"Babymoon" and Fathers Day

"BabyMoon:" A babymoon is a vacation taken by a couple that is expecting a baby in order to allow the couple to enjoy a final trip together before the many sleepless nights that usually accompany a newborn baby. -Wikapedia

Luke and I took our trip to Mexico in November, we didn't make this public but it kinda kicked off baby making time for us; though it didn't happen right away. However, now with Baby on the way and a busy summer we decided to use the one free weekend we had and take our last trip... just the two of us.

Our friends dog, she LOVES to swim!

Trips alone are great, they make you realize why you are with someone, they make you laugh at things you sometimes don't at home, and they give you a chance to talk and catch up! We just went to the lake of the Ozark's (about 2 1/2 hours from our house) and stayed at a resort called Tantara. We ate at some great places, got ice cream every night, got too much sun, and even caught up with some friends!

Joey and Lindsey got married about 4 years ago and they live down at the lake. They are also expecting their first, she is about 5 weeks ahead of me...yes we are about the same size: UGH!

Joey and Luke had so much fun catching up!
Luke being "happy"





It was a HOT one! Ahhh!

Morning no makeup view from our room.

Ducks we watched swim in the mornings from our balcony. Made me remember one of the things Luke and I have most in common is our love for animals, any kind!

Lake view from our room.

Out to dinner and listening to a band.

One HOT MAMA... literally!

My view for all of Thursday, feet and a fuzzy belly. I thought it was so funny that I looked naked to myself, I wasn't I promise, just hiding the bottoms in there somewhere.

It was a super HOT (and humid) weekend but we had a good time and it was nice to get away, we liked the resort and had a great room with a kitchen and family room. We talked about how it might be a good vacation to take next year with baby wilson!

Sunday was Fathers day, since we had been out of town we decided to stay close to home. My dad was out at the ranch and we had just saw him to tell him some big news (different post) And we had just seen Luke's dad last weekend. We had some friends over and bbq'd and then some of Luke's family came over to visit. Baby Wilson and Boomer got Daddy a nice card and a new book to read "My daddy and me" But I think he got the best gift of all last night, A kick in the head! The books say now, if you are really quiet daddy can hear baby's heartbeat so we decided to try it out, Luke didn't hear anything but kept asking me if I was moving... with his head on my belly Baby Wilson gave daddy some really strong kicks right in the head, he is not even here yet and just wanted to say happy fathers day!

A full fun weekend

Well with keeping up with the theme of the summer this weekend was no different, I don't know how we fit it all in but we did, and we had fun doing it! Friday night we went to dinner with Luke's dad, step mom, and grandparents, they are going to be married for 60 years this winter and they live in Hutchitson KS where Luke was born (about 8 hours away) so it is always good to see them and catch up. Then we met up with a college buddy, he just found out his wife is expecting so or kids will be 4 months apart! :)

Luke and I decided to skip the race for the cure, it was hot humid, and we had a busy day ahead of us, so we took Boomer for a long walk to make up for skipping it, and we donated our money so at least that is good. Here is me and one of my best friends Jessie, her wedding is this August so the next stop was her couples shower, it was bbq themed so the rain was a bit annoying since it was on and off...on and off... but I am so happy for her, and she is going to make a beautiful bride!

Jenn was one of my sisters best friends in high school and was always at our house hanging out, her wedding was a blast as you can see from the pictures, it was a great night!

Crystal mom and I

Mommy love.

Luke and I

They had a cool ice scuplture that distributed pink cosmopolitans the glasses were also our favor, so cute!

The Bride and Groom during their first dance

Saturday we spent the night at my moms so that we could run some errands Sunday morning and go to the next couples shower for my friend Jenny, we have been great friends since the fourth grade and she is getting married this July! I have'nt seen her parents and family in a long time so it was great to get to see them. Then we headed to Luke's dad for the end of a fish fry they were having, we got some good food and played Farkle with the family, we can always count on them for a good game!

This week Luke and I both took off work on Thursday and Friday and we are headed to the Lake of the Ozarks it will be our last little trip just the two of us and we are looking forward to a relaxing long weekend!

Summer has hit the Lou!

My sister HAD to capture the belly in the swimsuit for the first time... it is official SUMMER is here in Saint Louis, Hallelujah

21 1/2 weeks

Lucky 7

Luke and I have been together for seven years now! We are not exactly sure of an exact date, because things can be blurry when you first fall head over heels for someone, but we know it is right around mothers day!

