GIRL!
We were all shocked! Everyone, us included, thought for sure we would be having a boy.
We can’t wait to bring this little girl into the world!!!
Here’s a couple more picks of her from the appointment:
June 19, 2009
Baby,
Today Mommy and Daddy find out if you are a boy or a girl! We have been waiting and anticipating this Dr.’s appointment since the last time we got to see you at 8 weeks. We are having the Dr. write down if you are a boy or a girl in an envelope. After that, we will take the envelope to a party store and tell them to open the envelope after we leave and fill a big empty box with pink or blue balloons so tonight, we can open the box outside and find out with your entire family and extended family what you will be at your Sex Party.
We chose to reveal you with balloons also because today, 6 years ago, your Nana Shara went to heaven. We wanted balloons to go as far as they could in the sky so she could catch one! We know Nana Shara loves you already, and Mommy wants to be just like her with you when you come!
We cannot tell you how excited we are for your arrival. It’s really beginning to hit us that we will be your parents because you are really growing so fast…all you have to do is take one look at Mommy’s belly, and everyone knows you’re in there!
We love you baby!!!
June 8, 2009
TJ is all about the sessies. Sessies are the fun little surprises that make the day that much better. Just today he called me at work telling me to rush home for lunch because I had a sessy waiting for me from him. I came home and opened the package…it was a personalized sign he had an artist in North Carolina make that said “Brown Family Established 2006.” He wanted me to have it for our new place and for our new addition to our family.
Last night, he lotioned up my itching belly so I would sleep better. Every day he takes out the smelly trash so my sensitive prego nose doesn’t have to smell the nastiness that oozes from that can!
No matter how big or how small, TJ jumps at the chance to make me a happy wife and show how much he loves me. I love him so much for that! 
June 4, 2009
Today was our last prenatal appointment in Dallas and it went great!! My blood pressure has maintained normalcy, my weight gain is right on target despite my incessant need to eat every five minutes, and the baby’s heart beat is racing at a strong and steady 145 beats per minute. It was great to see that our Dr. had to raise the doppler to just below my belly button to find the heart rate instead of lower…it means we’re growing!!!
Our next appointment we’ll be back home in California and finding out the sex of the baby with our families together!
June 2, 2009
TJ is such a hard worker. It doesn’t matter if it’s his job or his studies, his work ethic is so admirable and makes me feel confident as his wife that he will always be a good provider for me and our family. I love having that security in knowing I can count on him to do what he needs to do even if it isn’t always fun.
May 27, 2009
I’m such a nerd, but this week in the pregnancy has me very excited! Let me explain:
College-
When I was getting my Undergrad in Communicative Disorders, the one class everyone dreaded taking was Audiology. Partly because it wasn’t a language disorders based class like most of us were planning on going into, but also because there was so much memorization with a Prof. that tested hard. Despite this, it ended up being one of my most favorite classes out of my college career.
I can remember sitting there and listening to my Prof. lecture about the formation and anatomy of the inner ear and by the end discussing how amazing out God is for thinking of every intricate detail to make it possible to hear. If one thing were missing, it would not be possible! That night in class I left practically in tears just thinking about it. It was that class where I honestly felt the closet to God because I knew how much thought and care He put into His creation. Psalm 139 really came to life in that class for me. Sounds kind of funny that this was the class where God came alive to me since I had 30 other units in BIBLE for my minor! Go figure!
What that has to do with baby-
Well, this week, those feelings I experienced in Undergrad are magnified because God is forming the three tiniest bones in the body of my baby. Get ready for my anatomy lesson:
The malleus, incus, and stapes of the inner ear are being formed. These three tiny bones will be sending pass the vibrations caught from the tympanic membrane (eardrum) to the three bones. Those vibrations then hit the cochlea, who forwards it to the auditory nerve, which sends the signal to the brain telling us we are hearing something. That is a very condensed version for your own sanity.
My Point-
So, not only can we sing and talk to the baby this week, but God is making all things come together so baby can hear and we can finally communicate together. What a miracle that is!
May 25, 2009
A group of wonderful ladies have decided to begin Manly Man Mondays (M3) to give us all a chance to brag about our awesome husbands! So every Monday I will be highlighting an attribute about TJ that I love about him or something he has taught me since we’ve been married. So, to kick things off…
TJ is Mr. Do-it-all! He is going to be such an amazing Daddy. I know this because he takes care of me so well. Every time I have been sick, whether it’s a cold or Endometriosis, he has been so great at picking up the slack. Since being pregnant, he has stepped up to the plate and has become the maid, the chef, the nurse, and the runner of all errands. When I have been exhausted from my full day at work, he has swooped in and done the laundry, surprised me with warm baths with all the trimmings, and then massaged my swollen feet before sack while still taking 15 units, working part time, and looking for a new job to come home to in California for the big move in a couple more weeks.
His sense of humor and servant’s heart toward me as his wife has never ceased to amaze me…every time he does any of these little things for me, I’m thanking God for such a kind, loving, and selfless husband who makes me the happiest and luckiest girl around.
T, thank you for taking such good care of your pregapottamus wifey!!! I love you!
May 21, 2009
So, day before yesterday I had a little scare with me and the little one in the belly. I kept getting massive headaches for the past couple days that I couldn’t shake! When I called the Dr. the nurse told me to go get my blood pressure read somewhere and called her back if it was above 130/80. So, TJ and I went to the store and sure enough, all three readings I did were over the limit. So, the Dr. saw me yesterday to test me again for preeclampsia, which is a condition that usually occurs after 20 weeks and is characterized by high blood pressure and proteins in the urine. This possibility scared the bageebees out of me because I knew it meant a whole lot of nothing good for me or the baby this early on.
Luckily, my blood pressure was back to normal and I had no protein in the urine sample. However, my blood sugar was really low, which may have been the culprit behind the headaches. The high blood pressure gone normal could be the fact that I’m under a ton of stress at the moment, or the cuff at the supermarket wasn’t entirely accurate. So, my Dr. told me to “cool it” and prescribed me…
Apparently, the mix of caffeine and sugar when I feel a headache coming on will combat the low blood sugar level I’m experiencing periodically. When I woke up this morning, I felt a headache coming on so I took a couple swigs of that sugar laden, caffeine-filled, high fructose corn syrup diseased drink I would never even drink as a non-prego and BOOM….headache….POOF, GONE!
The best part of the appointment was hearing I was ok and the baby was ok. The very best part was getting to hear that cute, strong little pitter patter again.
Hopefully no more scares like that from here on out! Tomorrow…15 weeks!
May 6, 2009
Baby Brown,
Your Daddy and I just got back from our second prenatal appointment and were so sad we couldn’t see you! We have to wait until we’re 20 weeks along for our next glimpse! But all the disappointment of not getting to see you again was washed away when we finally got to hear your little heart go pitter patter for the first time. You have such a happy and healthy heart! Your Daddy just about jumped out of his chair with excitement and I tried not to laugh from being so happy so we could keep hearing you. Keep growing strong baby!
May 4, 2009
Every morning and every night (and sporatically throughout the day), TJ is conversing with the little one through the microphone…i.e. my belly button. He mostly tells the baby that it’s Momma is crazy and to listen to him instead of me, but I think it’s so fun that the two of them are bonding already!
Countdown to Wednesday for our next glimpse at Baby Brown!
