What's Behind A Name?

19 Weeks

Butterflies turn to Popcorn
It has been an active week to say the least! Our little lady has been kicking up a storm. I first felt her a couple days before my 18 week appointment but now, she is dancing up a storm and not afraid to let momma know it! It used to feel like little butterfly kisses, just very soft movements. The best way I can describe it now is like popcorn popping! It tickles! I love feeling her kick and move about. I feel her every day. And guess who also felt her... =-) The other day I was sitting on my couch with my legs outstretched and she was kicking really hard against my pant line. It was like she was saying "Ugh, Mom! Your pants are too tight!" I just started laughing! (It is so weird not being able to control something that is happening to you.) Paedn was sitting next to me and I told him to give me his hand. He got really excited. We sat there for a few moments and all the sudden BAM, she kicked so hard! Paedn looked at me with the biggest grin on his face. He's like wait...I felt something under my index finger, was that her?! I started laughing and crying and all I could say was yes and he started laughing and gave me and a kiss and then kissed my tummy and we just sat there crying and laughing. It really was the sweetest experience. It was everything I hoped it would be.
Now that she is 19 weeks she is also able to hear outside voices. I was so excited when I read this in my research. (ha! you know me and my research! I research everything.) Because she can now hear, I have decided to read a book aloud. I have several on my list. I guess I am hoping to instill the love of reading as early as possible.

Lorelei \l(o)-re-lei\ as a girl's name is pronounced LOR-a-lye. It is of German origin. Place name: a rocky cliff on the Rhine river, dangerous to boat passage, has been poetically personified as the Lorelei, whose singing lures men to destruction. The name has an aura of risky allure.
Our little lady will be known as Lorelei Hancock. There are several reasons why we picked this name. First of all, it is just so elegant sounding. Second, I am a lover of unique and not as popular names. I am glad I married someone who is as well. I mean, he kind of has to be since his name is Paedn. That is pretty unique! One of the reasons why I married him. But there is some personal history behind the name Lorelei. I remember going on vacation during the summer and listening to some CD's. We listened to Beach Boys, Styx, and this story on cassette that was a kind of thriller/mystery. I remember hearing the name Lorelei from the Styx CD and was in love it from then on. I also love learning about Greek Mythology and one of the Sirens names was Lorelei (as you read from above.) Paedn also has a love of this name because of Styx. This is one of only two names that we both had on our lists as we became a couple.
She will also have no middle name. It is a tradition in my family, starting with my sister, for the girls not to have middle names. My mother did this so that way when the girls would get married they would put their maiden name for their middle name. I think it is pretty neat and helps with family history. My sister and my sister-in-law have kept up with this and I didn't want to break the cycle!

Baby Bump
Slowly, but surely, the bump is starting to grow! I really thought I would be a lot bigger by now. But, I am quite pleased with my progress and am looking slightly more pregnant! I finally look more than just as if I ate too many cookies. The bump is also starting to rise a bit higher and I believe that helps with the pregnant look. I am grateful to have a husband who thinks I am still beautiful even with this baby bump. At the beginning, I was having a very difficult time with the growing belly. All my life I have been a very skinny person and I didn't know how to feel good about myself. But, my husband is so patient and sweet to me. When I would cry and explain how self conscience I was he would call me beautiful. He would say, "Hilary, you are not getting fat, you.have.a.baby.growing.inside.of.you!" It made me feel so important and I knew he loved me and understood, as much as he could, about how I was feeling. So far, I think I have gained all of 5 or 6 pounds. But, in my research I read that I should be gaining about a pound a week until the end of my pregnancy because the baby grows a lot quicker now. Hopefully I can keep this positive attitude about myself and just love the way I look.

Other plans
We have our crib! Well, it's not actually in our possession yet. (Which is fine since we are moving in March.) But, we are actually using Paedn's old crib. It is getting a fresh paint job at the shop and is going to look brand new for our sweet girl. It is a white crib so we are looking for other white furniture to put in the nursery. Mainly a white dresser. (If you have any suggestions, let me know!) I also decided to hang my metal "Dance" sign in the nursery. It is perfect since it's already pink with the letters in white! I also have a set of ballet shoes to hang on the wall. I am trying to tie two worlds together, cowgirl and dancer...ha! If you have any suggestions on how I should do that, let me know as well!

