24 Weeks

Whew!  Time sure is flying by!  We had a lovely week in Michigan for Thanksgiving with my family.  I registered for all sorts of baby goodies (and a bff came with me, Lauren Maiman).  I loved every second of it!  I ate lots of food and enjoyed every second of that too :)  The past two weeks back in Waco have been crazy-busy with work and our Hispanic Ministry.  We leave in a week and half for South Africa to spend Christmas with David's family.  We are so looking forward to this visit.  We haven't been with all of David's siblings and parents (and now all our nieces and nephew) since our wedding 4.5 years ago!  What a blessing this trip will be.  
Pregnancy is going very well - I'm rounding out nicely and enjoying the dance parties that baby boy has in my tummy.  Here are a few pictures to update y'all! 
                                                                                                    

21 Weeks

23 Weeks (Thanksgiving 2010)

23 Weeks

                                                                                          

24 Weeks

24 Weeks

21 Weeks Wiggle

Our little guy is growing quickly....and I can tell he gets bigger each day because I can feel him more and more!  It truly is amazing! Starting at 19 week,s I could feel him each night.  Around this time (7-10p.m.) he wakes up and wiggles around.  I am sitting here and can even see my belly pop up when he kicks or punches.  It's so crazy!  I am in love :)  I will always try to grab David's hand and put it on my belly...but so often Kbabe stops right then!  My next doctor appointment is tomorrow, so I'm hopeful for more good news.  I feel great (in terms of pregnancy..but I have been sick with a cold, cough, sore throat for nearly 5 weeks now!)  I am READY to be well again...please pray for me. 
This past weekend we went to Chicago to celebrate my cousin Rae's wedding.  She was stunning and it was a wonderful time with my mom's family.  It was fun for my parents and brother, Bruce, to actually SEE the belly!  I'll update more next week when I'm off for Thanksgiving...but here are a few pictures at 21 weeks.  I feel like I've grown a lot since the last pictures taken during week 18!

It's a BOY!

It’s a BOY! 

On Monday, Oct. 25^th we went to our ultrasound!   With a full bladder, I endured a 30 minute prodding session.  David got to watch it all and at the end, she turned the screen and gave us both a guided tour of our little prince.  We saw his heart beat, his eyes (well, the “spots” where they are), his fingers, toes, kidneys, nose, chin, profile, bones, umbilical cord and the “man-proof!”  When she announced that it was a boy, my heart fluttered with joy (as did David’s)!  We would have been thrilled either way, but how fun to have a baby boy…and as David says “Well, at least there will be someone in the family to carry on the Karnes name.” 

Speaking of fluttering…I felt our baby boy move for the first time during the ultrasound!  She had to prod him to get him to move so she could measure his spine and I think he had one of his biggest movements because I most definitely felt him!  How fun!  I have felt him move a couple times since…and love it! 

I love being pregnant and finally being able to dream of our baby with more specifics – like what HE will look like, what HE will be like, if HE will play sports, etc.  It feels more real now…and the belly is definitely a pregnant belly now…not just a few extra lbs.  I love it!  Although, the hips are rounding out almost as nicely as the belly (oh well!).  My mom and I made an agreement back in the August that by my cousin Rae’s wedding on November 13, I would gain 10lbs and she would lose 10.  Well, I went to the gym today and have hit the 10lb mile marker.  I started this journey at 118 and am now 128.8 (okay, no woman will ever round up when it comes to her weight….even when she’s pregnant!)  I feel and look like I’ve gained way more than 10!  I do love these changes though and seeing my belly grow because it means that my BABY BOY is GROWING and with each week, he is that much closer to being in my arms! 

I am 19 weeks ….almost half way done!  WOW!  I feel like it’s going pretty quickly, but David can just hardly stand it – it’s going so slowly for him.  He wants his SON out and in his arms!

 18 weeks

 18 Weeks Ultrasound

1.  Upper left = Kbabe's "manhood" (notice the arrow.  He is sitting indian-style.  You can also see his left femur bone pretty clearly!)

