35 Weeks!

35 weeks yesterday! We had a busy baby weekend this last weekend with our Childbirth Prep class all day Saturday and the baby shower Sunday. Must be a baby on the way or something!

The childbirth prep class was good. Most of it was review after reading so much online and in books but I am still glad we went. I learned some stuff I didn't know and saw some things I hadn't seen (and some things I wish I hadn't seen). The video of the lady getting an epidural and giving birth was a little hard to watch. I started to sweat during that part. But they did teach us some relaxation techniques and breathing exercises for when things get tense. I had a hard time picturing myself really using them though since it took concentration just to stay focused in class, wait until I am in hard labor.

Sunday was the shower but I will talk about that in another post. Maybe tomorrow because I have so many great things to share and pictures to put up. My friend Erin from CO came in for the shower and spent the weekend with us. It was so wonderful to see her. I was able to share hiccups and kicks with her and we spent lots of time catching up and talking baby. It was neat to be able to share this special event with her too.

So, 35 weeks! All my weekly email updates tell me things I already know. The baby is getting big and gaining weight at record pace. I am getting really uncomfortable, peeing all the time, and having a hard time breathing. I need to start getting a bag ready for the hospital, the nursery prepared and buy last minute necessities. They also recommended I double recipes now and freeze meals to prepare for the busy days ahead as a parent. Oh, and to start addressing baby announcements so it isn't such a big job once he is here. All good suggestions, we will see how much energy I can muster up to accomplish them.

I guess he is over 5 lbs at this point but we already knew that because the ultrasound told us last week. He is about 18 or so inches. After my next appointment I will start seeing the doctor every week. Sounds serious! :) I am doing great. Like I said, normal third trimester symptoms but overall I am still doing well. I can tell that in a couple weeks though I am going to be overly ready to get this guy out. I was dreaming of having this foot out from my ribs tonight and how good that is going to feel to finally have relief. I am waddling like a fat duck now and any amount of drink makes my bladder painfully uncomfortable. I have one of those nice lines that shows up on your belly around this time and found a few stretch marks the morning of the shower. They were hard to accept but I have come to terms with my new role as mommy and new mommy body that comes with it. So, 5 more weeks, give or take a little I am sure! After my class and shower I am feeling more prepared and more excited than ever.

Thanks to everyone who gave me my shower, came to my shower, participated, sent gifts, sent their love and who follow me through this blog. I feel very blessed. I AM very blessed.

Our Baby Boy

This is our little guy in 3D. Isn't he so handsome? I love his flat nose, full lips, knobby chin and full hair line. He is precious and I am so in love with him.

Here is a picture of his nose and lips, and I think that is his little knobby chin again. It is a really up close view. The arrows point to the bottom of his nose with his lips to the left and then his chin. You cannot see anything else on his face due to other things in the way.

We counted them, 5 toes. The arrow is pointing to his pinkie toe. His other foot is up against his heal so you can really only see half of his foot. Looks like he has his dad's big feet and you know what that means......big shoes. ;)

And here is a shot of his hair. The arrow is pointing to the fuzz that was very obvious. The ultrasound technician said he has lots of long hair that was very visible in the images we were seeing.

Seeing him has made me even more anxious and excited to meet him. He looks so perfect. I can't wait to have him a part of our life and be his mom. He is going to get so much love and we are going to have such a wonderful family. See you soon little man!

Fat and Happy

Our little boy is just fine. In fact, he is measuring ahead of schedule. Just like I expected. How can a big strong girl like me have a small baby? Just didn't make sense. According to the measurements he is a big boy, weighing in at about 5 pounds, 10 oz. Oh, and yes, he is still a boy. We saw confirmation of that again today. So cute! Amniotic fluid is sufficient. He is head down, body on the left and feet on the right confirming that his feet are up under my ribcage on the right side. We were able to see bones as she took measurements. We counted 5 toes on one foot as she measured it. We saw his organs including his heart, liver, kidney, and stomach all in good working order. He was breathing amniotic fluid in and out of his nose and we could see him swallowing. His eyes were closed the whole time but we did get a beautiful view of his flat asian nose and big full lips. He has a full head of hair. The ultrasound technician commented on how much hair he has and how long it is. I am going to guess he got that from me! :) Towards the end of the exam she switched over to the 3D ultrasound machine and we got to see our handsome little man in all his glory. He is so cute. I feel like I know him. The 3D machine was amazing. We were so amazed at the features we could see in such detail. His face was smashed up against the placenta so she had a hard time getting a picture to come out well but after a little work she was able to give us a clear shot of his handsome face. Again, it is hard to find words to describe seeing your baby's face for the first time. And not just an ultrasound picture but one with details that show how he really looks. I am so thankful for the chance to see him again today. In some ways I am glad I measured small and had the opportunity to take a peak at him again. And in some ways I would rather avoid the worries and just have a normal, uneventful pregnancy. I feel so blessed that everything went so well today and that we got to experience seeing him again, together. I appreciate that my doctors are attentive and cautious. Like I always say, better to be safe than sorry.

I will try to get some of the ultrasound pictures up here tomorrow. It's a little late and I am pretty tired. It was a long but good day. Thanks to all who called to check in with me today and for everyone who kept us in their prayers.

Today's Doctor's Appointment

My appointment this morning wasn't as uneventful as I had hoped. I haven't gained any weight in over 2 weeks since my last appointment. My uterus is measuring small, about 3 weeks behind schedule. And of course, I don't "look" 34 weeks pregnant. Everyone notices that and makes sure to let me know. The first thing the nurse said to me today was, you aren't really 34 weeks pregnant are you? I said, everyone says that. Then she weighed me and said I hadn't gained anything since my last appointment. She commented that it was odd but that the doctor would address it when I saw her.

My blood pressure was fine, and his heartbeat was strong at 145. I saw Dr. Bennett today, my favorite doctor at my practice, and I am glad I did because I needed the encouragement. She was a little concerned that the baby was developing a little behind schedule. At my last appointment they said I was on the low end of the weight gain scale but that they were not worried about it yet. But this week they decided an ultrasound would be helpful to see how he is doing. They said I should have at least gained something since the baby would have grown about a pound himself over the last couple of weeks, not to mention my own weight gain.

I am not that worried though. In my heart I am pretty sure everything is ok. I have always thought it was weird that I haven't gained much weight and that I look so small, except for my cheeks, since I have never been a small woman. I eat massive amounts of food and don't exercise due to the contractions and cramping that results from any activity that I do. I think my tummy looks small because I have a long torso and am tall. I don't know why I am not gaining weight, that is the thing I am probably most confused about. And I don't think my uterine measurement is that off schedule to be cause for too much concern. So, I have an ultrasound tomorrow at 11:30am to confirm that everything is ok. And most likely things are just fine. But...there is some reason for concern otherwise they wouldn't be doing an ultrasound tomorrow and that makes me a little worried. If my doctor is a little worried then I am too. P. is going to go with me. And I will update my blog after we find out how things look. Pray for us. I just hope he is healthy and his development is fine, just a little smaller than normal.

Lake Michigan

P. and I visited Lake Michigan Sunday to check out the frozen wave phenomenon. Glad we did because it was pretty cool. When it gets cold enough the lake freezes along with the waves. You can walk out on the ice and even climb the waves. It is hard to imagine that we will be laying out at the same beach in a few months and swimming in the same water we were walking on. As you can see in the picture below, the frozen wave is taller than I am.

