What's in a Name?

 

That's our little prince!

So we've announced that our baby is a BOY! :) I am sure you can all tell by my Facebook page! Truth is - we were ecstatic regardless if we were having a boy or a girl. I can't say I know a lot about little boys, but this boy's momma does love monster trucks, playing in the dirt, playing with Legos, etc. So I can do it! :) And I know my husband will be amazing!

People asked us what we were going to name our kids. We had them picked out for years. And we took a lot of time and thought into it. From the Bible days, people named their children strong names...something that ended up saying a lot about those children. People didn't name their kids randomly...it was a big deal. Your name says a lot about you! So - we named him Caleb Isaac for a reason...

Caleb - I had this name for years now. I always loved the story of Caleb from the Bible. If you don't know the story (because not everyone does), God had promised Moses that the Israelites would be led into the Promised Land. The Israelites sent 12 spies into the land to check out who was there and develop strategies to defeat them. Well one of those spies was Caleb! When they came back, all of them except for Caleb and Joshua came back with a very negative report. They expressed fear and said there were giants and didn't trust that they could do it! But Caleb (and Joshua) trusted in his God enough because look at what happened with the Red Sea (come on now...how can you not trust in God after you see that?!). He had faith that even though they were bigger, they would defeat the enemies and still be able to settle in the land God had promised. He was faithful! And because of his faithfulness, only Joshua, Caleb, and the younger generation were allowed to go in. And I just found his faith so amazing and right on with what I want from my own boy! I want my son to be so close and so faithful to God all his life. I pray that Todd and I will instill that in him! 

Isaac - We originally were going with another middle name. But it was changed when I first found out I was pregnant with him. As you have read, I had a couple of negative tests, and so when I took the last test, I didn't think it would be positive. In fact, I only saw one line at first. But then...there was the 2nd line. And I laughed. I mean it - I was laughing so hard because it was just AMAZING! I was laughing because after all those fertility treatments, God did it on His own! And I found myself relating to Sarah from the Bible from a different perspective. She was very old to have a child and she laughed at the thought of having a son (even though God promised). I also had my moments of doubt and laughed at the idea because the only thing I experienced was pain (losing at least one child) and then struggling to get pregnant. But then - when it happened, all I could do was laugh and say "Wow you got me God!" We laugh because He gave us this beautiful little boy out of the heartache and pain. And I truly believe, our son (wow so awesome to say that) will live up to his name. He will bring us laughter. That I am sure!

So our dear, sweet Caleb Isaac is coming! And we are most thankful for him this year! Seriously - I haven't even met him face to face and looked into his eyes, and we are in love with this sweet boy. He is our little prince! This year has been such a crazy ride, and there have been joyous moments and a lot of hard times too! But, it was just so fitting to end the year knowing we were having a baby boy and starting 2014 with a bang!

And if there is anything I can say as we say goodbye to 2013 and welcome in 2014 - appreciate all the moments and never give up on your dreams! Never!

I wish all of you a wonderful and blessed 2014!

Love,
Todd, Sarah, and Caleb :)

18 week update! :)

How far along? 18 weeks, 5 days

Total weight gain/loss: I haven't weighed myself, but my next Dr's appt. is coming up.

Maternity Clothes? Yes! My sister and Mom took me shopping (and it was sooo much fun!). I got some cute clothes for sure and they feel great! Below is a picture of my favorite top that I got.

 

 My favorite shirt that I got when we went shopping.

 

Stretch marks? just a tiny bit

Sleep: I get up a lot in the night due to a variety of reasons. However, mostly it's been because I have been coughing a lot lately.

Best moment this week: Christmas fun with family! :) Below shows an awesome gift from my parents. They made this cute penguin for the baby's room. Mom designed the penguin and Dad helped cut it out. So cute and perfect!

Cute little penguin to go on the wall in the baby's room

 

My sister is so excited about being an aunt! ;)

Miss Anything? I still miss caffeine. I also miss being able to eat mexican food without feeling bad!

Movement? Just little flutters every now and then. I felt them for the first time at 16 weeks and 6 days on 12/13/14. So fun! And I do believe I felt him or her on Christmas day. Just slight flutters!

