Your first party!

Me with some of my closest and dearest friends at your shower!

All the lovely ladies of the family!! They sure know how to throw a great party!

Your Aunt Hayley came in town to celebrate!

Me at 25 weeks heading to the shower!

Last weekend was my baby shower! Let's just say it was all I could ask for and MORE!! It was such a wonderful day spent with close friends and family. The food was amazing and the company was even better. We all had so much fun opening presents, chatting and catching up, and gushing over your arrival in the upcoming months. Your dad and I got so many nice things for you. You can now ride in style with your new stroller and car seat. We also got your Pack 'N Play which you will sleep in for the first few weeks! Adorable outfits, blankets, burp cloths, bibs, bouncy chairs, etc. We were so thankful to everyone who came and could celebrate with us! I can't wait to show you the board of pictures your Mimi Thompson put together of your dad and me. Looking at the pictures sure did make me wonder about all the adorable features you will get from each of us. I know you will be growing so much in the next few months! We will look forward to seeing you at our 3-D ultrasound coming up in a month or so!! Let the nesting begin as we start to get your room ready. I can't wait to fill all the adorable clothes and socks with YOU!!! Love you!

Growing, growing. . .

24 weeks!



23 weeks!

I can't believe how fast these past few weeks/months have gone! You are going to be here before we know it! We had your 24 week doctor's appointment and everything is great! The past few weeks have been amazing as I have really started to feel you moving about. You are SO active and think "playtime" is about 2 am each morning. Your dad and I lay in bed sometimes and just watch you go to town punching and kicking away. It is the coolest feeling. I can't wait to kiss those little feet and hands! My baby shower is this weekend and I am looking forward to seeing lots of family and friends that have come together to celebrate you. :) I am also looking forward to introducing you to some Baby Cakes cupcakes. Delish! I am sure you will be doing lots of flips after I have a few of those. I will be taking lots of pictures at the shower so I can show you someday. I have one more 4 week appointment and then I will start going every 2 weeks because I will be in my third trimester. Winter will set in and you are going to be here before we know it! We are really starting to get your room ready. We have bought the paint for your room and your aunt Hayley is going to help me decorate the letters in your name so we can hang those in your nursery. Crib/furniture ordered, bedding ordered, now all we need is YOU!!! Love you Reid!

Recent Bump Pics

Your name

Now that we know you are a BOY we immediately started calling you by your name, Reid Matthew Thompson. We had the name Reid picked out for a long time. Your dad and I had watched a movie several years back and the main characters name was Reid. I fell in love with the name. Of course your middle name is being passed down to you from your daddy. Now I don't know many Reid's, and I have never had one in my class so we saw that as a good sign. Your name sounds very masculine and is totally a quarterback or starting pitcher name. :) You already have enough team gear to last you through your first few months of life. Problem is, you are going to be confused as to who to root for. You have Mizzou gear, Cardinals, Royals, Chiefs and more to come. You are going to be one well dressed little guy. Reid, we love you so much and can't wait to meet you!

It's a. . .

BOY!!!!! We found out that you were going to be a boy on September 29! I could hardly stand the wait and we were both so excited for the appointment! I couldn't decide if I was more excited to find out your gender or just to see you again. It had been several months since I had gotten to see you. Your little head came up on the screen first and you actually looked like a baby (last time you really were just the size of a bean)! You weren't being very cooperative during the sonogram and I thought we would leave there and not know. The sonogram technician had me turn on my side to hopefully get you to move a certain way so we could get the "money shot." When I flipped over it took her less than a few minutes to tell us you were going to be a boy!! I instantly started to cry and even your dad got a bit teary eyed. We saw you get the hiccups and punch your arm in the air a few times. You already are an active little boy! Your heart is still so strong at 152 bpm and you are measuring just perfectly! The appointment couldn't have gone any better. The minute we left we started calling everyone to tell them the good news. It is so wonderful to refer to you by your name and to use words like he, him and his. Now it is on to getting your nursery ready and planning the baby shower! The next few months are going to be so exciting as we prepare for your arrival. Next Friday I will be 20 weeks along and half way through the pregnancy. I know these next few months will fly by and you will be growing like a weed. I can't wait to hold you in my arms and kiss your little feet! We love you!

