Mom Witts Blog Post

Remember how we sent packages to each of our parents to announce our big news? And also how I forgot to take pictures of what we sent? Well, great news! My awesome mother 'n law took pictures! And she posted the whole sequence of events on her blog right here. I love her narrating skills. I laughed reading it as I remembered how I tried to throw them off about what the package could possibly be! Go check it out already!

February 21st-13 Weeks

Well! It has been a big day! We have made announcements to our family members. Our grandparents & siblings are in the loop! We also told our Aunt & Uncle that live out here last night.

Here is this weeks photo:

One more week from saying goodbye to the 1st trimester! Thankfully, it really has not been a bad few months. I still am feeling great. I'm not as tired as I had been for a week or so awhile back either.

Here is another picture just because I felt like the others one in the same shirt were getting boring. It was before church this morning.

I weighed in at 130.4 this morning. Keeping my top button on my pants unbuttoned these days! :) You can't really tell in this photo though.

Speaking of church, Matt and I really enjoyed this morning's sermon. What we love about our pastor is that he speaks truth...in love. He taught about how are culture has gone so far towards tolerance that we have become too timid as Christians to say that there is only One Way. These are the words of Jesus...not us!
John 14:6 "I am the Way the, Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father, but by me." We felt very blessed by this sermon this morning.

We then checked out some houses for fun in the neighborhood where some friends from our small group got a really awesome deal on a gorgeous home. Just looking for fun! No home purchases any time soon. :) We then prepared food for our Monday night small group this afternoon...our night to cook and we're meeting at our apartment! So excited as we love this group of like-minded, godly men and women.

This is the song we ended with in church this morning: In Christ Alone



So powerful. I love belting out the one part,
"There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ"

It struck me today the significance of the role we will have in the life of this precious life. We want to be vessels that shine Christ so brightly to this impressionable bundle of joy. What a job! It is overwhelming but we are so excited for what the Lord has to teach us in the years ahead!

February 14th-12 Weeks!

I can't believe we have finished 12 weeks already! 3 months in...wahoo! Still two more weeks until an official end to the 1st trimester.

Weighed in at 130.4 this morning. Going up! Probably all of that delicious food I had last night!

Valentine's Day

11 Weeks, 6 Days
Matt and I celebrated Valentine's Day on Saturday. Our plan was to go see the movie, Valenine's Day, and then go out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants, Rock Bottom. We decided not to go away overnight because Matt is flying with me to Las Vegas in 2 weeks with my company...so that will be our getaway!

Matt went in to my company Saturday morning to watch some videos for orientation...because he is going to work for Encompass Home Health PRN on Saturdays! He is excited about the opportunity as am I because I know what a quality organization it is firsthand. The plan was for me to clean and get the laundry done while he was gone so that we could enjoy the rest of the day together. But then right before he got home...after the cleaning was all done...I started seeing spots and my vision was kind of blurry. This happened to me once before and sure enough...a headache followed. I was so bummed but after taking some headache medicine Matt insisted that I lay down with the lights off and an ice pack on my forehead. And he surprised me with these beautiful flowers that he snuck home. Aren't they gorgeous?

Anyway, a two hour nap and my head felt so much better! So we headed out after a couple of quick pictures.

We arrive at the movie and it is sold out. We aren't terribly disappointed as we weren't convinced we would love the movie anyway. So we headed to Rock Bottom first! It was delicious as always and look at the planning we got done too!

We drew this diagram of our 2nd bedroom to try to figure out where everything would go for the baby. It is a terrible diagram...not even close to scale. Matt would have done a much better job!

We also started a list of the most important things that we would need to purchase for the baby before it was born and an estimated cost of each so we could begin to plan for the expenses. We got so excited talking about it that we just headed right on to Babies 'R Us after dinner! So much for the movie!

It was so fun...and we felt like we got a lot accomplished! This is the part that you will love, Mom Witt because we know you have been asking for a baby wish list. So here are a few of the items that we love:

A pack 'n play. We love the color scheme. It goes with our plan for the baby room...blue, green, and brown. And after checking reviews online found it fared pretty well. Also, the price was less than some of the other ones...which is always a plus!

Stroller/Car Seat/Carrier Travel System. We LOVE this one compared to the other ones. It also has better reviews than many of the others we looked at. The color scheme is great...gender neutral so that we can use them for all 5 of our kiddos! ha ha. Just kidding...final tally to be determined. Focusing on this first one for now!

And check this out! A matching diaper bag!

The one on the right is for a man...not sure this really necessary at all. But the green and gray one is very nice with tons of pockets including an insulated one for a bottle. Not sure if this is the THE diaper bag yet...but it's an option!

Jessie told us a long time ago that a baby video monitor was a must. So here is one that we saw but have not looked much at reviews yet. This was on the lower end for price...but it was still quite expensive. It is amazing how much these things can cost!

