Matthew and I have decided to name her Isabella Faye Hughes. Yes, we know Isabella is the #1 girls name in the U.S. right now, but we don't care. We had already decided on that name two years ago when we started trying. And how many Matthew's and Rachel's are there in the world, really?! Yes, we know it is eight letters long and probably fairly difficult to learn to spell. But we are just hoping she will take after her mommy's spelling abilities and not daddy's. And yes, we know people will probably call her "Izzy" or "Bella" but frankly we don't care. We will probably have our own nicknames for her as well, and "Little Monkey" is already starting to stick for good reason. That blog post will have to follow.
Right now I am 21 1/2 weeks along. We both can feel her kick and squirm. She mainly responds to Matthews voice in the evening when he gets home. But I am finding more and more things that make her ill inside me. I am starting to show, but yes I am not as big as most 5 1/2 month pregnant women. The UPS guy commented today that he just thought, "the holidays were getting to me." I have not had the usual pregnancy side effects like most pregnant women, but the ones I do have are very prominent. I'm just not hungry. I don't have cravings or heartburn. I do have restless leg syndrome and leg cramps at night which cause a little bit of insomnia. Honestly, if I didn't know for sure I was pregnant and I didn't feel her kick, up until now I swear I could be on the show I Didn't Know I was Pregnant.
Yesterday, we had our routine 20 week ultrasound. (I say routine because the 10 that I have had in the past have been due to some minor complications.) I was so very nervous. Matthew seemed to remain calm, but I could tell that he was so very excited. We also took Matthew's Grandmother Faye with us as a sentimental gesture and it worked out great because she had a doctor's appointment in Memphis that morning. I went in wanting a little girl, but in the back of my mind I just knew it was a boy. I just knew I would be walking out a little disappointed. Matthew wanted a little boy. One to pass the family name on to. However, he was the one that was going to be walking out disappointed. It was a beautiful (squirmy) little girl. So neither one of us walked out upset, because Matthew just started beaming and he was so excited he was going to have Daddy's little girl soon.
This is my favorite picture. She is all up in a ball with her feet above her head. I drink a ton of milk already, but I think I need to drink some more to build up those long legs she is forming.
She is already so loved. We are so excited about such a wonderful gift from God. No matter what obstacles we have gone through, this miracle is so worth every little bit of it.
