Childbirth Classes

Mommy and Daddy started their 5 week series of childbirth classes last Tuesday! Daddy really didn't want to go, but Mommy loved every second of it. The nurse teaching their class is a really sweet, soft-spoken lady who has been teaching for 20 or so years. There are 5 mamas total in the class...3 are having boys, 1 doesn't know, and mine is having a girl of course. The mama who sits next to us in class lives really close to us (which is a big coincidence since we kind of live in a teeny tiny town). Maybe her baby and I will be friends and go to school together!
Daddy got to volunteer to help the nurse fill up a bag with all the different weights mommy is gaining and then all the daddies had to feel how heavy it was. Then we watched a video about labor, and Daddy handled it really well. Mommy was happy because the nurse had all the daddies give the mamas massages with tennis balls. She really enjoyed it! Then, we had relaxation time and I kicked Mommy's belly through the whole thing. What a fun time!

Kicking Daddy

Lately, Mommy has been feeling lots of bouncing movements in her belly. Well, she's right, I have been doing a lot of bouncing. It's so fun and squishy in here...just like one big trampoline! My mommy has also felt lots of tickling movements right near her right hip and the occasional kicks. I usually save all my kicking for night time when Mommy is getting ready to drift off to sleep. Daddy has even felt me kick a few times! The first time he felt me kick was when we were in CA laying in bed the night before Auntie Jenny's wedding. Daddy was amazed that he could feel me! I kicked him 5 times just to be sure he knew it was really me making that movement. Then, a week ago, Daddy was talking to me. I could feel his hand on Mommy's belly so I kicked it to let him know I was listening.
Mommy wants me to move more during the day. She gets worried because she thinks she should be feeling more kicks. Don't worry though Mom! I'm just relaxing all day long and don' t want to bug you.
I'm as sweet as can be already! :)

My Baby Shower!

The week before Christmas, my Auntie Nicole and Grandma Jenn threw us a baby shower! It really warmed Mommy's heart to have all the lovely ladies in her life gather together and talk babies with her for a couple hours. Not only that, but I got a lot of girly clothes (which I can't wait to wear) and lots of other goodies! Mommy is so grateful!
Mommy and our neighbor Paula:

Auntie Erin, Mommy, Great Grandma Lorraine, and Great Aunt Jill: Britt, Auntie Erin, Mommy, Auntie Nicole, Grandma Jenn, and Lu

Mommy, Ellie, and Melissa (Mommy was Ellie's nanny!):Here is mommy holding Ellie's little brother Vencil:

My 20 Week Ultrasound

When Mommy was just about 20 weeks pregnant with me, she and Daddy got to go to the doctor for an anatomy ultrasound and were extremely excited to find out if they were going to have a lot of pink of blue in their future. Mommy thought I was a boy. Daddy knew deep down that I was a girl, although he really hoped that I would be a boy. Sure enough, the ultrasound tech told them that I was a girl! Daddy smiled, but was a little disappointed. He may not fully realize it yet, but I am going to have him wrapped around my little finger and he is going to have so much fun with me! After all, just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't watch sports with him when I'm little and play sports with him when I'm bigger. I'm a little athlete already. I have been practicing kicks and doing flips for weeks and weeks now!

At this ultrasound, I was about 10 inches long from head to toe. I grew a lot since last time they saw me! I was facing up in Mommy's belly with my feet above her belly button. Mommy and Daddy are curious how I can hang upside down in here and not have all the blood rush to my head! Hmmm...Here is a picture of me all curled up in the fetal position:

During this ultrasound, I was calm as can be. They woke me up during my nap, so I was still drowsy and didn't move a lot. Here's a picture of me with my head turned so you can see my face! You can also see my brain and my spine in this pic:

Mommy's Baby Bump

From the moment Mommy found out about me, she started spending lots of time staring at her belly looking for a bump. Here is a picture of Mommy's belly when she was only 6 weeks pregnant with me. She was convinced she had a slight bump, but really Mommy, are you joking? Mommy was going to take pictures every week from 6 weeks on, but got lazy for quite a few weeks! Now that Mommy's belly is much bigger, she can't believe that this is what her belly used to look like and has a lot of trouble seeing the suspect "bump" :).

24 weeks--->

My First Photoshoot

Here I am 12 weeks into Mommy's pregnancy. I am really tiny in the this picture! I was less than 2 inches long from crown to rump and hardly weighed anything at all, but I was very spunky and put on a show for Mommy and Daddy! As soon as the ultrasound tech put me up on the screen, my little arms and legs were moving continuously. Mommy cried as soon as she saw me and pretty much through the whole ultrasound because I was soo cute. She's such a sap! But that was the first moment that she realized that she was really, truly, actually going to be a Mommy. AND the hormones taking over her body sure do make her emotional!

Here I am with my hand resting on my head:

Time for my close-up!Just relaxing with my legs crossed:My round little tummy and legs and feet!Here I am waving good-bye at the end of my show! Mommy and Auntie Jen think I look like a little alien here:

Mommy and Daddy are so EXCITED!

Hi, my name is Heidi and I'm going to be Mommy and Daddy's first baby! When Mommy first found out she was pregnant with me, she was thrilled and in disbelief. Could it really be true? Mommy and Daddy had been wanting a baby, but were surprised at how fast it happened without even really trying! I must have been "meant to be." Mommy went shopping that day and bought me a teeny tiny Minnesota Twins t-shirt to show to Daddy to break the news. Mommy couldn't get anytime alone with Daddy that day, so she waited to tell him until late that night after he got home from a night out with his friends. Daddy was so excited when he heard the news! Ever since, Mommy and Daddy have been anxiously awaiting my arrival. They talk about me constantly. I think they are a little bit obsessed.
I'm expected to arrive on May 5 and plan to do lots of eating, sleeping, peeing, pooping, and crying. It's a good thing my parents already love me so much, because I'm going to be a lot of work!