18 wks and counting...

17wks 5days...

Well as most of you know by now I was released from bedrest at 16wks...yay! So that explains why I havent updated the blog in a little over a week and a half. Freedom has been great and I feel amazing. I think I am finally starting to hit what they call the "honeymoon" stage of pregnancy. This is truly an amazing experience and I am so thankful for every single day. Its so strange because I am really showing now but I still tell Andrew I dont feel like I look that pregnant. He just looks at me like I'm crazy, but I guess when its your body the growth is so slow that it sneaks up on you. I promise to take another picture at 18 wks so everyone can see what I'm talking about:) Ok now some updates on the baby...we went to the Dr. last week and the heartrate was 160 which apparently is normal even though it sounds really high. We recently read on babycenter.com that the baby will double in size from week 16 to 20. This week it is the size and weight of a turnip but by 20 weeks it will be as long as a banana! That is so insane! We go for our big ultrasound on March 1st. Thats when they check all the sizes and shapes of everything from its head, to its heart, to its toes. That is also when they will tell us what we are having!!! We have an educated guess, but we will have to wait to see if we are right or not. We are still just so amazed at this miracle it is so crazy. And for me being pregnant has really made me feel closer not just to Andrew but to Jonas as well. Its like I can imagine what it must have been like to carry him. I think if anything pregnancy has made me more appreciative of adoption. Since we are in the middle of our second adoption its crazy how often I think about both babies. I think about what the biological one is doing in there and I wonder what our future adopted one is doing also. It sounds cheesy but I really do feel as if I am carrying twins of sorts. It really is hard to explain how the experiences feel so similar. I often wonder if our waiting child is conceived yet or is already born, and I often think when I am at the doctor I wonder if our new birthmother is going through the same things. I wonder if while she is at the doctor she thinks about us as much as I think about her when we are there. For anyone who has adopted I am sure that you can relate, and for those of you who havent adopted I hope I have explained it as well as possible. This is truly the most amazing experience of my life. I know that some people think that adopting and being pregnant at the same time sounds crazy but I would never have it another way...its just so magical in so many ways. God is so good and I am really humbled at the blessings he has given our family.