Hurray, a new post!!

It's been a while since I have posted. I had a nice, relaxing vacation for the holidays. I went to Frankenmouth, Huckleberry Village, had a baby shower, saw a few movies, and of course spent lots of time with family! When I got back here to Tennessee, I had plenty to do, getting caught up on housework, unloading the shower gifts, and getting caught up on doctor appointments for both me and Regan.

My appointment went well. Rosie's heart was beating loudly, and she didn't at all like the doppler. She was kicking it (and the Doctor, how embarrassing!) so hard that the popping of it was being magnified along with her heartbeat. I also passed my Gestational Diabetes test which, of course, is great news.

I signed up for my labor and delivery class in March. Unfortunately, they don't really offer the 6 week lamaze anymore because 90% of patients opt for the epidural. Instead, I have decided to study a book about hypnosis and birthing. It's not the kind of hypnosis where the person is unconcious; rather, it involves visualization, and believing you will not be in pain. Here is a link to some information about it, if you are interested: http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/vaginal-childbirth-methods.html

As far as baby gear goes, I am getting more and more things. In addition to what I got for my shower, I purchased a dresser, and some clothes. I also have a few items on special order at Walmart. One day next week, I will make a trip out to Nashville, and visit Babies R Us.

Here are some photos from the last couple of months.

Here I am at my baby shower.

Smokey, get off those shower favors!!!!

Thanksgiving at Grandma Ochab's


Thanksgiving at the May's

Christmas at Grandma Colletti's

This is before Julie's holiday party. I was about 23 weeks.

Here is New Year's Eve at Jamie's house At this point I was just shy of 26 weeks.

A peek at the nursery so far

And finally, here is my most recent belly picture, at 28 weeks

And now that the cat is out of the bag...

Here is the whole story. I was in the waiting room of the radiology department, less than an hour after drinking a quart of water. I watched the minutes tick by, and angrily decided that making a pregnant woman drink 32 oz of water and then hold it was torture of the cruelest and most unusual kind. The very friendly tech finally called me back, and I thought, lets get this over with for God's sake, before I pee all over the floor!

He squirted some warm jelly on my belly, and I looked at my moniter above me, and saw the baby's head. In that moment, my overfilled bladder completely left my mind. I was entirely amazed by that squirming, wiggling person on the screen! The tech pointed out the baby's various parts, such as the brain, kidneys, spine, bladder, etc.

Then it was time to see the GOOD parts. He zoomed in, under the but, and VOILA, nothing there. I knew I was seeing nothing, but he confirmed it by saying "It's a girl." He then informed me he'd known this during the entire ultrasound. He got in even closer, and we saw the three lines that form very definate girl parts.

After taking some profile photos of her doing things like sucking her thumb, and kicking her feet up above her head, the tech turned off the machine, and my need to pee became sudden, and instant. I dashed to the bathroom (which was mercifully close to the ultrasound room), and after I was done, I was handed a disc with the very precious first pictures of my baby.

I sat down in my car, pictures of my very own little princess clutched in my hand, and allowed what had happened to really sink in. I was having a baby girl. Not just a baby girl, but a daughter. Someone who was going to be my little shadow, and Daddy's little girl. Someone who might grow up to be ballerina, or marine biologist, or maybe even a mommy herself.

What did I do to be so lucky to have my own daughter? I then cried my eyes out with complete joy.

So anyway, that's the story. But I know what you really want is photos, so here they are!

This is a great shot of her face. I like to think she was feeling very vogue.

Here she is crossing her feet. What a little lady!

In this photo, she has one thumb in her mouth, and the other hand resting against her forhead. How sweet!

Those are some looooooong legs that she certainly did not inherit from me!

Here she has both of her hands behind her head. I found this very funny because that's how I sleep!

And finally, here is me at 19 weeks pregnant, almost halfway through.

New Things I bought for baby!

Making room for one more

The time is drawing nearer that there will be an extra body in this little house of ours, so I had to begin changing some things around, especially since some baby gifts have started to arrive. The crib and changing table were delivered last week, and put together for me, thanks to Aunt Mary and Uncle Dennis. I had a queen size bed in the nursery, and I was a bit worried about how I was going to get rid of it, but luckily, the maintenance man, who happened to be here to fix toilets the same day the delivery man was here, said he could use it and would gladly take it. I also got my kitties a new Regan-proof litter box, and I moved it into the bathroom. The animals are a bit confused by all of this though. The bed that I got rid of was their bed and I've moved their litter on them, and Smokey, who is used to being able to do as he pleases, doesn't understand why I won't let him sleep in the nice, comfy crib. So anyway, here are some photos of the beginnings of my nursery.

I love, love, love the crib and changing table. They are so beautiful and old fashioned. The crib is a breeze to put together, too, and simple to use. Both rails drop and raise, and you simply remove them to make the crib into a toddler bed.

