The Christmas holiday was very busy and all and all, very good.
Last Wednesday evening, we drove to Billings and caught up with David's sister Becky -- who lives in Michigan so we don't get to see her very often and it was very fun. She and David wrestled a little while which, I have to admit, was hilarious to watch. Somehow it's so much more fun to see someone ELSE being tickled into submission than when it happens to me. On Thursday, Jen, Michael and the kids came to Billings so we got to see everyone from David's family before we flew, early in the evening to Minnesota.
We met Mom and Kara at the airport and then went to a part for a family friend of ours who was married this summer. Her pictures were beautiful and it was great to see everyone there. We caught up on all the Rochester gossip which is always exciting.
On Christmas Eve, Mom, Kara and I got pampered with manicures and pedicures -- I am not such a good pedicure client as my feet are so darn ticklish! It was really relaxing though and fun to spend some time with just Mom and Kara. We then went to the mall to exchange some clothes I had been given at the maternity store -- I got some really cool stuff including a coat that I will be able to wear all through winter -- thank goodness because it was COLD! Granted, I can still wear my regular coat now, but my belly isn't going to fit into it for real long. Anyhow, the rest of Christmas Eve was pretty tame. We had dinner as a family and then went to 11 o'clock church. (Dave's first "midnight" mass.)
Christmas was great. Everyone seemed happy with the presents we gave and we received some great things. Santa gave us a digital camcorder so that we can make videos of the little one to share online and a Snoogle -- it is a c-shaped body pillow. Seriously, it is WONDERFUL. Baby got quite a few gifts and I got some maternity clothes and a pedicure/massage gift certificate. David and I also got a new chair and couch to furnish our new living room -- it should arrive in February I think.
That evening, we had some family friends over for dinner and Mom cooked a very gourmet meal. We got to meet and play with Maureen's new baby Ellie Reece/Reese (not sure how to spell it) -- who was very cute smacking her lips and wearing ruffle-rumped tights :)
On Sunday, Mom and I went through a bunch of old stuff from when Kara and I were kids. I brought back a little gown that Mom had smocked as well as a teddy bear and some children's books. Our suitcases were jam-packed on the way home with all of our new toys!
Monday started off a little scary because while we were getting things ready to go, I feel down the stairs. Socks on carpetted stairs are a dangerous combination. So we were all a little nervous that everything was ok. We were worried about it, but David and I went to the doctor on Tuesday (more about that later) and everything was a-ok. The only lasting trauma from the incident is a colorful bruise on my butt :)
After recovering from the fall, David and I and my parents headed up to Minneapolis to look at some baby stores. Holy cow, there is SO much stuff. We walked into Babies'r'us and was totally speechless -- it's like an entire warehouse of STUFF for babies. I can't possibly need all that! We got some ideas though about what we need, what we want and what we need to research a bit (like carseats) before we buy them. We also have to figure out the whole crib/bassenette (sp?) thing, but we should have plenty of time for that.
We went to Outback for dinner and had great steaks then headed to the airport. Our flight was about an hour delayed but we got upgraded to first clas!!! -- a first experience for both David and I. It was nice... albeit a little weird to have so much service -- I had 3 mini-bags of pretzles :)
Becky, Peter and Kay greeted us when we got to Billings and we spent the night there. We met David's good friend Neil and his significant other Tara for a quick breakfast before driving to Bozeman. They were both well and it was good to see them.
Caesar was happy to greet us on Tuesday morning when we got home. We both went to work for a little while then went to a doctor's appointment early in the afternoon. I'm almost up to my pre-preggo weight and the baby's hearbeat was strong and healthy (heartrate of about 162 beats per minute). Baby really doesn't seem to like the heartrate thing because he/she is always swimming away from it -- also a good sign though that the fall didn't hurt her/him. I definately have a baby belly now, and the doctor showed us how to feel where my uterus is so we can tell how big it is. It is about at my belly button now and it you can feel where it is because it is much harder than the rest of my belly.
