it's the little things...

Ahhhhh, to be able to experience the wonderful sides of pregnancy...these are the moments worth living for... last week, on Friday, November 9th, i was sitting in my office listening to a conference call at work when all of the sudden, i felt a bumping in my lower abdomen. i thought to myself, at first, stop punching me...geez, why are you consistently punching me? ok, wait, these punches seem synchronized. once i realized baby had the hiccups, i was over come with joy! It was as if they bothered her...she began to squirm like she was trying to escape them. she was kicking and moving about, but was not able to escape them. She hiccuped for about 5 minutes. my smile went from ear to ear, realizing, that is my little girl....and i love her.

I guess when so much time is passing i sometimes take for granted that there is a human being inside me. i don't tend to give it much thought as it is such a surreal experience, i feel i may not believe it until i actually get to meet her. Experiencing her having the hiccups made her seem so much more human. it's almost as if i heard her cry or something. once you can associate a human action with the baby, it's like - WOW! there IS a baby in there!!! HOW COOL!

The day before the hiccups, i experienced my first two Braxton Hicks contractions. the first one was while i was at work. i had a stiff tightening of my belly and a sort of uncomfortableness all throughout my belly and abdomen. ROCK HARD. i had been getting cramping all morning long with i contributed to round ligament pain. the second was during dinner with my dad. he didn't know, but as we sat there eating, my belly stiffened again. i had to sit up straighter in order to catch my breath.

i have read that your baby grows at an incredible rate the last few weeks it is in the womb. i anticipated the ligament pain returning. the last time i really felt a lot of ligament stretching was in my second trimester. baby is growing rapidly now. The lung, brain and liver are the last things to develop. Putting on weight is one of the main things the body works on during this time as the efforts to develop the organs tends to slow down. so, i know this cramping is normal.

We went to our first one of two child birthing classes yesterday. The instructor was quite enjoyable, although very unprofessional and unorganized. i am so used to a more dictated classroom atmosphere that i was sure the class would be based on a textbook and a movie. well, we got a book, but she never asked us to open it. She stood there and talked...occasionally picking up a poster from the floor, that she was standing on, and pointing out just how large your uterus is now... there was no movie, altho she indicated there is one but she didn't seem in the mood to wrestle with the projector. everything she spoke about, i covered in all my readings. and kudos to me, ted felt the same way. which means, i have been educating him more than i thought i was and making him a part of the experience as much as i possible can. we did go over about 5 mins of breathing techniques. Ted politely pointed out to me that all these techniques should be a breeze for me, seeing how i was adamant about yoga. pain can be a state of mind, if you train yourself to relax and breath with the pain. Yoga teaches a way to manage your relaxation and to be in control of your body. if i can burn that in my brain, i should make it through labor alright. i will be super happy to have him there to remind me of it...i think he will be a good coach. labor is staring me in the face....i will do the best that i can.

The kitchen countertops are installed, the sink is floating in the countertop and needs it's last final adjustments to add water and glue down, the island is coming along...things are still moving. the last big project is almost complete. well, last big project for now. We await big brother's handy electrical hand to finish the kitchen and laundry hook-up.

the leaves have changed color and are falling uncontrollably. Fall is beautiful in the East. Reds, Oranges, Yellows, browns....green.... ahhhhh. My drive to work, although still a huge pain in the ass, has become one of which the surroundings offer some peace. peace reminding me that another season is passing and these are the last moments to cherish before my life changes forever.

wow - it's been a month almost!

OK, so I am almost 34 weeks....coming this Thursday. I have had my baby shower, we've moved into our house, and things are getting under way. Ted is still busily working on the house...as there are endless projects awaiting his attention. He always finds something to do. Our kitchen wasn't quite together for the move in, but the counter tops are arriving today and our kitchen shall be together soon enough. boxes need unpacking, furniture needs placing and the place needs tidying up. i've got some work ahead of me too!

Baby is growing so big, as am i. i can sometimes feel her legs under my ribcage (good thing, means she is head down). we start part one of two of our child birthing class this coming Sunday and my breastfeeding class shortly follows. i've gone through our goodies from the shower and have marked on a list what i need and what we've got. i'm trying to get organized. i feel the need to pack a bag.

about a week ago, my feet started to swell as well as my ankles. Dr said it is normal.... i say....sure....whatever. my shoe size has gone from an 8 - 8 1/2 to a 9 1/2. i try elevating them when i have the chance, but in the course of a day, the opportunities are difficult. not much else to complain about. i think i have had it pretty good, so far. i await Braxton Hicks contractions...for i have not experieinced one yet, i don't believe. those will help me to prepare for labor. i need a sneak preview to let me know what i am in for. all in all, maybe i am naive, but i do not anticiapte it being a horrible experience. trying, painful and flat out strange, but not too crazy horrible.

i switched my OB. Ghattas was getting a little on the nerve-wracking side. something told me sarcasm and flat out rudeness weren't par for the course in pregnancy care. So far, i am enjoying the new Dr., Dr. Baker. i've never had a male GYN so the experience is weird for me....but i feel it is the much better choice between the two. of course, Ghattas could still deliver if he is unavailable. ho hmmmm

in three weeks, they say the baby is full term and can come any time. I say give me at least five. i feel so out of sorts until i get things organized. as of next monday, i will have started to see the OB once a week. that in itself, feels like the end is near.

i am still very excited to meet our baby. i have waited, what seems like two years, to meet her. my life has changed so drastically since i found out i was pregnant, i almost can't wait for the next step....because this place, this limbo place is becoming a little on the SLOW side....and these raging hormones have GOT TO GO!

30 weeks

Hard to imagine, only about 2 more mths to go. wow! time flew by. Fatigue is coming back. I have also noticed being super sensitive and over-thinking everything. it's like PMS multiplied by ten. there comes a point when you stop feeling so super glamorous and start feeling fat. the thankful reminders baby sends me makes it all feel better. i can tell she is getting cramped for room but she is still rolling around. i experience more rolls than ever before. when she kicks i just wish i could grab her little foot and kiss it. the other day i felt an appendage in my ribcage. it burned and caused some discomfort. i massaged it and eventually she moved.

i am eating like a pig...there are days when i could just never stop. it's really hard to control your appetite. it's not like you are starving or anything...just feel like you could keep popping things in your mouth. Twix isn't always the best thing to pop....but with Halloween around the corner, those bags of individual ones make it hard to resist.

i have had a bit of nausea again too. the beginning of the week felt a lot like the first trimester. i could tell i was having a hormone spike since i began to break out. i swear my breasts are continuing to grow. i read that once your milk comes in your breasts will seem to double in size over night. oh help me big man in the sky... i'm going to need a back brace.

Haven't had any cravings, per say. there are certainly things i find more delicious than others. I experienced that PICA sensation they speak of. It's when you smell something that isn't eatable and wish you could eat it (or some even do). Mine stemmed from when ted was trimming back the bushes to unveil the creepy steps in our backyard. he hacked away at a cedar and let me tell you....i could not have tasted that cedar any more unless i ate it. i wanted to roll around in it and douse myself in cedar smell. it was the silliest feeling.

