Almost Half Baked.

This week, I officially hit the "I feel pregnant" stage. My stomach is definitely saying more "baby" than "bloat" these days and there is some pain that I suspect may be the beginnings of a ninja inside, but it could also be muscle or gas (sorry, truth!) so I'm not jumping on the "let's freak out and assume it's a baby kicking around".

We'll find out the gender of Baby H one week from this Tuesday. I think I'm just ready to know. Up until 2 days ago, it wasn't really ever on my mind, but these last 10 days will be a little harder for me to wait out. I think it will all just make it more real to me. Up to this point, all pregnancy has allowed me is a daily puke-fest and grainy pictures of what appears to be either a lump or a semi-aquatic creature.... so to get to see a human and know that it's a boy/girl and not just a something obscure will be kind of nice.

Baby definitely responds to loud noises. At the kennel this last week, there were a number of times things would get really loud back in the wards between dogs barking and me yelling and bowls being slammed. When it got really noisy, there was some really funny feelings in my stomach that were not the protein bar I'd eaten 20 minutes prior. Kind of cool, kind of weird.... so much like the rest of pregnancy.

The real highlight for us this week was finalizing first and middle names for a boy or girl. The middle names were giving us a hard time. Our girl name has been pretty well decided for a while now, but our boy's middle was giving us a real run around. However, after sitting on the couch reading out endless names, we finally have it. Our boy name is decidedly traditional. It will seem a little "big" on a tiny baby, but I prefer a boys name that will sound good when he's 30 and not like his mom named him with the intention of him being 7 years old forever. The girl name is slightly more out of the ordinary... but for me I would consider it much tamer than what I could have come up with if Josh didn't have a level headed opinion. I like to believe it is a good balance of the both of us.

I'd include a pictures of my ever growing mid-section.... but I spend most of my time at home in pjs and I don't feel like getting cute for one photograph.

After the ultrasound on the 19th, we'll most likely announce the gender and name choice that matches.... so don't bother asking us what names we've chosen. We're being stingy with them until then.... because we can. :)