The last couple of days have been filled mostly with unpacking and catching up on work. Luckily, neither Dave nor I were too far behind. We put all of Baby's gifts in the nursery-to-be and it's starting to get exciting seeing things start to fall into place.
I'll try to update with some pictures soon!! Have a great New Year everyone!!
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Compare12-16
I'll try to put a comprehensive update soon for all the holiday news, but I thought I'd upload this 16 week picture. (I'll be 18 weeks tomorrow!)
Monday, December 20, 2004
So much to do!
Well, I have my Christmas shopping under control — mostly because we just opted not to do very much — but I feel like I have SO much to do in the next two days before we leave for the holidays!! I'm sure that whatever will get done will get done and it will be fine, but I'm totally feeling stressed about it right now. Cleaning, packing, finishing up projects... I'm really excited about seeing my friends and family though -- I think the anticipation is part of it. I get to see Aspen (and her new engagement decoration) tomorrow!! Hooray!! Wednesday, we will head to Billings to see David's family for a little bit before we leave for Minn. on Thursday.
This weekend was very busy. We went to two Christmas parties on Saturday -- the first was my office bowling party. Many of you know how much I like bowling (not at all) but my feelings may be turning around -- I won a trophy! Ok, I know, it's a bowling trophy, but I've never won a trophy before so it's exciting. I'm sure you're wondering why I won (since I can count the times I've bowled as an adult on one hand). Well, we had to guess our score before the game and I was within 2 points. I guessed 88 and got a 90. David was upset because I could have been right on but I managed to hit two pins on my last throw (he told me to get a gutter on purpse). It was actually pretty fun -- although, my left butt is sore? Alison, my co-worker, also has a sore left butt so I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the bowling.
After the bowling party, we went to David's grandpa's annual Christmas dinner. It was a very nice dinner -- steak! (That's twice I've been treated this holiday season to good meat by David's family thanks to the fabulous ILX Christmas party for which I was Jennifer's date.) It was fun to see everyone and I'm getting much better at remembering everyone's names and how they are related. I did notice a lot of not-so-discrete staring at Bridget's belly, but I suppose that was to be expected and I was wearing maternity clothes.
David and I have decided that I look pregnant without clothes and a little fat with clothes -- unless they are maternity clothes in which case, I think even David would probably look pregnant too. I took pictures, but I'm going to wait until after the holiday to post them. I debated whether or not I should stuff my maternity pants to surprise my sister and mom when they pick us up at the airport, but I they might get back at me for doing that, so I've decided against it. On a side note, I have now embraced the wonderful reality that pregnancy means I get a whole new wardrobe! Granted, it's a little strange to buy new clothes that I won't be able to wear for a really long time, but still, it's fun to get new stuff.
I felt the litte bugger move again yesterday. I haven't been able to feel it regularly, but I'm hoping that will come soon. As I'm very ticklish, I'm anxious for the kicks to be just a little more substantial because right now it tickles. I'm really excited for David to feel it but that might be a while yet.
Well, that's all for Monday, back to work!
This weekend was very busy. We went to two Christmas parties on Saturday -- the first was my office bowling party. Many of you know how much I like bowling (not at all) but my feelings may be turning around -- I won a trophy! Ok, I know, it's a bowling trophy, but I've never won a trophy before so it's exciting. I'm sure you're wondering why I won (since I can count the times I've bowled as an adult on one hand). Well, we had to guess our score before the game and I was within 2 points. I guessed 88 and got a 90. David was upset because I could have been right on but I managed to hit two pins on my last throw (he told me to get a gutter on purpse). It was actually pretty fun -- although, my left butt is sore? Alison, my co-worker, also has a sore left butt so I'm pretty sure it has something to do with the bowling.
