34.5 weeks

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! We just got back last night from Dave's parents house where we spent four relaxing days with a little eating (well, a lot actually) and present opening thrown in. I was pampered and even though I rouged through a few bad sleepless nights I got to relax and enjoy the time away with family. Dave and I were very fortunate this year and got almost everything on our lists - thanks to all our families for your generosity!

I just have to share a drawing that my neice Beth Anne did for the family... it's so cute! Bill and Barbara have a white board in their kitchen that they often write messages on to welcome people. The girls love to draw on it and this year Beth Anne made a special one for the whole family... notice how her Aunt Amy is a bit different than the others... isn't that adorable!!!!



I finally got around to taking some pictures of Emma's nursery. I still have some work to do but it's almost done. Dave and I are going to buy our rug this week and I'm hoping the glider comes in soon. I'll also be hanging pictures and putting everything away (if I can find room!!!!).
I just love how it's coming together and how it feels so soothing in there. My goal was to create a space for Emma (and me!) to relax and I think I've done a pretty good job.

Here's the bed skirt...

And the curtains...
Here's a close up of the butterflies on the curtains...

And the changing table...


The color looks really washed out on screen, but it's a very pretty sage green with a gold undertone. I even found the baskets to put in the changing table (thanks mom!) and once we cut out a drawer bottom they should slide out fairly easily for one hand access to the diapers and wipes.

Dave got to feel her move around quite a bit last night - she was a very active girl all night. Her movements are more like rolls these days versus kicks and I still love watching my belly morph, as weird as it is.

I'm still feeling pretty good but having some major back issues. One day it's the left side, the next the right but most days it's just downright uncomfortable. Now that I am starting to really put weight on it's taking it's toll on me. My shoes are tighter, I'm swelling just a bit in the ankles and Dave even noticed I am waddling a bit more. Good times. :)

Here's the update for this week:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which she'll need to regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!!!

33 weeks

Wow, I just downloaded the pictures of me at 33 weeks and I am so much bigger than the last time I posted! I didn't realize it until I went back to compare! Check out the belly!


Dave was goofing off...


Our doctor's appointment this week went well. The heartbeat is still great and Dr. Ferrier predicts that Emma will be around 7 lbs. I'm pleasantly surprised that she thinks she'll be that small!

I'm feeling fairly good these days aside from the back aches and hard time sleeping. The heartburn is back but I've learned to rely on Tums so it's bearable. I'm not as hungry as I thought I'd be but I guess that's good since I'm not gaining tons of weight. It'll be easier to lose!

We're getting ready for Christmas here but we're not feeling in the spirit like we want. We decided to not get a tree this year since we waited so long and the holidays crept up on us. We'll be going to Dave's parents house so we figure we'll take it all in while we're there. The plan for me is to sleep, read, watch movies and catch up on some R & R while I can. Work has been really quite manageable but I still find myself tired often so it will be a nice break.

We've gotten most of our Christmas shopping done with just a few gifts left to buy. I always wait until the last few days and hope that someday I'll learn. I guess having a child will teach me to plan and prepare much better so maybe there's hope after all.

For New Years I think we're going to go to a friend's house in Ashburn. It's a trek out there but will be nice to see all our friends and not be in a smokey bar for a change. I'm not sure how long I'll last but I'm going to give it m all since it's my last year pre-momhood. My cousin Scott and his girlfriend Jen are also coming into town for a few days around New Years so we'll get to see each other. Jen is also pregnant so at least I won't be the only one not able to drink!

Cooper is doing better although we had another incident the other night where he got very lethargic and mopey. We changed his diet back to chicken and rice and he seemed to be doing better but now he won't eat his regular food. I think we're going to have to experiment with new food - we're guessing that's the cause for his digestive problems. For the time being we're supplementing his food with parmesan cheese. Wow he's spoiled!

If I don't post before Christmas I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and stays safe! We're sending love and wished your way!

And lastly... here's the update for this week:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

Love to all!

