Katie at 27 weeks (Beckton is the size of a head of cauliflower!)

This is a picture of me at 27 weeks. Beckton and I are doing well. He's doing a lot of kicking and I'm doing a lot of praying (in hopes that all these little issues turn out to be nothing). I'm also busy trying to keep myself busy and turns out there is a lot to do! This weekend Scott and I finally settled on a paint color for Beckton's room. We chose a very pretty light yellow that will match well with the accessories I've already picked out. I wanted to help as much as I could so I taped and he will paint. Scott can't quite comprehend why we would paint a room that's already blue a different color when we're having a boy, so I'm lucky he's participating! Next I have really got to find some crib bedding that I like. I thought it would be pretty simple but there is so much to choose from! I've also started helping my friends and family with the showers they are planning. I'm so lucky to have such great family and friends who want to include me in the plans and make this a special time for me (and baby B).

Katie at 26 weeks (one issue solved, one issue that's hopefully not an issue)

Here I am in the snow! It was pretty chilly for this picture but I wanted to capture our winter wonderland! This week started with nothing much new to report ... as I was still waiting on feedback from my doctors. I had what's called a level two ultrasound to check for any issues related to the fluid that the doctors and nurses "thought" they saw when I was in the hospital. Luckily we got some good news - no fluid around the heart. This made me breathe a heavy sigh of relief. However, we're now on to the next complication which is called a two vessel cord. In simple terms the umbilical cord is supposed to have three vessels (2 arteries, 1 vein) however my umbilical cord only has two vessels (1 artery, 1 vein). They did as best as they could to reassure me that baby B is growing and developing normal despite the missing artery, but we're all still a little worried. I do my best to think positive, pray and relax but it's all easier said than done. What I MUST do is listen to what the doctor told me which is - I don't have anything to worry about. So I feel a lot better about most things but there's still a chance that something could be wrong - so I'll have to go for some follow up appointments. The best news of all is that Beckton is growing ... this week he measured 2.1lbs and he's moving and kicking like crazy. Sometimes I poke at my stomach and say "Is everything ok?" it totally reassures me when he pokes or kicks back!

My sister tells me this is only the beginning of the worrying that comes with motherhood. So maybe he is preparing me!

Beckton at 25 weeks (No little guy you can't come this early)

Beckton - 25 weeks/1lb. 14 oz./140 Heart-rate

Beckton update. On 1/26 I was sent to labor and delivery due to cramping and discomfort. When I called the doctor, he asked me to head to Kettering Hospital ASAP to make sure everything was ok. When Scott and I arrived they put us into an actual labor/delivery room. That part was a little scary as I had never seen the inside of one before. Then the nurse hooked me up to monitors, asked me tons of questions, did some tests and said she would have the results to discuss with me after the doctors discussed. She said I needed to start drinking a lot of water and Scott got me a huge cup. The cool part was that I could hear Beckton's heartbeat the whole time and the nurse said he looked and sounded great! Then the nurse returned with some not so great news ... I was 1cm dilated, the machines had monitored a few contractions, they to do an ultrasound, and a test to determine whether or not I would deliver in the next 10-14 days. Scott and I both got pretty nervous at this point. When the test was over the ultrasound techs came in put our little man up on the screen. They said his heart rate, size and measurements were right on for 25 weeks. They printed a few pictures for us and were on their way. About two hours later a different nurse came in with an antibiodic letting me know I had a UTI infection on top of everything else! Finally the doctor came in at the end of the day to discuss everything with me. The test to determine whether I would deliver in 10-14 days was negative, I was instructed to drink 8-15 glasses of water daily to combat the pre-term labor, to continue taking my meds for my UTI, to take an iron supplement because I am anemic and to be on bed rest for most of the week. Lesson learned: if you don't drink enough water you could go into pre-term labor and have a whole slew of other problems. Then, they discussed something they noticed on the ultrasound and how I would have to be sent to a special radiologist to get a closer look. So, completely freaked out we were discharged from the hospital. The good news is I'm resting and we're trying not to be nervous.

Thanks to everyone for the get well thoughts and wishes.

Katie at 24 Weeks (Beckton is a party animal and has the hiccups!)

Here I am at Cadillac Ranch in Cincy!

Well you can hardly tell from the picture's black background but this picture was taken in the bar ... at a Bachelorette Party! That's right, Beckton is quite the partier. Saturday was his second Bachelorette Party (for Jodie Nixon) his first was for Marisa back in September. He seemed to enjoy the loud music and dancing as I felt him move around a lot! Somehow despite my obvious lack of drinking, he still developed the hiccups! A few days after this picture was taken Scott and I had our 24/25 week appointment. I love my new doctor he's so knowledgeable and so much fun! So I told him I've been feeling these steady pings inside my belly he said that's definitely hiccups. So wierd! He also noted that Beckton is almost 2 pounds! My trusted website says that's roughly as long as an ear of corn and as heavy as a rutabaga (no I've never even seen one to know what they look like either).

