Daddy hard at work!

Since we're on Christmas vacation, you'd think we were doing a lot of relaxing, WRONG! We've kept pretty busy so far this long weekend. We received some money from 2 sets of grandparents so we went out and got paint for the little ladies' bedroom! We decided on pale pink and brown. The brown was there before but the previous blue has now changed to pink. We originally refused the idea of pink but after not being able to decide on a shade of purple, pink it is!

I'm deuce deuce, 22 weeks! Only 4 more months to go! I am AMAZED at how easy pregnancy has been so far, what a blessing! Lately, I have noticed a few aches that I didn't notice before, but nothing serious. Lower back pain if I walk for long periods of time, things like that. Otherwise, all is well! I wasn't expecting to feel much since the doctor said the placenta is positioned in the front, but I feel little tosses and turns all the time! What a wonderful feeling to experience! I can't wait to be a mom!

Profile and foot!

It's a...

GIRL! I went to my 5th month dr. appointment last Thursday and we found out we're having a little Dena! I'm sorry I don't have any pictures to post, all the scanned copies are at work. I'll try my best to put one up soon. She is so amazingly cute already! There is one picture of her profile that has so much personality already! A little tiny nose, lips and chin! I was immediately in tears, just becoming more aware of how truly MIRACULOUS God is! I can't believe I love this little girl so much already and I haven't even seen her! I'm going to be a mess when she finally comes out! She's 10 ounces, what a peanut! The Dr. measured me, I thought he was going to say my belly was too small but he said it matches exactly where I should be. I was 20 weeks this last Saturday so we're halfway through!
Steve and I are doing well too! We're planning on sticking around here for Christmas. It's still up in there air if some of Steve's family will come, but we are ok with not going anywhere. We just want to stay warm and cozy by the fire and enjoy our Christmas together. Cozy by the fire?! It was 80 today! CRAZY, but AWESOME!

Momma Belly!

I'm showing! This was taken last weekend, I was 14 weeks then. It's weird and amazing that I feel pretty much normal now! God has been so gracious to us through the process thus far! I still need to go to bed a bit earlier than before, but other than that, I feel great! I was 15 weeks yesterday, or a little over 4 months. I have my next appointment Tuesday. Steve left tonight for Dallas until Friday for work, so he won't be able to go with me this time. Last month, we just barely were able to hear the heartbeat, then I laughed, and the nurse couldn't find it again! Let's hope we hear a good strong one this time around. It'll be a great mommy, baby bonding moment :) Steve is to arrive home Friday afternoon, please pray his work there would be beneficial and that he arrives home safely!

We went to Mayberry, NC a few weeks ago, with our friends Tiffany and Andy. We took a really awesome trail in the Pilot Mountains, very scenic. The boys got a little too adventurous for my liking, but what do you do? They're boys. It was a last minute trip so we weren't expecting much, but we had a blast! Even though I was 10 weeks pregnant then, God gave me the strength to keep up!

We're alive and well!

Oh! Looky here! Dena decided to get on the ball again! Sorry guys! It's been a pretty antiblog couples of months for me. And I apologize I posted a serious prayer request and left everyone hanging. Luckily, I see most of you regularly, so you know I am still alive and well. I have pictures I could post, but I figured I better stick with the update and do the pictures later, otherwise it'll take me 2 more months! Sheesh!
Well, it's been a change in season at the Nilsen Nest. I sleep lots more and Steve has become a little stir crazy these last weeks. I've been told by many that the 2nd trimester tends to bring some well needed energy back on the scene, so I am waiting for that to come! I'll be 12 weeks this Saturday!
Since my last update, I've been to the doctor twice. My blood test that they took because my hormones were low, came back normal. The nurse said I have "wonderful levels" now! Well, that was actually about 7 weeks ago! I had my appointment shortly after that and I got my second ultrasound! The 1st one I had the day I found out I was pregnant. The doctor thought I had an unusually large uterus, which she found, was from a cyst on my left ovary. And she's pretty positive it came from the pregnancy but should soon go away. Anyway, the 2nd ultrasound was AWESOME! Steve came with me and we got to see the little peanut's heart beating! It was 1.23cm then, amazing that we could see anything! I also just had my October appointment this Tuesday and heard the heart beat! It took a long while for the nurse to find it and when she did I laughed and she couldn't find it again! Way to go, huh? She said it should be much easier to find next month. And, no, I don't have any recent pictures of me, which we need to take. Seems like time is poking along but at the same time, it's almost November! We won't find out if it's a mini-Steve or mini-Dena until our December appointment so start the guessing if you will!
I'll close for now and do my very best to improve at my blogging skills, which are minimal as you all know:)