BIG NEWS!

Well, this entry may come in pieces and/or just be really really long...It's a girl!!!!

Our baby girl Allison-Rae Noel Cavanaugh was born on Christmas Day! She was 7 pounds 5 ounces, 19.5" long and came into this world at 2:58pm. She is beautiful and great and, well there aren't really words for how hard we have fallen in love with her! So cliche that people always say how they never knew they could love something or someone so much, but I now understand. I thought I loved Jason that much...which I do, but this a completely different love and awe that I have never imagined or felt before.

So, last week I left off still working - very reluctantly - and sick with a sinus infection (which still lingers by the way). Thursday I felt so sick and exhausted, but made it out for burgers with friends that we haven't seen in so long. Friday I woke up feeling oddly energized and went on with my day full of laundry, cleaning, organizing, assembling, etc... That night we went to Christmas Eve dinner at Aunt Therese's house with the whole Cavanaugh clan. While driving down there, I felt some cramping in my lower belly, but didn't think anything of it since it was just a new pain - or so I thought. We made it through dinner and the cramps kept returning and at 8:30 when we were going to leave for 9pm church service I felt like we'd better head home as I was not up for going to church at that point. We got home, I googled (yes I googled) what contractions feel like and sure enough after timing the cramps I had been feeling, I figured out that I was in fact in labor. I called the hospital at 10:50pm asking how close the contractions needed to be to come in and the nurse said 5 minutes apart for 2 hours or until I couldn't talk or walk through them with close frequency. I was at about 5-7 min apart at that time, but not nearly severe enough to go in yet. Shortly after 1am I woke Jason up with 3 minutes between the worst gut twisting pains I've ever felt - they literally bent me over with pain.
When we got to the hospital I was 3cm and 3 min apart. Within an hour I was at 4 and they assured me that they were not sending me home - we were having a baby!
They got me in the delivery room and had me set up with an IV and antibiotics and fluids, then provided a bit of relief with a pain killer too. That made me super loopy, but did help take the edge off...for a little while. After all the pokes and fluids, they checked me again and I was at 5-6 so they wanted to get me going on my epidural. We were then at around 4am and I was able to finally rest - as was Jason after he went home to get (another) bag since I literally had no idea what I had packed in the one very bare bag that I threw together. The baby had clothes to wear home...but we didn't!
While getting to sleep we had the "enjoyment" of hearing a lady next door deliver, with what I can only guess was without any meds. Thank God I did have them because she would not have encouraged me to go on without them we'll just say that! So, we turned on the Yule Log and slept for 4-5 hours with Christmas carols playing. Around 11 the dr checked me and we were still at 5-6 so they broke my water. Shortly after that they started pitocin to help the contractions along. When I got to about 9-9.5cm our nurse, Julie, had me start pushing. I was doing really well and then started to feel pressure of the baby coming down. The epidural at this point, was helping I'm sure, but not the full numbing feeling that I thought. The Dr came in and could see the head coming down at about 2pm so she had me keep pushing. It wasn't long before the pushes were progressing a lot and I could feel the baby's head really bearing down. It felt better to just keep pushing rather than take a break in between. The contractions were 1-2 minutes apart so with each contraction, if I could find the energy, I pushed my 3 - 10second count pushes, and then some just to keep the baby from moving back up a bit after each push. Within the hour I was feeling a lot of pressure, Dr Ritter grabbed my hand and had me feel my baby's head crowning (mind you I'm pretty dilirious at this point). I just kept pushing as much as I could and at 2:58 the little baby came out and was up on my belly! The nurses originally told me that my birth plan noted that I wanted to keep the baby with me as much as possible at first, but that my not happen right away with the meconium in the amniotic fluid. Thankfully the baby cried right away so the Prenatal Nurse was out as quickly as she was in because they didn't need to drain the baby's lungs. As they lifted the baby up on my belly I asked Jason what it was, he was looking like he didn't know so I looked and thought for sure it was a boy...well, then we figured out that "it" was the umbilical cord and I heard Jason say "It's a girl!!!" - queue the water works and happiness and surprise! Jason did so extremely well too! He actually watched the baby come out...and the placenta (ew), and was right by my side the entire time.
A nurse came in letting me know that my sister was at the hospital - I was so out of it I told them to have her come in after I got stitched (yep, little tear but nothing too bad) and covered up. She came in - she didn't even know that we had the baby, she was just antsy sitting at home so decided to come! The Drs couldn't tell her any of my progress so she walked in the room to her brand new niece and little sister ready for her visit!
After a short while I was able to get out of bed (the epidural had started to wear off a while before that so I could actually walk and feel most of my body at this point). I went to the bathroom, took a short soak in the tub and we moved into our recovery room. We were very thankful to have Jen there to have extra hands and eyes as we made the move - after all we had another body to care for at that point! Oh, a few things from while we were still in our room -Jason's parents came to visit for a short bit, I ate - YES! - finally, I hadn't eaten since dinner the night before which wasn't a big meal either with my "cramping" I was feeling! We had watched Christmas movies all day during the labor and naps, but somehow ended up being on the cartoon network watching Tom and Jerry and Scooby Doo during the delivery - that we'll never forget!

To be continued...baby's waking up!

On the up...compared to the other day!

Well, after my venting session the other day I felt much better - thanks for letting me a griper! On Tuesday afternoon I went to my Dr's appointment and....we're at 1cm!! That literally means I could go at any moment...or in a few weeks. haha! It's progress though and as I write this 2 days later...I think we are progressing!

First things first I did want to get some pictures up, they aren't great, but at this point - it'll have to do!

39 weeks for both...two different angles of my hugeness!

As you can see, we've reached the picture! I have some older shots of me standing in this very spot using the picture as a way to measure the belly. I'm not sure if we'll have another one before this little (or maybe not so little) peanut comes out!

So, after my appointment I went to Target. I lasted all of about 10 minutes in the store before my innards felt as though they could just drop out at any second. That seems to be the trend right now. If I do feel like I have energy, it is short lived and I need to try and stay on top of the actual level of energy there is to be spent! I'm not sure that it helped that on Tuesday morning I woke up with swollen glands. Dr. Covert said to take some Tylenol and kids robitussin if necessary. I did take the tylenol, but not the robitussin...and now here I'm home from work with a horrible sinus infection, raw throat and nose...and no robitussin in sight! Poor Jason slept out on the couch two nights ago becuase of my snoring and dead-sleep. Last night he did sleep in the bed, but neither of us got much of any continuous sleep due to my nose draining, blowing, coughing, etc...all that glamorous stuff. If it isn't enough to have to push a watermelon out soon...a cold is exactly what I need right now!

A friend of mine told me that with all 3 of her kids, she got a cold shortly before going into labor. I don't mind the swollen glands and runny nose, but this yellow goo coming from my sinuses hopefully subsides by the time any nurse expects any true effort given from me!

