The Gentry's

Year Ending...

2011-12-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

2012 is less than 30 days away!!! This past year has been filled with ALOT... in May we lost my grandmother, we moved back to Kentucky in June, celebrated birthdays (Ricas and I both turned 29, Caileb turned 3), welcomed a new baby to our friend circle (congrats Toni & Carrington), and I personally was able to cross a few things off my bucket list (I will write about that later).

But as the 2011 draws to a close there are so many things that I am reminded of... one being how much I miss Tennessee on a regular basis. I never thought that I could miss a place that wasn't "home," but it clearly goes to show that home is where the heart is and our hearts were in Tennessee for 4 years and I can honestly say that I left a little of my heart with my friends when we left :-/ However, I don't know that I would change our move for the world... it has been great being back in Lexington so close to family and back in our old church. Although we have not bought a house, we did find one to rent and it has been great being in a place that feels like home.

Caileb is growing like a weed and is getting smarter every day! We were able to get him into a great daycare and he is learning so much. I took him for his first eye exam and they used shapes to evaluate his vision... he knew every shape that he was presented (and they weren't just circles and squares)! He can also count to 10 in Spanish and has quite an expansive vocabulary and ability to communicate with others. His love for transportation and music has not changed at all- he is still enthralled when big trucks, emergency vehicles, and "fast" cars are near us! He is quite tech savvy and often is the culprit of stealing our cell phones to entertain himself. I am also excited to announce that he is officially potty trained (although this news should have been posted back in May)!

All in all, we have had a great year!!! We are preparing to celebrate Christmas with all of our family and friends... I will be sure to update about our Christmas celebration before the year ends :)

Our Daily Bread...

2011-11-24T10:32:00.000-08:00

When I was a little girl I can recall sitting at the dinner table and having to pull a scripture from the "box" and read it before eating.

This tradition was one that was passed down from my grandparents to their children. So now that I am a mother and have found that Caileb is completely capable of remembering things I wanted to start teaching him scriptures. I wanted to take what I remember from growing up a step further... I wanted it to be more than just READING a scripture, I want him to KNOW what the Word says. So Monday evening (after my mother gave me my childhood promise box) I sat down with Caileb and he chose his scripture card.

After reading the scripture to him I gave him a simpler, "plain language" version to recite... "The Lord is close to the broken hearted. Psalm 34:18" Each day I ask Caileb to tell me his scripture and we talk about what it means. My plan is to continue this at least once per week, maybe twice depending upon how well he is able to recall the scriptures he has learned!

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Poop & Pink Eye

2011-03-07T08:21:00.000-08:00

So we've been working on potty training for a few weeks now and things are going pretty good. We've peed in countless Pull Ups, underwear on the floor and even in the potty! Caileb still insists on telling us after the fact that he has to go potty, but we are making baby steps! Today we get to spend some mommy & Caileb time together since he has pink eye & cannot go to daycare, and what does Caileb surprise mommy with!? A POOP IN THE POTTY!!! Looking back I don't ever think I've been excited about poop, except maybe the time he finally pooped after being constipated for a few days. It's amazing how much I am concerned about poop that isn't my own now that I'm a mother!

To wrap this up I am so proud of my big boy! He is growing up so quickly and I just wish I could capture every moment in a life like video that I could revisit. It seems like just last month I was still on maternity leave and enjoying spending every day at home with our new blessing and his complete dependence on me, his cuddling, and coos. Now I've got a toddler who is all BOY and nonstop. There are toys EVERYWHERE in our home, and I have stepped on more match cars and balls than I can count. I remember when I was in my early twenties I swore that if I ever had a boy he would not get the little toys that I would injure my foot on, and look what happened! I've had more foot pains from little toys & cars, but I am quickly finding that ALL TOYS are a danger to mothers... tricycles to trip on, big fire trucks to stub a toe on, power wheels that roll over feet and anything else in the path, balls to slip on or be hit with. But the honest truth is that I wouldn't trade any of it for the world. I LOVE CAILEB and everything about him! I love his boyness, his quirks and his personality.

just one of the random things he does daily

Chronicles of the Potty (first 24 hrs)

2011-02-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

Take 3...

We have tried this potty training thing with Caileb before, this past summer and right before Christmas, and it was a #failure! After reading, talking, and observation I decided we'd give it a go... again! This time we are doing things a little differently- the main difference is that he is in daycare. They will take him to the potty with the other children that are being trained (I think there are 4 in his room) and I think that this will greatly influence him as he will want to do what the others are doing. The other difference is that I am more prepared this time. The previous times it was a decision that I made somewhat on the fly without really looking into his potty patterns or knowing what to do. <---- please do not interpret this as I know what to do, because I am still learning.

At any rate here is our progress so far...
2/9/11 sat on the potty every 15 minutes for 10 minutes until about 9pm when he made a liquid deposit! We put his diaper on for bed and he insisted on putting his underwear on top, so we let him!

2/10/11 Caileb crawled into bed with us early this am and was still dry, but he was still sleep so there was no need to try and get him to sit on the potty sleepy. I said a little prayer and hoped for the best. 7:45 rolled around and we were awake and DRY!!! We did our little morning snuggle, exchanged kisses and talked about how he was going to be a big boy and use the potty today. He was excited and we got up went to the potty and less than 10 second later "I pee peed!" He was beaming and I was thinking, no you didn't go that quick... but he had! 1 marshmallow for Caileb!

There were hi fives, dancing and lots of celebrations- when daddy woke up it was a repeat of the celebration! No telling how we will act when he actually poops in the potty.

Mommies of potty trained boys, please share you experience. What worked? What didn't?

Until next time...

UPDATE (10:30) Potty 3 - Underwear 0

Oh and now Caileb has decided to potty train Mickey Mouse!

UPDATE (12:10) Potty 3 - Underwear 1
Standing at the couch playing and what to my surprise should I hear? Tinkling water on the carpet. Caileb was astonished and immediately looked at me like "what just happened, that was supposed to be in the potty!" Cleaned him up and sat him on the potty, still there (he says he has to poop)!

UPDATE (5:30) Potty 4- Underwear 1 - Diaper 1
Diaper went on and Caileb went down for his nap. He peed (no biggie it's not like we expect him to miraculously stopping peeing in his sleep)! After nap (4:15ish) he sat on the potty for a bit- nothing. We had snack played and back at the potty by 5:20... and he quickly informed me he'd peed and was up quick as lighting for his HI FIVE. I was busy and didn't grab his marshmallow and he didn't even care- he is more interested in the HI FIVE and celebration of it all! I've convinced him to sit back on the potty to try and poop, but no luck yet. He usually goes in the am between 8 and 8:30 but nothing yesterday or today!? Any suggestions on how to deal with pooping on the potty?

go blue...

2011-01-23T14:29:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that we are a family that bleed blue- two different shades (Kentucky & Carolina) but nonetheless BLUE!!!

