Praising abundance...

Today's point of praise:  "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;  I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."  (John 10:10)  Day #2

When I read this I really had to think hard about what that verse meant to me and for me.  I know I've felt so abundantly blessed recently - but I am especially feeling that so much today.  As most of you already know, I work with kids everyday in a daycare-type setting.  I work at the YMCA in the Kids Gym, so I get to hang out with kiddos while their parents work out... pretty much a fabulous opportunity to get to know some amazing kids and their fabulous parents.  I have been abundantly blessed by these people;  my life very much enriched by knowing them.  Today was just another great day because a family that I feel particularly close to came in after not seeing them for a while and it put me in the best mood.  On top of it, their mom brought me the winter jacket she wore when she was pregnant in the winter time.  It's beautiful and warm and big enough and is in such good condition.  That means one less thing for me to worry about purchasing before the weather starts changing.  And it means a lot to me that she thought of me for something so wonderful! 

In addition to that, a friend of a friend contacted me a little while ago and asked if I could use a pack & play as well as a high chair - both in great condition and practically brand new!  I was over the moon that she was so thoughtful and even thought of me and of course I said I'd love them!  It just so happens that I picked those items up today in addition to some other baby items.  I'm always worried about having enough money, enough room, enough support, etc. to bring a baby into this world and it seems that God and the kindness of others are slowly putting my worries up on a shelf!  I've also been learning that it's no accident that a baby has come into our lives at this time;  time and time again God's totally causing me to step back and realize that it's all gonna work out even if it's not perfect and that it's OKAY if things aren't perfect!  I just stopped today mid-afternoon and thought, "Dang... I am so blessed."  So to be asked to praise God for his abundance seems like it's no coincidence.  (I'll post pictures of my new stuff soon!)

In other news, I went to Target to look at their maternity clothes the other night (um... expensive!) and after I decided that I was not getting anything, I wandered over to the food department to get some late snacks.  I'd been hearing from a friend who's been trying to watch what she eats that pickles were a good snack to have and as a result I've really been wanting some pickles!  So I picked up a jar of those and walked past the ice cream section.  Without immediately realizing the "pickles and ice cream" pregnancy cliche, I picked out some cookie dough ice cream and headed to check out.  On the way up front I thought how funny it must look for me to be carrying these two things together.  I ended up bumping into a friend in the check out lane and she was like, "Really? Pickles and ice cream?!"  :)  Hilarious!  I love having an excuse to eat ridiculous things!  I promise, I did not eat them in the same bowl... but I did eat them right after the other and it was delicious.

Other than those few things, it's been business as usual in the Duggan household.  Everybody keeps telling me my belly is getting bigger and that is for sure!  It seems like overnight my stomach has really started popping out.  I took a picture at twenty weeks but I can't find the camera cord... so here is a picture from the other night before we headed out to dinner ...

20 weeks & 3 days!

Hopefully I'll get a better picture Friday and potentially have more interesting things to write about!  Until then, have a great week, bloggies! :)

20 week Pregnancy Reflection!

How far along?:  I'm twenty weeks & two days pregnant!  Finally, HALFWAY THERE!!!

Size of the baby:  The baby is the size of a BANANA this week!

7 in. & 11 oz.

Gender: IT'S A GIRL!  Time to buy some pink stuff!!!

I am feeling:  Well, early this week when the baby refused to show itself, I was EXTREMELY bummed.  As the week went on, we planned on paying for a second ultrasound to find out and decided to keep this one a secret in case it didn't happen again.  All week I was anxious and just waiting for Friday!  When we found out Friday, I was beyond excited!!!  Since about 16 weeks, I really felt strongly like I was carrying a girl, so when we found out it was indeed a girl, I felt like my bond with our baby got even stronger!

Total weight +/-:  It's not official from the doctor or anything (and my scale lies to me all the time!), but according to my scale I'm probably somewhere around +10 lbs.