The appointment went so well! I was tested for gestational diabetes (results won't be for a while), we signed up for all kinds of birthing and parenting classes, all of my blood tests etc. checked out great, I measured perfectly, and we heard Beckton's booming little heartbeat loud and clear. This time we didn't even have to wear headphones it was so loud the Doctor played it on a the speaker and said "I think people in the waiting room can hear this!"

Last but certainly not least, we've FINALLY cleaned out his room and now it's time for painting!
Everything is giong very well, I feel so lucky and very blessed!!!

Katie at 23 weeks (Nesting so much I'm like a bird!)

The big milestone for week 23 is that heaven-forbid I go into pre-term labor; statistics say that little Beckton would have an 85% chance of surviving if I gave birth now! I pray to carry him for much longer but I like the odds. He weighs as much as a large mango about a little over 1 pound).

I've been in my "nesting phase" for quite some time now. I am doing a major overhaul on the closets in our house. Apparently, if you clean out one closet you end up cleaning them all out. Not my (or Scott's) idea of a fun way to spend the weekend but Beckton needs a place to call his own too! So, we're getting ready for our little guy by basically throwing out everything we own. As Beckton's uncle Jeff would say we are "rounding up". :)

Other than that - we're loving the Ohio snow but not the cold weather. I say if it's going to be this cold there should be snow on the ground.

Here are some major events that have occurred during my pregnancy:

August 08 - We gained another family member - Lily Lu Kenney (our second golden doodle)

September 08 - Remnants of Hurricane Ike hit Ohio leaving us with no power for days!

October 08 - We heard Beckton's heartbeat for the very first time!

November 08 - Election 2008 - Barack Obama voted in as the first African American President!

December 08 - We found out our baby was a boy!

January 09 - UF wins the BCS Championship Game! Go Gators!

Katie - Week 22 (Happy 2009!)

Katie and Scott/Santa

Katie and Julie

Week 22 was an interesting week. My family was still in town and we were having lots of fun! each year Scott and I have a Holiday Sweater Party in which we invite friends and family over to celebrate the Holiday Season wearing the ugliest sweater they can find. The pictures above are me on Santa's (Scott's) lap and my sister and I ... don't we look fashionable!? We were in mid-Holiday hype when disaster struck and left most of us with a miserable stomach virus. It was particularly rough for me being pregnant. Mr. Beckton hung in there through the whole thing but he took all nutrients from me ... leaving me dehydrated and miserable! I didn't really care about myself as much, just that he was OK. Luckily we both survived.

Having just gotten back to normal we rang in the new year with friends and family. Red Lobster dinner with the Kenney's, family time at my Mom's house and then appetizers and drinks with our friends at the Brown's. I barely made it to midnight - looking very festive in a robe and sweatpants.

Regardless, Scott and I are now officially having a baby this year! How exciting is that!!

Katie at 21 weeks! (Merry Christmas!)

Here I am on Christmas Day. I look exhausted because I really am! This picture was taken at home around 11:45PM after a super long day. Christmas consisted of the following ... Scott and I woke up early at 8:30 (early for me) to do Christmas with Scott's family. It was crazy fun as usual - tons of presents while helping to cook breakfast for the entire family. It's so nice that the entire family can be together on Christmas day! After the Kenney Christmas it was off to my Mom's. We had a much quieter morning opening stockings, just a few gifts, and discussing the evening dinner menu. After that Scott and I headed home to cook, clean and get ready for my parents and my sister's family to arrive. This year - I opted to have dinner at my house which meant I had to cook most of the dinner (including 2 turkeys) by myself. It was crazy. I have so much respect for any woman that has ever cooked a feast on Christmas Day. It was one of the most challenging things I've ever done! Not the actual cooking part, that was easy ... more so the timing. I don't know how these women get it down to an exact science! Scott and I spent most of Christmas day cleaning and in between cleaning I would cook dinner. Seeing me at the kitchen sink, pregnant and holding a raw turkey was a sight. If only we had taken a picture. Luckily, I got lots of help from my Mom, my parents and Scott's mom and dinner was great! I was so happy that I could actually have dinner for 12 in my home! Then, we opened tons of presents and visited with the entire family! It was the first time in years that the Shaffer's, Kenney's and McNulty's were all together at Christmastime and it was so nice. Chaotic - but nice.

Christmas was so great for me this year ... I shopped, dined with friends, watched movies, played with my nieces and nephews, relaxed, wrapped presents, cleaned, cooked, visited with the family and I did it all carrying my little guy. Luckily I've been feeling a little better (morning sickness is finally starting to go away) and I'm able to enjoy the thought of being a new Mom!!

Beckton moves around like crazy now and I love it! Scott can feel him moving all the time and it makes things seem so much more real! We got some great gifts for the nursery and Baby B got some adorable new clothes! It was so fun to receive gifts for him this year.