My mom is getting all excited (as am i) for my shower. it sounds like quite an event, with catering, flowers and 30 guests. what a time i have ahead of me! i am thrilled that this has made her become so involved with me. we have our moments, but we have truly begun to bridge a gap. ( i say this and watch....i'll jinx myself). Our baby will be coming into this world already loved by so many people. it's really exciting to see who gets involved and overjoyed about the arrival of your child. women love babies.

I still miss my Colorado friends so much. I think about you all the time and wish i could see you. I really miss being able to hang out, even if for an hour so for coffee...it isn't the same being without you. i cherish the times we did share when i lived there. good friends are very hard to find. (sob sob)

The heat has finally lifted. with the chillier weather coming, i look forward to sweaters and pants! it has been a very long summer...and i will not be sad to see it go.

Happy Fall!

29 weeks and loving the buddha. Thanks to Meredith for snapping pics when i ask her to! I've been documenting my growth pretty religiously. I have a book at home that i try to write in when "events" turn. i was pretty good about it when i was in my first and second trimesters. It seems now, there hasn't been much change except the growth of the belly.

i sit here at watch her kick and squirm. i lift my shirt to tap her telling her i like to communicate with her. we have a Morse code, it seems. she kicks, i poke, she kicks, i pat her...she knows she's safe and then relaxes. too fun.

I am going to the Dr every other week now. So far, nothing has changed. i go, i am weighed, i pee, have my blood pressure taken and then hear the baby's heartbeat and am sent on my way. Not much going on.

Sleeping has become more difficult as she gets heavier it is more difficult to turn over to the other side. i have less of the limbs falling asleep though. back pain has been moderate. i have been so exhausted it's unbelievable. my body temperature has risen and it feels like the room is over 80 sometimes. doesn't help that the temps outside are hot too - over 80 in October....ridiculous. i want Fall. this isn't Fall.

work has been fine. Meredith and I are forming a very wonderful friendship - one in which you know will last beyond the work atmosphere. she is really funny and reminds me of a mixture of a bunch of other friends. we keep each other entertained. it's too bad she lives so far away. She is in york, which may not seem far, but it is far enough where you just have to take the entire day to hang out.

i cannot wait to have this baby. i'm getting more and more eager to meet her! I also cannot wait, however, to move into our house and be able to spend a month or so of hopefully, quieter times with Ted. the past few months have kept him busy and me preoccupied. i miss hanging out on the down times....so November may offer us some time to spend enjoying each other before the baby makes her acquaintance. they say to pamper yourself before the baby comes, enjoy romantic dinners, get a pedicure, spend time with your friends. i'm sure once we move i will be all about nesting...have i mentioned how excited i am to move? :-)

The house is so close to being livable, i can see it.....it's almost there. Drew came to help this week which allowed Ted the help he needed in laying the tile in the kitchen/tv room/foyer. not that he couldn't do it himself, but having a second person there really speeds thigns up. plus it's good for morale. Baby, we are almost there. just a few more projects and we'll be set. You are my super-fantastic, ultra-wonderful, marvelous man!

29 weeks, almost

Seems like forever since my last blog. I have new pics to post, but have been busy with other stuff and then when i think to do it, i'm too tired to sit in front of my computer at night.

baby is growing..rapidly. over the past two weeks, i have begun to experience a decrease in the amount of oxygen i can consume while sitting down. She is very high so when i am sitting it is very uncomfortable. i have been hungrier and eating more. i am growing out of clothes that have fit me up until now, including some maternity stuff i had. i feel movement all the time now. it is more distinguished too. i wish i could tell which way she was in there, but after discussing it with the Dr., she was able to help me feel the head and sort out the direction in which she is "swimming" i feel most, if not all of her movements to the right of my belly button and below my right breast and then in the rectum...yes, she is kicking me there (odd feeling). my back is becoming stiffer and bending is challenging and often painful when her head is low. my energy is picking up, but can be short-lived.

this past weekend i washed all of the 0-3 mths clothes i have. i moved all the baby goodies that were taking up a huge chunk of the spare room to the new house. i cleaned the master bath at the house, cleaned windows in the bedrooms, cleaned the apartment, went to a Baby Expo with mom, which, it turned out, was pretty cool for coupons and free gifts. i am starting to freak out about things i should be doing to prepare for baby's arrival....decide on a daycare, find a pediatrician, get the nursery furniture picked up and put together, pack for the move, buy thank you cards for shower gifts, the list goes on....my head is full of things.

the house is getting closer and closer to being livable and i'm getting more and more anxious to move in. cabinets need ordering, counter tops need picking out, appliances need buying. feels like crunch time. luckily, ted's brother came this week to help out. there is so much to get done in a short period of time...

when i can, i will post new belly shots. i found a photographer who takes wonderful pregnancy shots but he is way expensive. maybe if we get some extra money from the shower, i can have some done. I was also thinking i could have Barb or Donna take some...they are artsy!

i cannot believe baby has two more months to grow. i'm going to be HUGE! i'm carrying all in the front and very high. this is just starting to get good. :-)

26 weeks

i'm at the can't-eat-enough-give-me-that-if-you-aren't-eating-it stage. it's lovely. i love food. food that i never loved has become friendly with me. although oddly enough, pretzels gave me indigestion yesterday and so have left a bad taste in my mouth. gross. apples...yum. soy protein drinks - must have in the AM. pasta - do whatever to it - you're mine.

as i thought i would, i am enjoying pregnancy a lot, though trying at times. i forget sometimes that i need to slow down when i walk which causes cramps that stop me in my tracks. i feel like i'm 50 pounds heavier when i get out of bed (when i've only gained 20), my butt has been over processed cottage cheese since day one, i get brown spots on my face when out in the sun too long, i fart uncontrollably, i snap when you look at me wrong, the heels of my feet hurt if i stand in place a bit, my boobs are bigger than two over-sized watermelons, limbs fall asleep when i get comfy in bed, my back is in spasm more often than not, and i itch like mad on my belly and my chest every other day! hey - this is great! seriously, with all of that going on....just to feel the baby kick and move around makes it ALL worth it! it just blows my mind how much your body changes to accommodate growing another human being. it's amazing that it's possible at all. so, i'm NOT complaining. i'm just stating...so you may laugh at will. this material will be humorous for me to read after the fact. and to think, i'm going to get bigger... :-)

the laminate flooring is laid in the nursery and master bedroom. it looks awesome! i'm so excited to see the rooms unraveling! baby will love her room! i love our room, just love it. i'm so excited to see the kitchen get started. again, my superman is super wonderful! thank you, thank you! sorry i cannot help out more.

beauty grows within

Ok, the laminate flooring and the tile for the kitchen/tv room are on their way. Ted has indicated that the gas lines need replacing as does the water heater.

If there is one thing i have learned from watching home remodeling shows, it's this, you will invariably run into all kinds of hurdles when you set out to complete project A. Project A becomes sub-part a, b, c, d, e and sometimes even f. challenging...i still don't know how he does it. How do you keep your wits about you, my dear?

Little girl has been thumping away today. it amazes me when i read that my moods affect her. if she is feeling my day today, i apologize....you shouldn't have to feel stress this early in your life! i wonder if she feels my frustration when i am driving. I wonder if she feels my emotions when i just want to up and cry for no reason at all. i wonder how we will be able to console one another once she is born....because no matter what happens right now, i am able to run my hand over my belly and lightly remind her i love her and somehow, everything to me is OK.

