Oh, little Liza, Little Liza Joy.....

Tim and I have decided to name our sweet baby girl Eliza Joy Hixson. In my family, parents keep their baby's name a secret until they are born, but I am not capable of such shenanigans.

When we got pregnant, we'd decided what we'd name a little boy- family names for both first and middle- but weren't sure what we'd name a girl. Eliza is not entirely a family name- there's no one in either of our family trees with that name- but it is to me. My mom's mom, who I never got to know because she passed away in the early 1970's, name was Myrtel Elizabeth. Elizabeth is a lovely name, but we liked Eliza better.

Anyone who knows me well knows about my obsession with "Joy." I surround myself with reminders of it because I'm worried, more than anything, that I'll forget to live it it. The week before we found out we were pregnant, after some fertility procedures and more than a year and a half of disappointment, I was crying to my mom (at Subway, of all places,) saying I just wasn't sure it was in my cards to be a mom. I wasn't sure what this meant for me as a person and as a wife. My mom told me it would be a terrible shame for me to give up, because I had too much joy to share.

And so, even though the baby's name isn't going to be "Jill Junior Hixson" like my mom suggested, I'd like to think it kind of is. To me, both of her names come from her- not directly named for her, but more named for her heart, where I know she carries her own mom, Myrtel Elizabeth, and the more joy than anyone I know. Eliza Joy's for you, Mom. I love you.

Half way done!

What a crappy blogger I'm turning out to be!

So......... it's definitely a girl. We had another ultrasound a few weeks ago it's for sure! We are so excited. We have picked out her name and are working on her nursery. I have gained quite a bit of weight, but have been told that it's fine (mostly by Tim when I start to get weepy.) I feel like I look HUGE but I think it's partly because I'm so sway backed and because I'm still attempting to wear non-maternity tops. I "popped" early.... all those years and never doing situps and my stomach muscles gave out after 8 weeks.

It's been hotter than Hades in Indiana... and everywhere else.... not much fun for a pregnant lady! I've been staying inside mostly.

Friday marks the four year anniversary of Tim and my first date. Who would have known how far we'd come in just four years? I'm lucky and blessed to have such a wonderful *and sexy* husband.

It's (almost definitely) a GIRL!

So we went in for an ultrasound today. We're 14 weeks in. The ultrasound tech was wonderful. She hunted and hunted and finally said "I'm almost sure it's a girl." Since most people don't have a 14 week ultrasound, it seems ridiculously early to be able to tell. And if, by a small and hilarious mishap, it's a boy, we will love love love him.

I am so excited. When I think about the kind of father Tim Hixson will be to a little girl, I get weepy. We will love her and dote on her and tell her she is smart and beautiful every day. She can wear whatever she wants and she will have a chili bowl haircut, because that is what worked for her mama in the 80's.

I think we know her name but it's not set in stone. All we know for sure is that we love her.

13 weeks

Not much is new. Tim and I celebrated our second anniversary on Monday and I have been feeling a lot better. I'm working a ton this week, but then we're taking off for Atlantic Beach, NC on Saturday! Fifteen hours each way and worth every mile, even to a pseudo-nauseated pregnant woman. We've been hanging out with lots of friends and family and Tiny is already loved by so many. What a lucky little guy/ gal! We're going in for another ultrasound Friday just to check on things, but it will still be too soon to tell whether he/she is a Tim Junior or a Jane Junior. His/ her mama will be super excited and a tiny bit disappointed either way.

12 weeks!

We made it to 12 weeks and I'm feeling much better. I'm loving finally having a baby bump, it makes me feel more official. Can't wait to find out who is in there in 5 or 6 weeks. Richard and Janice Howerton are in town for the race and we're going to go spend time with them and my family tonight. We got a new camera so we'll be posting more photos.

A Note to Tiny

Dear Tiny- Your Aunt Abby gave you a book, and your Mama is going to stencil the words that appear on the first page like a border around the top of your room:

We wanted you more
Than you ever will know
so we sent love to follow
wherever you go.

There is nothing more wonderful than hearing your heartbeat and having the doctor tell us you're perfect thus far. We love you and we can't wait to find out if you're a Tiny Janebo or a Tiny Timbo and we can't wait to meet you in 29 weeks, plus or minus a few days.

Love, Yo Mama

10 weeks

Hello! I'm not turning out to be a very good blogger... shocking. Also, we don't have a camera other than our phones, so I don't have any (good) pictures to post. We'll be getting one soon, I hope.

Things are still going really well! We got to see Tiny last Monday and will see him again Wednesday. We "graduated" from our wonderful fertility specialist, Dr. Bopp, and are going to start having routine appointments with my regular OB. The baby has been measuring perfectly and was moving all around when we saw him on the ultrasound last week. Again, I say "He" because I don't like "it" and I have a hunch it's a girl (this week,) so I figured referring to the baby as a "he" will balance out my inclination.

Here's the first belly shot.... 10 weeks, 1 day. As my sister Abby has repeatedly informed me, most of what seems like a bump is, in fact, bloat, but it is exciting to me. :)

I continue to ask for your thoughts/ prayers/ good vibes for Tiny and his Mama, who loves him so.