H A L F W A Y !!!

I have been looking forward to this week for awhile now, and can't believe it's really been 20 weeks already... exactly halfway! Wow.

William's nursery is almost finished, and every time I walk by, I just have to go in for a minute or two to look around, or just sit down in the middle of the floor and get very, very excited.

It's been over 100 degrees in Austin for a few weeks straight now, with the hottest day reaching 107... it's been interesting! Too hot to do anything outside, at least for me. We've tried going swimming, but the water is 90 degrees, so it's not the most refreshing thing in the world. We're looking forward to the 4th this weekend, especially myself because I've got Friday the 3rd off!

Even more so, we're looking forward to the week of July 18-25 when we'll be joining my parents in Hilton Head. Can't wait for some beach time, lots of fresh seafood, and time together. I know that the boys will be playing lots of golf, too.

I'll post an updated picture of my growing belly (well, of William!) tonight after work. There's a big change since the last one shown on the blog!

Hope everyone has a fun, relaxing and safe 4th of July weekend.

19 weeks - still a boy!

Had my second ultrasound in the past few days this morning - had to go back to get a second look because William's positioning last time wasn't working for measurements. Today they got everything that they needed, and ALL is HEALTHY! Phew!

Also, it looks like there won't be any surprises in November, because he is definitely a little guy. I had a different ultrasound technician this time, and she also said "DEFINITELY a boy."

So happy and thankful that everything is looking great, and amazed that in one week we will be halfway there!

19 weeks today - a mango. This is so much cuter than the previous few weeks' vegetables!

A Father's Day Surprise

This has been an eventful past week! 3 appointments in 4 business days (our poor jobs!). After the "big" ultrasound last week which told us that it's a boy, we had a follow-up appointment with Dr. Cutler today to discuss the results. Everything looks great, and William's heart rate is still perfect at 150 beats per minute. Unfortunately, as Esch explained in his last post, the little one was not cooperating and the ultrasound tech couldn't get a good view of the spine to take the needed measurements. I have to go back in for a "re-do."Soooo, back I go tomorrow. It's always fun to get to see the baby, so I'm not complaining!

In even better news -Yesterday was Father's Day, and both Esch and I got to talk to our wonderful Dads. We love you! We hope that we can each be as wonderful a parent as you are.

After a day of crib shopping, clearing out the 2nd guest room to prepare for making it a nursery, a nice hike and swim with Georgia, we were relaxing and watching the U.S. Open.

I felt William kick around a few times, and thought - just maybe - it was now strong enough for Esch to try to feel him. Sure enough, a few seconds after I put Esch's hand on the spot, there it was! Esch's eyes got really big, and I screamed. For some reason, this was even more exciting than feeling William move by myself - it was so great for his Dad to "touch" him for the first time, especially on Father's Day.

I will always, always remember that. Can't wait to tell William about the special gift he gave his dad on Esch's "first" Father's Day. :)

I'll post again tomorrow after the ultrasound - hope they'll still give me a CD of photos even though we are back for seconds because "we" didn't cooperate the first time around. Can't wait to see if William has moved out of that breech position.

Happy Monday to all!

Beautiful Baby

Look at that little profile!

Esch's entry makes me laugh, and I wanted to add a few other details. Little William really was a rascal during the ultrasound today, the technician kept poking around to get him to move, because he was apparently in the worst possible position to see a few things... he's actually breech for now (which could change at any second, but unfortunately didn't during our hour there). He was positioned sitting straight up and down, facing outwards. I guess he already wants to be a part of the world, and is just trying to check out what's going on.

I almost felt defensive as she kept saying "Come ON, baby!" and "He is certainly not cooperating, he'll be a handful!" but eventually she got most of the measurements, etc. that she needed. It was kind of crazy... she measured the circumference of his head, showed us his kidneys, stomach, it was so interesting. She could even estimate how much he weighs already.

Esch is obviously already dreaming of the future athletic star, and I am imagining all things blue. My Mom sent us a package with a pair of pink and a pair of blue booties... so we had whichever it turned out to be. Thank you! I can't stop looking at those tiny little things.

Ahem!

Dad-to-be is writing today- ANNOUNCEMENT!!

*COUGH* *COUGH* Attention please! Due November 17th, 2009 is William Wesley McCombie!! According to the doctor we are having a health baby boy. And, I have to say, he is obviously a boy.

This sonogram was nuts (bad pun I know, but warranted). The doctor asked us if we wanted to know and with a overly excited “yes” we made her aware at the beginning of the appointment. Then, 20 minutes later, out of no where, she let us have it. She skipped the “do you have a guess?” the “are you ready?” and simply said, “there’s the foot, the knee, leg, boy parts…it’s a boy…the other leg.” Talk about a lack of theatrics and feel for excitement. WE on the other hand could barely contain ourselves. Of course, the first time I said the name out loud I began to tear up, and Erin had a smile ear to ear.