This is the oldest picture I can find on my computer of us two, it is from when Luke was on his 6 month long fishing job and I went to visit him for my birthday.

Thanks for seven wonderful years Luke, Love you and cant wait for this next adventure life has in store for us!

21 weeks & Bump pics

Me and my little boy!

I feel like it has really "popped" in the last week or two, so here are so new bump pics: 21 weeks!
I am feeling pretty good... considering.

I have been getting used to getting around with a belly, I am a bit tired, my ribs hurt from time to time usually late afternoon, and my back pain is pretty bad, but all in all I am doing good!

21 Weeks...more than half way there only 19 more to go!

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long Chances are good you're feeling someone performing a round-off back handspring in your uterus by now. Other highlights this week:By now your baby looks like a mini-version of what she'll look like when she's born. All her facial features are formed and hair is growing on her head. She's even acting like a baby and will occasionally suck her thumb or yawn. Aww ...

Baby's heartbeat is getting stronger and can be heard using a good old-fashioned stethoscope.

By 21 weeks, fetal bone marrow starts making blood cells—previously done by the liver and spleen. This may not sound that exciting, but it's good news.The amniotic fluid that has been cushioning your little bean now serves another purpose: Your baby uses it to "practice" chowing down. Your baby has been swallowing amniotic fluid for a while now, but now the intestines are finally developed enough that she's absorbing small amounts of sugars from it. And let's face it, being able to effectively digest sugar is important at every stage of life.

Fun with Pictures

Proud Parents to-be. Words cannot describe how happy and proud we are to have a healthy and happy baby boy! Luke saying: "Look, It's a boy!"

Watching my son wave to me, I think I was crying at this point, not sure.


Falling in love with my son....

and playing with my hair clip, in case you were wondering what is in my hands in all of these pictures. (Luke makes weird jokes with ppl when he is nervous... I fidget)
Luke's nervous joke: To the tech, "wow they sure make your job easy these days" REALLY Luke, first of all you are saying her job is easy and implying she is old all in one random sentence. my nervous face at this point said: "shut it babe"
After the big appointments we went to dinner with my parents, sister, and Bennett. Here are the proud grandparents with their first and (as of now) only grandchild.

Then Luke and I stopped at target to get Baby Wilson's first outfits from his parents...excuse the crap I look like, it had been a long exciting day!

You're at the halfway mark — congratulations! Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana.

20 week U/S Pictures

So I am not the best with the whole scanning the pictures in thing, but here are my 6 photos of our little man.

The first one is a side view of his face, 2nd is profile view, umbilical cord, and his heart with 4 chambers, 3rd is BOY parts!!!

4th one he is waving hello! 5th another profile, and 6th you can really see his awesome spinal cord!

He was such a trooper throughout his photo shoot, some fun facts... He likes to lay just like mommy, with one leg straight and one WAY up, he was even sucking on his little toes at one point. He streeeeeeches out and leans his head way back. He is in the 96% for his weight right now, at 15 ounces. All of our measurements have me looking like 21 weeks and 2 days and today I am only 20 weeks and one day, they will not change my due date or anything because this could keep fluctuating with the pregnancy.

7 more hours

Dear Baby Wilson,
I thought about you and dreamt about you all night last night, (well I have been for my whole life, but you are so much more real now) you are growing inside of me and I love you very much. Today Daddy and I will go to the doctor to look at you on the screen and make sure you are happy and healthy inside my belly. Daddy is very excited to see you again today.
When we first learned of your news, of course I wanted a little girl I could dress in pink, and daddy wanted a little boy he could play sports with, but throughout the past weeks we have both gotten excited and anxious for the opposites as well, I would be thrilled with a little boy, who always loves his mommy of course, and daddy, well daddy I think likes his girl name more than anything and would be excited to use it.
But most of all we want you to be happy and healthy. We want you to grow up to be smart and be whatever you want to be in life. We want you to love everyone around you for who they are the way we try to. We want you to know that family is the most important thing in the world and there is nothing mommy and daddy wont do or fix for you. There is no amount of money that can buy happiness or love, for these things we will take care of for you. We want you to love God and we will teach you how he will handle anything that is just too big for you, after all daddy and I prayed for you and God made that happen.
I have wanted to be a mommy my whole life, it will be a learning experience for all three of us, but it is something we will all have fun with. I hope for us a house full of laughter for the rest of the lifetime to come for this perfect little family we are so happily creating.
We cant wait to see you today baby, If you are anything like your mommy and daddy you will not be modest at all and you will show off your goods loud and proud. Then we can go start shopping for you!
XOXOXO

A Mothers Prayer

One of my good friends sent me this for my first mommy-to-be Mothers Day!

