You don't have to call me darlin...darlin.....You never even call me by my NAME

We are pretty settled into our names for BABY SALTER. We made a last minute first place boy name switch on all of you. Daddy has given into Mommy's favorite boy name, which didn't make the original poll....PS: you can't add it to the existing poll...the function isnt allowed. :)

It is interesting to see everyone's responses when you tell them the names you have chosen. It is quite easy to see which names people like or dislike...or worse.

My inlaws even came back with the comment "Well, it is whatever YOU like, since you are the one having the baby." God bless them! For me this translated into "We don't like those names....but we love you and will learn to live with whatever you call our grandkid."

My parents weren't as subtle. Their response to the name Jonah ( no longer on our list). "We hate it!"

Often, our friends without kids will tell us that one of our names is on their "list" and to not steal it. TOO BAD! Ya shoulda gotten pregnant in October and had the option to exercise naming rights before us. :) And heaven forbid our little Natalie comes out rambuncous and you dread naming your future child after her.

You've all done this when thinking of names. I did it just Sunday. Audrey is my Aunt's neighbor...and she is a very nice lady....but a bit...um...DITZY! Ian is one of my friends from work, a great guy, a great dad...so I like this name.

We have decided to walk into the delivery room with 2 names each and see which name matches the face that comes out. If one of those 4 names doesn't work....We are going to call the baby Imogene Armpit or Horatio Dilbert...maybe. Joking again.

So, getting to my always winding point, what do our chosen names mean?

Audrey: Noble Strength. Ranked #51 on the Social Security Name Index in 2007 ( most recent survey to date)

Natalie: Born on christmas day. #17 on the SSN Index. This is a little more popular than I like it to be.

Eli: Height. #131 on the SSN....BUT...most people choose the full name Elijah...and that is ranked #30.

Ian: This name is out of the running...we think. It means God is gracious, and I like that meaning. It is ranked #74...a good placement.

AND the name you have all been dying to figure out, that some of you know, but is not included on the survey...Boy Name #1. Well....it means Son of the grey haired one or son of the bailiff. It is ranked #221 on the SSN index. AND, if you really want to know it, you can find that out by searching for it using the information I have provided.

Imogene: Not ranked on the SSN index. It means Likeness.
and/or
Horatio: Also unranked....it has no meaning. :)

What Does Daddy's name mean? Supplanter ( huh?) and it is ranked #15. This is Baby S Boy's middle name.

What does Mommy's name mean?: Resurrection, ranked #693.

To see what your name or your future baby's name means and where it is ranked visit www.babynames.com

Week 23

Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Finally the call...

My midwife Cindy called me late Friday afternoon to give me the official ultrasound update.
We have an UNREMARKABLE baby! What?
That is actually a good thing according to ultrasound results....though I think the baby is pretty remarkable myself.
Baby is in breech position and weighs approximately 328 grams...which is about 13 oz's. All major organs are accounted for and functioning well. The placenta is high and right where it is supposed to be and all other points of the checklists are a-ok.
Still no A1C results, so nothing to report.
So, we have just 17 weeks left and all is well.
Just 1 more month and I am officially in the third trimester. I can hardly belive that as I type it.
Thanks for everyones constant prayers.

No News

Still no word from the OBGYN office. It has been a week since my A1C test and 5 days since my ultrasound. I have called twice and they say if I have not heard from the doctor then no news is good news. I surely hope that is true.

My blood pressure has gone down according to the handy machine at Weis Market.

The baby has been very active lately, not hard kicks yet, but somersaults seem to be the baby's routine of late.

Jim and I had a nice dinner with his parents here at our house last night. They got to see the nursery for the first time. They bought us 2 cute outfits from Carters and 2 matching pairs of booties.

We dont see Jim's parents as often as we see my parents, even though they are just 2 miles down the road. It was nice to spend time with them. Not only was I blessed with a pretty good husband, but I am lucky to have nice in-laws. They are excited for the baby to come!

Just a little over 17 weeks left!!!! WOW!!!!

I am starting to "nest". I want to clean out my closets and throw literally everything away.
I am not much on keeping up with fashion, so some of those clothes have needed to go for years.

I organized my maternity clothes and realize that I have just about enough to make it through the rest of my pregnancy...except I need new bras and new underwear. I am going out to get those today.

I figure that by my birthday, I will be able to go out and buy myself a little bit of a new wardrobe. Hopefully, I will be able to maintain a healthy weight gain over the next 4 months. My doctor suggests only 10 to 15 more lbs as a good gain, or 20 lbs total. As of today, I think I am at 6 lbs gain. I was down 12-15 lbs throughout the first few months...now I am seeing the numbers go up. They plan for a 1/2 lb gain each week for the rest of the pregnancy, so hopefully I stay on track.
I realize that the weight gain may sneak up on me...as I talk to friends it seems that the average weight they gained was 35 lbs, some more than 50 lbs.

I am not as ravenous as I was for the first few weeks of the second trimester. I have learned to eat every 2 hours and that seems to keep me even. No real cravings for me. I notice that if I hear someone say that they are hungry for something, I will migrate toward wanting that food.
Right now the baby can taste everything that I am eating. The baby really moves after I eat a salad or fruit. What I am eating is shaping the baby's likes and dislikes. Isnt that amazing?

We are down to a 3 day work week, so I have moe time to get things ready and also more time for naps. I love naps. I think I will take one right now.

Friday's Ultrasound

...of which I can find no catchy song to go along with as a blog entry title.
My mom and Jim and I made the trek to Carlisle Womens Center for our Anatomy ultrasound on Friday. I was happy to say yes to 2 students joining us for our ultrasound, along with the Tech.
The technician took lots of pictures, measuring leg bones and checking the 4 chambers of the baby's heart, kidneys, stomach, 3 strands of the umbilical cord. By all that we could surmice, we have a healthy baby in there...a gymnast of sorts, however. The doctor must give us our official report within the next few days. So, please keep praying for good results, as well as a positive result from my A1C test earlier last week.
I am very hopeful for 2 good reports.
Back to the baby...he or she is still just that a surprise...though Jim and my mom would tell anyone that, should they have not been present at my ultrasound, I would have not been able to stick with my surprise oath. It is hard to not try and sneak a peek or guess what you could or could not have seen. So, still 18 weeks until we give you all the official news of blue or pink.
The baby has my feet...no doubt. I may have even seen an extra long second toe.
We are just grateful to GOD hat we have an active baby that seems quite happy with its pad and its landlord. More to come when we get our official report.

The Sun will Come Out tommorow

Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun.

I used to sing this song, due in part to an obsession with Annie, when I was a little girl.
And today, it popped into my head.

Tomorrow is our BIG utrasound...and I am filled with excitement and faith that we will see an active, growing, healthy baby.

That is all that I can ask GOD for.

Most people believe that this is just an ultrasound to find out what gender the baby is. Wrong.
This ultrasound is to check the baby's brain and all other major organs and measure bone growth. It is to be sure that the baby is progressing with no forseeable problems and to check my cervix, placenta, and amniotic fluid. It is like a home inspection for me to make sure my body is being hospitable to its renter. I have faith that I am a good landlord for him or her.

I am excited that my mom can be my second person in the room with me, that she can see her grandbaby kick and move. I am happy that Jim and I get to see our daughter or son again, as the time before we are actually going to be holding him or her gets closer everyday. I am an emotional basketcase, because, like any other soon to be parent, I just want a good report.

Thanks to each of you for your unending prayers for the 3 of us!

Just thinking about tomorrow.....

Week 21: Banana

What is happening with baby?
Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you want your future child to eat as you prepare your

own lunch.