My little gymnast

We went to our 12-week check up today. I was really worried because 3 years ago today, our son died at 12 weeks gestation. I was convinced there would be nothing good about today's appointment. Silly logic, I know, but I just couldn't believe we'd make it past 12 weeks (never have before). But low and behold, as soon as the doctor started the ultasound, little baby was doing kicks and jumps like my uterus was a trampoline. Of course, as soon as we started trying to take her measurements, she tucked her feet up and curled into a ball. (She's head down in these pictures)


Then, as if she was suddenly tired and ready for a nap, little baby put her hand up to her face and started sucking her thumb. The picture isn't the greatest (the stills are never as good as the live pictures), but you can see her hand near her mouth.


The best part is that the doctor said that we are officially out of the woods...we're gonna have a baby! Shawn and I are both scared, but happy. We're definitely overwhelmed with all that this means for us and all the planning and getting ready. But I'm so head-over-heels in love with Shawn and now with this baby that I'm ready for whatever my little family brings me.

He's HOME!!!

Homecoming yesterday was awesome. Even though I just saw Shawn 9 weeks ago on R&R, I was so emotional when their plane landed (they had a live feed piped in so we could see them flying in, landing, and disembarking) and then bawled when he walked in the door to line up in formation. We endured the longest welcome home speech I've ever sat through (though it probably only lasted about 10 minutes total) and then I held Shawn's sign up so he could come to me since I can't move very fast these days. When I finally had my arms around him, I fell apart. It was soooo wonderful to feel the relief and comfort of his embrace again. We came home for a few hours until his fever (he's been fighting the flu for the past week) kicked back in and I sent him to his sister's so I don't catch what he's got, especially with the pregnancy. I'll see him again in a couple of days, which is difficult, but it's just nice to know he's home for a little while. Next mission is scheduled for November and is expected to last a year, after which he'll be retiring. I think it's time, after 24 years, don't you? Enjoy the pictures.
Oh, by the way, my professional photographer never showed, never called, and didn't answer her phone when I called to find out where she was. Luckily, my friend Ashley was there (her husband came home already) and was the great photographer who took all these wonderful pictures. As far as that photographer goes, not very professional, if you ask me. Oh well, it worked out in the end, but I won't be hiring her for anything else.

Shawn's big ole head

Well, the baby has Shawn's head. And apparently my will to survive. I've been on and off bed rest and some days there's more to worry about than others. Why can't I be like most women and just have an uneventful easy pregnancy? My mom is convinced two things will happen - the baby will give me all the worries in the world throughout the pregnancy and then be a complete sweetheart after birth because she got it all out in the womb. Or this is just a sign of things to come! And just to be clear, we don't know yet if it's a girl or boy, but I've just been calling the baby "her". Here's the latest ultrasound picture:

So far, so good

Things have not been easy during this pregnancy. I've had lots of spotting, and been totally convinced that I've lost the pregnancy on several occasions. But somehow, God has allowed this baby to be strong enough to keep on growing. I'm 8 weeks exactly and today I got to hear the heartbeat for the very first time. I sobbed - it was the most beautiful sound in the world. I continue to pray, thanking God for this blessing and asking for his continued presence with this baby to allow her to grow and thrive.

Baby Bentley needs prayer

I'm just about 7 weeks pregnant now. I've been having some complications already and for some reason, my body is trying to miscarry the baby. I've already had two miscarriages in a row and so I finally have a doctor who is willing to do whatever we can to help give this baby the best chance possible of making it. I ended up in the ER on Sunday after bleeding on Friday and again Sunday morning. Everything was okay on Sunday and I had my follow-up appointment today and everything was going fine. I'm now on some medication that will hopefully God-willing keep anything more from happening. And my doctor will see me once a week and keep track of my blood levels.

So I'm just asking that if it's in your faith to do so, please pray that our baby makes it this time. I know he or she is a fighter so far, but I'm just praying that baby makes it. This baby is so very much wanted and loved and I'm going to do whatever it takes to bring her into the world. So fingers crossed, prayers said...wanna meet my baby in February!

R&R Mission Accomplished

Due in February!

I love R&R

Too busy to write, so here's a picture to SHOW you how R&R is going:

Girly Weekend!

Laura got here on Thursday and it has been a fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants kind of weekend. Thursday we went shopping, came home to drink wine, and watched Twilight. Friday morning we got up and packed the car and headed to Seattle to catch the ferry. We drove all the way around the peninsulas and headed up 101 toward Port Angeles. As soon as we hit Port Angeles, we went shopping!
There was some horrible woman who was trying to convince everyone in the store that it was stupid to buy things from Twilight because it wasn't even filmed in Forks. She must not read. Stupid, horrible woman. After shopping, we walked up and down the main street of stores (where I bought the cutest pair of shorts) and then ended at Bella Italia for a late lunch/early dinner. We enjoyed a couple of (very expensive) glasses of wine, and I realized that I DO have cleavage! I also, of course, had to have the mushroom ravioli (it made me horribly sick about 6 hours later).


After we ate, we headed to our end-destination...FORKS! We did our own version of a Twilight tour and visited the hospital,
the police department, Bella's truck, the high school, , the Swan house,
and our favorite, the Cullen house.


Edward was home, he just couldn't come out because it was so freaking sunny. He was sad. So were we.
We headed out of Forks yesterday and drove down the coast toward home. Last night was pizza and cream soda and girly movies.
Today, we're heading to Seattle, hoping to avoid the crazy amounts of traffic and the crazy amounts of hippies (at the folk-life festival). So there will be more updates to come.

Yay for sparkly girly weekends!

My "I Love You" surprise from Shawn

It started with a few pointed statements in Shawn's emails; things like "I'm sending you something big soon - you might need a strapping man's help getting it in the house" and "I'll be home sooner than you think".

Then we had our May FRG meeting yesterday at the armory and Nick (AKA SFC Erickson, AKA rear-D) asked me in passing a simple question that put all of Shawn's recent mushy emails into a new context. Nick asked if I was excited about seeing Shawn in a couple of weeks.

WHAT?!?!?!?!?

So I sent Shawn a little email telling him about the secret that "a little birdie" told me.

Shawn emailed this morning that Erickson was going to pay a heavy price for spilling the beans to me. Apparently, according to Stephanie - Shawn's roommate's girlfriend of 5 years - Shawn has been planning this for a long time and Stephanie has been dying to tell me but was sworn to secrecy.

Oh well. Now I know! I promised Shawn that he still has the opportunity to surprise me because I don't know any of the specifics.

All I do know is that after spending the last 9 months assuming we wouldn't be one of the lucky ones to get R&R, I'm ever grateful that we in fact are going to get those special two weeks together.

I so can't wait!!

Bittersweet

This wish for a happy mother's day is especially for those whose children were just too precious and beautiful for Earth. I love you all. Happy MOMMY'S day to my beautiful Angel Mommies.