22 Weeks

This pregnancy seems like it is going by a lot faster now that we know Baby Shep is a girl. I can't believe I am already at the 22-week mark!

Not only do I feel like my belly is getting larger by the day, but I have also been feeling Baby Shep move and kick much more frequently. Josh still hasn't got to feel her...every time he puts his hand on my belly, she stops moving :).

Hopefully he will feel her soon!

Baby Shep's First Care Package

Baby Shep (aka "Little Miss Shepherd" as it said on the mailing label) received her first care package in the mail last week...from her Grammie and Grandpa Shepherd.

Inside the package were these precious newborn pajamas, along with a matching bear hat, and a super soft blanket (I wish I had one in adult size).

It is so crazy that Baby Shep is going to fit into this when she is born! As Josh put it, seeing the clothes she will be wearing in just a few months "makes it so real." I think he is also still getting used to all the pink :).

Tiny Dancer

As someone who has always loved to dance...

...I was immediately flooded with thoughts of ballet slippers, tutus, and dance recitals as soon as we found out that Baby Shep is a girl :). My Mom obviously had the same idea, because these were waiting for us when we got to Austin last weekend...

How precious are those tiny ballet slippers!!

And speaking of dancing, Baby Shep has become quite active lately. And based on all the kicks (with the long legs that the doctor pointed out on the sonogram) and turns I have felt in my tummy, I think she is well on her way to following in my footsteps.

I will of course support any sport/extracurricular activity that Baby Shep wants to pursue...but she won't be able to stop me from dressing her up in this cute little outfit and dancing with her around the house :).

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!

I am so very excited that Baby Shep is a little girl! The sonogram today was so wonderful...not only did we find out that she is a girl, but it was also so much fun to finally get to see her looking like a baby and not a little blob. Look at how precious she is :).

We also got to see all her vital organs, and everything looked perfect! I'm so relieved that she is so healthy.

Now that we know the baby is a girl, I can't wait to start planning the nursery and buying all kinds of cute, girly clothes for her. Baby Girl Shep even received her first present...from her little boyfriend, Grant Hubbard :).

(The dogs thought I had bought them a new toy...they have no idea what they are in for.)

Now we just need to decide on the name!

"Whoa-oh, we're half way there..."

I can't believe that I am already at the halfway point of this pregnancy! It is super exciting, and yet the thought of how much we have left to do before Baby Shep arrives is quite daunting.

The best part about finally reaching the 20-week mark is our big sonogram tomorrow. Not only will we get to make sure the baby is healthy, we will also find out whether Baby Shep is a boy or girl...as long as the baby cooperates :).

The wait has seemed endless, and I have been especially excited/anxious the past few days. It is like a combination of every Christmas Eve as a kid times a billion.

People ask if I have "feeling" one way or another. I really don't, but the fact that I never really had any morning sickness makes me think it may be a boy. On the other hand, the Chinese Gender Chart predicts a girl.

I guess we will just have to wait until tomorrow :).

18 Weeks

While I meant to take another belly picture at 16 weeks, that clearly didn't happen....so here is the lovely, growing belly at 18 (almost 19) weeks.

I can't believe how much bigger it is since the last photo shoot!

In other Baby Shep news, we had the 16-week appointment a couple weeks ago, and the doctor commented that we had "quite an active little one in there" based on all the kicks and turns she could hear on the doppler. I think we are going to have our hands full :).

Only 10 more days until we go back in for the big 20-week sonogram. Not only will we get to check out all the organs to make sure Baby Shep is strong and healthy, but we will also finally get to find out the gender (assuming the baby is cooperative). I can't wait!!