31 Weeks!

Well, here we are at 31 weeks! I CANNOT believe that I have two months to go. I am starting to loose faith in babycenter.com, because according to them this baby now weighs approximately 3.3 pounds and I am certain the he weighs at least 6 pounds already! I am really starting to have more difficulty moving around. The other day, I was in the passenger seat of Adam's truck and I reached down to grab my water bottle out of the cup holder, and I literally could not reach it! At least my butt doesn't look so huge when you compare it to my belly! Even the doctor said, "He really feels big" when she felt my belly! YIKES! I have definitely been experiencing more physical discomfort over the past couple of weeks. I pulled a muscle in my inner thigh like four months ago (apparently there is a hormone released during pregnancy which relaxes all your muscles and tendons so that the can stretch as your hips widen ect. This means when you do pull a muscle it may not heal at all while you are preggers). This has been the case for me for sure and all this extra weight now seems to be making it worse.To make matters worse, when I stand up from my desk at work I get a shooting pain in my tail bone from sitting on it for so long. Between that and my pulled muscle I have to lumber half way down the hall before everything "adjusts" and I can resume a somewhat normal gate (or waddle).

Anyway, things have been really crazy around here lately (which is why my posts have gotten less frequent). Adam and I have been keeping so busy with various obligations. We have had weddings, showers, graduation celebrations, and multiple family birthdays to attend. Not to mention our two new favorite holidays, Mother's Day and Father's Day (Adam sent me flowers at work the day before mother's day...so sweet). Every spare minute is spent either working, attending our classes, or doing things around the house to get things ready (We picked out a rug one Sunday in between two Father's Day celebrations!). I am exhausted. We still have a ton of boxes to go through and things get rid of or put in the attic. The girls are doing their best to pitch in, but they are very easily distracted. Most of the time it' s just easier to do things myself! The nursery is really coming along. We now have the crib and the rug in place and it is really starting to feel cozy! I will try to post again this week. I always have a fun time doing it, but some nights I just can't bare to come home and sit in front of another computer. Maybe I need a special pillow for my bum now too! I am a mess, but lovin every minute of it!

Tummy Time

I have recently been reading about the importance of "Tummy Time" for infants preparing to crawl. I had never heard of it before, but apparently babies getting ready to crawl should spend some time on their bellies every day to begin to develop the muscles they will eventually use to crawl.

For now, Baby C and I have our own little version of "Tummy Time". It is my favorite time of the day. It is when I take a nice warm bath in the evening. Not only does it soak away the aches and pains of the day, but I have the best view of my own belly. I could lay there for hours just watching my belly and talking to the him. He really seems to enjoy it as well because he always starts to move around and kick those reassuring little kicks during bath time. In fact, the first time I felt him move, I was in the bath.

Well, several weeks ago while in the bath, I actually saw the baby kick for the first time. I was lying there staring at my belly button amazed at how shallow it had become when BAM, the side of my belly quickly and violently changed shape for a second and the water pooled in my ever shrinking belly button shook like the glass of water in that scene from Jurassic Park! I laughed at the Jurassic Park image and the thought of being chased by a giant prehistoric beast. It was very cool, even if somewhat startling. It was as if he was saying, "Um, hello out there! I think you have more important things to think about than your own belly button!" He's right, I thought.........we have to finish the nursery.........I am thinking a woodland/animal theme. Then two more sharp jabs from inside brought me back the the present. Well, I guess there are even more important things to think about than the nursery, I thought. My mind began to drift to the big stuff: money, IRA'a, 401K's, college funds, life insurance plans. Suddenly I found myself panicking, thinking it would actually be less stressful to be chased down by a dinosaur!

Just in time to prevent a full blown panic attack I felt a few soft pokes from within. It was like he was saying, "Sorry, I didn't mean to freak you out. You can think about the nursery. You have time for all that other stuff". What a sweet baby already!

It's funny how before they are even born, babies have a way of putting things in perspective. I may just have to add some dinosaurs to the nursery motif.

How my life has changed.........

I thought I would give you all a sample of how very much my life has already changed. One amusing example is my nightly routine. I used to simply put on pj's, wash my face, maybe put on some moisturizer, brush my teeth, and I was good to go. A once simple routine has become a tiresome ordeal which usually results in my falling into bed utterly exhausted. Sometimes, I have to take a nap before even starting the routine. Here's how it plays out:

After my most recent meal has has several hours to make it through my digestive system (I have to stay vertical for several hours to avoid acid reflux), I am able to start getting ready for bed.