After the bowling party, we went to David's grandpa's annual Christmas dinner. It was a very nice dinner -- steak! (That's twice I've been treated this holiday season to good meat by David's family thanks to the fabulous ILX Christmas party for which I was Jennifer's date.) It was fun to see everyone and I'm getting much better at remembering everyone's names and how they are related. I did notice a lot of not-so-discrete staring at Bridget's belly, but I suppose that was to be expected and I was wearing maternity clothes.
David and I have decided that I look pregnant without clothes and a little fat with clothes -- unless they are maternity clothes in which case, I think even David would probably look pregnant too. I took pictures, but I'm going to wait until after the holiday to post them. I debated whether or not I should stuff my maternity pants to surprise my sister and mom when they pick us up at the airport, but I they might get back at me for doing that, so I've decided against it. On a side note, I have now embraced the wonderful reality that pregnancy means I get a whole new wardrobe! Granted, it's a little strange to buy new clothes that I won't be able to wear for a really long time, but still, it's fun to get new stuff.
I felt the litte bugger move again yesterday. I haven't been able to feel it regularly, but I'm hoping that will come soon. As I'm very ticklish, I'm anxious for the kicks to be just a little more substantial because right now it tickles. I'm really excited for David to feel it but that might be a while yet.
Well, that's all for Monday, back to work!
Friday, December 17, 2004
4 months and counting!!
Hooray!!
I'm 16 weeks and two days prengant! In about 6 months, David and I will meet the next member of our family. I'm so excited I can't even explain it. I will take some belly picts tomorrow -- but I think I'll wait to post them until after Christmas so my changing figure can be a surprise to those of you I'll see during the holidays next week. My new obsession is trying to feel the baby move -- supposedly this happens anytime from now to 20 weeks. I thought I might have felt something the other night, but it's just as likely it was gas or my imagination.
In other news, I finished the gigantic Park Service book and have now moved on to another large, but less intimidating project. I think by the end of next week I will be able to seem my desk again and feel like I'm not totally buried in work.
David got a raise and a Christmas bonus yesterday! How great is that?! I'm so excited that he's working somewhere that shows appreciation for his hard work -- and his willingness to put in extra hours. It's fun to watch him try to figure out what he wants to buy with his new money. (I actually got to be the practical one who said he should wait until after Christmas to see what he didn't get and still wants.)
This weekend will be fun -- we have my office's Christmas bowling party to go to tomorrow followed by David's grandpa's annual holiday dinner. I'm sure to be totally exhausted, but perhaps that will mean I'll sleep well.
Happy Friday!
I'm 16 weeks and two days prengant! In about 6 months, David and I will meet the next member of our family. I'm so excited I can't even explain it. I will take some belly picts tomorrow -- but I think I'll wait to post them until after Christmas so my changing figure can be a surprise to those of you I'll see during the holidays next week. My new obsession is trying to feel the baby move -- supposedly this happens anytime from now to 20 weeks. I thought I might have felt something the other night, but it's just as likely it was gas or my imagination.
In other news, I finished the gigantic Park Service book and have now moved on to another large, but less intimidating project. I think by the end of next week I will be able to seem my desk again and feel like I'm not totally buried in work.
David got a raise and a Christmas bonus yesterday! How great is that?! I'm so excited that he's working somewhere that shows appreciation for his hard work -- and his willingness to put in extra hours. It's fun to watch him try to figure out what he wants to buy with his new money. (I actually got to be the practical one who said he should wait until after Christmas to see what he didn't get and still wants.)
This weekend will be fun -- we have my office's Christmas bowling party to go to tomorrow followed by David's grandpa's annual holiday dinner. I'm sure to be totally exhausted, but perhaps that will mean I'll sleep well.
Happy Friday!
Monday, December 13, 2004
Function follows form
So this weekend I went to Old Navy & got some pants and shirts (not preggo, just big) and I'm so excited!! I finally feel like I'm wearing clothes that fit! I have two new shirts that go over my belly and my maternity pants (woo-hoo!). I have one pair of maternity pants that fit well (the others are too big still), the pants I bought this weekend (not maternity, but "low rise" and a size too big so I think they will fit for a little while), and a couple of pairs of bibs that fit. I'm a little flustered because most of my shirts don't work now because they aren't long, but the maternity shirts are just enormous and tend to make me look ultra pregnant -- I feel like I'm wearing a moomoo!
