Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Will and I had a wonderful holiday break! We were able to spend 2 nights with my family in Shelby and two nights with his family in Highlands. It was wonderful to relax and enjoy family with only the agenda of spending time with each other!

becca, Will, Amanda, Daddy, Momma, Walter and his girlfriend Heather

I love this picture of my mom and sister!! Those grins are so natural! Maybe they are happy because they are the two that got to feel my little girl kick!

Camden with his Aunt becca; it is amazing how much energy a 4 year old wakes up with! Everyone had fun all weekend seeing what Camden would come up with next.

Ashley, Anderson, and "Oma"; we all love being spoiled by Oma! I also enjoy hanging out with Ashley and Anderson whenever possible. What a great Mom! and a baby who easily developed a great schedule. Anderson, don't forget to teach your cousin how to fall into that schedule.

Quintessential Opa; if you've ever wondered where Will got his thirst for books and reading, look no further.

Even with his pregnant wife in the room, Will found time to snuggle with his girlfriend! Lillie has been in the family for about 16 years now. I guess I am okay with it.

Christmas Day marked 20 weeks, which is the halfway point. At 20 weeks, I am feeling better most days. I still get sick a few times a week but nothing like in the beginning. Our little girl is kicking all day long now. Will can feel her some of the time. She definitely kicks the hardest around 9 at night when we are sitting on the couch. I guess already she is trying to compete with me for her daddy's attention. Will and I end this Christmas knowing we are truly blessed!

Baby Kick Boxing

I am sure moms who know that I am not quite 20 weeks yet will laugh at my title to the post. She is definitely not kicking hard every time I feel her, but... Will felt her last night for the first time!! After dinner, she kicked and I had him put his hand on my belly and she kicked again just for daddy. Insert big grin. Then last night, right after we turned off the light, she kicked harder than ever. She must have been positioned with her feet coming straight out toward my belly button. So, again, I wanted Will to see if he could feel her. I think both of our eyes got big at how strong both of us could feel her kick. What a truly amazing day we had yesterday!

It's a Girl!

Will and I were so excited today to see our little girl! We were both leaning a little more toward wanting a girl. I had always wanted my daughters to have a protective big brother, but I just couldn't help but want my first little girl. Will's comment as we walked out of the doctor's office, "I know that you wanted a big brother, but this little girl is going to have a bulldog of a dad looking after her." How true! Boys coming to take my little girl out, beware of the dad with the hunting rifle! :) He had such a wonderful grin on his face while he watched pictures of his girl on the screen. He is going to be such an amazing daddy!

It is amazing the pictures that the ultrasound was able to get.
While in-utero, I guess this shot is acceptable. The ultrasound technician said that this was a textbook picture of a little girl. Thanks for showing off for Mommy, precious girl!

Do babies have a "best side"? The technician was picking on my baby, noticing how she was relaxing, propping her feet up. I guess she appreciates not being at school today too. I love the profile and ribs on her right side.

Who can resist a sweet little baby's foot! You can even count her little toes.

This is the 3D shot. I don't know if getting to see the baby in 3D is typical at this appointment (with no additional charge), but it was wonderful! Look at that precious hand. I am sure that is showing her deep in [genius] thought. Don't worry; there is not a hole in the baby's head; it's just the machine.

Big Day!

Tomorrow is the big day. I am getting really excited about getting to have the ultrasound and "meet" my baby. How cool is it going to be to see my baby's little hands and feet. I have also had several very serioius conversations about how we will learn modesty later, but tomorrow baby needs to "show off" for Momma and Daddy. As soon as I have had time to call the parents and siblings to give them the news, look for the announcement!!

19 Weeks

I am at 19 weeks today! The big day is coming on Monday. Will and I are getting excited to know if we are looking forward to our son or daughter. Upon my request, Will and I went on a pre-registry baby-browsing trip on Saturday. We went to Babies 'R Us, Target, Burlington Coat Factory, ... Will mostly said, "whatever you think is best." Great words from a husband! Then he got really excited when we started looking at the baby furniture. I was happy to find that the browsing did not frazzle me. I think I am just ready to know boy or girl so we can start planning/preparing for real!

Will also says that I should be telling on myself more often. Like: on Saturday, I put peanut butter M&Ms in my ice cream sandwich. I am on my second jar of pickles. I eat, almost every day, two pickles when I get home from school. I have to have lots of ice in my water. I prefer salty to sweet (which is why the pickles make sense, salty, cold, crunchy). It is hard for me to stay awake after 9. I am a bit more forgetful, like leaving things in the house that my sweet husband will run back up and get.

Waiting for Monday!

You're Fat...

Okay, I am thinking that the baby has definitely had a growth spurt. I am getting more grins and more comments about showing. My students, however, are the humorous part to my day. In particular, my second period Algebra 1 keeps me laughing. On Monday, a student said, "you really are getting fat now, Mrs. Simmons!" with a big grin, knowing he had just complimented me so well. So, I thought it was time to start coaching them on other options to that phrase. Here are the student suggestions as to what those options should be:
"Your fetus is growing!"
"You are looking quite impregnated today."
"It's kinda like you got a butt in the front and a butt in the back."

I really had just been hoping for, "Mrs. Simmons you are really starting to show now."

I am not always sure what is considered not appropriate to share. I think it is funny, totally odd coming from a student, but still really funny. A student really said this to me. I taught this student two years ago, which was the school year that Will and I got married. She came to visit me during her lunch break today. This is what she said:
"Mrs. Simmons, congratulations! I have gotten to watch you grow up. When I met you, you were a virgin. Now, you are pregnant."
I was just proud that I was able to hold my laughter until this junior in high school (who has a three year old son) had left the room. What do you say to that comment?!

Now and Then

Welcome to Shelby High School, 2000!

Look at this amazing group 8 years later!

I brag all the time about how lucky I feel to know that these girls still call me friend, still can be counted on for help, and still love getting together.

I love you friends!

17 weeks

I know I just posted a picture, but this one is necessary for several reasons. One is that I have not posted a picture of my wonderful, sweet, supportive, handsome husband as he is getting excited about the baby. Another is that I am getting comments all the time now about "look at that stomach" or "that baby is really starting to show now" or the students' version "Mrs. Simmons you really are fat now." So here is the most recent picture of the growing belly. Notice we are at my parents' house, and they have a small stocking in between my and Will's for the baby. Can you tell they are excited?!

A First

Yesterday felt really monumental. A friend told me that Big Lots had advertised the EvenFlo brand pack-n-play (bassinet) for only $40! What a deal! The one I had been thinking about registering for was $100. Didn't take this math teacher long to figure out that 60% off is worth it. So, I went in and bought one. As I was driving home and then putting it together, I kept thinking, "I'm really having a baby.....I'm really having a baby." This was the first purchase Will and I have made for our little one. Before Will and I took it down and put it in the closet, I had to see what it looked like by our bed. With no baby to test it out, the lamb offered to stand in for the moment.