday Scott worked on getting Micah's nursery painted.  I am in love with the color!  It looks so good!

Wall color - Valspar's Fountain of Youth

 I got a few things in that I had ordered to be painted.  Now I just have to decide on the crib bedding so I can get the right color of green paint for those things.  I have to paint picture frames, letters for his name, shelves, and a piggy bank.  I also need to pic out some fabric to cover a cork board I ordered.  It is a little smaller than I thought it would be but I guess it will work.  I might end up buying a larger one and have two in there.

I am waiting on a tree mural that I ordered (see picture below).  I had thought about having a friend paint a mural for me but figured this would be less trouble for her and less paint fumes for Scott to be fussing at me about.  :-)  Win, win!  I plan to order a wall decal saying when I get the chance.  We had several we liked but have ultimately decided on one that says "Such a big miracle in such a little boy."

What's in a name?

Ever since I was a little girl dreaming of starting a family, I have had names picked out for my children.  They had changed over the years from one thing to another (sometimes because someone else used "my" name) but I always just knew what I would name a child if I were to have one.  Even after Scott and I married we discussed names and had names picked out for our children.  We actually had two boy names and two girl names.  I thought then that the hardest thing to do would be to decide which name to use first when we finally were blessed with a child.

My how things change when you are actually expecting!  I always thought I would just know what to name my child but it isn't that easy. We haven't really even considered the names we previously had chosen as an option for this child.  Scott and I apparently have very different tastes in names so it has been hard to agree on anything.  After finding out we are expecting a boy we have finally started focusing on boy names.  We discussed a first name which would have a couple of special meanings a couple of days ago.  Yesterday we discussed names that go along with that name.  We are pretty sure about the first name because of how special it is and because we both agree that we like it.  That is not a small feat with me and Scott when it comes to a name for this child!  We aren't ready to disclose that name yet though because we don't want negative comments to influence our decision.  It has been hard enough without taking everyone's criticism.  Once we decide on a middle name (or think we have decided) we will reveal the name we have chosen to family and friends.  For now we are keeping it our little secret.  It is kind of nice to have that secret between us.  :-)  We do have a middle name we've been kicking around since yesterday.  Hopefully we'll be able to sit down (we've haven't had face to face time with the full name) soon and decide if this is the name for our little one.  I know we can change it and with us we may very well end up doing that.  But I want to at least have a good deal of certainty before telling our name.   

Time flies when you're happy

Wow, where has the time gone?  We're going to be 19 weeks tomorrow!  That means next week we'll be halfway through this pregnancy.  5 months!  Seriously?!?  We better get busy on BB's name!

Big and loving it!

18 week visit

Thought I would share the ultrasound pictures from our 18 week visit. 

4D of BB's behind.  This is the only view he would give us with 4D on!

A different angle of BB's 4D little booty.  :-)  He's all curled up, head buried, and feet crossed.

Hello Baby Boy (BB)!

The arrow shows BB is a boy.  :-)

Measurements for week 18, day 4.  BB weighs 10 oz!

Measuring BB's femur.

BB's head measurement.  He's got a big head, measuring a whole week early!  But it is a healthy, normal large head.

The black where the arrow is are the four chambers of BB's heart.  Awe!

Measuring his heartbeat.  The black space in his chest (where the dotted line goes through) is BB's heart again.

The best facial picture we could get.  Too bad it was 2D and not 4D.  If you look closely you can see his profile...forehead, nose, lips, chin.  For those of you with difficulty seeing it, he is head down.  The roundish black space is his eye socket. And the lines right above his lips are sweet little fingers.

Another measurement of his head. Not sure the difference between this and the other one but measurements are different.

The white area where the arrow is pointing is BB's back bone.  You can also see his ribs if you look closely.

Baby Dean's progress

At 5 weeks I finally listened to my body and we discovered we were pregnant. Seeing a positive pregnancy test was the most exciting thing to ever happen to us. You could not have knocked the smiles off of our faces that night.

At 6 weeks we confirmed the pregnancy at the doctor's office. Such a relief to hear that everything appeared to be going as it should for a healthy pregnancy.

At 10 weeks we heard our baby's heartbeat for the very first time. Oh what a sweet, sweet sound! I had heard heartbeats of other babys in the womb, but there is nothing like hearing your own baby's heartbeat. A heartbeat we prayed many years to hear. The only thing better than hearing the heartbeat was actually seeing our baby for the first time. Seeing that he really is there, growing and moving.  And we saw the sweetest little foot!

At 14 weeks not only were we able to hear our baby's heartbeat at the doctor's office again, we were able to record it at home to share with our family and friends. That sounds was still so very sweet! I also started feeling the baby move at 14 weeks. I wasn't 100% sure of what I was feeling at first but as the pregnancy has progressed, I know that is exactly what I felt at 14 weeks.

At 18 weeks we hit a huge milestone in the pregnancy. One I had been waiting and hoping for from the beginning. Scott was able to feel the baby move while talking to him. Today we had our 18 week checkup. We are at 18 weeks, 4 days. We had our first 4D ultrasound but baby made it hard to get any good pictures.  Actually, during the 2D ultrasounds he was making things difficult for the doctor.  He is very, very active and moves constantly.  We were able to see that everything is progressing well, the placenta just did miss blocking the cervix, all systems are functioning as should be, and that we are having a little BOY!

Our next ultrasound will be at 30 weeks unless we need one for some reason before then.  We will be taking a disc to that appointment so we will have video to share with everyone!