1) First, I usually take a warm shower or bath to soak my achy muscles and bones. I am always amazed at how I can be so sore after just sitting at my desk all day.

2) Next, I have to slather anti-stretch mark cream over all the areas of my body that I can still reach (which are become fewer by the day).

3) After that I brush my teeth, being ever mindful of my still heightened gag reflexes and super sensitive gums.

4) Next, I clear my nasal passages with a few flushing sprays of Saline Solution. I never knew that increased congestion and bloody noses were a symptom of pregnancy.

5) Now it is time for one of my favorites. I apply the self-adhesive Breath Right strip to my nose to combat my earthshaking snoring and try to give Adam some peace.

6) As if I am not already feeling sexy enough by this point, next come the task of PJ's. After leaving ample time for my stretch mark cream to dry, I now pull on my only pajama bottoms that still fit. They are these little cropped white pj pant which used to be really cute. Now, I feel like one of those cartoon men with a huge belly whose pants are too short.

7) Finally, I fall into bed and arrange all of my special pillows. One to help with the snoring and sleep apnea I have developed and a second which is sort of shaped like a giant narrow C. You can wrap your legs around it and support your belly. It really has helped with the pain in my hips.

Truthfully, this is an ideal scenario. There are probably more nights when I just roll into bed with my clothes still on. I swear, if you didn't know I was pregnant, you would think I was a 90 year old man! At least I Preparation H is not a part of my regimen (yet anyway)!

Even with all of these interesting (and sometimes uncomfortable) changes, I am so amazed at what my body is doing right now and I feel blessed to have the honor of experiencing it!


And thankfully, Pussca has finally found a comfortable position among the piles of specialized pillows. My belly doesn't look very big in this picture, but she is resting her chin on the top and has her paw wrapped around the side. So cute! I wonder if she knows what's up or if she just thinks I am getting fat. I know I should be sleeping on my left side, but somehow I always wake up on my back covered in cats! Go figure!

28 Weeks!

Well, here we are at 28 weeks! I can not believe that that shirt used to fit me like a regular shirt; now it's like a skin tight baby tee! I can barely pull it over my belly button! Apparently "Baby C" weighs about two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He is pretty active (must be taking after his dad). I am convinced that he is in there drumming away.

I have to apologize for not posting for so long. Since our Florida trip things have been kind of crazy. We have recently started our classes at St. Mary's Hospital. I swear, when I was registering for them I was having flashbacks to graduate school, trying to get the best times and most popular professors! So far we have taken a tour of the birthing center and started our Lamaze class (Yes, I am going to try natural, but we'll see. I have no idea what to expect; I may be screaming for drugs a couple of hours in. I plan to make my birth plan somewhat flexible and to include anti-psychotic medications (for Adam...just in case) as a possible intervention). I have taken a breast feeding class (I was able to spare Adam from that one). We are also registered for Infant CPR and"Newborn Nuances" (which we are hoping is a crash course in everything else you need to know before leaving the hospital with a tiny human). I know there is only so much you can do to prepare, but we are doing our best.

In addition to attending our classes, Adam has been painting the trim in the nursery, the cats have been enjoying their newly completed sun room/office, and I have been freaking out about what I need to register for. I have also been taking a prenatal yoga class which has been enormously helpful in helping to manage my occasional freak outs!

I hope all of this preparation is good training for the time management skills that I am sure will be necessary in the coming months (and years). Well, I better sign off before I make myself start to freak out again. I will do another post this week, I promise! Happy summer everyone!

Florida Trip

Well, it was a whirlwind, but we had a blast! We only wish we could have stayed for longer! We left Richmond on Thursday evening straight from work and returned on Monday evening around 9:00pm. Here are some pictures from our adventures:

Comparing bellies! I think I win!
I have to give Delaney a shout out for providing me with such cute maternity swim wear. It definitely made shedding my clothes a lot easier! Thanks, D!

Yes, I did brave a bikini! The feeling was an odd combination of terror and empowerment. I mean, I am very proud of my baby belly; it's just the other expanding body parts that really freak me out. Well, I had to go all the way to Florida, but I finally found my vanilla frozen yogurt with rainbow sprinkles! It was very satisfying!

