Here! Here! Here!

YAY! We officially get to have baby Sweet HERE! Up until our court date we didn't know for sure if we would be legally able to have the little guy here or if we were going to have to try and have him in the transfer state. As our court date approached we were all getting a little nervous. We did everything our state requires to get a pre-birth order which will basically make it so when baby Sweet is born B and N are the legal parents. We did the psych eval, signed contracts, B and N had a home study, etc.

But you still never know what the judge will say. It is all up to one judge to either agree with what we are doing or not. If they are having a bad day or they just don't agree they could deny us the pre-birth order. We were nervous because most surrogates and the Intended Parents get the pre-birth order in our state before the transfer ever takes place.

Hubbs and B had to take work off and N had to fly home so we could make our court date and time. I hadn't seen N in a while because he has been still working out of town. He couldn't believe how big his LO had grown (as in how big my stomach has gotten). Luckily for us we went in and the judge basically just congratulated all of us and said he saw no problem with what it!

We were all so excited and so grateful that once again most of this process has gone smoothly and working out! So yay for us, we will be having baby Sweet here in 8 weeks or less!

 (January 18)

30 week update

We are getting so close to the end! 75% cooked! I can't believe we are 30 weeks already. Baby Sweet is getting huge and I am getting very uncomfortable. It is hard to put my shoes on, walk up stairs, hold my one year old, sleep, I have to pee all the time, smells are making me sick again, I have to squat to bend over, my neck and back are hurting, etc. BUT that is what comes with the 3rd trimester, right? Other then all these typical complaints things are still going great. Our appointments are eventful less, I passed my glucose screening test and was even told I am doing great on my weight gain! YAY Also this little one LOVES to move. My babies never moved this much. I remember often calling Jean asking her if I should go in and get checked cause I hadn't felt my little ones move very much. She always had me drink some juice, lay on my side and do kick counts. That is not a problem with this babe.

Also I am still feeling like I am emotionally able and ready to have this little one and give him to his mommy and daddy. I know A LOT of people close to me are worried about how hard it may be to have him and not have a baby to take home with me. I feel like I am prepared and continue to prepare for this day. I love this little guy, but not like my own babes. I know he doesn't belong to me and has a family who is ever so anxiously awaiting his arrival. He is loved by so many people in different ways. I am so excited for B and N to meet him and hold him for the first time.

I wanted to share my gratitude for the outpouring love and support I have had from so many people. It is crazy how some people just don't get it, some people don't care and then there are the others who make me feel so amazing. It is very humbling to hear my great grandmother tell people over and over what an amazing and selfless person I am, women in my neighborhood hugging me and whispering kind words, B's families thank you's and generosity, complete strangers when they find out because they have asked so many questions about my pregnancy and how close all my little ones will be telling me that they are getting goose bumps/chills and admire me and of course my own family who constantly love/support/and put up with pregnant me!

I am truly blessed in my life and even more so by being apart of this miracle!

(December 27)

B's baby shower

Jean and B's family put on the cutest Sweets Baby Shower!  We had such a great time and B got a lot of great gifts and things she needs for her baby boy. I made her the softest little cuddle blanket and Jean made her the cutest blanket I ever saw!
At the end of the shower they surprised me with a gift; a platter (I love dishes), a matching sock monkey to one B got, book, cd, tons of gift cards, pedicure, prenatal massage and sweet cards. I couldn't help cry and be ever so grateful for their generosity. This whole experience has been an amazing gift in itself and I feel so blessed to surrounded by such loving people as this little miracle is brought into the world!

(November 17)

A new wardrobe

B took me shopping today before our appointment for maternity clothes! It was lots of fun getting new clothes and being spoiled. While we were there I made B try on the belly, she looked pretty cute pregnant :)

B was finally able to feel and see her little one move too! During our Dr. appointment when they were trying to find his heartbeat (he is a stubborn one) he kicked the monitor a couple of times pretty hard. You could see it bounce right off my tummy. It was such a tender moment to see B see that for the first time.

I am so glad to be going through this with such an amazing person, friend and example!

(November 16)

Halloween

My parents have a Halloween party every year the Sunday before Halloween for the grandkids. We dress up, carve pumpkins, play games, eat and have a great time.  This year Jean's father-in-law and wife (which also happens to be B's dad) was in town for the weekend so my parents invited them all to our party.  Of course B and I were twinners in our Halloween shirts and had a blast all hanging out.

 (October 28)

20 weeks

We had our 20 week ultrasound and appointment! Everything with baby Sweet is looking good and healthy, yay! He is still a boy and oh my goodness does he have long limbs like his daddy :) Definitely not something I have seen in my uterus before. Hubbs is 5 5" and I am 5 4".

It was crazy to see how much he has grown (on an ultrasound) in just a few weeks. He is getting so big.

I had this shirt made for B and gave it to her when she picked me up for the appointment. She tried it on immediately and is going to wear it on Halloween :)

Also here is a 20 week pic of the belly.

 (October 22)

Checkin in

B texts me or calls at least 2 times a week to see how things are. Up until this point I always tell her that I am totally fine and things are great. For the most part its all true. However I know how much she wants to be involved and know everything so without trying to sound like I am complaining I text her this

feeling good still. starting to notice the belly: when I sit it gets in the way, climbing the stairs by 2 is no longer possible and is starting to make me breathless, we are starting to enter the stage where things start to get a bit harder :) its going to go even faster with the holidays coming!

She replied at how awesome I am doing and she is glad its been easy for me. Later in the week she asked how I was and if he was moving much

good! I was going to text you and tell you today that exact thing :) he is moving a ton and I am starting to get braxton hicks contractions. Nothing to worry about, just my body preparing. Totally normal to them this early, especially this being my 4th pregnancy :)

It's fun doing this blog and feeling some sort of obligation to text and talk to someone about the progression of this pregnancy. Also actually having to write down what is going on and how my body feels etc. I can go back through texts and see it all. I don't think I have ever documented any of my pregnancies like this but always wish I had. Even though this is my fourth pregnancy (crazy to think about that fact....) I still have questions. Is that normal, did this happen last time, when did this start with my other ones? Anyways this is fun for me to actually do, another perk to this adventure!

(October 17)