19 weeks and our baby is...

We'll I'm just past 19 weeks (almost half way there!) and we had our sonogram a bit early last week to make sure all is well with our baby.

So far it all looks beautiful!  It's amazing how God has created this life inside me.  Even though my belly is growing, I still wasn't sure if there was a baby in there still!  

Baby K at 18.5 weeks gestation!

Once the ultrasound tech placed it on my belly we got to see Baby Kurkinen turn and flip and suck on her hand!

Whoops! I guess the secret is out!

Baby K is a GIRL!! I was SO surprised, and Tim was too! 

We went to a marriage retreat this weekend and came up with a name we love...

Lucy Louise :)

Cheers!

17 weeks PLUS!

Well, today I am 17 weeks and 2 days pregnant.

It's miraculous to lay down at night, have Timmy hand me the doppler and we can listen to... my heartbeat, my heartbeat...BABY KURKINEN'S HEARTBEAT!!!!  Such a gift.  Thank you, God, for this child.

Signed up for our birthing classes a wee bit early (because they had no dates yet for 2014, and I needed to get it on the calendar).

Our 20 week ultrasound is scheduled for the week after Tim's birthday... 3 weeks and 2 days away :)

Slowly we're getting things ready around the house.  Mostly for Tim's "open house birthday" but also for peace of mind before we add to the family.

Right now I'm going to sit on the recliner and hopefully snooze a bit with Maggie, our "borrowed Scotty dog" from my folks.  Since our fence is in need of repair, Piper had gotten out...so he's having a vaca with my parents and we have their sweet napping hound.  She's a good snuggle buddy.

I'm making a list of things to be grateful for.  It feels like a good way for me to focus on the positives.

So far:

• Part-time!  Hello!
• Tim's new job position
• Sweatpants and wool socks
• A healthy baby

God provides.  I'm going to trust Him because He's worthy.

Cheers!

Kurkinen Life Lately

LOTS of change in the last 12 months.
--> (Warning: this list is mostly for me to remember what has happened... it may BORE you)

October 2012:

• Tim celebrated his 27th birthday... I love that his birthday is in the Fall

November 2012:

• We added Piper, our sweet Scottie dog to our family :)  He's good entertainment to have around.

December 2012:

• I started researching what it would look like to buy a home

January 2013:

• January 1st I started Day Shift, and Tim ended his "season" with Portland Parks

• January 31st we put money down on a house...

February 2013:

• In February Tim started a new job working with a tree company
• I applied for a part-time position at work

March 2013:

• March 8th I had a surgery in hopes it would help me feel better and help us to (maybe) get me pregnant:)

• March 22, 2013 we got keys!

May 2013:

• In May I celebrated my 26th birthday, under a cloud of sadness and fighting some difficult emotions.

June 2013:

• In June Tim stopped working with the tree company and started working more frequently at the Retreat Center again.  I found out I would go to Part-Time September 22nd.

• June 30th I peed on the 1,000th pregnancy test and God had a surprise up His sleeve! (That was by far the most AMAZING surprise we've had... still can't believe HE gave us a child)

August 2013:

• We celebrated 4 years of marriage in August in LaConner, Wa.  It was a needed weekend away with my love.

• Just before Labor Day Tim heard he would take on the his new position at the Retreat Center... we are OVERJOYED!  I love that he gets to work there.  I do feel like it suits him, and only God could have orchestrated this role.

September 2013:

• Tim began training for his new role at the Retreat Center

• I just started a Prenatal Aquatic Aerobics class... so fun!

• Next week I start Part-Time :) Sounds so beautiful to my ears!

Through all these changes, I know the next year will have an even more significant change as we add a child to our small family.  But I recognize how blessed we are, and that this change is something that will add unending happy memories, little moments of quiet praise and an eternity of gratefulness in the midst of diapers, feedings and learning to be parents and keep our love alive.

I cannot WAIT to meet this little being growing away in my belly.  Tim and I listen to the heartbeat and stand in awe at God's amazing creation- the process of pregnancy, the beauty of carrying life.

I'm almost 4 months in!  Boy or Girl?  Who knows!

Well....here's to the next months!  Cheers!

12 weeks and counting :)

Our sweet baby is growing and we got to see a glimpse of them on Friday with my first appointment with my new Obstetrician (who is so sweet, by the way. It's nice to feel comfortable in the office!).

Here's Baby Kurkinen at 11 weeks and 5 days gestation.