Saturday we enjoyed breakfast as a family at IHOP (all you can eat pancakes!!!!!!!!) and got our day of to a great start! Let me start by explaining a little bit about Caileb... he meets no strangers (PERIOD). He may act shy, but he loves meeting new people and seeing how much he can charm them ;) We often are out in public and have random people coming up to us to tell us how our son was winking or smiling at them, or how he's been playing peek-a-boo across the way! This day was no different and Caileb made "friends" with several people around us- one couple in particular was an older couple and by the time we stood up to leave, he had charmed the little old woman over! We chatted with the couple for a bit and they complimented how cute and well behaved Caileb was (thank you old couple)and then they proceeded to ask us if we were MTSU fans. Ricas and I looked at each other, quizically, and after a little hesitation I said "well yeah, I guess" (not really sure of what this old man's intentions were). In response he gave us 4 tickets to the Blue Raiders Men's Basketball game last night (hence the title). As a reminder I am a UK fan and Ricas UNC, but it was great fun to spend a night out as a family doing something different from the norm. Since it was a fairly empty arena, we were able to sit just about court side- big plus for Caileb! We enjoyed watching the Blue Raiders play to a victory, although I was far more interested in the very random old gentleman that ran around the arena pausing near various fans to cheer and dance! I can't cross anything off my Bucket List, but MTSU blue is very close to UK blue so I am that much closer to a goal of mine!

the tickets... photographer got them a little blurried (must be his style)

on our way to the game...

he doesn't look quite as happy as i do...


but he does!

father and son enjoying some basketball

mtsu blue raiders

the blue raider (caileb wanted nothing to do with him)

"mom!? another picture... really?

final score 59-49 blue raiders

a picture of LOVE...

2011-01-16T19:40:00.000-08:00

I spent a few hours with a coworker, Lauren, and her husband to capture a very special moment in their lives... they are having a baby!!! Visiting with them and seeing Lauren progress in her pregnancy reminds me of what it was like to be pregnant with Caileb and the anticipation that I felt as his due date grew closer. Lauren & Richard are expecting Baby Nathan in 3 weeks and I cannot wait to see him in person. Lauren & Richard were great sports and allowed me to practice a few ideas with them, and Lauren never complained once about having to get on the ground and then get back up... I recall how difficult that became as I got closer to my due date. Seeing the two of them together and the joy that they have in adding a new "Beard" to the family is pure LOVE! Congrats Lauren & Richard!!!

My Bucket List

2011-01-15T16:52:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to do this for a while now, but never took the time to actually make a list. So here goes my bucket list, things I want to do before I die! Some of these things I will accomplish within the year, others it may be quite a few years; but at least I have goals. This list is in no particular order... I will add to this list... and I may even take things off my list. I will blog about each experience and try to capture photographs when I can! Follow along with me and get ready for the ride- I can imagine it will be full of fun!!!

1. Go on our honeymoon
2. Have a girls weekend
3. Go to an Essence Music Festival
4. Get my Masters
5. Go to Las Vegas
6. Visit Savannah, Georgia
7. Run a 5K
8. Sing karaoke
9. Get out of debt
10. Learn to make pottery
11. Vacation at the beach
12. Take a trip to California
13. Work out consistently, at least 3 times a week (for longer than 2 weeks)
14. Travel outside the US
15. Buy a house
16. Create a trust fund for Caileb
17. Get a complete makeover
18. Photograph NYC (which I guess includes visiting NYC)
19. Fly kites
20. Establish myself as a photographer
21. Learn to knit
~~22. Photograph love- capture an image that summarizes the emotion~~ (completed 1/16/11, read about it here)
23. Photograph sunset at a beach
24. Photograph sunrise over water
25. Discover my life’s purpose
26. Learn to say “no” without feeling guilty
27. Go to movies solo
28. Help with a Habitat for Humanity build
29. Pay for a stranger’s meal at random
30. Make a financial donation to a charity
31. Plan a party (other than Caileb’s birthdays)
32. Provide a complete Christmas for a family in need- gifts & food
33. Have or go to a painting party
34. Visit a vineyard
35. Go horseback riding
36. Go skiing
37. Spend a weekend at a 5-star spa
38. Go to a UK football game (my husband reminded me that I went to a game with a friend before we moved to TN, when I locate a picture I will mark this completed- until then I'll just say IN PROGRESS)
~~39. Go to an NFL football game~~ (complete 12/19/10, read about it here)
40. Raise a happy & healthy child (in progress)
41. Be a foster parent
42. Adopt a child
43. Have family rituals & traditions to celebrate holidays
44. Create my family tree
45. Renew our wedding vows for our 10 year anniversary
46. Get together with extended family at least once a year
47. Make a difference in at least one person’s life (I hope this is in progress)
48. Volunteer at a soup kitchen
49. Plant a garden
50. Join a disaster relief effort
51. Create a cookbook (not original recipes, but ones that I enjoy and like cooking, something to pass on)
52. Go to a Broadway play
53. Watch a Cirque du Soleil show in person
54. Go to the Kentucky Derby
55. Hand out money to total strangers
56. Be a member in the audience of a TV show
57. Get a henna tattoo
58. Travel solo
59. Throw someone a surprise party
60. Go to a masquerade
61. Take a 365 day challenge (a few options)
Write in a journal
Learn a new word every day
Do some sort of exercise for 20 minutes every day
Save $3 every single day
Take a photo every day
62. Learn to, and go, snorkel
63. Swim with dolphins
64. Go white water rafting
65. Go on a cruise
66. Ride a mechanical bull
67. Walk through a corn maze
68. Go- go kart racing
69. Go whale-watching (well, maybe!?)
70. Visit Niagra Falls
71. Visit the San Diego Zoo
72. Milk a cow
73. Ride an elephant
74. See the Grand Canyon
75. Visit Yosemite National Park
76. Witness a meteor shower
77. See pyramids in Egypt
78. Go to an art museum
79. Vacation in St. Croix
80. Visit the Coney Island Boardwalk
81. Visit the Hershey Chocolate Factory

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!! Can you believe it's 2011... I can't, I recall thinking the world was gonna end in the year 2000 and here we are exactly 11 years later. It just goes to show that no man knows God's timing.

So here we are on 1/1/11 and there are tons of things that I could update you all on, but that would be way too much seeing as those the last post I made was back in June :(

Since then we have moved to a larger place, but it's still not OURS- I am really looking forward to start the home buying process (although there is not actual plan for this, just a goal that we know we'd like to accomplish soon).

We spent Christmas & our New Year in Kentucky with our family & friends and had such a great time. Being there for so long makes me even more excited about moving back home this summer- I just hope that we can find jobs!

As far as Caileb goes... he turned 2 back in November and he is so smart! He can count to 20 on his own, say his ABCs, knows some of his colors and shapes and has a great vocabulary! He LOVES transportation- cars, trucks, airplanes, helicopters, and trains; he loves all sports, watching monster truck shoes and playing hide-n-seek! Sometimes it's hard to believe that we have a 2 year old boy! Although he is out of the lovey dovey cuddley stage, he will still give hugs and kisses (although they are very limited) and every once in a while he will snuggle against me while I am editing pictures or looking at photographs! I think he is going to be into the arts- he request to paint with me, loves to look at photographs and will often try to take some of his own, and he is SO into music!

