Is it really this difficult to find a name???

So, we have known for one whole week that we are having a boy and we cannot come up with a name to save our lives. All the names we like aren't very compatible with our last name...Andrew, Samuel, Michael, Tito. And I even spent some time at nap looking through a name book from my sister. And, I am taking it as a bad sign that I went through every letter of the alphabet and every name listed for that letter and found NOTHING that I liked. And the ones I thought I liked I can't remember, so they must not have made that big of an impression on me. Hopefully something will stand out in the next few weeks. And if you have any ideas or hear any cute boy names that don't interfere with our last name, let me know.

The Verdict is In!!

After 20 long weeks, we have finally found out that our little bundle is a healthy, happy, baby BOY!!! And, we are so excited!!!! But, first and foremost, everything was measuring right and the baby looked great.

I went in for 2 appointments today. The first was the standard 20 week appointment to check blood pressure and the heart rate. The doctor and I chatted about the typical information and she was happy to see that everything looked and sounded great. We also talked about my option to deliver at the new Northside Forsyth facility and we found out that I do have the opportunity to go there. The only down fall would be that someone from the women's group, not necessarily my practice, would deliver the baby. And while there are pros and cons to all of it, the peace of mind that we can go there should I go in to labor during rush hour is so comforting. Plus, I hear they have a state of the art new maternity facility so it might be fun to go there. Bo and I might have to take a tour there just to see how nice it really is.

Then, after lunch we had the ultrasound appointment. The tech was dry, to say the least and I'm pretty sure she rubbed Bo the wrong way. She started out by doing all of the important things...measuring the head, the leg, the spine, and so forth. After all of her important info was recorded, she turned the screen for me to see and she pointed out all the cool things you get to see on an ultrasound. We got to see a full profile of the baby. We watched him yawn and move around. And then, we got to see the umbilical cord...which we've never seen. It looked like a spiral curl on the screen and the baby was playing with it, moving it around. So fascinating!! She pointed out a few other things and let us gawk at the baby for a little while. And FINALLY she asked us if we wanted to know what we were having. And, by this point we were dying...of course we couldn't stand it any longer. So, she quickly found the "money shot" and before she could even say it was a boy, I smiled and looked at Bo to say, "Ha!! I was right!!" Bo was shocked...absolutely floored...by the realization. He was totally prepared for a third girl. And I think he still has just a slight doubt that it really is a boy. Not me...I saw the little turtle head!!!

So...after we got out of the ultrasound, we went to the car and called family and friends to celebrate our big news. Bo's parents were so excited. Finally...a Jackson boy to carry on the name. When we got home, I baked a cake and dyed the cake blue. I covered it with chocolate icing and then we invited all of our friends to come over from the neighborhood to cut the cake and see if it was pink or blue. Everyone was so excited for us and all the new things a boy means for us.

And last...for those of you who were quick to observe, I changed the blog color to blue!!! Yeah for Baby Jackson!!! Now...if we could only agree on a name!!


Front View - Head on right hand side. 2 dark spots are eyes. Baby looking right at you.


Side/Profile View of Baby - Head on right hand side still. Leg on left. Faint spirals in the background are the umbilical cord.


It's a Boy!!!!

28 hours, 57 minutes

Only 1 more day until we find out whether this little one is a boy or a girl and we can hardly wait. I continue to go back and forth on whether I really want to know or have it be a surprise when the baby arrives. And as fun as I think it might be to find out in March, the practical side of me says I need to know. If I already had 1 of each, we'd wait for sure. But, it's hard to wait that long and worry about not being ready. Either way, it is very exciting to know that our baby is growing bigger and stronger each day. And, it surely will be nice to think of names once we know what we're having. I hope I can wait without getting too antsy!!!

Hi! I'm Here!!

Baby Jackson has decided to let me know that he or she is up and movin'. For the past couple of days, I have been able to feel the baby move when I lay down for a few minutes and try to be very still. It's been so long since I've felt that little tickle that I wasn't sure I'd remember what it felt like. But...it's there just like I remember it...a little goldfish swimming in my tummy. Maybe some butterflies. Either way, it's there and it's super fun to feel. Can't wait to go for the ultrasound in a few weeks to see what this little bug is!!!