32 weeks

Wow, just 8 weeks to go and it's still hard to believe. With the stress of the holidays and work these days I know it's going to fly by. Being an impatient person these past 7 or so months has been difficult, but I couldn't imagine Emma coming any sooner. I know parents can never be truly prepared but I'm sure another month would do me just fine. :)

Things are getting harder to do. Getting in and out of the car is challenging nowadays and long bouts on my feet are pretty hard on my back. Oh, and of course... sleeping. I can't ever seem to get comfortable and when I do finally find that perfect spot it seems I just lay there waiting to fall back asleep. I do feel pretty good in the mornings though so that's when I try to get everything done. Come lunch time all I want to do is veg out.

We started our Christmas shopping last night, finally. We didn't come home with much but got a nice dinner out of it and some time away from the house. Even at 3:45 in the afternoon stores were crowded. Why didn't I start this weeks and weeks ago? Never fails, even when you're pregnant I guess.

I have a massage, pedicure, manicure and makeup day at Liz Arden this Friday and I am sooo excited. Dave gave me this gift certificate for my birthday two years ago and I am just now getting around to using it. I feel horrible about it and am not quite sure why I waited so long but now that it's scheduled I am really looking forward to it.

I am on a listserv with some girls all due the same week as me with their first children and this morning I checked the post to see that one of the girls had her baby yesterday at 31 weeks. It's a really scary story and I just hope she and her daughter recover quickly. She went in for a scheduled appointment with her doctor only to find out the baby's heart rate was dropping. They rushed her in for an emergency c-section after 3 drops in the heart rate. I can't imagine what would have happened had she not been there for that appointment when she was. We have an appointment on Thursday and I am going to talk to my doctor about signs. It's scary to think what could be happening without me knowing.

Here's the update for this week:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Everyone keeps asking so I'll let the world know, I've only gained 17 lbs. I'm REALLY happy about it and pray that the next 8 weeks are as steady. If all goes well I'm looking to gain only 25-30 lbs. total. Thanks Emma!!! I think the weight has mostly been in my belly and hips so I'll be spending a lot of time walking when she's born!

I'll post pics as soon... I think I've popped quite a bit since last time.

love to all!

Poor Coop

Last night was pretty rough. We came home from dinner and soon after Cooper started throwing up. He was acting like he had something caught in his throat and wouldn't stop hacking and dry heaving even after his stomach was empty. He wanted to go outside but all he did was eat grass, a sign he really wasn't feeling well. After a few hours he started calming down but still paced the living room and was acting very sad and sick. All he wanted to do was cuddle and be pet.

We decided since he was somewhat calm and only occasionally dry heaving that we'd wait until the morning to determine if we needed to go to the vet. At 2am Dave woke up to see Cooper sitting up staring at him. He hadn't been sleeping and was obviously very uncomfortable. We decided it would be best to go to the animal ER.

At 4 Dave came home with Coop - he had an x-ray that determined he doesn't have anything lodged in his throat, but is very very dehydrated and gassy. Something he ate must have made his pretty sick. He got a shot of fluids and some pain meds. $400 later he is home, but has to eat only bland foods like rice and chicken for four days and take medication to stop the heaving. Poor guy, he never seems to get a break, and neither does our wallet!!!

Pray for our little guy that he gets better and feels like himself soon. :(

9 weeks left!!!

I can hardly believe it, only 9 weeks to go! I think the panic is going to set in real soon. I just watched two episodes of A Baby Story and man I'm not sure I'm ready for this!

Things are starting to change very rabidly with me lately, as I growing bigger and bigger each day. I'm having a harder time getting up and down from the couch but surprisingly I am sleeping a whole lot better. Rolling over is a different story, but I'm not waking up as much. I get tired really easily but I take frequent breaks. The heartburn has subsided and the headaches are gone so I guess I'm patiently waiting for the next milestone... backaches maybe?

We started birthing classes last week at the hospital. We go three hours every week for three weeks. Most of what we've learned I know already, but it's nice for Dave to hear it. He's a really good sport and gets a gold medal for the massage part of the class. He hates it but he's doing a good job of hiding his true feelings :)

We spent all weekend working feverishly on the kitchen and cleaning the house. I even washed the wood floors on my hands and knees! The kitchen looks great and we are so happy we did it... now all we need to do it resand the floors and put in the new cabinets (once we get around to ordering them!!!) We also need to order the granite but can't do that until all the cabinets are in.

