22 Weeks and Counting!

Dear Baby Bug-

We have reached 22 weeks and you are still growing! Everyone was excited to see your latest ultrasound pictures and are also happy that things are going as planned. Here is the latest picture of you in Mommy's belly:



When Daddy saw my belly today he said, "Whoa, it' really getting big!" Under any other circumstance I might be a little offended, but since it is totally true I am embracing it. :) Just like when your cousin Clara patted my belly last night and said, "I hate to tell you, but you're getting fat!" I just laughed and told her "I know, but at least it's because there's a baby in there!"

Speaking of last night, we had a great time celebrating Christmas at Aunt Debbie and Uncle Mike's house. (Almost) the whole family was there and we had so much fun eating, talking, and playing. Aunt Debbie had us play a really fun gift exchange game and Daddy ended up with Dominoes while Mommy received a collapsable colander. It was a wonderful night and we can't wait to celebrate Christmas with the Terrys on Thursday and with Mommy's side of the family over Christmas.

Today was pretty uneventful. We went to church, ate at Miner Dunn, and ran some errands for you. First we went to Babies R Us to see if we could find a glider for your room, but we didn't really find much that we liked. We then went to Home Depot to get the paint for your room and that trip was very successful! The color of your room will be "Peridot" and we can't wait to get the paint on the walls so that Daddy can put your crib together. That should all happen over this Christmas break and then we will be all ready to fill it with cute stuff for you. Here's a little preview of your room theme- it should be super cute and fit for our little ladybug!



This week is going to be so great, Bug! Mommy has the whole week off of school and it will be busy with cleaning, seeing friends, and family Christmas parties. Get ready to have lots to eat, because Mommy plans on taking full advantage of all the yummy Christmas food this year. We just need to make sure that we start working out a little in the new year. Have a great night, Bug, and keep on kicking away in there!

Friday December 17, 2010...Further Confirmation That You Are a Ladybug!

Dear Bug-

Today was a fantastic day- I was able to see you again! The day started early because I had to drink a bunch of water before going to the doctor's office for my ultrasound. Once I was able to drink all of it (and not use the restroom) I headed to the ultrasound so that we could get another peek at you. Daddy couldn't come because he had to work, so Mommy had you all to herself. During the ultrasound, the technician asked me if I knew what you are, and I said that we think you are a girl. Sure enough, a couple of minutes later, she turned the screen around to reveal the following picture:



The technician said that this picture confirms it- you are definitely a girl! After that good news, she continued to take pictures and measurements for a very long time. Once she was done, she showed me some fun pictures of you including your little feet, hands, and face. She really wanted to get a profile picture of you to keep, but you just wouldn't cooperate! You spent the whole time looking right at us. She even tried to poke my tummy to get you to move, but you just weren't having any of it. The technician showed me how we could see your eyes behind your eyelids and that they were moving back and forth- she said you must be in REM sleep and dreaming. I wonder what you could be dreaming about? Hopefully about how excited you are to meet your Mommy and Daddy!! The technician assured Mommy that you are measuring exactly where you are supposed to be and your official "age" should be 21 weeks 3 days. Wow! You're getting to be an old lady! :)

After the ultrasound, Mommy had some time before she had to go to work, so I took a gift and some hot chocolate to Kathy and the other counselors at Wilbur Wright Middle School. It was fun to spend some time over there. Since it was the last day before holiday break, everyone was in festive moods and we just talked and laughed together. I showed them all of your pictures and they all agree that you are perfect. I don't know who could argue with that!

Once I left WWMS, I went to Memo's to pick up lunch for the guidance department. We had a wonderful time eating, laughing, and exchanging gifts. Mommy got some really cute things and is so lucky to work with such wonderful people. Once lunch was over, our school principal took us on a tour of the newly constructed swimming pool. Bug, it is AMAZING. If we still live in Munster when you are old enough to go to high school, I hope you will at least have your PE class in that pool. It is bigger than any other pool facility in the state of Indiana except for the one in Indianapolis. It is absolutely beautiful and it was really neat to see it finished.

