Merkl Family

Movin' around the world wide web!

2009-10-23T14:38:00.000-07:00

So, I've been a bit busy with building a new website for our blog and pictures. Its taken me a few weeks to build it but thank goodness for my mac and iweb, its genius! Its so easy but at the same time it takes awhile to learn all the great things about it! I am hoping to get it up and running by the end of the weekend. Its such a great layout, it automatically uploads new pictures I load onto iphoto from my camera and its super easy to use! So this blog will not be inuse after our new website goes live. I will be sure to post the new address on here with a direct link! Yay for upgrading and an ever louder yay for Apple!

I love my mac, and maybe I will marry it!

The first 3 (almost 4) weeks!

2009-09-30T13:08:00.000-07:00

Life in the Merkl house has become routine in the last week. Jameson's schedule dictates our daily life and plans. I thought by reading books and magazines on having a baby at home would prepare me, but it really hasn't done much good. What I have learned is all from this little person and my own maternal instinct.

Some interesting facts from the past few weeks:

This little baby eats every two hours and it surprises me how much food this guy can eat, he definitely got his appetite from his daddy who is known for going back for 2nds and 3rds at family meals.

He is starting to make eye contact with us and focus on faces and things that move, like the ceiling fan. He also loves to see light, the sunlight or the lamp in the living room, it all is so intriguing to him! We love to watch him in "the zone" as Brandon calls it!

He is also starting to make those cute little baby noises, like cooing and ahhing. He mainly does it at the small moments during the day when he's awake, fed and happy!

The swing has become a happy place for Jameson! He will just stare out the window at the sunlight, or look around the room with wide eyes like he's watching our every move.

Its been fun and exhausting to watch him grow and change. Every week has gotten progressively easier, and we look forward to the weeks ahead!

I also wanted to share a link that I will be updating pictures on due to the lack of space on the blog. In each blog I will post the link and you are more than welcome to check for new pictures as often as you'd like! I will be getting the pictures my friend Morgan took soon and will post them on there too! Enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/meganjune

Jameson Cole has arrived!

2009-09-16T13:41:00.001-07:00

Here it is almost 2 weeks later, but Jameson Cole has finally arrived! Our life has been completely and forever changed but in such an amazing way. I am so grateful that Brandon and I had so much time together before we had Jameson to build our marriage, establish good communication and overall understand team work. Without a strong foundation I know that this process would have been a million times harder. Brandon has been absolutely amazing, and to watch him with Jameson just makes my heart melt, he is already such a great dad! So I wanted to share our story that started just about 2 weeks ago...

This whole process began Tuesday September 1, my midwife had scheduled an ultrasound due to me being a week overdue and no signs of labor. We went in for the ultrasound to measure amniotic fluid levels and check the status of the placenta to make sure it wasn't breaking down at a rapid pace. At the ultrasound I asked the tech if she could measure the baby, and she said no problem, she did her measurements and estimated him to be "a big baby", I asked her what that meant and she was estimating between 8.5 - 9lbs. She wanted to call my midwife immediately, just to let her know and to discuss the possibility of me being induced due to size of the baby.

So after the ultrasound we went to the midwife's office to discuss options and to do an exam. She did an exam, and told me I had not dilated and that the baby was not moving down into the birth canal. And recommended we schedule an induction, and that she didn't want me to go past 41 weeks 4 days, to ensure the health of baby. So after many tears and lots of processing we decided to schedule an induction for that Thursday the 3rd at 5pm.

I really wanted a natural labor with no medication and be able to practice what I had been taught through classes I took and especially through yoga. So to come to the realization that natural labor wasn't an option, was quite devastating. I know it was the best option for me and for the baby for health reasons. I am still working through that to this day, but we made the best decision and I knew the outcome would be best because it would lead to our son being born a healthy baby.

We went in for the induction at 5pm on Thursday night and started with natural methods, a foley catheter, and that night contractions began at 10pm. After a long night of little sleep and painful contractions I was dilated to 6cm by 8am. The nurse started the pitocin drip on Friday morning at 6am. Pitocin is the synthetic version of oxytocin which begins labor naturally. Pitocin put my body into over drive with contractions, and I was able to take it until about 11am, when I decided to get the epidural which would help me to not feel the contractions and be able to get some much needed sleep to regain energy for the approaching delivery of the baby. My midwife was so amazing in helping me come to that decision, she knew how hard it was for me but knew that it would help me rest and she encouraged the relief that the medication would provide.