34 Weeks & A Car Seat

We bought a car seat today. Actually it is one of those travel systems with the infant car seat that locks into the matching stroller. It was a gift from my parents for the baby, call it an early baby shower gift. P. set it up tonight and it looks really nice. It will take some getting used to but I am sure after a week or so it will be like second nature. One more step closer to being baby ready!

Today is 34 weeks! I have an appointment this week on Wednesday but I don't think I will have much to report. Some weight gain, heart rate. At the next appointment though I think I will have a Strep test and they will do my first cervical exam to see if I am starting to dilate. Geez.

The week 34 email update for this week says our guy is about 4 and 3/4 lbs now. About the size of a cantalope. And he is about 18 inches long. Good thing I have a long torso to accommodate his length. I am feeling good. Getting tired though. Fatigue I guess from not sleeping well and general 3rd trimester exhaustion. Our boy has been moving like crazy all day. Full tummy rolls, flips and flops.

I had to break down this past weekend and buy some pants. I grew out of my mediums and everything was so tight and uncomfortable. I was living in my one pair of black drawstring pants. Larges are too big but they are better than nothing and I am happy for the extra room, They are not the sexiest things in the world but sexy is not in my pregnancy vocabulary.

Well, time for bed. Not sure baby is going to settle down enough for me to get some sleep though. Wonder why he is so active tonight?

Baby Shower

I wanted something cute and new for the baby shower next Sunday. P. and I found this dress on sale at Motherhood last night. It wasn't my favorite on the rack. I was looking for something with more color and a little more modern but once I put it on it was so comfortable and for under $10 I couldn't pass it up. Now, I know it is still winter and dresses don't quite provide the warmth needed for an early March party but I figured I was going to be inside not hiking through the snow. Guess I will have to give in and shave my legs for this. :)

I am really excited for the shower. I tried not to send out many invites to those not in the area because I knew people wouldn't be able to attend and didn't want anyone to feel obligated or bad they couldn't come. It's hard being so far away from family and friends at this exciting time. It's hard to imagine your first baby shower without your mom, your sister-in-law and your best friend. But I have come to accept my situation and truly am thankful for the wonderful friends I have made here. It is going to be a beautiful shower. I have a pretty new dress. There are going to be games and good food. It will be such a good time celebrating the upcoming arrival of our little man with the people God has blessed me with here in Grand Rapids. And to top it all off my friend E. is flying in from Colorado to attend. I am so excited to see her and spend the weekend just being with her again. I have been to a few baby showers in my life and it is really neat to be one week away from my own. How fun! :)

Nothing Imparticular

I can't sleep because my hips are killing me. So, when all else fails, blog. My exhaustion will eventually get the most of the pain.

I will start with an update on my baby Abby. This has been a rough winter for my girl. I don't exactly know what is wrong with her and either does my Vet. He hopes she is just in a mid-winter rut like the rest of us but I am a little worried it is more than that. Ever since about Christmas she has become more and more nervous, anxious and well....weird. She is timid and scared of any quick movements or noises. She rarely moves from her chair and I really have to persuade her to get up from it, even for a treat. She obsessively chews and licks her paws and frequently acts like she is hurt though nothing has happened to her. It is the strangest thing and I am really worried about her. My doctor gave us some medicine to treat anxiety and senility but since I started giving it to her 2 days ago she has stopped eating and we can't have that. She paces around the house at night without purpose and never really seems to calm down or relax. This is so unlike Abby. Anyone that knows this dog knows she is the "top dog". She is the dominant one, always wanting to know what is going on and to be a part of it. She is never afraid of anything. Always on guard ready to protect and defend. She loves to eat, loves to be around you or on you and is always in control. I just want my dog back. I am desperate for an answer and for her to snap out of this. I am especially concerned with the baby on the way. I pray spring and warmer temps will help. I pray it is nothing serious and Abby will come back to us soon. Here is a picture of her and Serra. As you can tell from this picture she is unsure and nervous about me taking the picture. I am already a mom and Abby is my baby and it is so hard to not be able to figure out what is wrong with my child and help her.

What to do about a name? I never, ever thought finding a name for our baby boy would be so hard. This truly is one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. Ok, that sounds really funny but it is true. It just has to be perfect. No going back. And for me deciding what to order off a menu at a restaurant for dinner is a hard decision, you can imagine how agonizing this is for me. There is not one name right now that I love. Not one name that sounds like even a remote possibility. I would love to have a name and start connecting with him as that person. I would love to choose the name and feel totally confident and sure it is the right name for him. I am totally shocked this is that hard for me. Totally. I want something unique but not too weird. I want something classic but not boring. I want something not on the popular list but that still sounds good. I don't want there to be other boys in his class named the same thing. I want people to say, "Wow, that is a different name but very cool and fitting of your son." And of course it has to sound good with our last name....not an easy feat. So, that is where we stand. Poor P. having to put up with me. He likes just about any name you throw out there. But I know the perfect name is out there and I am determined to find it.

Well, I better try to get some sleep. Pray for my dog if you can. And my hips. I used to always wonder how I was going to get a baby out through my hips, now I know. They painfully widen. Have a nice weekend! No snow in the forecast for us until Monday, what a nice treat. We plan to visit Lake MI Sunday and check out the frozen water phenomenon. Should be pretty neat and I will make sure to try to get a photo or two up after. Goodnight.

33 Weeks!

I heard something on the news today that was pretty shocking, and then at the same time I am not at all surprised. They said that this is the snowiest Dec-Feb in Grand Rapids, MI history. Meaning we have received more snow in the past 3 months than we ever have, ever, in that 3 month time span. And after tonight we will have broken the record for the most snowfall in the month of Feb and it is only Feb 19th. How do I feel about this information? Like I said, I am not at all shocked. All my complaining feels justified now. I am upset I had to live here during this time to experience it. It makes me wonder what I am doing here but at the same time it is a relief to know this isn't normal and if I am stuck here for another winter it most likely won't be this bad again. Or maybe it will. Whatever the case, this record breaking winter has been ridiculous and I am done with it. Enough is enough.

Ok, enough about the weather......there are much better things to talk about. Like babies. And ice-cream. And the fact that we are one week closer to meeting our baby boy. Yesterday was 33 weeks exactly. I finally kicked my cold. And this morning I reached a new level of excitement regarding the arrival of our baby. I woke up completely ready to be a mom. I was excited, emotional and felt both mentally and physically prepared to bring him into our world. My arms ache to hold him and my eyes long to see him for the first time. And I am not just feeling this because I am uncomfortable and just want him out of me. I am totally intoxicated with the idea of having our baby.

Despite all the excitement I have to admit things are getting pretty rough. My little guy's foot remains tucked under my rib cage and I have come to the realization that it just might be there for the remainder of the time. I am feeling fat and ugly. As you can tell from this week's picture that I am gaining weight, like I should be, but for a woman that is always hard to accept. I show my weight gain in my cheeks, always have, and when they get big it is hard to talk, smile, and yes, see. Don't laugh. It's uncomfortable. Uncomfortable, that's me.......

Now on to a few other topics close to my heart.....$1 Scoop Night at Baskin Robbins. P. takes me out in sub-zero temperatures for delicious frozen treats most Tuesday nights. We were supposed to attend a breast feeding class tonight at the hospital but it was cancelled due to snow, imagine that. But we braved the cold and road conditions for dessert. Gotta do what you gotta do.