2.  Upper right = precious profile

3.  Lower left = hand (four fingers shown - the 5th is tucked in - she assured us there are five though)

4. Lower right = Little foot!

17.5 Weeks

The last week (or so) has been full of belly aches; lots of inner stretching and pulling going on. I was a little concerned about these, but then read that it’s normal because all the ligaments and muscles do lots of spreading and stretching this month. I feel like I’m finally starting to look pregnant these days. This was confirmed when a few students at school this week said “Miss, I don’t mean no disrespect, but are you pregnant?” I am officially wearing maternity pants (needing buy some more asap!). The nausea has past (well, mostly...it flares up once and awhile, especially if I stay up past my bed time). Although, I’m still waiting for the 2nd trimester energy boost I have heard so much about! I am so very tired these days, almost more so than the 1st trimester. The past week I went to bed at 8p.m. most nights and then around 1:30 at school I got sooo very sleepy. I’m just trying to listen to my body (and baby) and get the rest I need. It’s true, every woman’s pregnancy is different. Even with all the changes and challenges, I do love being pregnant. Only 8 more days until we find out if we’re having a boy or girl and we cannot wait!!!!!! Our appointment is at 1p.m. on October 25. I took the rest of the day off work so we can celebrate, make some phone calls, and go on a date. We haven’t really come up with names, so we can’t wait to start thinking of some. However, we are probably going to wait until we have the baby to share the name....we’ll see  I have a check-up doctor appointment tomorrow and am looking forward to more good news. On that note, time to finish grading papers and off to SLEEP for me! Thanks for your prayers and love!

Babymoon at Blisswood B&B

This has been a wonderful weekend!  We have so much to be thankful for in life and are incredibly blessed!  The past 6 weeks have been quite a whirlwind in which I’ve been busy with school (very busy!) and busy with Spanish ministry.  This is the last week of the first marking period of school!  Only 4 more to go for me (5 for the non-pregnant teachers...haha).  So, David and I decided to have a babymoon, celebrate our 4 year anniversary and it just so happens that we also were blessed to celebrate being debt free (on Thursday we paid off all our business debt in under two years, instead of the planned 3 years!  All PRAISE TO GOD!)

So, on Friday, David picked me up from school and took me on our surprise adventure.  After nearly 2 hours we began driving down curving, country roads and I was thinking “where the heck are we going?”  We pulled into a private drive (reminded me much of Black River, the horse camp I grew up attending in the summers because the long road into the ranch is barely marked and once you arrive it’s a beautiful landscape of fields and horses).  I first saw this.....

 And then we pulled into this......The Enchanted Cabin at:

http://www.blisswood.net/rooms_onsite-enchanted.html

 

The nearest people were at least a mile away.  We were totally secluded for the weekend without TV and didn’t answers phones (well, they didn’t get reception anyways).  It was glorious.  We had great times of prayer, fun, walks, and amazing quality time together.  It was just what the doctor ordered.  We both returned to Waco today refreshed and rested!  I posted more pics on facebook under my Fall 2010 album.  My heart is FULL and I am so in love with my husband.  He is a man of love, tenderness, strength, wisdom, fun, thoughtfulness, joy, integrity and passion.  I am so proud of him and so proud to be his wife.  I can honestly say that after 4 years of marriage I AM more in love and we are even better best friends (God has blessed us tremendously)! 

Baby news = good news, but nothing too new.  The nausea is starting to get better...I think.  I dear friend who is about my size brought over some maternity clothes for me to borrow and trying on maternity pants was like heaven!  My belly is bulged enough to not fit into my normal pants with them buttoned.  I am 14 weeks and dying to get the phone call to set up our appointment to see WHO we are having....  That should be possible at the end of October.  Cravings still continue.  Over the weekend, I was madly craving grilled BLTs.  So, David bought all the goodies and I thoroughly enjoyed every bite.  Stay tuned for more next week!  Our little kitchenette :)

 This was along the private drive to our cabin....so peaceful!  

Promises from God for our children! (13 weeks)

David and I have been enjoying our Saturday mornings.  It’s so special to have one day a week when we can wake up slowly and lie in bed and talk.  David usually leans over and talks to our precious baby and gives him/her some kisses.  Then, he serves me cereal in bed.  After that, we go into the family room and spend time with Jesus with worship music playing, a yummy-smelling candle lit and our hearts being stirred by God.  I sat down on the couch this morning and had a heart desire to hear God speak something about our baby.  I turned to Zechariah and began reading, which at first felt a little random.  This turned out to be a very specific passage that God wanted me to read.  (This post is long, but I really want to document it and ask for people to join in and pray what God has spoken over our family). 