Here's Dave hard at work tearing down the bar...

We got it torn down on Saturday and Sunday we spend the day patching drywall and putting things back to normal. Cooper was a big help...


Here's what it looks like now:


Our plan is to paint the table legs and chairs black and get a new rug.. .but I'm sure that will come later. The best part, we ate dinner at the table today!

Here's the update for this week:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Happy Monday everyone!

30 weeks

I'm a slacker, I know. Can I blame it on Thanksgiving? Or that I am so tired and busy that my days just fly by? Yeah, that works.

30 weeks isn't all that bad. I feel pregnant and the heartburn is still there with a vengance, but this baby in the belly thing is pretty easy. (I say that now...) I'm starting to have a harder time sleeping but I'm taking the positive approach and telling myself it's in preparation for February. Dave is being so helpful with Cooper and let's me sleep in (which is awesome!!!!) so I have him to thank for me not being as grumpy as I could be. Thanks hon.

We go to the doc every two weeks now. It seems too soon but I guess it's crunch time so it's necessary. We also start our birthing classes this week, fun! We're taking them at Inova Alexandria Hospital which is where I'll be delivering. We also have a tour scheduled for December so we'll be familiar with the hospital. Man, it's fast approaching!

Here's my 30 week photo:

Thanksgiving was great, my dad and step mom came to visit. We ate a lot, played lots of games and worked on the kitchen which is starting to look awesome. We also visited Montpelier, President Madison's home in Orange, VA. My sister-in-law Su works there as a docent and we got to get the tour of the house and grounds from her. The home was owned by the DuPont family until 1984 and they are now returning it to it's former glory... it's down to its bear bones now but still fun to see.

Here are some pics from Montpelier:


Scott is coming over tonight to help move the slab of granite from the bar. Once that's done we'll be able to move the remaining cabinets, tear down the half wall and put the table in. It already feels very wide open in there and we have so much more cabinet space!


Here's a pic of the new cabinet wall, this used to be the dining room. We're going to put more base cabinets where that chair is.


Almost done with the curtains and bed skirt for Emma's room and once I get them done I'll post some picures of that as well. It's starting to look really nice. Dad and Lynn bought us the side table for her room as well as some butterfly picture hangers for Christmas (yes, early!!!), Mom gave me some antique doll dresses and Bill and Barbara gave us an adorable frame with her name in it that I still need to hang... it looks like I have a ton to do in there!

I have so many people to thank for all the clothes donations for Emma. She's already spoiled and she isn't even born yet! Her closet and two dressers are completely full and it's about 90% 0-6 month clothes! Now I really need a bigger house! I can't wait to dress her in some of the outfits she has, they are absolutely adorable!

And lastly, here's the 30 week update:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.

Love to all!

28 weeks - Yeah Third Trimester!!!!

Hi everyone. We're officially starting the third trimester today and let me tell you, I definitely feel the difference. I have not been sleeping, am VERY emotional and am sore all over. I've been having Braxton-Hicks contractions a lot lately especially when I walk. I guess my body is preparing for Emma's arrival. I'm trying to take it easy these days because the last thing I need it to be put on bed rest!

The house is a disaster. We're trying to do so many things at once and it's very trying on me. I've started to nest a little bit and can't stand all the junk laying around. Last night Dave finished the shelves in one of our closets and we're starting to put things away. I know that in time it will all find it's place, but man it's hard having boxes next to your chair while you're trying to get things done. Much relief to me we're tossing a bunch of stuff, finding new homes for other stuff and just generally cleaning house. We plan to start the kitchen this week but who knows!

Time is flying by... 12 weeks and counting! I went to Babies R Us this past weekend and ordered our glider and about freaked out on the woman when she told me it takes 10-12 weeks to get here. Good grief, I need more time! But, thankfully, I got it ordered and I can check that off my list. I'm still searching for the perfect rug (that's not $450) but haven't found it yet.

Emma is a lot more active these days but only kicks when I'm calm. I guess that's my sign to relax more. Dave is able to feel her move a lot more but she's still very shy toward him. He still hasn't seen her move but once she gets a bit bigger I'm sure he will.