My midwife Merillynn came back in the do an exam at 430pm after being on the epidural for a few hours and some rest, to check my progress. I was still at 6cm and that baby was not coming into the birth canal. He was way too comfortable in there and was not about to come on his own. So with that information and being in labor for about 18 hours we started the discussion of a csection. I was emotionally exhausted, and after one major let down of the induction, now we had to talk csection which seemed so scary because I had never had surgery, or even spent the night in the hospital. I was completely heartbroken because I knew the recovery would be so intense but deep down knew that it was the right choice. So my midwife made the call at 430pm to the surgeon, and the team of doctors to get ready for the surgery. About 45 minutes later we were in the operating room, Brandon by my side, my midwife was assisting and there were about 9 other people in the room to make sure everything went smoothly.

Jameson was born at 6:22pm a healthy, screaming baby! It was the most surreal moment of my life. He had all 10 fingers and toes, 2 big bright eyes. So beautiful.

After they stitched me up, I was wheeled in to the post op room to meet the baby, hold him and get my wits back. I felt so out of it, due to the intense medication and lack of sleep. Then we were wheeled to the post partum room where we spent the next 4 days. Both sets of our parents were there to greet us, and meet Jameson for the first time. It was so amazing to finally introduce him to our family.

The next 4 days were the hardest yet. I was stuck in bed with an IV, cuffs around my ankles to prevent major swelling or blood clots, a catheter and blood pressure/heart monitor machine and in pain from the incision from the surgery. Not until the morning of day 3 could I even get up to walk to the bathroom. I have never felt so helpless in my life. Brandon was absolutely amazing and never once complained about being the arms and legs of 3 people during our stay in the hospital. I think I thanked him every day about 10 times, each with tears in my eyes that were full of gratitude and love. I am one lucky girl!

Now here we are almost 2 weeks later with a growing and healthy baby! There are sleepless nights, days full of weariness, but in the end we have a beautiful baby, and a great marriage. There is nothing more I could ask for! God is so good, and through this whole process I have truly learned that I am not in control of anything, and I just need to walk in obedience and be full of gratitude for what I've been given.

Pictures coming soon......

Jameson's Nursery

2009-08-26T13:55:00.001-07:00

Its been quite the process, but its done! Of course I have a few more little decorative touches I want to add, but for what he needs its perfect!

My mom worked with me to design the curtains because I have absolutely no talent when it comes to sewing! I found the fabric months ago, and instantly fell in love with it! I didn't want anything that could be found at BabiesRus, and something unique to him. Brandon's very talented Grandma, LaVonne, quilted a beautiful blanket for his room using the cowboy fabric. Everything just came together perfectly! I still can't get over all the wonderful gifts we received at the baby shower, and how much they all contributed to our son's coming home to beautiful nursery filled with love!

On to the pictures!

38 weeks, 13 days to go.....

2009-08-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

It finally feels like the countdown has begun! My due date is less than 2 weeks away, and all I can hear is a giant ticking noise. The past few weeks have been difficult physically because I feel so limited it what I can do and how tired I feel. I truly believe that pregnancy is 9 months because by the end you feel so ready and all fear is gone, I just want this baby and really any time would be great. For as much as I feel that pregnancy is a huge blessing and that our son is gift, I am ready to get back to myself and start our life as a family of 3 (well 5 if count Rocco and Stella), ha!

His room is finally all set up! We went up to my parents house last week to get the rocking chair, and then filled the dresser drawers with clothes, socks, blankets and all the in between. The cowboy theme is so darn cute! My mom sewed the cutest diaper stacker with the fabric, and I LOVE it! It now feels like Jameson's room, such a relief that its all done and now all we need that sweet little baby!

My midwife appointments have all be super easy. The baby is doing great, moving around so much and has a nice strong heartbeat of around 150. I am still going to my prenatal yoga class once a week, which has been so great and I feel so much better after going. It keeps me active and I can't wait to do mom baby yoga after he comes, so fun!

