A couple more pictures and information!

We forgot to mention some interesting things about Baby Ella!

Ella is Julie's grandma's name on her mom's side and Grace is Curtis' great grandma's name on his dad's side (Grandma Spencer's mom). And to top it off we just really loved the sound of the names :)  Ella will be Grandma Ella's (Grandma H. as Julie calls her) 24th great grandchild!!  Number 23, also a girl, should be arriving about a month before.  Don't worry, Grandma has a way to keep track of all the grand kids and great grand kids! ;) 

Grandma H or Grandma Ella :)

We have been getting some pictures sent to us to share with everyone from the Baby Showers so enjoy!!  If you have some you would like to share with us, feel free and we can keep posting for everyone to enjoy!

Julie & Ella Check-up Update

Julie had her 26 week check-up on Wednesday but technically she just hit the 26 week mark on today.  The nurse practitioner a.k.a. the Captain (no really, she is a Captain in the Navy, not just a fun nickname!) measured her belly for the first time and Miss Ella is measuring a week ahead.  Otherwise, everything seems to be going well and Julie has been tasked with counting movements until birth.  As organized as Julie is, she found a chart to help keep track and remember to do it!  Curtis is excited to come home and feel the movements! 

Week 26, Baby is the size of a head of lettuce...

Baby's eyes are forming and will soon start to open.  Eyelashes are now grown.  She is getting her immune system ready and is taking breaths.

Baby Showers, Name, and More!

THANK YOU!!!!

First of all, thank you VERY MUCH to all the family and friends for the showers and the wonderful gifts for Baby Spencer!  It was so great to see everyone and we are so thankful that we have all of you in our lives to celebrate this wonderful time.  We know some people had other commitments and sent us very kind words and know you were there with us in thought! Curtis really wished that he could have been able to join in all the fun and great company but work calls.  He sends many thanks and lots of love to all!

BABY NAME REVEALED!!

We decided to reveal Little Spencette's name at the showers and now we can share it here as well!!
If you didn't see the new counter at the very top, her name is Ella Grace.

WEEK 25

Since we did not post Friday about how big is baby....

She now knows which way is up and down and is growing more fat and hair.

 BELATED BIRTHDAY :)

It was also Béla's 4th birthday on Friday!  We cannot believe our first little girl is FOUR! 

 

Julie created her own meme for Béla...

PICTURES FROM BABY SHOWERS

We know there are MANY pictures from the showers that other people have but here are just a few that Julie  took to share with Curtis so he would not miss out on everything...

Pictures from Northern IL

 

  

Pictures from Central ("Southern" as Julie would say) IL

 We can't wait to see pictures that everyone else took!  Both showers were such a GREAT time.  We also cannot wait until we can come back to Illinois WITH little Ella!!  Visitors will be welcome to come join us out in the Beach area too! ;)

UPDATES!!

Curtis picked up a rate last Thursday!!  A "rate" is just military lingo for what job he will have and what he will be doing on a daily basis.  Since coming into the Navy, Curtis' goal has been to pick up a rate so that he could get the training/schooling he needed and take the tests to advance to the next rank.  As an undesignated airman, which he was, you cannot take advancement tests to get a higher rank and you just do general training to learn various aspects of being an airman rather than a particular job.  While it may not be his preferred rate, it is better than nothing!  He will be an Aviation Structural Mechanic (AM).  If you click on the link, it will give you an idea of the job he will learn to do.  To make it a little simpler, he will be helping to maintain the hydraulics on the planes.  This coming Thursday he actually gets to take the test for AM's to hopefully become an E-4 which is a Petty Officer Third Class.  Currently, he is an E-3 which is an Airman.  Curtis probably will not find out if he passed and makes rank until May or June.  He has been studying VERY hard since he found out he got this rate and we are really hoping he can become an E-4!  Keep your fingers crossed and send positive thoughts his way!

This is the new patch that Curtis will get to wear to show that he is an AM.

You might be wondering about becoming an officer?!  Well, that is still in the plans.  An officer packet (application) will be submitted by October and he will have to find out if he is selected to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS).  For now, the chance to pick up a rate/job and try to make the next rank is HUGE progress! 

Curtis is still in Nevada but some of you may have heard about the mortar explosion that happened this morning near Reno that killed 7 Marines...we wanted to let you know that he is safe and was sleeping while it happened and was at least an hour away. 

As for Julie, she is trying to recover from the exciting yet exhausting weekend.  Her two planes coming from IL back to Virginia were both delayed but she finally made it back to VA safely and got home at 2 AM today.   There were a few times that everyone trying to get back to Norfolk were wondering if they would actually be making it home...there was applause at take-off!  Needless to say, the Spencer girls are all home and taking it easy and making sure everyone is healthy and not run down.



Thank you again to everyone for such a GREAT weekend!  Stay tuned for more updates!

Pictures Weeks 21-24 and Updates

Week 24, Baby Spencer is the size of a cantaloupe!

Her see-through skin is gradually becoming more opaque and has a new pink glow from the recent forming of capillaries.

As promised, here are the next 4 baby bump pictures...and we weren't kidding, she decided to stop hiding!

21 Weeks

22 Weeks

23 Weeks

24 Weeks

Julie recently interviewed for an internal school opening but did not get the job.  That is okay!  She got interview experience and it couldn't hurt to try.  Now to keep putting in all her hard work to keep showing them what she is capable of!  One step at a time!  She is also learning a LOT of new things when she works in the office which will hopefully pay off in the long run.  :) 

Curtis is on his way to Fallon, NV for a few weeks for some training with his squadron.  While he would rather be home with Julie and Béla, getting training is necessary and part of the job.  We are both VERY thankful for Skype and Facetime during these times! Curtis has been making progress on his PC qualification and hopefully more can be accomplished for it while in Fallon.  And of course, he continues to rock his tests with GREAT scores!

Next weekend Julie will be heading back to IL for her two baby showers and is VERY excited to see family and friends!  Did you know, this will be the FIRST time Julie has flown by herself?!  She is looking forward to deep dish pizza and perhaps hot dogs during this trip :)  It's just not the same out in Virginia, despite what some of our friends out here argue ;)  Curtis wishes he could attend and see everyone but he knows Julie will be in great hands!  Now Julie just has to figure out what to pack since it will apparently be COLDer back home than what we currently have been dealing with. 

Béla has continued to be a good big (kitty) sister and still snuggles up with Julie when she can.  She has however rediscovered a favorite spot on Grandma Spencer's rocking chair and a fleece blanket that has been claimed as hers and doesn't sleep right up against Julie at night.  This does have its benefits because Julie isn't getting trapped between the cat and Curtis and makes it easier to get up in the middle of the night!  Unfortunately, Béla has realized that Julie is moving a little slower when she gets up from bed or the couch and uses this to her advantage if she is attempting to cause trouble across the room.  Julie has been slowly adjusting to not being as flexible but otherwise, everything continues to go well!!  

Thanks for checking in on us!  We hope you are all doing well!!