There are a few things that I want to accomplish in 2011 and many things that I want to do that I probably won't get done this year, so I am creating a bucket list! I am so excited to put down all the ambitions I have and to track my progress- I will document my journey here and will try to blog about the things that I cross off my list!!!

Bucket List #39

2010-12-19T17:02:00.000-08:00

As a birthday gift from a good friend, Ricas and I attended the Titans vs. Texans football game. It was a perfect day for football- chilly, but not freezing! The amazing part about this day was that we were seated 3 rows from the field. It was absolutely amazing to be so close to the field and see the game up close & personal (although I must admit I spent more time gawking at the lenses of the photographers)! At any rate, the day was great fun and a good way to start our Winter Break. I would also agree that it was a great date with just the hubby- after the game we had a late lunch at the Catfish house and did some window shopping.

Kiss* Kiss*

2010-06-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

Caileb is doing so much new stuff these days! Just this evening I asked him for night night kisses and he give me a big 'ol "yuck" (our term for open mouth kisses) on the lips. When I asked for a kiss on the check he took both of his hands and started pinching my cheeks!? Not sure where he got this, but I love it!

Some of his new favorites (and mine) are....

WORDS:
"Cruck" truck... he often says "oooh big cruck!"

"Cuck" stuck... we are preparing to move and put him in his high chair to get a few things done, after a few minutes he started yelling "i cuck, i cuck!"

"Mine." = EVERYTHING he touches

"No!" His response to EVERYTHING, even when we don't ask him a question. The funny (really not so funny)thing about him telling people no is that he says it with such an attitude and can make you feel bad for proposing whatever it was that you asked.

SONGS:
"Old MacDonald" He loves to sing EIEIOoooooooooooo
"The Wheels on the Bus" I will have to upload a video tomorrow, I can't explain how cute it is!
"The Itsy Bitsy Spider"

In general he loves music, we were watching the Michael Jackson tributes and he just danced his heart out, even tried to mimic a few MJ moves- I tried to get it on camera, but he would stop every time the camera came into view. This is the best I was able to get...

Shame on me

2010-02-21T17:57:00.001-08:00

It has been WAY too long since I've updated my personal blog! I promise that I will do better ;) It is my goal that I will "back-post" our life for the past year, but here is a post just about Caileb and what he is doing now!

Caileb is 15 months old
He is developping such a personality! He loves to laugh and make us laugh, he does this funny walk where he keeps his legs straight and tries to run! He is so smart and learning so much. We started counting to 3 as a means of a warning for him to stop doing something, but now when we say "1" he says "2" (in a "twooooooooooo" type of way, as he increases in octives). In terms of what he is saying: he says "a nana" for Banana (and for Nonna); he says doggie and wil bark "woof-woof," he roars like a lion, he will say airplane and make a vooooshhh kinda noise while soaring his hand through the air; all food is "cacka" (cracker); he signs "eat" as "more" (look up the signs to see what I mean. He says "boo-boo" (when he's pooped) and so much more. This time in Caileb's life is so exciting and amazing.

Here is Caileb after church in his new clothes, he did his "special" walk most of the day, as if he didn't want to get his new shoes dirty!!!

Caileb's Newest Pictures

2009-01-31T22:59:00.000-08:00

My oh my it's been a while! Being back at work leaves m very little free time, if you will. After getting my room together for the next day, I pick up Caileb spend time with him, feed him and put him down for a nap... cook dinner, iron clothes feed Caileb again, wash bottles, make bottles take a shower a then to bed. I'm doing good just to check emails and make a phone call or 2.

At any rate our friend Jason took some pictures of Caileb (here he is)...

Wordless Wednesday

2009-01-14T06:27:00.000-08:00

Caileb's 1st Day of School

2009-01-13T18:42:00.001-08:00

Caileb is now an official "DayCaree..." I took a half day from work just so that I could wake up at the crack of dawn and take CG to school. I was determined to get up and do our regular schedule to prepare myself for what was to come, only it wasn't until 6:15am (an hour late) that I remembered what my plan for the morning was! So I got up and got ready, nursed and got Caileb ready and we were out the door on our way at 7:12 am. (On a regular basis I would be super late for work)! At any rate, I get him to school and all settled in and as I was about to hand him over he gives me his big goofy smile as if to say "Mommy- It's gonna be alright"

I love his daycare because the space is really nice, open and bright; the teachers are so nice; and they have 2 cameras in the room and I can get online and view the footage anytime of day! Needless to say when I left Caileb behind I had to do some therapy, so I grabbed some SBX and headed to Wal Mart... it kept my mind from racing and kept the urge to "save my son" at bay. I made it to work shortly after 9:30 (SBX #2 in hand) and immediately went to the computer to pull up the camera footage. Ricas and I picked Caileb up right after school and once again he was smiling as if to say "See Mommy, I told you I'd be okay!"

The Things I Love Most About Caileb

2009-01-10T15:28:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely fascinated by my son... just staring at him and knowing that he is a product of our love, came from within me, grew in me- all because it was God's will! it's just amazing to watch him sleep, move, eat and just be. I often sit and stare at Caileb in awe of God's work in my life... Caileb is the physical form of my heart's desire- what I've wanted for years. Here are some pictures I snapped with my camera one day during my observations...

I made it...

2009-01-09T19:16:00.001-08:00

well relatively speaking... I"m still breathing, have all my limbs, phalanges, most of my hair is still on my head and I'm still standing (well currently sitting)! I guess the face that I am actually blogging is a good sign in itself! So this was my first week back at school since having CG and it was EXHAUSTING. I fought the daily urge to come home and pass out as soon as my feet hit the carpet, I couldn't look at the bed with having breast pump or hungry baby in hand and I dare not sit still watching TV in increments any smaller than 15 minutes. Today i was running from my classroom (no organization, or tidiness what so ever) as if one of the little rascals had set my lesson plans a blaze and the flames had taken over the school. Typically I stay in my room to pump, but not today- the pain of having my liquid gold collecting was not enough to hold me there. I got home just in time to say good bye to my mother (who had been down this week to keep CG) and to find that CG was peacefully sleeping. I was filled with excitement at the thought of a nap...BUT WAIT I must do mommy stuff... clean bottles, collect random socks fallen through the house and then run daycare paper work to the daycare- so much for that glorious nap! So here I am at 9:24 drinking Pepsi, blogging and about to hem my husbands pants in an attempt to last until the next feeding so that I can sleep uninterrupted for the night! Being a working mommy has given me the new idea that if I start to play the lottery on a daily basis maybe i could win some money and be a stay at home mom until CG starts school-THAT SOUNDS SO GREAT TO ME! But I don't gamble- we are far too money conscious to through money away with the glimmer of hope that we have 1 chance in none to actually win any considerable amount of money. I suppose Monday I will take CG to daycare, grab a SBX latte and face the week ahead of me!

This weeks give away...

