Baby, oh baby!

For those of you who haven't heard... WE'RE EXPECTING A BABY!!!

Happy news indeed! We are super excited to announce that we are having a little girl, due in mid-May, and her name is Shiloh.

The name Shiloh is Hebrew for "gift for him", so as soon as Brandon knew this, he was in love with the name... how perfectly fitting! We are still waiting on a middle name...

It was a rough first trimester... some of you mothers out there may identify with the many woes of "morning sickness" (although its never JUST in the morning)... but I was dealt FIVE WHOLE WEEKS of non-stop, day and night, good ol' fashioned morning sickness. The toilet saw more of me than anyone else! It was just awful...ask Brandon! Hahaha! But what better to motivate a woman through those difficult moments than the miracle growing inside her belly.

By the time my second trimester began, it was like day and night. Basically all the symptons went away and my energy returned. Since then, I've truly been enjoying this pregnancy! And now, my belly is growing by the day, and so is little Shiloh. Each day her movements and kicks become stronger, and more fun to watch and feel. Thats the very fun part for Brandon, he enjoys the times that he can catch her kicking... he always says, "Whoa! Thats not you? Thats her? Amazing!"

As for the normal pregnancy stereotypes... I actually haven't had many cravings... and I have not woken Brandon up in the middle of the night to make him go out and get me ice-cream. But I am thinking maybe I should, while I can! During the day, I am constantly hungry... but I find it fun! Bending over to pick something up off the floor has become a journey... I'm wondering if the day will come soon when I can't even do it anymore! Hahaha! And getting in and out of our car is WORK! My body does ache, but fortunately I have an amazing husband that gives me back rubs and foot rubs just about every time I ask!

Over the next few months we are hoping to set up Shiloh's pad. And by pad, I mean, her little nook in our shoebox of an apartment. Since we live in such tight quarters and with all the traveling we'll be doing, we have opted for a simple pack-n-play crib, that doubles as a bassinet. We're also going 1950's and doing the cloth route. I know, I know, "brave soul!", you're thinking... but I figure, 'if my mom did it, then I can too'. Plus it'll help us save a little money each month. I'm taking any tips from you moms out there, so if you know anything about cloth diapering, please share!

My respect for moms has changed so much with my pregnancy thus far... I said I've been enjoying it very much, and I have, but I also have been learning so much. To let go of things like, the shape of my body, or a comfortable night of sleep, or even the usual kind of exercise is hard, but it has taught me what sacrificial love is. I am sure I'll continue to learn more and more about it for the rest of my life!