The Baby Leaped in Her Womb

Well, here we are in Colorado visiting the Sillamans and Sillababy is enjoying it very much! Yesterday we tooka trip up to the ranch where the log home is being built and got to see the men placing the first logs! What a great time to be here! There's a mountain on the property that the girls love to hike, so Josh went with Randy and Diane up to the very top. While they were gone I was sitting in the sun reading my book when I felt my little Sillababy start moving around. The baby was doing it quite a bit last week when we were in WV, but hadn't been kicking since we left for CO. I was starting to worry a bit and I had been praying that I would feel those little kicks again. Well, when we were in WV, I could feel the kicks but I knew no one else could. After resting for the first part of the week, I guess Sillababy has worked up strength because I could feel it on the outside of my tummy, too!! I was sad that the family wasn't around to feel, but excited that soon Josh would be able to feel his baby kicking, too.

Last night after a wonderful dinner cooked outside and a great time around the campfire, we went home and started a movie. I got tired and went to bed, and Josh came in just a little after me. Right as we were about to fall asleep, that little Sillababy started trying to get comfortable and Josh got to feel the movement on my tummy. It was so sweet and exciting! We are also really excited to find out in TEN DAYS!! if we are having a little Sillagirl or a little Sillaboy! Monday the 16th is our sonogram! Here are pictures from last week (sorry I'm late!), me at 16 weeks and Josh at 11.
Love, Mommy and Daddy Sillaman

Out of the First Trimester

Well, friends and family, I am finally feeling better! I got sick last Monday and Tuesday (at work - the worst!), but ever since then, I've felt pretty much like a normal person. Every day when I wake up I feel my tummy and this morning I felt a little bulge that has to be where the little Sillababy is living. I can only feel it when I'm lying down though. It's still very exciting.

I've gotten some name ideas lately from my four-year-old neice, Anneliese. For a boy, she has suggested things like Truck Monster and Nothing. For a girl I've gotten things like Anneliese and Ruby. The girl names make a little more sense. My sister told me that she drew a picture of the baby. It's really cute how excited she is about it. I can't wait to see her in less than two weeks!

We're also going to visit Josh's family in Colorado in two weeks!! We have been travelling like crazy lately. We went to Morgantown to be in our friends wedding - Congrats Charity and Vince! And this past weekend we went to Lynchburg to visit some friends and Josh's sister. We're home this weekend and then it's off to Huntington for my cousin Molly's wedding and the day after we get back from Huntington we fly to Denver! Little Sillababy is making his rounds around the country.

After we get back from Colorado, we'll make the appointment for our sonogram so that we can see the baby's brain, lungs, a bunch of other stuff like that and ... GENDER! HOORAY!! I will tell you this: we have some names in mind, but we are keeping it a secret. This is for a few reasons. One of the reasons is ... what if we see the baby and then change our mind?! Another is that I don't want anyone to have any preconceived notions. If I tell you we're naming the baby Billy-Bob, you're going to think about a Billy-Bob you've known or what you think of when you hear Billy-Bob, whether it be a backwoods hick or a dancing mechanical bear. No, I like it better that you will see the baby, or a picture, and that's when you'll hear his or her name for the first time. Also, I don't want anyone to talk me out of it. People have good intentions, but if I tell you I'm naming the baby Kristen and you say "That's so pretty ... have you thought of Kiersten, though?" then I'm going to start second guessing our decision. So there you have it. Until he or she is born, we will call the baby "Sillababy." You can ask us what names we like, but we won't tell you. :) But we love you.

Thanks for reading our blog! I'll put up new pictures soon. I forgot to take them last week. Josh's beard is getting out of control and we still have six months!!!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy Sillaman

Something's Off . . .

Everything I've read and everyone I've talked to has said that you're supposed to start feeling better after ten or twelve weeks. Well guess what! I'll be thirteen weeks pregnant on Sunday and I DO NOT feel better! I feel worse. I threw up like 4 or so times at work yesterday, couldn't keep anything down, not even apple juice! Then on my way home I stopped at Wal-Mart and barely made it to the toilet to throw up again. I went straight to sleep when I got home and slept about 5 hours. Still didn't feel great, but I ate a couple of crackers with peanut butter and at least that stayed down. I also slept all through the night and I feel a little better today. I'm sort of scared to eat much because I hate throwing up!

Anyway, this is a short post, but I wanted to rant and rave about how I feel worse now than I have throughout the rest of the pregnancy. Please keep us in your prayers, especially my upset tummy and our finances. But at least I know my little Sillababy has a beating heart. I love to randomly listen to his little heartbeat. Or hers. :) That always makes me feel a little better.