We are hoping to find a cheap crib on Craig's List or at a yard sale this summer. But this is an idea of what we are looking for.

We want the light wood (you can see the rail in the back that is in natural) to go with the rest of the furniture in the baby's room. But this is close to the look we are looking for anyway. This particular one did not get great reviews. I especially like when they are convertible...to a toddler day bed and then a headboard for a single bed.

And here is a recliner that we like the size of...just not the price or color. I would like to find a light colored one that is small enough to fit in our room. But I love the idea of the recliner so you do not have to have an ottoman taking up extra space in a small room.

The good news, Mom W? We started the Babies 'R Us registry online when we got home so that you can just check these thing and more online. Just search for Matt or I's name!

On another note, I am having the hardest time finding crib bedding that I like (in our color scheme) for a reasonable price. But of course, we still have 6 months...so I'm sure we will be fine. But here is a bedding set that is really growing on me. If it weren't organic it probably wouldn't be so expensive! What we like about it is it has all of our colors with the blue being more primary than the green. I of course love green, but my whole apartment does not need to be green! Otherwise, this one really tempts me because the price is awesome and it has the right colors. I just feel like green is the primary color and I don't love the skirt...it is more ruffly and I like them to be straight.

Back to the first bedding set, the organic vine one. It also has a coordinating changing pad cover that I have seen on other websites. I like this because I am going to lay it on our desk and use it as a changing table. And this brings the pattern and color to the other side of the room as well!

Okay, enough decorating talk! So the stores eventually closed and then we went through some dealerships to check out some vehicle options for when we have enough cash saved up (after grabbing a shake at Burger King of course). It was actually fun! Probably because I am getting more excited about some of the options. Especially when I think of how much easier it would be to put a stroller in the back of an SUV as opposed to a car trunk! Still dreaming...this purchase is a ways a way. But dreaming is fun and it was a good way to end our night :)

Wow, this has been a long post. Hope you enjoyed. Happy Valentine's! Love from all 3 of us! Matt, Sonya & Baby Jeopardy :)

February 10th-3rd Dr Appt

11 Weeks, 3 Days
I had my 3rd doctor's appointment today in the afternoon. I am having them monthly now and my next ultrasound won't be until between 18 and 20 weeks. We would be able to find out the gender then...but we are going to be surprised! (Unless we enter a moment of weakness while we are there! ha ha. I really don't see that happening!)

Matt did not come with me to this one because it is difficult for him to get off work in the middle of the day, especially since his boss does not know I am pregnant. And we thought this was just going to be a routine visit...no ultrasound or anything exciting like that. However...I got to hear the heartbeat!!! It was really exciting. I couldn't believe how fast little Jeopardy's (thanks, Colin...I like to call it something other than baby!) heart was beating! Dr. Shelton said that is completely normal. It was very cool because sometimes I don't even feel pregnant. My nurse, Anna Marie, kept saying about how little I was and that I actually lost a pound since four weeks ago. (I weighed in at 129 this appt.) But Dr. Shelton told me this was also perfectly normal and fine as I am only in my first trimester. Anyway, point is when you don't look pregnant (except for a little bloated belly bulge not obvious to anyone but me) and I have only rarely felt nauseous...sometimes I think "is there really something in there?" So, it was so awesome hearing that little heartbeat! So amazing how God made our bodies. So very amazing.

February 7th- 11 Weeks

11 Weeks
An 11 Week picture before we head over to Josh & Amber's for the Superbowl!


I weighed in at 128.2 this morning.

Oh yes, I wanted to share this also. So Adrienne emails me this morning. Actually, instead of explaining it, I'll just post it right here:

I woke up at 7 this morning and thought of you right away and couldnt fall back asleep for excitement. Think of all the fun phone chats next year when we are home all day. Coupon clipping, fingernail clipping....i am loving it already!!

Colin thinks it is a boy and that he should be named Jeopardy. Slightly unusual, nice ring to it....i say, consider it ;)

xoxo
Age

Isn't that hilarious? The things that boy says cracks me up! Jeopardy...we will have to add that to the list of options!

February 6th- Telling Colin the News!

10 Weeks, 6 Days
So...we broke down tonight. I was talking on the phone to my mom for a long time about baby stuff, why we should move back to PA (this from her of course!), cribs, when we were telling everyone else etc. etc. Then I get off the phone and shared some of our conversation with Matt. He says we should just tell David & Age tonight! I am tempted...but that wasn't the plan! However, they do have some great baby stuff that we could purchase unless their other friends who are going to be new parents soon snag it first!! (Kidding, Age...that's not WHY we called!)

