21 Weeks

Hey hey, hope everyone is doing well! We're in full throttle over here in the Ratliff household. Ben is beginning to think about preparing for his exams.... notice I said "beginning to THINK about". This is just the preliminary stage of stress for him. It gets worse as we near the holidays. So we've got that going for us. :) I'm sure he'll do SUPERIOR as he always does. I've been feeling very pregnant lately, especially after stepping on the scale at my monthly doc. appt. last week. I can honestly say that I've never gained 10 pounds in one month... until now. WOW. I just love stepping on those scales. Really though, it's a great feeling knowing that it's just a sign of a healthy baby boy growing rapidly inside me. By the way, he's now at least 8 inches long, and one of my books compared him to the length of a SQUIRREL! As Ben says, "babe, no wonder your belly is so big! It's like you've got an entire squirrel surrounded by a water balloon in there!" :) Nice point- that does explain so much. The biggest milestone I've noticed this week is the fact that my belly button is SO very close to popping out (to be an "outtie") it could happen any day now. I am curious as to after it "pops"... will it ever go back in?? Any mommies have an answer for that one? 

We're back...

Sorry once again for the delay... I wanted to start giving belly updates every other week for a while, but I just get so tickled when I get phone calls and emails "demanding" an update! So here you go... a big fat belly picture just to appease all you skinny minis out there. I bet you just like looking at them because it makes you feel better about your own belly! :)  Kidding. I am about 20 weeks now and feeling great. Whatever I said last week about not having a big appetite is absolutely NOT true anymore.... I am eating anything and everything this week! And I can tell the baby is going through a growth spirt because I am having "growing pains" more than ever in my abdomen. Baby boy is the length of a banana now, and throwing kicks and punches whenever he pleases. He's most active at night when I lay still and am trying to go to sleep... of course that's when he decides to come out and play. Speaking of sleep, I've had the hardest time adjusting to the new sleep positions I've had to take on. I've always slept on my tummy, but that is no long an option, as I feel like I am going to smoosh his face whenever I try! But laying on my back is no good either- apparently it causes pregnant women all kinds of back problems. That's been my challenge of the week- figuring out how to go to sleep on my side with a baby performing what feels like an acrobatic routine in my abdomen. Trust me- it's harder than it sounds! 

18.5 Weeks

Hello friends! First of all, I must say that it was quite funny receiving two phone calls from dear friends yesterday REQUESTING an update on the blog (you know who you are!) and reminding me that I was already a day late on the usual update routine. I loved it though, because it made all of my blog writing hours - okay minutes- well worth the effort, just knowing how "into it" some of you get! :) So yay- here's your weekly update, and MY APOLOGIES for the 24 hour delay. Never again. This week, baby Ratliff is the length of a mango, which I enjoy telling people much more than last week's comparison. His 5 senses are heightening at a great speed these days, which means he can finally hear his mama talk ALL DAY LONG to her students. I told Ben and he immediately lowered his head to my belly and began talking to him in a deep burly voice probably about something important like football or beef. My appetite has kind of slowed down lately, which seems strange since baby is growing so FAST. I'm sure it will all even out in the end. Here's a few pictures from the week. Ben's working hard to start the UT brainwashing early. I've GOT to find some TCU stuff for this baby to have a chance. Y'all have a great week and eat some pickles and ice cream for me.

17.5 Weeks

LOOK HOW MUCH I'VE GROWN IN A WEEK! We take the picture every Sunday evening so we can be consistent, and I am even shocked when I compare the pictures from this week and last. How does mommy skin ever go back to normal? Seriously. Not a whole lot of news for everyone... let's see... our little boy is now the size of a LARGE white onion! That's exciting. I wish they could have chosen a more appetizing vegetable or perhaps even a fruit for this week, but I can't think of anything better so we'll just go with it. OH I do have a little something exciting- he KICKED me this week! I've had a few times where I thought he had thrown a few punches, but I'm pretty sure that was... well... not the baby. :) But this week, there have been several days when I am positive about what I'm feeling, and it has been the COOLEST, weirdest most alarming experiences of my life. I can't wait until he's big enough and Ben will be able to actually see his foot or fist moving across my belly. That will freak him out for sure. But for now, I am completely satisfied with a few small kicks and nudges. It's sweet. 

Thanks for the prayers over my root canal. It was not my idea of a "fun" day off work, but it definitely got the job done. I do not recommend it for anybody, but if you have to get one, go to Dr. Greg Smith- he's great and has the sweetest staff ever! 

The Verdict Is In...

Let me begin this entry by letting everyone know one thing: I was wrong and Ben was right. (Yes, this is the first time ever...) For the past three weeks, I have insisted that I am the Mama of this child and therefore I KNOW what the sex of the baby is: a girl! This was seriously the strongest "feeling" I've ever had about something so important, and I honestly have always wanted a big family full of boys, so I had no ulterior motive for predicting a female. As we rode in the elevator in the hospital today, Ben did his best to guard my heart by telling me "please don't get your hopes up for a girl... you just never know..." Well in this case, Daddy must know best because he was right- WE ARE HAVING A BABY BOY!!!!! We are both just so excited- Ben is pumped, my mom and grandmother have been rooting for a boy all along, and I am having fun adjusting to this new idea of life with two boys. My dream come true! :) Anyway, that's the news. Who would have thought?!? 

Dental Dilemma

Apparently, I am such a selfless mother already that my body has decided to deprive itself of ANY necessary calcium needed to sustain my pre-baby healthy dental condition. That's right- it's all going straight to the sweet child growing inside me. (I am okay with that, considering he/she is currently developing real bones this week rather than the soft cartilage he/she's had so far.) I discovered this fascinating fact last week when I endured the most PAINFUL toothache of my life. (Poor Ben- he had no idea what to do but felt so helpless he began researching home remedies for toothaches and played doctor with a few experiments. Sweet sweet Ben. :)  It was so bad I had to call in a sub for the next day so I could go sit in the dentist office and pray they would squeeze me in to see what the problem was. Praise the Lord, the wonderful Dr. Greg Smith fit me in for a 10:00 appt., only to inform me that I had a huge cavity that would call for a root canal as soon as possible. This was terrifying news for two reasons: firstly, yes- I am pregnant. Any stress my body goes through, my baby also endures. Secondly, no- we do NOT have dental insurance. YIKES. Another life lesson learned the hard way. Anyway, all this goes to say that I would greatly appreciate your prayers this Thursday (Sept. 25th) for a smooth and painless (ha!) surgery. Thanks so much, friends! Oh yeah, this picture shows my belly at 16.5 weeks + a big dinner from Texadelphia. That combination leads to one big old belly! 

15.5 Weeks

Well, here he/she is in all his/her glory! Inside that belly is the apple sized (not shaped- Ben had to clarify for me yesterday...) baby of ours! For some reason this picture does not really represent how big my belly FEELS at times during the past few weeks. I think water retention has a lot to do with how much I am "showing" each day. Anyway, not a lot of details yet... I am still waiting to feel that first kick or punch. The past few days I've felt GREAT- the school days fly by and I am at home resting on the couch by 4:30, which is nice. I would love to start planning a sweet little nursery but our living situation is still a big question mark. We should know more on that by November... stay tuned!