As Always,
Love,
Mommy and Daddy Sillaman

Everything Changes in a Heartbeat

"Life is one of those precious fleeting gifts, and everything can change in a heartbeat.”

SO TRUE! We went to the doctor today and got to hear Sillababy's heartbeat! It was absolutely amazing. I asked Dr. Richman if I could record it and he said "Well, let me make sure I can find it first. Sometimes it takes a little while." He put this cold gel stuff on my lower abdomen and then as soon as he placed the dobbler there, we heard it immediately! He said "Well, that was quick!" And Josh and I got so excited!! We recorded it, and I'm trying to figure out how to get it posted on here. When I do, you can hear the heartbeat, really fast and strong. Then I laugh and the noise is all loud and scratchy. Haha. Then my doctor says "It's official!" I had a lot of trouble not laughing. It was so awesome and so cool. We were talking on the way home and it definitely feels more real now. I almost cried a little and I'm still kind of feeling overwhelmed and like I might cry.

And I know, a million women have a million babies every year, but ... no one has ever had this one. God is forming this little baby in me especially for us. And he's using some of Josh and some of me to make the baby. It's just so incredible. I definitely didn't think being pregnant would be anything like what it has been so far. And I definitely still freak out a bit when I think that I'm going to have a little person in my arms in six and a half months. But I trust the Lord and I trust Josh and really that's all that matters.

On a bit of a different note, I also have to say a little something about my doctor. I love him. He has this kind of dirt-hole looking office and when you go up to the door all the letters are falling off and it looks kind of scary. They don't have an actual room for weighing and blood pressure. The scale is in the bathroom. It does not look very inviting and the first time I went, I was a little nervous. Until I met Dr. Richman. First, he's so laid-back and whatever about things, which really appeals to me. He doesn't try to fill space with small talk or anything. And he's hilarious. Today I said "I called my primary care physician about getting a flu shot and they said they need a note from you." He rolled his eyes and said "They do NOT need a NOTE from me. They know that. Pregnant or not, everyone gets a flu shot. I'll give you a note, but they're just being ridiculous." His note says "Katrina is 12 weeks pregnant. She may get the seasonal and swine flu shot as needed." He paused and added, "Pregnancy does not effect this." Hahaha! He was actually so frustrated with the stupidity of the PCP that he misspelled "seasonal" about three times. I asked a few other questions and most of his answers were things like "Just do what you normally do. Listen to your body. Don't go play flag football or soccer where you could get hit in the stomach, but don't let those books or other people scare you. Don't listen to any of them." He's so great. Especially with this being my first pregnancy, I tend to freak out a little when I read something like - don't sleep on your back. What if I roll over in my sleep?! Dr. Richman was so cool about it and puts me at such ease. I'm really glad he's going to be the one delivering our little Sillababy.

So now ... picture updates! Here I am at 12 weeks. Honestly I don't know if my organs are moving around and this is a baby bump, or if I ate too many brownies at work today, but I'd like to say it's the baby. And Josh's beard is growing faster than his hair. In a month, he's going to be a mountain man!! He's trying to think of a good way to utilize his beard for his Halloween costume.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy Silaman

World's Worst Blogger

So I apoogize that it's been forever since an update. It's funny: they say that weeks 6-10 or so are the hardest, and those have been the weeks I didn't update! Well, for the most part, I just haven't had much to say. I've been kind of sick, but not as bad as I've seen other people get. I have only thrown up three times, and only one of those was at work. Most of the time I just feel weird inside. I feel like if someone bumps me, I'll throw up ... or burp. The two feelings are kind of indisctintive. I'm feeling sick all the time and then I just burp. ALL THE TIME. And I randomly gag on nothing. I'll be driving down the road, singing some tunes, and - gag - gross. But nothing really happens. Hopefully this phase of my pregnancy is almost over.

Josh and I have come to the conclusion that we can't stay in this apartment when the baby comes. It is just too small. We went and looked at two places. One of them we were really not impressed with. The unit they showed us had cabinets hanging off the hinges, it smelled badly of old cigarettes and wet dog, the smoke alarm was screeching for a new battery the whole time we were there, and a light was hanging out of its socket. If this is the way they "take so much pride in" their units, according to the leasing agent, we aren't interested. The other place we looked at was Chesapeake Glen, which used to be Green Tree, which scares us a little. However, the leasing office was much more professional, the model unit was absolutely gorgeous, and she said they have a maintenance guarantee that if you put in a call and they aren't there within 24 hours, you get a credit!