Blue or Pink??

The top picture was taken after my doctor's appointment at 14 weeks 5 days!


This is a poll that I have started with my class. Obviously most of them think you are a boy. Your dad and I have a feeling you are a boy too but we could be totally wrong. 50/50 shot, right? Can't wait!



We had our third doctor's appointment on Wednesday, September 1! I always get so excited for these visits. You dad was able to leave work and meet me there which was wonderful. I was 14 weeks 5 days at the time of our last visit. We heard your little heartbeat and it was up to 160 bpm! So strong! Your dad called you "Champ." Everything went great and the doctor answered all my burning questions. Now here is the exciting part. . . we get to find out if you are a boy or a girl on Wednesday, September 29!!! This month!! I can't wait to be able to refer to you as "he" or "she." Let the shopping begin! Actually your Grammy Janey and I went shopping for you (well more me) last weekend. I bought my first set of maternity clothes because my pants are starting to get a bit snug. I got some cute things and you are going to have one stylish mom! :) We also went to USA Baby and looked at furniture for your nursery. I saw a lot of cute things. Grammy Janey bought you a sign for your nursery that says, "Good Night Moon" (my fave book when I was little). She also bought you a new little outfit. I have a feeling these next few weeks you are going to be growing so much! I can't wait to feel those little kicks and punches from you! We love you so much already.

"First" Chiefs game!

Well Bean you have officially been to your first Chiefs game!!! Many more to come I am sure. Your dad and I went to the pre-season game on Friday, August 27 when I was exactly 14 weeks pregnant with you! We had a great time. The Chiefs played great but lost in the last few seconds. Maybe when you are old enough to understand the game of football they will actually be good. Your dad and I still love to go when we get the chance. I am sure a Chiefs onesie is in your future! Your Grammy Janey is a die hard fan and tends to get a little rowdy while watching the games. I am sure you will hear her at some point this season if we get together to watch a game. Go Chiefs!

Yes, there is a bump.

Okay so I am convinced that I am starting to have the beginnings of a baby bump! Thoughts? You are growing bigger and bigger everyday and are now 13 weeks!! I am past the first trimester and am looking forward to what the second trimester will bring. From what I have heard I am going to be starting to feel a whole lot better. I have started school and absolutely love my class! I told them all the exciting news and they can't wait to meet you! I told them I had never experienced this with any other class before and they are excited to be a part of this first time journey. I am looking forward to hearing your heartbeat again a week from Wednesday (September 1). I am going to ask my doctor if we can find out your gender in October. I will be 18 weeks by then so hopefully they will be able to tell us if you are a boy or a girl! We are patiently waiting to do any baby type stuff until then, but I am getting VERY antsy. Since my last blog you have accumulated more books for your collection. I can't wait to read, "Goodnight Moon" to you. That was always one of my favorite books. I also have my old rocking chair from when I was little waiting for you to sit in someday. I had it at school for the kids to sit in but I thought I would bring it home and stash it away for you. We can't wait to see what these next few weeks/months bring! That puts us days closer to meeting you. :)

12 Weeks!

Well we are almost over the hump of the first trimester! One more week. . . and I am really starting to feel a lot better. I am getting my appetite back which is great! I start school next week and I can't wait to tell all my kids and parents how excited I am to meet you in February! I am sure the kids will be excited all year as they watch me grow bigger and bigger. :) I bet they will make you a lot of pictures for us to hang in your nursery. Our next doctor's appointment will be September 1. We are hoping to find out if you are a boy or a girl at our October appointment! Here are a few things happening with your growth and development this week:

*your reflexes are beginning to develop. You can open and close your fingers, curl your toes, your eye muscles can clench, and you can make sucking movements with your mouth.

*your eyes have moved from the sides to the front of your head

*your ears are right where they should be

*you are about 2 inches long (about the size of a lime) and weigh about half an ounce

*your nerve cells are multiplying rapidly

We have started to think about ideas for your nursery! You are going to have such a cool and cozy room. Your dad is quite the master painter (he painted the entire basement in one weekend)and is itching to get your room painted. Blue or pink? That is the question! Until next time. . .

2nd doctor's appointment!

