Long post...

Ok, it has been FAR too long since I posted here last. So be prepared for a lengthly post, but enjoy!

I'm at 21.5 weeks today, and feeling pretty good! I am getting over a head cold (which thankfully was not the flu - I would feel terrible not getting the flu shot and then getting the flu! so here's hoping I continue my healthy streak. They say pregnant people are more susceptible to getting sick because of a suppressed immune system, but I think it's because we use the bathroom 3 times more than everyone else! lol)

The ultrasound a week ago was amazing. We were lucky enough to get lots of pictures (the technician said she was very photogenic and she couldn't help herself). There's a cute one of her profile, a few neat hand shots, and one I like of her with arms up in a boxing stance :) It was a special moment for me, holding the hand of my husband and watching our little girl in her snug temporary home. I was really happy to see her so squirmy - I hadn't really felt her moving around consistently. At the ultrasound they estimated she weighed 12 ounces. And we were told everything looks average and normal!
With knowing the gender now, it feels a bit more real. There's not just any old tiny human growing, but our daughter! I think C.T. had a short overwhelmed moment where he suddenly went to fending her off from boyfriends and dancing at her wedding! :) Both of us didn't care one way or the other, and it was a bit strange but we felt a little sad we weren't having one of each! Boys have their look-forward-to moments and girls have their own. I, for one, can't wait to braid her hair, kiss and snuggle her, cook & bake together, dream up fairy tale lands...etc etc!

I think we're pretty set on the name Lucy - but we might spell it Lucie instead. Not sure yet. And C.T. is liking the full name of Lucia. We will see!

I am definitely looking pregnant these days. There are days I feel pretty uncomfortable, but nothing too bad. I am doing my best to get to the gym a few days a week. It feels good to sweat since I spend most of my day sitting. I've tried to get to the pool, but unless I get up extra early, it's tough to fit it in around the swim meets & lessons going on in the evenings. Occasionally my back will be tight, and a few times I've woken up in the middle of the night with my calf cramping up, and I do feel the round ligament pain especially if I've been inactive for awhile, but overall no complaints! I still have my moments where I think "I'm gaining too much weight" "Other people this far along don't look as big". I have to remind myself that everybody's different, and as long as she is healthy in there, I shouldn't worry.

We went to our Baby Basics class the other night. The lady who led it definitely had her own opinions on things, but overall I agreed and we learned some good stuff. We first went over how to bathe - basically hold onto the baby & do your best, haha. She went over swaddling & diaper changing. C.T. changed his first diaper, no problem. She had some good pictures of what things will look like: birth marks, the cord, etc. She told us of her five S's to calm a fussy baby: Swaddle, Side/stomach, Swing, Shh, Suck. There's plenty of advice out there, I hope that I can do a good job of not being too stubborn.

Oh, the things babies "need". We went into a Babies R Us the other day to look around. I'm attempting to be as less-is-more as possible. The carseat I like is by Chicco and is about $180. That brand also has a stroller I really like because it's not a full size huge one, but it can still hold a carseat & has a regular seat that fully reclines for infants. I looked into bassinets, moses baskets, etc. but I think it would be easiest to just keep the big crib in our bedroom to start out with - we have the space. And in six months or so we can move it to her own room. I think the wooden rocker C.T. found at a garage sale will work just fine. My mom and I will recover it and make it cute. I know it would be nice to have a glider, but we could always get one later if needed. One of these days we should register for shower gifts. Also on the to-do list for January is find a day care and find a pediatrician. No small feat there! We are praying about all these big decisions coming up.