How far along? 27 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: up to about 18-19 lbs

Maternity clothes? A few here and there mostly tops.   

Stretch marks? Nope :)

Sleep: Sleep has been decent recently 

Best moment this week: Wrapping all the Christmas presents!

Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? I miss feeling comfortable.  

Movement: All the time! 

Food cravings: PEPPERMINT! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope feeling great!

Have you started to show yet: oh yea I guess maybe a little ;)

Gender prediction: It's a Little Miss!

Labor Signs: May have had a few Braxton Hicks.  

Belly Button in or out? A little of both lol the top is starting to push out but the bottom is still in.

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and worried some too lol. 

Looking forward to: Our parenting classes to start and seeing how Little Miss is doing in a week!! 

How your baby's growing: (According to BabyCenter.com)

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.

Week 26

How far along? 26 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: up to about 16-17 lbs

Maternity clothes? A few here and there.   

Stretch marks? Nope :)

Sleep: Sleep is hit or miss. 

Best moment this week: Realizing we get to see family in about 3 weeks!!
Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? I have a feeling I will continue to miss my hair for awhile lol I also miss being comfortable 

Movement: All the time! 

Food cravings: PEPPERMINT! 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope feeling great!

Have you started to show yet: I'd have to say yes - In fact we think the belly "popped" again. It looks and feels HUGE now! 

Gender prediction: It's a Little Miss!

Labor Signs: May have had a few Braxton Hicks.  

Belly Button in or out? A little of both lol the top is starting to push out but the bottom is still in.

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and worried some too lol. 

Looking forward to: Seeing all our family!!!! 

I have been super uncomfortable this week. The pain around my belly is like a sore muscle that never stops and has times that it takes my breath away. It's the first time I have really been uncomfortable so far. Hopefully it's growing pains and maybe it will subside for a bit. It feels  {and well looks too} like my belly has really gotten bigger. Even just in the last week! It's crazy to think we are already into the last 3 months!! We can't wait to meet Little Miss, but we have a lot to do before then :)

How your baby's growing: (According to BabyCenter.com)

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.

Week 25

How far along? 25 Weeks - Happy Thanksgiving!

Total weight gain/loss: up to about 15 lbs

Maternity clothes? A few here and there.   

Stretch marks? Nope :)

Sleep: Sleep is hit or miss. 

Best moment this week: It's Thanksgiving! I love the holiday season :)
Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? I miss my hair :( I let a lady cut it and its not a good cut at all. 

Movement: All the time! 

Food cravings: Peppermint!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope feeling great!

Have you started to show yet: I'd have to say yes

Gender prediction: It's a Little Miss!

Labor Signs: round ligament pains and rib pain still. 

Belly Button in or out? A little of both lol the top is starting to push out but the bottom is still in.

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and worried some too lol. 

Looking forward to: The holiday season. It's my favorite time of year!


Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We are so blessed to have such amazing family and friends. Even though we are so far from most everyone we still feel connected. We have been blessed to make some new friends on this journey in ND. They have truly helped to make our experience up here all the better. 

Week 24

How far along? 24 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: up to about 14 lbs

Maternity clothes? A few here and there.   

Stretch marks? Nope :)

Sleep: Sleep is hit or miss. 

Best moment this week: We got a TON of snow!! Which was really fun. Did some sledding and snuggling up inside with hot pepermint chocolate. We also got to see Little Miss again today. She is so beautiful. She didn't really want to show her face though, but we got a good view of her spine which was the main concern.

Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? We had a couple scares this last weekend with the snow and ice. I slipped about 3 times on the ice. Two of the times my bum got the land and one time the bump took the fall into the snow. I honestly cant describe the fear and guilt I felt. I was so scared I had done something to hurt her, and it's not like you can just look in and see if everything is okay. So I guess I miss my balance :)

Movement: All the time! 

Food cravings: Apples and peppermint!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope feeling great, just get a little light headed if I stand too long

Have you started to show yet: I'd have to say yes

Gender prediction: It's a Little Miss!

Labor Signs: round ligament pains and rib pain. 

Belly Button in or out? A little of both lol the top is starting to push out but the bottom is still in.

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and worried some too lol. 

Looking forward to: Figuring out a girl name, holidays, and our maternity pictures.

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.

Nursery Inspiration

{Photo via Pinterest }

I really like the band of white with the name decal on the wall. I really want to incorporate Little Miss's name throughout her room. I also kinda like the way the curtains frame the crib. Gives it a warm feeling.

{All Photos via Project Nursery}

I really love wall displays that have some variety to them. The letters of the alphabet have caught my eye on several different occasions. These are such fun ways to add character and color to the nursery.

{All Photos via Pinterest}

For now we both like navy + hot pink.  The colors are bold and beautiful, yet warm at the same time. We will see though. It is kind of hard to find things in both these colors together. People seem to think that navy means boy and pink means girl...well we'll show them!