We had a wonderful time catching up with Don and meeting all of his friends! Adam enjoyed building his sand sculptures as usual. I think he is really looking forward to having a little playmate.....I mean assistant.
We even bought "Baby C" his first pair of shoes! Those of you who made it to the wedding my recognize the brand and style!

25 weeks!

Wow! Here we are at 25 weeks! Crazy. My body is totally out of control! Baby C is kicking up a storm. According to www.babycenter.com he measures about 13 1/2 inches and weighs about a pound and a half (about the same as an average rutabaga). As you can see from the picture on the left we have made a change of venue for our photo shoot this week. We have been painting the nursery (and when I say "we" I mean Adam and my dad), so there is a ton of furniture where I usually stand. Anyway, I thought it would provide a fun sneak peak of the nursery. As you can see we have chosen a very pale blue and tan. It has been really fun looking for nursery decorations. We are hoping to utilize Adam's artistic abilities and paint some animals on the walls. Sashi (pictured with me to the left) is trying to figure out where her likeness should go. All I know is we better pick the biggest wall we have. Look at her, she's huge! She's almost as big as the pregnant lady!

Adam and I are heading to Destin, Florida tomorrow to visit Don, Adam's dad. We are both really looking forward to having a couple of days in the sun (hopefully) and spending some time with Don. We will return on Monday evening, so I will hopefully post again on Tuesday and share some pictures from our trip. Hope you are all well. I am exhausted and still have to finish packing so I will have to sign off for now. Have a great weekend!

-Blair and Baby C

Hormones- Part I

Hormones are another one of those cliches about pregnant women that we have all heard for many years. I am quickly realizing that this particular cliche has stood the test of time for one very good reason.........it is so true! Although I have only had a handful of experiences (so far) during which I have felt the full magnitude of pregnancy hormones, I am now truly terrified about what may lay ahead. From what I can remember (as I was severely traumatized by the experience), it is a similar feeling to really extreme PMS. Unlike PMS; however there is no warning, nor is there any indication of how long it might last. Most women can relate to the sort of "out of control" feeling of PMS. It's like, you know that you may be overreacting and you don't want to be feeling this way but you just can't help it. Unfortunately reason is useless in these situations; there is a far stronger force at work. I don't know the origin of this force, but I know it has powers beyond that of anything human. It can make an otherwise sensible woman feel like a raving lunatic, crippled by rage. It can make grown men run for cover and children cry out in terror.

Part I:

My personal reign of terror began in the Comcast headquarters several weeks ago. I went in one evening after a long day's work to exchange our cable box for a DVR. Seems like a simple enough task, right? Well, I arrived at the office and saw two lines. There was no sign indicating that there was any difference between the lines. Just to safe, I asked several other customers if there was any difference in the two lines before choosing one. Everyone just shook their heads or shrugged complacently. So I just picked a line at random, adjusted the equipment I was holding, and attempted to get comfortable for the inevitable wait. To my surprise, my line appeared to be moving slightly faster than the other (which is crazy because I always choose the slow line). Anyway, after about 20 minutes, it was my turn. As I approached the counter holding my cable box, I could tell by the look on the cashier's face that my luck was running out. She simply cocked her head to one side, shook it, and said, "This line is just for paying bills". I took a deep breath and said, "Excuse me?” The woman repeated her previous statement and added, "You will have to get in that line". She pointed to the other line, which had grown exponentially and seemed to be at a standstill. Frantically, I looked for one of the customers I had asked about the lines. I recognized one man, the man I would have been behind if I had gotten in the other line. There were probably 15-20 more people behind him now. No way. I turned back to "Miss Manners" and said, "I'm sorry, but I did not see any signs to indicate there is a difference between the two lines. Is there a sign somewhere that I missed?" She just looked at me (annoyed) and said, "I made an announcement 20 minutes ago". Calmly, I looked at my watch and shook my head, "Well, I have been here for over 20 minutes and I did not hear any announcement". Clearly I was getting on her nerves as she stated, "Well, I made it". At this point I could feel it coming. This woman was going down! "Ma'am", I said "I have do doubt that you made an announcement. My point is that I was not here when made it. Which means anyone that came in after me didn't get the information either. I even asked several people when I came in and none of them were aware of any difference in the lines. Clearly this announcement you speak of was not an effective means of communication in this situation". She simply repeated her mantra about having made an announcement. So I asked to speak with her supervisor. Of course her supervisor was "out". So, I asked to speak with any of her superiors. "We are all equal, but you are welcome to step to the side and wait for my supervisor". I could feel heat rising into my cheeks. "Well, if you are all equal. I am sure you are capable of helping me exchange this equipment", I said. Again she referred to her freaking announcement like I hadn't heard her the first 5 times; like it would somehow finally and magically clear everything up for me. This is where I really lost it. "Your announcement is no good if nobody hears it, lady!” I screamed. Then, as if I was totally removed from my body, I turned to address the growing crowd behind me. "Did any of you hear an announcement about the difference between these two lines?" I yelled. Luckily the crowd was as frustrated as I was and opted to join my plight. "NO!" They yelled realizing, they too may end up standing where I was. One woman panicked, "There's a difference between these two lines?! What's the difference! I've been here a 1/2 an hour! What's going on?!" The woman behind the counter looked around for support from her co-workers who all were suddenly very busy and avoiding eye contact with her. This time it was my turn to just look at her and shake my head. "I'm not moving" I said, "I'll wait right here for your supervisor". I looked at her dead in the eyes like a dog posturing before a fight. I wasn't bluffing either. They would have had to call security to remove the psychotic pregnant lady from the lobby. Luckily, it didn't come to that. She grabbed the cable box from me and switched it out. The whole process took about 30 seconds.

