11 Weeks

I posted new pictures! Brent's parents were here this weekend. They are visiting Florida for their spring break. They came over to see us and spent the day on Sunday. We had a great time - went to lunch, bought baby clothes at Target, and got ice cream. Kathy also bought me two pairs of pants - matternity pants with the elastic waitsband and they feel so wonderful, I could kiss the inventor of these pants! The weather was beautiful and it was so fun spending the day together!

Baby Hartsell is 11 weeks old. I've been going by baby's age, but there is a difference in how many weeks pregnant I am and how old the baby is. Baby is 11 weeks, but I'm 13 weeks pregnant. Confusing, I know. So, I'm 13 weeks along now and I'm at the end of the first trimester! I can't believe it!! It's really gone quite fast and I've been so lucky with my minor complaints in the grand scheme of things. So, one down and two trimesters to go!

• Baby is 2 1/2 to 3 inches long.
• Rapid growth from now to 24 weeks.

Next week is Brent's spring break from school. I took the whole week off with him and we're off for a week adventure in the Florida Keys. We have had this trip planned for months - even before we knew about Baby Hartsell. We will be campling in the Keys for the whole week - kind of park hopping from one state park to the next. We'll start at the top of the keys and make it all the way down to Key West by the end of the week. I can't wait to see the blue blue water. We're taking our bikes and kayaks. I hope I survive tent sleeping for six nights. Normally, it would not be much a a problem.... We are going to meausre our tent this week for an air mattress, which will make it more tolerable. Never the less, we are very excited! We're planning our meals and trying to be very clever about incorporating veggies in campfire meals!

My cousin Phil is on his way home from Afghanistan. He is at a base somewhere for debriefing and will be U.S. bound soon, maybe a week or so. Joan and Phil will get notice about 48-hours before he will land at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. They are meeting him there of course, Jenna and Denton, too. We are all so glad he's coming home - safe and sound. Phil's wife, Michelle, has a few more weeks to go in Afghanistan. Hopefully she will be home before May. Continue to keep the two of them, and all our troops, in your prayers.

To answer Jenna's question from the last entry (in comments) - Brent and I are almost 100% decided that we want to be surprised about whether we are having a boy or a girl. Such few surprises left in life. Why not this one? I'm okay with yellow and green clothes...all baby clothes are cute! And plus, they grow so fast, they will be in to pink or blue once we know if it's Anna or Rowan. :o)

Brent has two softball games tonight. We have zero groceries in the house, so that's my job tonight. Then, "Little People Big World" and "Jon & Kate Plus 8" are on later! I love those shows!

I'll write soon!

10 Weeks

10 weeks now. I'm behind on blogging and I'm really almost 11 weeks!

• Baby is almost 2 1/2 inches long.
• Fingers and toes have separated and nails are growing.
• The baby is moving around - just can't feel it yet!

I'm feeling pretty good. I feel different and odd lately - not quite myself and not comfortable in my own skin! So many changes. I'm moody (even I can tell). Poor Brent.

I wore the two matternity shirts over the weekend that my Mom and Dad bought me. I love them. Size small in matternity shirts! They just fit and feel better than most of my regular shirts. Still an issue with work clothes, but I wear a lab jacket everyday and no one can see the top button unbuttoned on my pants!

My friend Jill is due in one month! She and her husband don't know if it's a boy or a girl - how exciting! Her shower is this weekend. I'm sad that I'll miss it, but I sent the cutest baby stuff to her in the mail.

Brent and I are still finishing the ham and jello cake from Easter. Good leftovers. Our dinner turned out perfect and we had a nice Easter Day together at home. The Easter Bunny brought jelly beans - still finishing them, too!

Hope everyone is well. Will write soon ~ Laura

Happy Easter Weekend

Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter!

Tomorrow our niece Bella turns one year old. I can't believe it! Seems just like yesterday. Brent and I have the day off work and we are going to Tampa to celebrate. Our 1 year old Bella!

Brent and I made Easter baskets again this year for the girls. Filled with Play-Dough, bubbles, crayons, books, etc. We'll take those over tomorrow, too. We are going to spend the night and Saturday have an early Easter. I can't wait to color eggs - ah, the smell of vinegar!

Brent and I will be home together Easter Sunday. We will go to church and make a nice dinner. On the menu: ham, scalloped potatoes, peas, rolls, and dessert of some sort. I have never made a ham before. My mom says they're easy, so I should do okay. Mom sent her homemade scalloped potato recipe. A new one for me, as well. I have a lot to live up to when compared to Mom's!

A blessed Easter to everyone. Hope your day is happy and filled with family, friends, and jelly beans.

Hello, we are Nine Weeks!

On to another week! Nine weeks now.

• Baby is 1 1/2 inch - 2 1/2 inch.
• There is rapid growth in the next 3 weeks!
• The head extends and the neck develops and lengthens.
• Fingernail appear.