Up to this point, I haven't noticed any contractions - at least not that I knew were contractions. Turns out I have progressively had some Braxton Hicks contractions here and there. Those are fairly painless and just tightening of my stomach. It gets super hard and the only comfort loss is dependent on how the baby is laying. If it doesn't like the squeeze and tries to move, tight quarters get event tighter! Last night I woke up and had to blow my nose. I was lying on my back and tried to sit up. I must have been having one of the BH contractions because my stomach was hard as a rock and when I sat up, the muscles in my back totally spasmed. I thought I was in labor - it brought tears to my eyes with how it jerked me out of sleep with such a shock, but I had Jason help me sit up and I walked around. After my back relaxed, no other issues came up. So...we still wait! We're still a week out so we have time yet...I'm just not sure how much time or patience my body will have.

All in all - we're on our way. I don't plan on going back to the office until after my leave. I do plan to work from home next week if there's no baby yet, but now that I'm home bound...I can rest and get better I hope!

Until next time...

So many worse things, but I can't see past....my crap!

Okay, so I have friends, great close friends that have serious things happening in their lives. Illnesses, true grievances, crises', etc... many other things that do not justify me complaining about anything in my life right now. I am well into the final days of bringing an amazing new life into this world and yet I am just down-right nasty today! Seriously feeling like I accidentally took a crabby pill this morning instead of my vitamins.
I woke up with very swollen glands in my throat and a headache, not really behind my eyes, but behind my nose - sinus issues days/weeks before going into labor? Not the best feeling right now. "that sick taste" lingers in my mouth and it worries me to think about the trials of labor...and then put a cold on top of that!
I am literally on the verge of tears at work. I just want to be done and pass on my projects, but rolling eyes on one side and me fearing that I'm dumping too much on the other side (literally speaking to my desk arrangement at work with the two people who will be covering my projects while I'm out) are not helping the situation either.
If anyone has been around my Father when he is ready to go - whether it be to the grocery store or driving to CO - you would know that he stomps his feet saying "lets go lets go lets go...!". I inherited that lovely impatience. I am patient for anything else as long as the days last, but if there is an end in sight, but it just keeps lingering somewhere out there - without a firm end, I just get so restless! It is aggrivating to me because it makes me cranky and the people around me suffer.
The baby is doing great, lots of movement and still head down - no major issues...at least not as of last Monday. I have an appointment this afternoon with the Dr so we'll be sure to post anything extreme or exciting if it comes up, but I'm not expecting anything too significant. I do, however still have 11 days until my due date is even here. One light that has been added to the end of the tunnel though is at my chiropractor last night. He had me schedule for Monday the 3rd and said "if you go into labor, don't show up, we'll know why. If you show up - we're gettin' that baby out!". Thank God for Dr D, who is very knowledgable (and has a wife that had 3 kids' labor induced through natural chiropractic reflexology)!
So - all in all, I am fine - still don't have decent pictures to post, I'll get some up soon I promise - wait till you see the "dropped" belly! I don't have any reason to be upset at life except that I was not put on this Earth by God to inspire others to procreate. The end result is great, but the journey there is not one that I will be writing inspirational books about!

Ohhh, more (and hopefully positive) news to follow after this afternoon!

Picture and news...

Not news about me and not very happy news at that unfortunately. We had a very good friend lose their baby this week and my heart, along with many others, is just broken for them. Our friends Niki and Christian got pregnant on their wedding night (10-8-10). It was meant to be, destiny and everything else that it should have been. They found out this week, after just having shared the great news with their family and friends around Thanksgiving, that the baby didn't make it. Here I sit, wanting to get this baby out so badly when all they wanted was to carry the baby. I feel selfish at times, but I do know that God truly works in mysterious ways - lots of the time he works in ways that seem so unfair and unforgiving, but nonetheless, Niki and Christian will try again and love the next baby with all the more might in their hearts. We have had other friends go through this very same tragedy, I'm fortunate to say that Jason and I have not. It seems to be that when this happens, it happens to strong people who come out even stronger in the end. I don't doubt that it takes a piece of their heart for the rest of their lives in the healing process.

I originally wanted to post this picture as a qwazi-belly-pic, but now I did for a more important reason. The night this was taken, Niki and Christian told many of their closest friends that they were expecting. It was a wonderful night and the joy shared that night should never be forgotten. There will come another day when we all get to celebrate again with them, their next feat in life - making and giving life! So, as bittersweet as this message is - and before I start up with the pregnancy crying that cannot be controlled - I send my love to both Mr. & Mrs. G and pray for their hearts to mend and for them to enjoy their days now as husband and wife - and soon enough, Mom and Dad to be.

Venting and an update...

This time I'm not venting about the baby!!!
Okay, why around this time of year to people overreact and freak out at EVERYTHING?!?!? Work has a huge project starting up and people have just started going nutso! I think in the middle of the summer we would be having a much different pace vs. now! It's cold, well, you live in MN, it's the holidays, well - deal with it - no one takes Christmas all that seriously anymore anyway so stop trying to make it an excuse to be all up on edge!!! Okay, maybe that's a little bit drastic, but for real, when did people take the holiday time and turn it from an opportunity to have a few days off into a chaotic stressful time that people just want to get over and done with?!?!

Now, with that said - I had my first weekly appt with Dr Covert this morning...nothing too exciting to report. She did say that my cervix is thinning though, no dialation yet, just thinning. I suppose that's better than nothing though!
The heartbeat is holding strong in the 140's and all of my other issues (swelling, snoring, acid reflux, etc...) are sounding normal so no need for additional testing.
I am up about 30lbs though - I know that is about average, but I wasn't exactly small to start with. She said that a lot in the past 2 weeks is probably from water - I'm up 4# just since my last appt.

I will work on getting a belly pic before the end of the week, it may be the last one before we get to see what's IN the belly! I can hope at least. There's no room left to fill so anything more will be uncomfortable stretching!

Dr tomorrow...

I cross my fingers, but try and remain level headed as I anxiously await my Dr's appt tomorrow. It is the first of my weekly check-ins as the due date approaches. Most likely, I'll have made no progress yet as it is till 3-4 weeks away, but in a perfect world...we'd be progressing! I do want this bun to stay in the oven as long as it needs for health reasons, but - well, who am I kidding? For health reasons only!!! I am so uncomfortable! I have never been so crampy, slow, achy, tight and full feeling all at the same time. In fact, I've never imagined feeling this way either. I try to keep positive and not be a negative-nelly type, but it is tough.
Cute lil baby that makes it all worth it - just so you know, any time you want to make your appearance...please feel free!

29 days!!!

Dear Baby,

You've got less than 4 weeks to get here so we can meet you!!! Well, I suppose technically you couls take longer, but I'd prefer if you didn't...just sayin!

I go to the Dr on Tuesday and I'm anxious to find out if we're making any progress. Things have started to feel a bit different - in and down there without trying to get too graphic!

