20 weeks!

We celebrated our halfway point by attending a specialist at Carle in Champaign.  It was a big day; our AFP test came back with an increased risk for a child with Downs Syndrome and the appointment was for an ultrasound to indicate if the risk was a false positive or if there were markers indicating there could be something wrong with the baby.

The ultrasound was beautiful.  For 45-minutes, we got to see our little one move, bounce, and pose for the examiner.  And every measure was perfect - there was no indication we would need further testing or that the baby had any defects.  It was the most amazing experience to see the baby's heart working, blood flowing, limbs moving - all at only about 6 inches long.  Shonn and I were overwhelmed with thankfulness and a renewed sense of marvel at how miraculous life is.  I had such a perfect pregrnancy with Beckett that I think I took it for granted.  Not anymore!

The second huge piece of information we got at the appointment was that we are having a GIRL!  I could not have been more surprised!  Since we took that Intelligender at about 12 weeks, I have been sure we were having a boy!  We were both so excited!  Shonn has had a feeling all along I might be having a girl because I have had such a different pregnancy, but I really thought it was a boy.  I'm really thankful and feel incredibly blessed to have a healthy baby - the girl is icing on top!

Here is what Baby Center has to say about the 20th week:

How your baby's growing:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

Thanksgiving with the Williams

There were 86 people at the Cisco Center Thanksgiving this year. Even amongst the crowd, Beckett went right to GG, which made her day!  The food was great and almost all of my mom's family members were able to make it.  (This celebration is for my Grandma's sisters and their families.  There were 4 generations represented from 4 different families!)

Beckett loved all the kids, and he really loved the playground outside.  He went down the slide about 70 times. :)

Cisco Center

We had a nice surprise at Cisco Center Thanksgiving this year: Mandy and Levi were able to make it.  They were interviewing for jobs in Greenville that same weekend, so they came up to join us for lunch on Sunday.  

Thanksgiving with the Hilds

Beckett had so much fun playing with his cousins on the Hild side.  Tyler had so many toys and lots of room for the kids to run!  We missed Grandma that day; she was with her mom and sisters, but it was nice to catch up with all of Grandpa's family.

Beckett's Cafe

Beckett still gets up at about 5:30 every morning. While that might seem like a negative, I like it because we can hang out before I go to work.  On the weekends, we get a lot done, too! (...although I have been napping with him throughout my pregnancy...)

Today, before 7:30, Beckett had made his first batch of blueberry muffins:

AND made some soup for Daddy to eat when he came home from hunting.

Both were delicious - I think he might have a future hobby!

18 Weeks!

Didn't Beckett do a great job writing 18 weeks?!  So talented, that boy.  While today marks 18 weeks for the baby, it is also Becket's 19 month birthday! 

So I accidentally missed 17 weeks, and that is exactly how I would describe this pregnancy so far: Going so quickly that I can't keep up!  I wonder if that's an indication of the baby's personality.  If so, I'm in trouble! :)

So, I thought we would find out boy or girl at our appointment last week, but no luck.  Now we have to wait for November 30th, which seems like ten years away.  

Updates: I feel like my bump just bumped out this week!  Most exciting of all, though, is that baby is moving around enough that I can feel him or her now. :)  I feel the most when I lie down at night, but occasionally, the little peanut will give me a nudge to say hello during the day.

Here is what Baby Center has to say about this week: (Could it be a sign that the article says "he"?)

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

19 months...

 We love this little boy and all the joy he brings into our lives! This picture illustrates his growing curiosity and desire to explore.  I am amazed at how quickly his vocabulary is developing - he remembers and says everything now!  One of the things I'm most surprised about is his ability to switch pronouns.  For example, I'll say, "Do you want to do it?" to which he will reply, "I will do it."

He recognizes so many sounds and can recall information I don't even remember. (Although that probably isn't too much of a comparison with baby brain.)  The other night, we heard coyotes yipping in the field behind our house, and he said, "Wolf?"  so Shonn and I explained coyotes to him.  Now, at night he will go into the playroom and listen, asking, "Coyote?"

He is also quickly developing a sense of independence.  He will let you show him how to do things, but then he really likes to try it on his own. "Beckett do it!" or "I do it!"  He uses please and thank you (sometimes "thanks!") without even being reminded most of the time.

One of my favorite stories this week was from the other night.  I needed Shonn to help me with something in our room, but he was in the living room, so I called out, "SHONN!"  Beckett loved that and started saying, "SHOOO-OOOON!  Shonn!  Shonn!" and then he said, "Shonn-y!"  We both cracked up because I have never called Shonn that or ever heard anyone call him that.  (Maybe Janis when he was little?)  But he knew right away who Shonn was, and now, every once in awhile, he will call Shonn by his first name.  That, or "Hey, buddy."  Haha!

Saturday at Meemaw and Papa's

Last Saturday, Beckett and I spent the day at my parents, just enjoying the beautiful weather and the leaves. He loves going there to see Papa's fish (the goldfish my dad rescued from Beckett's first birthday party), the buffalo head Dad got at an auction, and the deer head in the man cave.  Grammy made a yummy lunch of burgers and veggies, and Beckett had beets for the first time.  (He loved them!)  

We took a long walk down the road to see some horses, and then we explored the field and inspected soybeans.  Beckett loved that.

It was a great day!