A Well Dressed Baby Already!

We've already received some very cute baby clothes and a sweet Christmas gift from Deric's Aunt Pam and Uncle Steve that I just had to post pictures of.  Our little one isn't here yet but he or she is going to be a well dressed little one.

Baby Swanson's first outfit!  I hope our little one is a girl so she can wear the super cute headband.  Thanks Erica and J!!

Baby Swanson's first Christmas outfit that will be worn next year of course!  Deric surprised me with this and he even made sure to get the right size, 6 months!

Two sweet gowns that will be perfect!  Thank you Kim and Taylor for such a thoughtful gift!

This isn't an outfit but I just had to post a pic because it's too cute!  It's a frog tummy time mat with a boppy!  Thanks to Deric's Aunt Pam and Uncle Steve for such a sweet gift!  I know we'll get lots of use out of it!

The Beginnings of Baby Swanson's Nursery

Deric and I decided to take a chance and visit the furniture store, The Dump's, once a year clearance sale yesterday.  We had hoped we might find an incredible deal on a crib but weren't really sure that we'd find any baby furniture since this store doesn't specialize in baby items at all.  Thankfully, we took chance because we found the most beautiful crib for an incredible price out in the clearance tent on our way out of the store.  We left the main showroom disappointed because we didn't see any baby items but couldn't believe it when we found two cribs in the clearance tent.  Here's a pic of Baby Swanson's new crib not put together of course but you'll see the main headboard.  We also picked up the materials to transition the crib to a toddler bed and full size bed once we're ready to.  Also, the crib even comes with a bottom pullout drawer!  The Lord really blessed us with this find!  Also, a big thank you to my Dad for his generous Christmas and birthday gifts which paid for our little one's first big nursery item!

Pregnancy Blues

My growing belly at 14 weeks

Now that we are two days away from week 16, I was thinking by now my posts would be about my growing belly but unfortunately my belly hasn't been too happy lately.  Saturday night, thankfully after our Sunday School Christmas party, morning sickness overcame me in a big way.  I was up all night and early morning in the bathroom but thankfully managed to make it to church.  Unfortunately as soon as we got home the trips to the bathroom continued again.  Thus far, I've only had one other time during this pregnancy when I've thrown up straight for two days but it looks like I'm experiencing it again.  Thankfully I made it to my music therapy sessions today but had to run out in the middle of my last group to the bathroom (very embarrassing).  Also, I had serious itching in my feet and hands mainly but a few other places too and it's come back full force.  It was so bad a few weeks ago that I asked my doctor to check my liver just to make sure that I don't have a rare liver condition that can happen in pregnancy which can cause intense itching.  Thankfully that came back fine but I'm wondering why in the world that's started again a long with this morning sickness.  On a positive note, I'm so thankful that God has blessed us with this little baby.  After the miscarriage we had  1 1/2 yrs. ago and the long wait for me to get better from complications, I wondered if this day would ever come.  I know that I should be joyful even when I'm not feeling my best because God has given us the opportunity to bring a child into this world!

Chapter 1

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...wrong book but it applies!  But seriously, we are so blessed that we have finally moved into the second trimester of our pregnancy.  I had quite a rough few months and had just enough energy to work and by the end of the day, I didn't want to do anything.  I can't imagine going through a pregnancy with another little one to take care of!  I thought morning sickness had left for good, but unfortunately last night it reared it's ugly head again after a coughing spell.  I've had colds/sinus/respiratory infections since October and another one started this Thursday evening (sigh).  Thankfully, I have much more energy than I have previously so I'm not letting this cold get me down.  I finally started my Christmas candy making over the weekend and loved every minute of it!  We are at week 14 moving into week 15 on Wednesday and I can't believe that we're almost halfway there.  Today I got to hear our little one's heartbeat, such a sweet sweet sound to my ears.  This is an old picture now but I've posted our first ultrasound picture below.  In 4 more weeks we'll get a new picture and find out if we're having a boy or girl.  Deric's convinced we're having a boy and I was for awhile but now I'm not so sure.  Either way we'll be surprised in 4 weeks.

~Ashley