Hellooo month 5!!!

Yep, that's right. I am 5 months pregnant! Wow, what a great feeling! I feel like reaching month 5 is a HUGE accomplishment, although I'm not sure why and I'm not sure what I've accomplished. I think this babe is the one accomplishing things! As I've mentioned, my child is active and finally last night, Jake was able to put his hands on my tummy and feel the small little kicks and/or punches. I know many of you might say, "no, it's too early for him to feel it" but I'm tellin' ya...he felt it! We're meeting up with my Mom this weekend in Minnesota so I'll have her feel it too and report back. Maybe then you'll believe me a little more if I have more than one person who can feel it. ;)

This week is also a big milestone in that we found if Baby Soll is a boy or girl through ultrasound!!! Oh man, I can hardly stand it. We weren't supposed to find out 'til the 11th, but I bumped up my appointment so we'd know before we went to the Mall of America so I could shop for baby there! I think I've been a pretty patient person so far, taking each week in stride and not feeling the need to rush through this pregnancy. But I have not been at all patient this past week as we anticipate finding out what the baby is!!

Let me take a minute here to vent a little...or more, state my opinion. Nearly every person asks if we're going to find out what it is. I joyfully say, "Yes, and I can't wait!" It seems like nearly every person that asks then feels the need to say, "Oh, you shouldn't find out...it's one of life's few surprises, the best surprise you'll ever get." Friends and family, I am aware of this. But every one that knows me well, knows that I.hate.surprises. I hate 'em. Maybe it's that "control" side of me that I can't let go of. Who knows. But here's the thing, Jake and I have decided that we want to know what we're having. So please let us have our cake and eat it too. We know it's "one of life's few surprises" and we're choosing to opt out on the surprise, at least with this child. If you don't to know what I'm having, we won't tell you. But please let us enjoy the excitement of finding out. I digress.



Yesterday was Halloween. I have a few cute pictures of the kids (the cats) that I want to share. We put Jamis in her "fancy collar" that is very Halloweenish and even has a pumpkin that lights up. We got a picture of the Jamis showing off her "spooky Halloween eyes" - enjoy!







And here's sweet Max...this boy takes after me in that he always seems to be cold. He loves to get in the dryer after it's finished while I'm folding clothes and they're warm, lay by the heat register (which is what he's doing in the picture) or snuggle up in the mornings for a "rub down" which consists of us petting him all over and rubbing his belly. He is quite the lover.






And finally, here's a week 18 picture. I think I look like I've "popped" in my scrubs (scrub pants and T-shirt) but when I put on anything else, it's hard to tell if I'm chubby or pregnant. Some people say, "Wow, you're finally just starting to show!" and others say, "You're pregnant?? I can't even tell!" Well yes, this 7 pound weight gain has gone somewhere...