The emails for week 33 don't say much except that he is about 4 lbs and around 17 inches long. They remind you of your aches and pains and say to watch for signs of pre-term labor. The activity for the week is to wash your baby clothes and blankets but I have done that as we have aquired things so we are all set on that. So, we are plugging along. Lot's on my mind lately so stay tuned for more blabbering... :)

Welcome Kate!

My best friend K. had her baby girl yesterday via c-section! Everything went smoothly and Kate was born at 7:45am weighing 7 lbs 15 ozs. I am so thankful for her safe arrival and that K. is doing well and recovering nicely. I only wish I was closer to meet the beautiful little girl and spend time with my closest friend. Congratulations to all!

Week 32

Monday I had my 32 week appointment. Almost a week later I am finally getting around to blogging about it. I gained another 3 lbs in a matter of 2 weeks. Total weight gain as of this week is 16 lbs. My doctor said I was on the low end of the weight gain scale but that she wasn't worried about it. Amazing because I feel so huge.....and fat. His heart rate was 138, quite a bit slower than usual but the nurse just said he was relaxing or something. He is in the right position, head down, legs up. The doctor felt for his head and found it in my lower stomach. It was a relief after hearing my best friend's baby girl was breech and a c-section was scheduled for her delivery. All week I have been feeling our little guy's hiccups way down in my lower stomach and kicks up in my ribs. As I write I have a little foot stuck up against a rib making it very hard to concentrate. I am hoping he will move soon though I am not expecting much since it has been there for about 5 hours now. The doctor said everything is going well and on schedule.

Tuesday I came down with a cold and have been fighting it all week. It is my second cold of the year and by far the worst I have had in a long time. I am thankful to be able to be at home during these times of sickness to care for myself and the baby. It was another cold, snowy week so I spent most of it in bed trying to shake this cold. I meant to get a 32 week picture up of me but will try again this next week.

Ok, Ok....

I admit it. Today was pretty. It dumped snow last night and when the sun came out today it was beautiful outside. There was a bright blue sky and a clean layer of undisturbed snow. But that doesn't mean I went out in it, I just admired the beauty from the window......



Oh, and check out this Dr Pepper can we found at a gas station in Indiana. So cool. We bought a six pack and I am going to keep one unopened.

Picture

Here is a picture of me taken last week. P. thought it was such a good respresentation of me and my pregnancy. I am on the couch, in a shirt that is too short, with my growing belly hanging out, with the t.v. remote in my hand. That's me.

Reba & Kelly

P. and I went to Indianapolis this past weekend to see Reba and Kelly in concert. We left Friday around noon and for a while there I was nervous we were not going to make it by start of the show at 8pm. We hit two major traffic jams and stopped 4 times for me to empty my bladder. But we knew we were out of Michigan as soon as we saw the blue skies of Indiana. It was amazing the almost instant change in weather as soon as we crossed the state line. We made it to the hotel in time to check in, check out the free happy hour in the restaurant and walk down to the concert. By the time we got there, got a burger and found our seats the concert started with Melissa Peterman as the opening act. She is a comedian that played Reba's "best friend" on the show Reba. She was

pretty hilarious and it was fun to see her in person. Reba and Kelly together were just awesome. They did so many great songs and sounded so good together. The whole concert was captivating and I was wishing it wouldn't end. Reba looked awesome and sounded as perfect as always. Kelly has an amazing voice, American Idol got that one right that's for sure. I just loved the whole evening and when it was over I wanted to drive up to Illinois for the next stop on the tour. Instead we stood in line at the souvenier stand for a dark brown Reba hoodie that I had to have. See picture. What a fun night! Thanks to my wonderful husband for getting me the tickets, taking me to Indiana and buying me my awesome hoodie to remember the whole night by.

The next day we checked out Indianapolis a little bit. The best part of the city was seeing the sun. We hardly see the sun in MI and it was so bright it hurt our eyes. We commented all day about how totally different the weather was but how close we still were to MI. We headed home around 1pm and right about the time we crossed into MI the weather changed, it started to snow and just got worse from there, fast. It took us about 7 hours to get home Sat, a trip that should have taken less than 5. So, all in all, getting to Indiana and getting home was rough. The concert and our time in Indiana were a lot of fun. Check out our pics. Fun, fun.

The Name Simon

We are considering the name Simon. Simon Archer Selinski. What do you think? My friend R. did up a blog for us on the name Simon to help with the decision. I like the name because in the Bible Simon is also known as Peter. They are the same man. So since my husband doesn't like the name Peter I thought Simon was a good substitute. I would love to be able to name our son after his wonderful dad.

Simon: the name

From The Last Word on First Names (1995) by Linda Rosenkrantz and Pamela Redmond Satran:

"There is an appealing genuineness about this name, perhaps due to phrases like 'simon-pure' and 'Simple Simon.' An Old and New Testament name (Simon was the second son of Jacob and Leah and the original name of St. Peter) that gained an English accent around the time Roger Moore was playing Simon Templar on The Saint then became part of the British invasion of names that hit our shores along with the Beatles and Mary Quant. Simon never reached saturation point here and can still make a stylish and interesting choice. We also like the original form of the name, SIMEON, although we must point out (before someone else does) its similarity to the word meaning apelike."

From The Guinness Book of Names (1974) by Leslie Dunking:

"biblical; Hebrew variant of Simeon, 'Yah has heard', but in Greek Simon is 'snub-nosed'."

From The Baby Name Wizard (2005) by Laura Wattenberg:

"Popularity:#240

Style: Biblical, English, Timeless

Nicknames: Si

Variants: Simeon, Shimon

Sisters: Amelia, Elise, Leah, Lydia, Ivy

Brothers: Julian, Miles, Nolan, Isaac, Graham

♦ The familiar classic Simon has always been well-used in England. In America, it's been heard most in nursery rhymes and children's games. The name is finally getting its due attention in the U.S., and its British aura adds an extra level of handsome charm. Simon stands to be a stylish prize for years to come."

From The Baby Name Personality Survey (1990) by Bruce Lansky and Barry Sinrod:

SIMON: "(Hebrew) 'he who hears'

Image: Simon is described as a strong, well-built man who is either quiet and simple, like Simple Simon, or intelligent and creative, like Paul Simon or Neil Simon.

Famous Simons: the biblical disciple Simon; Simon (Uncle Tom's Cabin) Legree; playwright Neil (Plaza Suite) Simon, musician Paul ("Bridge Over Troubled Water") Simon; TV's "Simon & Simon"; the nursery rhyme "Simple Simon"; the game Simon Says; TV's Simon ("The Saint") Templar.

R.'s take: Simon is uncommon, yet familiar, Biblical but no longer distinctly/solely Jewish (for families concerned about how it "meshes" with WASP-y surnames). It has a certain weight and gravitas. And everyone should know how to spell it and pronounce it. A solid choice.

Thanks R. for the info and input! Fun stuff.

From bibletools.org I found:

Simon (or Simeon) was the original name of Peter, the son of Jonas (or John), and brother of Andrew, a disciple of John the Baptist, as Peter also may have been. A fisherman by occupation, he was an inhabitant of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee, though subsequently he dwelt with his family at Capernaum.

So, that is Simon. Like I said, we are still in the consideration stage. I can see myself still trying to decide on a name while staring at my son's face in the delivery room. It has to be right. It has to be perfect.

