August 8, 26.5 weeks- Dad Special Guest Author

Hey everyone, Brandon here. Thanks to everyone for following along our joyous time on here. We are glad we can keep you all in the loop.

Things are going really well with us and the pregnancy. Rachel has been amazing. She is such a natural and takes everything in stride. There are some struggles though as she has started to get heartburn quite often and is staring at her closet for great lengths of time in the morning, seemingly waiting for her tummy to recede before dressing.

We are 93 days from our due date. The first 6 months have flown by (again don't forget this is Brandon writing) and have been some of the best days, weeks, and months of our marriage. We are enjoying our time with each other even more than ever it seems. We know the hard parts are ahead of us as the baby who is bouncing all around right now will soon run out of space and I will be working long hours away from my family, however our excitement and expectation is wonderful. We know we have been so blessed and we cannot wait to meet our little guy.

Baby (who has already been to Las Vegas, Hawaii, and North Carolina) will soon be traveling to Boston and Montana in the coming weeks, so pray for Rachel to be comfortable and enjoy her last adventures for a few months.

Thank you all for your love and support. We are blessed to have such a great family and wonderful friends to lean on. We love you all and cant wait for you to meet little Mr. Cloud in a few short months.

Brandon, Rachel, and Baby

July 23, 2012 - 24.5 weeks

Well the little guy is growing at a rapid rate these days.... He gained 4 oz in a week! He is currently about 12 inches and should be about 13.5 by the end of this week. I have been feeling tired and very hungry these days, and I suppose that makes sense with the rapid growth he is taking on. This weekend I also started getting cramps in my leg in the middle of the night which was no fun....combined with pain in my lower back, I feel like an old lady! I also got sick last night for the first time in a while, but other than that, I have been feeling pretty good and I feel fortunate.

It's hard to believe he could be here in 16 weeks. I am having a hard time picturing our life with a baby in it, and am sure I won't really be able to grasp it until he's actually here. Yesterday we started painting his room but it still doesn't feel that real yet. I'm hoping to start registering soon and maybe that will help.

Brandon and I recently returned from a wonderful vacation to Maui and enjoyed the time together to relax! (Though we are having a hard time getting back into our normal lives.....) Here are a few photos from our time.

Here's me lounging on a chair just looking pregnant

Watching the sunset after dinner at a yummy seafood restaurant

Morning snorkeling trip to Molokini crater (a submerged volcano in the background)

Pregnancy special breakfast. Biscuits and gravy with scrambled eggs and cheese. It's the real deal.

A trip over to Lan'ai for a night where we played the beautiful Challenge at Manele

A view from the Challenge. This is my practice swing - I did not miss the ball.

Playing golf at Kapalua Plantation. A challenging course (and perhaps my sunburned stomach didn't help...) but it was beautiful! 

The view from outside Brandon's grandparents house where we stayed - and every day beautiful weather!

July 2, 2012- 21 Weeks

I can't believe that we are over half way there! (Or maybe half way if he comes a little late.... which wouldn't be a terrible thing for us) Baby Cloud has been kicking more and Brandon can even feel it now! A constant reminder that he is actually there!

 I am feeling more and more pregnant every day. I finally have more maternity clothes so getting dressed every day is not such a huge battle. However, we went to a wedding this weekend and it was a bit of a challenge to find something to wear, but I borrowed a dress from a friend and it was perfect! (It, however, did not protect me from the incredible heat - but it still looked nice)
Here are a few photos from the wedding. (You can see the pregnant view of me in the last photo)

June 19 - 19.5 Weeks

BABY CLOUD IS A BOY!

We were very excited to find out that we are having a boy this morning! Of course the most important thing is that he looks good so far...He weighs 11 ounces and looks to be healthy. We got to see so many things from his feet to kidneys and heart! It was an emotional appointment for me but we are excited to know he is doing well and to be able to say HE instead of IT! The technician also confirmed that our due date is still around November 10th (which I'm sure he will come that day if he is a planner like his mommy!)

As for me, I am definitely feeling more and more pregnant and looking like it..... 

June 1, 2012 - 17 Weeks

Well we've made our appointment to find out if we are having a boy or girl.... We find out on June 20th! I am really looking forward to finding out. I think it will help me to feel more connected to the baby - being able to pick out a name, etc. (And no we are not planning on telling you the name ahead of time :-))

Yesterday I had another appointment at the midwifery. I waited in the waiting room for about 30 minutes, and then had approximately a 3 minute appointment. They weighed me, listened to the babys' heartbeat and asked if I had any questions. Apparently the next appointment - 20 weeks - is much longer and more extensive.

I went to the beach this past weekend and definitely felt pregnant. Nothing like squeezing into a bathing suit to make you feel large!

May 22, 2012- 15.5 weeks

Not much has changed at this point... except it's getting more and more difficult to get dressed in the morning because I feel like nothing looks good on me!

Here's a photo of me from yesterday (I feel like it is not very flattering but you can get the idea)....

May 11 - 14 weeks!

We have officially entered the second trimester! That is wild. I think it felt so short because we found out when I was already five weeks, so I really haven't had that full fourteen weeks to adjust... but it still feels like it's flown by.

We went to the midwife last week and got to hear baby cloud's heart beat, and see another glimpse of the little girl or boy! It's incredible how quickly things have progressed with their development - today the baby is 3 1/2 inches and can suck its thumb!

I am definitely starting to feel and look a little more pregnant.... Clothes are feeling tighter and uncomfortable and not very flattering. I'm wearing a lot of dresses these days.

I also received my first mother's day card this week from a co-worker. That was a weird feeling.... But I suppose I am a mom already?