August 30, 2012 - 30 weeks tomorrow!

30 weeks already! Time is flying by and we are starting to gear up for little Cloud. Last weekend we went to a birth class that lasted all day. It was a lot of information but we learned a lot about the stages of labor, when to go to the hospital, etc. Brandon learned some massage techniques that I am sure he will be happy to practice often.

This week we set up the crib (it is weird to have a crib in our house!) and I hope to get things a little more organized this weekend.

Here is dad setting up the crib

Baby Cloud is 3 lbs now, but I feel like he is much bigger with his powerful kicks and punches, and the amount of pain I have in my back! The heartburn is also getting worse, but I know I have a lot to be grateful for.

Things I am grateful for:
- Baby is healthy so far
- I don't wake up in the night at all (to  go to the bathroom or anything)
- My belly button hasn't popped out (I know that is weird but I don't know how I feel about an outie)
- I am not throwing up
- A sweet hubby

We also love spending time with our nephew, and he is loving on his cousin already. Here is a photo of him touching the baby, and then giving him a kiss. He will be such a good cousin!

August 22 - 28.5 weeks

We are officially in the third trimester! I have been feeling the little guy kick a lot more consistently - he even responds to a flashlight (he obviously has my genes in intelligence- just kidding!) I have been feeling pretty good overall. I am still tired and hungry all the time... something I can't imagine will get any better as he is growing at such a rapid rate now. And my heartburn is still lingering, along with back pain, but I know overall I am lucky.

I spent the weekend in Montana with Baby Cloud's grandparents and Aunt Amanda. We had a wonderful time together - enjoying some great meals, good laughs and baby Cloud is already getting spoiled by his grandparents.... They even surprised Amanda and I with a double shower! (Well I thought I was planning a surprise for Amanda and she thought she was planning one for me!) It was so much fun and makes everything feel more real. It was so special to share this with Amanda who is due only six weeks after me!

We are excited to get the nursery a little more situated this month as our crib and dresser should be arriving in the next week or so, and Grandma Cari is making some fun items for the room (I picked out some fabric this weekend!)

We feel so blessed and overwhelmed that people love our little son so much already, and can't wait for you to meet him! Thank you for loving us.

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!