Week 23

How far along? 23 Weeks , 1 day

Total weight gain/loss: up to about 11 lbs!

Maternity clothes? A few here and there.   

Stretch marks? Nope :)

Sleep: I think I have insomnia lol I have been waking up in the middle of the night and then staying awake for hours. It is kind of a bummer, but it's always a great time of prayer too. 

Best moment this week: We got to see Little Miss kick on the OUTSIDE! It was so crazy. Looked like something was trying to climb out of my belly! 

Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? I miss being able to breath and bend over!!!

Movement: All the time! 

Food cravings: Apples and peppermint!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope feeling great, just get a little light headed if I stand too long

Have you started to show yet: I'd have to say yes

Gender prediction: It's a Little Miss!

Labor Signs: No - just round ligament pains and rib pain.

Belly Button in or out? Still in

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and slightly emotional. I even cried and yelled when Obama won the election. 

Looking forward to: Figuring out a girl name.

How your baby's growing: (According to BabyCenter.com)

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

Week 22

{I couldn't get a very clear picture - Sorry }

How far along? 22 Weeks , 1 day

Total weight gain/loss: up to about 10 lbs!

Maternity clothes? A few here and there.   

Stretch marks? Nope :)

Sleep: It's been hard this week since I caught a bug of some sort.

Best moment this week: Getting to eat all the candy I want - a plus of Halloween! 

Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? I miss being able to breath!!!

Movement: All the time! 

Food cravings: Anything and everything orange and candy!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope feeling great!

Have you started to show yet: I'd have to say yes

Gender prediction: It's a GIRL!

Labor Signs: No - just round ligament pains and rib pain.

Belly Button in or out? Still in

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and slightly emotional. 

Looking forward to: Figuring out a girl name.

To Our Little Miss

Little Miss,

Today we found out you were a little GIRL! Your daddy and I were so surprised and excited that I think our hearts skipped a beat. You took our breath away sweet girl. Just seeing you on the screen and hearing your heartbeat melted our hearts, but knowing you were our little miss changed everything. 

You don't know this yet, but your mama is a thinker. I can be analytical to a fault, and equally as emotional. And because of this, I notice so much; the ticking clock, life going by, and all the changes whirling by us. I feel like we are in our own little cocoon, the two of us, and the world keeps speeding along, tugging at us to hurry up. And now here we are halfway through this journey together, and you're growing bigger and bigger by the day. Developing and changing, yet already perfect. Since finding out you are a precious little girl my mind has been spinning. Will your eyes be the brilliant blue of your daddy's or the deep brown of mine? Will your hair be blonde or dark brown? I am certain you will have curls just like both of us! And they will be darling, of course. Will you like oranges or hate them (because that's all I eat right now)?  Will you be a tiny petite little thing like me or will your daddy bless you with some height? So many questions have come and gone and yet the Lord has granted me with an overwhelming amount of peace. I know you are perfect, just as He has planned you to be. 

I thank God everyday for choosing us to be your parents. I pray the Lord guides us to raise you to not be all that we want you to be, but rather all that He wants you to be. You are worth more than all the riches on earth and I pray you will grow to know that and embrace that you are loved beyond measure. We pray you will grow to be a Godly, righteous woman whose heart yearns for Christ. And I pray that even now the Lord is molding a boy to grow to be the man not just of your dreams or ours, but of Christ's dreams for you. Our love for you already pours out of our hearts. I wish you could see your daddy's face every time he says she now. His eyes light up just from saying the word. You are already his world sweet girl, and that will never change. It melts my heart to see him so in love with you already and he hasn't even met you yet.   

We love you sweet Little Miss of ours. You are perfect in every way and we are so blessed to have you. We cannot wait to meet you!!

All my love and then some,
Mama

Week 20: Halfway!

{WE ARE HALFWAY FOLKS!}

How far along? 20 Weeks , 1 day

Total weight gain/loss: About 2-3 pounds 

Maternity clothes? A few here and there.   

Stretch marks? Nope 

Sleep: It's getting harder to get comfortable.

Best moment this week: Feeling the baby move and Kyle getting to feel it kick for the first time!

Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? I miss my family a lot - nothing to do with pregnancy I just miss them.

Movement: YES!! Lots of movement, even for Kyle :)

Food cravings: It is still mostly orange anything but every now and then a random thing will sneak in there

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope feeling great!

Have you started to show yet: I'd have to say yes

Gender prediction: Putting up a vote - We find out MONDAY!

Labor Signs: No

Belly Button in or out? Still hanging IN there for dear life!

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! 

Looking forward to: Kyle's Birthday and finding out if BabyO is a BoY or GiRl

How your baby's growing: (According to BabyCenter.com)

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).