It is so sweet and special... Thanks Joy!

A Mother’s Prayer

The Most Important Person on earth is a mother.
She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral.
She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any Cathedral--a dwelling for
an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body.
The angels have not been blessed with such a grace.
They cannot share in God's creative miracle to bring new saints to heaven.
Only a human mother can.
Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other human creature.
God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation...what on God's earth is
more glorious than this:
TO BE A MOTHER

And with this sweet one from Lauren, I am now weeping at my desk at work:

A Newborn's Conversation with God

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life." "

But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."

Birthday Dinner

Ashley from KC came in town to celebrate with me, LOVE her!
The girls and I....

And baby Wilson! Isn't baby Wilson going to have SO many amazing mommies, they are all already so excited about meeting him/her!

My wonderful hubby and I

Saturday night we went out to dinner at Trattoria Branica Wine bar with my closest friends, we all had a very good time, and I have to say I do not think I have had a better birthday, great food, great wine, live band, and great company! There is just nothing like being surrounded by all the people that mean the very most to you!

Here are some shots captured from the night, My friend Lauren has some cute pics of me opening my birthday present from Luke, he has been doing great at work and surprised me with a David Yurman bracelet, I LOVE his stuff and I told Luke now we can start a collection ;) Luke hit this birthday outta the park!

Sunday we got together with my family to celebrate my birthday and my cousin Blake's Communion. My grandma had been to this little place and wanted to take us, it was actually in this guy's 130 old house and they only do one family/group at a time he cooks all the food homemade and OMG it was the best ever! ALL breakfast/brunch food, ALL amazing, it was a fun family get together and a very interesting lunch!

Thanks everyone for a fabulous weekend!

Happy Anniversary!

Also, happy OPENING DAY Cards! Hope our Anniversary brings you some good luck!

Two years ago today, I was finishing up my hair appointment, getting my makeup done, hanging out with my favorite girls, and getting ready to marry my prince charming!

Our wedding day was the best day of my life and it was the day that truly all of my dreams came true. It has been a wild ride these past two years, but I have to say I could not be any happier today or change one single thing about our life together... ok ok maybe if I had it my way we would of won the lottery by now, or something like that ;)

But really I do feel very blessed that all of our dreams are coming true right before our eyes... or belly!

Happy Anniversary babe, I love you.

Ultrasound Photos

Baby Wilson at 12 weeks head, body, and a little hand in there!
Excited Mama Wilson!

These were scanned in, the top two are from 12 weeks and the bottom two are from 8 weeks.

How Luke and I found out!

Read first if you want a Recap!

It was a Wednesday night, I was supposed to "start" on Saturday or Sunday so I decided (after my friend Meghan saying I HAD to) take a pregnancy test. Once I took the famous one question test I could not believe my eyes, 5 minutes my butt, this bright pink line on the "yes" side showed up RIGHT away! I was a good girl and waited before freaking out, I even decided to chug some water from the bathroom faucet to calm down, my way of starting to be healthy?!? I texted a picture of the test to my friend Meghan who was home with her husband and friend doing some major home remodeling, and she called me right away and told me in fact what I saw was true! (she is kind of an expert on this) I must of asked her 150 times if it was right, I didn't want to get happy or excited if for some reason it was wrong! She assured me over and over again to go ahead and believe it, I started bawling instantly, something I have wanted for my whole life had come true! I've known I have always wanted to be a mom and watched friends struggle with infertility, and just like that on a Wednesday night God blessed me with a miracle.

Another post on How I told here: http://ashleyluke.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-i-told.html

I decided I would have Boomer tell Luke, he is after all our first born and I thought it would be a good memory. I quickly made him a shirt to wear that said "I'm going to be a big Brother" When Luke normally gets home from work, Boomer is very excited to say hi to him and tell him about his day so to get this on film I had to put Boomer in our room (I lie and tell Luke I accidentally left him upstairs when the UPS man came to the door) Then I tell Luke to look at the mail on the table so that I could get a good "shot" of him. His reaction is so speechless so the video didn't turn out as good as I thought. But like I said...a great memory for us, and for baby Wilson someday!