Most of you will know that this is not typical behavior for me. Usually, I flee from confrontation. Although two plus years working in the Forensic Unit at Central State Hospital did plump up my assertiveness, it was nothing compared to the powerful force that is pregnancy hormones.
To hear about my next unfortunate victim, be sure to tune in for the next installment, Hormones- Part II ( I don't want to overwhelm anyone all at once and I would like to have some friends left after pregnancy)

Names, names, names!

Most of you that know Adam and I well, know that we are not the most decisive couple in the world. Needless to say, we have already been struggling over picking a name. We decided not to even think about names until after we found out if we were having a boy or a girl. Now that we know, we are starting to feel the pressure. So, we have decided to open up the blog to suggestions. Please feel free to post your favorite boy names. We like names that are a little different, so feel free to get creative and have fun! We will look forward to any suggestions.

23 Weeks!

Well, here we are at 23 weeks! I cannot believe I have almost 4 months to go! I don't know how I am going even be able to sit up come August. It's funny (or maybe ironic is a better word) because I used to kind of roll my eyes when I would hear pregnant women complain about their symptoms. I would think, "women have been doing this forever, how difficult could it possibly be?!" Well, it looks like I have my answer..... it's really freaking difficult! Not to mention that the most trying months still lie ahead.

Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of things I love about being pregnant. I have a perfect excuse to pig out, I have boobs now, and best of all I get to be a part of this amazing experience. It is truly incredible the things the human body can do. I just have to laugh at some of the unexpected symptoms of pregnancy (to be chronicled in my upcoming post "How my Life Has Changed". I did pick up a special body pillow yesterday and it really did help me sleep more comfortably last night. Thanks for the recommendation, Mary!

According to www.babycenter.com the baby is about 11 inches long and weighs over a pound (about as much as a large mango). Apparently he can hear now, so my mom got us this little contraption which has special speakers so that you can play music and talk to your baby. You can also listen to the heart beat and other sounds inside the womb. It's very cool.I hope everyone is doing well. I love getting the e-mails and posts from people following the blog. Thanks to you all for your support! It has really been so much fun!

It's a Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess I kept you all in suspense long enough. I can't believe it! The whole time I have been pregnant, people have asked me if I had "a feeling" either way. I really didn't. And then, just a couple of weeks before the 20-week ultra sound, I somehow convinced myself that it was a girl. I don't know if it stemmed from the belief that I should have some sort of feeling or intuition, or if I just liked the thought of tea parties, ballet lessons, and fairy decor. Regardless, I was wrong. Not that I couldn't picture a little Adam running around, because I totally could. And now I really can! We are so excited and very relieved that everything continues to look healthy so far! I can't believe we are having a baby boy! Here are some more of the ultra sound images from our last doctor visit. Anyone who can identify the tell-tale anatomy shot deserves a prize. The only way I can pick it out is by finding the picture that has the little arrow labeled "boy" which points to the evidence. I love the profile shots! I just can't wait to meet him in person!

22 weeks!

