Feeling the baby kick ...

Last night was quite the experience for Julie and me. We had decided to go to Right Wing Tavern in Woodstock to eat dinner last night ... Julie was really craving some fried dill pickles. While at dinner, it was determined that we needed some chocolate-walnut brownies for dessert. When we got home, I started the baking and Julie decided to take a shower and get into bed to watch a little television. By seven o'clock, Julie was out like a light and the brownies were cooling. I couldn't bear to wake her ... she looked so cute sleeping and I knew she was tired.

About 10:30p.m., after I finished some computer work and got ready to go to bed, I woke her up so she could brush her teeth. When we got back into bed, I noticed after a couple of minutes that she wasn't breathing in her (now a light snore) kind of way. I turned over to see she was lying very still and very much awake. "What are doing?" I asked. She told me that she thought she felt the baby kick. Hesitantly, I reached out to see if I could feel it too. I watched her face and about the same time we smiled. We both felt a little movement ... a little kick. We know it was the baby, because we felt it at the same time! I can't describe how happy that made me feel. I know there will be a lot of kicks and bumps in the coming months. Last night, however, I came as close to feeling this precious little baby as I will be able to until he's born and it was pretty special. I'm sure I slept with a big grin all night long.

Turner Bennett: More than just a name ...

We debated. We looked through all of the books. We attempted to follow tradition. We searched for names that didn't stir up memories of crazy childhood acquaintances, rogue children in the community, or just sounded weird. Naming a child is hard. Luckily now, we know ... with 85 percent accuracy that we're having a boy. I always remember the song by Johnny Cash ... "A Boy Named Sue" ... and think eerily about mistakes when naming. Peppers is a hard name to blend with. You can't add more p's, like Cooper, for fear of a lispy child spitting on everyone. You also can't start a first name with p's, like Peter, for fear of sounding too much like a nursery rhyme. The name Red is completely out as is Sergeant, Peppar, and heaven-forbid Waldo (remember the similarly named restaurant).

We decided that William Arthur Peppers, Jr., would just perpetuate the identity of this brilliant bloggist, while leading to massive confusion in later days for the Social Security Administration, Credit Bureaus, IRS, and hopefully never to be re-established, Draft Boards. We could have easily continued the Prather family tradition, sans Pierson (bless his heart ... we love him), and use the starting initial of J, but none of the names we came up with touched us completely and felt satisfying. Josiah, Jefferson, Jon, Jodin (we mentioned it), Jamerson, Jasper, Jebidiah, Jeremiah, and Jonas just didn't seem appropriate yet. Believe me, the biggest debate came over Julie's thoughts of the name Jeff Davis, which I argued would kill my political chances before we've even started. They are all great names, but naming a child means digging deeper. Although, I don't think one could dig deeper than our nephew Jackson's attempt to persuade friendly ballot voting by inscribing each with his humorous choice to immortalize Julie's current state through the name Preggo. :)

In the end, we did decide. Julie and I talked about it in bed before drifting to sleep. Our idea was sealed through email the next day. TURNER BENNETT. We decided that we could do something for this child that would make him strong, give him roots, and remind us of our own.

The name Turner comes from Julie's maternal grandmother, Jonnie. It was her maiden name. She is strong. She is caring. This name will be a reminder of will-power, dedication, and the power to overcome any obstacle to succeed. We love Jonnie (Mom ... as we call her).

The name Bennett comes from my maternal grandmother, Lois. It was also her maiden name. She is faithful. She is resourceful. This name will be a reminder of trusting God, keeping busy, and the ability to crack a joke while crocheting. We love Lois (Nanny Bearden ... as we call her).

We love these women so much. We love this baby so much. Where there is love, there is family and that's just what Turner Bennett Peppers will make us.

Oh, BOY! Here we go!

What a day! When I woke up this morning, I knew I would be in for a special day. It's hard to imagine that Julie and I have been married for 500 days, but the rising of the sun meant a milestone in our marriage ... another would come before the moon.

