Baby R is growing so fast! I just can't believe that we are almost at the "halfway" point! We are loving this little baby more and more every day :) I'll tell you something really amazing that happened- I felt the baby!!! The first movement was at 17 Weeks 1 day, and the best part is that AJ felt it too! I thought I was crazy, but he definitely felt it, therefore- not crazy! But those were really hard kicks or punches or whatever they were... so I didn't feel much more after that. Then I started to feel the little "flutters," as most people call them, here and there. Then this week starting around monday (almost 18 weeks) I started feeling those flutters more and more, and then Wednesday AJ felt them again :) Now they are going back and forth between little flutters and harder kicks... It is the most amazing feeling! And I love that Daddy felt them the first time I did too!

So I found a list of questions people generally ask about pregnancy, so I thought I would update you all on what's happening. I've already spoiled 2 of the questions... but they are still fun!

How Far Along: 18 weeks  5 days (19 on Tuesday!)

Size Of Baby: about the size of a sweet potato, 6.7 oz and 5.6 inches (according to "the Bump" app)

Maternity Clothes: Just bought a couple of tops and a skirt... sooo much more comfy!

Stretch Marks: None so far... but we aren't even close to the size I'll end up, so keep your fingers crossed!

Sleep:  Great! AJ surprised me with an amazing pregnancy body pillow... it's wonderful! 

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling the baby move more consistently each day :)

Movement: Kinda sporadic, but enough where I feel those cute little nudges all throughout the day!

Cravings: Nothing right now... but I haven't liked anything barbecued or smoked my whole pregnancy so far... and that is not like me!

Gender: We find out in less than 2 weeks! yay!!  We aren't hoping for one gender or the other... Just a healthy baby!

Belly Button In or Out: In... and probably for a while... let's just say I have plenty of growing room!

Wedding Ring on or off: On

What I Miss: So far nothing!  Not even barbecued things that I used to love!

 :) this is such an amazing experience!

What I am Looking Forward to: Seeing our little sweet pea on the Ultra Sound next Friday!

Symptoms: I am hungry ALL THE TIME

Nursery: Still working on ideas... it'll help to know the gender!

Emotions: Most of the time I feel totally normal, and then there are.... 

those times.... haha- enough said

Here are some baby bump pictures too... slowly but surely getting bigger :)

 This is at 13 weeks 5 days- it's little, but it's there!

This one is today. I'm at 18 weeks 5 days, can you see the difference? :)

I love my Little Bump!! 

Thanks for loving our little one too, and keeping updated. We are so grateful for so many friends and family that are so loving and supportive! Hope you all are doing well!

Love,

Kelsey, AJ, and Baby R

Baby Rodriguez coming February 2014!

AJ and I are so excited to meet our little Spanish Rice in February! I will start from the beginning to catch everyone up! Two days before Father's Day I took the test, not actually thinking it would come out positive.... but there on that beloved little stick was the word: "Pregnant". I only had about 15 minutes until I expected AJ to call me to pick him up from work... So, I frantically ran to the local grocery store, got some pink and blue balloons and wrote a very short but sweet message to Daddy, wrapped that positive test in the note and tied the balloons to it. I left it sitting on our bed, just anxious to see AJ's reaction. We got home (finally! but no- i didn't spill the beans yet!) and AJ took his time coming into the house, he went to see Chase across the street, talked a little bit, came in the house, and was about to start packing for the Father and Sons camp out he was going to that night, when I told him to come upstairs. And then he saw the pink and blue balloons and pieced it together right there! His sweet face said it all! He was gonna be a DAD! What a perfect Father's Day present! So I sent him off to his camp out, swearing him to secrecy! haha... that was a little cruel, I think, but he couldn't not go! And that is just the beginning of our fun adventure! 

We started out with an ultrasound at 5 weeks and 5 days to make sure our sweet pea is in the right spot, and sure enough, we were able to see our little one! Barely the size of a small grain of rice (hence the name- "spanish rice")! Here is our sweet little one's first picture! Of course we fell in love at first sight, and sound! We were able to hear the softest little heart beat that just made my heart flutter! We were also able to see the blood flow, which is the red hi-lighted parts in the bottom half. That beautiful day was also the first day mommy threw up her entire breakfast in the parking lot at a local restaurant called Herm's... Ooops... At least it was for the best reason there is!

 The Next appointment we had was our 9 Week, where we got to meet our doctor- who we absolutely love- and we got to see our spanish rice again. Except this time our spanish rice was a little bit bigger with little tiny arm and leg buds! Nicknamed at that point Habenero Pepper. Here is Baby R's second picture!

Our Next appointment was the 12 Week appointment.... the last one of the first trimester! When the doctor came in and asked how I was feeling I told her I wasn't sure if it was nausea or nerves, but something wasn't right, she went and grabbed the ultrasound machine to "ease my nerves." And let me tell you- it definitely did! The minute we saw our growing baby again it was amazing! Baby R is looking more and more like a baby with arms, hands, legs, feet.... it was absolutely amazing to see that! We got to hear the heartbeat again, and then we got to see Baby R move! Incredible! The first one is a little dark and the second is the 3d pic, but here is Baby R's third photo shoot:

We were able to have some pictures taken so we could do an official announcement. Alyssa, and her mad graphic design skills, put together the cutest announcement for us! 

I am now 16 Weeks and 3 Days along, so about 4 months... and about 5 to go! We went in for a doctor's appointment this morning and everything is looking great! We have been spoiled to have had 3 ultrasounds so far, but this time we only got to hear the heartbeat, which was still amazing! She could tell Baby R was moving around a lot... which was fun to hear! So all in all- Baby R, Mommy, and Daddy are all doing great so far! We have been so blessed with this little miracle! We are excited to find out the gender at our next appointment, on October 11, where we can see our little tamale again! Hope you have enjoyed our little adventure so far!

Love,

Kelsey, AJ, and Baby R