Today was your second doctor's appointment! Your heartbeat was 145 bpm! So strong for almost 11 weeks! The doctor said everything sounded good and looked great. We have to wait until September 1 to hear you again. :) Those 4 weeks in between appointments seem like forever. There will be lots of changes for us coming up in the next few weeks. I will be going back to school full time and teaching a whole new batch of second graders. I will also be helping with the Varsity Volleyball team. I won't be able to jump in and play as hard or often as I did last year. You will get to attend your fair share of games already! We are also starting to talk about things we need to do to get your nursery ready. We decided on which room we want to use so that is a start. :) Since we didn't have a sonogram picture today for me to post I decided to post a picture of some of the goodies you have already received from people. Your Aunt KK got you the Sigma Kappa t-shirt and she can't wait to see you in it! Your Aunt Karah got you a little onesie and a wonderful Coldplay lullaby cd. I think your mom and dad are more excited to listen to that than you are! Your Grandma Jane is an avid follower of children's books and she already told me she has a few to put on your bookshelf! Your Aunt Hayley can't wait to find out if you are a boy or a girl so she can start her shopping. Don't even get me started on all the cute baby things I have seen for you, but I have had to resist the urge. Watch out stores once we find out! :)

10 Weeks

So you are 10 weeks now! This past week was quite tiring for me. I coached volleyball in the morning and taught a summer school course in the afternoon. Needless to say I was worthless in the evenings. I guess I need to get used to it as school is starting in a few short weeks. I can hardly wait for Wednesday, August 4! This is your next doctor's appointment and we get to hear your little heartbeat again! I feel like I am starting to show a bit and have a little pooch. I call it the "phantom pooch" because it is not as visible in the mornings, but by afternoon and evening I look like I have eaten a big meal! I am so ready to have that little baby bump! Here are some things happening with you this week in your growth and development:

*you are barely the size of a kumquat

*you are little over an inch long and weigh less than a quarter of an ounce

*your swallowing fluids and kicking up a storm (Not sure if I have felt those yet)

*some of your most vital organs are in place and starting to function

*your tiny nails are forming on your fingers and toes

*you are beginning to grow peach-fuzz hair on your skin

*your limbs can bend now

*the outline of your spine is clearly visible

I still find it hard to believe that all of this is going on inside me. You truly are a miracle and we can't wait to see you at our next sonogram!

P.S. I introduced you to some of the best cheese pizza this past week from G and D's in Columbia when we went to visit your gma and gpa Thompson. YUM!!

(www.babycenter.com has more information and pictures of development at 10 weeks)

Reading, reading, and more reading

Well I definitely have enough reading material to learn all I need to know about being pregnant! Of course the pregnancy bible, What to Expect When You're Expecting, was one of the first books we bought. Although a little overwhelming at times, it has been very helpful! I thouroughly enjoyed reading Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy. Such an easy read and she doesn't sugar coat anything. A must read for any other pregnant women out there. We also bought Baby Bargains which I have yet to open due to all the anxiety it may bring. HA! It talks about all the different baby things we will need for you, from bottles to strollers. Not quite ready to open that one yet. Your dad also has some reading to do. He is not much a reader of books so I am sure sometime around the 8th month or so they will be opened! He also ordered me the Parenting magazine so I can have even more material to read! I will try and read as much as I can until your arrival. Although I have a feeling that the motto of a first time parent is "live and learn" and no matter how much I read there will always be something that I didn't know. :)

9 weeks!

Today you are about 9 weeks! I am very much looking forward to our next doctor's appointment on August 4. I can't wait to hear that little heartbeat of yours again. This week you are about the size of a grape and you weigh about a fraction of an ounce. Can you believe that? Some other things happening to you this week:

*your heart is finishing dividing into four chambers and the valves are starting to form

*your teeth are starting to form

*your organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear

*your eyes are fully formed but your eyelids will be sealed shut until around 27 weeks

*you have tiny earlobes and your mouth, nose and nostrils are more distinct

All this and you are the size of a juicy grape although you have taken on the name of "Bean." I just can't seem to call you "it" so for now you are just "Bean." :)

(I have found this wonderful website that tells you all the different things that are developing week to week with the baby. The website is http://www.babycenter.com/. Click on the pregnancy tab and then click on the week. So interesting!)

Blah, bleck, blah, ugh.