There isn't much news to report, just living day to day and being patient. Also, here are few pictures from the last week or so, enjoy!!

38 weeks pregnant.

Ah, paradise......

2009-08-05T14:34:00.000-07:00

So I know this isn't exactly about the baby, but I am so very excited for Brandon and I to take our FIRST ever vacation next summer! The past week has been hard and I am starting to really feel 9 months pregnant. To keep my spirits up and my mind on other things I have started doing some planning for our vacation!

We are calling it our 5 year anniversary trip, and are going to Hawaii for 7 days. My mom offered to watch Jameson for us (thanks mom!!) while we spend some time alone and enjoy a beautiful tropical vacation! We are so excited to go sea kayaking, snorkeling, surfing and hiking. And of course enjoy sleeping in, relaxing and spending some time alone together. We are thinking Maui for 3 days, and then Kauai for 3 days. My parents vacation in Hawaii often, and have given us great suggestions on where to stay and what to do. To be able to wake up, drink coffee on the lanai looking at the ocean will be amazing!

Ever since we got married 4 years ago, our life has felt so busy and won't be slowing down anytime soon. This vacation will be such a blessing, and will give us something to look forward to! I know we will miss our baby so much, but I also know the time alone together will be so worth it. Brandon is my best friend, and I am so blessed to have him as my husband and the father of our child. Our vacation is going to be so amazing!!

2009-07-30T16:33:00.000-07:00

Its crazy to think I am now 9 months pregnant! This has been quite the journey and I can successfully say that I am ready to meet our son! Our life in the past year has been quite the whirlwind with Brandon getting a job at Medtronic, graduating with his PhD, putting our house on the market and moving 1400 miles back home, expecting our first child......whew! We have no doubt been so well taken care of, God has given us so much and more! Only a few more weeks and we can't wait to meet Jameson Cole!

I had my 36 week midwife appointment today. The appointments, as of lately usually consist of measure my weight, location of the baby (head down, yay!), baby's heart beat, and general chit chat about how I am doing. I really really love the midwives, they are all so amazing and no matter which one delivers my baby I know that my baby and I are in good and loving hands!

Its been a few weeks since my baby shower and I am still in awe with how many of my girlfriends and family members came, and their generosity with the gifts I received! It was so fun to see all my friends from different walks of life all in the same place, so amazing! Three of my best girlfriends flew in from around the country to be there, without Jenn, Sam and Morgan it just wouldn't have been the same! I am so very grateful and blessed to have such amazing girlfriends, who will be a part of little Jameson's life and watch him grow up!

The nursery has been assembled with a crib, a dresser and bookshelf. His adorable cowboy curtains are up, and now we just need the baby! I will be sure to post some pictures soon of his sweet little room!

Thank you to everyone for all of your love, support and prayers! We are so excited for this new phase of life to begin and can't wait for you to meed our son!

Click here for Baby Shower Pictures!!

35 weeks, and the countdown begins!!

2009-07-19T19:02:00.000-07:00

I know its been awhile since I last posted, but I wanted to show off some amazing photography one of best girlfriends did for us while visiting in Salt Lake City. Some of our nearest and dearest friends, Morgan and Jamie, just moved to Salt Lake City from Knoxville and we decided to take a little road trip to visit them! Morgan is just starting her photography business and asked if Brandon and I wouldn't mind doing a maternity photo session for her to add to her portfolio. Of course, I couldn't resist! I really wanted our pictures to capture who Brandon and I are as a couple, and with the help of Morgan and her creative vision she did that beautifully! We set out on our Salt Lake adventure! We spent the weekend snapping pictures, eating good food and watching fireworks, so much fun!!

Also, my baby shower was this weekend and it was so much fun! I had my best girlfriends in town to help celebrate and take part in such an exciting time in our life! Brandon took their husbands and boyfriends along with my dad on a hiking adventure in the mountains, climbing rocks, running up the sides of a mountain, and doing what boys do best! I feel so blessed to have family and friends to support us during this exciting times and have their help to welcome our son into the world. It was such a wonderful weekend! There are more pictures coming soon of the baby shower and I will be sure to post those soon!