2009-01-06T17:06:00.000-08:00

$25 gift certificate to Birthday in a Box. Go here http://themomreviews.blogspot.com/2009/01/birthday-in-box-giveaway.html

Therapeutic Reviews & Giveaways

2009-01-04T14:26:00.000-08:00

To all the blogging mommies I have found a blog site that you must check out! The Mom Jen is a blogging mommy who has a separate site where she gives things aways! If you're like me giveaways are great!

Copy and paste this link into your browser http://themomreviews.blogspot.com/

Books from Birth

2009-01-03T16:50:00.000-08:00

When Caileb was born I immediately enrolled him in the Books from Birth program- books from birth is a TN program that falls under the Imagination Library umbrella. This programs provides a new, age-appropriate, hardcover book every month to children from birth to age five at no cost to the family, regardless of income. Today Caileb got his first book in the mail, "The Little Engine That Could." I have been reading books to Caileb since birth but today as I read each page, Caileb was very aware of the pictures. As I turned each page I could see his little eyes scan the pages taking in the various colors and images on the page. I know he doesn't understand what is being read, but I talked with him and pointed out various things just as I will continue to do with the hope that one day (sooner rather than later) he will be pointing and asking questions of his own!!!

...Hello 2009

2009-01-01T08:36:00.000-08:00

So we went to Chattanooga for our New Year's celebration and it was great! Being in the atmosphere where we were really had me thinking and I have set goals for myself, I know that not all of these things will be complete by Decemer 31, 2009 but I will use this year to take steps towards completion of these things!

1. Seek God and develop a more intimate relationship with Him. This means regular Bible study, daily prayer, and fasting when needed.

2. Be a better woman... I want to be like the Proverbs 31 woman! I want to be a better wife to my husband, I want to be a better caretaker of our family and I want to be a great mother!

3. Buy a house.

4. Get my Master's degree.

5.Be wiser about our finances.

6. Loose a few pounds and become a healthier me- better eating and exercise habits.

7. Take a vacation- I know this sounds odd, but Ricas and I have never been on a real vacation with just us (we've always tagged along with his family at the last minute).

8. Date my husband (this really goes with #2).

9. Help someone to be a better them!

Good Bye 2008...

2009-01-01T00:15:00.001-08:00

As this year comes to a close I reflect on the past 365 days, here is a list of the most memorable events/things:

1. Teaching... although this was really a blessing of 2007 I will list it here because I stayed at the same place! When we first moved to Murfreesboro I had no clue there were 2 school systems (county and city) and had practically given up the hope of getting a job in teaching. 2 weeks before the city schools were set to begin, I discovered that there were a few job openings and originally was hired as an interim- 3 weeks into the year I was offered a full time position at Northfield Elementary school where I still teach 1st grade, have a great team of teachers and work with the greatest staff!

2. January 3rd- I had an emergecy surgery to have an ovarian cyst removed. the cyst and my ovary were so intwined that the surgeon took my right ovary :(

3. March 28th- Ricas and I discovered we were expecting our first child. (This makes #2 a blessing!)

4. August 5th we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary- we have been together for 5 years now and I am amazed that each day I love my husband more and more!

5. My Aunt Lizzie passed away, she had dealt with illness for the past few years and is now resting with God and His angels!

6. My grandmother had a bone marrow biopsy and everything came back negative!

7. November 18, 2008 @ 6:24 pm we celebrated the birth of our son!

8. Getting to see 2009

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T23:42:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that we are celebrating Christmas with our son! I couldn't ask for anything more as a gift... he is truly a daily blessing. Once again we traveled back home to Lexington, KY for our Christmas celebration. After turning a normal 3.5 hour trip into something closer to 6 hours we made it to my mother-in-laws house and it began- the "Caileb War." Over the duration of the trip it was a constant discussion of who was holding him next, or who had held him to long and it was time to pass him! To be honest I enjoyed watching this because I saw everyone's love for him, it was also easy for me to watch because he was so calm about everything- he didn't mind so I didn't mind. Caileb did fine with life outside the norm- being around so many people for extended periods of time didn't really bother him. He ate, slept and pretty much stuck to his regular routine, just in the arms of various family members throughout the day!

Christmas was great... this was the first year that both sides of the family (mine and Ricas') actually got together and did a joint Christmas dinner, typically we go from one side of town to the other visiting family, but not this year! It was so great to just relax and have fun and fellowship with the entire family! (Although there wasn't much relaxing after dinner because my mother discovered Wii and she just couldn't get enough... she was challenging everyone to a game)!

So check out the pictures below and see what our Christmas was all about!!!

"GG" my granny's first time seeing her Great Grandson:

Christmas Breakfast @ Ricas' cousins:

Christmas Dinner:
The family

Our mothers in a deep convo

My brother in laws girlfriend (and Kayden... in the belly) with her mother

Caileb and his GG

After dinner Wii action

On Saturday night after a day of rest on Friday we took Caileb to Applebee's and he got to meet all of his mommy and daddy's closest friends!
Justin

Kevin

Carrington

"Bob"

Sunday Dinner @ "Grand Dawn's" house (this is Ricas' Aunt):

Caileb with his grandfather (Ricas' dad)

Family picture... not the best

Caileb's Changing Face

2008-12-04T10:54:00.000-08:00

I never knew how much babies changed from day to day! I have tried to capture daily pictures of Caileb so that we can look back and see his growth and change over time. Enjoy the video of his first 15 days!

It's Thursday and I'm Thankful...

2008-12-04T08:01:00.001-08:00

I spend my days sitting and staring at my son and I am so amazed at God' creation. To know that 9 months were spent being a 24/7 haven to this child, preparing him for life in the world, all at the command of God. To actually, physically see his fingers flare, to see his hand/arm movements, to witness his little kicks, listening to him suck his fingers... it such a blessing and a true miracle- all of these things went on inside of me, I have been through the journey of feeling my sons fist movements from the inside! How can anyone not believe that God Is?! Just to look at this little baby and to know that it is all because of God, He knew when he created me that this moment would come, and He already has laid the path for Caileb's days!

On top of the blessing God gave us, He was gracious enough to answer my prayers. Throughout the entire pregnancy all I ever wanted was a healthy, happy baby... and that is what I've received! Caileb is a very healthy boy, and aside from an occasional fuss he is the most content baby, he sits and watches me just as much as I sit and watch him. He laughs and smiles, he occasionally coos, he sleeps through the night (typically 5 hour stretches).

I am just so blessed with my first born and am so thankful for God's blessings!

Caileb's 1st Bath

2008-12-01T20:54:00.000-08:00

The day finally arrived... Caileb's first official dip in the tub! On Saturday during a routine diaper change Daddy found Caileb's circumcision ring in his diaper and then early this morning {Monday} I found his umbilical cord stump in his night gown! On TV they always make the first bath look so pleasant, but this evening while preparing Caileb for bed, I realized that TV is not reality- no matter what they say! Caileb cried the entire time, but hey what was I to expect from a babe who's used to being swaddled and warm, being suddenly emerged into water... what was Mommy thinking?!

Check out the video of Caileb's very first tub bath!

Thankful Thursday

2008-11-27T17:20:00.001-08:00

I have soooo much to be thankful for, not only today but everyday...

