the moment

People keep asking us why. Why don't we want to find out what we're having? Boy or girl? How do you feel connected? How do you paint the room? How do you look forward?
Because of the moment. Labor isn't going to be fun. But the moment will be true joy.
When Joel gets to look at me and say "It's a ..." - my eyes fill with tears just thinking about it. And then, when he gets to announce to our waiting family "It's a ..." - that moment will be forever etched in my mind.
We weren't tempted, truly didn't even think about it at the ultrasound. We were amazed. There's a baby in there. Really. With fingers and toes and kidneys and bones. My thoughts never went there.
And feeling connected. Once I saw that baby, there was no going back. I'm in love. And I can't wait to meet that little personality growing inside of me.
The room, planning - those don't matter to us. We want gender neutral anyway.
So for us - it's became a no brainer. The joy and excitement will get us through the next 18 weeks and the moment will be the sweetest thing I've ever known.
Joel and I have created life. What a miracle.

peek-a-boo

Well, I'm not going to lie. Ultrasounds are pretty sweet - okay, really sweet. And the best news of all, Squirt is healthy and growing right on track. Our due date is somewhere in the 6/18 - 6/20 range. We have some images of our little one that I couldn't be prouder to share. And of course, Baby Hintz has got to be the cutest little thing there ever was!
Could be the only moment Squirt stayed still... this baby was jammin'!

Kickin' so hard... bop, right in the head.

And all snuggled in... the tech said that Squirt was balled up most of the time with hands near the face.

We did hold tight to our word and we didn't find out the sex of our baby. My dad has already threatened to call the doctor's office himself, to which I had to tell him the doctor doesn't even know! :) We are just so blessed that everyone is healthy.

january weekend

i only have a moment, but i'm a proud wife! joel is building a cradle for Squirt and it's starting to take shape. check this out!

on another note - we got to use our Christmas gift from Mike this weekend - a trip to a Badgers hockey game in Madison. we brought our friends Lou and Jessica who had never been to a hockey game. great company, great game - Badgers hold on for the win over Denver!

bumps

Week 18 day 5. In a week and a half... this happened. I know I seem surprised every time, but it literally happened in the eight hours I was at work. Even Joel was surprised when I got home!
Squirt and I are well. I really can't complain. Everyone at work keeps asking me "how are you feeling?" (which is very nice), but I can't say I have much to respond with... all is well.
Last night, we had a funny moment. I haven't been feeling the baby move a ton, but when we were relaxing on the couch, I felt a little, so I had Joel put his hand on my belly. We were enthralled in some t.v. show and suddenly Joel pulled his hand away and screamed like he'd seen a ghost. I had felt nothing, but Joel swears he felt a tapping on his hand. Guess it scared him... he scared me! Squirt just wanted a little contact!
Everything else is great. We are doing everything we can to enjoy our time together and with friends. We were blessed with two great meals and great company last week, as well as a nice date night out on Saturday. This weekend we're heading to a Rockets/Terrors basketball game and a Madison hockey game.

life full

Just when we think things might slow down after the holidays, we reconnect with friends and we're off again! We assumed we'd have this weekend at home to do some organization and redecorating, but then we were invited to different fun events and we couldn't resist.

First was the Badger/Boilermaker basketball game in Madison on Saturday. Great game - Badgers beat the undefeated Purdue Boilermakers. Fun was had by all.

Second was a playoff party at Kris's house - great food, exciting game, painful loss. Before our trip to church on Sunday (and the ensuing football game) - we took this pic (17 weeks).

But before we could do all of that, we needed to squeeze in just a bit of organization. Every closet in the house was being used - and being used to it's maximum capacity. Not anymore! Squirt now has a closet and Joel and I have combined forces and made space for each other. Here's Joel collecting up things to go to Goodwill!

And a little treat I bought for Squirt...

happenings

The last week has brought us many blessings!

1 - Christmas with the Lullo's. We took off on Wednesday night (the 30th) and arrived to a fire in the fireplace and warm bed to sleep in. Thursday we shared our gifts and were blessed with many in return (including a few for Squirt). We celebrated NYE in style with a huge steak and a lot of laughs around a few fun games. Friday we relaxed, saw my Grandma, ATE, and watched football (it was fantastic). Saturday we caught up with some of my old friends from college, and their sweet children, and Saturday night we saw my cousins. Sunday a.m. we packed up and headed out. We always LOVE our time in Chicago and feel so relaxed that we don't want to head back to reality.

2 - Monday night we were laying on the couch, while my sweet husband rubbed my back. I had been feeling a lot of little flutters during the day, but when I layed on my belly, they were more distinct. So I had Joel put his hand on the spot I had been feeling it. And low and behold - Squirt gave Joel a little tickle. It was the sweetest moment!

3 - 16 week appointment. Squirt is stubborn (as if we should expect anything different), but eventually we got to hear our little one's heartbeat (doc says it's about 145). People are starting to make some guesses as to what the sex of Baby Hintz could be. Mom L says girl, Joel says girl, Dad L says boy, doc says boy - me, no idea. Just glad to know our Squirt is still growing and changing (as is everyone else).

Hope you had a wonderful and peaceful New Year's celebration.

Christmas with the Hintz's

This year, I began a new step in my life. I have managed to make it 29 years of Christmas with my family. Last year, Joel and I ran around to make it to all of our Christmas celebrations. This year, all of Joel's siblings were in town for a short while and we wanted to be sure to have plenty of time with them. So, year 30 was spent in Appleton, WI with the Hintz family. And they like to celebrate!

Christmas Eve was spent going to church with the entire extended family and then to my father in law's house for appetizers and gift exchanges. I was able to experience this with them last year, and it is amazing how the children are growing and how they multiply :) Next Christmas there will be at least two more!

The Hintz love their traditions. One of them is that many years ago, Grandma Hintz made her first mink bowtie - and ever since, the men wear them to church every Christmas Eve. The church expects it, and love that even the smallest Hintz wears one!

Though the roads were slick, Joel and I drove home to celebrate our one and only Christmas as a couple. We slept in a little and then had the joy of hot cocoa and donuts while we opened our gifts. Joel was generous and thoughtful in his gift giving - by far the most wonderful was the Pandora bracelet he bought me to celebrate the birth of our first child. What a beautiful moment!

We then drove back to Mike's house (in our comfy clothes) to celebrate with the siblings and spend all day talking and playing games. It was a relaxing and joyful time. Wonderful to have everyone in the same room. We ended the night at Cynthia's house to enjoy the gift Elissa gave her (Harry Potter Blu-ray)!

Baby Hintz is one lucky little kid. They will be surrounded by love and support - by different perspectives, different personalities, and people who are overjoyed by the arrival of this small life. Joel and I feel blessed. So blessed.