17 weeks

Today we went to our appointment to complete some follow-up blood work and got the listen to our baby's heartbeat. Doctor said everything is going well and the baby is doing great. So far the second trimester has been kind, just restlessness and headaches. Our next appointment (February 16th) we will find out by ultrasound the gender of baby Roper. That will be a great Valentine's day and birthday present for us!

Since we don't have an ultrasound picture to share this time, a belly shot will have to do. Baby Roper is continuing to grow! I've only gained 1/2 a pound this entire pregnancy but I know the pounds will start coming later.

Predictions on baby Roper: Myself: A Boy, Cade: A Girl. Everyone keeps telling me they think its a girl but I have a feeling about this, I only have a 50% chance of being wrong. We have our girl name picked out but are stilling working on boy names.

Stay Tuned for February 16th..

We're having a baby!!!!

So much has gone on these last few months, so let's start with the beginning:

When I returned from New York, I noticed that I hadn't had my monthly visitor....I didn't feel pregnant but I knew that something wasn't the same. So on 11.11.11 I took a pregnancy test--it came out positive so I took another one. Yep, two lines. Though I still wasn't sure since one of the lines was very faint.
Cade came home and I couldn't wait to tell him, "I think I might be pregnant". He was excited and then asked me why I think I am. I showed him the two tests and he just laughed. I went to my OBGYN the next week where they ran some blood tests and said "Congratulations, you're pregnant!" I was 6 weeks pregnant at this time; my first prenatal visit was scheduled at 9 weeks.

9 Week Appointment- December 5, 2011


Cade went with me so we could see our baby for the first time. It was such an amazing feeling to see something so tiny inside of you. We saw what was going to turn into hands and feet wiggling around and the heart beating incredibly fast. Our baby's heartbeat was 163 bpm. Hearing the heartbeat brought tears to our eyes.

We were excited but wanted to wait to tell our friends and family till we reached the end of the first trimester....and Christmas was coming up so we thought this would be a perfect present! During this time , we had more occasions of people asking us when we were going to have kids than we had the entire year; we played it off that we were still waiting so that the Christmas surprise wouldn't be ruined.

My symptoms in the first trimester consisted of:
1. Evening nausea
2. Headaches
3. Extreme exhaustion

Telling the Parents....Everyone had the same reaction!

13 Week Appointment-January 3, 2012

The end of the first trimester (thank you we made it!!!). My pants are feeling a bit more snug :).
I've had the usual symptoms which have by now subsided (for the most part). Baby is healthy and moving around quite a bit on the ultrasound. I can't feel any of this now but I'm sure it won't be long. Baby's heartbeat was 148 bpm.

Our next appointment is January 31st, we are hoping to find out the if it's a boy or girl!

Seattle in July

I know this is really late but I've had this post in 'pending' status for a few months now.....so here it goes!

This is probably the best time of year to visit Seattle. The temperature each day was in the mid 70s and was sunny which is different compared to the rest of the time when it is rainy. I've been wanting to travel to Seattle for a few years now and Cade won free airline tickets to anywhere is the U.S. so we thought this would be a great time to visit!
Our hotel was down Alaskan Way, right on the water which fits its name: The Edgewater. This is the same place that the Beattle stayed at and fished right outside their window. Our room was two doors away!

The view from the room was spectacular, you could see the Cascade Mountains in the distance and watch all the boats sail bye while listening to the various birds.

After admiring the room and view, we headed to the famous Pike Place Market. This is a one of a kind place, the freshest fish, fruit, veggies and handmade cheese, not to mention the original Starbucks.

After a stroll around the market we headed to Olympic Sculpture Park which was on the way to the Space Needle and Experience Music Project.

We were getting pretty hungry and ran into an italian restaurant, The Old Spaghetti Factory, that reminded us Spaghetti Warehouse in Houston that we used to go to as kids. This place was gorgeous inside, there was an old caboose in the middle and a nice romantic atmosphere throughout. Not to mention their Famous Lasgana!

Day 1 was pretty much over, we rested up for the next day ahead which was a trip to Mount Rainier National Park.

Mt. Rainier is 14,000 feet high; on our plane ride in we actually were able to see the peak of it which was a beautiful sight. We woke up early to go rent a car (a first for us). The drive down there was about 3 hours but it was very scentic. Driving into the park was an adventure itself, we weren't expecting it to be as big as it was. Our first destination was Sunrise which is the highest point you can travel in a car, 6400 feet. From the view you can see the thousands of trees, lakes and the top of the volcano which is covered in snow.

I can't even describe the beauty, it is something that you have to witness yourself to truly appreciate.