Loving pregnancy

I absolutely love being pregnant! It was definitely worth the wait. It is truly amazing to be nurturing another living being within myself. I've been really blessed with this pregnancy. I had the opportunity to have a miracle worked in my life that can touch everyone. I never thought I would see the day when we would have a positive pregnancy test and BOOM it just happened one day. Guess it was like everyone said, we conceived on God's timing. While we were struggling with infertility it was devastating but, in a way, I am thankful that God made us wait. I value this pregnancy much more than I would have had it come easily. Not that I wouldn't have loved being pregnant either way, but it just means more when it is something that you thought you'd never be blessed with. I always wanted to have children at a younger age but it honestly isn't that bad being thirty and pregnant. I'm sure it helped that I was in decent shape to begin with. Yes I have had aches and pains but this precious baby inside of me, this miracle, is worth every bit of it. And the pains, minus the ones at 15 weeks that scared me, haven't been that bad. Honestly, had I known what those were they wouldn't have been as bad as they were. I'm learning with this pregnancy that everything isn't like it is described in the books, even round ligament pain. Yes, I truly love being pregnant.

New facebook group for Baby Dean

I decided to create a group of facebook where Scott and I can share updates on Baby Dean without worrying that we might be hurting someone unintentionally. If you are interested, you can request to join at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_168248199869525&ap=1

Moving and music

Moving while pregnant may not be the best idea in the world.  I was forced to give up some of my independence because I couldn't move the big stuff or heavy boxes, but with help from family and friends we have gotten moved into our new home.  I am still actively trying to get things put together but we are there and loving it.

Speaking of moving, I'm pretty sure that I feel the baby moving every once in a while.  Yesterday at our appointment the doctor said it is very possible because some people feel it as early as 13 weeks (we are 14) and he could hear the baby moving while listening to the heartbeat on the Doppler.  Before calling it a night we decided to try the Angel Sounds heart rate monitor again.  It didn't pick up the heartbeat the first time we tried but we found it almost instantly this time.  We listened for a while and then decided to record the heartbeat to share with our friends and family.  During the recording I'm pretty sure towards the end you can hear the baby move.  Regardless, hearing the heartbeat is awesome!   Enjoy!

Music to my ears!

Maternity clothes

This past weekend I was finally able to go get a few pieces of maternity clothes.  I found some really cute shirts, two pair of dress pants, and a pair of jeans.  My questions is, where are all of the winter maternity clothes?!?  I will definitely have to make another trip and possibly hit up the expensive maternity shops to get a few more things.  For now, I'm just happy to have a few things that I can wear comfortably.

A very nice surprise

When I checked my mail yesterday I had a very nice surprise waiting for me, an Angel Sounds fetal heart detector.  I am very excited and can't wait to be far enough along to use it!  The best part is I can record the sounds to share with family and friends.  How cool is that?  I had been back and forth about whether I should get one of these or not.  When we first found out we were pregnant I said with certainty that I would but then I wondered if it was really something I needed to get with everything else we had going on.  I'm so glad the decision doesn't have to be made any more.  After I got it in the mail I realized that I probably would have grabbed one off the shelf if I happened to be near one (which I know I will be soon).  I can't wait to share Baby Dean's heartbeat with the world!

Almost 12 weeks along!

2nd doctor's visit

We had our second doctor's visit yesterday.  Since they couldn't find a heartbeat using the Doppler we got put on the sonogram machine.  I was a little nervous that a heartbeat couldn't be heard but glad to be getting the sonogram.  I guess this baby already wants Momma and Daddy to be happy because the heartbeat on the sonogram machine was very strong.  Our first glimpse of baby showed him/her kicking and jerking, followed by him/her rolling over to display his/her backside to us.  Guess Baby Dean just wanted to be left alone.

Heartbeat: 159 bpm
Length:  3.29 cm (1.3 in)
Gestational Age:  10 weeks, 4 days measuring 10 weeks, 1 day

God's Miracles

Last week I was thinking about all of the blessings in my life and the miracles God has provided to me.  My life started out as a miracle (I know all lives are miracles).  Despite an IUD (which I believe is said to be 99% effective) being in place, God created me in my mother’s womb.  The doctor was unable to remove the IUD, although he tried.  I believe this was another work of God, as he protected me from the threat of miscarriage removal may have carried.  When I was 15 pure ignorance almost cost me my life.  Thankfully, He saved me from certain death that night so long ago.  I have no doubt there are miracles he performs in my life on a daily basis that I either ignore or that I'm not meant to know about.  He has blessed me with a great family, protected me throughout life, given me a wonderful husband (and in-laws), and blessed me with a little miracle in my own womb.  So many times we take things for granted.  I know I do. 

This past weekend I realized even more how much I take the little things for granted.  Freddy McCrory, a son, husband, and father, was taken away from this world in a tragic boating accident.  The last time his family and friends saw him or spoke to him, they had no idea it would be the last time.  My heart breaks for this family.  I so wish there was something I could do to help them with their pain.  All I can do is pray. Every moment they had together was a miracle.  A miracle that was taken away too soon.  God has a plan though, so somehow, somewhere there will be good come from this tragedy.  Maybe his accident is meant to make us all realize how much family means to us and how fragile life is.

Do you treat each moment you spend with your family as your last?  Do you take every opportunity to spend time with your loved ones?  Life is much too short, and, unfortunately, I have missed far too many opportunities to be with the ones I love.  I am going to do my best not to let those chances pass me by and to show my family and friends how important they are to me.  We never know when it will be our last time to see or speak to them.

On a happier note, my friend, Katrina, was blessed with a miracle yesterday.  Little Jenna Reese entered the world at 10:03 p.m.  How cool is it to have the birthday of 10-10-10?  I know she has enjoyed every moment with her new bundle of joy.  Let us all strive to enjoy our time together just as much.