Movement:  I am starting to feel the baby just about everyday!  I'm not really second guessing those movements anymore because it's getting more and more obvious.  Just like at sixteen weeks when I first felt the baby kick, this week in mass the baby was super active!  I love those experiences. 

What I miss most:  I miss being able to stand up for a long time without getting winded.  I'm not sure why, but when I stand for any amount of time, I get VERY winded and sometimes feel like I'm gonna fall over.  That makes doing dishes difficult and uncomfortable... which is IRRITATING!

What I'm excited about:  I am excited to continue to register for baby items (we started registering at Babies R Us tonight).  I feel like it makes things more real for both Tony and I.  I love getting to hear his opinion about items (like strollers or bedding) and why he dis/likes certain things... it's especially fun seeing him pick out ULTRA girly things for our baby girl!!! :)  We would have been lost without the list from Sharon from her blog - it's all about necessary items and separating them from the more optional items!  Thank you SO MUCH, Sharon!!!!

Cravings:  Hmm... I guess it really just depends.  I've been craving meat recently -- like a big, juicy steak!  And today, Tony and I went to Red Robin and had the most delicious burger I think I've ever had; SO delicious!!!!  (Which is crazy because ground beef, ground turkey, and even chicken have been a few of the aversions I've been having since becoming pregnant!!!!)  Also, craving Mexican food quite a bit (what's new?)  -- especially bean tostadas!

Sleep:  Ever since I bought my magic pillow, I sleep soundly whether I'd like to or not!  Even if I just go lay on the bed to rest for a bit in the afternoon... it never fails... I'm knocked out in minutes!

Best moment of the week:  Since this week is just starting, I'm going to reflect back on last week's happenings.  There are about three special moments that stick out; we'll start with our ultrasound on Monday.  We got to see our baby and got the clearest look and BEAUTIFUL pictures.  I was so overjoyed and just felt so wonderful in that moment.  The second special moment was our other ultrasound on Friday when Tony & I found out that we were expecting a little girl!  I was and still find myself a bit shocked - but now that we know, it has helped me bond even more with the baby in my belly!  And the last special moment was when Tony felt the baby kick this week for the first time!  I've been waiting for him to feel that (and so has he) and I just felt so excited to be able to share that experience with him.

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!

And you KNOW I couldn't be happier!!!!!!!

So, as you have probably guessed, we decided to go ahead and pay for another ultrasound to find out what we were having!  We had our appointment today at 3 p.m. and found out then!  It seemed like I asked the technician over and over again, "So, you are sure it's a girl?"  Because after waiting for what seems like forever to find out, I couldn't believe the wait was over!  She showed us again and again and reassured me that she was 99% positive that it was a girl.  (Um... well... what about that 1% lady?!  Just kidding!)

Tony's happy too - of course - even though he was still holding out for a boy.  It didn't help much that he got his hopes up after our ultrasound on Monday when the technician said, "Well... if I had to guess... I would say it was a boy," ...even though she kept saying she had no idea and couldn't tell because the baby's feet were in the way.  We went to Kohl's right after the appointment and each of us picked out a little girl's outfit because I had a leftover gift card & a $10 off coupon.  It still doesn't feel real, though!

Now that we know I am so excited to start registering!  Now, I just have to give some serious thought as to where we are going to register for baby items.  As much as I like Target's items, their return policy and customer service really sucks and caused me to completely delete my registry there a few weeks before our wedding because I was so frustrated with them!  So I'm not sure that we will go there to register or not.

Well, Betsy's on her way over to pick me up... a couple of us are going out for dinner and I cannot wait!!!  So I will have to write later :)

Praising everyday life...

Today's point of praise: Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. (James 5:13) Day #1

I'm starting to actively participate in a devotional for women that focuses on giving glory and praise to God.  So often I come to the Lord in times of need or out of selfishness and not often enough do I pray humbly in thanksgiving to all that God has given me.  I often think of the quote that goes something like this - what would you have tomorrow if you only received the things you thanked God for the day before?  When I read that and reflect on my prayers the day before, I mostly feel ashamed because 9 times out of 10 I didn't pray at all the day before.

