Another Picture...

Ok. I had to post another 'proud mama' pic!! I thought this was a cute image because it looks like he/she is hiding their face with their arms. I love she/he already! Feeling great and energy has returned- I am hoping (fingers crossed) I am past the morning sickness thing!!

Our Second Doctor's Appointment!

Jarrett and I just got back from our second doctor's appointment! The OBGYN had ordered a full bloodwork panel as a prenatal screen (the first of many tests!) and all came back normal, which is wonderful news. Blood pressure was ideal, and I have gained a total of 2 lbs. in my first trimester. The doctor said that you really don't need to take in any extra calories the first trimester because the baby is barely an inch. He expects me to gain between 20-30 lbs. during the course of the pregnancy, most of that in the last trimester, and says I'm right on track!

We also had our second ultrasound (lucky us!) and got to see our precious baby girl/boy! It was amazing to see the changes from the last time we saw him/her. You can definitely see a head, heart, tummy, arms and legs. It definitely looked much more human than the last ultrasound! We heard the heartbeat, at 171 bpm; strong and perfect. We were shocked when the baby actually moved -- of course the baby's still too small for me to be able to feel it, but it was kicking and punching and squirming! Jarrett and I both gasped, and of course, I started to cry happy tears. Then I couldn't stop giggling! The more I giggled, the more the baby moved! The doctor said, "Wow....that's a big baby!" then he said it looked like I was close to 11 weeks, rather than his original estimate of 10.5 weeks. Jarrett and I are wondering if he expected a smaller baby, probably since we both have pretty small frames; but, we have tall people on both sides of the family so maybe our little blessing might be in store for a little vertical help!

Thank you to all our family and friends for being so supportive through the past few weeks! We received some precious books to read to the baby and an adorable baby blanket and onesies from Grandma Carol. Grandma Kellie came for a visit to Malibu and we shopped and ate at Cheesecake Factory; she brought my baby book with her and we compared baby pics of Jarrett & I trying to get a feel for what the baby will look like.

Jarrett and I still are amazed by God's work in our lives and the miracle of creating a new life. It is amazing to think that God knows every hair on that precious little head, the baby's thoughts, dreams and life -- even before s/he has been born! We feel blessed as future parents to be able to watch our child grow and learn and get to know Christ through us.

We have another appointment in 4 weeks, August 24th. We'll keep you posted!

Telling our Families: 4th of July Weekend!

We waited on pins and needles until the 4th of July Weekend when we were finally able to tell our families in person that we are expecting. I was planning on going to Bakersfield by myself the weekend before, to run some errands and see the dogs while Jarrett was in meetings at the West LA Campus, but after we found out we were expecting, Jarrett told me "No way! You're a bad fibber and have never been good at keeping a secret...especially one this big -- your family will find out for sure! You have to wait until next weekend so I can go with you!"

Albeit, dramatic -- he's right. The good news is that extra weekend gave us time to plan how we were going to tell our families during the upcoming 4th of July Weekend. My Mom's birthday is June 29th, so finding a way to tell her was easy....we gave her a 'birthday gift' and inside was a "Grandma" wall sign and some baby bibs. When she opened her birthday present, she was so surprised, then she started crying and there were hugs all around. We told my Grandma next, giving her a little 'gift' for her "beach house" -- it was a picture frame that said "Great-Grandparents warm little hearts"..... and inside the frame part we wrote "Arriving February 2010". Although she took her time opening it, when she finally did, she was so excited; she cried and then I looked over and my Mom who was crying again (which made me cry again, too). We all went to dinner at Benji's Basque restaurant to celebrate Mom's birthday and our surprise.

On July 4th, we woke up that morning at my Dad's house and we got to surprise him. We found a cute coffee mug that said "In case of emergency, call 1-800-GRANDPA". We thought this would be perfect for a fireman grandpa! :) He always gets up early, and has a cup of coffee before we even wake up. Then after we wake up, he then has his 2nd cup. When we got up, I grabbed his empty mug and replaced it with the new 'grandpa' mug. I brought it in and sat it next to his lazyboy and he immediately noticed the difference, and said "Ah...isn't that cute." And that was it. Jarrett and I looked at each other, and Jarrett said, "Surprise! Katie's due in February!" The look of shock that swept across his face was priceless; he was definitely surprised. He started laughing (and crying a little, too) and said he thought the mug was from our dogs, Jackson and Roxy as a belated Father's Day present! LOL.

Shortly after, we told Carol. We showed up early at her house for the holiday BBQ, bringing a box of Smith's cookies. Jarrett said, "I know you said not to bring anything, but we didn't want to show up empty handed and I've been wanting some Smith's cookies..... but I'm not sure what kind they put in there, since all I asked for was an assortment." Carol looked as if she was going to open the box filled with baby-themed cookies, (all with little booties, bottles, rattles, and carriages in pastel yellow, pink, greens, and blues) but then she went into the other room instead, as if on a hunt for her glasses. When she walked back into the great room, she sat down on the couch to visit, as if she got side-track with why she went looking for her glasses in the first place. ;o) - all with little yellow, pink, blue, and green rattlers, booties, bottles and carriages then forgot what she was doing and sat down to visit. Jarrett and I looked at each other, and I made the comment, "Gee, I wonder what kind of cookies they put in there?" Carol got up and got a knife out, cut the top of the box and peeked in. It was pretty dark since the side corners were still taped shut, so she pulled out one of the cookies, stared at it, then looked at Jarrett with an expression of confusion. So Jarrett said, "Surprise! We're expecting!" Her eyes suddenly turned from curiosity, to shock & joy, then glistened with happy tears.