I picture her in my rear view mirror when i'm in the car. I imagine her crying in the middle of the night. I see another infant smile and wonder what her smile looks like. I hear a child laughing and hope our girl is the happiest in the world. Becoming a mom is going to be an incredible experience. I am only experiencing part of that now and it lights up my world. I sit and wonder if she is comfortable, all squished up inside of me. I sit back and probe trying to get her to play with me. I talk to her when i think she is napping. I sing and remind her that i know no lullabys. I ask her what music she prefers to listen to. I try to imagine what she sees, feels and tastes. all of it, yes all of it.....is the most precious thing on earth. our baby, our daughter, our precious little girl.

hey, where'd it go?

I've watched as my belly has grown bigger and bigger, waiting for the day when i would start to lose site of "things" below my belt.... well, it's official....6 mths is what it took to lose site of my privies!

It's really funny to watch your body change so drastically within such a short amount of time. I mean...your belly grows so big and all you may feel are some back pains and a ton of itching. i can no longer cross my legs and have instead, chosen to sit with them spread with a slight arch to my back to support the weight up front. wait til i get bigger. holy cow. where do i put it? i have four months to go here people...the toilet is going to become quite the obstacle. do they make seat wideners for pregnant butts? :-)

i tested the waters and threw out some maternity leave options to my employer today. It all must be discussed with the head honcho, so i am curious as to what will come back to me. I chose to try to leave for 8 wks and then work from home the last 4. i thought about part time from home but am afraid of losing benes. so what does a mommy do...keep her baby home with her while working from home? that's what i foresee. i'm sure, as with everything else, this will be a learning experience. how do you juggle breastfeeding, entertaining, answering the phone and drafting pleadings? the way i see it - who cares - it's only 4 wks. pray for me please....please let them work with me on this one.

let's see - food cravings? none. i crave nothing. i see you eating it...i want it. that's about all. my mind is going...i have trouble completing sentences and remembering where things are or go. My tolerance for annoying people has become a bare minimum - i find it excruciatingly difficult to hold back words. unfortunately, innocent bystanders are feeling the grunt of the pain. i have been keeping up with doing yoga and trying...when i have the strength...to not eat JUNK FOOD. i made excuses all weekend long because it was a holiday...but now....i have to watch it. i will balloon if i'm not watching...

i love my belly and enjoy talking about our baby whenever possible. i am so excited that the nursery is almost done...just flooring to install and it's ready to go! it will look so pretty when it's done. We have, again, ted to thank for that, as well as my dad who pitched in by painting the woodwork. yeh!!!

here's a picture of me this week... i think the baby plateaued for a week or so but i can sure tell she is cramped. her kicks are stronger and wider spread. she is catching up to where she should be on the growth chart.

i am so excited to Fall to start! we have been graced with cool weather lately and it feels fantastic to be COLD when you sleep! fresh air, open windows...summer is almost over.

oh yeah, i got my hair cut...a ton of it cut. i figured at the rate it is growing right now...why not?!

baby, baby, baby

this is our baby girl during her ultrasound on August 14th, 2007.

I wasn't able to get a picture of her legs, but we did see them. they are long, just like her daddy's. As you can tell here...she has some pretty long fingers too. Our little super model!

It took some probing and jostling around to see what gender the baby is, but finally she got a shot of her "sitting" on the lens for us. it was pretty obvious to me. Hello little girl!

We got to tour the birthing center that same day. It was just as i had hoped. My friend Jenni had her daughter Lily almost two years ago...when i was still living in Colorado, and her hospital labor delivery room was awesome. She got to experience that room (and delivery) all over again with the recent birth of her son, Harrison Lee on August 20th. 10 pounds 1 ounce! Congrats Jenni and Randy!!!!! Anyway...as i was saying, her birthing room was so cozy, i knew that when i have a child, that is the way i want mine to be. St. Joseph's Medical Center built a new facility and opened last November. Their LDRs are just as lovely as Jenni's...without the view of the Rockies. Complete with hardwood floors, flat screen tv and cabintry to make it look like home (kinda). Ted and i were both pleased. that 's a load off my mind.

last night, August 26th, baby was getting pretty active as we were sitting watching tv. I had been up and moving all day so i had felt very little during the course of the day. As i was sitting there feeling her bump and kick around i told Ted to put his hand near my abdomen, below my belly button and keep it there. He finally felt the baby kick!! Up until now, i tried to get him to feel her, but he didn't have any luck. finally! he commented...that's pretty neat! I think it will take him some warming up to appreciate her movements. It must be pretty strange to experience pregnancy as a man. He is so removed from it all. Me, my days are consumed by her. I eat, breathe, and sleep baby. literally. she's all i ever think about. :-)

The house is still coming along. Primer paint has been coated on all the walls in most of the house, minus a few rooms. BUT - it is coming along nicely. For those of you interested who didn't get the pictures sent to them, let me know and i will forward them to you. i tend to keep tabs on the house through the slide shows on Sony Imagestation. i don't ever mean to keep the progress that Ted has been making out of my blogs, but with the two things going, it is hard to mention everything on both.

i would like to say that I think Ted is the most amazingly ambitious person i have ever met....or even heard of. He knows how to do it all...and if he doesn't, he learns. no project has been too big for him and he has kept a level head throughout the project even through swift kicks in the butt by bugs, rodents, fungus and leaks. you are my miracle man, baby, and I want you to always know how much i appreciate you and all the hard work you are putting into building our future. I love you greater than the sky's vastness and all the stars within it.

It's a...

Girl!

A wonderful, beautiful, healthy baby girl!!!!!

Our ultrasound was yesterday. The images are difficult to decipher at first, but once your eyes get used to it, the unraveling of our baby's hands, feet, spine, butt, head, ears, toes, fingers were all visible!!! fascinating!!! clean bill of health! we couldn't ask for anything more! she is the most precious thing i have ever seen!!! I will try to figure out how to upload the ultrasound pic here...

My due date is not off too much. After making all the necessary measurements, it was determined, that as of yesterday, our baby was 21wks5dys. Her arrival has been bumped up to 12/20. I still say she will get her sooner! let's hope! my dates weren't far off at all.

Here's a pic from Monday, August 13th - 21wks4days

Our OB/GYN had scared me with the thought of twins....she said i was measuring 3 1/2 wks ahead. the ultrasound revealed that to be untrue. completely untrue. apparently my Dr is not very good at measuring fundal height. oh well. just ONE baby!

I get to put the lady bug crib sheet set on my registry! happy happy joy joy!

2 weeks, too long

boy, it's been awhile since i posted...i didn't realize time flew by so quickly!

Well, the house is coming along wonderfully. Ted has been "mudding" and prepping the kitchen walls for paint. This is a very tedious task as there is a lot of waiting around while the mud dries and then you sand, and start all over. Pictures would not do this any justice, so if anyone is wondering where the pics have been...what you may see may not look like much....but it does if you see it every day...coming along nicely.

We chose a kitchen plan and are pretty set with our cabinets. I have picked out paint colors for the master bedroom as well as the nursery. The landscaping has been trimmed back considerably which allows us to view the neighbors across the street when looking out the front door. Decisions are still being made on flooring although we both agree that we shall fore go any use of carpeting in the entire house. The entry way, kitchen and family room will be tile and the rest of the downstairs will wait until after our move.

