Happy Birthday Momma-to-be and MaMa!

Well, today is my 27th birthday!  I cannot believe I'm almost 30...wow, where does time go?  I had a great birthday weekend surprise.  Steven & I were supposed to be heading to Lafayette yesterday for a Demas Drive Shower.  However, when we were heading out of town, Steven headed East Bound instead of West Bound . I said Honey, where are you going????  He said, Surprise! We are going to NOLA for your bday!   I was rather confused and didn't believe him.  He said, No we are really going to NOLA.  I said, you don't have plans!  He said oh yeah I do!  I still didn't believe him, so I said prove it.  And he showed me to confirmation/receipt for our hotel.  It was a WONDERFUL surprise.  We stayed in the Garden District at the Queen Anne Hotel.  We rode the street car up St. Charles and walked up & down Magazine.  We had a scrumptious seafood dinner at Dick & Jenny's on Tchoupitoulas.  Sunday morning we went to mass at St. Mary's Chapel and had brunch at Atchafalaya Cafe.  It was DELICIOUS!  Steven partook in the Bloody Mary Bar, while Momma enjoyed hot tea.  I had poached eggs ontop of fried green tomatoes!  I received an outpouring of love of messages on facebook and on the telephone.  I am truly truly blessed to have wonderful dear friends & family.  It was bittersweet not to see my grandmother on her birthday.  We share a birthday and MaMa is very very very very very dear to me!  This is the first time I have not seen her on her birthday in several years.  I got to speak to her though, and she was very happy I got to spend time in NOLA with Steven for my first bday as a married lady .  Now onto Baby Brooksher!!!  My goodness our baby loves to move! I have BEEN waiting to feel these kicks and boy do I!  Usually after dinner I feel & see  a few punches or kicks.  But today during mass, I felt flips it seemed like!  Steven thinks the baby is definitely a boy now!  I think a girl gymnast/cheerleader.  A man on the street in NOLA last night told us , we are definitely having a boy.  We'll see if Poppa and the man on the street are right! We had our ultrasound in March.  It was BEAUTIFUL to see our baby waving at us, the heart pumping, and all of our baby's fingers & parts!  We have one GREAT pic of the baby's forearm with a distinct thumbs up!  When I learn how to post pics, I will.  Our doctor scheduled us another ultrasound this week.  So we are excitedly waiting for more pics!  I am now 22 weeks pregnant.  The doctor moved my due date to August 19th.  I am over half way & I cannot believe it!  Our baby is the size of a spaghetti squash.  The eyelids and eyebrows are well developed and our baby has fingernails now!  Steven & I have decided on 3 girls names and 3 names that we like.  So I guess we will make our final decision as time gets closer or at the hospital!  We have begun clearing out the nursery to make room for the crib & changing table.  We have completed our registries at Babies R Us and Babybedding.com.  So many choices, but we got it done!  I have less than 30 days left of school, so I am counting down!  I continue to feel great during the day.  I am continuing to swim laps at the YMCA about 3xs a week.  I do have carpal tunnel due to my pregnancy, but it's not bad.  It gets worse at night and when I use my hand a lot or carry heavy things, so I have a wrist brace I have to wear.  Please continue to pray pray for the healthy development of our baby!  Much Love & Many Blessings!