I so badly want to know if you are a boy or a girl. Honestly we'll be so rediculously in love with you either way - just be healthy!!! Really the only wives tales that apply are that you should have lots of hair because of all the horrible heart burn you've been causing and you might be a girl because I got sick with you at the beginning. Now, as for how I'm carrying you and all that other funny stuff...I'm tall, you sit where you want, and when I'm standing, you carry in the front, but wait until I sit down, then you're all over the sides - boy or girl on that one! As for your action, you have hiccups all the time, you move when I eat - you move a lot! Especially with chocolate chips, you like those. Things you don't like (and I wouldn't either, but I can't really help it) - you don't like when I sit for along time, you push up diagonally under my ribs. If I'm not wearing sweats, you move your hands around and push your head up (down) into my bladder which doesn't only make me have to pee, but pinches it, ouch! You don't like when I sleep on my right side, you push with your feet and what feels like hands too just to let me know I'm rolling over too far. You really don't like when I eat too much food or drink too much liquid, you move around as my belly rumbles and sloshes - almost like it startles you - that part is kind of funny. Good news with that is you're most likely not deaf!

Regardless, you seem to be doing well - wanna come out soon?!?! I may sound like I'm rushing it, but really - we would love to have you as our little reminder of when "we" started. Your Dad and I started dating after a New Years party so it's only fitting to have you around that time. I have gone from excited to have you on 1/1/11 to just around that time if you haven't noticed:). Any time will do.

Love you Baby C.

Found this and thought it was cute:

Baby's Eviction Notice:

I am issuing a 30 day notice for EVICTION. Tenant will have 30 days in which he can either gather his belongings and promptly vacate the premises, or wait until the final day. After which, he will be physically removed from the property. He's being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back fo the house were also made! Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances. After 30 days from this day that he doesn't comply with the notice will result in immediate and forceful removal and my discretion.

Mama needs some gripe water

Things I know:
-This baby is a blessing
-This baby will come when ready
-This baby is easier to take care of on the inside than the outside

Other things I know:
-I am READY!

People say the first three among other things like "sleep while you can" or "enjoy your sanity"...blah blah blah - I'm willing to take the adventure of not knowing my sanity! I can't sleep, and when I do and I move, I either wake up to having to pee or serious ligament pain while trying to get from one side to the other. My legs and feet are so crampy and swollen - as are my hands and wrists...not to mention my swollen sinuses and my newfound chainsaw snoring that forced Jason out to the living room 2 nights this past weekend.

It will all be worth it, I know - and it's not easy for anyone. I will do this again in the future, which I'm not thrilled about, but maybe I'll be too exhausted and tired from already having 1 kid that time will fly by with #2!

Good thing for the Holidays though, at least they are a good distraction. Only thing that worries me is that there's a lot to do for the holidays and I'm already not feeling up to it!

Oh well, I'll do what I can and shrug and accept what I can't.

33 days!!!!!!

Under 5 weeks to go!

Well, nothing too exciting about baby except that within a month (give or take a week - hopefully take), it will be here! I had a check-in with the nurse today and the baby is still head down, as it has been the whole time! Hopefully it won't flip up where for others they usually have the baby flip down. Other than that - the heartbeat was above 15o so I either ate a sugary breakfast or it was in the middle of its morning calesthenics! Everything else seemed normal though. I go back in 2 weeks when my actual Dr comes back from her maternity leave and do some more, ahem, tests (not fun ones from what I've heard) and then we'll see if we're making any progress yet. I did ask about when they start looking at if I can/will go earlier than later...she said the 4th of January! That was NOT the answer I was looking for, but I guess things can change at any time. I'll remain hopeful.

This past weekend was so fun, Saturday Jason and I spent almost the entire day together which was nice. He came with me to do some early exchanges, returns, quick gift stuff and then we were able to hang at the house...minus my pumpkin pie incident and the 1-2 hour lull in our activities where he had to take apart the oven door to clean out pumpkin goo. Oh well, there was another one and we were able to salvage some of the pie - pumpkin pie is precious in our house, we do what we can to prevent any waste of it!
Saturday night we had our first Thanksgiving (of the week) over at my parents. Mandy and Jason came in town that evening as well as my Dad being in town over the weekend. Chris made delicious food and we ate, laughed...and I was able to hold back tears as my Dad gave me a letter making it very clear that "the kid" will ski - and he knows a really good instructor who can teach it! He also gave me two hand knit (by the lady that cuts his hair, not him) ski hats, one for a boy and one for a girl. Seriously, my Dad is tall and loud, but he's a total softy and one certain look from him and I'm mush. I also received a photo collage that my Mom had made of ski pictures from the past. So cute!!!
Sunday we woke to the metro area and then some, covered in ice so the day got a late start, but I was perfectly content in my jammy pants and cup of half-caf coffee! My sister Jen threw me my family baby shower which was so nice. She cooked all the food, an amazing carrot cake, had a sit down brunch/lunch and then we enjoyed some games and gift opening with Jason family, and my "family" - actual relatives aside from my sisters and Mom were not present, but my extended family (God-Mother & sister, close friends of my Mom) and then gifts sent from the blood relatives. A good time was had by all and Jason and I had so much fun going through the gifts that night. It is becoming more and more real that the room filling up with all that baby stuff will soon be occupied...by a baby!

39 more days according to my iPhone app...but who's counting?!?

Names AHHHH!

Okay, so most of my adult life I have been set on boy and girl names - Jason put the kabosh on a few, which I was fine with, but now I'm having second thoughts on my own! I know we'll just wait to meet the baby and then pick from there, but really what is a fitting name for me to call my child? A Jenny, Mandy and Kate perfectly fit my parents - they would have three girls named Jen, Mandy and Kate. What names fit me?!?!?
For a boy - Jensen - that probably won't change, not for the first one at least. Ode to my Dad for not having any boys to carry on the legacy.
For a girl, I am obsessed with Julia, I always have been. As a rendition of Allen (because we can't do Alyn like I wanted - my Dad and one of Jason's brothers share the same name and that would just create too much explaning time to clear that one of our children was not named after only one of Jason's siblings) we were thinking Allison. That is growing more and more on me, but then lately Anna keeps popping in and out of my likings - and now Taylor. Jason loves Taylor, but was thinking for a boy. I still love Hannah, but he thinks it is too close to the Hannah Montana craze - yeah, and Taylor doesn't have a connection with Swift or Lautner these days?!?!?
I feel like Allison is a stronger 1st child name than Julia, but then the baby may come out and have Taylor written all over it and take out both of the "planned" names! Then there is Barrett that waits quietly in the wings - virtually unspoken of to this point, but is my middle name and I was almost named this as well. Berit for a girl I would think.
So, instead of assuming that I'll have an Allison, Julia, Jensen, Hannah and Taylor - because that would be Jason's thought process (oh we'll just have more so we can use all the names we like!), I'll just sit on edge waiting to see what this baby is and what he/she looks like!!!

More pic updates...baby "news" to follow...

Alright - I'm almost caught up on the pics...just as I got more over the weekend! (forgive the formatting - blogger does not excell at their photo posting and layout abilities!)

Alright - is this Max or Bebo?!?! I didn't realize it when I took this picture of Max that he looked so much like his cousin Albert, but he sure does in this picture at least! Max is getting so big, he's pulling himself up on just about anything and I got a video from his Mama this weekend of him walking behind a cart! Not long before that little guy is all over the place!

I did get to see Emma and Max for a short while in CO - not long enough of course! We hung out at Mamie and Nick's for a little while and Max got to fall in love with Shelby (the Woods' puggle that loved to lick Max's ears clean!) and then we went to (wait for it....) eat! I did a lot of eating that weekend. It was all so yummy though.

