Baby Troy Manning

We have decided on a name for our little baby boy! I have had it in my mind since the beginning of this pregnancy at about 7 weeks and I didn't really tell anyone how I felt about it until I told Todd and he liked it! I wasn't going to go forward with it until I knew that Todd wanted the name as much as I did and he does so hooray for knowing the name before we have the baby! haha We love the name Troy and think it's a perfect fit for our bouncy little boy. Everyone says it's a good, strong boy name and it sounds like a quarterback's name which is good because he is definitely going to be a sporty little boy! :) We'll have him in soccer as soon as he can walk! I have LOVED going to my little brother's football, basketball and volleyball games over the years and can't wait to have my turn as "team mom".

We haven't decided on a middle name yet, I would love for it to be a family name. Maybe Robert after Todd's Dad. We aren't totally decided yet...But for now, we are loving preparing for the baby. We bought a gorgeous dresser with matching nightstands for a steal of a deal and are going to paint them white for our all white nursery. I love white nurseries! They are my absolute favorite. Something about it being crisp and clean looking. I know the baby will probably make a mess in it but hopefully I can keep it as clean as possible. :)This is a picture that I took in Vermont while visiting my sister and her family. She drove me to this sign just so I could see Troy's name on a street sign so I had to snap a pic! Love my sis!



We have been having so much fun with Troy lately. He is so active all the time! I mean sometimes he is sleepy and quiet but I feel like he is always moving and kicking and I love it! I know I will miss it when I sit down to read a book while he is actually in his crib sleeping or something. I'll miss him being connected to me like this but that's what more babies are for. haha I'll probably just cuddle him during his nap times and his crib won't get any use at all! haha Oh I can't wait to hold him in my arms and see his sweet face. Todd likes to feel him kick and move around and now it's really fun because you can SEE it happening! I will look down and see him kick and then see him take his foot or arm and swipe it across my belly. It's soooo cool. I love when we sit down on the couch and relax because that is Troy's favorite time to shine! :) Todd was feeling my belly tonight as he was watching the NBA finals and I was reading and Troy was really showing off for Daddy. He was super active! Maybe it was the yummy pizza or the cupcake I had for dessert but he was wide awake and bouncing off the walls - literally! Todd looked over at me with a big grin and said, "I love our baby!" It was pretty dang cute. I love that Todd is such a good man, I mean honestly everyone thinks they have the best husband on planet earth but I'm almost certain Todd is THE best husband. It's amazing how he can always say the right thing at the right time. haha I wonder if he is a robot? Hmm... :)



21 weeks pregnant!



22 weeks pregnant in Vermont at Indianbrook lake with my sister and her family.



23 weeks and gettin' big!

We've really been loving this time in our marriage. We are so close to one another, that's probably why it was so hard for us to be away from each other for 9 days. I feel that we have grown a special bond and that our marriage means so much more now that a baby is relying on us to be there for him. I'm really happy in life right now, I absolutely love being pregnant. I even loved being sick because I knew I was pregnant and I would get a baby in the end of it all! I am very thankful for a healthy baby and that I have healthy organs and the ability to bring Troy into the world. I feel like it's a very sacred and special thing that I am definitely not taking for granted. I feel blessed every day for this oppourtunity. :) Love my little family.

Traveling

Todd and I LOVE to travel! When it's Todd and I? It's so fun! When it's not Todd and I? Not so much. We don't like to miss each other, we're kind of babies about it. Especially me...I can't even fall asleep very well unless we cuddle! haha See?! I'm like a baby! I knew when we got married and he loved to cuddle with me that I was one lucky duck and now we usually don't go to bed without a prayer, a kiss and some cuddle time! I think that is probably one of the biggest things I hate about leaving Todd...being alone in bed when I sleep. It's so lonely! I am going to Vermont tonight on the red eye flight to see my sister! I am so excited to be able to spend a week with them and play, but deep down, it really bites to leave my hubby behind. I have a little bit of a fear of flying too. :) I had a bad flying experience about 5-ish years ago and haven't really gotten over it. Most people are used to the bumps and turbulence but it just makes my heart rate spike every time I can feel a bump! When Todd and I went on our honeymoon to Seattle, my mom sent me with a xanax. It was wonderful! haha It totally forced my body to calm down and I was actually able to be a sane person on the plane! Plus I was with Todd-bear and he is my rock. He knows how to calm me down and just loves on me until we are off of the plane. If I need him to talk to me to keep my mind busy, he goes right ahead and tells me everything on his mind. haha Sometimes I am probably not even listening but it makes me feel better to know someone can be talking like a normal person while there is turbulence going on. I couldn't find a picture of us when we were in an airport from our honeymoon but this was when we hiked to Marymere falls in the Olympic National Park. It was so gorgeous everywhere we went on our honeymoon! So obviously this post is so that I can tell Todd I love him to pieces just in case I die. haha just kidding. I'll be fine. I'm flying with a great airline - jetBlue - and I'm also not flying alone! Which makes me very happy. My friend, Pristine is taking me all the way to Burlington AND bringing me home. So so so nice of her. I honestly can't believe I got so lucky to be friends with someone who is willing to do that. Seriously?! So so nice. She is pretty much a professional flyer because she does it for work! She knows all the tricks and knows the planes really well so she will be able to help me calm myself since I can't be taking a xanax while pregnant! I was told I could take an Ambiem, benedryl or tylenol pm for sleeping purposes though. I'm sure those drugs won't even be able to knock me out because I am a crazy person. haha But I might give one a shot, maybe the benedryl. If anyone has any tips or tricks for flying - PLEASE share! :) I can't wait to be back in beautiful Vermont with my sister's family and be able to spend some time with them and do fun activities like strawberry picking and going to Lake Champlain. It'll be a fun experience. :)

20 weeks - Halfway there!

So this week is a big week for our family! It's the halfway mark of my pregnancy! I wanted to celebrate by showing off my belly pictures I have been taking weekly or every other week. By now, my belly is totally poking out, morning and night and it won't be going back to normal until this little guy is here! :)

So there is my belly progress. It has been fun to see my belly growing more each week. It's sad to not be able to fit in a lot of my old pants and shirts anymore but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I love feeling baby boy kicking all the time, last night my brother, Zach, his wife, Staci and my mom all got to feel him kicking! Also my good friend, Natalie got to feel him kick when we were in the theater watching "Snow White and the Huntsman." He loves to show off for everyone! Having him kicking all the time really puts things into perspective for me. Sometimes I can let little things stress me out but then baby boy starts kicking and it all seems silly. He really is already helping me keep my head on straight! I love him! :)