Family Fun

My mother in-law, Patti, and sister in-law, Allie, left today after being in NM for the entire past week. We had a lot of fun!

They came into town on Wednesday, and us girls took a trip to Old Town Albuquerque. It was great to do some shopping with girls since it is usually just Ben and me. Of course, that will soon change now that we are having a little girl.

Me and Patti (my mother in-law) in Old Town.

Me and Allison (my sister in-law) in Old Town.

On Thursday, the three of them went to the tent rocks for a hike. I stayed home and rested since my back can't take any long rugged hikes.

Patti and Allison at Tent Rocks.

Tent Rocks.

Ben and Allie at Tent Rocks.

On Friday, we all four went to Cochiti Lake for a swim, and took a nice drive around the Jemez.

On Saturday, I again stayed home for a rest, while Ben, his mom, and sister went for a hike to the hot springs. They are too hot for me to get into since I am pregnant, and again they are long rugged hikes.

Ben and Allie at San Antonio Hot Springs.

Ben and Allie at Soda Dam.

Patti and Allie at San Antonio Hot Springs.

On Sunday, we all rested, and took a quick trip to the mall. We then spent the rest of the day watching the Olympics, and taking last minute bets on whether Baby McCarty would be a girl or boy!

Monday was Baby Girl McCarty's ultrasound, and then Grandma Garcia, Aunt Allie, and I went shopping for little girl clothes while Ben went back to work. It sure was fun. Our little girl will have the most stylish little outfits around. (I will try to scan in some ultrasound pics next week.)

On Tuesday, the girls took a trip to the zoo, and went pottery shopping. I got a crocodile stuffed animal for our Australian nursery.

And today, the girls traveled back to Texas. Now Ben and I are packing for a long weekend in Scottsdale, AZ. We figured we need to get our little getaways in before this little lady joins us. Ben is going to play some golf, and I am going to get a pregnancy massage (Woohoo! My poor back is in dire need.) We're looking forward to our weekend excursion, and going somewhere we've never been before. It should be an adventure. I am ready to soak my weary body in the nice resort pool.

It's A....

GIRL!!! She is healthy, and has all ten toes and fingers. And as usual she is squirmy, squirmy, squirmy. We cannot wait to meet her, and kiss that sweet little baby face. We got to see the two lobes of the brain, and the four chambers of the heart. We even got to see her itty bitty bones. She has a sweet little profile, and she had her tiny feet over her head. That silly girl!
We are very excited! I am so happy to know what we are having, and to know that my motherly instinct was not completely off. We are ready to start the nursery now! Yea Baby Girl McCarty! We love you!
We'll go in for another ultrasound in 4 weeks. This time it will be a 3-D ultrasound, so we'll get to see some more details of her facial features. Its amazing the technologies that we have these days. You can see so much, and include your loved ones in the joys of pregnancy. Ben's mother and sister were here, and got to see her. This will be the first granddaughter on either side of the family. Aunt Allison is excited to have a niece, and Grandma Garcia is excited for her granddaughter. We are all excited to bring her into our family.

I Can't Take the Suspense!!!!

Okay, Monday is the day we've been waiting for. I can't wait to find out if we're having a little girl or little boy. Monday cannot be here fast enough!!! It feels like time is standing still, because I'm so darn anxious. And with my luck we won't find out for some reason.
I'm a major planner, and am sooooo ready to start on the nursery, and to look at gender specific baby items. I will probably cry if they can't tell me.
Everyone cross your fingers that we find out.

Baby Movement

I felt our little one move for the first time this past weekend. Its a very exciting, yet strange feeling. I can't wait to feel a full on kick. This was only a strange jerky flutter in my stomach. Ben can't feel it yet, but I could definitely feel it. What a squirmy little one we have in there. Let's hope it is not that squirmy once it is out of my tummy or we're gonna have our hands full.

Congrats to Haley and Derek!!!

Congrats to my cousin Haley. She gave birth to a beautiful little boy last Thursday, Garrett Wayne. He was 7 lbs 2 oz, and is happy and healthy. Welcome to the family Baby Garrett!

Baby Shower

Look's like I am actually going to get to have a baby shower. I didn't think I would be able to since I don't live anywhere near my family or friends. But turn's out my aunt is throwing me one in September, so I will fly to TX and see everyone before our little one arrives. It is a bit earlier than a traditional shower, but because I have to travel we have to do it before the third trimester.
I am so looking forward to seeing all of my friends and family. I was kind of depressed, because we won't be able to travel to TX for Christmas this year, which meant I would not get to see my family or friends until probably Christmas '09 or later. I need my yearly trip home to get a friend fix. It gets hard being away from everyone I've grown up with. Of course, I keep in touch through phone and email, but it just isn't the same as getting to go out with your girlfriends, and celebrating each other's special occassions together.
Anyway, I am so excited to see everybody, and get to have both of my grandmothers in attendance. It will be great to get to celebrate our little one with the people I care about the most.

Squirmy Baby....

I had my second doctor's appointment today, and the doc said everything is looking good. She could not hear the heartbeat with the doppler machine, because the baby was moving around too much. The doppler could hear the baby moving all over the place, so we went and did an ultrasound. When we saw the ultrasound he/she was quite wiggly, and kicking a lot. Both of our ultrasounds have shown an active baby, so I am beginning to wonder if I am in for a stomach beating once I can feel it moving. I have a feeling that I am going to be getting jabbed and kicked a lot...later on in the pregnancy.
I met my actual doctor at this appointment, and she seems to be really nice and funny. When she couldn't hear the heartbeat she said that the baby was running from her, so it must be a boy. HA HA. She was joking, of course, but Ben is now convinced that he is having a son.
I've gotten even more people saying they think this is a girl. I can't wait to see what our little one will be. A little less than 3 weeks until we find out whether this is a boy or a girl.
So...so far so good. Everything seems to be going just as it should. I'll go back in a month for another visit, and get another update.