Crazy Dreams

I've read in a number of my pregnancy books as well as have heard from other pregnant and previously pregnant friends that sometimes pregnancy is accompanied by crazy dreams. I have no clue why this happens - maybe hormones, maybe anticipation of the fact that your entire life is about to be turned upside down (in a good way, of course!), or maybe because my baby girl thinks night time is the time to play! Well, I had my first crazy dream experience last night. I looked down and June Anne was moving all over the place, and all of a sudden, I could see her hand pushing against my skin like it was about to pop out of my stomach! WEIRD!! All five skinny, little fingers were clearly evident. So strange...

Happy Easter!

This weekend, we packed up and traveled to PTC to spend Easter with our family. We had a GREAT weekend! I was in Peachtree City last weekend throwing a baby shower for my cousin, but there is just something special about being there with my husband. We didn't get in until late Friday night and stopped by Jason's parent's to visit for a few minutes before going over to my parents. We were able to see Jason's parent's remodeled living room and almost-complete kitchen. It's beautiful!!! We can't wait to go back in a few weeks to break in the kitchen and visit with Jason's family.

Saturday, Jason and Donny went and played golf all day, while mom and I just ran around town. We were also able to celebrate Jason's birthday. His request: chicken pie. Of course, my mom obliged (he's rotten!). I also surprised him with a red velvet cake with homemade cream cheese frosting (one of his favorites). I felt like he was a little shafted on his bday this year with the exciting news of our baby girl (he, obviously, didn't feel this way at all!), so I wanted to do something special for just him.

This morning, we went to church to celebrate Jesus' resurrection. What an amazing gift that we have received! How can we respond with anything other than humility and love! Afterwards, we were able to spend some very special time with my parents, grandparents, my aunt, and some of my cousins. It was such an awesome time! I love spending time with my family, especially my grandparents. They have so much wisdom, and it is so neat to hear their stories. It was a really sweet time.

This weekend, we were also able to announce the name that we have decided to give to our sweet baby girl. Jason and I are very big on family names and honoring those that have come before us. For the longest time, we have known that we wanted to use Annalisa as a middle name. My middle name is Alisa, and I am named after my mom, Lisa. My mother-in-law's middle name is Annette. So, we combined these for Annalisa. Also, my great-grandmama Benson's name is Anne (my mom's grandmother) and my Mema's name is Jean Ann (Donny's mom). Needless to say, Annalisa covers a lot of special women in my life! Middle name...check.

We went back and forth for a few days on what we wanted to use as a first name. After a couple of choices, we decided that we would name our sweet baby girl after one of the most special women in my life - my Mama June (my maternal grandmother). My Mama June is so amazing - she has 5 children, 18 grandchildren (not including spouses, which all claim her as their Mama June as well) and 10 great-grandchildren (with 4 more on the way!). What a legacy! I have so many good memories of my Mama June, and I know there are many more to come. She has raised all of her children to love the Lord, and I know that my relationship with Jesus Christ would not be what it is without her love for the Lord, which she passed on to my mom, who then passed this love on to me.

So, our sweet baby girl will be June Annalisa Faunce after 4 generations of Benson women (my great-grandmama Benson, my Mama June, my mom, and me), my mother-in-law, and my Mema. We are calling her June Anne. The more we say it, the more we love it! And we definitely love the women whose names she carries on!

Better Ultrasound Picture

I was able to finagle a better pic of the 4D ultrasound from the DVD that the sonographer gave us. I'm in love!



And, yes, we have thought of names. No, we are not keeping it a secret. We are just trying our favorite out for a little while before announcing it. :)

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Husband!!!

And I also failed to mention (in all the excitement!) that Jason's birthday was yesterday as well! It was such a special day!!! And he couldn't be happier about getting such great news on his birthday. We went out to celebrate last night with a little Mexican....his fave. (I swear he could eat Mexican, a hamburger, or pizza every single night).

I'm so thankful for my sweet husband. His birthday is definitely one of my favoriate days of the entire year. I couldn't ask for a better man to be my husband and the soon-to-be father of my little angel. I am truly blessed!

And it's a....

GIRL!!!!

We are tickled pink!!! Literally!!! We could not be happier!! I thought it was a girl the entire time! (And I LOVE being right!!! Haha!). Jason has already acknowledged that he is in big trouble! (Which I think is how it should be with daddy's and little girls!

