Monkey's Big Ultrasound

Matt couldn't be at the big ultrasound in August, so I asked the tech to keep the gender a secret and write it down on a piece of paper. That night, Matt, Abby, and I went to Olive Garden and opened the envelope. Then we got to tell Abby she is going to have a baby BROTHER! We are so excited about getting ready for a Sandlin boy - he will be the perfect addition to our little family!

Here are some shots from the big reveal. I tried to get Matt to let me post the money-shot, but he argues that the longer we can keep Monkey from exposing himself to the masses, the better!

(These are from 19 weeks:)

Grow, Monkey, Grow!

23 Weeks pregnant:

Me and my Boo-Bear (23 Weeks):

27 Weeks pregnant:

After realizing I am entering 3rd Trimester...already....

Helloooo Baby Bump!

And Hellooooo Second Trimester! Nice to see you again. Now lets talk about an end to this morning sickness...

Well, hello there!

(For those that are not ultrasound savvy, the head is on the bottom left)

Introducing Baby "Monkey" Sandlin!


Our lovely surprise is coming around January 26th, 2011.


I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed, quite a bit surprised - but overall really blessed to have been given another little miracle. This year promises to be a crazy one, with me starting back to teaching half-days (and continuing this time after an abbreviated maternity leave), Abby hitting toddlerhood, and a new little one making his/her debut - but we wouldn't have it any other way!


My doctor is very optimistic that I will not develop HELLP syndrome again and they will be watching us carefully, along with the maternal fetal medicine specialists. Dr. Turner says this will be my full-term baby - and I am so looking forward to having a normal pregnancy and delivery...and getting to hold my baby right after it's born!


Best surprise of our lives!

One year ago today:

10 Week update!

With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will too.)

We've made it to week 10!! This past week saw the return of morning sickness and something new: insatiable appetite! I'm seriously eating anything I can get my hands on...which is probably why my nice work pants don't button anymore! I've started wearing my Bella Band underneath my shirts just to keep my pants closed. While it's nice to know my body is getting ready for the long haul, I'm having a hard time liking what I see in the mirror. Maybe I'll feel differently when my coworkers can stop thinking "Is she, or isn't she?" and start thinking "Yep! That's a definite baby bump!"

In other news, my AP Euro class is gearing up for the exam on May 8th. We're done with the French Revolution and moving into the 19th century reforms. Viva la spring break! Only 1.5 weeks until that! In addition to teaching the future of our country at an ever increasing (and ever erratic) speed, I've also got to start working on the spring Powder-Puff game and SGA elections. It's a crazy life I lead, but such a fulfilling one :)

Funny pregnancy hormone moment of the week: You know that video clip of the two friends in the 70's that adopt the lion club? They then turn it loose in the wild, to come back a year later and see if it remembers them. As it approaches them, it begins to run into their arms - pawing and licking them like no time had even passed. (All the while, Whitney Houston's "I will always love youuuuuu" playing in the background). Yep. I ended up spending a good half hour of my planning block bawling over that stupid clip.

And I've actually seen it at least a dozen times before.

Word to the wise - avoid saying anything sarcastic, sweet, depressing, or otherwise filled with emotion when I am within 100 feet. At least for the next couple of weeks. Matt learned this the hard way.

Only 2 weeks until we get to see Gummybear again!

Gummybear - coming soon!

Your little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like... well... a baby!


I've held back from making this announcement for fear that something would go wrong and I would have to "untell". Somehow the loss of a baby-even an unborn baby you've never met before- has a way of making you more cautious. More cautious about believing this time will turn out better. More cautious about getting excited. After the loss of our baby last September, I found out what it's like to entirely LOVE and MISS someone you've never even met. And although I'll never forget our first baby, it is time to stop grieving "what might have been" and allow our family to CELEBRATE "what WILL be"!



It's time for me put away caution and give myself over entirely to the truth: the truth that we ARE expecting and there WILL be a baby for me to hold in October! And we are so excited!!