I have to hand it to my guy - the most motivated, wonderful guy ever - who has plugged away, day after day without any help and has kept his vision of completion within eyesight. I do not know of anyone else who would take on such a huge project....all alone. True, Drew has helped out when he can which has been an enormous help and i thank him for it....but Ted is there every day....doing something...in order to get our house ready for us to move in. no laborers hired...no friends to the rescue...working weeknights and weekends...my super hero! he deserves more than a pat on the back, or a "job well done". there is no reward big enough baby. thank you from the deepest part in my heart.

on another note, i have been wrestling with a painful tooth lately and with the helpful budge of my friend Meredith, i have decided to once and for all take care of the problem and rid myself of pain. i go to the dentist today to find out what may be in store for me. i know a root canal is an option but i fear what else may be wrong... at any rate...i can honestly say, that as much as i despise and abhor the dentist...i look forward to this finally being over. don't worry everyone, no harm to the baby...i googled all i could and this is safe!

Ultrasound is tomorrow. i can hardly stand it. good thing i had my tooth on my mind or the day wouldn't have come up so quickly. i simply am giddy about finding out the sex, altho my honey is "excited", it cannot possibly relate to my elation. woo hoo - stay tuned for more on that.

gotta get a new pic of the belly. i am growing quite nicely, i must say. i am still loving being pregnant! the kicking is the most beautiful feeling in the world. ;-) we love you little baby.

and more on the belly front...

We are now in week 19...one more week and we will have reached our half-way mark. Our ultrasound is scheduled for 8/14! I'm still packing on the pounds, more than what they write about, i'm sure. for some reason, your body does not crave (or want) healthy food when you are growing a baby inside of you. you would think that it would, however, somehow grilled cheese and pizza are about the most delicious things you can devour. oh well...

belly at 18 weeks, forget about trying to fit into that pair of pants for the picture! not happening! even with my bella band, extending the life of some of my pre-pregnancy pants, I have found myself having to let go and become....yes...fat. in the name of the baby. :-)

oh, the itching. there are thing people don't mention, or forget to mention, or don't ever bring up when you are pregnant. here's one....your boobs and belly will itch unbelievably. this is from your skin stretching. now i might have it worse than most because my boobs are growing right along with my belly...because the belly itching is tolerable. lotion, lots of lotion.

i have noticed that it is mostly my boobs growing with my belly. not my ass, not my arms, not my legs....just those two spots. thank goodness. stay that way, please!!!!

pregnancy is cool, very cool. the most wonderful experience you can ever feel is the movement of your little one. baby has become a little less active as he/she grows. the thumps and pats are getting stronger but more on the "hey, i'm just hanging out" kind of feeling. before, it felt like he/she was trying to escape. now, i think there is a comfort level.

baby is very high. right under my boobs. although, some days it seems lower and sometimes it's high. there are days when my belly is tight as can be - can bounce a quarter off of it and then there are days when it is mushy. i have days when i am super tired and others when i manage to do more than one errand. but the hunger plagues me!

Some people say i have the glow. i don't always feel glowy - but i definitely have good days. my complexion is good then bad....my nails are horribly dry, but growing like weeds.

i read and i read and i fill out info for free stuff....all this preparing is mind-bottling (ha ha). this is good...ted has the house to occupy his time...and me, the baby.

Homeowners at last!

We settled on the house on 7/20. Since that time, Ted has been a madman working constantly and without complaint! He is really the most motivated person i have ever seen! if you are interested in checking out the photo album, please let me know and i will forward the pics to you. there are way too many to post here. and they will just keep coming...i'll keep you posted on the progress.



needless to say, the house needs a ton of work but with Ted jumping right in, i believe that by Thanksgiving we will be entertaining and cooking a turkey for the family! We are only in Day 11 and we will be ordering our cabinets any day already. we have the plan, now it's just a matter of pricing it all out. it's ready for painting...so i am using mom's color sense to pick out the colors for the master bdrm and nursery. what i had dreamt for the nursery looks bad and so we had to regroup.

this is the basement, a view from the door coming in from the garage. the steps to go upstairs are directly to your right here. the basement goes back to extend into a laundry room and a tool room. while exploring the house for the first time an hour after settlement, we discovered mold in the basement. hence, this is why Ted went full-blown destroyer in this area. Tackling one problem at a time...

With all the carpets gone, the back porch gone, the kitchen cabinets and walls and floor gone (now rebuilt into beautiful drywall), bushes/trees gone...the house already looks 1000% better. it's amazing what ted can do when he puts his mind to it. I can already see our home developing into our nest!

Dr appt #3

last wednesday, Ted and I went to our 3rd (week 16) dr appt. we were told that i am measuring 2 weeks ahead...either my dates are wrong or i am carrying one big baby. we can find out for sure at the ultrasound which we have scheduled for 8/14.

The heartbeat was louder and stronger and racing at 158 beats/min. You could hear it loud and clear this time! No searching! You can deduct whatever you want, but there is still the 50/50 chance of the baby being a boy! :-) We won't have a better idea until we go for the ultrasound. And yes, there is only one baby in my belly. I guess it is at this point that you would be able to detect the number of babies inside. Because of my size, i guess it was a curiosity.

There is girl at the office who gave birth the beginning of December last year and she loves to watch my growth. She thinks I am BIG! people show differently, i am told. the way you carry your baby, people may see as an indication of the sex...who knows. take a look at me...let me know after consulting with the stars or what-have-you....what sex you think it is. maybe we should start a pool.

Ted's brother and sister-in-law are expecting again. This will be baby #3 and i am excited that our little ones will be so close in age! they only live an hour away, so hopefully we will be able to see them on a regular basis. altho, i am sure lugging three kids around is a huge chore! at any rate, ted's friends are about to have their third baby and they live 10 mins away. when you are having a baby, for some reason, you want to make sure there are people to hang out with with a common interest. :-)

So, growth in the next few weeks will be fast. i will be sure to keep you posted with belly shots and updates of how i am doing. I am finally off the chocolate milk and cheese and craving pasta. i don't know which is the lesser of the evils... seems like whatever i eat will make me fatter, so who cares! i eat what i want to eat!

Headaches have subsided altho i still get them once a week. gas is increasing as well as heartburn/indigestion. i have days when i am tired and days when my energy is increased. my mood swings have calmed down from two weeks ago, but who's to say that won't start up again. the last few weeks were terrible....please don't come back!

ted has been a complete wonderful, couldn't ask for a more understanding, sweetest of sweethearts partner through this pregnancy so far and i couldn't be more thankful! I love him with the biggest heart of hearts and cannot WAIT to raise our baby together!

mini-vaca

On Friday night, Mom and I drove down to visit with Dora and Evvan to Stone Harbor, NJ. Luckily the weather was great all weekend!

Evvan has been taking surfing lessons and he is amazingly great at it. This little boy was born with sea legs. he loves the ocean....and any type of water actually. he is on the swim team, which he loves! we got to watch him have a lesson on Sunday. it was so cool to watch the little man get up and go! i couldn't believe my eyes. i think he will make a great snowboarder!