Anyway, we make an impulsive decision and he talks me into it. Especially because he let's me know that Age's status on Facebook says that all three of them are home together on this snowy Saturday...enjoying a good movie after their day of sledding! So we call them up. I ring Age first.
"Ring, Ring!"
She must be enjoying her movie (or Colin's...Snow Buddies!) So I try David.
"Ring, Ring, Ring!"
"Hello?" Yes! He answers!!!
I ask him if they are all together and when he says yes, I ask him if I can speak with Colin. I told him to tell Colin I have something VERY important to tell him! (I wanted to make sure Colin wouldn't snub me since he was watching Snow Buddies-his favorite movie ever!)
"Colin!!!"
"Yes?"
"Aunt Sonya has something important to tell you"
He puts Colin on and he says to me, "What?"
I first thank him for the cute little card and drawing of a lion that he sent us earlier this week. And then I tell him that I have a secret to tell him that even Daddy & Mommy don't know.
"What is it?" He asks curiously.
I ask him if Daddy & Mommy can hear. And David & Age both say "yes!" in the background! So Colin takes the phone (Daddy was holding it for him) and goes to another other room. He's ready now.
So then I tell him that he is going to have another cousin! That Uncle Matt and Aunt Sonya are going to have a baby in Colorado!
Silence.
"Colin, did you hear us?"
"Yes."
"Can you tell Daddy & Mommy?"
So we listen to him go back into the room with his parents and he says this:

"There's a new baby coming...in COLORADO!"

So cute!!!

I then hear Age respond, "Wait...what?" ha ha.

She gets on the phone with us and we tell her that Colin is indeed right. She told me later they were initially shocked! I guess we had them convinced it would be awhile. We talked all of the baby stuff...how I'm feeling, the due date, all that good stuff. And I got on the phone with my brother for awhile also. They congratulated us again and we wrapped it up with the promise of pictures to come throughout the pregnancy!

Now we really are going to stick to are plan of waiting to tell everyone else until the second trimester!

Jaunary 31st- 10 Weeks!

10 Weeks

In the green top


Before Church

Work pants are definitely snug but scale still only showing a couple of pound weight gain. Not obvious to anyone but me. Weighed in at 129.6 this morning.

January 27th & 28th- Parents Share in Joy

My parents gave me a call first congratulating us on our pregnancy on Wednesday afternoon. Apparently, when Dad got the package at the post office he went straight home to open it up with mom as the package gave strict instructions to only open it with her and when they were alone! I was so surprised that they had received it so soon! I thought Matt's parents would receive theirs first since Indiana is much closer. So when I saw a missed call from my dad and gave him a ring back I wasn't even thinking about the package!

My mom admitted she suspected...I wasn't feeling great the week I was in PA for Christmas. But she said after I was taking so many medications the week in January I was sick...she wasn't so sure anymore! I assured her I had called my OB and took the medicine he recommended. :)

Matt's parents also got their package on Wednesday, but since I also gave them such strict instructions of when and where to open it...it was too late to talk to them after they did. So we got to talk to them on Thursday night. Although Mom Witt emailed us during the day and sent me all sorts of wonderful baby sights to check out. It was so fun to spill the beans with our parents! It was especially absolute torture to not tell all of Matt's family when they were out here for Christmas! We had just found out 3 days earlier and had not even seen the doctor yet!

January 24th, 9 Weeks

This is the day we finished creating our packages for our parents for the big reveal! Sadly, I didn't think to take pictures of the package or contents until I had already handed them off to Matt to mail. We purchased two small "Baby" photo albums and documented the first 9 weeks of pregnancy just as we have here on our blog. Each entry had a picture to go with it. The first page announced that they were going to be grandparents!! And my parents of course said, "again", since they already have one...my nephew Colin! We also included a onesie or a bib saying either something about a grandpa or grandma. Here is the onesie we sent to Mom Witt. Isn't it adorable?


In the package we included a DVD of the short clip of the day we found out we were pregnant, as well as a clip of our office to baby room transformation plan. You can check that out here:

We wrapped this up in "baby" tissue paper (of course) and shipped out! Oh yes, and Mom Witt's included a dollar bill that Matt wrote "For Your Grandma Fly Fund" on it. Mom Witt has always talked about starting this fund so that she can fly to see her grandkids! Well, it's time to get that account rolling :)

And here is a pic of me at 9 Weeks. It seems odd to be taking these when there isn't much to show but I was told to start snapping pics now!

And honestly, when I compare weeks it just all depends on the angle we take them. Sometimes I look larger in the earlier weeks that in the later ones! Weighed in at 128.4

January 23rd, Making Room for Baby

8 Weeks, 6 Days
Today we spent all day cleaning out our "office" so we can convert it to a "baby room"! We cleared a lot of things out of the closet and tall bookshelf to create extra space. In order to do that Matt had to clean out our bedroom closet to make room for some of his sporting collectibles that were in the office! Then we cleaned a few things out from under our bed for Matt's grad school books. We were exhausted by the end of the day to say the least! We also ended up with a huge pile of trash and of course a stack for Goodwill. This was actually day 2 of cleaning that room out and we are feeling good!