Have a great weekend! P. and I are going to a Reba & Kelly Clarkson concert tonight. I CAN NOT wait. I love Reba, love seeing her in concert and am loving the idea of getting out of town for a night to get a change of scenery. I wish the concert was in Florida....oh well, Indiana will do. Love to all my loved ones.

31 Weeks!

31 weeks! We are down to single digit weeks left. The countdown is on! This week, our baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt. We can expect him to grow about a half pound every week from here on out. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. The only major organ that has yet to fully develop is his lungs. Each day they are growing stronger but he needs these next few weeks to be able to breathe on his own after his birth. Their suggested activity for this week is to make a list of items to bring to the hospital. You mean I have to start thinking about the trip to the hospital?

I am doing pretty well. Hips are pretty achy and it’s getting really hard to breathe. But overall I am feeling good. I know it could be worse, and is going to get worse, but for now I am thankful for my situation. I am getting really excited to meet our little guy though. I am ready for him to be a part of our life and our family. But....I am starting to get nervous about the pain of labor and delivery. Do I have any idea of what I am in for?

We are in for another huge snowstorm tonight and tomorrow. Pray for my sanity. Love to all of you.

Super Bowl

P. and I went to the best Super Bowl Party ever. It was at our church and they didn't miss a beat. We didn't have anything else to do so I thought we would go check it out for the first half or so. Boy am I glad we did. It was so much fun! The best part of it for me was all the food. A hungry pregnant woman's dream come true. Heaven on earth for an expecting mom.

We arrived just before kick-off with our Sara Lee raspberry pie in hand and walked into a REAL Super Bowl party. The first thing I noticed was all the food. There were about 9 huge tables full of party foods. Subway subs, pizza sticks, nachos, chili, cornbread, chips, salsa, popcorn, meats, cheeses, 7 layer dip, popcorn, and desserts galore. Any dessert you could want. They had a keg of root beer, frozen drinks, soda, and hot chocolate. I ate, and ate......and ate. I was so happy.

They decked out the place with balloons, streamers, wall hangings, and tons of Patriots and Giants stuff. They had games, drawings, and cool giveaways. We didn't win anything but that's ok. The games for the kids were so awesome. What a great place to take your family for the big game. They had a Wii, Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution, Ping Pong, Dodge Ball, Air Hockey, football throwing game, punting game, and then the normal church building entertainment/game room open. The game was projected on the screen like the slides during a service and P. and I sat at a high bar table and watched what I thought was one of the best Super Bowl games since the 49ers last won. I really wasn't that excited about the game and thought for sure the Patriots would win, big. The game came down to the last minute and the Giants pulled out an amazing win. It was such a great night. I had so much fun. I can't wait to do it again next year!

A Couple Milestones

1. My "inny" is now an "outie". My belly button has officially popped out.
2. People have finally acknowledged my pregnant physical state without me telling them. I had two people comment on my pregnancy last week who didn't know me. At 31 weeks I finally look pregnant!

Do I Live in Michigan or Antarctica?

I know my title today sounds a little exaggerated but I am really starting to wonder. This is my third winter here and by far the worst. For over two months now we have had bitter cold temperatures and rarely go more than a day or two before the next snow storm barrels through. I feel cold, I feel agitated, I feel stuck. Our heating bill has skyrocketed and there are days where the heat never shuts off just to keep the house at 66 degrees. There are other days that I cannot make it down or back up our driveway due to the snow and ice and the roads are consistently slick and dangerous. Your life revolves around the weather. You start to plan your errands around the days where there is a short break from the conditions. It's too cold for the dogs. They are lethargic, grouchy and only go outside when absolutely necessary to relieve themselves and even then they take 2 steps out the doggie door, pee and hurry back in to their warm bed. When you live in a place like this the weather truly affects your mood, your safety, your schedule, your state of mind, your life. Today is February 1st. We can expect another 2 months of cold weather. Not as cold, hopefully, but cold. It is depressing really. I am not saying I am depressed but I can feel my happiness waning. Winter, especially this winter, is sucking the life out of me.

I have a lot of feelings and emotions regarding my life here in MI. I love my husband and I will go wherever he goes. I love our acre of land and all our trees. I love MI summers and the lakes. I love my one incredibly close friend here. P. loves his job. But there are a lot of things about MI that we struggle with. The first is that K. is no longer here and she is the reason we moved here. The winters are so cold, snowy, gloomy and unrelenting. The economy is horrible. The property taxes are outrageous. It has been so hard for us to find good friends and even harder for me to find a good job. I am so much farther away from my family. And lastly, it is extremely hard and costly for us to take care of our CO rentals from so far away.

P.'s recent trip to CO has made us consider a move. It has always been in the back of our minds. We go back and forth on the pros and cons of living in MI, living in CO, living somewhere else out west. Should we stay, should we go, if so, where? Can we make a move? What should the timing be with a new baby on the way? Will our house sell here? Will P. find another good job like he has here? Will we miss our land, trees, all the water and the summers here? Do we want to live back in a big town or do we want to go to a smaller city? How will this move affect K.?

What is the answer? We don't know. I pray about it every day. I think about it constantly. But I have to keep in mind, we are mid-winter. MSNBC reports Jan 24th as the most depressing day of the year because the mid-winter weather is wearing you down, you are broke from the holidays (or in our case from maintaining our rentals), you have broken your new year's resolutions already, and you feel like you have nothing to look forward to. The article says this is when most people book a tropical vacation to somewhere warm to give themselves something to look forward to and help them survive the remainder of winter.

But boy do things turn around quickly at the first signs of spring here. It's like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. MI is so beautiful in the spring and summer. We had such a wonderful summer last year camping, going to the lake, picking fresh fruit, fishing, and touring MI. MI has summers that you see in movies. Kids playing in the lake, sitting on the dock, strolls along the "beach", lake cottage getaways, naps in the hammock. It's truly wonderful. And even fall is quite enjoyable here. The leaves change to beautiful colors and the weather is still comfortable. Are the summers worth putting up with the winters? I don't know. Today I would say no.

So, what to do? All I can do is look outside and admit that it is pretty. I can be thankful I don't HAVE to go out in it. I can watch a movie, have some hot chocolate, turn the heat up and accept this is my home. For now.....

P. and I will have a nice quiet dinner at home tonight. Tomorrow we are going to a Christian parenting conference put on by P.'s employer. And tomorrow night we go to church. Sunday P. is playing football with some guys at work and then we will go to a Super Bowl Party at church. Life is good with P. I would rather be here in MI married to him than anywhere else in the world without him. And soon it will be spring, and our baby boy will arrive, and summer will come, and K. will visit and winter will be a distant memory. But for now, here is a picture of our reality.

30 Weeks!

30 weeks today! 3/4 of the way done! They say the next 10 or so weeks until the baby comes are the longest of your life. You can't sleep, are uncomfortable all the time, pee constantly, have gas and constipation, you swell and have mood swings on a daily basis. All these symptoms combine to cause time to creep by. Sounds like fun! I think the worst of it right now is the lack of sleep. I am uncomfortable from the time I lay down until the time I get up. I toss and turn all night and to tell you the truth, I dread bedtime. My hips hurt and no amount of pillows help. Week 30 has been more of the same for me. Contractions come about every hour, I pee about the same, every hour, I have terrible, ridiculous gas but no constipation, no swelling and the mood swings are not too bad. With a little more sleep I don't know that there would be any. But you can ask P. if that is true or not..... So, all in all, things are going pretty well. Could be worse, that is for sure. I feel healthy and not as miserable as they say I might be feeling. There are some issues that are quite annoying but I really can't complain. I am happy with my weight, my size and my progress. I am happy to be at 30 weeks. Over the next few weeks I plan to get serious about finding a name, spend some time on the nursery, finding a car seat and stroller, "spring cleaning" the house and basement, making meals to freeze and getting these classes at the hospital done.

