This past wednesday we had our 20 week sonogram. We got there way early (overly anxious) and were so excited to see our big ole baby on the big screen. I laid down on the exam table and the sweet sonogram tech got right to business. I immediately saw something on the screen and shouted “Oh my gosh, is it a boy?!” Well folks, sure enough I’m growing a little baby boy! I couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the same time. It was a very happy/calm cry. More like happy tears streaming down my face. It was so magical. We got to see the 4 chambers of his heart, parts of his brain, his little tiny stomach, kidneys, and crazy looking spine. He showed us his hands a few times and his little leg bones and feet. Wow. We were just speechless.

Brian and I are more than excited to have a little boy. I’ve had a feeling from day one that it was a boy and both Brian and I have been calling it a “he” the whole time… I guess that’s my first “motherly instinct”? Brian just kept looking at the sonogram photos and smiling.  If anyone knows Brian they know he’d welcome me having 5 little boys if we could help it – haha… I’ve always said I wanted a boy first if I have more than 1 child. Yippee!

We saw the doctor right after the songram and he gave me a clean bill of health and said our little boy looked great and healthy and was measuring on track. My original & still proposed due date is Oct. 23, but based on the sonogram & baby’s measurements my due date window is from Oct. 16 – Oct. 23. It’s hard for me to imagine how my stomach and skin can grow any more. And I’m only half way- Bah! We showed the doctor the long string of sonogram photos of our little boy and he goes “Ah yes, that’s what we call a turtle, not a hamburger.” That’s probably the funniest thing he’s said to date!

We are SO thrilled and excited and feel so blessed to welcome our little boy, BRADY SHEPHERD ALLEN, this October!

We had to keep Brady’s gender a secret until Friday night when my family down in Katy, TX had a little cupcake party. I had some custom cupcakes made (filled with blue icing). They faced timed us so we could see their reactions, etc… It was pretty neat! Sam and Lisa were pretty funny with the cupcakes and didn’t quite get the concept until after the fact. Here’s a good shot from our facetime cupcake party…

Here are some of the pretty cupcakes (from Coutoure Cupcakes) Daria photographed for me that they enjoyed!

HOW FAR ALONG?  20 weeks…. only 19-ish left.

SIZE OF OUR SWEET BABY? The size of a banana head to rump (6.5 inches; 12 oz.)

MATERNITY CLOTHES?  Yep. Now I need some more maternity PJs and a decent bathing suit. I’ve been sporting my current one and it’s not going to last much longer.

GENDER: BOY!

SLEEP?  Still tossing and turning, but it’s getting a little better. I have lots of pillows.

FOOD CRAVINGS? I’ve been introducing more sweets back into my diet.

WHAT I MISS? Sleeping on my back. I’ve also sorta wanted coffee lately… and I’m not a huge coffee fan. Maybe it’s just because I can’t have it (caffeine?)

SYMPTOMS? Definitely swollen feet 🙁 (Swimming seems to help for about a day),  healthy fingernails, I think my hair is growing faster. I might be crazy, but I think my hair has gotten straighter while pregnant.

BELLY BUTTON?  It’s still an “inny” but it’s stretching and getting lots bigger. It’s so weird.

BEST MOMENT(S) OF THE PAST WEEK?  Our 20 weeks sonogram. Everything looked healthy and I just love seeing Brady on the screen! It’s so magical. Finding out it’s a little boy. We are just ecstatic!  Also, when Brian sits with me and puts his hand on my belly to and talks to little Brady and feels his movements/kicks. Ah, it’s so wonderful and reminds me how blessed we are.