Sidenote: at the end when I tell Luke he is on candid camera, I should of kept the video going because he then thinks this was all a joke, he says "that was a mean joke!"... I assured him it was real and I am not THAT mean!

As we enter this next journey in our life, it makes me wonder how we will fit it all in a day, we barley do it now with no kiddos! That is why I am going to keep the blog going. not sure how many people read it, I know about 5 for sure (ha!), but to me it is a heck of a lot easier than keeping a scrapbook or journal for my child. I might try to be a super star and do both in the beginning but we all know that good intentions sometimes slack off in the end. Luke and I are so in love with baby Wilson already we feel very blessed that God chose us as parents and we are going to be the best darn parents we can be for this little baby.

Cardinals Spring Training 2010

Crab Leg Night, Our waitress was so cute, she was foreign and asked us if Lady gaga was a guy or girl! :)
Dave got the all you can eat and ate 5 plates of crab legs! Whoa!

Luke in heaven!

This might be my favorite picture of us 4, all very happy for the first day, and opening day for the Cards at Spring Training!

A new pitcher

Some of the Cardinals pitchers

The strip at Los Olas there were people and spring breakers everywhere, got to enjoy some fun relaxing people watching, ohh and Luke got hit on by a guy in a bikini, classic!

At Hooters people watching, The had 3 mocktail (non alcoholic) drinks for me to choose from, YUM!

We had a great trip, good weather, good friends, good baseball (even though we lost both games we went to) We went to some really fun places in Jupiter, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale! So glad we could go this year with Colleen and Ross, and there were plenty of little ones there having a blast so hopefully we can make it back again sometime! Loved the energy and the intimacy of baseball at Spring Training!

Now lets get this St Louis weather going in the right direction and kick off baseball season right.... Opening day in St Louis is on our 2 year anniversary, Go Cards!

How I told...

I found out I was expecting on a Wednesday right after work, after freaking out from excitement for a minute and a long phone call to a friend confirming what I saw was indeed correct I began to think about how to tell Luke, I had thought up a few situations in my head but decided to let Boomer do the talking, he is our first born! ;) So I quickly made him this shirt, then I decided I would need to get this memory on film! But Luke would know something right away if I was standing there with a video camera when he walked in the door so I strategically placed it hidden and had some mail for him to look at on our kitchen table. I will have to post this video, cute! Luke was very excited and mostly speechless but I don't think I will ever forget that amazing look in his face, happy and scared shitless!

My girlfriends and I had plans to go to the Melting Pot (one of our FAVORITE restaurants) for a girls night out so it only seemed appropriate to tell them all there, together and all in person. I had cards made up with Boomers picture that said "mommy and daddy are excited because I'm going to be a big brother, Baby Wilson coming Sept 2010" They all opened them together and there were screams, tears, and cheers! It was such a fun memorable night!

It was so tough to keep this from my family, especially my mom, she is one of my best friends and I tell her EVERYTHING! We were going to dinner for my moms birthday and I knew I would have to tell them then, my mom had already been with me and I opted out of the usual glass of wine so I knew she would get the hint if I was not drinking on her birthday. We were on the phone for a long time the day before dinner and I just couldn't keep it in any longer I blurted it out! She was thrilled, the next night I told the rest of them. My sister could not be happier, her little boy turns one this Friday! I had them all open appropriate clothing, my dad was confused at first, I think he thought his was for Bennett!

Two Pink Lines!

Yup that's right! Luke and I are expecting our first little miracle, we are both so overwhelmed with happiness, love, & excitement! Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will be 9 weeks along, we found out right around 4 weeks and kept it a secret for a little while. We had our first doctor appointment this past Wednesday and saw our little bean and its heartbeat, it was so special for both of us and made it such a more "real" experience. I absolutely LOVE my doctor, and she spent the next hour with me talking about everything and answering any questions I had etc...

Answers to the first questions everyone asks me:
Officially Due date is: Sept 27th 2010
So far I am feeling great, I am tired a lot, but feeling great!
My pants are a little snug but I will fit in them for as long as I can.
We are not 100% sure yet if we are going to find out the sex, that appt is at 20 weeks so we have a while.