Well, here we are at 22 weeks! I am really starting to feel big! According to http://www.babycenter.com, the baby is 10.9 inches long (the length of a spaghetti squash) and weighs almost 1 pound. Baby Center puts this disclaimer at the bottom of these little progress reports: "Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development". I am so glad that they point this out because I am quite sure my baby weighs at least 22 pounds at this point! I am feeling well this week, although sleep is definitely becoming more difficult. The cats are getting very frustrated with all of my tossing and turning. I have been waking up around 3:00 in the morning and then can't seem to find a position comfortable for everyone (me, baby, Adam, Pussca, and Sashi). Stay tuned for more exciting details regarding my sleep hygiene in an upcoming blog entitled "How my life has changed". I know I have been a little slack lately on the old blog, but I do have some good stuff in the works. I have started several already, but I was typing in such a fury I really need to go back and proof read them before putting on the internet (those of you familiar with my spelling understand). I will post the rest of the ultrasound pictures this week and soon I will tackle the issues of weight and hormones. I am sure you can hardly wait! Have a great week!

-Blair and Baby C

21 Weeks!

Hi everybody!

I am sorry I didn't post a picture last week. Despite the lack of photo, it was very eventful week. Baby C was the size (length wise) of a banana (around 6 1/2 inches long)! So cute! We also had our 20 week ultra sound! Here is one of our favorite shots. It was a really amazing experience. I love being able to see the baby move around. At one point the nurse had to press down really hard on my belly to get a shot and we saw the baby curl up into a little ball as if to say, "Aw, come on stop poking me!"

Can you tell if Baby C is more likely going to be into snakes and snails or sugar and spice? Well, now we know and are very excited! Don't worry, I won't keep you in suspense for too long; I just want to tell a few more of you in person. Feel free to make a post if you think you know. I will plan to do an official posting of the news in a week or so.

Here I am at 21 weeks! Check out how it compares to my very first shot at 12 weeks! Wow!











Right now Baby C is the length of a carrot (approximately 10 1/2 inches long) "rump to crown". He or she now weighs about three-quarters of a pound. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. B.C. has been kicking up a storm. It is such a crazy feeling. I just wish I could see what is going on on there! Hope you all have a great week!

Cat Burglar

This is such a cute article! My mom cut it out of People magazine. It is about a Siamese cat from England who began stealing stuffed toys from around his neighborhood and bringing them home to the family's new baby! I can only hope Pussca and Sashi are as welcoming to our new addition! To view the entire article, click on the link below. http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/11/1861445/My%20Documents/The%20Cat%20Burglar.pdf

Conscious Birthing

Hello Everyone!

This weekend Adam and I took a really cool class at the Yoga Source in Carytown. My mom gave Adam a gift certificate for the workshop for his birthday. The class was called Conscious Birthing: A Workshop for Couples. At first we weren't sure what to expect. I mean, I didn't really think being unconscious through the process was really an option. Then we began to joke that perhaps the title of the workshop was referring to husbands to be who may have a propensity to pass out when under extreme direst (Adam has a history of mysterious fainting spells). The description of the class is as follows:





"Learn to approach labor as a joyous, empowering rite of passage. This half-day workshop offers pregnant couples an opportunity to deepen their relationships though yoga, mindfulness practice, and focused inquiry. Share questions and concerns, learn poses to strengthen, open, and relax both of you, and practice effective pain-coping techniques. Partners will learn comfort measures to support pregnant and laboring women. Snacks provided".
( http://www.yogarichmond.com/prenatal.asp)

They had me at "snacks provided". But seriously, it was a really beautiful experience. We started off with some basic yoga exercises to help everyone relax. It was Adam's first experience with yoga (aside from tiptoeing through the living room when I am doing a yoga video). I was very impressed! He performed the poses with the grace and agility of an experienced yogi (his favorite poses were the "rolling cat" and "child's pose"). After the warm up we learned some wonderful poses to do together. The poses can be done anytime throughout pregnancy to help with the inevitable aches and pains as well as during the contractions of labor to help ease the pain, open the hips, and promote relaxation. My favorite thing about these poses is that they give dads-to-be/partners specific tools which allow them to really take an active role in supporting (literally in most poses) moms-to-be. I can only imaging how helpless it would be to see your partner in so much pain and have no idea how to help them. The techniques also involve being physically close to your partner (one pose begins with slow dancing) which I am sure only facilitates the bonding experienced in childbirth.