Here we are at the restaurant where Max was so well behaved. He just ate his snacks and goo and enjoyed all the cool colors and decorations in the restaurant.

Alright now anyone with kids...or a dog...knows how restless they can get when the weather isn't ideal for playing outside. A week or so ago it was raining and blowing so we didn't want to have Massey out in the mud and rain - this is how badly she wanted to go out!

Now, you wouldn't believe, but that rain changed to 70's...and then days later this is what we woke up to find!!!

Massey LOVES the snow, although it did take her a few tries outside to remember what it was - and that it was fun to run through and stick her nose into and fling snow up in the air then chase after it.

And when boring (cold prego) Mama made her come inside, this is pretty much what she did the entire time!

Now on to updates on baby and the pregnancy. Let's start with my lovely feet! Remember about my new swelling issues? These are my feet AFTER the swelling goes down. Don't think they look bad? I have cute feet - for as cute as feet can get at least. I have nice small ankles (to offset what have become huge calves and thighs) that I have often appreciated all too little until experiencing cankles!!!! You can see here that the mush of swell in my right foot still hadn't gotten rid of the sock mark and although I see things much worse than anyone else, it looked like I sprained my left ankle, minus the bruising!

What happens when you put tight socks on feet that never had the swelling go down from the day before - then jam them into shoes only to sit under a desk pooling water retention all day???

Still not bruised, just the marks from what my largest pair of shoes does to me! You can see here that the swelling runs up my legs a bit here too. Ahhh the joys.

Baby is doing well - better than Mom at least! Lots of lots of movement. Less kicks and punches, now more large movement waving across the belly. We have the hiccups a lot - A LOT!

With all the miracle of life, creating life, blah blah blah - I will be ungrateful only for just a moment (knowing full well that once this baby is out, there will be times I'd pay to experience this again...) - I want my body back! Baby movements are cool at first, then the baby gets really big and sleeps quite often...but then it wakes up and moves and scrapes and kicks and rolls and hiccups, which all are not all that pleasant! Not to mention the horrible sweats I get when I have low blood sugar and need to eat. Literally had to change my shirt because I was dripping sweat from my forehead all the way down my back and stomach - sweat glands were in full force. But then once I ate just a little bit, all was fine.

Okay - I'll try and stop the complaining for now. I have less than 7 weeks left and am hoping baby doesn't take it's own sweet time coming out! I want a healthy baby, but I also want to be abe to walk normally vs. penguin style even just from the living room to the kitchen-all of 10 feet!

We are down to our official count-down after Thanksgiving which is next week already (?!?!?!?!).

The family shower is next Sunday, then we have Thanksgiving...and we're down to 5 weeks!!!! So excited - this past weekend, while snowed in for most of Saturday, I got a ton of baby stuff washed, hung, organized - gone through, etc.... I'm ready to add some pink or blue to the plethora of yellow, green and white!

Pictures from the weekend...

As you can see, these aren't all from this past weekend, but I haven't posted pictures from the actual camera in a while so...here's a few updates on the Cavanaugh household from Oct and Nov!

Our waaayyyy too spoiled of a dog makes her way into our bed all too often - all by herself usually. I get out of the shower in the morning and here she is (above) literally sleeping like a human on my pillow. For this time, she decided to push the blankets down and just lay on the pillow.

As you can see below, she opted for the warmer option of digging under the blankets and making her way on to my pillow again. Now, at night, she will lay on jason's pillow, but in the morning, she's all Mommy! (oh and the big lump in the middle of the bed is not her being a giant dog, it is my pillow I "snuggle" with at night in order to sleep on my side)

I state time and time again, naughty puppy = cutest puppy in the world!

Sorry for this being sideways, but I don't know how to edit these pictures once they're in the blog. Scott has always said, since the day Jason bought his house, that he wanted to help destroy the basement when it came time to do so - well, two weekends ago was the time! The moldy wall(s)...gone, everything is gone as a matter of fact, especially the wall between the bathroom and the bedroom (including the window out to the whole neighborhood). The toilet and sink are still in tact so you can imagine the view Jason has out during the day when he's using that bathroom...or better yet, the view the neighbors have in the morning when the light is on in the bathroom, but dark outside! None the less, the mess is at a minimum, but the destruction was good and dirty! Massey even supervised for a while. We now have to rebuild, but I guess we (what I am saying) HE is going to start in the other bedroom so that we have a place to put guests come next spring!

At the end of October, I had a wonderful baby shower with a few close girlfriends at my house. Christy flew into town and everything! Here I am with one of my wonderful gifts - a rocking horse! It neighs and gallops and the mouth moves! Jason played with it for a while and found that when you press on both ears, each provides you minute after minute of entertaining noises! I thought only one ear made noise!

Amanda made me this diaper cake all by herself! It is so cute I don't want to dismantle it!

Amanda & Nora, I hope you're reading this part - I left a very needed thank you out of your card that I sent out regarding this diaper cake. I love it and truly cannot wait for you to help me learn all about how to use the fun stuff in it!!! haha - that's what you get for being a friend with a kid already!

just kidding - sorta. Nora will be a huge help with Baby C too, she can teach "it" all about fun ways to sleep through the night, eat well and be a super cute baby!...right?

Alright, so here is a picture of me and the girls out to lunch (whoops, sorry, the girls and Jacob and Noah) while in CO. Was a lunch full of laughs and jokes - all too short though!

And Mr. Noah Nicholas - the newest cutest boy on Earth!!!

Noah had fun sitting on Baby C. He actually prior to this picture was laying over to my side with his hand draped over my tummy. Baby C totally high fived Noah!!! It was so funny. Mamie says that was Baby C making friends with HIS new buddy already...although she did slip once over the weekend and call Baby C her niece:).

Here we are having some tummy time...literally!
Noah got some neck workout as well as lower back with this challenge!

And of course the beautiful new Momma and her little Noah.

So much in so little time!

The past week has been a total whirlwind! I may have to do a few entries in case I forget anything.
I flew to CO to visit Mamie and Noah (and Daddy Nick too) on Friday and I was a little bit nervous about the flight for multiple reasons, but all went well.
To rewind a bit, I dropped Massey off at the Wildman's for her weekend slumber party with Blue. As I sat reclined on the couch with my feet up on the ottoman, my pants fell up my leg just enough to see my ankles...or where my ankles used to be! Why my ankles dissapeared the night before I had to get on a plane to higher elevation I don't know, but now I had even more reason to use those fancy compression socks I went to the "elder" store for!
So, I got on the plane in row 7 which I thought was pretty darn nice and got up to bulk head due to some nice older people getting bumped to first class! The flight was great, I got a little snooze in and Nick picked me up no problem.
Friday night we just visited and snuggled (me and Noah, not Mamie) and the same for Saturday morning. I had lunch with Mamie, Noah, Brooke, James, Christy, Angela and Jacob (Ang's nephew)! It was so great to catch up and get to laugh in person with some of the best people in my life, but honestly - it made me even more sad in hindsight - if only MN and CO were neighbors!
Mamie and I went to Castle Rock for an ambitious shopping trip only to get through a few baby clothese stores...and a not needed but very much enjoyed splurge at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory!!! We decided that the rest of the day would consist of taco pizza, TV and good company.
Sunday came all too quickly with a great breakfast out and then Emma and Max came to pick me up. We went and ate lunch (yes, a lot of eating this trip!) at Park Meadows and then had to get to the airport...where I didn't get my socks back on over my cankles, but did just fine all the same.
The flight home was fine, only in row 9 - home too late, but a well justified trip and time away.