1. I'm thankful that Caileb is healthy and growing. My entire pregnancy I prayed the he would be healthy and happy and he has been. Although we had a little bobble in the beginning with jaundice, Caileb is making a great comeback. He was discharged from the hospital Saturday weighing 6 lbs 5 oz. (9 oz,. less than his birth weight) and when he went for his check up yesterday he was 6 lbs 12.6 oz!

2. I'm thankful for my family... I have a wonderful husband, a great, loving, and supportive family (on both sides). They have always been there for us providing love, support and anything else you can imagine!

3. I'm thankful for my job and those that I work with- with Caileb coming 2 weeks early I didn't get a chance to fully prepare my classroom for my interim and I wasn't able to attend my baby shower, but they have all come together to make sure that my class was taken care of and under way and they bought my baby shower to me (well only the gifts not the entire staff).

4. I'm thankful that God is God... without Him I wouldn't be who, or where I am. He has blessed me so much and I am thankful beyond words!

Caileb & Uncie J

A Father's Love

Labor & Delivery

2008-11-25T12:49:00.001-08:00

So here we are at home alone and I got to thinking I need to update my blog...

Monday rolled around- I went to work had a very typical day... taught class, disciplined students, had 3 people tell me I was huge and was having an enormous baby (or twins), belly rubbing, restroom break, more belly rubbing, lunch, reading, recess, dismissal, office visit to talk about the day and when "Baby Sid" was going to come... mind you no where in this day are there contractions (and I had had my fair share of contractions prior to this day). I get home and chill out, watch some TV and then go to sleep (fairly early- I missed Dancing with the Stars). At about 11:50 pm I got up for my nightly potty break and got back into bed to enjoy a night's rest filled with tossing and turning and uncomfortable positioning! Just as I get comfortable I peed my pants (or so I thought)- as I jump up and try to squeeze the urine in to keep it from coming I realized that the pee just won't stop trickling. As I make it back to the restroom I announce to Ricas that I think my water broke (although I wasn't quite sure, because on TV it seems that it's a gush of water; coupled with the fact that only 5% of women's water break at the onset of labor). So here we are scrambling around the house trying to throw last minute things into our hospital bags and get everything to the car. When we got to the hospital and got checked in I walked up to LD where the nurse checked my fluids and upon initial exam said that it was not my water that had broken. When she went in to get a better fluid sample the test strip still didn't change colors but she noticed that the fluid contained meconium. Needless to say they finally got the color they needed to verify I was in labor, but with no contractions... so the pitocin began (2 am). At 7 am I was about 2 cm dilated and was beginning to feel stronger contractions, after 2 doses of stadol and no pain relief (just extreme sleepiness) I got the epidural... HEAVENLY! At 5 cm dilated and 80% effaced they changed my contraction monitor to see if the contractions I was having were internally as strong as they showed to be externally- everything seemed to be going well but Caileb wasn't dropping into the birth canal. After about 2 hours of observation I was dilated to 8 cm, 100% effaced (my cervix had completely thinned out) and at a stage -2 (I needed to get to stage 3) Caileb wasn't dropping into the birth canal. The initial plan of action given by the nurse was to let me get to 10 cm and then try to "labor down"- get Caileb to drop while pushing, but my OB came in and said let's do a c-section. So 14 hours of labor and about 45 minutes in the surgery room I finally got to meet my son!

The entire c-section wasn't that bad, but I had a horrible case of the shakes, so after I saw Caileb the I was given Demerol which put me to sleep so I don't recall much of what happened after the birth. I remember people being in the room and them bringing Caileb to me to nurse for the first time, but I was so groggy and numb that I could barely hold him on my own =( So they whisked him off to the nursery to do baby stuff while I slept away in the room, not even experiencing the reality that I was now a mommy.

I'm a Mommy!

2008-11-23T15:36:00.000-08:00

Quick post... 2 weeks early and he's here!

Caileb Eugene Gentry
November 18, 2008 6:28pm
6 lbs 14 oz

Pregnancy Photos

2008-11-13T18:24:00.001-08:00

2008-11-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

I know I've been slacking on keeping everyone updated, but I had parent teacher conferences after school for the past 2 weeks (didn't get home til after 6 or so most nights) and then I've just been in the preparation process!

I've started going to the doctor every week! At our 35 week appointment I had my Strep B test, was 1 cm dilated but my cervix was still thick and Caileb was still pretty high. Last week (36 weeks) things were the same, my Strep B test came back negative (no antibiotics during labor) and they had to take some blood to check to see if I'm immune to fifths disease- which has been going around our school. I will get those results on Wednesday when I go back to the doctor, but I've been told I was probably exposed as a kid and will have no problems at all! Dr. Chesney also told us that we could expect to have a baby in the 7 pound range, but he couldn't be more specific as to which extreme of 7 pounds we could expect!

I've been having sporadic contractions over the past week or so- nothing that really alarmed me that I was actually in labor, but Friday we were shopping in Target and I started having really strong contractions (ones that I'd never felt before)... my first reaction was that it was Caileb moving, but this was an all over intense "push" from the inside. So strong that I had to just stand really still in the baby aisle. Ricas tried rubbing what we thought was Caileb to get him to switch positions but nothing worked. Eventually it passed and we continued shopping. About 20 minutes later while pulling into Wendy's to get a salad it happened again, and again, and then once more when we got home. I knew something was different so I called my mother in law and realized that I was actually having contractions. They continued up until about 9:30 or so, which is when I fell asleep trying to relax and see if we were going to the hospital! Since then I've only had a few here and there, but no hospital trips for us... I'm hoping that there will be some change in my status when we go to the doctor on Wednesday, I'm so ready to meet our son!

Tomorrow I will be 37 weeks!!! The reality of having a baby is so real, only 22 days left and only 3 more fruit/vegetable comparisons (see babycenter.com weekly updates).

Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

It's been a while!

2008-10-27T18:14:00.001-07:00

So my last blog was over a month ago...I've been busy trying to get my sub plans together for my maternity leave- along with tons of other stuff. But here I am- 35 weeks and counting down! The past few weeks have been amazing- feeling Caileb move and grow, knowing that he's head down andall the other positive news we've received from the doctor! At any rate, I'm blogging because I think Caileb has officially dropped into the birthing position (we'll see Thursday at the doctor), but when I got home today and changed my clothes I realized upon looking down that my usual hadn rest, cup holder, clipboard, etc. was no longer where it had been for the past few weeks. It's like it suddenly just disappeared! Although this makes me very happy, knowing that our son is making all the proper moves to be birthed, I am beginning to get a little nervous about the actual process of labor and delivery... ANY SUGGESTIONS TO CALM MY NERVES? I can't rely on my childbirth classes, because we didn't get to take them... we were out of town or busy on most of the Saturday classes and the others were on nights when Ricas has class- so no birth prep for us. I feel as if I no clue what to expect- what will contractions feel like? will i know that i've actually gone into labor, without going to the doctor first? even with the epidural, do i need to know some breathing techniques? will i push the right way? this list could go on and on!