In other news, we went to the mall and I ran into a girl I haven't seen in about 4 years -- she has two new kids and I told her we were almost four months and she was totally surprised -- although when she told her husband (who I've never met before), he said "oh yeah, I saw them walking around earlier and figured she was expecting." So I think I'm officially in the "is she or isn't she?" stage.
I'm getting a little nervous about my weight -- I "bottomed" out this weekend on the scale. Although I was hardly at my minimim weight to start (I'm 5'1" and was about 136 to start), I'm now at 130... and I'm in my 15th week (I will be 16 weeks on Wednesday). Shouldn't I be gaining by now? I have been eating and keeping in my vitamins, but why do I keep going down? Oh well, I guess that's just how it goes.
And NOW for the weird preggo symptom of the day (warning, this could be way too much information). I'm leaking. That's right, those bumps on my chest formerly mostly just an annoyance have now grown to unreasonable proportions have begun to function. I mean, I guess it's a good sign that they are working, but seriously, THERE ISN'T A BABY TO EAT IT YET! It's a cloudy but almost clear, watery liquid that the books say is called colostrum and is produced before you get milk. Yeah. Really weird. I read in the books that this sometimes happens in your third trimester --- but I just started my second! What is going on here! I'm going to have to talk to the doctor about this one.
I talked to Mom yesterday and she hoped we had changed my mind about finding out the sex because she tried to go shopping and firmly announced that if we don't find out "we're going to get a lot of ducks" because there is very little gender neutral clothing. Well, sorry to say Mom, but it's not going to happend. Loud and clear folks, we are NOT finding out the sex of the baby before he or she is born. I know it makes shopping a pain, but that's what David and I have decided and we're both very happy with our decision.
Hope all is well :)
In other news, we went to the mall and I ran into a girl I haven't seen in about 4 years -- she has two new kids and I told her we were almost four months and she was totally surprised -- although when she told her husband (who I've never met before), he said "oh yeah, I saw them walking around earlier and figured she was expecting." So I think I'm officially in the "is she or isn't she?" stage.
I'm getting a little nervous about my weight -- I "bottomed" out this weekend on the scale. Although I was hardly at my minimim weight to start (I'm 5'1" and was about 136 to start), I'm now at 130... and I'm in my 15th week (I will be 16 weeks on Wednesday). Shouldn't I be gaining by now? I have been eating and keeping in my vitamins, but why do I keep going down? Oh well, I guess that's just how it goes.
And NOW for the weird preggo symptom of the day (warning, this could be way too much information). I'm leaking. That's right, those bumps on my chest formerly mostly just an annoyance have now grown to unreasonable proportions have begun to function. I mean, I guess it's a good sign that they are working, but seriously, THERE ISN'T A BABY TO EAT IT YET! It's a cloudy but almost clear, watery liquid that the books say is called colostrum and is produced before you get milk. Yeah. Really weird. I read in the books that this sometimes happens in your third trimester --- but I just started my second! What is going on here! I'm going to have to talk to the doctor about this one.
I talked to Mom yesterday and she hoped we had changed my mind about finding out the sex because she tried to go shopping and firmly announced that if we don't find out "we're going to get a lot of ducks" because there is very little gender neutral clothing. Well, sorry to say Mom, but it's not going to happend. Loud and clear folks, we are NOT finding out the sex of the baby before he or she is born. I know it makes shopping a pain, but that's what David and I have decided and we're both very happy with our decision.
Hope all is well :)
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Pancake!
So yesterday, my sister responded to my entry right away. This made me realize that people might actually be checking here regularly and that I should update more often. (Although, I have to admit that my life hasn't been all that fascinating, but I'll try.)