Beyond the previously described shenanigans, the doctor also had a strange way of saying the baby’s positioning wasn’t cooperating. Instead of just using the last sentence, she would say, “I don’t see the ventricles,” or “I can’t see the spine.” WHAT?!?! Are you kidding me? She was like the doctor on Family Guy. Erin went white in the face, finally I had to ask her to clarify that DUE TO THE POSITIONING SHE COULDN’T SEE THESE THINGS. After making Erin move around, touch her toes, etc., she found them.

So now the real fun starts; decorating, buying clothes, toys, Penn State Football jerseys (…and onesies, full body hoodies, lion outfits, etc.). Can we register at Lion’s Pride? Steve seems to think we have a short-stop on our hands, I’ve always been under the impression a long snapper is the way to go. Unfortunately I don’t think any child of mine or Erin’s will have the appropriate body type for that. So thank you everyone who follows our blog. Safe travels to all of our family spread across the U.S. and the world. We love and miss you all. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and hopefully we’ll see you soon!

18 weeks = sweet potato. Hmm.

Only 2 DAYS from finding out if we're going to be having a baby son or a daughter. I really can't contain myself!

I am still thinking boy, and Esch says girl. If ever there were a good 50-50 betting sport, this might be it.

However, I am a little worried that it IS really sort of a wager... it's possible that they can think it's one, and when it's born, SURPRISE - it's the other! This still happens, especially if the baby isn't "cooperating" during the ultrasound and doesn't give a clear view. This is one time I would like my child to NOT be modest!

Our appointment is on Thursday at 4:00, so we will definitely update the blog that night after we call the Grims and McCombies. Esch will be doing a special Father's Day edition :)

Stay tuned...

Austin, we have movement!

One day after I posted on the blog that I was still waiting to feel Baby move, it happened! I was out of town, so I called Esch back at home with the good news.

It felt like someone was poking me, it was very definite and very obvious! Now that I've felt this, I'm pretty sure that a few days ago what I was feeling were little movements... but this was so clear I'll call it official. Very, very excited, and it made me feel a little less lonely in my hotel room during my work trip. I wasn't alone :)

I just noticed that the vote is now BOY by 5! Interesting! I can't believe that a week from today we will know. It just keeps getting more and more exciting.

Also had my first "stranger comments" this week. A nice little man driving the rental car shuttle took my bag out of my hands and said nicely that I didn't look like I was "in a condition to be lifting things," and two other guys on my flights put my bags in the overhead bins. (This could also just be Texas...) But I guess it's pretty clear now. Some days, depending on what I'm wearing, I'm not sure if you can tell, but apparently that stage has passed!

One Day Early...

(I hope the baby is, too!)

17 weeks tomorrow! I'm updating a day early because I will be gone Tuesday through Thursday of this week on a work trip to Galveston. At least several of our clients there are restaurant owners - maybe a free meal or two in my future? And speaking of meals - check out the new picture. I put on the same dress as is in the photo from a few weeks ago to show the difference. Whoa.

Let me just say that I am not OK with the fruit of the week this week... namely because it's not only NOT a fruit... it's an onion. An ONION? Ew. You'd think there would be something a little cuter and less... fragrant. Oh well!

I am feeling the best yet lately - only real symptoms continue to be the fatigue (but I stayed up until 10:00 P.M. last night, without a nap! Bam!) and stretching feelings in my belly. I am absolutely dying to feel some movement - I keep thinking for a second that I might have, but can't really tell. I'll wait until it's definite to make that call.

Of course we're both also extremely anxious for next Thursday to roll around... the BIG DAY. The finding-out-just-who-this-little-one-is day! We're so excited to know if we'll be on Team Pink or Team Blue, and also to share the name! I can't wait to be able to refer to the baby by his or her name, rather than The Baby. Unfortunately, the ultrasound is at 4:00 p.m. so it will be one long day at work waiting to head to St. David's for the appointment.

I can't believe the vote is exactly tied... as I write this, it's 30 votes for Team Pink, and 30 for Blue. Only 10 days left until we know who's right! I had another dream that it was a boy, so we shall see...

Congrats Erika... and 16 weeks today!

An avocado this week... hmm. Better than the week that the baby was a prune, I guess!

The website has a fun update on what's happening this week:

"Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. "

We are now just dying for the "big" ultrasound two weeks from Thursday to tell us just what the little one is.

We spent a nice weekend in Clarion for Erika's high school graduation. Got to see lots of the McCombies, and the Grims even came for the afternoon! It was a great party. Erika will be off to Kent State... have a fun Summer and good luck, we are proud of you!