It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, and we are in week 26!!!

SO I have a countdown on my igoogle home page and I only have 95 days left, until my due date! Where is time going?

We had a wonderful Christmas! The topic of traditions has been a recent one between us lately and I would LOVE to hear your guys family traditions!!!!!! Please share! All can now leave comments on this blog!

Josh and I were able to spend Christmas Eve with my family and stay the night at their home and wake up early Christmas morning to open presents with them. Watching the girls is always lots of fun! We had fun playing games, singing songs, Kendon and I liked freaking Josh out by finishing each other sentences and bursting into random songs at the same time! And the whole family enjoyed placing the Christmas Elf in spots to scare each other! I will have to post a picture of it :) We had a wonderful dinner Christmas Eve by candle light! Each year we do this and before we eat or pray we sing "Silent Night." It has been a great way to bring the Spirit to the start of our Christmas Festivities. After dinner we always open our Christmas Jammies! This year.... mine were too small, they were so cute and soft, but the buttons would not close around my protruding front, Good thing I brought extra just in case! Josh and I got some great things this year! I got the humidifier I really wanted (that makes me sound old), some great instrumental CDs and audio books, along with my long lost luxury of good smelling perfume! Josh got a bow release for hunting, gift cards for much needed jeans, and work gloves! Baby also got some books from Grandma & Grandpa Hatch! Already getting spoiled :) We knew that was unavoidable though, haha! This kid is going to be rotten!
We then had Christmas breakfast! It was really good! We had biscuits and gravy, eggs, elk steak and rabbit. Yes, not your average Christmas breakfast, but oh so delicious. It is a tradition on the Hatch side of the Family to have rabbit for Christmas breakfast! If you haven't had rabbit, it is really good! The Christmas after my grandparents got married they had nothing for Christmas breakfast! They went out a shot some rabbits and hence a tradition was born. The after playing with the kids for a few hours, Kendon and Josh napping on the couches, and everyone checking out what they got, my family was off to church and Josh and I were off to Tom & Shirley's to do Christmas with them.

Once we got to Tom & Shirely's we chatted for a bit, got things ready for company coming by later and then opened gifts. Josh and I had 2 rules this year, we didn't need a lot nor do we have space for much... so nothing expensive and we would only get a few little things we each needed! Well, Josh broke both rules! I came down stairs to find a really nice Nikon digital camera. Now this was something a few weeks back I mentioned to Josh should be our next BIG investment since we are going to having a growing family with cute babies and I want to document it. I was not thinking I was going to get that for Christmas! Josh tried to use the whole, it's for the baby excuse, but I couldn't be too upset any way. It is really nice and I really wanted to get one! It was very sweet of him! we spent the next little bit opening gifts! I got some great family pictures (8x10 prints and 5x7 prints) in frames of some of Josh's families old family photos. His mom as a baby, his grandparents wedding, etc. This is something I had asked for, I love old family history! I got a couple cool books, including Ted Nugent Kill it and Grill it, Wild Game Cookbook! :) A beautifully hand knitted beanie and scarf from Katie at work, and both fun things. My brother-in-law, sister-in-law and my niece gave us a ton of food (they are couponers) and we were excited to have these extras. I got us all a game of movie trivia.... any of you who know Tieman's know they are really good a naming and remembering movies!

That afternoon, Uncle Steve, Aunt Dawn and Colter came by and then our good friends Jex, Aubrey and baby Jentry came over. It was so fun to hang out and enjoy their company! Later that evening Jared, Becky, Kaleb and baby Tenley came over as well! There were babies every where! Very fun and excited to add one more to the mix! Jeremy, Laura, Percy (Iris), Ben, Diego, and Isaac didn't make it over due to health issues and car troubles. Jeremy had appendicitis and just had surgery on Friday. Poor guy! Grandma & Grandpa Tieman went out to see them, while Josh and I entertained the other guests!

It was a great Christmas. The best was spending time with all of our loved ones! I feel very blessed to have such amazing people in my life! I am so grateful that my baby will have such a close knit family and great forever friends! I promise their will be some pictures to come, including some baby bump! This kid it getting big!

At 26 Weeks My Baby....

Is developing air sacs. The membrane that keeps the alveoli separate from the blood vessels is now thin enough to allow for that oxygen–carbon dioxide exchange we call breathing.


Eyelids are no longer fused together and the retina completes the development of its normal layers this week.


Brainwaves for the auditory and visual systems are detectable in baby's noggin this week. That means baby's brain is registering things like sound and light.


Baby can recognize my voice and dad's voice. Josh takes time everyday to talk to our baby and man does that kid like when his/her daddy talks. I always get movement when dad talks his baby. Plus it is really cute to listen to Josh talk to our baby and tell him/her about his day :)


Baby is weighing in at a full 2 lbs and is about 14 inches long! 


