It's a super cute BOY!!!

Our gender revealing ultrasound was last Thursday and we couldn't have asked for more! We had the normal ultrasoundd with the Tech. She measured Finn's organs and head and stuff, and she was able to tell that Finn is a boy! And if that wasn't enough excitement, there was a student who needed ultrasound experience, so we got extra time to just look at him :) He was very active and she said it was a game of chase the baby. Here's his little body:

Of course we cant tell what he looks like, but everyone says he looks like me. lol I don't know if that's a compliment.....? Anyway, we were really happy that day. I called my brother Thomas-woke him up actually-to tell him the good news, and also my Aunt Stephanie at work, since they wouldn't be there when we told everyone else. I also shared it with a couple of really close friends, who I honestly think I couldn't keep a secret THAT happy from.
So then, we had the bday reveal party, and hid a plastic baby in my grandmothers yard and My friends twins found it....with a little help from me... and then they yelled it out and everyone knew. After cupcakes we got pictures with pretty much everyone grouped into categories.

That's just a few...

So a good time was had by all, I assume :)

It feels so good to know what to look at in stores now. I am going to try not to buy too much and wait and see what I get at showers. But if something is too cute, I will get it. lol

While Ben and I would have been happy with either gender, I am happy to know that Ben will have a little boy to teach all his car knowledge and plenty of guy stuff to. I'm also glad that Ben will be able to teach him how to be a good husband and friend, because those are the things I love about my Ben. I think there are so many crappy people in this world, and If Ben and I can ensure one less crappy person, then our job is done.

As far as what I can teach Finn....well lets just say that Finn's future wife wont have to worry about her husband knowing his way around a kitchen and how to cook a ten course meal, and also knowing how to do laundry. lol

The next post will probably be about nursery planning, as I have  many thoughts a'brewin.

-Lauren, <3

He, She, Who cares?!

This week is super exciting!! Mom's Birthday is Today, So last night I had her, Dad and Avery over for supper when they got back from their beach weekend. Thursday morning we have our 18 week ultrasound where we will get to see all the changes in Finn! AAAAAnnnnnd we will hopefully find out it's gender. One of Mom's birthday presents is that she gets to go with us that morning. She and Ben have been there to listen to me gripe and complain about every cramp, poop question, uterus question, and every person to piss me off, and every emotional thing I've cried about-especially lately.
Last night I cried because the prenatal pill bottle was half empty. I don't know... 
So then, Friday and Saturday are the busiest days of all. I have to try to keep my big mouth shut until Saturday evening. Saturday is my birthday, so Mom, Ben, Grandma and I are going to Tallahassee for a few reasons. One was to see about some pants for me to wear.
I was trying so hard to wait to go shopping, but I am pretty much down to 2 pairs that fit comfortably. so yeah. My pants that I wore pre-pregnancy are size A. So since Ive lost weight, my size A pants fit in the belly, but are extremely loose in the legs and butt. So I dug out some of my pre-pre-pregnancy pants I wore the year after I got married. They are Size B.They fit PERFECTLY in the legs, but they don't button in the belly. So Ben and I went a few days ago to see what was what in maternity pants, and I'm just not large enough yet to wear them, soooo, I bought a BeBand. Basically you wear it over your unbuttoned pants and it holds them up so you wont bust a sag. I have about 4 pairs of size B jeans that I took out of a Rubbermaid box from the closet, which is good since last week we had a few days that required jeans. So now, all my too-big-in-the-legs pants will fit when I gain some weight back in those places and I can still use the BeBand with them.
This BeBand thing is too cool. I don't know why they don't advertise these things for women in general. For days when you're bloated and stuff. Or Thanksgiving. haha.
Anyway back to Saturday, we may or may not have a late lunch in Tallahassee at olive garden. :) The realllll fun begins after Tallahassee. BIRTHDAY BONANZA!!!!. Well, actually just cupcakes and ice cream for Me and Mom's bdays, but we are going to tell the guests Finn's Gender.
Thing is...they are going to have to work for it. A little competition never hurt anyone. But for the ones that don't know the party plans,  they will find out when they get there.
What? What's that? Be nice and just tell them? HECK NO!
I had too many people complain about "I cant wait that long!" and "That's not fair!" My plans of waiting to tell everyone when my brother and aunt were home for Thanksgiving are pretty much dashed because it made me upset. So, let's just think of this as a tiny tiny payback. I will text my brother and Aunt, who cant be there for my birthday, the sex before the party. Let's just say I'm looking forward to this. My Grandmother is already trying to find loopholes in my plans, saying "but when you bring the cupcakes and supplies to my house for the party, wont i see the color of the icing, and then know the gender?!" or "but if you have balloons, wont I have to know, because they'll be blue or pink" No, Grandma, No.
Everyone, except a handful of people, don't care what it is as long as it's healthy and happy. Ben and I don't care if we have all girls and no boys, or all boys and no girls.
Finn's Amy will be there Saturday. This is the same Amy that says she doesn't want to be in the delivery room with me because she doesn't even want to be in her own delivery room. I just love that girl. But Amy and I have been discussing shower ideas, since she wants to throw me one, and it got me thinking how excited I am about showers. They are so fun! The main thing I love about showers (wedding or baby) is that all your friends from different places and points in your life get to come together and be in the same room. I just love that concept.
Well enough of the sentimental stuff.

-Lauren, <3

A Great Birthday Present!!

I had my September appointment yesterday and it was fabulous! I met with the midwife, Rita, and she pretty much told me exactly what i was looking for. So i made my next appointment with her. Ben will go to that one with me. And he will also go to the ultrasound in 9 days too-a great birthday present for myself! I REALLY REALLY REALLY missed him going with me for the last two. The ultrasound will hopefully reveal to us Finn's gender, if he/she cooperates.  :) Ben and I have absolutely no preference. And most of our friends and family don't have a preference either, as long as it's a healthy baby.
In about week 12, my nausea came back, and so I've started taking B6, and I can see a great difference in my toilet bonding time.
I am trying to clean out the spare room. I had it mostly done a few weeks ago but somehow it got cluttered again. So I moved a dresser out and everything else can go into our storage unit. Pretty sure our twin bed that we are re-doing will go in there. There's enough room to have it in there and it will be useful when Ben needs to not be disturbed when he's on call, or if Mom wants to spend the night while she's helping out in the first few days. Also, it might be nice when I'm huge and feel cramped in bed with Ben towards the end. My Grandfather took the dresser that Mom and I brought him and remodeled it for baskets to fit in the shelves. He also has 2 rocking chairs for me to choose from for the nursery, a wooden rocking horse, a child size table  and chair, and Probably a few more things in the works. Its all stuff he made or fixed up.
My 24th birthday is almost October 15th and as a gift from my Mom, the two of us went and saw Drallion-by Cirque de Soleil! It was so good and I would definitely go again.
Saturday I went to a baby shower for an old friend from middle school. She is having a girl. I went to DDP and bought some cute socks and bows off of her registry. I can't wait to register there!