The Ring Ceremony

As most of you know I have had a bit of belly bling since Spring Break Freshman year in college. After 8 years the beautiful bling had to come out. Someone should have told a crazy 19 year old that when you pierce your belly and later have a baby it leaves quite the ugly hole. Eric told me it was time to be a grown up and take it out. Claire agreed with her Daddy.

The maternity fairy came to visit yesterday! My sweet sweet friend brought me a truck load of maternity clothes to borrow. It truly was an answer to prayers. I had been starting to stress over all the expense that comes along with just being pregnant. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on clothes, which if you know me you know that is just a shocking statement! I had just decided to buy a couple of essential pieces and then make my current wardrobe work for as long as I could. My stress has now been lowered and my every growing waist is very thankful for being able to breathe!

I decided I wanted to share a couple of Claire's outfits I have already bought her as well as a few of some adorable gifts from some very dear friends!

Two of the outfits I have bought. Eric always said his child needed some Ralph Lauren Polo so of course she now has pink polo!

A precious giraffe from her Aunt Andrea

My sweet friend Melissa gave me these for baby Claire. Eric is now convinced that since A&M comes in pink that is how everything should be.

Fun Day!

Today was a fun day! Thanks to a very dear friend I got to play with Claire during my lunch hour. We got lots of great shots and cool videos. I think we've got a hyperactive little one. She is just precious and full of personality already. She was just hanging out at first then I think she realized she had an audience and put on quite a show! I definitely think we've have a thumb sucker on our hands she seemed to really like that thumb! We can't wait to meet her. Sure hope these next few months go by fast!

15 Weeks!

I've made it to 15 weeks! 25 more to go! Wow 25 more weeks can't come fast enough! We have sold the last piece of furniture in the office turned baby's room. The last piece will be picked up on Saturday. This makes me so excited since as soon as the room is cleared Eric can start painting and I can start decorating!

Visited my parents and my Grandma this past weekend. Also got to visit with family I don't see very often which was fun. The weekends always go by too quickly especially when we have limited time with people. Sunday afternoon before we traveled back to Houston Mom and I ordered Claire's fabric so Mom can get started on the bedding! Oh did I mention we have agreed on a name? Claire Elizabeth is our precious little one's name. It is so nice to have a name to call her besides "the baby". It really makes everything seem so much more real! I am so happy Mom is making her bedding. She will do a fabulous job and Claire will have the most meaningful bedding!

Another fun note, I ordered a cheapo at home doppler about 5 weeks ago. Several times a week I have tried in vain to find little one's heartbeat. She is still so low and my uterus is still tipped backwards I knew it would take a while to find her. Last night I decided to try again since it has been a few days. Lo and behold after about 5 minutes of searching there it was! Beating away so quick and strong! I went to bed with a smile on my face! I have heard her at the doctor's office, but there is someting so fun about being able to hear it anytime I want! I think the dub dub dub sound is my new favorite sound!

Okay more weekend laundry to get to. Eric is playing softball so I am enjoying a relaxing evening catching up on Project Runway and do laundry.

Entertaining myself

This weekend my car was in the shop and Eric was working. As stuck at home as I felt it is probably a very good thing I was afoot. This way I was forced to rest and not baby shop, lol. You should be very proud of me. Since we have learned we are having a baby girl I actually haven't bought anything! I've been more into saving to make the nursery fit for a princess. All the various projects and might I add ambitious ones I have informed Eric of are making him a bit nervous about the work that lies ahead. He has instead chosen to tell me of all the projects he would first like to accomplish. Such as re landscaping the yard. Yay for me. Today as I was going through the Sunday coupons in the paper I found myself looking for baby deals and clipping diaper coupons. I never thought clipping diaper coupons could be so exciting!

We had a good doctor visit on Friday. We got to hear little one's heartbeat with the doppler which I think was just as cool as seeing her on the ultrasound! We also scheduled my next 2 appointments. In April I go for another checkup and more blood work to make sure the baby's spinal cord is developing properly. Then May 6 we get to see baby Westerman again and do the big ultrasound where they measure and check out the baby to make sure she is growing properly etc. Doctor said to invite the family along for that one! We also had a fun short visit with my brother and Jessica. I wish they could have stayed longer, but my brother had to work today. Ok guess I better go figure out something for dinner. I am pretty sure she is having a growth spurt. These last 2 days I have been hungry every 30 minutes!

Big Week! And Baby Westerman is....

We have had quite an amazing week. We saw our little one last Monday. Everything looked perfect, my uterus is still turned backwards, but nothing to worry about at this point. It should turn on it's own. Little Westerman was wiggling around and had a finger or thumb or something in it's mouth. The NT scan went great we met with a genetic counselor afterwards who said the scan looked great and the bloodwork should confirm that the risk for Down's Syndrome or Trisomony something or other was very low. Also with this bloodwork comes the sex of Baby Westerman!!

I waited about an entire 2 days before I immediately starting calling the message line to get the results. Of course they were not up by then, but one can't help but try. On Friday I thought maybe just maybe they would be up. My Mom was coming to town and how perfect it would be to know the sex! I called at 10, nothing, at 2, nothing, at 4:15 I decided one more time couldn't hurt and to my shock I had a recording! I immediately hung up so Eric and I could hear the results together. I raced home as soon as the clock struck 5! Eric, Mom, and I got to hear the results together. The bloodwork confirmed that the rist for down's was great than 1 in 10,000 which the recording said was good results. The very last thing the 3 of us heard was...

Congratulations, you are having a little GIRL!!!


We were shocked and excited! Eric's jaw hit the floor he was convinced it was a boy. After the shock wore off excitement set in! I immediately called my Dad who said "I told you so". Dad had been saying all along it was a girl. Eric then called his Mom who also said "I knew it"! Those were the only 2 people who thought it was a girl. My brother claims he did too, but I think he just wanted to be different and guess girl!

All in all it was a very big week! We announced to the rest of the world that not only there was a baby on the way, but it was a GIRL! Wow! We are so very blessed with this miracle, our daughter!

Those of you who know me well know that I am already scheming on the nursery! Here is my "theme" for the room. Mom is going to make the bedding so we may make a few minor changes, but pink, black, and damask is what I love!