After school, I called Grandma Carol and Grandpa Jeff to tell them about your ultrasound. They are so excited to meet our little ladybug and were happy to hear that you are doing great. Grandma Carol and I agreed on a time to go to Daddy's game and she picked me up a little later to go. Daddy's team played hard, but they didn't win. :( After the game, Daddy and I went with Daddy's friends to eat and have fun. We were both very tired by about 10:30, so we finally came home and went to bed.

It was a very full day but an awesome one! Mommy is now officially on Christmas Break and has two whole weeks to relax, work around the house, get ready for Christmas, and spend time with Rudy, Zoey, and Daddy. I'm so thankful to have this time off and can't wait for all the fun Christmas activities coming up in the next week!

Here are some more pics from your photo shoot today! We love you Bug!

Mommy's Birthday Gift from Daddy :)

Dear Baby Bug-

This will just be a quick post to show you what Daddy got me for my birthday- it came in the mail today and it is a brand new BEAUTIFUL Coach diaper bag for me and for you! It has plenty of room for all of our stuff and it is pretty easy on the eyes unlike a lot of diaper bags I have checked out. This bag is going to get a LOT of use, Bug...I can't wait until you're here so I can fill it full of your stuff!

Birthdays and Bellies

Mommy, Daddy, Rudy and Zoey at my birthday party


Cammie's 12th birthday!


The 342 Crew celebrating Mommy's birthday


20 Week Belly Shot


Dear Baby (Lady) Bug-

Boy did we have a big weekend! This post is a little delayed because our internet quit working last night, so I am going to try to sum up the rest of our weekend in this post. After all the excitement of finding out that you are a little ladybug, we had to come home and work on getting things ready for my 30th birthday party. Daddy and I worked super hard and had everything perfectly prepped for when our friends started arriving. Carrie and Rob came to our house before dinner and we all went over to Cafe Borgia to meet the rest of the party. Carrie, Rob, Jess, Tom, Sara, Jeremy, Annie, Jenny, Aunt Julie, Uncle Jeff, and Grandma Carol all joined Daddy and I for a delicious Italian dinner. Afterwards, we went back to our house where many of Daddy's friends plus Sherri, Betty, and Mike came over to celebrate with Mommy. We had a great time talking, laughing, and having fun. Everyone is super excited to hear about our little ladybug and it was one of the best days of my life. Thank you to Daddy for giving me a great party and for giving me you!

After the party, Carrie, Rob, and Annie stayed overnight and we had a great time catching up. The next morning, we hung out and Daddy and I took them to one of our favorite places, Miner Dunn, for hamburgers for lunch. Sara and Jeremy came to pick up Annie around 1:30 and Carrie and Rob had to leave shortly afterwards. It was so fun to see all of my friends and you are going to love, love, LOVE them all! Once the house was empty, Daddy and I spent some time cleaning and then took a nap so that we could catch up on some sleep. Once we woke up, we had to get read to go to your cousin Cammie's 12th birthday party. Your cousins are SO EXCITED to meet you and they are already calling dibs on who gets to babysit for you. You are so lucky to have all of these wonderful people who care about you, Bug. I know I've said it before, but you are going to be one SPOILED little lady!

Well, Bug, we have made it halfway through. There is a picture above of Mommy's belly at 20 weeks. You are apparently almost the size of a banana so you are growing and growing! We have a lot to do to get ready for you in the coming months. In the near future, we hope to find the bedding for your nursery so that we can paint the walls and Daddy can assemble your crib. Your dresser is already put together and it is beautiful. I can't wait until your room is put together and I especially can't wait until you are here to enjoy it. Thanks for giving us a great weekend, Bug! We love you!

Hello to Our Little SHE-Bug!!!

Dear Baby Bug-

Today was one of the best days of Mommy's life- we were able to see you through an ultrasound and you look like a REAL baby! We also found out that you are a GIRL! I know that you have probably known this all along, but it sure is nice for Mommy and Daddy to know. I am so proud of you because you listened to me- basically the first shot that the ultrasound technician took was of the parts that let us know your gender. Very good job, Bug.

