After finding out we were pregnant on August 7th, we had our first doctor visit on August 21st where they did an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy. We were scheduled for the 21st because we thought that would put us at 8 weeks, which is when this practice likes to see you for the first time. However, once the ultrasound was done at this appointment, we learned that we were 6 weeks and 4 days. They gave us our new due date of April 12. It was a little nerve-wracking for me when they couldn't find a heart beat with the small ultrasound machine, which made sense in retrospect as it was a little earlier in the pregnancy than we had expected. They had us wait for the big ultrasound machine and after an agonizing hour or so waiting to get in, we finally heard the heart beat for first time. Ben was grinning from ear to ear and I quickly went to quiet tears. For me as I think back over the course of this entire pregnancy, this particular moment stands out as being the most touching and emotional.
During weeks nine and ten of the pregnancy, Ben and I packed our bags and joined my Mom and Dad along with a great group of people from High Point and Greensboro, NC for a 10 day trip to Israel. It is amazing how God granted me strength to manage the fatigue of those first trimester weeks and the exhaustion that came with the heat and physical rigors of the trip. It was the trip of a lifetime and it meant so much to both Ben and myself to walk in the very places where Jesus walked. And then to think that this little baby who was growing stronger and bigger every day within me was able to "be with us" in such a Holy place.... It was amazing. The picture above was taken during a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and the picture below is of Ben placing a prayer for the baby in the Western Wall in Jerusalem.
While this picture from the 12 week ultrasound isn't the clearest one of the bunch, I love the fact that she is holding her hand up to her face and you can see her arm and the bones of her fingers. What God does to create this life from the first moment throughout the 40 weeks is just amazing and how wonderful to get to steal these glimpses!
In early November, I decided to try my hand at planting a few daffodil bulbs in honor of the baby. I thought it would be so much fun to have flowers blooming as an announcement of sorts that this little one was getting close to making an arrival.
Look at that profile! Mom came down to Charleston for the big 20 week ultrasound just before Thanksgiving and the three of us found out pretty early in the process that Carter was a GIRL. Lots of phone calls to the other family members to spread the good news.
Christmas was a special time spent with both sides of the family as we all celebrated this upcoming arrival. Ben and I spent the weekend before Christmas in the mountains with Mom and Dad and then headed down to Columbus for Ben's 40th Birthday and Christmas with his family. While in the mountains, I caught this picture of Mom working on Carter's beautiful blanket.
I love this 3D picture from our 25 week ultrasound. This was a late Christmas present for us. How cool is it to get to see your child's face before you actually get to officially meet!
I was so excited when I saw the first little signs of Carter's daffodils! This picture was taken at the end of February and I just couldn't believe that we were already getting so close to the magic of spring and all that would come with this new season.
While at my parents' home over the last weekend of February for a shower hosted by a wonderful friend of the family in Greensboro, Ginger was quick to take the opportunity to snuggle as best she could with Carter.
Joining us in celebrating Carter's upcoming arrival, friends and family blessed us with several showers. After the shower in Greensboro the last weekend in Feb with the ladies of the family and many of Mom's special friends, our wonderful next door neighbors hosted a shower the following weekend that was attended by couples and children from the neighborhood as well as my best friends and their husbands. And then without any hint to me, our small group from church turned our regular Sunday night gathering into a surprise shower! What a blessing all of these relationships are in our life.
As we enter the home stretch, the nursery is organized and Ben has assembled lots of equipment. Carter's daffodils are in full bloom and we just can't wait for the big birthday when we finally get to meet her!
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