Baby's on the Way!

So hopefully you can forgive us for not posting forever if we make up for it with this exciting news...It's true! Jordan and I are expecting a baby! We are so excited to be parents (and our parents are super excited to be grandparents!). The baby is due to arrive on January 2nd. I'm almost done with my 12th week, which means I'm already done with my first trimester. I can't believe it's flown by so fast. Luckily, I didn't get too sick. I had about 2 weeks where I felt a little sick every day, but that was the worst of it. I am really tired all the time, but I can deal with that, especially since I should be getting some energy back soon. The funny thing is that I'm just barely done with my field work now, which took about three months, or my entire first trimester! I'm so grateful I was able to do it all. Here is some proof positive that we're pregnant:

Jordan and I also went to the doctor today and heard our baby's heartbeat for the first time. It was so magical to hear that there was another heart beating somewhere inside of me. It was so exciting to hear proof that our baby is really in there! For some comparison, the doctor said that my heart is going at about 60 beats per minute. He moved the doppler device so we could hear my heartbeat, and it sounded like whoosh............whoosh...........whoosh...........Then he said that the baby's heartbeat is going approximately 160 beats per minute. He moved the thing and we heard whoosh..whoosh..whoosh..whoosh..whoosh--crystal clear. It was so awesome. In another month we'll hear it again, and in two months, we'll know if we're having a little boy or a little girl!

Check out the new poll and vote (only once!) for your guess on whether we're having a boy or a girl (and let us know what you voted for!). I was going to offer twins as an option, but Jordan pointed out that we would have heard two heartbeats, which we didn't. Maybe we'll have prizes for the winners. We will definitely try to keep the blog updated more often now, which will be easier now that I can stay in town. We're so happy to share this news with all of you! We feel so blessed, and so lucky that I'm healthy and haven't ever done anything that will harm our baby. Most of all, we're so grateful for our own mothers, and the examples they set for us. Sometimes I feel unprepared to be a mom, but then I just remember my own mom and the way she raised me, and realize that she taught me all I need to know. I love you so much mom. You will be the best grandma ever!

So we'll try to include pictures in our updates. As you can see, there isn't much of a bump yet, but hopefully it will show soon!Jordan's Two Cents:
Yep, its true--we are fertile. I like to call Ash Fertile Myrtle. We both were having such strong feelings that we should bring a little tyke into to the world and make our dreams came true. It is so exciting. Ashley just beams with the radiance of a pregnant mother and I just want to tell every person I come across that I'm going to be a Daddy. Today I got to hear the little heart of our sweet baby and it almost made us cry. I can't believe what a miracle it all is. I'm so excited. I've always wanted to be a good Daddy just like my own and now I have the chance. It's all so amazing. We have also been so blessed with a healthy and smooth pregnancy so far. I just can't wait until I can hold our baby in my arms and sing the Beatles to it. Thank you all for such wonderful examples and for being such loving friends and family. Darwin is going to feel right at home with such special people surrounded around him/her.

Ashley's P.S....Jordan is just kidding about the name Darwin...kinda.