Food Cravings? Eh not really. I LOVE cereal. That has been the one constant through this pregnancy so far. Cereal is my favorite thing in the world to eat! But then, it's always been!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Anything with a kick to it...we went out to get some mexican, and I couldn't eat it very long. Mexican is my favorite food, but this baby definitely has an adversion to it.

Have you started to show? Yeah I think so. I think the maternity clothes really "show" it off! :)

Labor Signs? No and I am praying that I won't for a long time.

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings off or on? On still.

Happy or Moody most of the time? Oh so moody! When I think I am feeling normal, then there comes a moment where I get all sad or mad or whatever for no reason at all. My poor husband! Pray for him ;) He is such a super Daddy. He has been more than patient and shows me so much love and concern, even when I'm moody brat! ;)

Wisdom: I still say - enjoy every moment of pregnancy. There are plenty of people who would love to be able to carry a baby/be pregnant. I don't take it for granted.

Looking forward to: We just had a wonderful Christmas, and now I am looking forward to New Years Eve. We have a Dr's appointment on New Years Eve and hopefully find out the baby's gender! I am praying that Baby Taber lets us see! :) Plus, it will just be fun being with friends that night and spending New Years with my sweets!  

 

Todd and I in front of my parent's Christmas tree! I love this man!

Baby Taber - Pregnancy Update for 16 weeks!!

So I wanted to have some fun with this blog and share some of the pregnancy experiences. The past 16 weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions, but mostly thankfulness because we have gotten this far! So here is where I am at 16 weeks. I have posted some belly shots. The last time I posted a belly shot, I was 7 weeks, so I thought it was important to show a difference since then.

 Baby Taber at 16 weeks (profile)

 

Just the belly looking down

 

How far along? 16 weeks exactly

Total weight gain/loss: apparently I haven't gained any weight since September. However, my Dr. says it's okay. He didn't want me to gain too much and too fast. So he isn't concerned. However, I am hoping I gain some weight in the next few weeks so I feel like baby is getting the food he or she needs!

Maternity Clothes? No - just the Bella Band, which only sometimes works. But, I can't wait to go shopping with my Mom and sister.

Stretch marks? just a tiny bit

Sleep: It's been rough. I have a lot of vivid dreams and nightmares. Plus, I get up more in the night because I have to use the restroom.

Best moment this week: Hands down - Hearing baby's heartbeat at 15 weeks, 3 days! We also learned that the baby can hear our voices this week, so we are reading this book that my family used to read at Christmas time called "A Story A Day Til Christmas." We take turns reading the little short stories, and Todd really gets into it! He loves talking to the baby!

Miss Anything? Sometimes I miss caffeine. I want a Cherry Zero bad! I also want to eat a subway sandwich, but I can't eat deli meat.

Movement? Not yet, and from what I hear, I won't know right away that what I am feeling is the baby. But I can't wait to know for sure whether baby is moving!

Food Cravings? Nothing out of the ordinary. For the first couple of months, I wanted pizza all of the time! Now, not so much. I still do love bread!

Anything making you queasy or sick? Not really. I sometimes feel a little icky after eating something with a tomato base to it.

Have you started to show? A little, but I am not sure if it is real "baby bump." Right now, I feel more fat than anything ;) As long as baby is okay, that's all that matters.

Labor Signs? NO!

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings off or on? On still.

Happy or Moody most of the time? Moody sometimes because of stress from work, etc. But I don't know that it is due to my pregnancy. But I am happy for sure!

Wisdom: Enjoy every second! I spent my first trimester in panic mode, and I was always worrying. I am tired of that attitude and I want to enjoy every minute!

Looking forward to: I am looking forward to Christmas for sure with my family! I can't wait to see my sister and she hasn't seen me in person since I announced our pregnancy! Plus, I can't wait until New Year's Eve when we see our baby and hopefully find out whether we are having a boy or girl. We don't care what we have, but we can't wait to just know. Because then, we can start calling him or her by his or her name!  

 

A Story A Day Til Christmas - what we read to Baby Taber during Christmastime

 

 

We also go to hang our family ornament up this year, and I just love it! So perfect for this year!

 



 

Last but certainly not least - we recorded our baby's heartbeat at the Dr's this week. I wanted to have something to keep with me always and hear his or her heartbeat! :) Nothing to see, just hear! :)

 



 

So there is guaranteed to be more exciting updates in the future, so please stay tuned! :)