Here's the update for this week:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

After this week I'll be going to the doc every two weeks until my 36th week. I got a call that my glucose test came back negative so I'm clear for diabetes, but I am anemic and have to take an iron pill every night. It hasn't been easy, I throw up on iron so I have to make sure my stomach is very full and should be drinking lots more water, which is still very hard for me to do. In the past I have had bouts of RLS, restless leg syndrome, so hopefully the iron will work for that too. I get my Rhogam shot for Rh negative blood on Thursday so we'll be clear until delivery if Emma has Rh positive blood.

Hope everyone is doing well!

27 weeks

Gooly how time flies! I can't believe I'm already at 27 weeks! The real countdown starts now... 13 weeks left!

I am sorry I haven't posted in a while. Last week was a doozie. I had two printers totally screw up two jobs, had a bazillion things to do and pretty much had a breakdown at the end of the week. I decided that I needed a weekend to myself and did just that... I didn't work at all this past weekend and it felt great!!! I'm paying for the hard work I did on the house though, I'm sore all over! If only I could soak in a hot tub right now!

This weekend Dave and I worked like mad people on our house. Our current projects include: redoing the kitchen, building shelves in the basement closet, Emma's nursery and eventually the bathroom. I'm starting to wonder how we're going to get it all done in such little time. Oh, and we just finished the office too.. we finished painting, put up another desk and rearranged everything, it looks great and it very functional now.

I worked this past weekend on Emma's room and and very happy with the results. I was going to buy a decal for the wall from Pottery barn Kids but decided last minute to try painting it myself. I'm so glad I did, I love it more than the one I could have ordered. Here's what I did...

Here's the rug I think we're going to get to tie it all together... it's from Pottery Barn.


I've been feeling pretty good these days, just more pregnant and a lot less energized. I feel like Emma has doubled in size since week 24 and I'm pretty sure I look like it too. I can't get out of cars easily anymore and small household projects like laundry are daunting. I even had to have Dave help me tie my shoe the other day. How pathetic is that!

Emma kicks a lot these days and I love to watch my belly move. It brings a smile to my face every time. I think she's shy toward her daddy though, everytime he stops to watch she stops kicking. It's actually funny and I can see her in there saying "ha ha daddy!".

Copper is doing well just not completely himself these days. He's been on so much medication fro mhis hot spot that he's sleeping a lot and not eating much. We give him cheese on his food but these days that's not even enough. Spoiled dog. He came back from the park this morning and must have bitten his tongue, Dave said hes mouth was full of blood. Good thing I didn't see it, I would have been freaking out! That's all I need! He's fine now, just sleeping upstairs in his bed. Awe....

Well, works beckons. I hope everyone is doing well!

25 Weeks

Hi everyone...I've finally gotten around to taking my 25 week picture:

Boy is that belly white!!!! Can you tell I didn't wear a bikini this year? (I think those days are gone!) Emma is growing rapidly and trust me when I tell you I can feel it. I've had pretty bad round ligament pain in my lower abdomen... things are definately starting to stretch. I'm even starting to outgrow some of my early maternity clothes...sorry Dave!

Dave and I have been working really hard on the house the past few days. We've finally finished painting the office and got really lucky to find a farm table very similar to the one we already have (which Dave uses as his desk) to serve as my new desk. With the hopes of a third person in the office we need the extra desk space for sure. Tonight we'll be rearranging the space and getting things in order down here.

We also started working on the kitchen. We went to Restore last week and found a pantry cabinet that matches our cabinets for $50!!!! We were planning on spending close to $700 to buy one so we're very happy we went that day. We're going to be making the dining room part of the kitchen since we need more cabinet space... with bottles, bibs and all that comes with a baby 4 cabinets just isn't going to cut it anymore! I'll post pictures once the realy work starts.

Other than the round ligament pain I've been feeling pretty good. I had pretty bad heartburn for a few weeks but it seems to have curbed a bit. I'm sure something new will take it's place soon. Maybe backaches?

Su, my sister in law, gave us tons of baby clothes, blankets and baby gear this weekend. We are soooo thankful. I had a pretty good time going through it all while we watched the Steelers on Sunday (sad, sad game). Emma's pretty lucky to have two older nieces that have passed things down! I also went shopping with Barbara this weekend and got some essentials for Emma's arrival. I think with a pack of newborn diapers we'll be ready to roll. Well, sortof.