Brent and I had a nice weekend. I had the ER pager for work Friday night 7pm-7am and was up with 11 total calls, leaving about 2 hours total of interrupted sleep. Cola Cat was my night-owl helper and got up with me for every page and call back to the ER. She was getting very tired of it all by the end, too. Lucky the next day was Saturday and I slept till 10:30am!

Saturday Brent and I picked up our crib bedding set and brought it home. I love it! We went to Target and finished the Easter baskets for our neices, Olivia and Bella. We had lunch at Olive Garden - soup and salad, yum.

Sunday was a beautiful Florida day. 80's, sunny and breezy, no humidity. We walked Jo-Jo and went down to a park and played basketball. For the record, I bet Brent at two, count them two, games of PIG!!

I went to the dentist today - got off work early at 2:00. Clean and pearly teeth! Then I had labs drawn for my OB doctor. I got home in time for Oprah - what a treat!!

Hope everyone is happy and well! Love ~ Laura

Lot of News and 8 Weeks!

Lots to report!

The first ultrasound was awesome! Brent and I left the office smiling from ear-to-ear with our first picture of our baby! Seeing the baby on the monitor was amazing - we saw the heart beating and the baby was moving it's little arms and legs. The ultraound tech said everything looked good and she estimated the baby to be around one inch long. We were also able to hear the heart beat and that was SO cool! Our doctor still estimates the due date to be October 3rd - give or take 7 days. Brent and I think "take" 7 days, since we don't think we're quite as far along as they do. We just had a wonderful day and now have all kinds of follow-up appointments scheduled. I have to get routine lab work done this week and then I'll go back in a month for a check-up and back again in May for the next ultrasound at around 20 weeks.


After the ultrasound Brent and I went to a coffee shop - latte for Brent and apple juice for me. We called our parents to let them know that we saw the baby! We went to lunch later that day and went to a baby store. We have been eyeing a certain crib set - the bedding is so pretty and will work for either a boy or girl. It's called "Lollipop". It was on sale, so we bought it!

Around 4:00, Brent drove me to the airport. My plane to Indy was delayed about an hour due to bad weather all over the place. The plane ride was so so bumpy and I was miserable throughout most of it. But, I made it through and landed in Indy to 20 degree weather and snow! The snow was so pretty. This Florida girl forgot to bring a coat! I met Auntie Carol in the airport - her plane got in just before mine (her plane had been delayed all day!). Joan and Jenna picked us up and we were off to a great start to our weekend "Spring Fling"!

The whole weekend was great fun - lots of laughs, chatting and more chatting. Mom and Jess & Alexia came Saturday around 12:30. Alexia is beautiful and charming and fun. I can't believe she is already 6 months old! She has the biggest blue eyes I've ever seen and these amazingly long dark eyelashes (like her Mommy). Alexia played and played and she loves her little toys, which I think is so cute. She has such a sweet nature and she just babbles and babbles away. Rob came for the afternoon on Saturday, too. Uncle Phil and Denton were there the whole weekend and patiently put up with our silliness! Phil Jr called on Saturday afternoon and we all passed the phone around.

Jessie and I talked and talked about baby stuff - what to buy and what not to buy. She has great tips and I took lots of mental notes! Everyone loved Baby Hartsell's ultrasound -you can see the little arms!

My flight back home was much smoother than on the way there. Brent picked me up and made it home. Jo-Jo and Cola were happy to see me. Cola purred and purred.

In all, I had a wonderful weekend. Starting with the ultrasound. There really is a baby in there! Seeing and hearing the baby for the first time is something I will never forget.

Anxious For Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the first ultrasound! 8:45am, bright and early. Brent and I can't wait! We both have the whole day off work and are happy about that, too!!

I also leave for Indy tomorrow evening. I'll fly out of Orlando straight to Indy where Joan, Carol, and Jenna will be waiting! I can't wait to see everyone! Mom, Jess & Alexia come Saturday. I hope Kasey comes and I think Rob is coming, too! Maybe he'll bring Jas. Oh what fun this will be! I've been looking forward to our "Spring Fling" for so long now!

My co-worker hemmed my new jeans. I'm so grateful.

It's rainy, rainy here right now. Kind of nice to be tucked inside for the evening. Brent is on his way home, he just called. He had basketball practice, first one of the season - he's the coach again this year for the 3rd and 4th grade teams.

I'll blog when I get back from Indy and tell you all about the ultrasound and the trip. Look for me on Monday!

~Love everyone ~

7 Weeks

Baby Hartsell at 7 weeks old:

• Baby is 1-1 1/4 inches long.
• Arms and legs are longer. Hands are flexed at the wrists.
• The eyelids almost cover the eyes.
• External ears are evident and well formed.
• Baby now moves his/her body and limbs!

The books say the uterus is about the size of a grapefruit. No wonder my pants are tighter! I bought a new pair of jeans at Target today....bigger size, of course, with enough room to grow for a bit!