I have always loved the beach! I got to wear my maternity bathing suit, which you will never see me in....hahahhahahha and sit under an umbrella just like an old nanny. i saw one other woman on the beach who was pregnant and she was wearing a bikini. i wasn't brave enough to give that a try. of course, she looked much thinner than me! but much further along! We got some sun, did some shopping and ate at some local restaurants. I had a great time getting to know Evvan a little better!

i cannot remember the last time i flew a kite. Seems like i was just mentioning it to Ted. I bought a kite for Evvan and brought it along. he was overjoyed to fly it since the last time, apparently, Jeff had some problems getting his kite off the ground! this kite was great. it took right off and once i got it up for him, Evvan took full control and never let it touch ground!

I know some people think the Jersey shore really doesn't offer much of a beach, but it's where we vacationed when i was growing up. i cherish the memories i have from all of our beach visits. there is nothing like a summer vacation at the jersey shore. it's only 2.5 hours from home. for a weekend jaunt...it's super fun!

Baby has not stopped letting me know he/she is in my belly since the first time i felt movement on june 4th. it started off with a flutter and moved on to a thud thud thud. I don't feel it every day, but the movements are starting to come more frequently. I used to feel something every few days or maybe only once a week. Now, I am starting to feel it every if not, every other day. We have a little gymnast on our hands! There also seems to be a pattern on the time of day. Generally in the morning between 10-12 and then again around 2-4 and often times after dinner around 7:30 - 8:30.

I have begun to play and poke around at the baby to see if i can get him to move. when i lay on my side and then turn over to my back, i can feel that hard bump move and see it sticking up more under my belly button until it settles and then i shift and repeat the movement. i'm probably annoying the poor thing but it's fun to play around and be able to see baby. Although we can't see digits or anything, there certainly is an apparent BUMP! and it moves! :-) i love our baby!

I have started to talk to my belly. i say Good Morning, i apologize for the water being hot in the shower and for slouching in my chair at work, for fear of squishing him. I know he can't hear me for a few more weeks ( i think week 24) but no harm in establishing an early relationship.

My back has been spasming for the past three days and it is SO incredibly painful. Now, i have not been active for the past three months (maybe more) in terms of exercising, other than the occasional walk here and there...so i am blaming myself. my rides to and from work have become horrendous. while i shift and bend in my seat i pray that the pain will subside until i make it to my destination. baby isn't even big yet! soooo.....i gotta get my butt in gear and get working.

I did prenatal yoga yesterday. If i can start practicing every day or every other i think i will save myself a lot of aggravation. I also walked saturday, sunday monday and wednesday...which i am sure helps in one way or the other. The weather here has been nice, so walks have been very enjoyable. when all else fails, we have the tredmill!

Settlement on the house should be around july 20th. i am holding my breath until the agreement comes back....or should i not hold my breath? any case...progression with that scenario has been slllllllower than molasses in December. or is it November?

Hope you all had a lovely 4th of July. Ted and I went to a picnic at Christen's mom's house. the weather was chilly and cloudy. i didn't get to work on my tan! rain moved in late and apparently delayed fireworks in the surrounding areas, but needless to say, pam was already entering sleepy sleepy land....oh well...

food glorious food!

One of the perks to being pregnant is the offering of food. strangers offer their space in line just so the pregnant lady can get her fill first. seconds are offered. bigger pieces are cut. it's cracking me up! and what do i do? i take it! because food looks and sounds so much more delicious when i am not the one choosing what it is that is going to go in my mouth next. man, that hot dog was good. you should have another one...for the baby. ok. "for the baby" get used to it - i'm going to hear this a lot. as if the baby didn't get the first hot dog, that one was all mine. :-) i hear two conflicting voices in my head. the first saying - you don't need all that... the second saying - eat for two, why the heck not!

most of the time i am pretty good about what i choose to eat. i have picked up eating salads this week which i have not had in a while (thank goodness for prenatal vitamins). you learn how important it is to eat healthy, but yet you can't bring yourself to do it. the second trimester is being a bit more forgiving with the food choices. there for a while i was getting frustrated at everything sounding disgusting. what do you want to eat? I DON'T KNOW! 3 months of that was enough for me. now, if i could only come up with the food ideas on my own. i find myself getting ideas from co-workers, commercials and casual walks through the grocery store. (yes, i talk casual walks through the grocery store)

my life revolves around food right now. i'm excited to have my taste buds back. just gotta lay off the picnic food. i'm trying to grow a human being....but could do without the four extra chins.

*burp*

Bella!

thank you to whoever designed the Bella Band! and thank you to Jenni for recommending it! I kept telling myself to just invest and give it a try and last night, i finally broke down and did it. i bought my first Bella Band.

Now for those of you who are asking what in the world it is - i shall explain. A Bella Band is essentially a tube top that goes over the tops of your pants to hide the fact that you cannot zip them all the way or button them up. it saves you money from having to buy all new pants while your belly grows on a weekly basis. quite frankly, our checkbook is having a heck of a time keeping up. it is crazy! just when i think i got something that fits, i grow out of it. SOOOOOOO this band thingy will help me to hold onto some of my pants a little while longer! YEH! and they come in all kinds of colors - with or without lace! i got black lace, of course. so today, i squeezed into an old top and old pants and covered up underneath with my bella! i actually feel pretty! rare days!

The maternity store we went to (mom and I) was super pricey but she was nice enough to buy me some stuff as my "birthday" present and it helped to make me realize that i can look completely fashionable while i am pregnant. i haven't really gone out of my way....i was shooting for comfort. it's a good thing i can get away with cargo pants and t-shirts at work or we would be broke buying dress clothes for me all the time. i love t-shirts, tank tops and drawstring pants. particularly, ted's shorts. comfort! yes! oh, and flip-flops...every day! yeh, i'm not voguing this pregnancy.

thank you bella! i swear that is going to be my gift to the next new mom-to-be i come across.

growing belly

Yesterday we decided to FINALLY take a new belly shot. I wore the same clothes (i don't think i will be able to for another shot) so you can make the comparison. i am now 14 weeks. the first pic was taken at 5 weeks (see April posting). You can also note how big my chest got! Yeah, no need to comment, I am fully aware of that exponential growth rate! gads! i gave up on bras....i'm moving onto sport tops.

There are some things you plan on and others you never dreamed of when you first find out you are pregnant. I never dreamed my chest would get so enormous. and to think, it isn't even done yet! and like every mom has said to me - wait till they fill with milk. i swear if one more person utters (no pun intended) that to me i will slap them upside the head with one of them. don't thikn it won't reach your cheek mama, it will!

I just bought Jenny McCarthy's "Belly Laughs" and i cannot explain how wonderfully honest her book is. She was actually so astonished by the size of her breasts that she weighed one of them on a kitchen scale. one breast= 5 pounds. Well, Jenny, i think i will be able to share that glory, eh, if it's called that, with you!

Here's a new self portrait of mom & dad. Had my hair cut this weekend. at the rate my hair is growing, i could easily take on two inches by the end of summer. heck, i think maybe more. just since the beginning of May it grew one inch. i had two inches cut off this weekend and it made a world of difference to the weight. love it! they say not to make any drastic decisions while you are pregnant, for fear that the hormones make you think and behave in a dramatic fashion...i have no idea what they are referring to...hahhahahaha, but anyway, i figured i would save any major changes until after birth and returning to normal hormone levels. for now i'll stick to trimming.

