Pregnancy

So, I'm not gonna lie. There are many things about pregnancy that are less than glamorous. Here's what I mean:

One of the worst side effects - kankles, elephant feet, and piggy toes at the end of the day (heat makes it worse):

Fortunately after sleeping/laying down for 8 hours, they are back down by the next morning (notice there are actually spaces between my toes):

And this is what my left hand looks like now cuz my hands are a little swollen most days:

To add to the list: between frequent trips to the bathroom and the impossibility of rolling over in bed without being fully away, a good night's sleep has become completely foreign to me; it is increasingly difficult to get out of a chair or bend over to pick something up; my back protests quite loudly now from the weight gain; the ever-present double chin; and many others that I will spare you for TMI's sake.

However, this is what makes it all worth it:

Jelly Bean is alive!! (And does this not remind you of the movie Alien?) He visibly moves around like this all the time now and I was finally able to capture it on video. He's an actual person!! He kicks and moves, and (my favorite) flinches at loud noises near his head. He sleeps and wakes up in regular intervals (let's hope that keeps up after birth) and, near as I can tell, really loves to kick box and break dance (usually across my ribs). He kicks when I eat (probably because the food takes up what little space he has left) and also when I listen to music or sing (maybe he's telling me to shut up?). It is so amazing to get a sense of his personality already, and to see sharp protrusions from my belly that are his little feet, knees, and elbows. I am now 35 weeks pregnant and I can't wait to meet him in only 5 short weeks!!! CRAZY!

For now, here are a couple of belly pictures to date:

In Hawaii, 21 weeks (I love my maternity swimming suit!)

Father's Day in OC, 22.5 weeks

Hiking with Jeppson Family in Yosemite, 27 weeks

In our El Segundo apartment, 34 weeks

We are still working on a name for our little guy, but with all the talking and joking around about the name Trent Rex Jeppson, it's kinda starting to grow on us... is that horrible to plague him with the inevitable nick name? We have a few other names we're thinking about too, so we'll see what he ends up with...

5 WEEKS AND COUNTING!!!

Fun For Both of Us

I realize my blog has been about nothing but babies and jelly beans since we announced our happy news, but I just can't help my excitement over the latest fun thing to happen.

I have been feeling baby move for the last couple weeks now. At first I felt him only about once a day, now it's every couple hours. I noticed today that Jelly Bean is starting to kick pretty hard and while working away at my computer with my elbows at my side, I felt the strongest kick yet. The point, you ask?? I could feel it on my arm (not just in my tummy), which means Jelly Bean's kicks can now be felt from the outside of my tummy!

Even better than that (but along those same lines), Brad got to feel the baby's kicks for the first time today!! Jelly Bean did very well and kicked for daddy several times when he placed his hand on my tummy. I have been so excited for Brad to be able to feel baby, and now he can. I just love being pregnant (except for the sickness, exhaustion, aches, pains, and the constant need to pee :) ). It is so amazing to feel our baby kick and move and grow.

In other news, this Memorial Day weekend was a blast. Brad and I (and my entire family in OC) went to Utah for several days to see 2 cousins get married and my new nephew get blessed. We also got to visit with Brad's family for a couple of days, which is always a good time. Pictures will follow soon...

While hanging out with my cousins this weekend, a few of us put our heads together to help Brad and me come up with a names for Jelly Bean. Thomas Rex Jeppson and Trent Rex Jeppson were two suggestions (Thomas, Rex, and Trent are all names of relatives). If we named Jelly Bean either of these, we could call him T-Rex! What little boy wouldn't love that?! Another suggestion was Rex Bradford Jeppson, in which case we could call him R&B. While I love these suggestions, I think we will keep looking. :)

Name suggestions are always welcome... :)

IT'S A BOY!!!

Brad and I went to my 17.5 week ultrasound on Friday (May 15) during lunch time to find out the sex of our baby. IT'S A BOY! Brad couldn't be happier (he was smiling ear to ear and does so whenever asked what we are having) and, of course, I'm happy too. Although I totally thought it was a girl, I have always been split 50/50 on what I wanted the baby to be. I'm very excited to finally know!

It was QUITE obvious on the ultrasound that we are having a boy (I will spare you the picture for modesty's sake). We were all (the doctor included) kind of giggling about it and my doctor said to us, "You know, nothing is 100%, but if I'm wrong on this one I'll do all your babysitting for free." It was quite humorous.

We got some great pictures of our baby boy, including a great 3D image of his face that I just have to share. The 3D imaging isn't perfect so he still looks a little lumpy in the picture (and besides, he's only 4.5 months along), but it is my favorite thing in the whole world. Jelly Bean is almost 18 weeks now, and he is 5 inches long and 0.5 lbs. Who do you think Jelly Bean looks like? :)


We don't yet have a name for our little guy, but I guess we have a few more months to figure it out. It's interesting, now that I know what we are having, I feel all in a frenzy to get everything set up. There's so much to do and only 5 short months to do it in!!

Little Tiny Kicks

I felt Jelly Bean kick for the first time today! Just a few minutes ago, actually.

Truthfully, I felt the baby move for the first time on Friday morning while I was laying in bed. I would roll over onto my side and feel a lump move from one side to the other - usually away from the bed, causing my belly to be unnaturally lopsided (against gravity) and hard in spots. But it just felt like a moving lump - no distinguishable kicks. And then today I felt about 5 small random thumps in my tummy in the same spot. I poked back and Jelly Bean kicked again, but I think he/she is already tired of that game as I can't get him/her to do it again.

But it's so exciting!! I have been waiting for this for a few weeks now and it's exciting that I can finally feel him/her. I will be 16 weeks on Wednesday. 4 months gone already!!!

We find out if Jelly Bean is a boy or girl in 2 weeks. I'm thinking it's a girl, but we'll just have to wait and see. :)

My turn next!

For what you might ask? Well, it's my turn to be a mommy! I'M PREGNANT!!

Brad and I found out on Valentine's Day (the most romantic day of the year) that we will become 3 in October of this year! October 21 to be exact. We are very excited for our own little bundle of joy, but it's still a little startling to think that we will be responsible for a little one soon. We have so much to read, ponder, and prepare ourselves for, and it's only 6 months away! We could use all the advice you have, and be prepared for us to ask you all tons of questions. I'm sort of in that panic phase (it's right after the uber-excitement phase) where I realize I have no idea what I'm doing...

Our first ultrasound was at 9.5 weeks (Jelly Bean is 1 inch long):


We started calling the baby Jelly Bean, for obvious reasons, and even though Jelly Bean doesn't look like a jelly bean anymore, the nickname has stuck. This is what Jelly Bean looked like at 12.5 weeks (2.5 inches long):


As of today (Wednesday) I am exactly 13 weeks and Jelly Bean is almost 3 inches long! The time is flying by and Jelly Bean has already grown so much in only 3 short weeks. Life truly is a miracle. We won't find out if the baby is a boy or girl for another 5 weeks. We will keep you posted!

Also, I recently found out that I have 3 other friends who are also due in October! Chelise in El Segundo Ward, Julia in Texas, and Aubrey in Huntington Beach. What fun! Now it's a race to the finish! :) Can't wait for all the fun play dates in October!