So, today, I find myself especially thankful for the power of words.  I am thankful for the joy that others bring me on a daily basis; especially my sisters, friends, and the rest of my family.  I am thankful that my will and God's will are different and His will always brings me to where I grow the most.  I am very thankful for the clean water I drink every day and my pantry stocked full of food to eat; we never have to worry about going a day without either.  I'm thankful for the beautiful weather as well as my good health - both allowing me to get outside this afternoon and enjoy the day.  And lastly, I am thankful for new opportunities.

And now, onto daily life...

• About a week or so ago I ordered a pregnancy pillow from Amazon.com after I decided to trade-in and sell old textbooks that were just taking up space.  After making a decent amount of change, I decided to reward myself with a gigantic pregnancy pillow!  I was skeptical of how much I'd like it, but definitely wanted to try something as I haven't been sleeping that well up until now (it was either trying out a new pillow or trying out Unisom).  And after using it for the past few nights, I am happy to report that it was DEFINITELY a good buy!!! Once I am ready to lay down and sleep it doesn't take me long at all before I am comfortable enough to just slip away.  It was definitely expensive, but has been worth it.

Takes up a good portion of the bed!

• After being bummed out about our shy baby not wanting to expose whether or not we're dealing with a he or she, we are now faced with a tough decision.  So far, our three options are:  1: Choose to be surprised until he or she arrives... 2: Wait and see if another ultrasound is ordered by our OBGYN from now until then... or 3: Pay out of pocket to go to somewhere to find out!  Wait and see what we decide!  :)
• We're still getting settled in the new house.  Things are still in boxes - mostly because we are lazy, not because it's been too difficult to unpack - but most everything is out and in it's proper place.  My favorite thing about the house is the huge pantry/storage closet off of the hallway.  We're able to fit SO much in there and I absolutely love it.  It's taken a lot of stress out of the "Oh my word, where are we going to fit everything?" worries.

 Best room in the house :)

•   I've definitely been thinking about the time Tony & I spend together these days.  I wonder what it will be like once we bring someone else into our family and wonder in what ways it will effect our marriage.  Last night was a lot of fun - we decided to play Little Big Planet together for a while - which doesn't happen often.  It's such a goofy game that it's impossible not to laugh most of the time and it was a lot of fun to do that. :)  As a result of staying up and hanging out with me, though, he's so tired in the afternoon after he gets off work.

 Sleepy Tony :)

Enough rambling!  I'm praying for good, awesome, big, surprising things to happen for everybody tomorrow because Fridays should always be awesome and exceed expectations! :)  Later, bloggies...

Today's the big day!

Our ultrasound appointment was today at 2:30 p.m. and we were both so ready to see our sweet little baby again!  We were most excited to find out the gender of our sweet baby but, of course, the baby decided to be stubborn and we still have no idea.  DEFINITELY upsetting -- but we got good news that our baby is very healthy and growing right on target!  We saw the baby's head, legs, feet, belly, the four chambers of the heart, ribs, spine... we saw everything EXCEPT the genitals, of course. ;)  The baby's heartbeat was 153 bpm today and weighs just at 10 ounces.  And, we have some beautiful new pictures that I'm excited to share once I get them transferred to the computer. 

That's all I can muster up for now... I'm pretty bummed out right now even though I am so happy to have a healthy baby.  I just get myself so excited for these kinda things and then my bad luck rears it's ugly head and rains on the parade.  So, hopefully I'll edit this later when I'm done pouting so I can show off the pictures of my good looking child. :)

Edit @ 11:51p.m.- Here is some perspective from my Aunt: "Better to have a healthy baby than to know what you are having."  So true; thanks Aunt Jill for giving me something constructive and positive to focus on! :)  Love you!