My sweet friends J. and T. here in Grand Rapids are planning a baby shower for me. It will be Sunday, March 2nd. I know most to all of my friends and family in California and Colorado will not be able to attend and that makes me sad. But I have made a couple wonderful friends here in MI and we plan on having a party anyway to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our little guy. It's a good excuse to eat some cake and stare at my belly and I never mind that.

They say our baby is about 15.5 inches long now, and he weighs about 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). The emails this week basically tell you that you are feeling uncomfortable and some ways to cope with the symptoms. Oh, and his eyesight is getting better and stronger but that when he is born he will only be able to see a few inches from his face so to get down close to him for a while. His teeth are formed under his gums already. I had my 30 week appointment today and everything looks good. I gained almost 4 pounds in 2 weeks. I am not thrilled about that but they said I am still on track and not to worry. His heart rate was 158 and I could hear it better today than ever before. It was so loud and clear, no swooshing in the background like usual. My uterus was painful to the touch and my doctor said it is probably bruised from his kicking and not to worry. My urine test showed my sugar to be high but again, nothing to worry about and my blood pressure was right where it should be. I am curious when we will start talking about a birth plan or when we will go into more detail about the labor and delivery. I go back again in another 2 weeks so I will ask them then. For now, all is good. The weather here today is warmer and that is a relief. We needed a day of relief. Even if it is just one day.

Here is a picture of my babies this morning curled up together on their favorite chair. They have a bed right next to the chair but they choose to pile on top of each other in the chair instead. Have a great week. I love and miss all of you very much.

29 Weeks!

29 weeks, wow, can you believe it? I am having a hard time believing it myself! Where has the time gone? 29 weeks is for real. Like really real.

My 29th week email updates talk a lot about how his kicks are getting stronger and stronger. Boy am I feeling it. This morning he kicked me so hard I almost lost my breath. I asked him, “What was that all about?” It was another night full of contractions and trips to the bathroom. I am getting pretty groggy from the lack of uninterrupted sleep. Welcome to motherhood huh? The emails say he now weighs a little over 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. His skeleton is hardening each day so I need to make sure to get plenty of calcium for the both of us.

I gave in and had cinnamon rolls today. I had been doing so well staying away from sugar and simple carbs but I just had to have them today. It was snowy and cold outside, I was stuck inside and they just sounded so good. So I made them and ate 6 of the 8 rolls and have been paying for it since. But they were so worth it. I made up for it this afternoon by having some eggs and a piece of whole wheat toast and a smoothie with plain yogurt, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, watermelon and juice for an afternoon snack. Oh, and a cup of milk of course.

Yesterday I registered for prenatal classes at the hospital. P. and I are going to do an all day Saturday Childbirth Preparation Class on March 1st. We will also attend a breastfeeding and an infant CPR class in Feb. I had my next appointment with the doctor on Friday this week but changed it to Monday to get a different doctor. I don't really love any of the doctors at my practice so I think for our next baby I might change offices. God willing of course.....and if I am willing.... :)

Darn.

Packers lost. Brett didn't play well and they just didn't seem to want it bad enough tonight. Oh well.

Go Packers!

It is a bitter cold day today. High of 10 degrees with a windchill making it feel like -5 degrees. Within seconds of going outside your nose and eyes hurt from the biting cold. So, I am staying inside. No reason to go out really. The Patriots are playing the Chargers right now and in a couple hours the Packer/Giants game will start. I love the playoffs and this year is no exception. Last weekend the games were so close and exciting. I was shocked at a couple of the outcomes. 3 of the 4 games came out the way I had hoped. And today I would love to see the Chargers win but don't see that happening. But tonight, tonight is the big game. I have always been a Brett Favre fan and not just because he is a great quarterback... :) I would love to see them go to the Super Bowl but I can see the Patriots taking home the title in the end. Oh well, there are some years when I don't have strong feelings about either team in the Super Bowl so I always like to watch and feel passionate one way or the other. So....go Green Bay, go Brett, go Cheese Heads. And P. really likes the name Brett for our son so we will see what happens and go from there. :)

I don't have my camera this week so can't take a 29 week picture. But I have a picture of me P. took Tuesday night before the hospital tour. This is a new sweater my parents bought and sent to me. I think it looks pretty cute. And I know, I still don't look very big for being so far along. But I am happy about that. Being bigger would mean more troubles and less comfort. Maybe even mean bigger baby to push out so right now it's ok that most people tell me they can hardly tell I am pregnant. I am still trying to stick to the lower carb, lower sugar diet but have added a few treats back in on occasion but nothing like before. I am happy with my diet and feel good about the changes I have made for me and baby.

I Passed!

I passed my 3 hour glucose test with "flying colors"! I am so happy. I called first thing this morning and they said that I passed each hour's test so everything is great. I am so relieved and a little shocked, but mostly relieved. Not only because I don't have to do this horrific diet but because that means baby and I are healthy. The gestational diabetes scare had me worried about our health and our future health so it is good to know we don't have to worry too much about it. I still want to stick to a lower carb, lower sugar, more whole grain, fruit and vegetable diet but not to the extreme that I thought I was going to have to. I guess this little scare was God's way of making me change my diet and I am listening, I promise. Today I met a friend at Qdoba for lunch and had a chicken salad and water. I can't complain because it is a really tasty salad loaded up with beans, corn, chicken, salsa, cheese and sour cream ranch dressing. But it is low in carbs and if it were before the glucose scare I would have ordered the nachos but today is different.

I see the doctor every two weeks now so my next appointment is in just over a week. I have been having more and more contractions lately that wake me up every hour or so at night. I am a little concerned about their increasing strength and frequency so will run them by my doctor again at my next appointment. But no spotting with them so I guess it is just more of the same and hopefully nothing to worry about. This week's email mentions Braxton Hicks contractions but I didn't expect them to happen so often at this point. My nightly trips to the bathroom are becoming more frequent to the point where last week I was getting up 3-4 times a night to pee and last night I got up 5 times. P. says my body is preparing me for having a child and breastfeeding at night.

Well, off to the gym to walk on the treadmill a little bit then to the grocery store for some more watermelon and whole grain stuff that I can find to eat. I am constantly hungry these days. I ate my whole salad at Qdoba about an hour ago and am starving already. Almost like I didn't eat anything at all. Thanks to God for a good test result and for taking care of me and baby. It's a good feeling to go through this pregnancy with Him on my side to catch me when I fall. I don't know how people get through life without a relationship with God. I am glad I don't have to.