I will digress and say GOOD NIGHT! I'll let you know how everything goes on Thursday!

Belly Pic

2008-10-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

After laying on my side for a while, this is what I looked like! This pic was taken while I was laying flat on my back, from the vantage point of my feet..

30 weeks

2008-09-24T20:02:00.000-07:00

Only 10 weeks left! Monday we had an appointment and the doctor said that everything is going great! I gained just about a 1 in the past 2 weeks (total weight gain so far of about 12 pounds). All of the testing that was done 2 weeks ago was normal- no diabetes, anemia, strange or infectious diseases, etc... we are perfectly healthly. Caileb was very active and is growing well- right at 3 pounds with a heart rate of 153! The doctor says that if Caileb continues growing as he has, we can expect to have a 7 pound baby boy, but he can't promise us that as of yet = ( (7 pounds sounds just great to me). At any rate, we made it safely to and back from the wedding this past weekend... we have one more trip before we are home bound for the long haul! Rica sand I will be going home to KY the first weekend of October for a baby shower and for one last family/friend reunion before Caileb's arrival (I can't travel past Halloween). Only 6 appointments left (2 more 2 weeks appointments and then 4- 1 week appointments) and then the big D day should be upon us!!!!!!

New this week: Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

2008-09-16T16:48:00.001-07:00

Life right now couldn't be better!!! The pregnancy is still going wonderful and we finally got started on the nursery. It has been very exciting putting baby stuff together and really preparing for the life inside of me (every day seems more real)! Here are a few pictures from the room- it's still a work in progress...

I will add more pictures as more is completed, but this is about it for now!

On Thursday I leave for my best friend's wedding and I can't wait, but I am slightly nervous- I'm flying and Ricas isn't going with me... I will miss him so much. But hey, it's only the weekend... say a prayer for us as we travel!

New this week: Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source ofcalcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

7 months

2008-09-08T18:56:00.000-07:00

Only 84 days left!!! I can't believe how fast this time has come around, it seems like only last month I was 7 weeks pregnant. I still feel great, and I'm really enjoying feeling Caileb move more and more. On Friday I had my last 4 week check up (we are now on the 2 week plan)- after taking what seemed like 4 quarts of blood all my testing came back normal- no anemia and no diabetes! So far I have gained right at 9 pounds... I hope this number continues to stay fairly low : )

New this week: By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

27 Weeks

2008-09-02T15:04:00.000-07:00

New symptom of pregnancy: ELEPHANT FEET/ANKLES! (the exclamation point is only for the sarcasm of my excitement, not the real thing). When we arrived in Kentucky on Saturday my feet were still fairly normal looking... after an hour or so in Burlington they were beginning to swell... about midway through a game of Monopoly my feet were so swollen (Ricas described them as looking like I had pads on my feet and you should be able to hear them slap as I walk/ I say they looked as if I was the extra for Professor Klump in the Nutty Professor). Despite how much I try to prop my feet up, avoid sodium and do all the other things I've been told the swelling continues =(

On the lighter side of things, I feel great! We are going to order the crib and some other "big things" here in the next few days... all of this preparation is making it all the more real!
New this week: This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

26 Weeks

2008-08-28T15:24:00.001-07:00

This week has been really exciting because I am able to feel Caileb's move more and more (and a lot stronger). On Sunday night while watching the closing ceremony of the Olympics my husband was able to see Caileb's movements- although he still has not felt them... Caileb has a tendency to stop all movement when he knows that Ricas is around! Another piece of exciting news is that we are beginning the nursery! We got his comfort set in and will be getting the crib this weekend- I'm so super excited because this makes it even more real! I can't believe we are just about 90 days away from meeting our son- I know it's still months away, but when i think of 90 days it makes things so much closer.

Our good friends found out that they are expecting and she is 2 months pregnant. I'm so excited for them and the journey they are beginning. I'm hoping they have a boy, otherwise Caileb and Alex (Caileb's already friend) will be fighting over who gets to date Maddox.

At any rate, I'm so excited for all that God is preparing us for and the days to come!

New this Week: The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

Happy Birthday Mommy!

2008-08-18T16:28:00.000-07:00

Today is my mom's birthday!

How your baby's growing

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

24 Weeks

2008-08-12T15:20:00.000-07:00

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

2008-08-06T17:11:00.000-07:00

Today we had our regular 4 week appointment and Dr. Chesney says that Caileb is growing fine and so am I. To date I am still having a wonderful pregnancy- no sickness, food aversions, or serious problems. Lately the only problematic symptom that I've had is heartburn/indegestion- and it is HORRIBLE. There is no method to this madness, no food that makes it worse- I can eat the most bland food, drink water or simply breathe air and there it goes- a firey attack of my esophagus. Usually I can pop a few Tums and drink some milk and it subsides, but if it continues we will be making a doctor's appointment (this can't me natural)!

At any rate here's the update on how Caileb is growing: Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

22 weeks

2008-07-28T19:41:00.000-07:00

I got a Christian book for pregnant women to take from the time of pre conception up until birth in a Godly manner, that relates pretty much every phase of pregnancy to God and what the Bible has to say. One thing I read one day during my devotions, that I had never thought about, was the significance of the number 40 and how it is usually representative of tribulation or trial and how the number 40 reappears quite a few times in the Bible- during the flood it rained for 40 days & 40 nights, Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sanai, Jesus being tempted in the wilderness for 40 days, etc... at any rate the devotion goes on to say that it is no wonder that God chose 40 weeks as the normal gestation for pregnancy because during pregnancy you may feel that you're going through the wilderness, but to keep in mind that at the end the Promised Land awaits baby and I! This really spoke to me and made me step back and become less "anxious" about getting to see Caileb. I now think that I want to make it to end of this journey with full completion to get exactly what it is that God has for us!

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Finally!

2008-07-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

It was almost like waiting for Christmas morning to finally get here, these past 2 weeks have gone by fairly slow in anticipation of the big day! After all the waiting, it was worth it! We got to the doctor's office and about 5 minutes into the ultrasound the tech said the 3 words I'd been waiting to hear "It's a boy." I didn't care what she told us it was I just wanted to know and now I do, so it's official- we're having a Caileb! At this point we're still at a loss for middle names, we've toyed aroudn with a few but none have been suitable for the both of us. My suggestion is that we name him Caileb Antonio Eugene Gentry (both middle names are family names- Antonio was my grandfather, and Eugene is a generational Gentry name). Ricas says no because it's too much, but I like it and I will be pushing for that name. If you have any suggestions please let me know!

At any rate, back to the appointment, Dr. Chesney said that Caileb looks great, very healthy and no concerns. We are right on track (although according to the ultrasound my due date is now 2 days earlier than expected, but what's 2 days after 10 months anyway?!)

I think I'm going to change the name of this blog to Caileb's Mommy... that sounds good (especially since he's not a bean any more)!

New this week: 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).

Chalk this one up to my inability to cure my procrastination...