Let me start from the beginning. Today is a very big day because not only did we get to see you, but we also have a lot of friends coming over tonight to celebrate my birthday. I will probably do a separate post about those festivities- this post is too special to crowd with other things! Since Dr. Hamburg won't do an ultrasound for another two weeks, I took it upon myself to schedule one for today at a place called The Belly Factory in Frankfort by where Daddy used to live. Grandma Carol asked if she could come along, and of course we said yes! Grandma Carol picked me up and we drove to Frankfort where we stopped off at Alsip to buy your first Christmas ornament before heading over to The Belly Factory to meet Daddy. Once we were there, a nice lady took us into a room where she immediately started looking for you. Grandma Carol taped the whole thing and we were able to see you on a great big TV screen in front of us. She showed us your girl parts, then your body, your heartbeat (152 today!) your tiny hands, and finally your little face. It is amazing how much you have developed in just 20 weeks- now all you have to do is spend the next 20 weeks putting on weight. The technician did some 3-D pictures and my favorite one is with your little fist up by your face. There is also a 3-D one where you look a little like Lord Volemort...you may not know who that is now but I am sure that we will get your caught up on the world of Harry Potter at some point in your youth! I was so excited to see you that I kept laughing and shaking the picture. It was truly one of the most special moments of my entire life, Bug, and I am so happy that you are doing OK in there!

After the ultrasound, Grandma Carol bought me a pretty black dress for my birthday so that I have something to wear to my Christmas parties. We also went to another baby store and she bought you a pink onesie that says Basketball on it- Daddy liked it a lot! Daddy is already excited to point out girly little outfits and hats for you to wear- you are going to be one stylish little baby. I don't know how we are possibly going to wait 20 more weeks for you to be fully baked, but I know all the waiting will be worth it. We still need to get further confirmation that you are a girl, so we will have an ultrasound with Dr. Hamburg on December 17th. If you decide to grow an extra part to your anatomy between now and then, we will be just as happy. But for now, we are excited to meet out little girl and love you very much. Thank you for cooperating today- it is just one of the many times you have already made Mommy happy and this is just the beginning!

December 1, 2010...Bug's First Nutcracker

Dear Baby Bug-

Tonight was another first for you- you went with Daddy and I to see your cousins in the Nutcracker! Cameron, Laney, and Clara plus Cammie's cousin Jo all had parts in the Indiana Youth Ballet production of the Nutcracker and we go to watch them every year. The Nutcracker is a huge tradition in the Terry family and started way before I knew Daddy. Your Great Grandpa Cass used to take everyone every year to see the Nutcracker and Daddy says that they would sit in the front row. Your Great Grandpa Cass and Great Grandma Stella were pretty amazing people from what I hear and I am sad that neither you nor I will get a chance to meet them. I think you will enjoy the stories about them just as much as I do!

The production of the Nutcracker tonight was very good and it was fun to see your cousins up on stage. Cammie was a party boy, Laney was a party boy, a pink angel, and an acrobat, Clara was a Chinese girl (I'm still rusty on my technical Nutcracker terms), and Jo was one of the cutie pies that comes out of Mother Ginger (again, don't know the technical Nutcracker term). It was a great night and we were able to see not only the girls but also Uncle Jeff, Aunt Julie, Aunt Carrie, Grandma Carol, Grandpa Jeff, and Casey. There will be many more Nutcrackers in your future, Bug, and depending on how you feel you may even be part of the Nutcracker production one day. No matter what happens, you will definitely be part of the Terry Nutcracker tradition and we can't wait to take you to your first official performance...you know, like when you can see and stuff.

Another great piece of news came today- we scheduled an appointment to find out who you are! In just two short days we will have an ultrasound after Daddy's JV basketball game to see if we can determine whether your are a boy or a girl! I am so excited and don't know how I am possibly going to be able to sleep until then. You better cooperate for this ultrasound, Bug, or you are going to have one unhappy Mommy. And believe me, you don't want to make Mommy unhappy!! No matter what, I love you and know that it won't be long before we get to meet you in person. Only 20 more weeks!