Hospital Tour & Glucose Test

P. and I toured the maternity floor at the hospital I will give birth at last night. It was a fun experience to see where I will spend a couple days coming up here in a few months. Seeing the room, the stirrups, the baby warmer and the family waiting room really made me excited and made a lot of this so real. We first saw the family waiting room that had vending machines, books and magazines, toys for kids and a cool machine that you can email pictures out from. I wonder if there will be anyone hanging out in that room waiting for our baby. We saw the triage where you go to be evaluated when you first come in. If you are in true labor you then go to a birthing room where you finish out the labor and delivery. These rooms looked ok. A little cold and uncomfortable but I guess I can't expect it to be like home. This room made me a little nervous because it is where all the action happens. I haven't been concerned much with labor and delivery but after seeing that room I can't help but start thinking about how it will all go for me. Then we saw the nursery but there were not any babies in there because babies now stay with their mother at all times. They said you can request the baby goes to the nursery at night so you can get some sleep and they will bring you the baby when he/she wakes up so you can feed. Not sure if I am going to want to let him out of my sight when that time comes or if I will be happy to have a little relief and sleep. We will see. And last we saw a recovery room where you will spend 2 nights, 48 hours + from the time you deliver. I was pretty surprised you have to stay for 2 nights but they said if you really want to they will let you go earlier as long as there are no problems. Again, not sure if I am going to want to get home as soon as possible or stay at the hospital for the help and security of the nurses and staff. So, all in all it was a fun night. It was eye-opening. It was a reality check. It is weird to think that maybe the next time we walk in there I might be in labor. And when we leave we might be coming home with our son. It seems like a good hospital where I will get good care. Fun stuff.

I had my 3 hour glucose test this morning. It was terrible. I had to fast after 7:30pm last night, couldn't eat this morning, got there and my blood tests were at 8am, 9am, 10am and 11am. After the first test I had to drink a full bottle of lemon-lime syrup and things went downhill quickly after that. I was nauseous and light headed for the next 3 hours to where I was laying down in the waiting room on the floor and didn't care who was stepping over me or staring at me, I just needed to lay down. It was finally over and I could come home and eat and as soon as I am done here I am going to lay down and recuperate. The nurse said I could try and call my doctor tomorrow sometime to find out the results. Wish I didn't have to wait but I guess one day isn't bad. Please keep me in your prayers. I really hope the results come out normal or not too extreme in the way of gestational diabetes. But like I said, if I failed my test today I will do what I need to do to ensure the rest of my pregnancy is healthy and the baby is growing in a healthy environment. But it would be really nice if this complication wasn't serious and I could continue with the pregnancy as is.

Headed to bed now. My pillows are calling me......

28 Weeks, 1 Day!

Pray for me......I have my 3 hour glucose test tomorrow morning. I hope my results come out ok and I don't have to deal with gestational diabetes. But we will do what we have to do. I just really pray we don't add another complication to this already interesting pregnancy. I will update tomorrow. Goodnight.

27 Weeks, 5 Days!

We are well into my 27th week now and headed towards the third trimester which I think starts next week. A normal pregnancy lasts on average 40 weeks meaning I have just 12 weeks left! 12 weeks! Boy does that make me excited.......and nervous. :)

Apparently this week our baby boy weighs almost 2 pounds. They say to chalk up any rhythmic movement I may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups. I felt them for the first time this week and it's true, they are totally obvious and rhythmic almost like a little heartbeat. With more brain tissue developing, our baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what he's thinking?

I guess my body is gearing up for the final lap, so they say I may start noticing some new symptoms. I am starting to get some lower back pain when I am on my feet too long and at night I am starting to get leg cramps that right now are quickly relieved. Other than that things seem same old, same old.

My activity for this week is to sign up for a breastfeeding class. I haven't signed up for any classes yet. I wasn't going to until my best friend K. told me yesterday that she highly recommends them for me, especially for my first baby. So I really started to think maybe they would be a good thing for me. I like to be prepared. I am not someone who likes to get into something I don't know much about. I like to have all my bases covered, and more. So I might start looking into some birthing, breastfeeding and infant care classes to prepare myself for what is to come. Better to be over-prepared than under, right?

His lungs, liver and immune system still need some time to mature, but if he was to be born now, he would do alright with some medical assistance. This is a huge relief for me. Last night I had such bad contractions that I thought I was going to have the baby right there in bed. I kept telling myself that if he did come he would have a hard time but probably be ok. I am ready anytime he is....but a couple more months would be great. Hang on there little guy.

I had a doctors appointment yesterday that didn't go as well as I had hoped. Good points were I gained 4 pounds which isn't bad considering the holidays, my diet, the pregnancy and the fact that I feel and look like a whale. I was happy with 4 pounds. My weight is 160, 9 pounds up from my first doctors appointment at 9 weeks. At my lowest weight during the pregnancy I was at 147 so if you look at it that way I have gained 13 pounds total. You know I always thought I was going to be a huge, gigantic pregnant woman due to my appetite and eating habits. I never considered the morning sickness would be as bad as it was but I am pretty happy with my weight gain and the way I look at this point in my pregnancy. We will see if I still feel that way 10 weeks from now. Back to the doctor's appointment....his heartbeat was at 148, kinda high the nurse said. My uterus is growing on schedule and everything feels great. Now to the bad news, I had my glucose screening test and my results were really high. It was supposed to register at about 130 and I was 185. So, basically my sugar levels are too high and I need to change my diet drastically to ensure the rest of my pregnancy and our baby are healthy. That is really hard for me. Carbohydrates are my lively hood. Brave is the man who denies me my carbs.... So, all in all, pray for me that I can get my sugar counts under control, that I deal with this new diet well and that our little guy is healthy despite our little diabetes concern.

Last week P. and I spent a few days in AZ. P. had a conference in Tempe and we went out early to spend a couple days with our aunt and uncle. We had a nice time with our family catching up on old times and just spending time together. They made us a wonderful turkey dinner Sat. night and P. got to see a hunting buddy that lives down in the area. The trip was nice and a good last getaway for us before the arrival of our little boy. Here is a picture of us with our A.E. and U.B.

26 weeks, 3 days!

26 weeks this week! Boy did the holidays make time go by fast. I am so glad I felt so well through all the celebrations and activity. What a great Christmas and New Year's! I love the holidays so much anyway and this year there was something that much more special about them. I am kinda sad they are over but I am excited to get the new year started and have this little guy. 3 more months. I have a feeling he is coming early. Only because of the contractions that I still have but I could be totally wrong. One can always hope.

Here is some info emailed to me about what is happening with the pregnancy this week. "Up until about the 26th week, your baby's eyes have been sealed shut. But now they open and blink. He can now see, hear, smell, taste and feel. All his senses are intact and will continue to develop after he is born. He weighs a little less than 2 pounds and will continue to gain weight. Some of the weight you have put on is the extra fluid you need to support and nourish a healthy pregnancy. He measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber), from head to heel." What in the world is an English hothouse cucumber anyway? :)

This week they recommended you start thinking about a "birth plan". Some issues to consider when creating a detailed birth plan:
• Do you want a drug-free birth or are you banking on an epidural? Bring on the drugs.
• Would you like the freedom to walk around and move as much as possible? Sure, why not though I can't see myself wanting to be overly active.
• How much monitoring of your baby would you like? Do you want to see the monitors or have them turned away from you? As much monitoring as needed or recommended. I would want to see them unless me seeing them prevents the doctors from seeing them.
• Are you open to medical interventions, such as Pitocin, to speed up your labor? If this concerns you, what techniques would you like to try first? I am open to medical interventions. I trust the doctors to recommend the right next step and will listen to any advise that is right for my labor and the safety of my baby.
• Do you want a mirror brought in so you can see your baby crowning? No way!
• Would you like to use props such as a squatting bar or a birthing ball, or amenities like a bathtub during labor? Nope. A bed will work just fine.
• Do you want your delivery to be a private affair (just you, your partner, and the attending medical team)? Or would you like friends and family there to help? Just me and my hubby.
• Ambiance in the room: Would you like special music playing? The lights dimmed? A video camera rolling? Reba, lights dimmed, no video camera. Some pictures would be great but nothing below the waist!
• After your baby's born, do you want your partner to cut the cord? Do you want to hold your baby immediately? Would you or your partner like to stay with your baby during testing and evaluation? P. can decide if he wants to cut the cord or not. I would love to hold him immediately. It would be nice if we could be with him during testing but it is not necessary.
• How will you feed your baby? If you plan to breastfeed, would you like to try breastfeeding as soon as possible? Breastfeed as soon as possible.
•Will you have a religious ceremony after your baby's born? I don't think so.
•Would you like to stay home with your baby full- or part-time? I plan to stay home with him full time.