Last night, David and I got more ornaments to paint -- unfortunately, we really like doing them and are not getting much else done because we're spending our time painting :) We did get most of our Christmas letters out yesterday so I feel good about that. We have a few missing addresses that will trickle out in the next week or so, but we got most of them out... just so you're prepared, they are certainly not a feat of design. It's kinda our official announcement of the pregnancy though so I'm interested to hear from people who might not have known about it. We got a congratulations card from a friend of David's and my aunt and uncle yesterday -- very cute. Oh, we also played with Pancake, the little yellow bear that Kara sent our little one... we might have trouble giving the cute, soft baby stuff to the baby -- seriously, why isn't everything made with such soft material?!
Oh, and we are officially taking name suggestions. We've decided that we will probably not share our "top" list, but we would love to get other people's ideas. I think we're going to try to pick two or three names for a boy and two to three for a girl and then decide once we see our little one. I'm feeling more stressed about the name than anything -- what a huge responsibility!!
Well, that's all my news for today. Back to work!
Last night, David and I got more ornaments to paint -- unfortunately, we really like doing them and are not getting much else done because we're spending our time painting :) We did get most of our Christmas letters out yesterday so I feel good about that. We have a few missing addresses that will trickle out in the next week or so, but we got most of them out... just so you're prepared, they are certainly not a feat of design. It's kinda our official announcement of the pregnancy though so I'm interested to hear from people who might not have known about it. We got a congratulations card from a friend of David's and my aunt and uncle yesterday -- very cute. Oh, we also played with Pancake, the little yellow bear that Kara sent our little one... we might have trouble giving the cute, soft baby stuff to the baby -- seriously, why isn't everything made with such soft material?!
Oh, and we are officially taking name suggestions. We've decided that we will probably not share our "top" list, but we would love to get other people's ideas. I think we're going to try to pick two or three names for a boy and two to three for a girl and then decide once we see our little one. I'm feeling more stressed about the name than anything -- what a huge responsibility!!
Well, that's all my news for today. Back to work!
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
December
Well, I've officially got a belly now. I'm sure that people who don't know me can't tell at all yet, but I think that people who know me will notice something different -- and certainly by Christmas. It just appeared last week on Thursday. Wednesday, nothing, Thursday, definately pregnant. So that's exciting.
We're just about to mail out our Christmas letters and had fun this weekend painting ornaments -- we might even go to get more, Dave really liked doing it. In other news, our friend Cole is in town for the final bits of her schooling at MSU which is exciting (she was the first official person to touch my belly--she said it was firm so, naturally, I spent all night poking myself and asking David if it really was :)
AND, the really exciting news which I realize I haven't yet reported is that Aspen and Josh are engaged!!! He asked her on a surprise trip to, get this, London! The proposal sounded very sweet and the ring sounds HUGE! I can't wait to see it at Christmas. They were originally thinking about waiting to get married in 2006 but have bumped it up to this August! Yikes! I'm so excited to see her all dolled up and getting married! -- and I've been asked to be a bride's maid/matron... wow, that's weird, I'm a matron. Hopefully my saggy belly will look ok in whatever dress she picks out. I'm a little nervous about picking a size -- but surely someone can advise me :) I talked to her yesterday and she's thinking about a reddish color which I think will be nice -- David always likes me in red and Aspen will look fabulous flanked in red. I'm glad she's thinking about a bright color. She is also going to be around this summer now which is great because I've missed her while she's been at med-school.
