It's a GIRL!

Tuesday was our 20 week ultrasound and after hearing that baby Durff was healthy and developing on schedule we learned we are having a baby GIRL! We are so very excited and couldn't be more thrilled. I cried I was so happy and now we could stop saying "it" and start saying "she/her". This is the first granddaughter for my mom and step-dad (Mamaw and Papaw Charlie) as well as for Brian's parents (Grandma & Grandpa). It is my dad and step-mom's fourth granddaughter (Nana and Papaw). Everyone is so excited and Mamaw, Nana, and even Daddy have been busy shopping and buying clothes for our sweet girl.
I have to admit at our ultrasound I was a little frustrated that the ultrasound tech was checking out baby's health before what was between the legs. She measured the head, looked at the brain, showed us the spine and blatter, arms, fingers, legs, etc. I just kept thinking, "Can't we check all that after we know what this baby is?!" With a few days to reflect I am so thankful she walked us through all that she did. We are so blessed to have a healthy baby developing. God is so good. Our baby girl is a perfect gift only He could give. We are so thankful that he chose us to be her parents and raise her to be the godly woman he designed her to be.
I started feeling our little girl move around a couple weeks ago. Since the movements have gotten stronger and I can feel them more frequently! It is one of the most amazing feelings in the world. To know that Brian and I created a life and to feel her moving and growing is absolutely incredible. I hope I can share this joy with Brian soon; he wants to feel his baby girl move so bad.
I have gained 7 pounds, so far, which I think is pretty dang amazing! I'm short and my torso is small, so that 7 pounds looks like a lot. Plus, I swear I've lost weight in other areas. It is so crazy the changes a woman's body goes through to have a baby.
20 week baby bump

Brian and I plan to start registering this weekend for all our baby girl's stuff. There is so much to look at and so many consumer reports to read about travel systems, pack-n-plays, etc. Its a little overwhelming for us first time parents, but oh so exciting at the same time. I LOVE PINK so I know this baby girl is going to have lots of pink clothes, blankets, bows, etc. Daddy has already bought her some pink CUBS gear!
My spring break is next week so I'm hoping to relax, finish my paper for my final master's class, see some friends, and get baby stuff done. My list is so long, but I am confident I'll get a lot done. Then I will only have 34 more "work days" til summer break and maternity leave! Whoo-hoo! April brings my birthday, bridal showers, and graduation, May is my baby showers, the end of the school year, and a wedding, June and July are full of weddings, and baby should be here in early August. Oh my the 2nd half of this pregnancy is going to fly by!

Wanting What You Can't Have

Lately I've been missing things and wanting things you can't have while pregnant:  sushi, beer, coffee. This weekend my loving, understanding husband ate sushi in front of me and drank a whole pot of coffee both Saturday and Sunday morning. I also get the joy of watching him enjoy an ice cold beer after a long, stressful work day. I've started a list of things I want to eat/drink at the hospital once baby is born.  :-)

A few of my current cravings have been cereal (Cinnamon Life, Frosted Mini Wheats) and today's was chicken tenders and french fries. I've ate almost zero fried food since being pregnant. Early on it gave me severe stomach pain, so I've avoided it until today. I will say I've been eating pretty well. Fruit and vegys have tasted even better than normal. This week's fruit of choice is strawberries with cool whip. My vegy of the week is cucumber, can't get enough of them!

My little brother (who will be 24 next week, but will always be my little brother) came over this morning after work to hang out. He saw baby's room for the first time all set up and he said, "Dang Sis, you've got this set up just like a magazine." I loved hearing that. He knows just what to say to make his sis smile!

March means lots of family birthdays - dad, brother, Charlie, Brandon M., & mom. Brian and I are busy just about every weekend from now until baby comes. CRAZY! Our summers have been filled with weddings and showers since we graduated college. We went ahead and signed up for our birthing and breastfeeding classes at the hospital. I have to have things on the calendar so I know to make time for them. Brian said he wanted to do the birthing class all in one weekend instead of one night a week for 6 weeks. We signed up for a "weekend warriors" class, 12-5 Sat. & Sun. in late June/early July. We've also got 3 baby showers for baby Durff planned in the month of May. The first half of this pregnancy seemed to be moving pretty slowly, but I have the feeling things are speeding up and the 2nd half is going to fly by.

March is here!

I am so thrilled that March is here. I've never really liked winter. I mean, I enjoy a good snow, the kind that you can actually play in, sled in, etc. However, that rarely happens in Southern Indiana. Its mostly just very cold, windy, and rainy. I'm not a fan of cold weather. So the past couple weeks of 50+ degree weather days have been amazing. Those warmer temps brought some crazy weather our way twice this week. Luckily we survived the storms with no damage. I have spring fever and can't wait for sandals and consistent warmer temps.

We got our rocker/glider for baby's room! It is amazing. It is just what we wanted and we got it on sale and had a gift card! Whoo hoo! As you can tell in almost every baby room picture I post, Wrigley is such a proud big brother (and a big momma's boy).

Brian says I have been talking in my sleep. He thinks it is hysterical. I said I guess its better than me snoring. There are only 49 school days left! Then I will start my maternity leave, oh the benefits of being a teacher with summers off! I'll have about 2 months at home to rest and prepare for baby. Right now I am so anxious to know if we are having a boy or a girl. Only 2 1/2 more weeks til our next ultrasound!