Zechariah 9:14-17

“Then the Lord will appear over them; his arrow will flash like lightning.  The soveriegn Lord will sound the trumpet, he will march in the storms of the south, and the Lord Almighty will shield them.  They will destroy and overcome with slingstones.  They will drink and roar as with wine; they will be full like a bowl used for sprinkling the corners of the altar.  The Lord their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people.  They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.  How attractive and beautiful they will be!  Grain will make the young men thrive and new wine the young women.” 

My revelation and prayers of declaration from these promises:

OUR CHILDREN WILL BE:

-Shielded by their God.

-Destroyers and overcomers with slingstones (they will destroy and overcome evil/trouble with simple weapons of faith – like King David as a little shepherd boy – glorifying the POWER of God).

-Full like a bowl (full of the Holy Spirit – since wine represents the Holy Spirit ) used for sprinkling the altar (used for worshipping God – they will overflow with worship to God).

-Saved by God (trusting in God alone for salvation – not looking to the things of this world or other people for fulfillment or salvation).

-Sparkling in his land like jewels in a crown (lighting up our family, their spheres of influence, our city and this world with the Glory and Beauty of God.  Their PLACE is in the crown – in the King’s treasured place.  As parents, we will polish these precious jewels by caring for them, loving them, teaching them and delighting in their natural beauty). 

-Beautiful and attractive (inside and out – reflecting the beauty of God for they ARE wonderfully and beautifully made in His image!  Their personalities and hearts will be pure and attract others towards God). 

-Ones who THRIVE (on the grain/bread (word of God) and new wine (Holy Spirit).  They will enjoy the bread of life (Bible) and grow by being filled and led by the Holy Spirit). 

Zechariah 10:7

“The Ephraimites will become like mighty men, and their hearts will be glad as with new wine.  Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.”

-God – make David and me mighty and fill our hearts with the gladness of the freshness/refreshment that the Holy Spirit brings us daily! 

Zechariah 10:12

“I will strengthen them in the Lord and in his name they will walk,’ declares the Lord.”

-I declare that our family will find our strength in God and we will walk and live in His ways.

_____________

WOW – Now, if people think God doesn’t truly speak to His children when they sit and listen – they are MISSING OUT!  He is sooo good.  Jeremiah 29:12-14 “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord.”

PREGNANCY NEWS:

I went to the doctor yesterday for my 13 week appointment.  I heard the strong and fast heartbeat – what a precious, precious sound!  Dr. Bachofen said everything looks/sounds perfect. 

 13 Week Belly

I threw my back out on Tuesday – and was like a crippled old lady for two days, barely able to move.  I have been icing, stretching, seeing the chiropractor and praying and am feeling much better.  Not 100% yet, but getting there!  ALL IS WELL – ALL IS WELL WITH MY SOUL

12 Week Pucker

We go to the doctor for our 13th week appointment on Friday.  I don't think they take any pics of K Babe, but I'll get to hear the heart beat.  Face is broken out, clothes are tight, gained 5lbs since Aug. 7th....walk around with unbuttoned pants, still very tired and nauseous a few times a day - the glory of being 3 months pregnant :)  Next update coming next weekend!  Mucho amor. 

A Little Tight

I’ve hit the 11 week marker and I guess it is crazy to think I’m almost done with the first trimester....and nearly 1/3 of the way done. I am still feeling pretty nauseous in the mornings .....then again in the afternoon and sometimes at night. I do need to give a huge THANK YOU to God. School started two weeks ago and it seems that He is answering my prayer of taking away the nausea when I’m teaching. All the sudden 1st period begins and I feel a little more energized and not nauseated (and let me tell you just how thankful I am for this because my 1/2nd period class is ROUGH! Yeah...I won’t get into that right now). Just when I start to feel bad in the afternoon, I hit my conference period and have a little time to eat and relax.
So, I’m not quite sure if I’m showing yet or just getting a little thick in the middle due to the first trimester pregnancy diet of just needing to eat whatever makes me feel better. All my pants and even my “loose” shirts are fitting quite snug these days. David thinks I’m for sure starting to show...but that might be him trying to make me feel better about the in-between pregnancy stage when I don’t look pregnant yet...but have definitely rounded out a bit in the hips, buns, and tummy. Ahh well...I’m rolling with (no pun intended). I go back to the doctor during week 13, so that will probably be the next blog update). Thanks for all the love and prayers!

