Favorite pregnant moments

I intended to start this blog MUCH earlier in my pregnancy. Now that I'm 35 1/2 weeks pregnant... I'm finally getting this started!

Many friends and family have asked different questions about my experience with this pregnancy. So, I've been reflecting on the most memorable moments. Here they are:

1) Finding out we were pregnant. Those 3 minutes of waiting for the stick felt SO long! We covered the indicator and walked around the house trying to pass the time. When we looked, the second line was really faint so I reread the directions again and when I realized it meant I was pregnant we were screaming and hugging and letting the realization sink in.

2) Telling our family and friends. Truthfully one of the happiest days. We have such supportive friends and family! It was amazing to see the impact of modern technology- I told my family, my brother posted on Facebook 3 minutes later, and one of my best friends from high school texted me while I was STILL on Skype with my family! Word can spread incredibly fast now!

3) Feeling the baby move! The movements make him real to me and are still so fun. I first felt distinguishable bubbles at 16 1/2 weeks. Matt first felt the baby thumping around at 19 weeks. At 35 weeks now, he's a little more crammed for space but I can feel him kicking around and adjusting his legs all the time. The most fun part is testing responses. He really responds to active diaphragm movements; after I sing really loudly or laugh hard or sneeze, he typically responds with some big kicks! He also tends to get really active after I eat ice cream... I'm not sure if that's just because that's usually around 9:00 at night or I'm sitting down or if he really does have an ice cream thing! When he is kicking, sometimes he'll respond to me lightly tapping my fingers right where his little foot is. It's amazing how much I love interacting with him already!

4) Finding out the baby is a boy! We found out at 20 weeks, and the tech determined his gender literally within 20 seconds of starting the ultrasound. The view was like from underneath a seat: thighs, butt, and defining feature just sitting there for the world to see! She started the ultrasound, laughed, and said "Oh that's 100% boy!" We then got to watch him yawning and jumping around (even jumping on my bladder!) for 15 more minutes. So fun! We were excited for a girl or a boy, but once we found out we mentally switched into total boy mode. Matt's already planning a variety of father-son bonding activities!

5) Getting a box of baby clothes in the mail 4 days later from my mom's indulgent shopping spree. This little guy is never going to want for Grandma attention! I honestly think he's one of the luckiest kids I know in terms of two absolutely amazing Grandmas!

6) Various student comments since they discovered I was pregnant. Best quotes so far: "I thought your stomach was getting bigger, but I just thought you were eating more brownies", "Who did it?", and "So does that mean you're going to be throwing up all the time?". Recently, the funniest comment was [while I'm wearing the school T-shirt that is getting more and more snug around my expanding belly] "Miss, that shirt's too tight- that's not good for your baby. Your baby needs to breath." Nice to know they're looking out for me, even if they're slightly confused about the baby's oxygen source :)

7) Baby showers! This baby has such an incredible support group already! I'm just amazed at the generosity, love, and support that has been showered upon us. Beautiful homemade blankets, homemade burp clothes, a creative paper topiary, an amazing baby picture frame, and many substantial and generous gifts covering baby clothes and necessities.





8) Setting up the baby room. Thanks to that amazing generosity of so many family members and friends, this room has come together to be such a happy place. The room and all the baby things have made the birth of the baby much more real for me. It's just overwhelming to feel everyone's love and support in that room!




9) 3-D Images of our baby. After my graduation (UNLV Masters of Education), Matt, my mom, dad, Jane, Thomas, mother-in-law Marie, and father-in-law Kurt all went to a 3-D ultrasound clinic. They sat against a wall while I was comfortably propped up on a fancified hospital bed. The imaging technology is amazing! We could see our little guy's chubby cheeks, cute little nose, little lips, and even a potentially cleft chin! We got to watch him trying to suck his thumb, rubbing his eyes, and even smile. The pictures are absolutely priceless. I have them scattered around our house so I can constantly look at him :)



10) Finalizing the name. So, I've been careful to avoid setting anything permanently in stone, but Matt and I are 99% decided on the name John Sterling Alleman. We thought of that name around 2 years ago, in addition to Benjamin Matthew. Since we've been expecting, we've looked through books and websites and narrowed down lists of names, but it still always came down to those two! We love the name John, and Matt has some really interesting ancestors with the name John Alleman (first to immigrate to the United States, first to convert to the LDS church). Sterling is my dad's father and one of our heroes. We are very excited about this name and all the family heritage and strength that it denotes.

Those moments probably encapsulate my experience effectively! If I haven't been good keeping in touch with you throughout this exciting time, hopefully these highlights convey how fun and exciting the past few months have been!