It's time to really start thinking seriously about names. K. really liked the name Jake but I am still not sold on it because it is so popular. Jacob was the 3rd most popular name in 2007. But Jacob Archer has a nice flow don't you think? I still have faith the perfect name will come to us, we just have to be patient.

My other kids are doing great. Can't forget about them in all this baby talk. They are great, kind, sweet dogs who are my closest companions. I have no worries about them adjusting to the new baby and all of us living happily together. Check out silly Serra in this picture.

Happy New Year!

Hope you had a great first day of the new year! We spent ours laying low and taking down Christmas decorations. I was feeling a little under the weather but hope after a good nights sleep tonight it will subside. I was planning on posting a picture of me at 26 weeks but P. is working on our PC and I wasn't able to get on it to post any pics today. I am not able to post pics from my Mac on this blog site for some reason. So, I will get one up as soon as I can. Stay tuned and have a great year!

At Year's End

Can you believe it? 2007 is almost over! It feels like it was just the end of summer and K. was headed home and we were discovering our family was going to grow by one. 2007 was a great year. I have no complaints. The pregnancy was rough there for a few months but we are past that and headed down the home stretch. I can almost see the finish line off in the distance.....

The year started with my neck surgery on Jan 19th. I had two discs replaced with bone and a plate with four screws placed down my spine. That wasn't fun but almost a year later I am not having the problems that I used to. My neck is stronger and I only have problems if I really over do it. My migraines are still temperamental. Sometimes I can have a month full of them and then there will be months with no sign of them. For a while there I questioned whether or not surgery was the right thing for me but I think I could honestly say now that it helped.

In Feb. K. moved to VA to live with her mom. She wanted to be near both of us but was convinced VA was a better place to live. We had moved here to Michigan to be close to her only for her to move again. We were all stuck in a tough spot where we could fight it but then we put K. in the middle of an ugly court battle and it wasn't worth the pain and stress on all of us. So she moved away, I continued to heal from my surgery and stayed busy selling some stuff on eBay for extra income and she was back mid June for the summer. In April I visited northern CA for my cousin's bridal shower then in June P. and I went to the wedding that I was honored to be Matron of Honor in. The wedding was gorgeous, we visited with family we hadn't seen in a while and spent a couple days in beautiful Tahoe.

The summer was a blast. S., J., H., and C., came for a visit over the 4th of July. We spent a week at a cottage near Lake Michigan with some friends. We did a lot of camping and spent summer days with family and friends. On Aug 3rd K. returned home to VA and our pregnancy tests came out positive. And you basically know the story from there. Once the morning sickness passed life got a lot better. And Christmas was amazing. P. and I had such a fun holiday season together enjoying the beauty of it all. We are so thankful for the life we live, the things we have and the future that is ahead of us. We took advantage of everything the Christmas season had to offer and I am sad that it is coming to an end. K. arrived a week ago and we only have one more day with her. It has been a great week and I will be sad to see her leave. To be honest the whole visit went much better than I expected. We have had a lot of fun together celebrating Christmas, playing games, seeing movies, shopping and spending time with family and friends. As I type she is making a fort out of boxes with her school friend Allie. The giggles are refreshing. The late nights have been tiring though and about midnight the other night during one of her sleepovers I asked P., "Do boys have sleepovers?". I can't imagine they are quite as loud or giggly though.

K. has been so excited about the baby. She didn't notice my tummy under my jacket at the airport so when we got home P. took her into the room that used to be the study and she saw the crib and rocking chair. I took my jacket off and she saw my belly and has been consumed by the idea of a baby brother since. She talks to my tummy and rubs it all day. Everyone we see she shares our news with them. She has made it her job to figure out his name and so far likes Jake the best. On Christmas day K. and P. both got to feel AND SEE him kick which was the best Christmas gift I could have asked for. It has been so fun to have K. so excited about the baby. I am not going to know what to do without all the baby attention when she leaves. It's too bad she won't be around more to be a big sister to her little brother. I can see her getting tired of him pretty quick though after changing some diapers and listening to him fuss. But in the meantime she is thrilled with the news and I am thrilled she is thrilled. Because I am thrilled too.

So, here we are. Just 2 more days in 2007. I have to say this has been one of the best years of my life. I am happy with my life and thank God for the life He has given me. I owe a lot of my incredible happiness to my husband too. He makes life so enjoyable for me. I don't know what I would do without him in my life. And my dogs bring me an amazing amount of joy every day. They are the definition of true companions. And then there is this little guy in my belly that makes me smile every time I feel him move. I have yet to get tired of it.

2008 looks bright. It will bring a world of change. Thank you to my friends and family for being such a special part of my life. And thanks for being a part of my pregnancy through this blog. Happy New Year to you and yours.

Just call me Betty......

Yesterday I was little miss Betty Crocker and darn proud of it. I tried my hand at sugar cookies and have to admit they came out pretty good. I used a mix for the dough but still had to roll it out, cut out my shapes with my new cookie cutters, bake them to perfection then make some icing for decorating. The first batch I rolled the dough too thin so the cookies came out brown and crispy. Each batch got better and better until I had lots and lots of sugar cookies. P. and I decorated them last night with green and yellow frosting and sprinkles. We had a nice time together catching up on our days and enjoying our first annual cookie making day. Boy I sound so mom-ish now. My mom and I used to make thousands of cookies at Christmas so I have a long way to go to match her Betty Crocker status. Next year I will add a few more recipes and see how it goes. I have a couple years before my kids really know if I am the cool cookie cooking mommy that I think I am.

Watermelon

I have been eating watermelon, a lot of watermelon, for about 2-3 weeks now. I love it. I have always loved watermelon but lately I NEED it. I don't know if it is how refreshing it is, it's texture, it's sweetness or that it relieves the pregnancy taste in my mouth while I am eating it but something about it is working for me. Lately I have been eating about a pound of watermelon a day. Watermelon is not in season, making it an expensive craving but like people are telling me, it is better than craving hot fudge sundaes all day. I crave those too but give in to my watermelon craving more often.

Some sweet ladies at P.'s job heard of my watermelon obsession and sent a Christmas gift home to me. Check out the picture. So funny. What a perfect gift that put such a big smile on my face. I am going to go cut it up right now and dive in to my third serving of watermelon for today.

24 Weeks!

24 weeks today! And feeling good. Feeling fat but feeling good. My email updates say he has gained at least a quarter of a pound since last week and is the length of an ear of corn. His body is filling out proportionally and putting on more baby fat each day. My uterus is the size of a soccer ball. Wow, that explains a lot. His taste buds are developing and I guess so are mine. I can almost eat my normal pre-pregnancy diet but still have an issue with chicken. It doesn't look or sound good so I don't have a lot of it.

