Name that baby....

Until we find out the "anatomical features" of our child in August, I am looking for a new name for "baby."

To begin, I have to give credit where credit is due -- Katie (Wipperman) McHugh is currently pregnant and has a hilarious blog http://neverknoweverything.blogspot.com/ . In her blog, she calls her baby "turnip" and it is quite catchy. I feel like I know turnip already! I am not sure where the name came from exactly, however I think she always found it comical when the weekly update emails compared her child to a food item. I assume that is how she got the name turnip. (Katie, correct me if I am wrong).

So, here is where you come in ......... please leave me some ideas in the comments section of names that I can call our "baby" until he/she has an actual name!

Thanks for your help!

14 weeks...Second trimester here I come!

Tomorrow (Tuesday) we will be starting week 14 of this pregnancy! Time is sure dragging on and on forever. I have often wondered, why 9 months? Couldn't we be more like sheep, only needing 5 months for gestation? Or a few other animals only need 3 months? I guess the Lord figured that we needed 9 months to prepare for such a life changing event! I guess I should be thankful that we aren't elephants -- goodness, they have a 22 month gestation. I have a feeling there would be a lot fewer humans in the world if that were the case. Any thoughts on that one?

Since I find it facinating each weeks updates on baby's growth, I would like to post what is happening for everyone to learn alongside of me!

- Baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, possibly suck her/his thumb - Baby's facial muscles are getting a workout as her/his tiny features form one expression after another.
- Baby's kidneys are producing urine! Wow, they pee at such an early age!
- Baby can grasp
- Baby is probably measuring 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces.
- Good news: Baby's body is growing faster than his head FINALLY, which now sits upon a more distinct neck.
- By the end of this week, baby's arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of her/his body. Baby's legs still have some lengthening to do.
- Baby is starting to develop an ultra-fine hair all over his body.
- Baby's liver starts making bile this week
- Baby's spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells.

Wow, that is a lot of growth in 14 weeks huh?

Welcome to The Long Family Chronicles

Welcome everyone to our newly created blog. We are thrilled that you have chosen to journey with us on this exciting adventure!

Our new adventure together began on Thursday April 24th at 5:30am with a positive pregnancy test. You see, I took the test right after Nate left for work. I was thrilled with the results and immediately took a picture of the pregnancy test and made it into a card for Nate that said, "Positive proof that in 9 months you are going to be a great father." I cooked dinner that night and had his card laying on his plate. He asked if he could open it and I said sure. Once he opened the card, his eyes got really big....he was pretty much speechless. "Wow, wow... is this what I think it is?" I acknowledged this truth and he gave me a big hug and kiss and we just sat and enjoyed the moment together. It was very precious!

We then were thrust into reality and realized we were both ready to run the Indianapolis Mini Marathon. Of course, I was freaking out a little (no surprise for many of you reading) about running 13.1 miles being pregnant. I was quickly assured by my OB that as long as I stayed hydrated and didn't over do it, I would be fine. My dear friend Apryl was running it too, so she selflessly volunteered to run with me, so Nate could have the chance to kick butt in his first Mini Marathon. At the time of the mini, I was about 5.5 weeks pregnant and starting to get sick. Apryl and I ran probably 7 out of the 13 miles, had to walk the last 6 due to extreme nausea. Apryl was such a trooper to stick it out with the prego Allyson.

Fast forward another week to Mother's Day weekend (5/10) -- mind you, the only other people that knew we were pregnant included my OB and Apryl and her husband! Our families didn't know that we were expecting! We had a mother's day cookout at my parents house. Nate's parents and sister Rhoda were also in attendance. When it was time to open gifts, we had all the mothers (my mom, Nate's mom, and my grandma) sit on the couch and we handed them all a card to open simultaneously. The card was a modified version of Nate's card and everyone screamed, jumped for joy, and some even cried! It was such a special moment for all of us to share together. I know it will be a very memorable day for both of our Mothers, especially mine because she became a grandma for the first time!

At 10 weeks, we were able to hear the heartbeat for the first time. What a huge relief that was!!! It is so crazy to believe there is actually a human being growing inside of me!!!

Fast forward to 12 weeks or so, we finally were able to spill the beans to our other friends and coworkers. Everyone showered us with congrats and prayers! We are so blessed with our network of friends and family!

That bring us to now... starting our 14th week of this pregnancy -- with many many many more weeks left to go!