14 Week Appointment

We had our 14 week check up on Friday and all is well with Baby Jackson #3. The heartbeat was nice and strong...still hovering around 160. And, with the doppler we could hear all the static as well as the heartbeat which means he or she is moving all over the place. So, hopefully, I will begin to feel this little one moving very soon. That was always my favorite part and probably what I will miss the most when the pregnancy is over.

We will make our appointment this week to find out what this little thing is. Should happen sometime in mid-October. And, I'll be sure to post our exciting surprise as soon as we know. We haven't really come up with any serious thoughts on names just yet. Trying to wait out the verdict on the gender. My mommy hunches tell me strongly it really is a boy. I would be thoroughly surprised if it was a girl...but not at all disappointed. Only 4 short weeks to find out...

Girl or Boy?

After reading Lisa's blog and catching up on all the old wives tales, I thought it might be fun for my friends and family to do the same thing. So, here are some of my answers to those crazy old wives tales and then you can make a vote for yourself on my blog page.

OLD WIVES TALES:
1) If you carry high, it’s a girl. Low, it’s a boy. I have always carried low, which is why those fun, hip new low rise pants NEVER work for me. Nothing has changed this time...still carrying low. BOY

2) If the heartbeat is under 140 bpm, it’s a boy. If it is over 140 bpm, it’s a girl. We hit over 170 at the last appointment. GIRL

3) Tie your wedding ring to a string and dangle it over your belly. If it swings back and forth, it’s a boy. If it goes in circles, it’s a girl. You can also do this holding the string over your open palm. BOY

4) Chinese Gender Chart (http://parenting.ivillage.com/ttc/ttcsigns/0,,j736,00.html ) Some say this is correct 90% of the time. Girl

5) If you have acne during pregnancy, it’s a girl. If you don’t, it’s a boy. Sparingly, but yes, they are there. GIRL

6) If you have morning sickness, you’re having a girl. If you don’t, you’re having a boy. I had all day sickness the entire first trimester. To be fair though, I NEVER had that with either of my girls. But, we'll roll with it. GIRL

9) If your urine is neon yellow, it’s a boy. If it’s a dull yellow, it’s a girl. Could it be that I just need to drink more fluids? It's ALWAYS neon yellow. BOY

10) If you’re hair on your legs grows faster, it’s a girl. I feel like I can go weeks without shaving now. BOY

11) If the dad to be is gaining weight with you, it’s a boy. If he stays the same, it’s a girl. With as much as Bo works out and as hard as he works, there is NO WAY he will gain weight with me. GIRL

12) If you have headaches, you’re having a boy. If you don’t, it’s a girl. I kicked the caffine the first week I found out I was pregnant. Even still, I have had more headaches with this one than with Ally and Kelsey combined. BOY

13) Girls steal your beauty. If you look better than before, it’s a boy. If you don’t, it’s a girl. Considering I am a stay at home mom and rarely get dressed up to change diapers, clean house and play with kids, I'm going with the same...no better and hopefully no worse!! GIRL

14) If your feet are colder than usual, it’s a boy. If they’re the same, it’s a girl. How weird... GIRL

So...now you have until our next appointment in mid-October to place your votes. Should be lots of fun!!!

Quiet Month

This has been a very quiet and uneventful month in the world of pregnancy...which is always a good thing!!! We have a Dr. appointment on Friday and I am sure there will be plenty more to tell then. But, for now, it's slow and go.

Over the past month we have rearranged furniture and gotten Kelsey in to a new room to make way for Baby Jackson. The baby furniture just won't fit any good way in our guest room, so Kelsey got a brand new big girl room so we could put the baby where she was as a baby. Painting was fun, but the best part was putting up the brown dots all over the pink wall. I was worried about how it would turn out, but I am so glad I did it. The room is adorable and there is so much more room for her to play in there.

For now, the guest room remains a guest room, but it is over crowded with baby furniture and some things we've brought up from the basement for the baby. Once we find out what we are having, we will paint and get the room ready for baby.