Sooo I have really been feeling all the signs and symptoms of what the lovely first trimester of pregnancy can bring. When doctors and books refer to the symptom of "morning" sickness being only in the morning, that is just ridiculous. For some maybe, but for me I have had "all day" sickness. Not so much physically getting sick (which I have a few times) but feeling like I could all day! Fun, huh? My appetite has gone out the window and if I ever have to see or taste another saltine cracker, it may be the death of me. :) Your dad has been wonderful through this whole thing. I usually can cook us some lovely meals at night and plan ahead as to what we will be having the whole week. Not now. My appetite is day to day and nothing sounds good. Here are a few things that I have found tasty while pregnant with you:


*mashed potatoes


*pizza


*peanut butter and jelly sandwiches


*Pringles


*Spaghetti O's (gourmet meal at its best)


*pasta


*chinese food (your aunt got me hooked on Pei Wei)


Are you seeing a pattern here? CARBS!!! That is all that has sounded good to me. I typically eat way healthier than this but fruit, veggies, etc. have not sounded good at all. Of course there are some things I can't eat while pregnant with you. And of course I have been craving some of these things. I can't have:


*sushi


*most fish


*lunch meat (I crave Jimmy John's ALL the time)


*caffeine (never been much of a caffeine drinker, but now I want it)


I am hoping once school starts back up the joys of the first trimester will be behind me and I will be back to eating a regular meal not loaded down with carbs. I have also been extremely tired. The kind of tired where you can fall asleep standing up. All for the best though because I know you are developing and growing each day!

Breaking the News

Your grandmas reading their poems and checking out the onesies!
Your grandpa finding out the news!

This was one of the biggest secrets we have ever had to keep. I am not a good secret keeper (I will have you talk to my friends Courtney and Kacy when you get older and they can confirm this). We gradually started telling a few people at a time because we couldn't stand it! It took everything I had not to shout, "We are having a baby!" to anyone and everyone who would listen. We really thought about how we were going to tell your grandparents and immediate family members. The creative teacher side of me came out. Since we were 99.9% sure you were conceived in Florida while on our family vacation, I decided to get some onesies to break the news. We bought each of your grandparents onesies that read, "What happens in Florida. . . doesn't always stay in Florida." (I will have your dad explain what this means to you at a much later time). I also found a really cute poem online to share the news of you. Here is the poem below:

I do not have a face to see,
Or put inside a frame.
I do not have soft cheeks to kiss,
I don’t yet have a name.
You can’t hold my tiny hands,
Nor whisper in my ear.
It’s still too soon to sing a song,
Or cuddle me so near.
But all will change come February 25th,
That’s when they say I’m due.
I’m your new grandson or granddaughter,
I can’t wait till I meet you.
All I ask between now and then,
Is your patience while I grow.
I promise I’ll be worth the wait,
Because of all the love we’ll know.
So what I have to give you now,
Is a wish to you from me.
I cannot wait to be part
Of this wonderful family!

Needless to say there were lots of tears of joy when everyone heard the news about you!

Our first doctor's appointment

This day couldn't have come sooner! We were looking forward to seeing you for the first time! Your dad took the day off work to go to our first OB appointment on Wednesday, July 7. We were not sure what to expect. On this day I found out that you were only 6 weeks and 5 days old. Less than a centimeter big!! We went into the sonogram room and couldn't believe what we saw and HEARD!! Your heartbeat! A strong 120 beats per minute. It brought tears to my eyes. Your dad really couldn't figure out how something so small could be so alive inside me. Everything checked out great and we found out that your official due date is February 25th!

And then there was three. . .

Your dad and I on the pirate cruise in Florida!

We had been trying for you for a few months now. After returning from our family vacation to Florida (you will get to go with us next year) I decided to take a pregnancy test. The exact day was Saturday, June 19. Well. . . after taking one and finding a positive result I took another. POSITIVE!! I ended up taking four, all with positive results! I just loved seeing that little + sign. :) I couldn't believe this day had arrived! Your dad wasn't at home at the time, and as soon as he got home I told him the news. "SWEET!" were his first words. The minute we found out he liked to refer to you as "Jr." :) We waited to tell anyone the news for awhile. We wanted to let the news sink in for the two of us first. Our world as we know it was about to change!!!!