After the poses, the fathers learned some amazing massage techniques. Then we had snacks (finally) and watched a terrifying video of which portrayed the various stages of labor and childbirth.

It was really a wonderful bonding experience (thanks, Mom). The instructors were amazing and brought years of birthing experience into the classroom. Yoga Source also offers a variety of other prenatal and postnatal classes which I can't wait to try out. As for Adam, I think he is excited to practice what we learned, but has no plans to watch anymore birthing videos anytime soon!

19 Weeks!

Hello everyone-

Here we are at 19 weeks! (I am looking a little haggard in this photo, but I made Adam take it three times and this was the best we could do; It's been a long weekend.) I can't believe how much my body has changed. I was doing some spring cleaning this weekend and had to get into some pretty unusual positions because I can't quite bend over like I used to. And the other day I had to get Adam to buckle my shoes! I can only imagine what I will feel like in August!

According to http://www.babycenter.com/, the baby is around the size of a large heirloom tomato this week and weighs about 8 and 1/2 ounces! So cute! I think I have hit a couple of milestones since my 17 week post. Fist of all, I have felt the baby kicking!!! It is a very subtle feeling which I can usually only feel when I am sitting very still. It feels like little muscle twitches on the inside of my belly. It is very cool! I have also had more people start to ask me if I am preggers, which makes me very happy. I am glad I actually look pregnant now instead of looking like I am "just filling out" as one person put it! I am also glad to say that I am finally starting to get some energy back which is nice because I am ready to get some things done! I will feel sorry for poor Adam when I really get into the "nesting" phase of my pregnancy! I am sure I will be a nightmare since I am a little anal to begin with (as most of you well know!).

I have to give a shout out to Kimmy who brought me some rainbow sprinkles today. I can't believe you found them! Thank you!

Hope everyone has a great week. I am keeping my fingers crossed for some warm weather. We almost hit the 80's here in Richmond last week, but we had sleet and hail today, so who knows!

Bye for now!

-Blair and Baby C.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Easter Sunday. Ours was very nice. Adam's Grammy and Grampy are in town, so we had a lovely Easter brunch with them over at uncle Malcolm's house. We were actually supposed to meet them at church, but we had some technical difficulties that morning and ended up at the wrong church! I guess Adam and I are both experiencing the "pregnesia" phenomenon (forgetfulness/decreased cognitive function associated with pregnancy). It was a lovely service, just not the one we had planned to go to. In our defense, there are about a million churches in Bon Air. If you do not have the exact name, address, and phone number of the one you are looking for, it's easy to get confused. Next time we enter the "bible belt" of Bon Air, we will come prepared! All joking aside, it was wonderful to see Grammy, Grampy, Malcolm, and Matt. We did miss the rest of the Richmond Caldwells. Janice and Chris are in Scotland on a missionary trip and Pete was still at Hampton Sydney (studying hard, or recovering from spring break. We are not sure which).

We arrived late to my parents for their Easter gathering, but were able to catch up with Mom, Dad, Colby, and Pat. We are sorry to have missed Aaron, Brooke, Graham, and Reid!

I hope everyone enjoys the first full week of spring! Bye for now,

-Blair

17 weeks!

So here I am at 17 weeks (You can see Sashi in the forefront; she is very interested in baby already)! I think you can really see a difference from last week. I had my third prenatal appointment this week and everything seems to be progressing well. According to babycenter.com, the baby is the size of a turnip.

I think I did hit a milestone this week: I had two people ask me if I was pregnant! Thank goodness, I am starting to look the part!

Although the morning sickness has subsided, I have continued to experience significant fatigue. I have been trying to do my prenatal yoga and pilates videos, but am embarrassed to say that I have been sleeping (and eating) far more than exercising. I have gotten some very simple, but wise (and reassuring) advice regarding this issue: "Listen to your body. If you are hungry, eat. If you are tired, rest. And don't feel guilty about it". I have embraced this concept for sure! We did have some warm weather a few weeks ago and a friend at work and I would go walking at lunchtime, but recently it has been too cold. I am hoping the spring weather will motivate to to get out and walk again.

Work on the sun room/future office is progressing as well. The carpet is in and we hope to start moving the furniture out there in the next few days. Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion!

