Welcome to full-fledged pregnancy

So, pregnancy is not all fun and games anymore (or was it ever?).

Late Sunday night, Tyler finished his latest growth spurt. He started doing somersaults with his new, longer body. My stomach was like a virtual ocean. We could actually see it changing shapes and "doing waves" when he moved. Chad actually jumped back when he felt it, and I called the doctor, wondering if Tyler was going to flip himself right out of my belly. Good news: he's an active little guy. Bad news: every move he makes for the next 14 weeks will make me jolt.

The pregnancy reality-check continued into Monday, when I got my first set of Braxton Hicks contractions. As if I wasn't panicked enough after the earthquakes in my belly ... these uncomfortable, tightening sensations sent me into a mild case of hysteria. Chad took me and Tyler for a walk in the park, and I continued to drink glass after glass of water. They eventually subsided ... just in time for round three of third-trimester fun.

At 9:45 p.m., I got up and HAD to have Bahama Bucks! That shaved ice and sugar-free, pina colada syrup was just as important as breathing at that point. Chad quickly understood the importance of the situation and grabbed the keys to go. We had 14 minutes and 35 seconds to make it there before they closed. As we rushed out the door and backed out of the garage, we looked at each other and laughed. This was definitely good practice for rushing to the hospital for labor.

I'll be 26/27 weeks on Thursday, and I can sense that I've entered the crash-course phase of pregnancy. This is the part where it gets interesting ...

The baby bump

I thought the bump looked huge at 18 weeks, but I am learning that it just keeps growing! Baby Tyler is kicking all the time these days. I think he is practicing soccer or maybe swimming, since I built him a belly lap pool.

Chad got a new camera lens. He's been taking lots of pictures. Can't wait until Tyler gets here and we have baby photo sessions.

Here are some of my favorite belly shots:

17 weeks



















25 weeks

Sonogram images

Tyler has had his picture taken four times now! He's getting good practice for his arrival when he'll be daddy's little model.

Here are some of the sonogram pictures:

6 weeks














8 weeks














18 weeks

20 weeks

He'll have one more sonogram done at 35 weeks. Only 10 more weeks before we get to see him again! Isn't he just the cutest two-dimensional, black and white baby ever!

Tyler's nursery

Four weeks of work, four coats of paint and two happy parents-to-be ... the nursery is finished!

It all started with one sample paint color that quickly turned into ten. Soon, Chad and I resorted to the flip of a coin--tails for gray and heads for blue (ie: shade No. 7). We ventured back to Sherwin Williams, and Chad worked all night turning Pottery Barn green into "monsoon" gray. Next came decor, which I'll admit I had been planning since day two of being pregnant. We placed the crib with the Dwell Baby bedding, installed the Ikea light fixture and switch and hung the Flensted mobile (with hopes that Baby Tyler doesn't have a bird phobia). Chad had the artistic inspiration for the art panels ... a good use for several of those sample paint colors. While waiting for the draperies and recliner/glider to arrive, Chad continued his daddy-duties by building shelves in the closet. It all came together almost as seamlessly as a do-it-yourself decorating show.

And the blogging begins

After numerous conversations about starting a blog, I thought I'd put my journalism degree to work. Stay tuned for updates, photos and thoughts from our growing family!