And just in case any of you were wondering how Walden is taking the news of being a big brother...he is anxious and giddy. He told me he cannot WAIT until he can play with the baby! He misses his Auntie Nora and wants her to know there isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't daydream about you while in his crate all day. he dreams of the dog park, of long walks and kisses on his Auntie Nora's nose. :-)

lions and tigers and bears, oh my!

Every now and again i start to fantasize about what i want the nursery to look like. I know that the vision i have created probably will not look like the outcome, simply bc i am not that artistically gifted to do so. not to mention that i am the queen of procrastinating, so the ideas i have in my head will not get accomplished due to pure laziness. I would like to think that once we have the house, i will feel inspired to actually complete a project. from vision to completion.

Green. i start off with one of my favorite colors....think of my next favorite thing...dragonflies...and then think of a calming and tranquil place for a baby to nest in. The Woods. I have a thing with nature. i love it! i love dirt, bugs, trees, animals, leaves, water....you name it. i want our baby to rest in the forest. I am thinking of a nature theme - green walls, i saw a green at a maternity store, on their walls and had to ask. Behr paint...Rejuvenation. something like that. paint grass fronds at the bottom of the wall. collect dragonfly stuff and other buggy things (this is where the laziness may come in) to attach to the walls and make sort of a 3D effect...of course not around the crib and not close to the floor. :-) i would love to have a fountain of some kind in there to have the sound of water. i have had fountains in the past and they are a big pain in the rear so i may skip this altogether. so if that doesn't pan out, there are always nature cds. Paint a tree in the corner of the room with a big canopy going onto the ceiling. butterflies. ladybugs. preying mantis. if i can get it all painted myself, i will be so proud!

It doesn't matter what the sex of the baby is...the room will still be the same. there is no gender preference to nature...well, if you had to pick, if would be feminine i guess. Mother Nature. but she has ALL her children....and there are girls and boys.

13 weeks

In case any of you were wondering...I am now 13 weeks and this is what the baby may be looking like...

Apparently, he/she is approximately 4 inches long. During the second trimester, the baby undergoes the fastest growing it will do while in the womb. The head is starting to become proportionate to the body and baby can even suck his/her thumb by this point.

When you follow the progress on a weekly basis, you begin to realize why you are constantly tired, hungry and feeling BIG. So much is going on inside of me! it's amazing!!

two hearts beat as one

Ted & I had the wonderful opportunity to hear our little one's heartbeat last week at our second Dr appt with Dr Ghattas. The fast thump thump thump of our little bundle of joy was enough to send chills up and down our spines. LIFE! Altho i have already felt the little bugger move (Dr Ghattas thinks i'm nuts and gassy) it was awfully fascinating to hear the heart beating. not only that, but we also heard a rapping of baby moving around. this little bugger is a mover and a shaker! i could've told her that! the third sound she pointed out was the placenta. swoosh swoosh swoosh. it's all rather fascinating and very eye opening. i have a baby growing inside of me! a product of ted and me....a little human being. you just can't explain the joy until you've been there. Oh, and for those of you curious as to the beats per minute....we were at 160...chocolate milk induced?

On Father's Day we did a whole lot of nothing. I got Ted some sandals he wanted and needed and baby got him a burp cloth that says I love Daddy, a jumper with a Boston Terrier on it for baby and a little one piece that says Tax Deduction. Hopefully, baby will be born this year! What do dads usually do on Father's Day? I think it's just a day where they do whatever it is they want to do. i made breakfast, we hung out, made dinner....and just spent some quality time together. ted doesn't quite feel like a Daddy yet.

i have been buying maternity clothes as my middle keeps getting thicker. Gap, i've found, has some reasonable things and they are trendy and cool. i got some cargo pants this weekend that are camo and i love them! i am finding drawstrings to be the best! My belly is protruding a bit more. it feels big to me, but when i look in the mirror, it appears small and unnoticeable. i keep saying i will post pics...i swear i will soon.

The house SHOULD become ours in the near future. we are hoping for settlement on 6/29 or 7/6. Either way, it's soon! then there will be pics a plenty. ted and I drove over the other day and sat flabbergasted by all the outdoor work that needs to be done just to unveil the house. the forest has taken over now that things are growing....it's horrible. it's like the ground is swallowing the entire thing.

trudging along

First I wanted to comment about how i almost lost my mind while i was stuck in traffic this morning. 5 miles - 45 mins later...arriving to work....ripping out my hair...wondering HOW AM I GOING TO SURVIVE THIS COMMUTE ANOTHER 6 mths!??!??!?!? I need something...some way...to relieve my stress of my commute. i think i need a massage. Poor baby, i think....i hope he isn't full of rage when he is born (no, we don't know the sex yet). i truly hope that my stress isn't burdensome to him. that's why i feel i need something else to take my mind off of it. suggestions welcome.

to those of you wondering how am i doing, how i am feeling with the pregnancy, i will report....i am super tired. food is tasting better to me, my belly is growing, although not at the alarming rate my boobs are, and i pray for a day when i have the motivation to keep our apt looking not so messy. Baby still likes salty things although i have ventured into fruit again and am enjoying it a ton. I think i have gained a heightened sense of smell over the past few weeks as i can often times smell things from pretty far away. when i smell something delightful, it is super delicious. some colognes, peaches, fresh rain, and clean laundry. yum! while going through hormone spikes i break out. i have these about every two weeks. i am experiencing one now. i think they bring on headaches as well. i cannot, at this point, put my finger on why i still get these headaches. i have blamed sinuses (which along with a stuffy nose, i can recognize), hormone spikes and lack of rest. i'm not sure where they stem from...all i know is they are frequent. most of the time i feel lousy and i am hoping that this all lifts soon as we near the end of our first trimester! i only take Tylenol when i HAVE to get work done (note, this is not every day, hahahha) or when the head is thumping so much it keeps me from thinking clearly.

last week i had a toothache. i prayed and prayed and Ted did the "go away achy tooth" dance and the pain has gone away...i fear, for now...but will return. I am praying that if it returns it does so AFTER the baby is born so i can then take care of the root canal/crown issue i have been ignoring for over a year now. eek...i know. the thought of any kind of dental work while i am pregnant is frightening...heck, it's frightening even when i'm not pregnant.

I'm pregnant! i remind myself time and time again and it sounds so wonderful when i just come right out and say it! I'm so proud! i'm so excited to hold our baby!

we are closing in on our first trimester and our second Dr appt is tomorrow. i am hoping to get to hear the baby's heartbeat for the first time. if they don't do it though, we have our very own doppler, courtesy of Allison...thank you! i will be fishing around for my little baby's heartbeat tomorrow if the Dr doesn't do it. i am curious how much weight i have gained as i feel gigantic and none of my pants much fit anymore. i don't want to obsess over it, but since i didn't have any morning sickness, i think i ate more than some pregnant women during the first tri - ergo - gaining more. we shall see.

i felt the first kick last monday, june 4th and then again on the 5th and 6th. he was quiet all weekend until i prodded him a bunch on Sunday which made him poke me enough to remind me that yes, he is there. i cannot WAIT to be able to feel stronger movement! i know i'm lucky to feel it so early.... but to not feel it consistently becomes a bummer. i often find myself prodding away at my abdomen just to see if i can get him going. ted thinks i should go easy on the prodding, but little one needs a little encouragement to be energetic!