To be continued with photos and more updates from the week....

On the road to becoming well informed...

Jason and I had our first baby class last night and I must say, I thought it would invoke extra anxiety, but it did just the opposite! Of course we were imagining an older lady trying to tell us that heavy breathing would alleviate some pain while showing videos from the 1970's with women not minding the graphic nature of where the camera is focusing! Not at all. The videos were very up to date, not overly graphic - and the animations were very very helpful actually! I never wondered about what a contraction was or what caused them and what they caused the baby to do, but I found out, and was thankful for that! Jason did just fine, there was a modest amount of blood and no needles shown so bonus for him in that aspect.
So, we did have a few giggle attacks, especially when we were supposed to be focusing on our breathing and holding our bellies (Dad's too) to feel where we were expanding and relaxing. I sat on my pillow and breathed in and out to the instructors' counts...and then I look back at jason who is sitting behind me to my left. He is leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest not quite understanding why we were doing what we were doing...or if he did his face was hilarious. I couldn't contain myself after that. I'd get the deep 4-count breath in, but the breath out was interrupted by trying not to laugh too loudly. The only other time was when we practiced using our husbands as support while standing as though we were going through a contraction with back pain. First he started laughing because my chin dug into his shoulder and it was just downhill from there...

Anyway, so we are excited to get through Thanksgiving because that is when we can officially start the count down!

Baby is big - I'm pretty sure that over the weekend we were growing because I literally had no energy - like, I sat down in the shoe section of Macy's just to rest after about 10 minutes of shopping. Of course that means the past few days have been anything but comfortable. Growth = needing more room and the round ligament pain I felt defintely was in line with that!

So, this weekend I'll be in CO visiting Noah. I'm sure I'll have plenty of fun stories about the flying adventures while 32 weeks pregnant as well as pictures of my new little friend!

It burns!!!

Holy cow! I have never had heartburn in my life that I can recall, but let me tell you - I don't think this is a case of simple heartburn. I'm pretty sure this is acid reflux to every extent. It feels as though burning molten lava is being spurted up into my throat all the way from my stomach. It also feels that this burning molten lava has to first get around a giant gumball stuck lower in my throat/chest and it then has to make its way back around it on the way down. Oh my gosh, for about 2-3 weeks I have had this burning in my throat that I thought was just a sore throat coming on. Then I got this cold and it made sense...then the burning kept up and it has only gotten worse. Now it wakes me up in the morning - at 4:30, accompanied by stretching hiccuping baby. Ah the joys. Every pregnant woman has their woes - even non-pregnant people deal with this sort of stuff (the acid reflux at night, not the baby hiccups) but I haven't ever...so right now I just need to vent! I will now revert back to the first trimester when I first found that there really is little to no glamour involved in being pregnant. To all of you pregos that loved it, thought it was magical and enjoyed every bit...your welcome for taking all of the bad stuff on on your behalf!

Now - with my complaining session over - I have to update on our hospital tour last night. I commented on facebook how we were going and to cross fingers that Jason (actually I referred to him as Cletis) made it through the tour okay and didn't pass out. Granted the sight of needles is what really gets him, if I could guarantee no needles on our upcoming real "visit" at the hospital, I'm positive he'd be just fine at this one! Maple Grove hospital is small and new, it has something like 80 rooms....total to the entire hospital. You walk in to a lobby filled with plush couches, a piano and stone walls accented with leather wall tiles. It is so nice! We went up to the family birth center and the hallways are carpeted, dimly lit (in a relaxing, not cheap manner), and the room doors are thick and wide. The delivery rooms have canned lighting all with dimmers, laminate dark wood floors, a full bathroom with jacuzzi tub, full bed that pulls out for the hubby, and enough room to potentially fit about 30 people...not exaggerating. The recovery rooms, or "getting to know you rooms" as they call it, are smaller, but still very nice. Huge flat screen TV, laminate wood floors, a walk in shower with rain shower-head, the full size bed, a refrigerator - the works. The only thing I didn't like about those rooms is that they are small and the beds seemed very narrow, but there was also about 15 people on the tour also squished into the same room. There is even a Mommy refrigerator that is fully stocked with juice, fruit, food and soda out in the main area where if the cafeteria (which is basically all you can order and eat and we were told we could potentially order "too much to eat" and the hubbys could eat our extras...for free too) is closed, you can just help yourselves! Now, Methodist - our original hospital - is nice, but it is huge, sterile tile floors with lots of noise and action all the time. This was as quiet as could be. At first I thought maybe they were just slow, but all the rooms, except the two we toured in, were full and being used! We were rushed through the rooms in fact to accomodate new moms-to-be getting ready to deliver.
After the tour I facebooked again that it was like a spa - or as spa like as a hospital can get. I still wasn't exaggerating! It really is nice! Jason did just fine with the tour and I think he was a little bit relieved to know that we will be in such a comfortable place vs the nurse ratchet (sp?) type needle poking I-V carting typical setting.

Now...if I can get this fiery volcano out of my upper chest, that would be ideal!

30 1/2 week photos

Okay, I know these aren't great, but this is what I get when I insist on getting photos the minute I think of it...and Jason is busy doing something else. I'll get better ones soon, but here we are for now. As of today (Thursday, October 28th) I am 30 weeks, 6 days...and have 65 more days!

Second entry for the day

Okay, so here is my first Dear Baby:

Dear Baby,

Please know ahead of time that when I freak out, please follow in your father's footsteps. He is the one to take after with your temperment and measure of "moodiness". Perfect example...and though I can blame a good part of this on hormones, it happened before you came along and I am fairly confident it will continue after, would be yesterday. Actually, let's rewind to last week and you can read the entry from last week for proof.
Sunday-Wed early in the day were great. My mood level and engery level were pretty darn good and I felt great. At the drop of a hat, sometime during the day on Wed, things starting heading downhill. By the end of the week, my energy level had taken a deep dark plunge and this cold set in. Now, yesterday was an exhausting day having been out of work sick, but even so, there's little excuse for how I was acting. I was hungry, but with this cold couldn't think of anything appetizing. I wanted to eat, but didn't want to make anything. Then the power went out at the house due to a fairly severe wind storm so making anything was out of the question. Your Dad offered to go somewhere, but kept following up his offers with something like "...but I'd really rather not go outside in this weather..." - yea, like I'm going to make him do that when he puts it that way! So, I was crabby from the get-go, then there was nothing your Dad could say to make me feel any better. With that said, he probably would have been better off just leaving me alone so I could be at one with my annoying frustration and anger issues. For some reason, when the power came on and he agreed to make me a pizza (yes, nutritious I know)...and I proceeded to eat the entire thing, I had an upswing in my mood. Not a lot, but enough to take the edge off of my scowl that had ridden my face all afternoon and evening. Nonetheless, your Father kissed me goodnight still the same as any night and we woke up...all was well, the Earth kept turning. I felt guilty for acting so childish and rude the night before because this isn't the first time my mood had gotten the better of me. I had to call him anyway to tell him that the other half of the willow tree out front had toppled over in the wind so I was glad I had the opportunity to apologize. Of course he did notice my mood the night before because I deliberately announced as I got home from work that evening that I was in a sour mood and sorry, but there was nothing he or I could do about it. What he said though was, in a nut-shell, "water off a duck's back honey, you can't help that you are sick and uncomfortable..." and on to accepting my apology all while insisting that one wasn't needed.
That is why you should take after your Father in that respect. He is a wonderful man and I love him very much. I know he loves me too and he already is so in love with you no matter what your temperment. Just always do like you Mother and apologize when you know you've done wrong. A combination of the two will make for a great mix...and you and I may butt-heads less and less.
Love you,
your crabby but "give me a few and I'll come around" Mama

