21 Weeks

Merry Christmas Baby Craig!

Christmas at the Craigs

This year we hosted our 2nd annual "Christmas at the Craigs" party for all those involved with the youth ministry at our parish. Only like 15 people RSVPed yes, so I was expecting a small crowd, but about 40 people came! Our little house was packed to the limit! The picture of Jason and I was taken at the very end of the night. Most everyone had left and I had been trying to clean some new stains out of the carpet for a while. Thankfully, most of them came out, but man are hard wood floors so much more practical!

19 Weeks

I love this picture of Jason showing off pictures of Baby Craig at our 19 week ultrasound, the first with our OB. He is going to be such a great father!

17 Weeks

Here is a belly shot of me at 17 weeks. I'm not very big, but I was so proud of my little baby bump and couldn't wait to show off my first pregnancy dress! This picture was taken the night of a dinner party with people from Jason's work.

Our First Couple of Ultrasounds

Seeing Baby Craig for the first time was so amazing. We had had so many ultrasounds with my endometriosis surgery that it was unreal looking up at the big screen and seeing a tiny baby there. The first ultrasound was done at 6 weeks and the baby was so small that we could barely see him/her! It was done to make sure that the baby was healthy, had implanted in the uterus, and to see how many babies there were. We conceived naturally and so the chance of twins was very low, but I was still hopeful! :) We were so thankful to see a tiny little heart beating on the sonogram. The next sonogram was done at 8 weeks where we got to hear the heartbeat, and then the final sonogram was done at 10 weeks where we saw our baby dancing! (Watch video in lower post). I love the pictures below because they capture my joy at being pregnant. We saw our infertility doctor for the first ten weeks of pregnancy for closer monitoring of our pregnancy because those with endo in their past have higher chances of ectopic pregnancies (meaning that the baby implants in the fallopian tubes instead of the uterus). It was so amazing to go to the infertility clinic and not be upset about infertility stuff. I still can't believe we are pregnant. Our baby is such a little miracle!!!

Adventures in the Maternity Store

So the adventure begins! These pictures are from when I was about 10 weeks pregnant. Not really showing at all, but my curiosity peaking, we decided to go try on maternity clothes for fun. At the store they had these funny, misshaped pregnancy pillows that make you look more pregnant than you are. They freaked Jason out because of their odd shape but I had fun trying on clothes and getting a sneak peak of what I would look like in a couple of months. Jason, being the comic genius that he is, thought it would be funny if I put the pregnancy pillow on my back side. So the second picture is just for laughs. It is what we hope WONT happen during pregnancy!

Our Celebration Dinner

Last year when my dad was in town visiting, he told me that when I became pregnant he would take me to The Columbia, one of the nicest restaurants in St. Augustine. As month after month passed by and no baby came, I began resenting the restaurant. I had to drive by it everyday to pick up Jason from work would wonder if the day would ever come that I would be able to celebrate the conception of a child. But God is so faithful, and here we are below, six weeks pregnant, celebrating the arrival of baby Craig! Jason celebrating with an alcoholic drink and me with a big glass of milk! :) The dinner was great and we had a great time. Thanks dad!

MY BIG FAT POSITIVE!!!

So, I know I'm very behind posting pregnancy pictures, but here they are starting at the beginning with my first BIG FAT POSITIVE!!! I took the test at work (the St. Gerard Campus) at the end of the day. I was one day late for my period and my temperatures were still high. When the test came back positive, I was in shock, it was like I wouldn't allow myself to really believe it. I went immediately to go pick up Jason from work and showed him the positive test. When Jason saw the positive test he almost threw it he was so fired up! We just hugged, looked at each other and laughed because we couldn't believe the good news. We then went to the Church and just thanked God for our precious gift. I still keep the positive test beside my bed because sometimes I wake up and still can't believe I'm pregnant!!!

My wife is awesome

If you've ever read or heard about the book "The 5 Love Languages", you know what I mean when I say that Katie's love language (or the way she receives love) is "words of affirmation". Well, she's done a lot of work on the house and this blog, prayed for me consistently, been consistently and constantly beautiful, and been agonizingly fun to be around these past couple of years we've been married. So, Katie, when you get to the Internet and see this post, hear these "words of affirmation":

You are an awesome wife, friend, and now mother.

When choosing a spouse, its important to ask yourself if this person will be a good mother. Well I don't think Katie will be a good mother. I think she will be an awesome mother. Her way with kids and her presence comforts me beyond measure because I know I have more than a "keeper". I have a virtuous mother that I trust to raise my children. These words are so true:

"Happy the husband of a good wife, twice-lengthened are his days;

A worthy wife brings joy to her husband, peaceful and full is his life.

A good wife is a generous gift bestowed upon him who fears the LORD;

Be he rich or poor, his heart is content, and a smile is ever on his face. "

Sirach 26 1-4

What a time

Its truly amazing to see the life that is growing in Katie. What will the child be like? What's the sex? These questions become more real and exciting when you can see the baby moving during an ultrasound.

Last week, we got to see baby Craig again. During this time of Advent, when we meditate on the coming of Christ, its amazing to imagine the anticipation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she held in her womb the very Logos or Word of God. Its different this year with a child in the womb within our own family - its even more amazing! The thought of God's humility to come to us in the helpless form of a baby in order to set us captives free. How scandalous. It was disappointing for many then, and hard to believe for many now.

In advent, the typical Marian antiphon to finish the day is the Alma Redemptoris Mater, which I will include with the post of our latest picture of baby Craig (like I said, things like this have a new tune now):

Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli
Porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,
Surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,
Natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore
Sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

Translation:

Loving mother of the Redeemer,

gate of heaven, star of the sea,

assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.

To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,

Yet remained a virgin after as before.

You who received Gabriel's joyful greeting,

have pity on us poor sinners.