21 Weeks and Counting

Whew... As the election is winding down today... so. am. i.

One thing I've been noticing lately is how TIRED I am after everything I do. My feet are officially swelling when I stand too long, and they hurt. The one side effect that I am majorly not enjoying is that. I'm still having difficulties sleeping, but now it's starting to change to the issue of soccer games and the Olympic gymnastic growing inside of my abdomen. Every morning about 3AM I am woken up by sporadic kicks that last about a half hour, and then back to sleep we go. This happens a few times throughout the night, but on the bright side it only lasts about 20 minutes and then it's nap time again... just getting prepped for baby Punt's arrival.

This whole secret thing about the gender is KILLING ME! UGH! I only have until Sunday! EVERYONE at school keeps going how is he/she?! and I want to scream she/he is great, growing like a week, and kicking like a mule.... but I have to say it's instead of a gender... it's pretty hard to keep a secret going! We are both super excited to go home on Sunday to tell our families the gender of the little one. I'm so looking forward to Sunday when I can start telling people to buy cute little boy/girl clothes! And I'm excited to go shopping myself! :)

19 weeks (give or take) and Baby Punt will make its grand arrival. I can't wait for the day, but at the same time I'm still enjoying the whole pregnancy thing. But, I'll take whatever I get!

Brad and I are enjoying our private little jokes about our little one. It's nice to have at least one person to discuss future events with! Brad is really starting to come around on the whole pregnancy thing. He was SO iffy about being a dad at first... but the nickname "daddy" has really started to grow on him. I think he's actually starting to feel comfortable with being a dad. He always said "I'm never having kids...." but I guess he was wrong! I keep talking about having another one down the road (like 5 years...... lol) and he just says "Nope! One is one too many..." but I think he will change his mind! He acts all tough guy, but I know that this little one will make him a big old teddy bear. :) He was so goofy when we found out the sex. I know he is definitely looking forward to this adventure, even though it was pretty "iffy" at the beginning. The first thing he does when he comes home or I go to see him is he kisses my belly and says "hello babes." It makes me chuckle. He's such a softy...

It's super encouraging for me to have someone who is willing to work through their own difficulties to make things easier on me. He has been super encouraging to me with being so busy with school, work, and growing a miniature human. He has been working his tail off to make up for the hours that I am lacking at work, and he is really making it easier on me. It's nice to have such a hard working supporter. We try to see each other every weekend, if not throughout the week. Some weekends I go down to Anita, some weekends he comes to Ames. It usually depends on our schedules, especially with school for me. It will be nice to have him home for a few days next week since he has 2 days off!

Well. 21 weeks down, many more to go! We look forward to sharing the gender with you all next time! Keep reading these posts for updated info! :)

Thanks #6

Today I am thankful for My Sisters. Even though we NEVER used to get along, I honestly adore them when I am able to go home and see them. I wish we didn't live so far away so I could be more involved in their lives, but they are growing up just fine without me. I know we rarely got along growing up, but now that I'm out of the house... I kinda miss the little turds. Cassie and her mischievous smile, Sara with her quirkiness. They are both very special young ladies in my life and I couldn't imagine having sisters could be any more opposite of each other.

Thanks #5

Today I am thankful for my dogs. Without them I would be SOOOO bored 24-7. Even though these two are like my husband and can drive me through the roof, but they give me their unconditional love no matter what they do to piss me off. From peeing on my lap to licking me until I cry, these two always have a way to piss me off or brighten my day. There is never a dull moment with the two hanyaks in my life. From 1 pound babies to 25 pound dogs, these two are my kiddo's and they make my life entertaining.

Thanks #4

Today I am thankful for my bestest girl friend ever. My twin, the other half of my functioning life. I don't know WHAT I would do without such a great friend to confide in with anything at anytime at anyplace. You know she's a best friend when she will drop everything just to come over and sit with me because I'm bored. Even though I'm pregnant, we still manage to have a grand old time together going out and just having girl time. With a birthdays only a day apart, we swear we were separated at birth, even though she's 364 days younger than me! :) She's been there for me through thick and thin and I know I can always count on her. With best friend secrets and jokes, our friendship will last forever. No doubt. Personality central, we mesh perfectly... even though she leaves me at home alone to go hunting :'(

I don't know what I'm going to do for two weeks without her when she's gone to New Zeland, but I know I will be patiently waiting her arrival back to Ames.

Thanks #3

Today I am thankful for my Undergraduate Work Study Job. Without this job I would be half the student and leader that I am. After nearly two years of working for a wonderful team of PHD's and Graduate Students I have learned more than you could fathom. After just one semester at ISU I was taken up as part of the Lonergan Lab research team, adopted as part of the family. I have done more work and had more frustrations because of this job than you could imagine, but I wouldn't trade anything for it.

Thanks #2

Today I am thankful for my best friend, other half, and the one who can make me laugh more than anyone else. Even though he can piss me off more than anyone else, he's my man.

I'm so happy to have him by my side for life. I know that no matter how many times I trip on air or get distracted by squirrels, he will always love me. My own personal comedy central whenever I'm around or talking to him. He makes me smile, he makes me cry. He makes me love, he makes me fight. No matter what, he will always be "my main man." A "friend" once asked me what I ever saw in Brad. He was just another farm boy who wasn't interested in any serious relationship... Well. Obviously that friend was wrong!

Through thick and thin we have worked through many obstacles together. We're currently "baking" one right now! We are blessed to no end to have each other as best friends, but life will be getting a lot more interesting so very soon. After two and a half years of marriage I've learned many things. My favorite quote I've ever ran across though was that "It's not just about the good times you have, it's about the obstacles you can go through together and still say I love you in the end." This is so true. I would never have imagined us being stronger than we were the day we said "I Do," but so much has changed since that hot summer day in the middle of June.

So for this lifetime,

You are the Peanut to my Butter,

The Water to my Ocean,

Glaze on my Donut,

Spring in my Step.

The Twinkle in my Eye,

Blue to my Sky,

Cherry to my Sundae, 

Flip to my Flop,

Milk to my Cookie,

and Sweet in my Dreams.

The Beat of my Heart,

Cheese to my Macaroni,

the Best to my Friend,

and The Love of my Life.

The Month of Thanks; November 1st

As dedication to my favorite month of the year, I, along with many others, have decided to join in on the "Month of Thanks." Instead of doing this through daily posts on Facebook, I will be doing it here on my blog. Through the month you will be able to read up on my daily "Thanks". 

November 1, 2012

Today I am thankful for an adorable baby girl/boy (no, I'm not letting it slip!) who rests within my womb. As my eyes were fixed on that TV screen this morning, tears began to stream from my eyes. Psalm 139:13-14 popped into my head bright and early this morning as I lay on that blue cushioned table, ultrasound jelly covering my growing belly, watching, searching, for every little detail of this child's feature.

For you created my inmost being;

       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

       your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

As I laid on that table this morning, the amount of detail and vast creation that has gone on within my belly just blew me away. The last ultrasound we had was at 12 weeks, and the baby was SO underdeveloped looking. Today, the 3D image of the face made me even more excited to meet this little fart. I can't wait to see the creation that God has given us, and I am more than thankful today for our child. It hasn't even come into this world yet and it is already touching our lives. So many great things are in store for us and our little one in the future. The pictures below briefly show the detail that has gone into this blessing.