I am entering in to the 35th week, and realistically Jameson could be arriving anytime! This last week we finished up our 6 week childbirth prep class. We met some really great people, had a wonderful instructor and are feeling better about the whole process of child birth. I am so lucky to have a great team of midwives supporting us, and are ready to guide us through the next month. The baby is still growing and healthy, and moving around like a wild man! Brandon loves to know where the baby is and where he's kicking! This next week we are setting up the crib and preparing his room for when he decides to get here. Now that the baby shower has come and gone, and that we received so many wonderful gifts, it is starting to really hit us that soon Jameson will be coming! We are so excited to embark on this new journey of our life!

More pictures and updates to come!

Our pictures! Enjoy!

31 Weeks!

2009-06-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

Its so crazy to think that my due date is 2 months away! Our son could be here in less than that really, because full term is 37 weeks and that is just 6 weeks away! I just can't believe its so close and we are about to be PARENTS! OMG!

In coming to this realization, I have been keeping a list of all the things I am so thankful for! This is for when times get stressful and I start to lose focus of what's important.

I am so thankful for such an amazing husband, and the 7 years we've had together before the birth of our son!

I am so thankful for the ability to be a stay at home mom, and raise our son, read books to him and teach him about the world.

I am so thankful for Brandon's job and job security. Medtronic has given Brandon the chance to do what he loves and to also provide for our family.

I am so thankful for my amazing friends and for the people that enrich my life!

The baby is doing so great and I am so thankful for his health! God has taken such good care of me and our son during this pregnancy! We have been taking a childbirth preparation class which has been so helpful and we have both learned so much which will hopefully come into practice during labor.

We are getting ready to take our last trip alone for quite awhile. We are taking a road trip to Salt Lake City to see some of our dear friends that just moved from Knoxville to Utah. We can't wait to see them and explore their new city! Morgan is also going to take some maternity pictures while I'm there, and I can't wait to see what she's come up with. I am not one to bare my stomach, for as much as I love our child, I just don't want to feel awkward or uncomfortable. I will be sure to post the pictures as soon as Morgan is done perfecting them! She is amazing!

A picture on our hot date night at the symphony!

29 weeks!

2009-06-11T11:54:00.001-07:00

Well, 29 weeks and counting down to meeting our son! Its hard to believe I only have about 10 weeks left! I feel more prepared than I did on my last blog, now we have the crib, a dresser and have made the 2nd bedroom in our apartment the baby's room! The theme of his room is vintage cowboy. The fabric is adorable, and the prints on the wall will be of Buffalo Bill and other vintage prints. I think everything except the furniture has come from Etsy, if you haven't ventured onto Etsy then you need to explore how amazing it is! Everything is handmade and absolutely beautiful!

I have a midwife appointment tomorrow, and expect it to be pretty routine. Now I go in every 2 weeks until the last month, then switch to once a week in the 9 month until he arrives.

Every Thursday night I have been going to a prenatal yoga class, which has been so good for me! I love interacting with other mom to be's and to be able to focus on the health of my body. Its a lot more work than I thought, but I really love it!

This past week Brandon and I have been at home with a flu virus! He got it first and I soon followed. Being sick and pregnant is by far one of the hardest things I have ever dealt with. There is not a lot, if any, over the counter medicine I can take and I just have to tough it out. On Sunday I woke up and had a really hard time breathing, and so Brandon took me to the urgent care clinic at Boulder Medical Hospital. The nurses and doctors were really amazing, and took great care of me! The dr. told me I had a virus, gave me a nebulizer treatment and prescribed me and inhaler that did wonders! I am feeling much better, but probably still have atleast one more day until I feel back to normal.

So I left the best for last!! So I know we've been pretty hush hush on the name because we wanted tell our family the name of our son first and check with a few other people who had an important part in his naming!
The name we decided on is Jameson Cole!! I love love love the name! I wanted our son to be named after people in our life who mean so much to us and who we will able to tell him why/who he was named after! Jameson is the name of a dear friend of ours, Jamie, he has his wife Morgan are some our best friends that we met in Knoxville. Cole is Brandon's middle name. We just didn't want to pick a random name, but one that has so much meaning to us.

29 weeks!

25 weeks and counting!