(Left: The other day Paedn walked into the family room to me sorting through baby clothes my sister gave me. He started laughing and had to take a picture.)

The Journey Takes a Turn

(the date of the post is wrong...I do not know how to fix that!)

Well, as you all know, I am pregnant! This wonderful blessing was totally unexpected. We were planning on having kids in maybe about two years from now. Obviously, the Lord had a different plan for us. I was nervous and scared but yet happy all at the same time! Luckily, Paedn was just beyond happy! As the time has progressed I have been less scared and more excited about having a baby. Still nervous, but that could only be expected from a first time mother-to-be! Looking back now, there were definite signs of the pregnancy that I was completely blind to at the time. For instance, when Paedn and I went car shopping I actually passed out in the parking lot. Granted, it was in August when we went, but being from Arizona you think I could handle it! So many other little things I thought that meant nothing at the time. If only I knew my body was trying to tell me something!

When we found out: September 01, 2011
During my lunch break at work, I went out to the store to buy a pregnancy test. Paedn had no idea I bought one or that the thought even crossed my mind that I might even be pregnant! I was going to take it right then but I remember being told it is better to take the test in the mornings. So, I waited...and waited. Finally, since I could not sleep, I got up at 2AM to take the test. I was taking the test almost to be my reassurance of NOT being pregnant. Well, then magically BOTH lines appeared on the test. WHAT?! Seriously?? I just sat down and laughed and cried...and then laughed some more. I kept looking at the test. This cannot be happening. I sat the mesmerized. Now, all I had to do was tell Paedn... I had no idea how he would react. When I woke him up he almost jumped out of bed because I was crying and standing by his side of the bed so he thought something was wrong. Once he calmed down I kept asking him if he was awake. Finally I just blurted out, "I'm pregnant." I started crying more and he grabbed me and just held me. He was crying. One of the first things he said was, "I am going to be a daddy!" He kept placing his hand on my tummy and just beaming. He kept saying how excited he was and once he said that a little of my uneasiness went away. Not soon after, he was fast asleep and I was laying in bed with my mind unable to shut off. I sent the picture of the test to my sister and not even ten minutes later she called me. We talked for almost two hours. I was still scared and just amazed that this is actually happening.

The Grandparents to be:
We were SO excited to tell our families. This is the Hancock's first grandbaby and the Toone's fifth. Luckily, the day before was Papa Hancock's birthday. So we brought over a "late" birthday card. When he opened it he started laughing and he said "Well mama, I think your son has something to tell you." At my parent's house we took a more subtle approach. I just wore a button on my shirt that said "Mom To Be". Let's just say it took a LOT of hinting for my parents to notice. My mother was so excited! All she could say was "What? Really?!" As for my father, let's just say he refused to believe me until I had my first ultrasound!

18 weeks:
Now, a few long months later, I am 18 weeks pregnant. Though, I do not look that far along. I look about 14 weeks on a good day. People at church still don't even know I am pregnant! Nonetheless, both mommy and baby are doing great! Last week we found out we are having a precious baby girl. I love watching her during the ultrasounds. Her little mouth was moving and she kept reaching for her legs and playing around. She sure is a stubborn little girl though! No matter how much I rolled from side to side she would not shift positions for us! Too funny.
Her profile is absolutely gorgeous.
I try to dream about her. Will she have curly hair like her parents? Will it be blonde or maybe even red?! What color will her eyes be? How will she react to us. Will she recognized our voices?
I have already felt her move. It is so funny when I feel those soft little movements. Every time it happens I tell Paedn. I am so excited for that day when he will be able to feel her kick! That will be one of the happiest moments in my life thus far. He is very excited as well. He talks to her every night and every night we read to her.

There are still several things to plan. One, the nursery. I decided not to do a gender neutral nursery. Planning for the gender is way too much fun to do that! I have several thoughts of what I would like. Some of them Paedn approves...some of them not so much. We already have her name picked out and have announced it to the families. Soon, we will be announcing it to everyone else. Hint: It starts with a L.


Thank you all for your love and support. I feel it every day. I am so grateful to know that my little family is so loved.