4 Years and 9 Weeks

We celebrated two milestones this week: 4 year anniversary and 9 weeks pregnant. David and I are so in love and thank God for His working in our hearts and marriage. I couldn’t be happier or imagine a more fulfilled marriage; it’s truly wonderful. My mom was in town, so she joined us for dinner at our favorite restaurant in Waco, called 1424. EVERYTHING there is delicious. We are planning an anniversary get-a-way/babymoon at the end of September when it cools off a little (I’m so over the 100+ temps). It’s a surprise, so I don’t have any more details to share....David is the master trip planner! As for celebrating 9 weeks, each week I feel should be celebrated (especially since I am feeling quite nauseous most days/all day, so to get through another week truly is a great feeling). I am just praying the nausea starts to subside quite a bit this coming week as I start back full-time teaching. I never sit down in my classroom and it requires 100% of me and my strength, so I am needing God to help me out!
Here is a picture of us on our anniversary. No baby bump pictures – it will be awhile before the belly bulges. Well, ah ehm, the belly, booty, hips and elsewhere have started to bulge, but I can’t really attribute that to the baby yet....mostly my diet of carbs to keep the nausea at bay. Clothes are tight, but I guess it’s alright. More to come....

First Doctor Appointment

We went to our first doctor’s appointment yesterday at 8:30a.m. Everything is confirmed! Our little “chocolate chip” has a strong, beating heart! We saw the little flash on the screen and couldn’t be more delighted. Our sweet doctor affirmed us that everything looks great and I was indeed 7 weeks and 3 days along. The due date is still on for March 24 (my maternal grandmother’s birthday!) This date couldn’t be anymore perfect for us! I would post the picture of the ultrasound, but our little chip is still so tiny and it’s not a very clear picture – I don’t think anything would be recognizable after I scan and post. So, you’ll have to wait until the next one...whenever that will be! We are excited and I guess we can make things official now!

David comes home from work each day and says “how’s our little chocolate chip?” (that’s the current size of our baby). He/she (or rather the hormones) are wrecking some havoc on me; but it’s all worth it. Today I was madly craving pickles, so after a long day of work, David lovingly went and bought me a huge jar of the BIG pickles (he’s the best!). Within about 3 bites I felt so much better after nearly 7 hours of nausea. Pickles have never tasted sooo good! Then we ran a few errands and all I wanted was a popsicle, so we went back to the store and settled on creme pops and fudgsicles (couldn’t decide if I wanted fruity or chocolate...why not both?). Till next time, much love! Please keep our little chocolate chip (and me) in your prayers!

A (un)Welcomed Change!