I will blog about our second dr visit soon - in hopes that it is something to write about!

Energy level = zero

I am so super tired it is amazing i get anything accomplished in a day. after reading that my baby will be growing an inch a week for the next three weeks, its no wonder why i have little to no steam in a day. By mid-afternoon, i am ready to turn in. I would like to thank my wonderful Ted for being so understanding by picking up the chores around the house so i needn't worry about getting them done. Perhaps he noticed that I couldn't muster the energy and have been spending my evenings curled up in bed. My energy will return....some day. i love you Ted, thank you!

My hunger goes in spurts. My aversions to food are constant. Constant in the way that i always have something that turns me off, but never the same thing. I find myself craving salty things - can't get enough cheese - and choking on chocolate. the smell of coffee has turned my past love into a minor repulsion. One thing is sure - the first thing i think about when i wake up is what other kind of salty breakfast i can have instead of eggs. Scrambled eggs are a love right now. pop tarts and toaster strudels are on the back burner. Some days i get full fast, others it takes a ton of food to fill me up. Carbs and more carbs...salt and more salt.

I am yearning for my belly to grow. I have periods where i feel fat and not pregnant and then the next day i feel thinner. my belly comes and goes right now. some people think i should be careful what i wish for - but honestly...i can't wait for my belly....and i don't think i will ever wish it away. (Well, maybe at 9 mths and pushing it)

As I sat watching So You Think you Can Dance last night, it hit me...all those years i went clubbing and thought i was the shit - i was making a complete fool of myself. There are people....who THINK they can dance (I am now guilty) and then put them up against people who really CAN dance and they look pathetic. It's amazing to think that these young kids (some of them) devote themselves to dancing...and i got to thinking....if that's all our kids do - i will be thankful. if it keeps them safe and away from danger of hooligans and druggies....then dance kiddo, dance. Kuddos to those who muster the courage to at least try. TV makes me laugh. what makes me laugh even harder is the fact that now that i am pregnant - everything is thought of in a parenting view.

another week down

my belly grew this week! i will be sure to include a new picture as I have outgrown most of my bottoms! those of you who are familiar with the type of clothing i wore before know why. i tended to wear things that fit....or fit tightly. let me tell ya, it doesn't take long to grow out of stuff when you buy it to fit. Our little baby is still a peanut but at least it is the REAL size of a peanut now. On Wednesday i woke up with a bigger belly. Up until then, i just felt big. fat. now i'm getting that frontal bumpage. COOL!!! very cool! I am starting to feel like a mommy now! it's more and more exciting every day. i know when i am experiencing cramps that he is growing and i get very excited to see how much bigger i will become. I tend to be smaller in the morning and than bloated in the evenings. when i wake up and the bump is still there - man! it's Awesome! i can't wait for him to get bigger!

still having more aversions to food than cravings. most food tastes pretty ordinary to me. still not sick...eating a ton...and very sleepy!

getting the job done

So ted and I finally feel secure and happy with the OB/GYN. After a terrible visit with a different Dr. we decided to try out another one. Well, talk about night and day! Dr Ghattas is so awesome - she took an hour and a half to discuss pregnancy with us, family history, and what to expect from the next 9 months. It was a wonderful visit. at the other place, we never even SAW the darn Dr. for our first child, i think we deserve a little more comfort.

She began by laying out the hormonal changes...yeah, you don't have to tell me. i'm glad i have been so curious about pregnancy and reading all tht i can because I have not ben surprised or put back by anything anyone has told me. Ok, so there was the issue with the vag disch - but that is certainly TMI so i'm not going to go there. i'm not saying that down the road there will be things i can only learn by experiencing....bc i know this for sure. i know that my girls who have had babies wouldn't possibly tell me everything...but i have heard my fair share of stories. I know that there will be moments that are not so glamorous. I know that i may test Ted to his limits. I know I may want to sleep all day long when the sun is shining...all this bc I'm Pregnant!! growing a baby is hard work.

Dr Ghattas went on with the questions concerning family history and almost ran out of paper from scratching down all my family's ailments. Ted went on to say he has been told he is mentally ill if she wanted to put that down too. it was nice to see that everyone had a sense of humor...

She assured me that everything will be fine, and if it isn't she will always go out of her way to make me her first priority and be sure i am getting the attention that i need, medically.

The pelvic exam is always my favorite. i must say though, of most of my friends, i have been one of the only people to keep regimented with going to the GYNo. it doesn't make the table experience any more enjoyable, but i certainly got to know the drill after bi-yearly visits since i was 15 yrs old. Dr Ghattas assured me that childbirth would be particularly milder for me because of the width of my pelvis. WOO HOO gimme a lolly! feel free to submit any (good) comments in the box on your way out. thank you ma'am. yeh, the baby will just fall right out. :-) no, i'm not that naive.

We only get ONE ultrasound at 20 weeks, so i managed to find a pic on the 'net of what our little pea is looking like right now. It's a very exciting week as he went from tadpole to human! he lost his tail!

i've reached the point where none of my dresses are fitting and my underwear are starting to feel constricting. My face broke out a week and a half ago but it's finally clearing up. i'm not as hungry but WAYYYY more fatigued than i have been from day one. My moods have been a little crappy -- i'm hoping this fades quick because it is no fun being short and testy. Week 9 is almost up. Our pea will be growing very quickly as the next few weeks progress. Stay posted so you can see progress of growth. I'll snatch pics from the web so you can get an idea.

Denver or bust

Well, after a five hour delay at the Philly airport, I proceeded to arrive in Denver a little later than usual, but better late than never.




Kind Laura was such a gal pal to pick my butt up and then drop me off to get my hair done. Thank goodness Bobbie was such a sport and made time for me on such short notice. Laura returned shortly after that only to take me to yet another appointment...the one i was looking forward to for two weeks, my waxing appt. Thank goodness!!!! I'm sure there's a spot in Reading to get a good waxing of the bikini area, but i had one bad experience that is making my hands shake to even think about trying it again. Thank you Carrie for fitting me in!! So far, you wonder if i just went to Denver for a little primping...no! i went to see my girls!!!



Saturday night I got to crash in on Bobbie's scheduled girls night out. the Hornet was as good a place as any for a prego girl to try to fulfill her not-so measured up BLT from hours before. I got a proper BLT and things got underway. I got to reminisce with Wendi nu nu doody head and Nora pot pie and a bunch of other friends accompanied Bobbie. Dusty - it was great to see you....Janelle, nice to meet up again...it was such a nice comfort to be in the company of girlfriends. nothing really compares to it. nothing. I will never take a great friendship for granted ever again. not that i ever felt like i did, but i sure do wish i would've sent MORE time hanging out with you all before I moved.






I couldn't wait to spend some time with my pregnant cohort, Jenni. It was so awesome to see you again...I sooooooooo wish we could be closer to have more prego moments together. Lily has grown so much, i can't believe it! You look wonderful, as usual, and super happy...nothing out of the norm. It was great to shop together even though you may have felt a little pooped from all that cooking the night before. Come to think of it, i was trying to plan my grocery list around week-cooking. Seeing how my energy level took a HUGE crapper the past day or so, i'm afraid i will not live up to your motivation to plan my meals for the week. That will have to come another time. it's the thought that counts though. You had way more energy than i can muster up right now. yes, i think the pregnancy it finally winning at draining my energy. up until now, i have been pretty active and have felt my same old self. The past two days are torture to make it all morning without a nap. Thank you Jenni for making time to hang out. It meant the world to me.