Our 20 week appointment today went so well, which is such a blessing. It all started out with me hitting a car in the parking garage...no, I'm not kidding...at all. I was running late for my appointment, so I left a note. (I have yet to hear from the driver, so we will see how that plays out). They did everything they normally do at our appointments - blood pressure (which I told the nurse was probably high seeing as I just hit a parked vehicle...I wish I had a picture of her face! She thought I had lost it!!), vitals, iron, urine...blah, blah, blah. The boring stuff. I have gained a total of 13 pounds (how is that possible and where is it going?!? All of my pants still fit!), which Dr. Maddox said she was very pleased with. (Apparently, they are ok with smaller people gaining a little more, so I'm going with it).

We then waited an hour in the waiting room to go back!!! We have never had to wait more than 15 minutes. Of course, on the day we are dying to get back there, it takes longer! The sonographer took us back and right away, I told her we wanted to know the sex of the baby. She started our DVD running (which we got to bring home with us - you can see Baby Girl moving all around - it's amazing!!!) and took a peek to see if she could confirm the sex. Baby Girl cooperated very nicely and was floating around with her legs spread eagle! So, it's definitely a girl!! No mistake about it!! The rest of the sonogram was AMAZING! It was definitely the best so far! And our sonographer was AWESOME! She took so much time with us, showing us everything. She also provided some 3D pictures (which I usually think are crazy looking, but she got one good one that I thought was cute, which I have included below).

Dr. Maddox assured us that everything looks perfect and Baby Girl is doing great! Baby Girl is breech, but she said only 4% of babies stay that way, so she's not concerned yet. Everything is measuring good, and we are so grateful for a healthy baby. God is so good!

WE ARE SOOO EXCITED!!!!!!

20 Weeks:

It's a GIRL!!!!

She's trying hard to suck that thumb! I keep telling her to stop that!

Isn't she beautiful?!?

18 Week Photo

Hmmm...where is this baby going to go over the next 22 weeks?

Saturday with Charlie and Baby Shower Fun

This is a little delayed, but I wanted to share a few pics of one of my favorite baby boys (well, he's getting quite big now...not sure how much longer we can call him a baby!). Last Saturday, I had a fun morning with Charlie before getting ready for Liz and Baby P's baby shower.

Aunt Kristen thought fruit loops were a good idea for Charlie...not sure what Mama and Daddy thought of that later in the afternoon! (Notice the glass bowl...really? Give an 18 month old a glass bowl? Clearly I have some things to learn!)

I eventually replaced the glass bowl with a plastic one when I realized Charles wanted to carry it around with him everywhere we went! The boy could not get enough of the fruit loops. He would pull the bowl closer and closer and closer to him.

Charlie, being the big boy that he is, decided he wanted to help push the stroller rather than ride in the stroller. So cute!

After Charlie left, I rushed around to get the house ready for Liz's shower. It was a fun time with great friends getting to "shower" Liz and Baby P with all kinds of yummy food and precious gifts!

Happy 18 Weeks!

Jason and I LOVE our Saturday mornings (when he is not in the woods, that is...). This Saturday was the first Saturday since January that we have gotten to sleep in, lounge around, and enjoy a yummy breakfast of pancakes and Kona coffee (thanks, Mom!) since starting busy season started in January.

This morning, as we were lounging around, thinking about getting out of bed, Jason felt the baby move for the first time! We are 18 weeks today, which seems really early. But, the little kicks/punches this morning were clearly distinguisable. It's amazing the things you feel when you sit still for more than 2 minutes at a time! What makes it even more special is this morning is the first time I have felt the baby really kick/punch. All the movements before have been little flutters and felt more like a little butterfly flying around in there. The movements this morning were definitely stronger and distinguisable as a fist or foot.

We plan on spending the rest of the day "de-cluttering" the house and moving some stuff over to our new home! Exciting times!

Pslams 139:13-18

This passage has always meant a lot to me. I've always struggled with being "happy in my own skin," which may come as a shock to some of you that think I "have it all together." Over the past week, this passage has taken on a whole new meaning for me as I pray for my sweet little angel. I know that God has my baby in His hands always.

Psalm 139:13-18

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious are your thoughts concerning me, God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.