I also had to clean out the closet, so I moved around some of things that were in there (mostly it was suitcases and pet stuff), which means I had to reorganize some of my other closets, too.

Besides getting ready for baby, I also spent last week preparing for halloween, even though me and Regan had to celebrate alone. I put all of my pieces of candy into one big bowl, and was mixing it up, when I suddenly realized Regan was not trotting around at my heels like she usually does. It had gotten very quiet, and I wondered where she went. I went into the living room, and she was hiding all the way under the couch. "What are you doing," I said as I peeked at her. There she was, happily munching on a three muskateers bar, which I must have dropped on the floor!

Last Halloween I had dressed up in a very sexy Hermione Granger costume, but I didn't think that it would work too well on my 4 months pregnant body. So I decided to pull out my old Renaissance Festival costume, and turn it into a witch costume. Overall, the costume cost me $1 at Walmart (for the hat). Even the makeup was all regular makeup I had in the house.

So anyway, we got into costume and went on the porch with a cauldron full of candy and a cheerfully glowing Jack-O-Latern, and got a whole 3 trick-or-treaters. So needless to say I have TONS of leftover candy, which will be all to tempting to me in my pregnant state. We still had lots of fun, though.

I tried to explain to Regan that as a foofie little lapdog she was supposed to like wearing a costume. She begged to differ.

Are you done torturing me yet?

Finally, on behalf of Dave, I'd like to thank everyone that has sent him a package. He has started to receive some of them. Things can get rough over there, but receiving a package from home really gives him something to look forward to!

Un update at last!

I finally got a new cord for my digital camera, so I am now able to begin posting new photos again. As many of you know, my mom was in town this last week. We had a great time. We went to Opryland, the big mall in Nashville, registered at Babies R Us, visited the zoo, a haunted house, and downtown Clarksville where we frequented antique shops, the museum, and saw a play at the theatre. My mom was happy to enjoy two restaurants she hasn't seen in years; Jack in the Box and Captain D's. Another perk of my mom being around? She actually could take a belly shot of me, instead of me trying to do it myself and chopping off my head. So here it is, a long awaited photo of that VERY quickly growing little baby.I may be shoving it out a teensy weensy bit, but for the most part, that is what I look like now. I am 15 weeks pregnant, that's almost 4 months folks! In other pregnancy news, after lunch the other day, I felt what I could best describe as a poke from the inside. Was it gas? Possibly. A muscle spasm? It could have been. But maybe, just maybe, it was a little being, saying, "Mom, lay off the dang saurkraut already, will ya?!?

And finally, I'd like to post a few photos from our trip to the apple orchard, with the Dexters, in September before Dave deployed. Enjoy!

Just a quick update

I had my first official OB appointment today. After giving me the usual prodding exam, it was time to use the doppler. Don't worry, the midwife told me, 10 weeks is early and we might not hear anything yet. If we don't you can come back in a couple of weeks and try again. I was desperately hoping we could hear because Dave will be gone in a couple of weeks.

Well, she put the doppler on my belly, and to both her and my surprise, we heard an immediate thumpthumpthumpthump loud and clear. It faded in and out and rolled around as if our little peanut was dashing all over the place. "Now hold still there, little baby!" said the midwife. Dave was invited in the room and beamed as he too heard the strong 150bpm heartbeat.

I wanted to shout, "IT'S ALIVE Muhahahaha!"

Seriously though, hearing that little beating heart coming from inside me, with the sound of my slower one in the background, was by far one of the coolest and most miraculous things I have ever experienced.

Hi, Everyone! Well I've got some new pictures from recent activities that I'd like to post, as well as a new belly picture. This weekend we finally got some rain, and there was a big temperature cool down. (Wow, a chilly 86 degrees!) The cooler weather made for a lovely weekend for Riverfest, which is like the Arts, Beats, and Eats festival of little Clarksville. The lovely river you see is a five minute drive from our house, and Dave drives along it every day on his way to work.

This is the whole of Riverfest, and as you can see it pales in comparison size-wise to the large late summer festivals of Detroit. It is a big deal here, though. I think all of Clarksville turned out to visit. We ran into our friends within 10 minutes of being here.

Ummmm....Yeah. The Bass Pro Shop (the same one that had the gun-toting child display) was here hosting a catfishing competition. Yes, those are giant catfish in that bucket. They were keeping the fish in a giant portable tank. Kinda weird if you ask me, but it's all part of the local culture.

Here we are standing by the river at Riverfest. It was a nice, breezy day.

Here is my nine week belly picture. There is a little less bloating and a little more baby, I think. You might not be able to tell, but I can feel a little, round bump beneath the skin on my lower abdomen!

Look! The baby got it's first presents sent from Grandma Bozyk! She sent us a cuddle blanket, receiving blankets, socks, onesies, and an ear thermometer (leave it to a nurse.) It's very exciting to imagine those little socks being full of little feet!