One of two for the day...

Well, I am recovering, slowly but surely, from my first pregnancy cold. I have managed to get through my pregnancy to week 30 1/2 without an illness (not counting the morning sickness of course) so I guess cold and flu season is only fitting to be the time when I experience my first bout with not being able to take any meds at all! I stayed home from work on Monday which was well needed. I used to take sick days all too often when they didn't involve being sick at all. Then I got pregnant - where being sick didn't involve a case of "just don't want to go today" or "ahem ahem, I think I have a cough...coincidentally it is 80 and sunny"... enough about that though - a cold is a cold no matter what meds you can or can't take. Sleep is still the best medicine and that is not something I come short of these days. I do sleep a lot, just in shorter stints vs a full nights' sleep!
So, Friday night we had a wonderful night out with two wonderful friends celebrating their first two weeks of marriage - and another amazing happening in life which I can't get in to at this point... all in all it was a GREAT night and we are very lucky to have so many wonderful people in our lives, these two are no less than a blessing.
Late that night however, my throat started to swell a bit. I thought it was exhaustion setting in as I rarely stay up past 9, much less 11. Saturday morning confirmed (say about 3am, 4am and 6am...) that I indeed had something coming on. All day I was moving at turtle speed trying to get the house cleaned for Sunday festivities. It was all I had just to get out of the house in my sweats to Lowes - because that is one of my favorite places to go with my husband.
Saturday night brought an early bed time all by myself because Jason was at Chad and Leslie's pretending (and soon after regretting) that he still likes to pretend he's in his early 20's. It was a lovely night of Unisom and Massey snuggles. Christy was in town for the weekend so she came over for some home made chili and great conversation. Just can't get enough of that girl - wish she were here more...or all that time!
Sunday morning = bring on the kleenex! Throat issues were the least of my worries! I had full sinuses and although my energy level seemed fairly high, I still had to pace myself while getting dressed even. Christy came over and I managed to create my second home made apple pie of the week (what?!?! I know, crazy). And soon enough the living room was full of 6 wonderful ladies all celebrating Baby C with me! We talked, laughed - a lot - and ate - a lot - and I received some amazing gifts! Another wonderful shower for me to laugh at my earlier posts where I had anxiety if anything was going to turn out the way I wanted as far as showers went.
That evening Jason and I both napped (for different reasons yet both very necessary) and then had an easy dinner and early bedtime. Monday, like I mentioned, was a day spent in bed and on the couch, but was well justified.

Keeping up with keeping on...

Well, it has been quite the week! Sunday, Monday and Tuesday came and went with so much energy, I cooked dinner and baked almost all three days/nights! I slept well, cleaned and did all of my wife-ly duties to keep my hard working husband happy...and then Wednesday came. All went well, except all day at work I kept thinking how ridiculous it was that it wasn't Thursday already and that the week was starting to drag on. I got home, decided that the fresh acorn squash from the local farmers market needed to be cooked. So I did cook it, and then I cooked some chicken - some very thick chicken breasts that didn't hold the marinade and took WAY too long to cook in the oven! I ended up cutting them in half (my mere attempt at butterflying something where it inevitably ends up in two pieces) and returning them to the oven after the said 30 minutes...for another 30 minutes. At that point, I just got frustrated and everything went from an energy and motivation level of 10 to about a 2. The chicken no longer looked or smelled any bit appetizing, actually watching Jason eat it brought back my dreaded early-pregnancy memories (both memory and the taste in my mouth) of chicken not sitting well ... and making an encore appearance. So, I ate about 3/4 of the squash and a PB & Honey sandwich for dinner. All the while, all Jason could do was try and keep his mouth shut, he didn't know what to say rather than saying the wrong thing (everything was the wrong thing to me at that point). So, I wanted to get to bed early so I did, and fell asleep. Then I woke up when Jason came in. This wouldn't normally be a problem, but with him in the bed I can't sprawl to my body's new needed awkward positions. While on my left side (the side I'm "supposed to" lay on), my "prenatal onset restless leg syndrome" (Dr confirmed issue) was in full force for my right leg and I just wanted to either tense it up or shake it or kick it or something. So, I turned on to my right side. Not that I am not supposed to lay on my right side, but it isn't the better side to lay on - except for my baby is laying on the right half of me so it would kick and squirm (as though I was squishing it although I knew that I wasn't) pushing everything up into the left side of my ribcage - queue cramping. So then I would lay on my back, which at this point is uncomfortable for many pregnant people because of the weight on your uterus and a major artery. It wasn't uncomfortable for me, but the baby would slump down to the right side and start wiggling around - so I'd roll on to my left side again...see the pattern? After about 45 minutes of this, I, frustrated as all hell at this point, got up and went in to the bathroom and quietly sobbed. I cried uncontrollably because all I wanted to do was fall asleep or at least be comfortable while trying to do so. This not being my first emotional episode (as you have all read before), I knew that my only way to get this sob-fest to stop was to distract myself. So I cleaned the toilet and the bathtub. This did help to a certain extent and now that I'm writing this, maybe it was good because it got my circulation going through my leg to help stop the tingling...long enough for when I went to lay back down, clogged nose and red blotchy eyes (good thing it was dark in the room!) - I did eventually fall asleep. It was not a good night of sleep, but it did include some sleep.
That, on top of driving into work being brought to tears by some jerk lady in an oversize SUV honking at me as I tried to merge with some other dip-shit typical woman driver to get on the highway (the whole annoying subconscious speed up slow down without realizing it only because the car next to you - me - was doing it...). I cried, but quickly found a radio station that had a morning show that distracted me. Then I got to work and had to go to a meeting with a very annoying co-worker that wasn't necessarily going to bring me to tears, but had the potential to make me blow up in a manner that would probably bring her or others to tears with how annoyed I was. I minded my business and called it a short day to get home in time to meet the carpet cleaners. Them being there was a blessing in disguise I think because Massey, Jason and I hung out in yard for over an hour. Just talking and me coming to terms with the humility of how my last 24 hours had gone.
Moral of the story time: It's a very good thing to be able to laugh at yourself...as long as you can eventually bring yourself to do so.
Now, last night after the carpet cleaner guy (zero rez - I highly recommend them!) left, I went over to JZ's house for a girls get together. They carved pumpkins, we drank apple cider, had some pregnancy updates and news...can't spill the beans yet (it's absolutely killing me), ate lots of junk food - and just had a wonderful time with some wonderful friends...and you'll be happy to know that last night's sleep was AMAZING.


