Trisha comes to Hastings!

What a wonderful weekend with one of my best friends! Trisha and Brendan came from Des Moines to hang out for the weekend. Friday night we enjoyed dinner at a local restaurant, Saturday we painted the baby's room and went to this great Italian place for dinner after the boys went to "Do the Brew". Sunday we made a nice breakfast and grilled steaks for lunch then walked around Hartwell Park.

Little Harper Lee

We had our 21 week ultra sound yesterday. It was so exciting to see our little peanut. Our ultrasound technician confirmed that we have a little girl in my belly. I have gained ten pounds so far! I'm up to a solid 116 lbs.. Most I have weighted in my life! My target weight is 131, so I only have room for 15 more pounds.. I can't believe I have ten extra pounds of weight on me and the babe is only 15 ounces.
The baby is kicking like crazy. I drank a little bit of pop before the ultrasound to make sure she would be up and moving.:). JJ was able to attend this ultrasound. He was a rockstar. I felt dizzy and got a little over heated during the ultrasound so we had to take two breaks.. He was brushing his hand on my arm and moving the hair off my face.:). Very sweet.
We have decided to share the name we have chosen, because we would be sad if someone we know take the name. Our little girl will be named Harper Lee Johnson. We didn't know this before, but JJ's great grandmother's middle name was also Lee. We love the tie the name has to literature. Harper Lee wrote, " To Kill a Mockingbird." The author's first name actually isn't Harper, her full name is Nelle Harper Lee. I could understand why she wouldn't want to out Nelle Lee on all her books!:)

We are excited to welcome Harper Lee into our family in September.

She's a kickin'!

This weekend JJ and I went on a double date with Lauren and Alex. We saw Bert Kreischer the comedian, at the Funny Bone in Omaha! What a blast! He was truly enjoyable. I'm glad to find lots of laughter throughout this pregnancy!

It's Saturday night, JJ just enjoyed a movie called, " Life as We Knew it." Cute movie. We shared a tiny tub of ice cream. Shortly after, the sugar reached the peanut. She has been kicking like crazy for twenty minutes now! Josh is now getting to feel her regularly. Her kicks are so strong! I should have thought marrying a soccer player through a little better.:) we are just blessed to get to feel her.  JJ and I have not been the best at taking growth pictures, but here is my latest picture at 20 weeks along!

First kick and secret name!

JJ and I have decided on a girl name already. It was pretty easy, we both loved it from the beginning. We have also decided to keep it to ourselves until she is born. We are loving the little secret between the two of us.:)

I felt her first kick Sunday, April 6th. We were at JJ's house in Lincoln watching a movie with Reuben. I asked JJ to touch my belly. Shortly after he put his hand on my belly, she kicked. I felt it clear as day and asked JJ if he had felt it. He did not. Apparently you can't feel it from the outside for a couple more weeks. I felt her kick again later in the week, on Thursday night after a workout. My belly is now protruding more than my boobs. Sad day. I've gained 6 lbs so far, I'm 18 weeks along.

We had our monthly appointment on the 10th. Peanut's heart rate is 141 bpm.. Dr. Fish says that is normal for a boy. Hmmm could it be?  This is a picture of me at 18 weeks along.

Easter with the Poppe's

On Easter weekend JJ and I headed to Omaha to spend the weekend with his family.  We drove up on Saturday, spent the night at the Poppe's, then drove back to Lincoln on Sunday afternoon.  We enjoyed a delicious kabob luncheon on Sunday with JJ's immediate family, minus his brother and his brother's family.  Next weekend, we will head to Sioux City to have Easter for my side of the family.  I feel JJ and I got lucky this year because my family chose to push the Easter celebration back a week, since my grandma wasn't back from Arizona yet.  So we are able to go to both gatherings this year.

JJ and I decided to reveal the gender of our babe to his side of the family this weekend.  What better way to do it on Easter weekend than with an egg hunt for the kiddos?:)  We filled 12 plastic eggs with candy and hid a small piece of paper with the baby's gender written on it in one egg.  JJ and I hid the eggs in Sarah's backyard and had the girls find them.  They were pretty quick at finding them.  We went inside and opened each egg to find the one with the note.  Emmie found it, then Ellie read it aloud, with the help of grandma Lorie.

Ellie holding Bella!

The egg with a secret note inside.. SHHH!

Which one has the gender written inside?

17 weeks along now!

Oh boy, it feels so good to be out of the nausea cave.  I'm back to working out, not as much as I should be, but I'm going when I can.  It's been difficult with a puppy around.  My dress pants are getting tight, and by tight I mean leaving deep impressions on my skin. YIKES!  I think it's finally time to get a bella band.  I did wear my first pair of maternity pants to Easter, not that I needed to, but they were so cute and new I wanted to wear them.  I imagine I'll even wear them when I'm not a fat, pregnant cow.

I made the switch to organic.  I now buy organic fruits, veggies and milk.  I love the change, the milk even tastes better.  

JJ has been an amazing, supportive husband.  He's responsive to my needs.  He's sweet.  He gives me a break and understands when I want to go to bed at 9:30 on a Saturday night.:)  I'm pleasantly surprised with his flexibility with his pregnant wife.:)

Current baby to do list:
Paint baby's room
Wash and organize clothes I already have gotten
Put crib together
move dresser and end table into baby's room.
Write in baby journal.