2009-05-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to give you all a little update on how the Merkl's are doing! The littlest Merkl is doing great! I can feel him moving around, kicks, flips and all! Brandon felt him for the first time this morning, so exciting!! I am definitely feeling bigger and still feeling good. Night time is the hardest, its been taking me a few hours of lying in bed to fall asleep. I guess its just part of the process. It has been fun to start planning for his arrival and preparing the nursery! We bought the crib this week, its a convertible crib which will be great because it will grow with him and eventually turn in to a full size bed. My parents have saved the cradle that was used for all three girls, and we can't wait for our son to use it now! We are really treasuring this time we have to spend with family and start our family in Colorado!
We are looking forward to summer and all that we have planned with the baby shower in July, friends visiting, a camping trip or two and enjoying time together preparing for the baby to come late August!

The baby's crib!

I found this beautiful gerber daisy plant at Lowes a few weeks ago and I am in love!! The pink petals in the middle are my favorite, I love gerber daisies!

23 weeks.....wait a minute?!

2009-04-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

Today I have my second appointment with my midwife, and it was great! She went through my medical file with me and explained in detail the tests that had been taken, my health throughout the pregnancy and what to expect over the next 4 months. It was so great to have different aspects of my pregnancy and the baby explained to me in a way that I could understand. I'm excited to keep seeing this group of midwives and moving forward with the pregnancy feeling so much support!

She also moved up my due date to the 25th of August, based on my last period and growth of the baby. She wanted to make sure that the baby will have plenty of time to arrive and so that my midwives can closely monitor my progress and the baby's progress within the last few weeks of the pregnancy. So I went from 22 weeks to 23 weeks....wow!!

I am starting to feel him move around, which has been super exciting! He gets really active when I get into the car to drive, I am hoping he doesn't have his daddy's need for speed!! OMG!!

We are going to order the nursery furniture this week, and get started on the baby's room! My trip to Knoxville was good, and knowing our house in great hands with our new realtor I really feel like I can start to really focus on the baby and planning for the upcoming months.

Life is good, the baby is doing amazing and now its just counting down the weeks until he gets here!! Yay!!

21 weeks

2009-04-20T13:24:00.000-07:00

Its crazy to think I am halfway there to meeting our little one!! As each day passes we get more excited to welcome him into the world and embark on this new journey. Although there are things I wish that were different, like being in a house. But obviously God knows better and we just need to keep having faith that we are where He wants us and to focus on the important things.

I made the official switch to a midwife and could not be more excited! The midwife group that I am with works exclusively through Boulder Community Hospital. Our baby will be born in a hospital, in a birth center within the maternity ward. It is more holistic way of experiencing child birth, and a midwife is much more hands on with the labor process.

The midwives are RN's with a masters degree in Midwifery. They go through very intensive training much like a doctor, except with specialized training in obstetrics. I have my first official appointment the last week in April and could not be more excited!

We are still narrowing down a name and have chosen the nursery theme! See pictures below!

Thank you again for all of your love and support! Please keep us in your prayers throughout this amazing journey, and for our house to sell in Knoxville.

xo

21 weeks pregnant!

The beautiful flowers Brandon gave me for our 4 year anniversary.

The fabric for the baby's room. I wanted a non traditional nursery theme so I chose a vintage cowboy theme. My mom and I are sewing like crazy this summer! No baby blue, no baby animals, but a cute and timeless theme!

Halfway there and good news to share!!

2009-04-09T13:36:00.001-07:00

I had a very important doctors appointment on Tuesday this week! We found out the sex of the baby! Before the appointment I was nervous that our little one wouldn't cooperate and let us see boy or girl, so I did some reading on the internet for some tricks to get the baby moving. I read everything from orange juice to spicy dorito chips and dr. pepper! haha!! So my appointment was at 3, and with breakfast I had 2 tangerines and then ate 2 more with my lunch just to be safe! It worked!

At the appointment during the ultrasound the baby was moving SO much! We got so many great pictures, our dr. printed about 15! We saw the spine, the little face, and of course what we were hoping.....we're having a BOY!! So crazy!! I have always had a feeling deep down that it was a boy, but to hear and see it was a totally different experience! Brandon is an eagle scout and can't wait for our little boy scout to get here and to be able to start camping, climbing trees and doing what boys do!

We are pretty confident on the name, but still have a few things to take care of before we can officially announce it!