Week 19

How far along? 19 Weeks , 1 day

Total weight gain/loss: still about 2lbs - I'm trying though!

Maternity clothes? A few here and there.   

Stretch marks? Nope :)

Sleep: It's getting harder to get comfortable.

Best moment this week: Feeling the baby move more and more!

Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? I still really miss sleeping on my stomach

Movement: YES!! I can't wait for Kyle to feel it too!

Food cravings: Anything and everything orange still!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope feeling great!

Have you started to show yet: I'd have to say yes

Gender prediction: I'm getting some mixed signals from friends and family but so far the vote for Boy is ahead  - although I have had a couple girls in there too! Can't wait to find out!

Labor Signs: No

Belly Button in or out? Still in

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! 

Looking forward to: Kyle's Birthday and finding out if BabyO is a BoY or GiRl

How your baby's growing: (According to BabyCenter.com) 

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a softball. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Week 18

How far along? 18 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: still about 2lbs 

Maternity clothes? A few here and there.   

Stretch marks? Nope :)

Sleep:  Depends on the night, it's getting harder to get comfortable.

Best moment this week: Feeling the baby move! 

Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? Sleeping on my stomach... I'm a stomach sleeper to start off.

Movement: YES!! For about a week now. I can't wait for Kyle to feel it too!

Food cravings: Anything and everything orange!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope feeling great!

Have you started to show yet: I'd have to say yes

Gender prediction: I'm getting some mixed signals from friends and family but so far the vote for Boy is ahead!

Labor Signs: No

Belly Button in or out? Still in

Wedding rings on or off? On 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! 

Looking forward to: Finding out what we are having in a few weeks! The suspense is killing me!

How your baby's growing: (According to BabyCenter.com)

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.

How your life's changing:

Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow.

Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy.

From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort.

If you haven't already had a second-trimester ultrasound, you'll probably have one soon. This painless procedure helps your practitioner check how your baby's growing, screen for certain birth defects, check the placenta and umbilical cord, determine whether the due date you're working with is accurate, and see how many babies you're carrying. During the exam, you might see your baby moving around or sucking his thumb. Bring your partner along, and be sure to ask for a printout for your baby's first photo album!

Week 17 :)

How far along? 17 Weeks, 2 days
Total weight gain/loss: still about 2lbs
Maternity clothes? A few here and there.   
Stretch marks? Nope :)
Sleep:  Pretty darn good - After I get comfortable that is.
Best moment this week: It was my birthday! It was a fun and relaxing day. 
Have you told family and friends: Yes! 
Miss Anything? Still trying to locate my brain ha!
Movement: YES! Last night I was laying on the bed waiting for Kyle to come and there it was! I think it was more clear because I was laying still. Best birthday gift of the day!
Food cravings: Still Orange soda it's heaven in a bottle
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope feeling great!
Have you started to show yet: I'd have to say yes
Gender prediction: I'm getting some mixed signals from friends and family but so far the vote for Boy is ahead!
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? Still in
Wedding rings on or off? On 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! 
Looking forward to: Our first Anniversary and Kyle's birthday in October!



How your baby's growing: (from BabyCenter.com )

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.

Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.

You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.

 

 ** Can I just say that the balance deal...coming in hot and heavy for this one!  I would have guessed that my balance would be pretty stable being that I am so close to the ground already, but nope. 

Hello Week 16!

How far along? 16 Weeks, 1 day
Total weight gain/loss: About 2lbs
Maternity clothes? A few here and there.  
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep:  Still depends on the night. Lately I have to get up at least once for a drink and bathroom.
Best moment this week: Getting some energy back! I can actually make it though a day! 
Have you told family and friends: Yes! 
Miss Anything? My BRIAN! I swear I don't know where it has gone to!
Movement: None so far, but from my understanding it's still quite early.
Food cravings: Orange soda and fruit!
Anything making you queasy or sick: The only time I get queasy is if I don't eat and my stomach gets empty.
Have you started to show yet: YES! Or at least we think so.
Gender prediction: Boy! - our gut says boy..but who knows!
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? Still in
Wedding rings on or off? On :)
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! 
Looking forward to: Feeling the baby move and our dr. appointment on Monday

Week 15 - A Colorado Adventure!

Week 15 is a little different! We went to Colorado for the week and stayed with some great friends, Eric & Lori Chester, while we hunted. This was Marquette & BabyO's first elk hunt!!! It was a really exciting time.

Kyle had been chasing this elk (he named him Big Daddy) for 3 seasons. When we first arrived and Kyle saw him he said "Well hello old friend". You could almost feel them sizing each other up! Kyle and I stalked him all week and finally early Sunday (9/16/12) we had him in view, watched him, and Kyle got the shot! It was a rush of emotion for us both, but for Kyle it was the day he had waited 3 years for!