Oh - and baby is just fine. Getting huge and no more little pokes and jabs, more like swells of body movements across my entire mid-section. I know I have 9 weeks left, but I'm ready...and truly fearful for how ginormous this child could potentiall get before making its debut.

Misc Updates...

Well, here we are at 28 1/2 weeks, 5 days into trimester 3 (officially)!

At the Dr's appointment yesterday, the heartbeat was in the 140's and very strong. Tons of movement which is good and the head seemed to be "down"...for that moment at least. I was cleared for flying to go visit the Wood's the first weekend in November - and given a prescription for compression socks for the flights!

I have to rewind in time a bit here because I've been sort of bad at bringing in the memory card for the actual camera - having now been spoiled by the iPhone for 3 weeks!

Here are some pictures of proud Dad putting together the crib, I did help - as did Massey as you can see by the photos, but clearly the last photo shows just how proud he is that he put this together!

And then some other fun pics - fall leaves...and then the spoiled pup...not for long!

Growing every second!

What a weekend! We had Niki and Christian's beautiful wedding celebration on thursday night and friday day...and saturday night for that matter! Baby did well, but man did I pay for it on Sunday! The delay in soreness and being so tired - who knew that standing for most the day could make my quads hurt?!?!? Just standing mind you, not running or squatting....

Anyway - we have this picture which I love - don't mind the "fog" there was a smoke machine on the dance floor.

Such a beautiful day and night to match the beautiful bride and groom!!!

So - Saturday, baby was fine and moved as usual. I slept exceptionally well and I even slept just past 9am - that's good for me these days!

Sunday was an added bonus of sorts because it felt as though Saturday was Sunday due to the Friday festivities. I did get a few errands in and was home by 1pm or so to relax, plant some mum's and have some true quality couch time! Most of the day I just felt so full, it is hard to imagine feeling full, but hungry all at the same time. There just isn't much room for the ole' stomach these days. The baby was moving a ton, still some jabs here and there, but mostly waves of body moving from one side to the other. Massey wanted to be scratched so she did her usual plop of her head where your hands are (on my stomach at that particular moment) and got kicked in the face! It was pretty funny, although she didn't mind as long as it was followed by me scratching behind her ears.

Now, last night - hiccups maybe for the first time...at 3am and 4am and then the Samba followed by the norwegian chicken dance at 5am - and so it goes. Now as I sit at my desk, the baby still insists on sitting/laying low and moving around as thought to suggest that I need to lay back so it has more room to do laps!

We are down to about 11-12 weeks!!!!!!

What you get...

Well, I was thinking the other week about certain "things" that pregnant people (supposedly) often get while with child - like perfect hair, nails, maybe bad skin, etc...
So far I have been lucky that my skin hasn't changed, my scalp has actually dried out a bit which was needed. My hair on the other hand, did not and has not gotten all thick an luxurious though. At first I had handfulls falling out, that has since slowed down, but I am still losing hair. The only extra hair I can tell that I've gottin is on the left upper corner of my forehead. A large sprout of baby hairs that cannot be tamed. No matter how flat I can get them to lay in the morning, within an hour or two, they are standing straight out to the side - like I styled them that way or something. My finger nails grow quickly, but in spurts. I don't think they're any stronger though.
I haven't gotten the Linea Nigra (dark line that goes from your belly button down) - not yet at least, but my stomach is just now being stretched taught. It had quite a bit of room to spare:).
Other than that - I can't think of any other huge trends, per say, that women typically get.
Now watch, tomorrow I'm going to have the evils of all that I've seemed to avoid this far - go figure!

A true effort

Well, most of my life I would consider the following to require a true effort - like holding your breath because you're concentrating so hard effort: opening a jar of pickles or pasta sauce, lifting something really heavy across the room or on to a table, moving a piece of furniture. This morning, I realized I now have taken a different view on things that require a true effort: putting on and tying my tennis shoes. yes, it's my fault that I haven't been stretching how I probably should to remain limber and loose for delivery, however, the fact that I had to take a breathe-break between feet, that's not my fault. That's lovely pregnancy showing it's true colors.
Note to self/Moral of the story: Go shoe shopping this weekend for slip on shoes!!

So Exciting!!!!

Well, I'm sure you've heard/read me mentioning how my best friend from grade school and I are embarking on this pregnancy adventure together. She is almost exactly 3 months ahead of me (due this Friday, Oct 1st). Well - now she is in labor, as we speak (and speaks very highly of some very awesome drugs too by the way - I think I'll give them a go when it is my turn). Mamie went into labor at 9:30 last night, got her drugs at about 8am today and I just received an update that she will probably start pushing around 2. Of course I cannot wait and the anticipation is just making the minutes slug along, but it will all happen soon enough.
I just can't believe that the two of us are going through yet another one of life's crazy adventures together (and yes, I plan to post an embarassing "before" photos if I can find them mwoahahaha)! Yay Mommy Mamie (and Dad Nick and sister Shelby)...we're rooting for you!!!

Me and Mamie at my wedding March of 2009

Unfortunately I don't have a picture of me with Mamie from her actual wedding day, but here we are two nights before out celebrating!

Then you fast forward about a year and 2 months...and you get the two of us 4 and 7 months along!!! (July of 2010)

Week 27

It is not easy to do these photos - they are never ever ever flattering, especially when you have a husband that for some reason has a knack for getting you from the WORST angle possible... either way - here is the best of the few that were taken, we are at 27 weeks! 2 days in to 3rd trimester:

How is it possible to leave in the morning when the cutest dog ever is doing this? I think this was her way of saying "don't worry Mom, I'll keep your spot warm for you while you're gone...unless you want to just come snuggle up with me!" - naughty puppy's not supposed to be in the bed, but seriously, do dogs get cuter than burying their face in your bed?

Lucky you!

You get two posts in one day!
So, I hit 7 months yesterday (Sunday) - and with that came the first of what I'm sure will be plenty of the 3rd trimester lovelies. Swelling!
My hands have been swollen, not bad, and I don't take off my wedding ring ever...well, now I don't know that it would come off even if I wanted it to! It doesn't seem to be cutting off circulation yet so I'm not going to worry about it, but it keeps getting buried further and further into the finger swell lumpy finger syndrome I seem to be acquiring.
My shoes felt a little bit tight this morning, oh well I thought, I sit all day anyway. Oh well was wrong - oh no is more like it! I sit all day, that means all the blood rushes to my feet and sits there. My feet hurt after lunch so I took my shoes off. Bad idea! I can't get them back on - well, I could, but I didn't want to make them hurt even more. Luckily I have a "spare" set of flip flops at my desk so now I am doning the latest HR no-no fashion trend - beach sandals at work! In passing, my boss (who has an excellent sense of humor forutunately) passed by and cared not to object when I said "ya know, I can't wear flip flops in the winter time - I'm just going to wear my tennis shoes if I have to..." half way joking. I may move myself to a meeting room or vacant office cube where I can put my feet up. If I had 2 foot long legs, I could do that here, but even sitting normally, my feet touch the adjoining wall to the next workstation!
So - on to shopping for a new pair or two of shoes, but I'll be damned if I have to buy all new ugly clothes AND shoes!
Moral for the afternoon: they don't make cute work shoes in "practical".