Today is my midwife appointment at 4p. Its a meet and greet session, can't wait! I feel so blessed to have to have the ability to choose my prenatal care and take care of the baby! Thank goodness for Brandon's company insurance! I will be sure to post about my appointment and get some more pictures up here for you all!

Thank you SO much to all my dear friends and family for your love and support! I can't wait for you to meet our son!

Just because it was too darn cute!!

2009-04-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

So, I finally caved and just bought the first thing for the baby's room! Its nothing big, but something I thought was just so adorable and what I imagine to be in our baby's room. As most of you know I love anything nostalgic and vintage, and the theme of the nursery will follow that. When I narrow it down I will post what I decide the theme to be. I have been pretty adamant on no disney, no winnie the pooh, no baby animals or pastel colors. So this might have some of you wondering, "what the heck left to choose from"? The artist and creativity in me has quite the exciting plans!! :)

So here is what I got from Etsy!! I LOVE it!!

Who doesn't love a classic sock monkey?! So exciting!! I can't wait to get started, only a few more days left!!

relief is coming in the form of a midwife!

2009-04-01T13:38:00.000-07:00

So I finally decided to go with a midwife! I made a meet and greet appointment with a midwife next week. I am about 98% confident that everything will go great and will make the official switch after our appointment. We are meeting with a group called Boulder Nurse Midwives who work closely with Boulder Community Hospital, only a 10 minute drive from Louisville. They come highly recommended and it seems like a great thing for us!

I don't have any major complaints about my current Dr. She is just so incredibly busy and has so many patients that I feel like a number. I have so many questions and have felt rushed through every appointment. After talking to some of my girlfriends who have used a midwife, and some that are nurses, both tell me that using a midwife was the best thing they could have done for their pregnancy and for their baby.

I will be sure to fill you in on our visit and our final decision!

Week 17 and of course a vegetable!

2009-03-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

Today is the middle of week 17! I have been feeling pretty good and am getting my energy back! Over the past 2 weeks I have really been feeling pregnant, I guess it helps that now I look pregnant! Our big appointment to find out the sex of the baby is soon approaching, but it can't come soon enough. We are so excited to find out and get registered for the baby!

I am excited for us to be a family of 3, and start a new chapter of our life! Brandon and I celebrate 4 years of marriage on April 15, and in May we will have been together for 7 years! This new little person will make such an amazing addition to our life!

So as for the vegetable of the week: Onion! Baby has grown quite a bit Now 5 inches long and weighs about 6 oz. The cartilage is now forming into bone, and baby has identifiable fingerprints.

Avacados are the vegetable of the week!

2009-03-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Week 16: Avocado

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender.

Each week in my email I get an update on how the baby is growing and all the new exciting changes that are happening! Just wanted to share! :)

16 week appointment and pictures oh my!!

2009-03-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

Today was my 16 week appointment and it went well. It was short, only about 30 minutes and some blood work at the end. I did get to hear the heartbeat again, and its so strong, yay! Our next appointment will be in April and we will find out the sex of the baby, so exciting! I am so antsy to find out and I know so many of our friends and family are too!

The funniest question I get asked is "What are hoping for more, a boy or a girl?" and to be completely honest we just really want a healthy and beautiful baby. In the past when I have heard that answer I thought that women were just trying to be nice and not give a preference, but I am being completely honest when I say that! I think a boy would be fun, because I grew up with sisters and don't know about boys, but a girl would be great because I know girls and get excited about girl things like dresses, barbies, and little princess birthday parties! :) So either way will be a great surprise, and I know that Brandon is so excited too, he has been so amazing through this entire process, he's going to be a great daddy!

So I also have been exploring the options of getting a midwife, and working with a group called Boulder Midwifes who are associated with Boulder Community Hospital. I would have to switch hospitals and dr. but I think the peace of mind of the birthing experience being much more pleasurable makes it worthwhile! I don't want to feel stuck because I didn't do my research and consider other options. So in the next week we are going to meet with a midwife and take a tour of Boulder Community Hospital, just to make sure we are making the right decision.

Continued prayers are always welcomed and are greatly appreciated. We know that God has a great plan for our family and we are hopeful for the great things ahead!

Keepin on and making my way to 15 weeks!