Getting Ready

As you can see Adam has been hard at work this week. "We" are doing some work on the sun room so that we can use it as our office and make room for Baby C. In order to make it more secure and climate controlled, Adam has had to put in new windows, an insulated ceiling, a new floor, and a new door. He actually started on the project over the summer, but has really been on a roll over the past couple of weeks. He put a new coat of paint on a couple of weeks ago and it looks like he will finish installing the floor and door this weekend! We went to Home Depot yesterday to look at carpet. Naively, I thought we could just pick some thing out and out and have them come and install it sometime this week. After pricing and wading through a sea of various carpeting options we finally made a decision. To our dismay, when we went to purchase the carpet we were told it would have to be ordered. This would take 3-4 weeks and then it may be a "a few more" for the guys to come out and install it. Feeling deflated, we set up an appointment to have the measurements taken and decided we may keep looking, just in case. Luckily, my mom suggested a carpet outlet in Goochland, so we headed out there today (being cautiously optimistic). We were pleasantly surprised that, not only did they have a great deal on a carpet we both liked, but they can install it tomorrow! Thanks mom! We canceled the Home Depot appointment and we should be able to start moving the office furniture out there this week!
It has been very exciting to start getting the house ready. Even the girls (the cats) have been doing their part to pitch in. With all of the construction, their litter box had to be moved into the basement. So far they have been agreeable to it's new location. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I think it will be a lot of fun. I can't wait to start decorating the nursery. Be sure to check back in a few weeks to see the before and after photos of the sun room/office. Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week!

16 weeks!

Hello everyone! Sorry it's been awhile since my last post. The past week has been a bit crazy at work and I have been so exhausted by the time I get home that I generally have to take a nap before dinner! I feel like the only thing I have done recently is eat and sleep (and then eat some more) My appetite is really insane! The picture to the right was taken last night (16 weeks!) According to babycenter.com "At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length". Wow, I bet you you will really see a difference in my belly in the next next photo. I know it is hard to see much in this one, but my body has changed so much. I had already gained 11 pounds at my last doctors appointment which was three weeks ago, so who knows what I am up to now!

I would also like to thank all of you out there who have joined my quest for rainbow sprinkles. I received two different types of sprinkles in the mail this week (thank you Kimmy! The one's that came with the icing are what I have been searching for. If you see them anywhere without the tub of icing let me know. I hesitate to buy a tube of icing just for the sprinkles, because right now, I will eat it!). I know Heather has been keeping her eyes peeled for the sprinkle selection in Georgia. Thanks, Girl!

Adam has been working very hard on finishing up on construction in the sun room so that we can
move our office out there and start on the nursery! I can't wait! I will post some pictures soon!

To catch you up.........

So, Adam and I found out we were expecting on December 20. I took two important tests that day. It was a Thursday and I had just returned from Hampton where I took my licensure exam. I passed (thank goodness). We figured that since I was doing well on taking tests that day, I might as well take another.....we were very excited with the results.

We did our best to keep the news on the down low, at least until after the first doctor's appointment. Adam went with me to the appointment. He was very brave. Here is the first picture of the little one. Baby "C" was moving all around during the ultra sound. It was really crazy. At this point, the baby was 9 weeks and 5 days old. According to www.babycenter.com, "Though he's barely the size of a kumquat — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.

He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy". It was an amazing experience.

We decided to begin to document the growing belly. The picture below was taken the week I had to buy new clothes. Although I was still able to squeeze into my pants, it was certainly not a fun task. Not to mention that fact that I had to unbutton my pants every time I ate anything. My trip to "It's Hip to be Round" came the day I had an embarrassing incident at work. I had just eaten lunch at my desk and unbuttoned my pants, just like any other day recently. Only this time, I forgot to button them before I headed down the hall to the fax machine. I was completely oblivious until a co-worker was kind enough to point out my little wardrobe malfunction. Luckily, it was a friend who knew about "my condition" and didn't think I was just being lazy! In the picture to the right I was 12 weeks pregnant. According to www.babycenter.com, here is what was going on that week:

"The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, your baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce". Just to be fair, I would like to point out that even though the baby was only "about the size of a lime", my uterus was reportedly the size of a large grapefruit. People at work keep making fun of me when I try to show them my "baby bump". They laugh and say, "there is nothing there". But I can assure you, from my point of view, things are looking a lot different. And I don't think my entire wardrobe shrunk! I realize I am a bit sensitive on the issue. I am looking forward to looking pregnant, not just looking like I ate a big lunch!

Well, that should get everyone up to speed for now. I hope you enjoyed the first post. I assure you future posts will not be this long, so please come back!