As the world turns

I use this title because I feel as though I am living/creating a real life soap-opera for myself and those around me -namely Jason and Massey (yes, the dog has sadly been the witness to most of my...ahem...episodes).

I was able to look past the fact that the baby's room wasn't going to be ready any time soon. Okay, maybe not look past, but I was at terms with it....or so I thought. I am not sure what set me off on Friday while it was just me and the dog sitting watching TV, when Jason called, still on the road, we chatted about the plans for the weekend. There was a one-day sale at USA Baby outlet, including a major discount on the upholstered glider that I want. My Mom wanted to take me to look at the chairs and she is/was out of town for the weekend. I was going to go just to make sure if there was a "have to have it" deal, that I wouldn't miss it. I think that is what led me to the part of our conversation where I felt as though I needed to justify the trip to Richfield... and then the episode began. Progressively the conversation led to me expressing how I just had to go look at the chairs because if I missed out on a really good deal, I would be upset because it would be one more thing I would have to wait on. ...The feeling of the baby's room not being ready until December was becoming more and more unsettling (queue where it is getting really hard to disguise that tears are welling up and my voice is getting shaky)... It was all I had just to keep from bursting into a breakdown on the phone - and all Jason wanted to know was what I had planned for the weekend. He of course remained perfectly calm which left me wondering, did he have just enough beers with Mike where he is that tuned and can tell that I'm upset, but didn't want to put salt in the wound so he just stayed calm for my sake, or did he have just enough beers with Mike that he isn't picking up on my anxiety???

I have no idea, but low-and-behold, guess whose idea it was to move the baby stuff we have already up to the dining room only to make room for the guest room furniture to be moved to his "man" area downstairs - and then to move the baby stuff into the room on Saturday??? We got everything shifted around the house AND we assembled the crib, together which pictures will have to follow. To put icing on top of that - he tore and cleared out (yes, as in - it's at least in the garage instead of the basement now) the remains of the one bedroom downstairs. Granted, he discovered more water damage in the process, but it was above and beyond what I had expected for the day. I have to choose my battles and being upset about more water damage (through to the outside stucco) in this stupid house is not one of them. It was no shocker to me as I'm sure it won't be the last issue we find.

Moral of the story (this is now a trend rather than an added bit to the blog): Either my freak-outs are not going un-noticed OR my husband has impeccable intuition and timing:). I love him to pieces for so many reasons, one which notably is his patience and tolerance. I shouldn't feel bad, any pregnant wife would put him through some sort of rigmarole...right?!?! Humor me - Yes.

Oh, so we have the beginnings of a baby room. Most things we have for baby (aside from the growing stash of diapers and wipes) are in the room, it's just a matter of getting the other junk (books, frames and other stuff on the various junk collecting surfaces which were well used) out of there!

So - Baby news. Baby's getting big!! I am pretty sure we had a growth spurt last weekend and the past week was a bit uncomfortable with the stretching of my innards accompanied by being tap danced and kick-boxed by the wonderful creature growing inside me. According to our books, we have (at minimum) an egg-plant sized baby whose lungs are prepared for being outside the womb...and it's hearing is getting better daily. Up to this point I thought I was just adjusting to being overweight and pregnant, but now I realize that at I have now reached adjusting to being pregnant - and 7 months at that!!! Can you believe it?!?! I promise we'll do belly shots this week. HA! At one point in my life, that would have been something people do during a crazy night out at the bars - not anymore, now it involves a camera and the distance left between me and the wall hanging we're using to meausre my growing buddha.

My first baby shower

Well, baby showers are definitely easier than bridal showers! At least for me this first one was. You have no choice as to what you end up with when having a baby - you get a baby. The Bridal Showers seemed to be a little bit more tense as I had to worry about the upcoming event and the result of what people saw, experienced, etc...
So, Julie and Steph planned the shower and Niki helped a lot too (can you say brownie+cookie=brookies...yum!). It was a relaxed time to eat, catch up and joke about weird things happening with my body. For the most part, a lot of the guests have had their own kids which is really fun because we all get to share in the new parenting experience together. The few that haven't had kids yet were equally as great to have there because, like me, they have yet to experience the new baby adventure. All in all though, it is so great to have friends who are so willing to lend advice on toys, blankets, materials, books, vitamins, diapers, etc... I don't know how the first few girls in our group did it without all the help I've been getting!!!
We got our car seat which is a huge deal - can't bring that baby home in my arms! We also got very cute blankets, outfits, books, toys, pacifiers, and many more essentials! We even got a surprise present from Baby C's Auntie Angela - who was Jason's favorite pick for presents (aside from the ball popper toy from the Hartingers, but that is in a different category) with her camo-boots for Baby C. I joked lightly that we didn't have to worry about deciding what the baby would wear home from the hospital!
So - next shower is at the end of October which just a few great girlfriends that I get to see all too sparingly....especially Baby C's Auntie Desh!!!

Big weekend ahead!

Well, I have my first official baby shower this Sunday. I must admit I think I truly am lucking out for the timing of my awesome upcoming showers. One a month for 4 months all with smaller groups of friends and family. Ahhh - the thought of not being bombarded with 40 people to talk to at once, that is a great feeling and much less anxiety provoking! Maybe it's just easier this time around after the bridal shower experience turned out to be fun - as opposed to stressful:).
Tonight we are going to the Twins game with the Zwebels, tomorrow is possibly some morning wedding planning fun with Niki, then D's 1st Birthday party (which I would express how excited I am but I will refrain because it makes me cry knowing that they are leaving for ND on Monday). Sunday is the baby shower and then I get to bring all of the reality home to share with Jason! Fhew!
So, I told Jason, here I go being bossy again, last night that he HAD to reserve the weekend of October 15-17 for me and him. No work, no hunting, no nothing. He didn't seem to thrilled becauase I know October is busy for him as far as side work. Scarily enough, I literally went through every weekend up to the second weekend of December and all have something going on. The thought of having 1 possible free weekend left to spend with my husband before it is baby crunch time is very - um, sad (?). I am not sure if sad is the right word, but it really is sad. One weekend. That's it before I could potentially have a baby. He had "that look" when I proposed the idea, but really - he can't get mad at me. I did say later on that if he had to do side work to make some money, I would understand and he replied with "no, I'll keep it open for you". I don't want it open for me, I want it open for us! So...my master plan (mwoahahah) is to plan something out of town. Even just up north an hour or two - so that we are away from the housework, laundry, lawn, errands, etc... and have no other option but to spend time together.
I'll update with how awesome my weekend and shower was on Monday!