The office half-torn apart. It was actually MUCH worse than this at one time.

Pile for trash...also got much larger.

We can actually see each other from one side to the other!

That whole top shelf was eventually bare...tons of room for baby items. Diapers? Toys?

Mostly finished product. For some reason, I took these pictures at the wrong time...the closet looked even better than this at the end! And a true appreciation could only be felt if you saw the before picture. This closet was PACKED. That whole left side things were shoved in there up to the top shelf.

As you can see, along with making room in the closet, we almost completely cleared off our bookshelf. The only things that will probably stay are the photo albums on the bottom shelf. I would like to put canvas bins (maybe the ones with labels) or baskets in the bookshelf to use for the baby's clothes. Then I can just pull the curtain over the bookshelf!

We decided to announce to just our parents that we were pregnant...before we were through with our first trimester. They both received packages from us the following week on Wednesday...at 9 Weeks, 3 Days. On the shelf you can see some of the items we sent out to them. I will explain more in another post.

We also completely re-did our filing system and in the process added a new "Baby" file!

January 22nd, Baby Shopping

8 Weeks, 5 Days
It’s Friday night and we both had a surprising amount of energy (Sonya finally found Claritin-D so her week long cold was letting up!) We had so much fun baby “window shopping”. We went to Target and looked through all of the baby items...pack ‘n plays, car seats...you name it! We bought some clothes for Sonya’s weekly belly shots. We went to Best Buy to check out their video camera selection...a must have so the grandparents will not miss a moment! :) And we went to Borders and purchased a Pregnancy Journal to read through and document every night before bed. (All purchases were encouraged by Jessie). We saw some future items we might need to purchase too...like a baby name book! This baby is already getting expensive! :) We had such a fun night...dreaming about our newest member!

January 21st, First Baby Card

We received our very first baby card today!!! Because we were planning to wait and tell our families until after the first trimester (first week of March) it was making it difficult to not have anyone to share it with...and especially a woman for Sonya to know that the symptoms she was experiencing were normal. So the night of our 2nd Doctor’s appointment, when we knew everything was looking good, she spilled the beans to her sweet friend, Jessie Johnston. Who better to tell...she is crazy about babies and was ecstatic. Plus, as a nurse and amazing mommy, she is a wealth of information. So we received a congrats card from them on this day...and her & Adam are sworn to secrecy!

January 16th-8 Weeks

On this date we were 8 weeks along. This was a rough weekend for us because on Saturday night Sonya began to get a cold. She was very congested and was sneezing constantly– no one warned her that pregnancy weakens her immune system! She stayed home all day while Matt went to church without her and attended the first week of our small group launch. He came home with a positive report that he thought we were getting into a good group. We will have two more Sundays with the group at church and then will start meeting in homes after that. We are praying for solid, God-honoring men & women of Christ that share our values where we can sharpen each other as “iron sharpens iron.”

January 11th- 2nd Doctor's Appt

7 Weeks, 1 Day
Our second doctor’s appointment! We had to wait until after Sonya went to Amarillo for training to make it back to Dr. Shelton’s office. We were thrilled to see our little baby Wittleder on the ultrasound this time! We discovered that we were 7 weeks and 1 day at this point and that our dear, sweet baby’s due date is August 30th!
This was an exciting visit as the doctor assured us that everything looked great and that at this point the risk of a miscarriage was down to 1%. We are ecstatic and have already begun to think about what we need to do to the office to make it baby ready! We also got a copy of the ultrasound to take home with us. The baby is just less than a centimeter long!

On this same day, Matt surprised Sonya by coming home with the book, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” by Heidi Murkoff. Isn’t he a sweetheart of a husband? And he will make an amazing daddy too.

The poor guy has already made food runs for a few of Sonya’s crazy
cravings...Chinese, McDonald’s, oranges. (At least there is one healthy thing in that bunch!)

According to the doctor Sonya has gained 3 pounds so far... but that was from a weighing back in August. Who knows how much of that is holiday weight! (Either way, Sonya’s pants are definitely tight!)

December 30th-1st Dr's Appt

5 Weeks, 3 Days
This was the date of our very first doctor’s appointment. They weighed Sonya in, drew her blood for some testing, performed our first ultrasound and spent a lot of time with us answering questions and letting us know what to expect! Dr. Shelton & his nurse, Anna Marie make us feel very confident and at ease about the whole process. They are a great team. They also supplied us with a bag of baby items!

We were worried when we saw the ultrasound at first because they thought we may be close to 7 or 8 weeks along when we were actually only at 5 1/2 weeks. Dr. Shelton wanted to see Sonya in another week so he could get a better estimate of the due date.