2008-06-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

Friday we had another appointment with Dr. Chesney and we actually got to hear the baby's heart beat!!! The rate was 150 beats/minute (which now makes me second guess my thought that this baby is a girl). At any rate, Dr. Chesney says that everything still looks great! WE go back in 2 weeks (July 11th) to find out what Baby G really is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <----- I'm excited (can you tell?)

At any rate, we have chosen the following names for our child-
Boy: Caileb "dog/brave" <--- my husband can break the entire story down as to how the meaning of this name went from "dog" to "brave"
Girl: Ma Kiyah "who is like Yahweh (God)"

Unfortunately at this time we are at a stand still with middle names, so I come to you (my readers- friends and family) to give us your suggestions. Please leave your suggestion(s) in a comment and hopefully we will come up with something!!!

New this week: 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.

17 weeks

2008-06-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Only 2 more days and we go to our next appointment (followed by the big ultrasound in 2 weeks)! I'm hoping that we will get to hear our baby's heart beat on Friday, if not I'll settle for getting to see him or her once again. Still no signs of morning sickness (knock on wood) and I'm in great health and feeling great! I pray that the next 5 1/2 months continue to go just as well.

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

I think it's a girl!

2008-06-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I was online looking at babyzone.com and they had this Chinese calendar that predicts your baby's gender- I put in the info and the result "you could be having a girl." Yesterday I met some friends and their children at a small water park in Smryna and my friend Kristi did the "ring test" on me. (For those of you who don't know- the ring test is when you put a ring on a strand of hair and hold it over you stomach the gender of the baby is determined by the motion of the swing... back-and-forth A BOY; in a circle A GIRL). On me the ring went in a very defined circle- so once again the predictions are for a girl. Many people I work with think it's a boy because I haven't had any sickness, but then there are the few that have said that they were sicker than a dog and had a boy (or had no sickness and had a girl). So to add to the predictions, I have this feeling (call it motherly if you will) that I am carrying a girl. At the end of the day does it matter what we have? Of course not! I just want a healthy baby that is happy and blessed!

4 months and counting

2008-06-16T15:05:00.001-07:00

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

2008-06-03T14:26:00.000-07:00

We're back from KY and it was exciting getting to see all of our friends and family for the first time since we told th em that we were expecting! They all think I'm getting bigger and of course everyone is excited about December.

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.

In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

2008-05-29T17:43:00.000-07:00

Today we went to the doctor and we were excited about getting to hear the babies heart beat, unfortunately things didn't go as planned. The doctor tried and tried but could not find the heart beat for us to hear, so instead we got to see our baby again. We didn't get pictures or measurements, but the doctor just wanted ust to see that everything was ok and that baby was ok. We saw baby head to toe, s/he is getting so big, and had their legs kicking a mile a minute!!! We go back in 4 weeks for a regular appointment, and then again 2 weeks lates (July 11th) to find out the sex of our baby). I think I'm secretly hoping for a Ma Kayiah, but Ricas really, really wants a Caileb! I guess we'll see... just so long as he or she continues to develop healthy!

Happy Memorial Day!!!

2008-05-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

Today we went to our friend's house (Quita & Jason) for a Memorial Day BBQ... for the past few weeks I haven't really had an appetite for anything specific, and when I do eat food nothing has tasted good. But today I ate ALOT and it was all good! I've been sitting around talking with my other JAG wives and I was telling them that I don't really feel pregnant (due to the lack of signs), but the more I talk about being pregnant the more I feel pregnant!

New this week: Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce.

We made it!

2008-05-23T13:31:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Ricas and I are officially 3 months pregnant... all of the early chances of not going full term are over (not that we were ever concerned). At any rate, I am just trying to maintain a low stress level while we wind down the last few days of school- between my children who are going insane and all the paperwork I have to complete for the end of the year it is slightly hard. But none-the-less I'll make it and everything will be great! This past weekend my mother & father in law came to town for their anniversary and we took them to an outlet shopping center about 30 minutes away from us. They were very kind (better but my mother was over excited) and they bought us some clothes for baby! It was so sweet and touching, the spare closet has officially become the baby's closet and soon we will begin to transform the room into a nursery!

The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.

2008-05-14T18:55:00.001-07:00

Since we found out that we were pregnant we had a name picked out if it's a boy- Kaileb Gentry (no middle name yet). But we have struggled for the past 6 weeks to find a girls name that we both like and feel would be good for our daughter. Last night my husband came to me and proposed 2 names, the one that I liked best and we both agreed upon is Makyah which mean "Who is like God?" I'm so excited and can't wait to find out what our precious baby will be!

2008-05-12T16:18:00.000-07:00

I'm gaining more energy each day, and although the nausea has not subsided it has gotten a little more tolerable! This weekend Ricas and I spent quite a bit of time trying to come up with girl name's that we both liked- so far we are 0 for 0 (if you have any suggestions, let us know).

New this week: Your baby, just over 1 1/2 inches long and about the size of a fig, is now almost fully formed. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.

She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

2008-05-09T19:25:00.000-07:00

This was by far one of the longest weeks ever in history... coupled with the fact that I almost took a nap in class (with my students) at least twice this week, I'm glad it's Friday! At any rate, things are going great with me & baby. No change in the nausea but it's tolerable most days. Oh, good news, the extreme fatigue is s l o w l y going away, I didn't take a nap everyday this week, just 2 out of 5 (that's better than 5 for 5). I can't wait until July to find out what we are going to have, I'm very anxious to start buying specific things for our baby!

At any rate, today I sent my students on a scavenger hunt around the school to find out what my secret is! It was so fun to watch them discover the clues and them try to put things together in their minds about what I was keeping from them. The very last clue was a tie dyed onsie and I thought for sure that they would get it then, but all they could think was that it had to do something with a baby... most of them thought I was just going to bring a baby with me to our Zoo field trip next week (since we're all wearing tie dyed shirts). After several guesses, one student guessed that I was having a baby! When I asked them when (timeline was given in an earlier clue) one student said today?! It took a few of my students a while for the light to click, but once it did they were all cheers and excited!

10 weeks

2008-05-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

2 more weeks to the end of the first trimester! I'm beginning to seriously think that I will make it through this pregnancy without any sickness, naseau only (knock on wood and say a prayer). It's funny because I don't think that I'm showing, but everyone at school swears that they're beginning to see the "bump" I try to convince them that it is all pre- existing, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I am convinced that this week is going to be a great week, I'm going to get back in the routine of going to the gym and really jump start being fit during this pregnancy. To date I've gained back about 2 pounds (still not to my pre wisdom tooth removal weight, which is a good thing). I have spent the past few days trying to figure out what I'm going to wear for my best friends wedding in September. I am the Matron of Honor, but there are no maternity dresses (or dresses that will fit a 7month pregnant lady) at the store where the other dresses are coming from. I am in the process of finding a pattern to have a dress made.

New this week: hough he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.

If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.

In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

The Doctor Said "It's All Good!"

2008-04-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

Today we went in for our first official prenatal appointment! We got to see our baby- he or she is 24mm long from head to tail and has a heartbeat of 180... of course that means it's a girl, but Ricas so wants a boy it's not even funny! We won't find out until July what we will have for sure, but I really don't care.... I just want a healthy baby (with all of his/her body parts) and I pray that they will be very happy! I'm taking polls... What do you think we'll have (better yet, what do YOU want it to be)?