As usual, it was exceptionally hard to get out of bed after the long weekend. As Julie got ready for school, I remembered the words of the Peek-a-Belly staff: eat well and have a little caffiene before the visit. (As a side note, Peek-a-Belly is a great little shop in Woodstock where moms and dads-to-be can visit around the 16th week of the pregnancy for a sneak peek at the baby's gender. Our appointment had been booked for a couple of weeks and we were very excited about finding out if pink or blue would be in our future.) So I fixed Julie's lunch ... a very hearty BLT on sourdough, chips and french-onion dip (an early pregnancy craving), a bowl of fruit (the good stuff, strawberries, watermelon, cantelope, blueberries and grapes) and an apple. I also assumed a good breakfast would help, too, so I fixed a grilled cheese sandwich, another bowl of fruit and a dannon sure shot.

I quickly cleaned up after Julie left for work and readied myself to meet the day. I must confess that all day long I checked my watch ... excited about seeing the baby! I tried to stay focussed on discussions about property acquisitions, loans, and traffic counts ... but the baby had my attention.

Julie decided right after school she wanted to go to Rita's for some Italian Ice. I met her there for a little date. She enjoyed her Florida Orange/Black Cherry ice, while I delighted in my vanilla custard. We laughed outside how last week there was ice on the ground and today it was pushing the high 60s with a beautiful sunshine. I said, as I have all along, that we would be having a girl. Julie has been stubborn about her insistence of a boy ... but I sensed (for the first time) some waivering. We both are hoping for healthy more than anything.

Julie, knowing she needed to kill some time, headed to the local consignment store in search of comfy ... fashionable maternity-wear. The public servant I am, I headed back to work to wait until our appointment. As I arrived at the Peek-a-Belly a few minutes early, she wheeled in. Giant soft pretzel and cherry coke in hand. I knew she was secretly excited when she was told to have a little caffiene before the baby's performance. I don't know what the pretzel was for :)

After a little paperwork, we went back for the big moment. Video camera in hand, I shot the quick clip below (sorry the sound isn't so great). So we watched and there it was. I say it, but based on size, it should have a name! The tech said she couldn't be 100 percent sure, because of the stage of the pregnancy, but that she's never wrong. I saw a tinkler. Julie saw the same tinkler. I'm pretty sure I know what one looks like. Julie's "mother's intution" must be right. We're having a little boy and I couldn't be more excited.

Starting off the day with an milestone ... ending the day with a memorable moment. Oh, Boy! I can't wait to see what the next few months bring!

The Heartbeat is Strong!

Yesterday, Julie and I got to go see Ginnene again to listen to the heartbeat of Baby Peppers. It was much easier to find, but comforting all the same. Julie is in the stage where she's over nausea, has energy, doesn't feel the baby, sleeps through the night, but is showing some. Ginnene called it the gray stage ... you know you are a mommy-to-be, but aside from the bump, there are really no other signs. Needless to say, the sound of the heartbeat is very reassuring!

We have another appointment in February. That's the big one! We are so excited to find out if our Baby will be wearing pink (my guess) or blue (Julie's guess). God has been so good to us!

2010 Brings New Opportunities

I'm so excited about this new year. As 2010 is just beginning, I look all around and see so many things that I always wanted coming to life before my own eyes. I never thought I would fall in love, but she walked into my life and I never quit thinking about her. I love Julie with all of my heart and have been so lucky to call her my wife. She completes me in every way. I didn't know how life could be any better ... then October 16, 2009 happened.

I can't believe that we are already in January. In about a month we'll find out what our precious little baby will be. I have a gut feeling that we are having a little girl, while Julie thinks it will be a little boy. I'm so in love with the little peanut that I just want whatever it is to get here! I got to hold my new niece, Julia Hope, this week and she was so cute. I just stared into her face thinking that in a few short months I'll be holding something that I helped create. It's funny how a year can change your life. Bring on 2010!