It's A Boy!

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 20 weeks and 1 day

Size of baby: Baby McDaniel is 12 oz. and is the length of a banana

Gender: It’s a BOY! He was far from shy for the camera. The ultrasound tech said she had no trouble telling us what the gender was.We had a feeling the whole time it was a BOY. With my mom being so awfully sick with both me and my sister, I knew it must be a BOY. Bonnie has been so sick too, just like mom, and although I have felt pretty crummy and am still throwing up, I am no where near as sick as they were. (P.S. Bonnie isn't finding out what they are having, but I think it is a GIRL!)

Movement: Baby McDaniel is moving like crazy. The doctor said my placenta is behind the baby so it makes me more likely to keep little kicks and jabs, which I do. The baby loves when I eat Popsicles and is a night owl! He was waving to the camera during the ultrasound and Roy would wave back.

Sleep: Ok. I wake up to go to the bathroom like an old lady... many times during the night. My belly makes it hard to roll over and get out of bed (already?!).

What I miss: Exercising. I can't do anything without feeling week and light headed. I miss being my usual active self. I don't sleep as well as I used to either. I used to have no trouble sleeping and now it is hard for me to be comfortable. I am still queasy a lot and get headaches. I just miss being healthy!

Cravings: Nothing really. I still mainly snack throughout the day and greasy food sounds better than the food that is good for me. I love ice-cream, Popcicles, and Icees.

Symptoms: Still sick :( Not nearly as bad as my first trimester, but at 20 weeks I was expecting to feel much better. I am trying Seabands, which I wear around my wrist and they are supposed to naturally aid in morning sickness (which is all day sickness really). My belly is getting big and tight. I can't fit into my clothes! I have started gaining weight too.

Best Moment this week: Finding out we are having a little boy and that he is healthy! The doctor said because I am "fit and healthy" ( I give him props for that!) that they could see the 4 chambers of the heart on the ultrasound the blood flowing to and from the heart, which you usually can't see this early. All looks great! We are so excited to meet this bundle of joy.

Our Beach Vacation

How blessed are we to have spent a whole week at the beach with BOTH of our families? I had never been on a beach vacation growing up because we LIVED at the beach and last week we vacationed in my hometown of Port St. Joe, FL. It flew by, but we had such a wonderful time at the beach, pool, eating lots of delicious seafood, etc. It makes us incredibly homesick, but we are so thankful for time spent with family.

Maggie loved having the turtle in the pool!

Our spot on the beach for the week

Maggie loves Uncle Roy

Our beach house for the week. It was AWESOME!

Enjoying the beach first thing in the morning!

I love this!! It was SO relaxing.

Celebrating our niece Maggie's 1st birthday

Happy Birthday,Maggie!

Making the stroll across the street to the beach

Exercise vs. Pregnancy

I attempted to attend the ZUMBA INSTRUCTOR CONVENTION on Friday. This is something I have been looking forward to for months, especially since it is held right here in Orlando. I was all ready to go for the first Zumba Fitness Concert of the day, given I had yet to exercise that day or even exert myself. While waiting for the concert to start I felt sick, like I might throw up so I sat down for a bit with my hands in my head. Not feeling much better, I got up and was going to get some water and sit down for a bit and as I did I felt light-headed.

For the first time in my life, I fainted... in front of 6,000 crazy Zumba Instructors ready for the concert to begin. They raced me to the front of the stage ( just in case I wasn't already embarrassed enough) until I came to. I was wheeled out of the arena in a wheelchair. Probably the most embarrassing moment of my life. Roy took me to the ER just to make sure the baby was OK and thankfully everything is fine.

I have come to realize I am not the woman I was pre-pregnancy. This truth has hit me really hard. I feel more than blessed to get to welcome this precious baby in December, but the process has been less than pleasant. Sure, I rub my belly like Buddha day in and day out because I can't believe our little gift from God is growing in there. I weep every time we get to hear its little heart beat. There are days I can't wrap my mind around how wonderful God is and how He is fearfully and wonderfully forming this child. Even still, I have been sick for nearly 18 weeks. I realize I am not alone in this journey of pregnancy sickness and maybe I need to suck it up and take one for the team, but it has been no fun to feel car sick all day every day.

One of the things I am most passionate about is exercising. Weird passion, I know, but it requires no talent or skill so I am good at it :) Before becoming pregnant I exercised 5-8 hours a week, running, doing Zumba, taking spin classes, strength training, etc. It really brought me joy and I loved pushing myself! I actually ran a 5K the day before I found out I was prego ( I could tell I was sluggish that race so I knew something was up.)

They say it is OK to continue exercising during your pregnancy and once I got some energy back, I began doing so. I just don't the energy I used to and it makes me sad :(

Already I am beginning to see how sacrificial being a mother is. I realize I am only seeing a small glimpse of this, but having to put my favorite thing (exercise) aside for a bit has really hit my pride. Things will forever be different from here on out and although I hear there is nothing like being a mother, I realize it isn't the easiest job in the world.

Dear Lord, I sure hope I am up for the challenge!

Anna Laura Visits!

What a treat to have my dear friend Anna Laura fly in from Alabama to spend 4th of July weekend with us. 2 years have gone by since we have seen each other and it was such a joy to get to catch up with each other. Anna Laura is/was my LITTLE in my sorority at Troy (Kappa Delta) and I have had the privilege of watching the Lord change her heart and draw her to Himself. I am so proud of the young woman she has become! I admire her and am so thankful for her place in my life. Love you, AL!

Enjoying a HOT afternoon at Downtown Disney

Lunch at Planet Hollywood

Watching a dance team perform. Geez was it HOT!

Gotta love a free place to enjoy DISNEY!