I don't really have much else to report -- I'm ready for a little break here at work, it's been pretty busy and I'm super tired all the time. Hoping for a nap today. Keep in touch! :)
We're just about to mail out our Christmas letters and had fun this weekend painting ornaments -- we might even go to get more, Dave really liked doing it. In other news, our friend Cole is in town for the final bits of her schooling at MSU which is exciting (she was the first official person to touch my belly--she said it was firm so, naturally, I spent all night poking myself and asking David if it really was :)
AND, the really exciting news which I realize I haven't yet reported is that Aspen and Josh are engaged!!! He asked her on a surprise trip to, get this, London! The proposal sounded very sweet and the ring sounds HUGE! I can't wait to see it at Christmas. They were originally thinking about waiting to get married in 2006 but have bumped it up to this August! Yikes! I'm so excited to see her all dolled up and getting married! -- and I've been asked to be a bride's maid/matron... wow, that's weird, I'm a matron. Hopefully my saggy belly will look ok in whatever dress she picks out. I'm a little nervous about picking a size -- but surely someone can advise me :) I talked to her yesterday and she's thinking about a reddish color which I think will be nice -- David always likes me in red and Aspen will look fabulous flanked in red. I'm glad she's thinking about a bright color. She is also going to be around this summer now which is great because I've missed her while she's been at med-school.
I don't really have much else to report -- I'm ready for a little break here at work, it's been pretty busy and I'm super tired all the time. Hoping for a nap today. Keep in touch! :)
Friday, December 03, 2004
Second Trimester!!
Hooray!! I've made it to the second trimester!! That's right, 14 weeks tomorrow. I'm so relieved to be out of the first trimester -- let me tell you, it sucks. But it is getting way better. I'm not barfing any more really at all and all the other symptoms I have (tired, easily out of breath) are very manageable -- so hopefully I'll start to enjoy being pregnant.
David's parents brought us our first bit of baby furniture -- a changing table. It is very nice and I'm excited to start decorating and preparing for baby. Wow, we're 1/3 of the way there... weird. Anyhow, while Kay and Jim were here they installed some shelves in the garage -- I haven't seen them yet, but they sound useful.
As for a belly (no. 1 question), I have one some days that is totally noticable I think, but other days (like today), I can barely tell a difference (I'm in my pre-preggo jeans and they are buttoned all the way up and not tight). I think that I'm getting one though. I'm guessing that by Christmas I'll look different to the people who know me, but not to those who don't.
In other news, I'm getting excited for Christmas. We have about 1/3 of our shopping done I think, but we know what we are giving everyone... well, the few people we are giving gifts to. We've basically just decided to do Christmas letters for most people and gifts only for family -- which is nice because it's easier to draw a line. I think we might make chex mix for our offices and stuff like that, but nothing big. Every year I feel more and more like giving small gifts that are thought out. I hate going to the store buying just anything because I feel like I have to get someone a present. Anyhow, I think either this weekend or next we are going to put up our Christmas decorations which will be fun.
Work has been really busy with no end in sight so I'm not able to post as often as I'd like, but I'll do what I can. Hope everyone is happy and healthy!
David's parents brought us our first bit of baby furniture -- a changing table. It is very nice and I'm excited to start decorating and preparing for baby. Wow, we're 1/3 of the way there... weird. Anyhow, while Kay and Jim were here they installed some shelves in the garage -- I haven't seen them yet, but they sound useful.
As for a belly (no. 1 question), I have one some days that is totally noticable I think, but other days (like today), I can barely tell a difference (I'm in my pre-preggo jeans and they are buttoned all the way up and not tight). I think that I'm getting one though. I'm guessing that by Christmas I'll look different to the people who know me, but not to those who don't.
In other news, I'm getting excited for Christmas. We have about 1/3 of our shopping done I think, but we know what we are giving everyone... well, the few people we are giving gifts to. We've basically just decided to do Christmas letters for most people and gifts only for family -- which is nice because it's easier to draw a line. I think we might make chex mix for our offices and stuff like that, but nothing big. Every year I feel more and more like giving small gifts that are thought out. I hate going to the store buying just anything because I feel like I have to get someone a present. Anyhow, I think either this weekend or next we are going to put up our Christmas decorations which will be fun.
Work has been really busy with no end in sight so I'm not able to post as often as I'd like, but I'll do what I can. Hope everyone is happy and healthy!
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