As for me....

I am definitely losing room and really crunched in my own body.

I am getting those wonderful leg cramps at night.

I had a round of a tummy virus last weeks and was throwing up, not fun and kind of scary. I was just worried about baby getting nutrients he/she needed.

I am more and more happy with not know the sex of the baby! Its going to be such a wonderful surprise! Baby will be here before I know it!

Time is flying by 22, 23, 24 weeks and counting :)

Wow! So since my last post baby and I have been keeping busy! Thanksgiving was awesome! We had a special Pre-Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Aunt Amy, Kincade, Kateland, Grandpa and Rose, and Kendon all came down from Utah for a visit! :) Then on Thursday, we had our traditional turkey meal with the Tieman family! 43 members of the Bert Tieman family were in attendance!

Later that day we drove up to Parks, AZ. Josh and I, along with Josh's Uncle Steve, had tags for bull elk season this year! Man was it tough on my body. I think the elevation had something to do with all the swelling I had, especially in odd places (I will save you details, just know it wasn't pretty). Not a one of us got to tag an elk this year. The next week was Cow Elk season. Three of my sisters, Ramsay, Alisyn, and Natilee, along with Josh's cousin Jared, all had tags! Just before it got too dark on Saturday, Jared, Ramsay and Alisyn all shot a Cow Elk! Ramsay's weighed in at 160, Jared's 245 and Alisyn's was the biggest at 290! Almost 300lbs! We had a great time!

Since we have been back its been playing catch up at work, getting ready for Christmas, and trying to get into a routine again! We had babysat Kaden Olsen the last 2 nights and then tonight went to Alisyn's piano recital! She did awesome! Baby liked that music, there was definitely some dancing going on in my tummy!

Other highlights:  Josh got to feel the baby! :) I have been trying to get him to feel this little one, especially since I can feel him/her so much. I had my November appointment with the MidWife... she was laughing while trying to get a good read on the heart beat! "This kid is a mover," she said, "I can tell its in the 160's, but there is way to much movement interfering with getting a clear read." Its been that way since the beginning... makes me wonder will this kiddo have a ton of energy once he/she is born? I don't know, but we will fine out soon enough! :)

Oh, also Josh and I went to tour the hospital were we will be bringing this little one into the world, Phoenix Baptist! It was really nice and I am very excited! I can't believe how quickly time is going by! We also went and registered at Babies-R-Us! Fun!

So with baby...

• This week baby prepares for a big cry upon arrival. The lungs begin to produce surfactant, a wetting agent that will help baby breathe correctly and keep those tiny lungs from collapsing or sticking together. Blood vessels and air sacs are developing in the lungs and will eventually exchange oxygen and circulate it to all parts of your baby's body.
• Inner ear. This will become fully formed. Controlling balance, the inner ear means that your baby may be able to tell when he/she is upside down or right side up while floating in the amniotic fluid.
• Touch. Baby will continue to explore her internal environment, flexing fingers and touching surroundings.
• Baby will gain ½ pound this week alone
• He/she currently weighs about 1lb. 5oz.
• Baby is about 12 inches in length
• The face has formed, ears are in place, and eyes are complete (although the lids are still closed). 
• Baby has eyelashes, fingernails, and may be growing hair. 
• Rapid eye movements (REM) are beginning, too.
• Only 111 days left, until baby is due!

21 weeks! Busy Times!

So I totally skipped on writing about the 20th week, but YAY! HALF WAY DONE!!!! Yahoo!! Its been great! Can't complain too much, but we have been busy! Daddy (Josh) got to come to the 20 week ultrasound with me. It was great! I was so glad he was able to come! This kid is an active one though, the ultrasound tech, made the comment, "Wow! I haven't had to chase down a baby this active in a long time!" Baby flipped around about 3-4 times during the ultrasound. Everything seemed to be great! 

 Check out those moving arms above the head!

 Open mouth!

 Head on! Always looks like an alien :) but a cute alien

 A blurry foot!

 Its also been fun to feel this little one, more and more! Recently we have also had a wedding in the family! Congrats Brittany & Davide! Also been getting ready for Thanksgiving and Elk Hunt! Josh, his uncle Steve and I all have bull tags this year!

This week....

• By 21 weeks, fetal bone marrow starts making blood cells—previously done by the liver and spleen. 
• Your baby has been swallowing amniotic fluid for a while now, but now the intestines are finally developed enough that she's absorbing small amounts of sugars from it.
• Your baby now weighs about 12-13 ounces and is approximately 7.25 inches long crown to rump.
• White blood cells are being produced to form the baby’s defense system.
• Josh is going to be so cute as a dad! He is already! He makes sure he talks to baby each day!
• Only 19 weeks left.... :)

That cute picture of baby with it's mouth open reminded me of Pac Man!

