Jon was right... he only produces males... so far!

the first picture is the proof that we are having a boy...

the second picture is the baby on the side in 3D.  You can see the ear, arm, thigh and side.

we are so excited to know!

in other news... the baby is already 2 lbs 9 oz!  The ultrasound tech also said that I have more fluid in the amniotic sac giving the baby more room to move, leading to bigger muscles!  He is going to be one big, brawny, brainy, baby boy. :)

the confidence of the gvu guys

Last week, at Faithwalkers we were taking pictures of all the grand viewers that were able to come.  The boys (fully confident that our baby is a boy) decided to make my belly be in the dude picture, but not my face (because being a girl, I was not allowed in the dude picture).  With two hours to go before we find out if Jon has been lying this whole time, I thought I would forever make it clear how confident Jon and the guys are that this baby is in fact a baby boy.  

the poll has arrived

As I mentioned before, I am stealing an idea from my good friend Kelsey (who by the way needs to let Lila come into the world very very soon so I can meet her!).  We have decided that since there is so much debate about whether or not this little one is a boy or girl it would be fun to put up a poll.  So cast your vote and after Monday January 4 we will let you know the actual results!

pictures with the family

aren't my sisters cute?

I love my family!

of butterfly wings and popcorn

As an excited almost-new mom, I get four or five weekly newsletters to my email updating me and telling me how big Juan(ita) is getting, one type of food s/he could be comparable to and also any new pains or discomforts I will be experiencing that week.  Two weeks ago my email newsletter said that soon I should beginning to feel fetal movements.  A friend of my mom's a month ago had asked me if I had felt the "butterfly" movements yet.  The emails mentioned the fluttering of a butterfly's wings or little popcorn popping feelings.  They also said that first-time mothers often miss the first movements because they don't know what they are trying to pay attention too.

With the challenge set before me to notice baby Juan(ita) kicking or stretching or moving I became a student of any weird movements in my belly.  There were a few times at night when I would wake up to go to the bathroom and feel something.  I would be sitting in the morning reading and spending time with Jesus and feel weird movements.  I never knew if it was my imagination or if it was the baby.  Most of the feelings I outruled because they were above my belly button and little Juan(ita) is not that big yet to be able to reach all of the way up there.

Finally, last Monday (the 9th) I woke up in the middle of the night and in the right area I felt something that felt like butterfly wings.  I laid still to try to feel more.  Nothing.  But then again in the morning while I was reading, I distinctly felt something in the right area that I have never felt before!  It was baby Juan(ita)!  Since then most days for a little bit I feel our baby doing many movements.  It is exciting to have this little connection with baby Juan(ita) and I can't wait for more!

development of the baby bump

For all of our friends and family outside of Des Moines...

week 12

week 17

even Jon has a sympathy bump!

...for Marissa

The other day my friend Marissa said that she checks the blog every day waiting to see any news about baby Schreiner.  So this post is for you Mar-Mar: happy reading.

I am now officially in the second trimester and am 16 weeks along.  What this means for anyone that does not read pregnancy sites once a week like I do is that this is the easy trimester.  I have been extremely thankful though because nothing has been too difficult so far.  First trimester is supposed to be full of morning sickness but I experienced a few weeks of nausea and nothing else.  However, two days before passing the first trimester mark I had my first (and only?) vomiting experience - and really that was my fault for taking prenatal vitamins on a virtually empty stomach.  The best part was that I had mixed reactions: I could not decide whether or not I should be upset or excited that I finally participated in what most pregnant women go through.

We had our third appointment Monday and our baby's heart is still beating and my belly measured me to be at 17 weeks.  So I think that means everything is going okay.

On Wednesday the Downtown Church had a parenting night with a panel of some of the pastors of Walnut Creek.  It was great to hear from these men whom Jon and I have gotten to see their lives and their now twentysomething age kids lives closely.  We learned some good foundations but also know the real learning will come when our "Juan(ita)" is born.  

Sometime soon I will get to feel our baby kick and move around.  The websites say that at first it just feels like a butterly or gas so at every little feeling in my belly I gasp and try to figure out if it is the baby saying hi.  But as far as I can tell, nothing so far.

Well, Marissa, hope this satisfies your excitement of the little one inside of me.  :)