Boy oh Boy!

On Saturday at 20 weeks, I went in for my anatomy scan and we found out we are having a BOY!!  We are both so excited!  I really feel like God has been preparing me for a boy this whole time, because I've had a gut feeling since day one that he would be a he!  In fact, James and both sets of parents also thought it would be a boy, so we really weren't terribly surprised.  I had told a friend recently that if it was a girl, I would be very happy, but I'd have to adjust my thinking a lot.  I guess mother's (and father's) intuition is a real thing!  Anyway, it was so exciting to get to see our little man on the screen.  He was moving around a little and halfway through he had a huge yawn.  Its so exhausting to be a baby.  :-)  The nurse estimated him to weigh 13 ounces...almost a pound!

We are naming him Alexander James Shepherd, and we'll call him Xander.  We've had this name picked out since we got married, and it happens to be the ONLY boy name that we both love, so it was a pretty easy choice!  Alexander means "defender of the people" and I just love that.  I pray that he will grow up to be a man of God who stands up for the downtrodden and helps those who are in need. 

I am getting very excited about doing the nursery and getting baby stuff now that we know it's a boy.  We have had two Bradley classes so far, and it's been ok, although we did a really awkward and (in my opinion) dumb relaxation exercise at the last class.  I can't relax while lying on the floor with a group of people listening to a pregnant woman from the 80s wearing a hot pink and turquoise leotard talk about visualizing air flowing to your baby, and recognizing your inner goddess.  Hopefully it will get better!   

I can't believe we are halfway there!  I am feeling pretty good.  The weirdest part is that I can feel the weight of my uterus; it's a strange sensation.  The best part is that I can finally feel little kicks!  They are very low in my abdomen and feel like little jabs, or sort of like bubbles popping.  I just love it!  I can't wait until they are strong enough for James to feel. I was starting to get a little worried that I hadn't felt anything yet a few weeks ago, so it is very reassuring for me.  We can't wait to meet you little one!