We have friends who lived there until recently when they bought a house, so we called them and they said that they never had problems with maintenance, there were a couple of months of safety complaints, but Chesapeake Glen nipped it in the bud quickly. So, that's where we're going! The apartment will have two bedrooms, one full bath, a washer and dryer and a dishwasher!!! I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the dishwasher!!

Well, as for the Sillababy, he or she is just growing right along! We get to hear the heartbeat next Tuesday, and we are super excited for that! According to babycenter.com, Sillababy is over an inch or so long and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce. Our baby is no longer an embryo and is now a fetus! Some of the vital organs — including the kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver — are in place and starting to function. Sillababy also has tiny nails forming on fingers and toes and peach-fuzz hair growing on its little baby skin. Our baby's limbs can bend now, and in the coming weeks, our little baby will double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Here are some photo updates. My belly at ten weeks looks like it might be growing a bit. Josh's hair at five weeks after shaving it is DEFINITELY growing. I've put on somewhere between 1-3 pounds. Josh has put on about 7, so he's growing faster than me, but Sillababy and I are trying to catch up!!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy Sillaman

Six Weeks

Sunday I was six weeks, and I'm beginning to feel it. I got some morning sickness last week and I've just been generally not feeling well. I kind of always have an upset stomach, which is fine. It doesn't really interfere with anything I'm trying to do, but I'm not hungry very much because of it and that's not very good since I need to make sure I'm eating well. There's not really anything I want to eat; I'm mostly just eating because I know I have to.



I did go shopping the other day, though, and I bought some maternity clothes. Not because I'm showing, but because I have this fear that I'm going to wake up one morning with a baby bump and none of my clothes will fit! So I got something I can wear to work, something for every day, and something for church. I'm getting so nervous about everything! And I know I don't need to be, but the baby consumes my every thought and then I start to worry "Is the timing okay?," "How are we going to afford this?," "What if I don't eat right and my baby is a mutant?!?!?!" So I try to calm myself and remind myself that God is sovreign, and He is taking care of everything for me. He already has it all planned out, so I do not need to worry.



I would love for you to pray for our finances, of course, and also that we could get a slightly bigger apartment. I would really like to have another bedroom and a dishwasher. Josh and I both HATE washing dishes as it is. When the baby comes along, I'm sure it will just get worse.



Here's my six weeks picture ... not much change ... YET!



Love,

Mommy and Daddy Sillaman

Country Roads, Take Me Home

We went to Huntington this weekend to go to my ten year reunion and to tell the rest of the family about the little Sillababy. We had so much fun! Everyone is really excited and my sister sent me home with a crate of maternity clothes and a long list of stuff she wants me to take next time I come home. I'm so lucky to have my big sister! She's got a crib, a cradle, a rocker, a car seat, and a LOT more left from when Anneliese was a baby.

My class reunion went pretty well. I got to see quite a few of my friends from the old days, but it was a bit too short. I did let everyone know about the baby and they were all happy for me. MY friend Angela is about four months along with her third, so that was fun to talk to her.

We spent a lot of time with Anneliese, and that made me even more excited to have one of our own. She's so smart and such fun, which totally runs in the family!! We also spent some time with my friends Rachel and Rebekah and told them about the baby. Of course, they're thrilled. We got home and checked the mail to find a very sweet card from the Geffkens congratulating us! Thanks Andy and Erica!!

I heard back from the doctor today and he said he got the results for the bloodwork and everything looks good. Our next appointment is September 1, so that should be exciting. I posted on facebook about the baby, so I've gotten a few phone calls, texts, and about 100 wall/photo posts! It makes me feel pretty special!

Josh wanted to do something special in honor of the baby, so he shaved his head and beard. He's not going to cut it or shave again until the baby is born! I'll post pictures of his progress wth mine! For now, here's Day One:

and Good Night!!

