Week 20 and the Big Name Question

A few weeks ago I was scolded by my friend Sonya.  She yelled at me for not being exciting enough in my weekly update picture.  She said I needed to show my face and add life to the photo.  I did this for her so I hope you enjoy.  Was this what you were going for?

Here are a few of my favorite ultrasound pics too:

I like the little fist over his eye.  Pretty cute. 

Baby spine.  He is about 10 inches long.  Crazy!

So the big question now that we determined a name is, what will you name him?  We have had a lot of people ask us and here is the plan so far.  We actually haven't had any serious name conversations yet.  Partly because we already had a list started long before getting pregnant so I think we both have given this some thought thus far.  We plan on trying to come up with a few names we like and think could be worthy of baby mcneal before he is born.  Then, upon meeting him, we hope to be inspired and to choose the final name during those first few days together.  We think the idea of meeting him and then naming him is special in that we get to see his personality (what little we will be able to see) and name him accordingly.

Baby Sex Link

If you haven't seen the Baby Sex video, click here to see it on Rick's blog.

Week 19...brings lots of excitement

Tomorrow is our big 2nd trimester ultrasound.  This one hopefully will let us know the baby's gender.  I originally did not want to find out but I have totally swung the other way.  I can't wait to find out.  We are trying to come up with a creative way to announce the gender.  We know for sure that we are going to have the technician write it down and put it in envelope for us to open later.  We want to have to chance to be alone or just to decide on a creative way to open it that day.  I don't think I will be able to wait too much longer.  Once we know, we will make some sort of video and post it tomorrow night.  So if you are dieing to know if "Monday" is going to be a boy or girl, be waiting anxiously by your computer for a video update Wednesday evening.

Here are a few pictures from tonight.  I have officially turned the corner from looking like I added a belly to looking pregnant.  I am ok with the change.

18 Weeks

I haven't felt or noticed much growth in the last two weeks but based on the picture, I think I have. 

Pregnancy Questions...

I have had a few questions lately and wondering if anyone has any wise (or random) answers...

• What should you take when you are sick with a cold?  Is extra vitamins ever harmful? 
• If you could choose just one baby item you love and wouldn't want to do without, what would it be?
• How did you do at sleeping on your side?  Did it kind of freak you out if you woke up on your back?
• When did you first feel movement?
• How should we share the news about the baby's gender?  We are taking creative suggestions.  

Thanks!  The size of our baby this week (a turnip):

Home sweet home.

I arrived home from my 2 week adventure to Alaska last Friday.  Meeting me at the airport was my sick husband.  I was very excited to see him but sad that he was sick.  We ended up having a fairly low-key weekend.  I had to work on Saturday and we had planned on getting dressed up and heading to a halloween party that night but with Rick not feeling so well we decided to stay in.  We celebrated at home on Sunday by eating candy, ordering thai soup, watching Ghostbusters 2 and carving a pumpkin.  Our pumpkin carving inspiration was "mother and child" in case you were wondering.  We had a total of 5 trick-or-treaters that night.

The rest of the week has included my debut at the gym...it's been way too long.  I finished up Portland high school visits.  All this just in time to get sick.  Rick seems to be getting better...just a little stuffy.  I just kind of sound like a man.

I am a bit behind in weekly pictures but I haven't had tons of energy this week.  I plan on putting one up next week.  I also don't think I did a lot of growing in the last week.