On our way home on Sunday, Jarrett called Sarah to give her the good news. What made the occasion so special is that Sarah and her husband, Peter, called us exactly one-year earlier (July 5, 2008) to tell let us they were expecting their own bundle of joy, Nathaniel Hamilton Morris (our godson). Who would have thought that on July 5, 2009 we'd be making that exact phone call to them?!?

Our First Dr.'s Appointment!

Jarrett and I had our first appointment with the OBGYN on July 1. As soon as we arrived, they congratulated us, had me get on the scale and that whole thing. The nurse did a quick calculation of how far along we were, based on our dates, and gave us an initial due date of around February 9th. She told us this was probably inaccurate, and that the doctor would give us a true due date when he was able to measure the baby during the ultrasound. Jarrett and I went into the Ultrasound Room and I climbed on the chair and Jarrett sat on a little couch across the room. When the doctor came in the room to do the ultrasound, it was so cute -- Jarrett is so conscientious of the doctor and not wanting to seem like he was hovering, waited patiently, peeking across the room and over the giant chair to see the monitor screen. The doctor motioned over to Jarrett, "Come here...closer Daddy!" so he could see the monitor and hold my hand; Jarrett bolted over. The ultrasound began and we first got to see the old-fashioned black and white image. I could not really see anything but some blurry shapes, but what do you expect for 8 weeks? Next he transitioned to the high-tech 3D images and turned up the volume and played the heartbeat! It was amazing to know our little peanut was in there just growing and hanging out. I definitely teared up and was basically speechless -- what an amazing gift. He told us the heartbeat was strong, and that our due date was adjusted closer to mid February.....February 14, 2010 to be exact! Although babies are almost never born on their due dates, we are overjoyed to be getting our own little Valentine's present! Our next appointment with the OBGYN is in 3 weeks... I'll keep updating!

A Wonderful Blessing!

Jarrett & I are so excited to share that we are expecting our very first little bundle of joy!

WE'RE PREGNANT!!!

Jarrett and I thought after I graduated from Pepperdine's program that would be right about the time to start a family... and just 4 days after Graduation Day, we were blessed by God to find out June 24th that we're expecting! I hadn't been feeling so good for a couple of weeks -- I thought I was coming down with the flu or just completely exhausted for the 7am -9pm routine, that I really wasn't that worried about it. Jarrett told me (very nonchalant) that I should take a pregnancy test. I told him no way....but the next morning I did, and it was (surprise) positive! I was in shock for a few minutes, began pacing our small apartment, cried, then called the OBGYN immediately to make sure it was true. Our doctor is so great, and told me to come right down before class that afternoon to take a blood test to ease my mind... I wasn't going to get really excited until I knew for sure! I waited on pins and needles until Jarrett got home on Wednesday -- doing everything in my power not to say a word, because I already had something special planned in how I'd give him the news!!

I got the blood test results back the following day, and all Hg levels are normal and healthy. They estimated that I am approximately 8-9 weeks pregnant, scheduling my first OB appointment was July 1 so they could perform an ultrasound and I could get a due date. Right now, it is looking like late January, early February! Katie's 27th Birthday or our Valentine's Baby? Updates to follow.......


Telling Jarrett....

I ran to Barnes & Nobles and Babies R' Us to get some books as well as a cute outfit to hide in Jarrett's closet before he got home. I strategically put the baby items in the drawer with his comfy clothes -- this is where he beelines it to, straight after work, as soon as he gets home.

I waited patiently in the kitchen... I was making tacos for dinner (one of his favorites). All I could hear from the bedroom was "WHAT IS THIS? WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? REALLY!?! ARE YOU SURE? WHAT IS THIS?" He ran to the kitchen with his baby gear and tears in his eyes and said, "ARE WE PREGNANT? REALLY!?!" Of course, in true form, I started crying and we just hugged and said a little prayer to God to thank Him for our amazing blessing.

We immediately began planning on how to tell our families, and I was "forbidden" from going to Bakersfield that upcoming weekend, as originally planned, because it's always been really, Really, REALLY hard for me to keep secrets!!! So, we made a pact that we'd think of cute and clever ways on how to tell the Grandmas, Grandpas, and Great-Grandma Rose during the 4th of July Weekend.

Graduation!

I can offically say I am a Pepperdine Alumni! Graduation was made even more special by all of our friends and family who were able to share it with us! I feel so blessed to have such amazing family and friends who have supported me through this crazy, exciting and stressful year. Jarrett was amazing juggling the attentions of friends and family while I was busy- Thank You Honey!

Graduation took place in Malibu, CA on Alumni Park, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Besides being overcast, which was actually a good thing for me in a black robe and heavy hood, it was also a bad hair day with all the mist (yuck!). Holloway got sunburned, proving that UVA rays will pierce through the clouds to burn you-sorry! There were two great speakers during the ceremony, one was from Operation Smile, a charity that works with dentists who travel all over the world helping children with facial deformities who gave an inspirational speech and was presented with Alumni of the year award. The other speaker was a writer of children's books, and told a wonderful story, and was presented with an honorary doctorate.

I sat few rows behind the platform, in front of the doctoral canidates. I couldn't help but think the entire time about next year it will be Jarrett sitting there in front waiting to get 'hooded', and me in the audience watching! We went to an amazing lunch at Bucca Di Beppo in Santa Monica. Bucca is always yummy, and we were so stuffed! Our good friends all came over to our little apartment after lunch and we went to the beach for a little walk- a great ending to a perfect day!