Our weekend was low key but fun. Friday we did some Christmas shopping. Saturday was ITT's Christmas Party at the Hilton and it was a great time. They had dinner, dancing, carolers, a magician, gifts, Santa and karaoke. P. and I got all dressed up and I enjoyed my new lease on life after finally feeling better. We ate a lot, danced all night, caught up with friends and watched some very funny and entertaining karaoke. We took advantage of our last Christmas party without kids and stayed out until almost 11:30pm. Late for us, not for normal people, but we were proud to be two of the last 20 people or so at the party. How often do you get to do stuff like that? We had an all around great time. These pictures are all from the party.....

One more week until Christmas. I am sad December has gone so fast but am looking forward to celebrating Christmas with family and friends. 6 more days and K. comes home. She will be here for a week. It has been 5 months since we have seen her and over 2 weeks since we have spoken with her. I can't help but be a little nervous about having her home again. But it should be fun and busy but different than the life we have gotten used to lately. We will share our wonderful news with K. and hopefully she will share in our excitement.

We hope you all enjoy your holiday. Take advantage of this beautiful time of year and make sure to stop and smell the cookies. Spend extra time with family, give thanks for all your blessings and be nice to people. Try to keep in mind the real reason for the season. Baby Jesus was born on Christmas Day to save us all and give us these blessed lives we have today. Merry Christmas to all our loved ones near and far.

Raising Boys

So I have been reading this book on raising boys and find it quite interesting. Actually it gives me anxiety but it's better to deal with it now than be unprepared. It basically says boys are a handful and we just need to learn to love them for who they are. I can do that right? According to the book it is important for boys to find mentors amongst family and friends. Besides having a great dad as a mentor I plan on surrounding my boy with strong male role models that can help us raise him to be the best man he can be. Another interesting thing the book mentions is that boys go through a period of growth in their ear canals that causes a temporary loss of hearing. A good warning to not always assume they are not listening, they actually might not be able to hear you.

There is a funny section in the "Testosterone" chapter titled Brains Go Out the Window. There is a period of time where hormones take over making your boy dopey and disorganized. You have to act as his brains until he can get control over the changes. Testosterone is what scares me most about having a boy. But the book makes a good point. Just as a good husband understands his partner's PMS, a good parent of a boy understands his testosterone.

And last but not least, a boy's brain develops slower than a girl's so it is your job to help it grow as much as you can. This will obviously call for more patience on my part. I think in general boys call for more patience than girls but with understanding and preparation I can rock this boy thing.

Today I had this neat realization that this baby is a complete union of P. and I. I was looking at our ultrasound pictures again and realized this little boy is a mixture of our physical features, our talents and abilities, and our hearts. How special is that? We made him out of love and he is half P. and half me. I wonder how it will feel someday to look at our son and see ourselves. I will be so proud.

6 lbs!

I have gained 6 lbs since my last appointment 4 weeks ago! Proof my appetite is back with a vengence. Guess it is time to cut back on the donuts and ice-cream. Darn. I knew it was too good to be true! But I am ok with that, I had a feeling I was eating too many treats and truly want to eat a better and healthier diet for our little man's sake. I can maybe chalk a few of those lbs up to the normal holiday weight gain most people experience so overall I am right on track....right? :)

My appointment went well today. Everything is going great! Like I said, I am gaining weight now, my urine test came out normal, the baby's heartbeat was at 146 (normal and healthy), and my ultrasound report came back perfect. My placenta is in the right place and my cervix is the right length. Looks like I got an A+ on my progress report.

23 Weeks!

Is my tummy smaller? It looks smaller. It has been 2 weeks since my last picture and it doesn't look any different. No one can tell I am pregnant let alone 5 1/2 months pregnant. This lady at church called me "tiny". No one has ever used the word tiny to describe me. It is kind of nice. I guess it is better than people calling me huge. But it would be nice to get a little recognition for all the work this pregnancy has been. I feel huge, but I don't look it. I really shouldn't be complaining.

Nothing new on the pregnancy end. I am enjoying my new appetite a lot. I was supposed to have my monthly doctors appointment today but my doc was called away on an emergency c-section so it is rescheduled for tomorrow morning. I have some questions to run by him and am looking forward to hearing the heartbeat but other than that the appointment shouldn't be anything too exciting.

Baby Boy Stuff

My wonderful cousin K. and her sweet mom sent P. and I some celebratory baby boy stuff this week! I got the box during the afternoon and waited for P. to get home from work to open it. We were so excited to get our adorable baby boy outfits, one perfect for P., one perfect for me and one that is so sweet and snuggly I wish I could put it on. I took pics of just the little pictures on them because I thought they were so precious. See if you can tell which one P. liked best and which one touched my heart. Can't wait to put our little guy in them and remember our family that is sharing in the excitement right along with us, no matter how far away they are. Thank you K. & C. and K. & D.!

Let it Snow!

Here are a couple pics of our recent snow accumulation. So funny seeing our summer swing hanging from the tree out in the cold. I love how our backyard looks in the winter with the trees and barn next door. It looks pretty but boy has it been cold, with no signs of letting up. The high temperature for the 7 day forecast is 35 degrees. I picked up 3 movies from the library today to keep us busy while laying low this weekend. TGIF!

P.'s First Craving Assignment

P. passed his first craving test with flying colors. Last night I saw ice-cream on t.v. and I had to have some. Not just any ice-cream though, Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia, Ben & Jerry's Half Baked and Peppermint Stick. About half way through Ugly Betty last night I said, I need ice-cream. P. said ok, what kind? I sent him with my list of the above flavors and added bread and eggs and he headed out in the cold to get me my craving. It's not so much that it was a pregnancy craving because ice-cream has always been my favorite dessert, favorite food for that matter. But we didn't have any, and I needed some and I needed some specific flavors. Meijer didn't have Half Baked but he successfully substituted Miniature Dove Bars and I ended up eating all three treats last night. They were so yummy and I was so happy. I am trying to contain myself and wait a little bit longer before having some this morning considering it is only 10:30am. So, all in all my wonderful husband came through, not that I had any doubt. I am pretty sure he enjoyed the ice-cream too.

22 weeks and some....

18 weeks left to go! Piece of cake! Things have really improved for me over the last couple of weeks. I still have contractions and unfortunately some spotting over the past few days but life seems so much better now that the nausea has let up. The nausea was the worst. Pretty soon I am going to wish I could get a little bit of it back the way my appetite is returning. My 22nd week email update states "Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. You may start to notice stretch marks on your skin as your abdomen expands to accommodate your growing baby. No stretch marks for me yet but the belly is still quite small. Other changes mentioned include:
• Thicker, more lustrous hair. (Haven't noticed this much except that my hair is getting longer because I haven't cut it since April.)
• Increased body hair. (Embarrassing but yes.)
• Fast-growing fingernails. (Yes.)
• Skin changes. (No.)
• Skin discolorations. (Not that I know of.)
• Larger feet. (Not yet.)
They mentioned some other changes but I decided not to list them to keep a little bit of my pride. Being pregnant is not pretty. They always give advice for the week and this week's activity is: Take off your rings. NOOOOOO! I can't bear to part with it.

It is freezing here. I think the high is supposed to be 25 degrees today. It hasn't warmed up enough to melt any ice from the storm Sat night/Sunday so things are pretty slippery. Winter has arrived! For all of you in warmer places, I envy you. But I wouldn't give up my white Christmas for anything.