Love,

Mommy and (Bald) Daddy Sillaman

To The Doctor

We went to the doctor on Tuesday. It was pretty uneventful, although I do think I have the greatest doctor in the world. He's awesome. He talked to us for a few minutes, told Josh that this visit is boring, but once we start hearing the heartbeat in a few weeks, they get more fun! He did an exam and said that I feel swollen, which in this case is good! He also ordered some blood work, which will check all of my pregnancy levels and say exactly how far along we are. So I went to get my blood work done. I HATE NEEDLES! I sat down in the chair and I said to the lady "I know you probably hear this all the time, but I hate this. Like I REALLY REALLY hate it a lot!" She laughed and said "Well, honey, you're going to have to do it a few more times during your pregnancy." WHAT?!?!? Oh no ... Why did I have to go and get pregnant? But my phlebotomist was awesome. I looked the other way and she started talking to me about my iPhone. Well, you know if someone wants to talk to me about my iPhone, I won't shut up, so it wasn't that bad. I'm glad she distracted me. I'll probably hear back about the results on Tuesday.

We leave tomorrow to go to WV for my ten year reunion. I can't wait to tell the rest of my family in person!!! We were sad that we couldn't tell the Sillamans in person, so we are excited to see the look on brothers' and sister's faces! Rachel, I hope you're not mad that I waited to tell you!!

Lately, I've just been thinking about how the Lord is so good. He has always helped us look to Him in every aspect of our marriage and even when we haven't understood things, God has given us a peace that, though we can't understand, He does. I don't understand why He loves me enough to give me such a fantastic husband, or to give me the opportunity to experience creating a new life inside me, but He does, and with Him, I know we can be good parents. We are praying for the little Sillababy to be healthy and to grow to love the Lord. Also, we're praying that the Lord will provide for us financially, as well help us get enough rest, and have strength to do everything we need to do.

Love,
Mom and Dad Sillaman

Four Weeks

Today I am four weeks pregnant! The little Sillababy is the size of a poppy seed! From now until about ten weeks, all of the Sillababy's organs will develop and some will begin to function!!

We are so excited to go see my doctor on Tuesday and hear what advice he has to give us. Please pray that the baby will grow and be healthy and that I will get plenty of rest. Luckily, now that my play and VBS are over, my life has calmed down so I'll have more time to rest. The first trimester is usually the hardest and most sensitive, so pray for the new Sillaman family!

Also, pray for God's provision financially. Especially when I go on maternity leave or if I have to cut down my hours, we won't be making quite as much as we do now, so please pray that God will stretch our money and we will find many ways to save.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy Sillaman

The Big News

Thursday, July 30 was already a big day. Josh's parents and little sisters were moving to Colorado. We said our tearful goodbyes Wednesday night, and wished them safe travels Thursday morning. It was also Day Four of Vacation Bible School, which I was directing. I had a headache all day. I was tired and hungry all day, more than usual! In the middle of VBS that day I had a thought and ran to WalMart to buy a pregnancy test.
When we got home from VBS, I took the test, and watched as it came up positive! "JOSH!" I yelled. He came tearing into the bathroom and looked. "Are you pregnant????" he asked and I nodded. We hugged and kissed and got freaked out and laughed and praised the Lord.
Then we called my mom. She was so excited to find out she's going to have another grandchild. We called Josh's sister Julia. No answer. We called his sister Amanda. No answer!! Then we called my dad and I told him I was getting him a present. He asked how much it would cost him and I told him "a lot!" He asked how much it would cost me and I said "I'll be paying for it for the next 18 years at least!" He was so excited to find out.
Then we finally got ahold of Amanda, who guessed right away. Josh said "Hey I have something to tell you," and Amanda said "Is Kat pregnant???" Dad Sillaman said he was ready to turn around and come right back, he was so excited about becoming a grandpa!
Amanda called Julia and Mom Sillaman on the radio and they didn't believe her. Julia's phone kept breaking up but through text messages we finally convinced them that I AM pregnant. Josh talked to Cherise and she is thrilled to become an aunt. We've since been able to talk to Julia and Mom Sillaman and they are so happy for us and so excited to have this new addition to our family!
We went to lunch with the Pastor and his family. Josh prayed and said "Lord, thank You for the great news we got today about Kat's little baby." They went crazy!! Lynette thought Josh was joking. She said "Are you kidding?" and then when she believed us she said "I just thought 'That's kind of an inappropriate joke, Josh.'" NO JOKE!!
I had to work that night and it was so hard to concentrate on anything! I just wanted to be home celebrating with Josh! We went to Hella's last night with our friends Ashley and Geoff to celebrate (Ashley is about four months pregnant now)!
We have only told a few very close friends so far. We have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday to make sure everything is ok, and after that we'll start spreading the news! We think the due date is April 11, 2010, which is Julia's 18th birthday!
We're going to West Virginia this weekend to tell Bobby, Rachel, Jimmy and Anneliese. Can't wait!!!

Mommy and Daddy Sillaman