We had some delays throughout the day, one being it was stinkin hot and we had to get the meat down off the mountain and to a game processing place asap. The delays and the fact that we were in the bottom of a steep canyon led to a 15 hour day of retrieving him out of the bottom.

It was exhausting hauling that Big Daddy out of there, but oh so worth it.

So sorry for no belly picture this week, but we were really excited to have our first elk hunt as a family! One day Kyle will look back and tell our little one "See this big boy, he is your first elk" :)

Week 14

How far along? 14 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 1 lb? maybe?
Maternity clothes? My sister-in-law loaned me a few of hers. The maternity pants feel better than my jeans, but I can still fit in mine (with a hair tie lol). Oh and yoga pants = my best friend! 
Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep:  Depends on the night. Sometimes I sleep great, and other nights my dreams are so intense I wake up a lot.
Best moment this week: Being able to share the news with everyone! 
Have you told family and friends: Yes! We have officially told everyone now. It feels great to have the news out!
Miss Anything? I really miss my energy, but ITS THE SECOND TRIMESTER!! So I should be getting that back soon!
Movement: None so far, but cannot wait for it to come!
Food cravings: Real food!! Like spaghetti and mashed potatoes and anything home cooked.
Anything making you queasy or sick: The only time I get queasy is if I don't eat and my stomach gets empty.
Have you started to show yet: YES! It just popped out last week! It's not big, but it is noticeable.
Gender prediction: Boy! - our gut says boy..but who knows!
Labor Signs: No
Belly Button in or out? Still in
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! 
Looking forward to: Feeling the baby move and heading to Denver soon!



What Baby Ostrand is doing according to BabyCenter.com:

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.

So far I'd say I've had it pretty easy. The first trimester was a little uncomfortable. I didn't get sick unless I didn't eat. And even then it was just mild nausea, and if I ate it was gone right away. I've had to go to the bathroom more and more often, and from what I've heard that doesn't go away! (This symptom makes for some funny stories when I'm on the road with Kyle) I also have been very tired, so I am really excited to be in the second trimester and get some of that energy back!!  Then just last week this bump just popped out of no where!! Kyle is adorable and loves it already!! I love to watch him bond with BabyO too! It really is the sweetest thing in the whole world.

The big question we've had is if we will find out what we are having....well let me tell ya about this topic! At first it was an absolute NO WAY! We wanted to wait and for it to be a surprise. It's not like you can sneak into the Christmas closet and find out what you're getting...oh no! You really don't get to know. So we were really excited about that! I am terrible at not knowing things and having to deal with surprises - and Kyle loves that , of course! So when we went into our first appointment  at 11 weeks we got to do a full ultrasound and she even did a 3D ultrasound!! It was amazing. Well, during this ultrasound we got a glimpse of the bottom area of BabyO...lets just say there was either something there or there wasn't (sorry!! For now we aren't going to tell!! ) The tech said well I can't say definitively! THAT'S ALL SHE WOULD SAY!!!  After that I had to know...no questions asked...I gotta know!! You can't just gimmie a glimpse then say oops! Sorry you actually can't know! OH MAN! I was anxious!! (well I AM anxious!) The trick was going to be convincing Kyle that he wanted to know what BabyO is!! So that's where we are on that BIG question...We are going back and forth! Kyle still thinks it would be great to have it be a big secret, but I think he secretly just likes to watch me squirm and he actually really wants to know! 

We love yall! Thanks for all the encouragement, support and prayers.

Baby Ostrand: Coming March 2013!

Thats right!! Our family is expanding! 

We couldn't be more excited for our new blessing. I thought I had a grasp on how extraordinary this blessing was, but then we went into our first appointment at 11 weeks and the Lord totally blew my mind away.  Seeing our little bundle of joy kicking and moving around was breathtaking. It had all its fingers and toes and was moving like crazy! I couldn't feel it, but there it was as active as can be. It brought tears to my eyes to see the Lord's work so vivid in front of us. Seeing our child is for the first time is something we will never forget. Truly a miracle. 

 We wanted to come up with a fun way to show the world we were expecting so we had the postcards from the top made and sent out to our immediate family and closest friends. It was a fun way to announce it, since calling everyone would be hard for us. Then we decided to get to work and make this chalkboard! It was fun!! Kyle cut the wood and is making a frame for it. I painted it with chalkboard paint and came up with what to write. It was fun taking the pictures too!

A dear friend of mine and photographer, Katie Mayfield of MerylMay Photography, took these adorable pictures of the tiny shoes for our announcement we sent out. She is the best!!



Thank you everyone for all your support and love. We couldn't, nor do we want to, go through this without you. Your outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming and humbling. You mean the world to us!
Thank you from all THREE of us Ostrands!