Congrats and a Belly Update

Last night my friends Renata and Jason had their baby girl!!! So exciting! I can't wait to hear all about it - Welcome Adalai!!

34 weeks 4 days

Absence - Where have I been? Wait....where have you been?

I've been so bad about blogging....but I haven't been the only one (you guys know who you are....those bloggers I depend on for weekly entertainment!!!). But I have good excuses -
Second weekend of Oct. - home to New Mexico for baby shower.
Third weekend of Oct. - Minneapolis for Brother in Law's wedding
Got home from Minneapolis on Sunday the 17th and had to fly out to MD that Monday - Friday. Then I flew out that next Sunday for Ohio, came back Monday night and left again on Wednesday for MD. I was exhausted!! I wanted to cry on that last trip to MD - really not looking forward to the plane ride and hotel....but everything went well. And it's always so GREAT to see our friends in MD!!! I couldn't help but cry when I left....on top of being super emotional already, saying goodbye to friends and knowing I probably won't see them for a long time....I just really miss our friends in Maryland.
This past weekend Tony flew to Duluth to go deer hunting with his dad and brothers. (And he did get a deer!!) My mom flew up to stay with me and we had a wonderful time!! We got to go to a couple of Crap (craft) fairs, which were actually really good! We mostly just shopped and ate out. It was great - but too quick and there are never enough hours in the day.
On Sunday after I took my mom to the airport I did one of the activities I love most in the world - I went to Barnes and Nobles and got some coffee and read magazines!! It was so relaxing. Then I went home, turned up the Frank Sinatra Christmas CD and started to put out my Christmas decorations. I know it's kind of early, but I figured I better do it now while I still feel up to it.
We started Lamaze last week. It's not just a lamaze class - they teach you all kinds of things, like the stages of labor and all that good stuff. The video's were not for the weak...and I am weak! I wanted to throw up but then started laughing and couldn't stop. Of course Tony only egged me on by making comments. But the best part about it is getting to spend time together during the week. Things are always so crazy, it seems like we always have something to do, so the class is really nice in that respect. We are also going to take a baby prep class in a few weeks, which I think will make us feel less anxious....perhaps.
I can't believe it's going to be Thanksgiving next week!! We don't have any big plans - we are just going to stick around home and I'm going to cook. It's always nice to have that day together just to eat and relax.
I'll try to be better about the blog and updates! Hopefully tomorrow I'll remember to take a pic of the belly BEFORE I put on pj's (which usually happens the minute I walk in the door) to post for my 34th week.

Three brothers - this was at the rehersal at the church. Tony was practicing reading out loud.

All the siblings - this was at the rehersal dinner in downtown St. Paul. The neighborhood was amazing!! I told Tony if we move to the Twin Cities that this area is where I want to live!

Nursery

We made so much progress with the nursery. It feels like we got so much accomplished this weekend! It was the first weeked I've been home ALL WEEKEND since the beginning of October.

Here are some pics. Of course I haven't decorated yet, but my mom is coming up this weekend, so I'm hoping we'll be able to get some of that completed.

I love this furniture....I think it matches really well even though we bought it at 2 seperate locations. We still have a few things to get....we need a mattress and a car seat and a stroller, but at least we've come this far. I was kind of getting panicky about our procrastination.

I can't believe I'm almost 33 weeks.....and I still feel really really good! I would say 9.5 out of 10. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and to not feel this good...but here's hoping. We get to have another ultrasound in a couple of weeks and I'm eager to see what she looks like again.

Baby likes Metal

I have a little metal head living inside me. I've never gone out of my way to listen to heavy metal...until now. I can't change it from the metal station, for fear I will miss the awesome sounds of NIN or 5 Finger Death Punch. Seriously - Bad Company is one of the best remakes I have heard in a long time.

So I'm attributing this change in listening preference to the baby. She must really like to rock out, that is the only answer. Don't get me wrong, we still listen to classical when I cook. But in the car - it's the heavy stuff.

Almost 26 weeks

I feel like I have grown this week. My body is a bit achy too. Maybe the baby is going through a growth spurt!! I am really feeling her more these days and I can't wait for Tony to feel it too! I keep thinking it will happen any day.

We are having.....

A GIRL!!!

She was very cooperative during our ultrasound and we are so happy we were able to find out the gender. But even more important than the gender is that our little girl is perfectly healthy. Everything looked great in the U/S and she is growing at the right rate. We are just so thrilled!!

Here's a picture of our beautiful baby girl!! Even just looking at it now thrills me beyond belief. This is the best thing that has ever happened to us! Isn't she amazing?!?

What's new with me....

Quick update:

Weather - finally cooling off slightly.

Belly - getting pretty big - 19 weeks today!!

Tomorrow - FINAL GRAD SCHOOL PRESENTATION!! After tomorrow morning....I am pretty much through. I can't believe it's almost over - I am almost giddy.

Graduation - one week from Friday!

Ultrasound - one week from Today!!

Family coming - one week from Thursday!

27 Days until I can decorate for Fall (oh, yes, I look forward to this for MONTHS! It takes everything to wait until Sept. 1)

What's new with you?

Coming along...

Here are some pictures from yesterday - being 15 weeks 4 days. It's funny how in maternity clothes I look more pregnant than in regular clothes. I am mostly wearing maternity clothes now - they are so much more comfortable. I still wear my regular jeans with a bella band, but I don't know how much longer that will last.

So here are the pics - even though I feel like I look more fat than pregnant. I'm sure that will change in the next couple of months though!

Week 13

Today I am 13 weeks and 5 days along. It's odd - some days I really feel like I am showing....then other days not so much. I definetly look chubby, but not obviously pregnant. I am feeling great though! This has been easy so far. I was nauseated for about 4 weeks or so, but that is getting better now. There are still some foods that I can't really eat, but I'm sure that will pass. The most disappointing this of all is that I haven't been cooking....I just don't have it in me to do it. And then when I do cook, by the time I get done I can't eat any of it. I am really hoping this will pass - I miss cooking!!

Tony is living up in the mountains. I miss him so much!! I know I'm being extra emotional, but I just cry and cry when he leaves to go back on Sundays. It's awful! I'm glad he's getting it out of the way now though, and then he'll be that much closer to being done.

The good thing is that I have been really busy with my own classes, so I haven't had time to dwell on Tony being gone. I am getting so close!! This last capstone class if really demanding, but I just keep thinking this is it! And I'll have my degree and be done with school for a while.

6 more weeks until we find out the sex (hopefully)! Everyone said that pregnancy seems to go by quickly and they were right. I'm so eager for things to slow down in life so that I can just focus on enjoying the pregnancy and getting ready for the baby!

Look at what I'm growing!!

THIS:

OH YEAH.....AND THIS:

That's right  - you are looking at the first picture of our baby!! Tony and I could not be more thrilled. I am 12 weeks and 4 days today. So far everything looks wonderful. I am due around Christmas. This is the most amazing thing that has every happened to us! It's been kind of hard to keep it a secret because we have known for a couple of months, but we just wanted to wait and make sure that everything looked ok. I have just started showing, really showing this past week.