I look at the child growing inside me and I thank God for the blessing... I've always wanted to be a mother and after convincing myself that I'd never have children, God showed me that all things are possible through Him. It's amazing that just 4 weeks ago I went to the doctor because of spotting and had an ultrasound and Baby G was literally a small blob on the screen. And now s/he is beginning to take the form of a real baby! God is truly AMAZING! I can't wait to begin feeling pregnant... so far I haven't really been sick (I get nauseous at times, but no throwing up).

New this week: Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

Good News

2008-04-22T15:31:00.000-07:00

So about 3 weeks ago Ricas and I found out that we are expecting our first child at the end of this year (hence the name of the blog)! We, well at least I am, super excited and look forward to the next few months of being pregnant; Ricas is excited (just not super excited) and nervous all at the same time! Maybe we'll have to convince him to start his P.O.V. blog about this pregnancy?! At any rate, I'm new to the blogging world, but hopefully I won't be a stranger... I hope to keep you all updated at least once a month (or when any other "big" things happen as we get closer to extending our family).

New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

Anticipation

2008-04-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

I've been resisting the urge to go buy clothes and such for the baby... I don't know how much longer I will last! Everyday is better than yesterday, because I see Ricas getting excited and really taking part in the pregnancy. Lucky for the both of us I still don't have any morning sickness, although I have noticed that right around 11ish I start getting nauseous and it last for the rest of the day. Not to mention my extreme tiredness... I take about a 2 hour nap everyday after school.

New this week: Hands and feet are emerging from developing arms and legs — although they look more like paddles at this point than the tiny, pudgy extremities you're daydreaming about holding and tickling. Technically, your baby is still considered an embryo and has something of a small tail, which is an extension of her tailbone. The tail will disappear within a few weeks, but that's the only thing getting smaller. Your baby has doubled in size since last week and now measures half an inch long, about the size of a blueberry.

Problems in Paradise?

2008-04-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

For the past few days I've been having some very light spotting, after talking to a friend today she told me I should call my OB to see if everything was ok. I did as I was told and had an appointment today right after school. I was so nervous that something might be wrong, but after the ultrasound and talking with my doctor everything is just fine. I now have to take a hormone (progestrone) that my body is supposed to make naturally, but may not be making enough right now. The best thing about going to the doctor was getting to see Baby G (even though it looks blobby right now) I could see it's little heart beating and I was beside myself. Oh and I found out I'm not as far along as expected (which was another probable cause of the spotting). Today I am officially 6 weeks 1 day with an expected due date of December 1st!

Shopping Day

2008-04-05T14:48:00.000-07:00

Today was a lot of fun, I'm noticing that my appetite is back with full force (but I'm still not able to eat much because of having the teeth pulled). I'm down at 7 pounds and I'm so hungry... no cravings, but I think that garlic is out for me. At any rate, we went to various stores and I found tons of things that I plan to buy, but I will be waiting to find out what we're having because there are so many choices! Tiff bought me a little onesie that says "Little Lamb of God!" It's hanging in the closet, where many clothes to come will be!

I love it

2008-04-02T17:36:00.000-07:00

I talked to my god daughter Kylah today and expected to tell her my exciting news- she had gotten on the bandwagon with her mother and had started asking me when I was going to have a baby, almost every time we talked- at any rate, I was talking to Trice while she picked Kylah up and once Kylah was in the car and knew who was on the phone she said that she already knew, her Nanny Pat had told her that Aunt Dia was pregnant. So Trice puts Kylah on the phone and we're talking about stuff in general when Kylah pauses and says to me, so does that [being pregnant] mean you're having a baby?! I just love her! She says it's gonna be a girl...

It's no secret

2008-04-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

Today was a good day! I'd initially planned to keep the pregnancy amogst close friends and family until I'd reached the end of my first trimester, but that is not how things worked out. It seems like everybody knows (and I'm not the one spreading all the news). This fact alone is funny, because Ricas is so quiet and not one to talk alot, but he is on a roll with the announcements! The excitement is so great, after work Ricas sat at the computer with me (that is a rare occasion) and we looked for things that we'd like to buy. We have already mentally arranged our spare bedroom for the nursery and I can't wait to start buying stuff to move in. I have a "shopping date for Saturday with Chiquita and Tiff to look at baby stuff...

It's Monday...

2008-03-31T17:23:00.000-07:00

It's Monday & it's official... we're expecting our first child November 20th. I'm 6 weeks 4 days according to my doctor! I was so excited when I left the doctor this morning I didn't know what to do. I called my mother (and sent Ricas a text), but I had to wait until after work to call everyone else. Unfortunately, my husband beat me to the punch- our conversation as I was driving home went like this "Can I call your mom now?" "She already knows, everybody knows." "What about Aunt Dawn." "Everybody." "Your grandparents?" "Everybody." "Even people at church?" "EVERYBODY." "What about Shan?" Needless to say this conversation went on for a while, I checked to see if there was anyone that I could call that didn't already no, that was negative. Once I got home I figured out that he'd sent our a mass text message to everyone in his phone (and had called the rest). Although I only got to tell my mother, and best friends it is still exciting confirming with everyone that it's true! As of today the only symptom is soreness... it's really bothersome, because it hurts to lay on my stomach, to have anything touch me, even to take a shower, but it's all ok knowing that it's because I'm pregnant! Even though he doesn't act very excited right now, I know he is (see the above conversation) but I think he is in provider mode- since this is an unplanned pregnancy we have made no preparations for a child and he is concerned with all that has to be done. I'll keep you all updated...

New this week: This week's major developments: The nose, mouth, and ears that you'll spend so much time kissing in eight months are beginning to take shape. If you could see into your uterus, you'd find an oversize head and dark spots where your baby's eyes and nostrils are starting to form. His emerging ears are marked by small depressions on the sides of the head, and his arms and legs by protruding buds. His heart is beating about 100 to 160 times a minute — almost twice as fast as yours — and blood is beginning to course through his body. His intestines are developing, and the bud of tissue that will give rise to his lungs has appeared. His pituitary gland is forming, as are the rest of his brain, muscles, and bones. Right now, your baby is a quarter of an inch long, about the size of a lentil bean.

We're Pregnant!

2008-03-29T07:02:00.000-07:00

I first suspected this Easter weekend, but with all that was going on I never got a chance to go to a drugstore, I just thought that I was late and everything was just okay. After having my wisdom teeth pulled out Wednesday and coming back to reality sometime on Friday I decided that being a few weeks late was not ok, so I had Ricas take me to Walgreen's to get a test... and it was positive. I was so shocked, as we had not planned this and I didn't think it'd be so soon after losing an ovary that we'd be expecting our first child! So here we are Saturday morning, and the result is the same... I want to tell everybody, but Ricas insist that we wait for official doctor confirmation- I WILL BE MAKING AN APPOINTMENT FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING!!!