2009-03-02T18:25:00.000-08:00

I have officially made it to the second trimester! I am at week 14 and still feeling good! Thank goodness for good genes because in the first trimester I had no morning sickness. I felt tired, no make that exhausted a lot of days, but no crazy sickness! I heard so many horror stories about the first trimester, thank you Lord for keeping me well and the baby safe!

I have my sixteen week appointment next Friday, which will be mainly blood work and other testing. The following appointment in April we will find out the sex of the baby! I am so excited to find out, and to start some planning! I still haven not purchased anything for baby, waiting to be further along and especially for the baby shower! We are both feeling so much better after the dreaded flu, and hopeful that it won't make an appearance later on in the my pregnancy.

We had a great vacation in Phoenix with our dear friends! So great to get away, enjoy the beautiful weather and amazing company for a few days! We might take one more weekend get away before baby gets here, not sure where but I want one more trip just the two of us.

I am already starting to show, a little baby bump! I will be sure to post a picture or two later this week! :)

The hardest thing to date....

2009-02-16T12:32:00.000-08:00

So being sick and pregnant is one of the hardest things I have ever been through! I have always had a strong immune system and been able recover from sickness fairly fast. With this cold I have had a cough, chest congestion, runny nose, achy-ness and just overall exhausted. When we lived in Knoxville I had severe, I mean severe allergies and sinus issues. The first migraine of my life was a sinus migraine. I was so sick I couldn't work and felt like I had the flu for 2 days. I used to take a lot of intense medication to get through those allergies. But with baby, every single one of those medications is a big no no.

I am restricted to good ol' rest, plenty of fluids and a humidifier. I haven't felt this helpless in a long time. Brandon has been amazing, even though he felt sick too, he still went to go buy a humidifier for me and random errands to the grocery store.

I just hope I passed on my usually healthy immune system to baby! Brandon says "our baby will have Merkl blood, strong and hearty" How funny is that!! He is so funny and it definitely helps me feel better on the hard days! :)

We are on the mend, today I feel good! The best I've felt in 4 days. We leave on a mini vacation to see some good friends on Wednesday for a long weekend. If I keep recovering at this rate (knock on wood) then by Wednesday I should feel a lot better to hop on an airplane!

God is good and has taken such good care of me during this pregnancy and over the last 4 days of sickness!

12 week appoinment!

2009-02-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

Today I went to my second dr. appointment which is at 12 weeks. This appointment was a lot easier than the first. This was just a simple check up and my doctor brought in this really neat little doppler machine to hear the heart beat! The heart beat is very strong at 160 which is above average at 12 weeks, so little baby is doing great! After a few questions I had answered, the appointment was over in about 20 minutes!

The only bummer of this week is that Brandon and I both came down with some type of cold. Mine is coughing and achy, while Brandons is nasal and phlemy.....we are quite the pair! Needless to say we are doing all thats possible before our trip to Phoenix on Wednesday, so please say a little prayer for us that we will be healed in time or atleast really close to being better by then!

Good news! I can eat sushi!! I got the a-okay from the doctor! I have read so much about not eating sushi while pregnant. My doctor says as long as its from a reputable place and I don't over indulge, I can eat up to 12 oz a week!! SO exciting!!

All is well on the homefront, just feeling a bit under the weather but as soon as we feel better its off to our favorite sushi restaurant in Boulder!

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and well wishes!! And more updates to come....

A little update!

2009-02-06T13:07:00.000-08:00

I started school on January 20, and have realized being pregnant and taking classes has taken a lot of my energy. I really enjoy the classes I am in, and can actually see myself making a career with graphic design!

I am now 1o weeks and 5 days, the last 6 weeks have flown by! My next doctors appointment is next friday, and I am SO excited to see the ultrasound of the baby! I haven't have any morning sickness, just feeling really exhausted almost every day and wanting to lay in bed and nap. I have been craving breakfast food constantly, like pancakes for dinner and cereal for a snack. Peanut butter is also one of my favorites, especially on celery!

We are taking a vacation to Phoenix in a few weeks! Its the only trip during my pregnancy, and we are so excited to see our dear friends Mike and Jenn! I am really needing some time away from Colorado, and spending time with some of our dear friends will be so good! I wish that I could be living near some of my best friends during this time, but I know that they will be a part of our babies life even across state lines!

