17 Days Until Christmas

I am thankful for all the students I get to work with.  I love their energy and being able to journey with them during this unique time in their life.  It's pretty great. 

18 Days until Christmas

Today I am thankful for good food. I am blessed to never have to worry about eating. Anyone who knows me well knows I love food. I am enjoying this month of many tasty treats.

19 Days until Christmas

Mountain gymnastics in New Hampshire.

Today I am thankful for my health.  Since being pregnant, I have experienced a little bit of feeling out of control of my own body.  This has really given me perspective.  Being a gymnast for years and generally always being able to make physical goals for myself, my eyes have been opened to how much this is a gift. 

Only 23 weeks..uh oh.

I am more than half way through.  23 weeks this week and feeling huge.  Maybe huge is too much?  I feel like I am growing and growing really fast.  It makes me a little nervous for the future.  I did read recently that these next 8 or 9 weeks I will do the most amount of growing in inches and weight gain than any other part of the pregnancy.  At this point, I am feeling that is true.  All of a sudden I am obviously pregnant.  I can't hide it.  I can't fit into any of my pants.  I get kicked all the time. 

The kicks I gotta say, I love.  Not the ones that kick me towards my insides.  That just feels weird.  The kicks I can feel from the outside are awesome.  I especially love when Rick gets to feel it too.  This has only happened a few times but it's fun.  Recently I have been calling are baby "little man."  I think he likes it.  I have been playing this game where if I feel a good kick, I go ahead and kick back.  Not too hard though (just a little poke I guess).  He responds!  I read this somewhere as well.  The other morning we went back and forth about 5 times each.  It was awesome.

Some new pics for your enjoyment:

20 Days until Christmas

Today I am thankful for my job.  I am blessed to work at a place I love and really believe in.  It is also pretty amazing that everyone I work with I can call my friend. 

20 Days of Christmas

For the next 20 days I am going to try and post everyday.  I plan to post short words and pictures to share about the things I am most thankful for (extending Thanksgiving and preparing for Christmas).  I know this can be a busy time of year and with so many life changes going on around me, I think this will help me not to forget the blessings I have been and currently are surrounded by.

Psalm 30:11-12

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

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.