Well, I wasn’t going to blog again until after this Friday (our first doctor’s appt.), because I figured there wouldn’t be much change and therefore not much to say. However, there has been change – a bittersweet change. I have officially started feeling the “first trimester” symptoms. Up to 6 weeks, I felt no nausea, was slightly more tired than normal, but felt amazing! I sometimes “worried” that I was feeling so well. When 6 weeks hit last week, so did some nausea and more fatigue. No longer am I worried…and David tries to encourage me when I’m feeling ill with “Well, this is a good thing, right?” On one hand, he’s right, while trying to logically affirm me that sickness is normal and that should make it all better and on the other hand, all I want him to say is “I’m so sorry babe, what can I get you?” My sweet husband (who, for the record, does get me whatever I want) is taking the brunt of my emotions. Pray for him!
Sometimes I wake up in the morning and feel like I have to drag myself out of bed (even after 9+ hours of sleep) and I do usually drag myself out of bed because of the hunger pains. I make my way to the kitchen, pour myself a bowl of cheerios (or my sweet husband sometimes brings it to me in bed…he’s the best!) and then wait to see if it will be a good morning or a rough one. Today is a rough one. Instead of running errands, I’m making a very detailed list of the errands I need to run, making this post and looking up more baby stuff online….and dreading the errands I’ll have to run in 106 degree weather with NO AC in my car! Oh Lord, help me! I truly am thankful for the timing of this pregnancy because most of my sickly first trimester days are during my summer vacation when I have lots of time to rest and relax and eat and nap whenever I want! I do wonder how I would survive if this was all happening the first few months of school?
Along with the fatigue and nausea, I have had some mad cravings. David and Billy (brother who is living with us right now), laugh at me and then I say “You guys just don’t understand! Here, read this book” (as I push Dr. Oz’s You Being Pregnant in their hands) to try to explain to them what I’m experiencing and WHY! I’m needing some female validation in the house! Good thing my mom is coming here in a couple of weeks. She is always supportive and telling me it’s good to keep getting rest! So, back to the cravings. Last week all I wanted was a grilled cheese (on thick white bread, lathered up with butter and lots of Colby Jack cheese in the middle…oh yeah, baby…I can just hear that beautiful sizzle on the frying pan and coupled with that delicious smell!) Well, we don’t eat white bread…nor did we have sliced cheese (because I ate it all the two days prior), so I made nachos with somewhat dry, Mexican sprinkle cheese…not quite the same, but satisfied the salty/cheesy desire. The next major craving was/is French Toast (the melt in your mouth kind)! I even woke up this morning thinking about Burger King’s French Toast sticks (gross!!!), but didn’t feel well enough to leave the house, so I made pancakes (they were just okay).
So, there’s the latest update! I miss everyone and love you all! More to come Friday after our 7 week appointment! (p.s. Baby Karnes currently looks like a tadpole, has a heart beat, and the major organs have started developing!) Praise God! Oh and happy birthday to my sweet sister-in-law, Sara!

4 Weeks (just to remember what it once looked like!)

The Happy News!

The time has arrived! We're EXPECTING! I have dreamt about this time of my life, laid awake at night thinking about what it would be like, watched other people in "the baby season" and felt so many mixed emotions of "I can't wait for that," and also "Whoa, definitely not ready." But, on July 14th when I took a pregnancy test, I couldn't have felt more JOY when I saw those 2 pink lines!
David and I have been on such a journey these past 4 years (4th anniversary is coming up!) and God is richly blessing us with the next season of having children! Back in February, God spoke to David's heart to prepare to have a baby this year. He shared this with me and I received the confirmation I needed, because I was feeling the same thing in my heart! We tried keeping that a secret and when people have asked us when we are planning to have kids, we would just smile and say "oh, maybe sometime this year." When June came around, we both felt like it was "time." We spent a lovely week with our families in Michigan in early July. While there, David and I would catch little moments away from the family to giggle and wonder if I was pregnant. Then, David returned to Texas, while I stayed one more week. During this week, I started feeling "different" and was pretty sure I was pregnant. I waited to take a test until my last day in Michigan, because I knew once it was confirmed on the pregnancy test I wouldn't be able to hold it in very long and I really wanted to tell David in person. So, in the airport (disclaimer: I was with my mom basically the WHOLE time in Michigan and had to wait until I left her to take the test so she wouldn't know!) I took the pregnancy test and wasn't surprised to see it come out positive. I thanked God and walked out of the bathroom with a huge smile on my face. People must have thought I had really needed to relieve myself...haha. When I got home, David and I put my suitcases in our room and I pulled out a card I made him (I made it when my parents went to a concert one night) that read “I can’t wait to meet you Daddy! You are going to be the best father! See you in 9 months. Love, Your Baby.” David smiled, laughed, hugged and kissed me! We celebrated with such joy together! We can’t wait! I’m only 4 weeks along, but excited for the wild journey of these next 8 months. And, Praise GOD that I’m still feeling good (only a little nauseous once in awhile and pretty tired all the time, but no major sickness or aversions to smells/foods).
Oh, one more note for this post: Our blog name “K Babe.” I knew I wanted to make a blog when I got pregnant to document the experience for our memory and to share with our family and closest friends who live far away. I thought and thought about the name and “K Babe” came to my mind. Those of you who have been around us often know that we call one another “babe” constantly. “K, Babe” is probably the most common phrase spoken in our house. The double meaning stands for the Karnes Baby (shortened to the K babe) who is on the way.  Please feel free to pray for us and our baby and share anything God says about this precious one!