There is so much more I could write about, but don't want to bore you! There will be another blog coming next week after my dr. appt!

First appointment of a wonderful journey!!

2009-01-16T20:15:00.001-08:00

So we had the first appointment on the 15th of January, and it was so great!! We met with the doctor, who I really like!! She is all business, and is the expert on everything baby!
There was a questionare session about history, family, health etc. Which was great because both of us are healthy people without any addictions or on lots of medications, so that makes us ideal candidates for making babies!! haha!!

Between a meet and greet, question/answer session, physical, ultrasound and blood test it was a great visit!

We got to see the heart beat, and the baby...its such a tiny little muffin!! The heartbeat is strong at 170 and little baby is growing like crazy!!
Needless to say, the littlest merkl is doing great!

I have been feeling pretty good. A few nauseous moments, but not really any throwing up or drastic sick days. I have been eating a lot of cereal, fruit, oatmeal, grilled cheese and drinking lots of water and juice! I love having a whole foods near by, the produce section is amazing!! Our lifestyle has changed drastically, usually to bed early, no more sushi and definitely no more red wine! So we are adjusting, and its taken some time, but we are so excited for this little baby to come in to our lives! Who would have thought us to be parents?! I know we will do fine, and of course this a brand new journey, we are ready for the task and can't wait to meet our little wonderful baby!!

I will be sure to post some pictures soon, and between now and August 30 (baby's due date and my sister Caitlyn's birthday!) there will be lots more posts to come! Oh and of course after the baby gets here!!

Week 7 goin on 8....1st doctors appointment here we come!!

2009-01-11T13:18:00.000-08:00

Our first doctors appointment is this Thursday the 15th at 1030am. It is still sinking in that we're having a baby and all of the preparation that goes along with that. I know we won't be in this apartment for that long after the baby is born. Brandon's office is turning into baby's room, which I know will be an adjustment for Brandon but not for too long because we are hopeful to be in a house by December this year.

We spent this last weekend downtown, just enjoying time together and exploring the city we've missed so much! Thanks to a great hotel deal (Jenn you are amazing!), we were able to walk everywhere and go to some of our favorite places! We even went to see a movie (something that we haven't done in about a year and a half!) My parents watched Rocco and Stella for us, payment of one bottle of wine! So great! It was a wonderful weekend and we came back feeling rested and ready for what lies ahead!

There are atleast 2 trips on the horizon before baby comes! Which is exciting, one for sure to visit some friends in AZ and the other is still an undecided. Now everything we do revolves around baby's arrival and how are life if going to change. We've had an amazing 7 years together, and feel like we've been able to take advantage of some amazing opportunities! There will be more adventures to come, now with the 3 of us!!

Only in Colorado for 3 weeks....and then....surprise!!

2009-01-03T17:52:00.000-08:00

So, as most of you now know but just in case you don't Brandon and I are having a baby!! Yes, its true and as we have had time to soak in the news and embark on a new journey of bringing a new life into this world. It seems as though I have gone through about a million different emotions over the past 6 weeks. Overall, we feel truly honored and blessed that God has put in our trembling hands this precious little person.

As our life has always been, major decisions are done in quite a whirlwind of change. Such as, moving to Knoxville 48 hours after we were married, moving from Knoxville less than a week after Brandon had finished his PhD and started a job 2 days after we arrived in Louisville, and now being in Colorado for about 3 months we are now having a baby.....whew!!

I truly believe that I had some growing up to do before this happened, trust me I still feel totally unprepared and still in shock. I know had this happened 3 years ago I would have been a totally unprepared, 21 years old, 1400 miles away from family, newlyweds, Brandon starting grad school.....yikes!!

We are excited to be raising our children in Colorado and near family. I do wish that my girlfriends in Knoxville ( and now one dear friend in Phoenix ) were here to go through this process with me, come to my baby shower and meet the littlest Merkl!! I know this will be quite a journey, and yet God is good and He has taken care of us in so many ways, that this is just another time in our life to trust Him again. Its funny that He seems to give us bigger things in our life to put into his hands, and yet each time He has proven faithful.

As this is the beginning, feel free to keep checking back for future pictures, postings and take part in our journey!