I cannot go my whole post without mentioning my reunion with the chicken pot pie clan. Colleen was such a sport to make the drive to Estes Park even with a hangover...stopping to puke a couple of times here and there. seriously, i would've wanted my bed...thanks for being such a great sport!!! Estes was snowy and COLD! surprise! the mountains are completely unpredictable in May and well, i happen to catch the weather at it's coldest...sandwiched by two wonderful weekends. Sunday night we got to catch up over dinner at Bar Louie's in the new Northfield (?) shopping center. They put a ton of stores in in record time - i was impressed. if i had more time, i would've loved to check it out more.

I miss the sound of the city. i miss Denver. I wish i could take all of you and the city and bring it over to the east side. PA is beautiful and green...sunshiny, but wet. Pa is home now, but Denver will always bee my home away from home.

And don't forget, Laura's new addition, Bogie...the boge-miester...bogieronie..bogelicious.

12 weeks old...biting and challenging mom's patience. I wish you could get the chance to met Walden...he would race around you and bite your feet. Ahh, i remember when Walden drove me so nuts that i thought i was going to hang him from his little back feet off the balcony. hahhaahha, just kidding! Be consistent, have patience. it WILL get better. and then he will be your very best buddy.

Well, that pretty much wraps up my weekend. traveling while 7 weeks pregnant was no problem. i thank the morning sickness gods for NOT visiting me yet....or any time during my trip. I'm trying to keep you at bay.

it was so great seeing everyone. I can't wait to see you again...when my bump is bumpier!

EVERY day is a new day!

Ok, my love affair with food has become a series of highs and lows. I will say, however, that my life truly revolves around food. what to eat, how much, where...making sure i have food on me at all times. I keep telling myself that I'm an actress putting on pounds for a movie..that's why i have to do it in a hurry. Ladies, I don't know if you are familiar with this pregnancy bit, but remember you get to relax and remind yourself that it's OK to eat...because it isn't just for you, it's for baby. Certainly puts my mind at ease. sometimes. (this is what pregnant people are telling me, i'm just passing it on to you)

I will report that my favorite thing right now...and for the past week, is watermelon. i never much enjoyed watermelon before as i see it as one of those foods that serves no nutritional value whatsoever - but it serves a HUGE purpose when you are prego ( and all the time really!). first - it is fiber. it helps with the motions downstairs. which, i gravely took advantage of before. second - it is a diuretic. perfect! you have never been capable of retaining so much water in your life than right now. third, it's sweetness touches the lips and can be savored for minutes on end. fourth - it's a fruit - there are no guilty calories. i can't believe i didn't like it before. don't EVEN think i will be moving on to corn from here...you are sorely mistaken.

So, last weekend I traveled to Denver to see my girlie girls and let me tell you - it was so refreshing to spend some girlie time....but, now don't take this the wrong way, but...i was even more refreshed to come home. Girl needs a little time with her friends, this is so true. but when girl finds guy and he turns out to be the love of your life...girl loves going home to guy.

I squeezed a lot of stuff into a weekend, i will report more on this later with photos! Thank you to Laura for toting my ass around, much appreciated. And thank you to everyone who made time to hang out with me. I AM SO GLAD I SAW YOU. i love you and cannot wait to see you again soon!!!

Happy parents-to-be!

Our Saturday afternoon self-portrait! This was just yesterday. It was a great day outside and we enjoyed by Ted taking a bike ride and Walden and I taking a walk. We were out for an hour and a half...i think we did 5 miles. My legs are sore today - but i have found that the more exercise i do, the better I feel. It makes the moods swings lessen and just makes me feel better all around! It was a gorgeous morning.

Last weekend Ted and I picked out our first little baby outfit at Babies R Us. That place can be a bit over whelming...so we opted for looking at clothes, buggies and furniture. There is so much to learn...sometimes i just don't even know where to start. i am reading a lot though. I went to the library yesterday and checked out a bunch of books on pregnancy. I must say, the one i am liking so far is Pregnancy for Dummies. It is straight and to the point and doesn't try to scare you half to death about labor and everything that happens afterwards. Lord know, i have enough to think about. So many of the books that are out try to scare the b-jesus out of you...yeah, like that's what a pregnant woman wants to know....eewwwww. stop it.

Here's a pic of the baby outfit.

The little sleeves fold over to mittens to protect his nails from scratching his face. it's a sleepbag so it's just one piece. It comes with a hat and little booties. it's going to be winter...either that little one isn't going out in the cold, or he will be bundled up beyond belief!! like a little eskimo!

It was a lot of fun to pick out an outfit. it's really hard to keep from buying more things. I can't wait to find out the sex...only three more months or so....i'm counting the days!!

With everything going on in our lives right now, it's so hard to stay focused at work! i just want to have fun! And in a month or so there will be so much to do at the new house....we'll have our hands busy from then...ON! house, baby....i just got here from Colorado! What an interesting time it's been !

Gotta love it!! I'm so happy - i've never been so happy in all my life!!!

I'm going to try to keep on top of these. there are times when i don't feel like much is going on with the baby, so i'm not sure how frequent these will be in the beginning...

Some of you know my belly...and in the center pic you can tell that it isn't as flat as it normally is. :-) i bought my first pair of gauchos yesterday because i am already growing out of most of my jeans. good times!! bring it on!

Since i have been so behind with posting, i thought i would try to catch you all up on things in one spurt! I actually have some time today....and i am feeling great!

Yes, I am feeling wonderful with being pregnant. i have food cravings and aversions...an occasional bout of heartburn...some gas....slight cramping...but all in all - i love the feeling and I hope i can keep feeling this wonderful so I can enjoy this pregnancy!

Last Sunday we went to Ted's brother's house to celebrate Easter with his family as well as celebrate his mom's birthday. I got to give Easter baskets to the girls, Paige and Annie, our nieces, which was one of the highlights of my day. They are so full of energy and so much fun to watch! I got them these bunny ears and they looked so adorable in them!!

It will be nice that our baby will be close in age to the girls! And who knows, maybe they will have more!

One baby that will be close in age is Lydia's baby, Kurt. Lydia is Ted's adopted sister. Lydia is 21, i think. She just had a baby in March. It was nice to hold a baby...to be around a little tiny one...even though when i saw him, I had no idea i was beginning to grow one inside of me!!

This picture makes him look big....well, not that big i guess, but he is a little munchkin. A very quiet baby. i sure hope we have a boy....i've just always wanted one and well, can't say that it would disappoint Ted at all.

Here's a picture of Jackie, Ted's mom. When we told her the good news we were in Lowe's pretending we were taking her to pick out mulch for her garden. She fell over onto the bags of much in excitement. Needless to say, she is SO THRILLED!!!!!

I think my Aunt Wendy wins the award for best reaction to the pregnancy news. She cried and cried....i had to tell her it's going to be great, don't cry! one of my reaction was not tearing up and whaling about it...I was shaking too much and in complete shock. You never know how you are going to respond until it happens to you.