Baby Duggan @ 19 weeks

Pregnancy Q&A

Okay, so, I am so antsy!  It's definitely because of the appointment tomorrow, but it's also because I've had little to no interaction with anyone today since Tony's been in the garage all day (literally) working on stuff for his car.  So instead of waiting to write until after the appointment, I am going to write now - starting with a fun little set of questions & answers about my pregnancy from Sean Marie.

Your name?
Allison (Ali) Michelle Duggan

Baby's fathers name?
Anthony (Tony) Thomas Duggan

Are you still with him?
Most definitely; married to him so he is stuck with me!

Were you trying to get pregnant?
Nope.  I was actually informed in January that I had PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome) and because of it I rarely ovulated.  My Dr. also told me that when we wanted to start having kids that I'd most likely want to look into fertility drugs. 

When did you find out?
July 5th

Where did you find out?
The bathroom of our old apartment.

How far along were you?
About 6 weeks.

What was your reaction?
Shocked.  Then happy, scared, excited, worried, etc! :)

Who was the first person you told?
Definitely Tony.  And then I called both of my sisters... I can't remember who was the one that picked up, though!  Maybe Ashley?  All I know is I sat there for a very long time trying to let it all sink in!

How did you tell the father?

I was screaming, "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, TONY!  Oh my gosh...." and when he came in I showed him the positive test.

What was his reaction?
He was happy and very surprised as well!  But the emotion that registered was definitely excitement!

When is your due date?
First it was February 24 and now it's the 26.

Did you have any morning sickness?
Yes, I definitely did.

What are your fears?
Big fear of not having a strong bond with the baby.

What are you most happy about?
 Hmm... I honestly have no idea.  I guess just all of us being together and being able to love on this baby all the time! :)

Did you want a boy or girl?
A girl. :)  But I'd be so ecstatic either way.

What did the father want boy or girl?
Of course, he is hoping for a boy!

Do you know what your having?
Not yet...

Do you have a name picked out?
We have several names we like - but nothing set in stone!

How much weight have you gained?
About seven pounds!

Have you felt the baby move?
Yes - but it's not very distinct yet.

Do you plan on a natural or medicated birth?
Laugh at me as much as you'd like, but I am hoping to go into it with an open mind.  I'm tending towards no drugs, but I'm also not opposed to doing what's best in any given situation (which might just end up being take the meds!).

Are you scared about labor?
Yes and no. I used to be terrified and now I am pretty okay with the idea.

What do you think will be the worst part of labor?
Pooping on the table.  Oh, and the pain of it all.  Also, I'm worried about my body never being the same afterward.

Who will be in the delivery room?
Doctors, nurses, my husband.  If my sisters come up to visit I would love for them to be in the room.

Are you having the birth videotaped?
No thank you.

Do you think you will cry when you see the baby for the first time?
I sure hope so! :)  I feel like I will but sometimes when I get in such big, important moments, my tears are nowhere to be found!

What do you think the fathers reaction to the baby will be?
Awww.... I have no idea!!! I can't wait to see his reaction!  I'm sure he'll laugh, honestly!  :)  He's just funny like that, especially when he feels the pressure to have some sort of big reaction.

How do you think family and friends will feel?
Oh man, I know our parents and my sisters are thrilled and so are our cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends.  We are lucky to have so many people who love us and are so ready to love our little baby-in-the-making!

19 weeks & 1 day

Not a whole lot to really say tonight, but wanted to post the pregnancy picture we took tonight.

19 weeks & 1 day

I have a hard time believing that I am just about halfway through my pregnancy.  It seems like just yesterday we were in Mexico for our family vacation and I was feeling nauseous at every smell, taste, or sensation I experienced. And in the blink of an eye, the next time I write I will hopefully be sharing whether we're having a baby boy or baby girl!  Any wagers?

I'm feeling very blessed today to be carrying this baby and just blessed all over.  And tired.  So goodnight and until next time, bloggies!!!!