My Cute Nephews!

(I totally stole this pic off Facebook)

These three boys are the cutest! And although I am not quite sure if they realize they have a cousin on the way and what that means to them, they know we will have a baby at some point! :) They have said some of the cutest things I just had to share!

A couple of weeks back, Jerm, Laura & the Boys stopped by the house! We were all in the kitchen eating dinner, when Diego asks, "what is that?" pointing to the sonogram picture on the fridge. I told them that that is a picture of their new cousin, Mine and Josh's baby. Everyone was quiet for a moment and then Issac says, "Daddy's can't have babies. Grandpa's can't have babies. Josh's can't have babies." Ben must have wanted to clarify so he added, "Yeah, only GIRLS can have babies." Shirley (grandma) decided to educate them further by saying, "Grandma's cant have babies." Ben agreed so he says, "Yeah, only REGULAR GIRLS can have babies." Then the three of them decided to make a long list of everything that couldn't have babies... house, forks, etc. They even included cows, but grandma said, "ask your dad he has seen a cow have a baby." Diego looks at Jerm to make sure grandma is not pulling his leg. "Yep, I've seen a cow have a baby." They were pretty amazed by that.

Then just last weekend, I had a chance to go to the Time Out for Women downtown. Josh and Grandma watched the boys so Iris and Laura could go too. They must have been talking about the baby, because right we I got out of the car three little boys come running out! Diego says pointing to me, "Your baby is a boy!" Right behind him Issac is shouting his agreement to that statement. Sweet little Ben comes closer and tells me, "I think the baby is a girl, because I have never seen a little girl. Only Big girls. So I hope it is a girl!" So sweet! I love these boys they are so cute! Of course they are always saying cute things and just being sweet! Our baby is going to be so lucky to have such awesome cousins!

19 weeks and Counting!

This weekend I got to spend time with my mom, Dawn (aunt), my other-in-law, my sister-in-law, and my niece at the Time Out for Women at the Phoenix Convention Center. It was awesome!!!! Afterward my dad, mom and Josh and I went fishing! Josh and I didn't catch a thing... my dad caught all 3 catfish that night! We had a great time!  

• Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. 
• Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom. 
• Baby's arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. 
• The kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. 
• A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on the skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.
• One minute you're lying peacefully in bed and the next your calf muscle feels like it's about to explode. 
• By 19 weeks, your baby’s brain begins to form pockets to specialize in taste, smell, vision, hearing, and even touch.
• Had my first Braxton Hicks contractions while at the Phoenix Time Out for Women. Worried me at first because I didn't know what they were. 
• Baby is crazy in there! He or she is a mover! Can't wait until others can feel it too!!!
• In one week Josh and I will get to go in for the anatomy ultrasound. :) Can't wait to see this little one!

Cord Blood

So I don't know how much everyone knows about saving your baby's cord blood. But its something I have looked into and am very interested in doing. I am not going to get into an explanation right now, but there is a lot of information out there regarding cord blood and what it can do! Its incredible. If you have a chance I would definitely encourage learning more.

I found that you can register online for cord blood. Since I have heard from many people they won't be able to buy things for our baby since we aren't finding out the sex I figured this was another great option for a gift of something that could be life changing/saving for our family. Or if its something people would like to contribute to.

Check out my registry (click the link below) and let me know if you have any questions! I am more than happy to answer questions!

 CORD BLOOD REGISTRY

18 Weeks Pregnant and New Cousin to Play With....

So here we are only a couple of weeks away from being half there! I can't believe it! Things have been crazy busy! On October 25th, 2011, Josh's cousin Jared and his lovely wife Becky had their second baby. A beautiful baby girl named Tenley Jade Tieman! Congrats!

Also Josh is HOME!!!!! He surprised me by coming home on Friday night, he drove home in one day! Crazy guy! It has been so great to have him home! Now he is busy working in Scottsdale doing Bariatric Surgery!


This week there are a few fun things happening!

• There is still space in your uterus and your baby will be active for periods at a time.
• Your baby may sit cross legged or turn somersaults.
• Baby is still between 5 ½- 6 inches long, but has gained about 2 ounces this week, equaling about 7 ounces.
• Baby may be large enough for you to feel twisting, rolling, kicking, and punching his way around the womb. (In fact baby just rolled across my tummy!)
• Plus baby is developing yawning and hiccupping skills (may start feeling those soon, too!)
• A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around the baby’s nerves, a process that will continue for a year after birth.
• If baby is a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place.
• If baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable now.
• As mom’s tummy continues to expand you may notice stretch marks and have itchy skin.
• Your back will ache as your body adjusts to its new alignment.

FUN FACT: Did you know that studies have shown that a full 60 percent of all expectant fathers show some symptoms of pregnancy? They may experience nausea, mood swings, weight gain, and odd cravings.