Announcing...

All the pictures are labeled, mostly at the bottom. Just scroll!

IT'S A GIRL!!!

Retro Thursday

So my oldest sister Rachael has been going over to my grandparents 3 times a week to help them go through their slides and old microfilms to put onto disc format to finish their family history. My grandmother is a big family history buff and had her personal history finished about 15 years ago so she could just add to it as the rest of her life when on. My grandfather on the other hand is much like me and took until just last year to finish his and they're both in their early 80s.

Anyway, I asked Rae if there were any pictures of me and she emailed me a couple and I was completely shocked at how much I looked like Jonathan. I mean, our expressions and the shape of our faces- everything! I spent quite a bit of time last night talking to Rae about how my personality was when I was Jonnie's age and apparently I was just as serious and a big people watcher, only rambuncious and giggly around those I felt safest with. But I love these pictures and HAD to share them! (If you click on the images, you can seee up close how much we really do look alike.)

My Grandpa and Grandma Clawson with my siblings 25 years ago at my sister's baptism, January 1986. I was 18 months old.

My parents, my siblings and I, Rachael's baptism.

I just love old photos of when we were little. There are so few from before the divorce, so when we find them, it's like a little piece of treasure- a link to our past for our childrens geneology.

Week ???

Week 18!

That's right! I'm 18 weeks and I'm just finding out I'm nearly half way through my pregnancy. I was only a week off of when I thought I was due. I still think I'm right until I get my blood work done in a couple weeks. (I was going to post photos, but my memory card isn't opening and I haven't been able to figure out what's wrong for a couple weeks, which is why there have been no photo entries as of the last month and a half.)

I met with an RN today to get all my paperwork set and go through my medical record- you know, all the necessary and boring stuff. The nurses were so nice. I was shocked to actually be treated like a person and not a number to be rushed in a pushed out the door for the next one in line to come in.

Here's the kicker, though: I've lost 15 pounds, which is nearly half of the weight I gained with Jonathan and never lost. I was shocked when I climbed on the scale and the nurse told me how much I weighed compared to when I last went to the doctor in December. I'm still sick in the mornings, but I can mostly control it if I take it slow and drink lots of water the moment I get out of bed. Something I never would've been able to figure out the first time around. It's amazing what you can figure out the second time around.

I have my first appointment with the doctor in 10 days, Monday the 22nd and it's an ultrasound. The most interesting thing is that I'll see my baby before I even hear her. I shouldn't say her, but I've gotten so used to the idea of having a girl, it just doesn't seem like it could possibly be anything else. But we'll see. I'm just so relieved not to be in between insurances and be fully covered to get these things taken care of. I've had a great day. Peace of mind is something you really don't know you've lost until you've worried yourself into an emotional stupor.