25 Weeks Along...

Baby Boy - Our boy is moving, flipping, and punching regularly. He is VERY active in there, which is a wonderful reminder through out my day that my 17 extra pounds so far is worth it! At this stage, he is around 10 inches long but still pretty skinny. In the coming weeks, he will begin putting on the cute pudge that I can't wait to pinch. He is still just over a pound in weight.
Dad - Bryce has been working hard to keep up with my "nesting" demands. Putting together furniture, re-arranging our office room, and slowly but surely getting our mis-matched baby room organized. He is a very active and involved daddy already.
Mama - I have had 2 people in 2 days tell me that I am getting bigger by the day. At just over 6 months pregnant, I am feeling the best that I have felt through out the adventure so far. I have enough energy to make it through the day enthusiastically, and am tired enough by night time to get a great nights sleep. Our giant double-queen bed is still as good today as it was the first night we jimmy-rigged it together :)

Daddy loving his baby boy...

Not the most flattering picture, but you get the point :)

A room in progress...

We're missing a nice comfy mama chair in this corner

A few Updates...and pics

Baby: Our little boy is loving life so far. He moves, kicks, and rolls around in my tummy about 30 minutes out of every hour. Our new favorite game in our house is to sit and stare at my tummy. His punches are so big that my whole belly rumbles! Baby boy Seger had to have an unexpected 2nd ultrasound earlier this week after our first ultrasound showed a possible renal (kidney) cyst. After a few scared tears, we received the good news that although he does have a small fluid-filled cyst on his left kidney, these things typically resolve themselves prior to birth. All of his anatomy, including kidneys, are functioning great. Doctor says there is no reason to worry...
Bryce: I hate to sound repetitive, but I can't stress enough how grateful I am that Bryce is so supportive. He doesn't panic when I cry over what work-out hat I should wear (oh my...), and he is always thinking of new innovative ways to make my life easier. I love you lots!
Cara: Crazy, forgetful, and emotional pregnant lady. That about sums it up :) Still smiling though!

I said crazy, didn't I?

The giraffe - pretty much complete.

Getting bigger...still rockin' the spandex. Ha!

20 Weeks! Half Way There!

Wow, the time has gone by SO fast! Our little boy is so active inside my tummy. I love sitting on the couch in the evening and just feeling him move around, kick, punch, and whatever other antics he's performing. It's been a challenge for Bryce to feel the movement because every time I talk, baby Seger stops moving! Maybe he's actually listening to me :) Bryce and I have a secret gesture now to let him know when he's moving around.

My personal favorite change that we have made to the house in preparation for the baby is our sleeping quarters. It has been near impossible to sleep since I have grown a little bigger, so last night I had a genius idea. We moved the queen bed from our guest room in to our master room, jammed it right up against our other queen bed, and now have a wall-to-wall ROYAL sleeping arrangement with plenty of room for body pillows, heating pads, extra blankets and more. A bit ghetto looking, but who cares!

I am also working on a new painting in the baby's room. A big tall giraffe is in the works on one wall, which will take a few full days to finish. I plan to paint a height chart on the side of him so we can compare our little man's (and maybe mommy's and daddy's too!) height to the big tall giraffe!

Thank you to my wonderful husband, Bryce, for offering nightly massages, for washing the kitchen floor, and for always telling me how beautiful he thinks I am. What a lucky lady I am. I love my boys.

20 Weeks and Growing!

The beginning of Mr. Giraffe

Yep, that's right! That's how we roll!

19 Week Ultrasound

The day is finally here! Trying to get to sleep last night was like trying to fall asleep the night before leaving on a Hawaiian vacation! So...the verdict is in and Baby Seger is most definitely a BOY! He wasn't shy at all during the ultrasound! "Check out what I've got Mom & Dad!"

We have narrowed it down a couple potential names, but will wait to share with everyone until we decide for sure :) In the mean time, he (oh man, it's a wonderful feeling not call him "it" anymore) is squirming around, doing flips, and keeping busy inside there getting ready for his debut in May 2011.

Bryce picked out his work shirt with much thought this morning. He stratigically picked out one with BLUE and PINK in it, not to hurt the baby's feelings no matter the sex.  :)

     Getting ready to leave for the appointment. Had to get a picture!

               Getting closer to the moment of truth!

                    With fingers crossed that will be able to find out!

                          So much for the girly figure :)

        Bryce texting moms, dads, grandmas, and friends the news!

Face Profile and bicep shot!

Stretched out leg!

A little foot! How cute!

Is this appropriate??? Who cares! That's my boy!

Celebrating 1 Year of Marriage

Some say that the first year of marriage can be the toughest. If that is indeed the truth, then Bryce and I are going to be just fine! This past year has been full of many good changes for us. Moving in to a place with a little more room, new jobs, and getting pregnant are just a few. It's weird to think that 1 year ago we were standing on the beaches on Maui exchanging vows. If I could have written out an ideal plan of how my life would go up to the age of 30, it might have looked pretty darn similar to what we have created within the Seger home. I m so grateful for Bryce and our families everyday.

To celebrate, Bryce and I went downtown and started the evening with some Christmas shopping at Pioneer Place. We walked  around enjoying the festive lights and decorations that I love about Portland during the holidays! We finished off the evening with a delicious dinner at Portland City Grill, overlooking the city from the 30th floor of the US Bank Tower Building.

                                  (Scary eyes in this picture. Yikes!)

Belly Bump - 17 Weeks

Baby: Officially in to the 2nd trimester! Baby Seger is now approximately the size of my hand spread open from crown to rump. Fat begins to form in the baby this week which is important to the body's  heat production and metabolism. He or she is moving around just enough for me to start feeling little wiggles inside! The first few times, I wasn't sure what the strange sensation was that I was feeling was, but after a few wiggles everyday I am decided that Baby Seger is having a dance party in there.
Dad: A big help in "nesting!" Cutting and setting up our Christmas tree, sealing the grout in our newly re-constructed bathroom, and other helpful chores around the house. Bryce will be such an attentive and patient father...just like he is as a husband!
Mom:  I'm feeling great, and SO anxious to find out if we are having a boy or a girl. We will wait until I'm between 18-20 weeks to find out ~ a change in doctor appointments leaves us unsure of the exact date that we'll know. I'm spacey and forgetful as ever! Such an adjustment from my normal organized self. Oh well!

Baby Bump 15.5 Weeks

The Growing Family...
Baby: He/she now has a big secret! The sex organs are developed enough to determine the sex by ultrasound, but we won't know until December 7th! The peanut is about 4 inches from crown to rump, and has been working so hard in there to grow, grow, grow! All joints are now formed and can be moved voluntarily. He/she can now suck his/her thumb, and sense light even though the eyelids are still fused shut.
Bryce:  Thinking that we have the boy and girl names narrowed down. Lots of name brain storming going on at our house. Continues to be a great support.
Cara:  Continuing to get bigger, and SO excited to find out the sex next month. Although I feel good physically, I am noticing big emotional ups and downs while these hormones continue to rage. Needing extra love and understanding this week.