The picture was a wee bit blurry but SO STINKIN' CUTE! 

I'm up 2.5 lbs per the scale at the physician's office.  Not bad ;)

I still have random nausea... But things are MUCH improved.  Less barf ;) I'm still exhausted after being at work for 13 hours and have lots of lower back pain this week :( Hoping part time will be the cure!  4 weeks until I only work 2 shifts a week :)

It's still surreal to think we are actually having a baby in 7 months... But it's true!  

I'm so thankful for this blessing.  God gives us what we need for each circumstance.  When I'm at my lowest He steps in and moves mountains.  

So there you have it!  

Cheers!  

Anniversary Getaway

This last weekend we went to LaConner, Washington to a sweet Bed and Breakfast for a celebration of our fourth anniversary.

The best part was just getting away!

We first stopped in Kent at one of our favorite eats: Mama Stortini's.  

Then we made it to our destination and stopped at a barn selling fresh cider... Worth it :)

We found ourselves in the small town with lots of "cotton heads" that were vacationing at other B&B's.  

It was just relaxing & warm. This is the view from our room into the back yard and farm... We ate breakfast in the mornings there.

 We took LOTS of walks, ate ice cream twice a day and talked, watched some documentaries, read a newspaper and reminisced on knowing each other 8 years, married four and having a baby on the way :). Here I am getting ready for dinner at 11 weeks gestation.

The view of the town from the bridge 

That's all for the weekend.  Now we're pooped! 

10 Weeks!

Today I am 10 WEEKS PREGNANT!

Who knew?  It's strange to think I'm growing a life inside of me and I don't have a big belly with a baby rolling around (yet) to prove it! I'm looking forward to the day I feel our sweet Baby move around in there.

I'm REALLY wanting another ultrasound to peek at our kiddo, but I don't think I'm going to have one until 20 weeks (boo!).  The wait is difficult!  Have I mentioned this?:  I lack patience.  It's a flaw.  God has put me through some "waiting" before and it just eats at my soul.

It may sound silly, but I don't mind waiting to find out what gender our baby is.  We are just looking forward to delivery day!  But I do have my suspicions that it's a boy!  I'm actually really convinced.  There's no reason why I feel this way, I just felt like it from the MOMENT I peed on the pregnancy test.  But Tim has no opinion... so I try not to call the baby "he."  :)

My first appointment with my new OB will be in a little less than 2 weeks!  I'm excited to hear the heartbeat again and just get this party started.  Tim is pretty stinking amazing.  He's so excited about growing our family and this little miracle we've got now. He can't wait to go to another appointment.

A couple of days ago I thought my nausea was gone.  I told my mom it made me worried... NOPE nausea is no longer gone!  I'm just happy to be reassured that I'm still growing this little kumquat, though :)  Lots of barf/puke/gagging going on.

One of my sweet sister-in-laws (Asena) gave me some Ginger tea yesterday- boy does that help out!  Especially with my evening nausea....

I'm also looking forward to going PART-TIME (woooooooohoooo!) the 3rd week of September.  I've been trying to get this since the beginning of the year in hopes it would settle my stress a bit, and I am so thankful I'm in the home stretch of full time.  Funds will be tight... but I trust that God will carry us through.

Katelyn and I in Sand Diego last October

We got to visit with my sweet friend Katelyn and her hubby Brian last night.  I'm so glad they moved to Portland :)  We have blast with them.

Anyway, I'm off to do dishes and laundry.  But who isn't, right?  I know you're about to run a load as well :)

Cheers!

A New Addition

After what feels like forever, we are proud to announce that soon we will add a SWEET LITTLE BABY to our family!

Due March 2014!

We are OVER THE MOON excited!  It's been fun to tell family and friends :) 

I'm feeling like the baby will be a b-o-y.  (My mom and mother-in-law agree).

My sister and Tim have a slight inkling it's a girl (or I think they just really want a girl).  My Dad said "girl" just to appease Tim :) Anyway, can you tell we are having fun  guessing the gender?

I've been more and more nauseated the last 2 weeks- a good sign, right? It makes meal planning a moment by moment affair.  My mom has been making me wonderful bland(ish) soups and she makes Tim meaty dinners so I won't have to cook anything.  Thank goodness!  

The sound of a toilet flushing is guaranteed to make me lose my lunch.  This baby certainly has preferences ;)

So there you have it! The first Blodgett grandchild and the 13th Kurkinen grandchild :) 

Let the adventures begin!