Here's the 25 week update:

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — doesn't sound like much, but she's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. Her hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after she's born.

Love to all!

24 weeks

I got home last night from a long weekend in Michigan visiting my family and having my first two baby showers... it's was so much fun. Thanks to everyone that gave me such wonderful gifts, Emma is truly blessed by so many of you and Dave and I really appreciate your generosity. We recieved a lot of great baby gear and now I just need to find room to put it all! We got a lot of 6-12 month clothes, our crib matress, high chair, monitor, sheets and blankets, two diaper bags, some toys, and lots of other really fun stuff! I don't have pictures yet, but will post them when I get some.

We're 24 weeks now and I'm starting to really get antsy to get things done. The nursery isn't nearly finished, the house needs a ton of work before she arrives and I still haven't found a good designer to help out once she's born. I'm pretty cool with the idea of being a mom and not too nervous about that, just a bit worried about how I'm going to get my day to day tasks done. Maid? Personal Chef? Clone?

Here's our 24 week update:
Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance **that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

We go in Thursday for the Glucose screening test to determine if I have gestational diabetes. I'm hoping this test goes smoothly... if not, I'll have to have another test that lasts three hours, yuk!

Have a great week everyone!

Poor Cooper

We have a very sad puppy in our house today.... we got back from the beach on Sunday and Cooper had a very bad infection on the side of his face. We took him to the vet this morning and he has a "hot spot" which is basically a sore that he scratched so much it spread and got really bad really quickly. He had to be sedated this morning so he could be shaved and cleaned up and he's still pretty groggy. He has an e-collar on now and HATES it... he keeps bumping into things and looks so sad at you it makes me want to cry. Please pray for Mr. Cooper that he gets better soon. :(


Our week at the beach was great. We had to work a little bit but it wasn't too bad. I don't think we're ever going to have a real vacation ever again. Maybe when we retire, but that's so far in the future it doesn't count! Calgon, take me away!!!! Some beach pics...

This was the whole gang on crab night. We ordered in crabs, crab legs, shrimp and hush puppies, Yum! From left...Lauren, Sara, Emily, Jeff, Dave, Danny's dad Bob, Danny, Brant and Stacy.
Here's Coop swimming in the pool. He just loved it and didn't want to get out. He'd even do laps without the ball just to be in there. :)

This is Ainsley, Brant and Stacy's 4 year old daughter. She's the cutest thing and loved to have her picture taken. She'd be playing in the waves and see me with the camera and stand and pose. Watch out Stacy!!!!

I love this picture. I'm not sure what Dave is looking at, but they're playing Bocce Ball. From left... Jeff, Dave, Sara and Lauren.

Some exciting news, Dave got to feel Emma kick for the first time on Friday. His face lit up, I think he was actually surprised he felt it. She's kicking a lot more these days, but still likes my bladder, ugh. She's still breech and I'm hoping she get's a big energy spurt and flips over soon.

I got a call from my insurance company last week asking for approval for a perscription for Rhogan to be shipped to my doctor. Apparently I have Rh negative blood and there's a chance Emma could be Rh negative (since Dave is) and my body could reject her if our bloods we're to ever mix. It's a shot I have to have at my next appointment that will block my antibodies from attacking her. It was a bit scary at first, especially since my doctor never mentioned it to me but I'm finding it's normal and happens to a lot of women.

In a few weeks I also have to do the "oh-so-fun-Glucose-test" which I am NOT loking forward to. I'm a bit nervous that I'll end up with gestational diabetes because of my blood sugar issues, but let's all hope that doesn't happen. I have to drink this fruit punch stuff an hour before my apoointment then give blood twice while I'm there. I thought being pregnant was fun!!! I think I have given blood about 10 times so far and I'm only half way there!

No news on the nursery. Mom is coming in Nov. to help but I haven't done anything else since I took the last pictures. I need to get moving on it, pretty soon I'll be the size of a house and wont' be able to do anything much less decorate!

Here's the update for 23 weeks:

Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. His skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing. He can swallow, but he normally won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero — such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb.

I'm excited for this weekend, I am going to Michigan to visit my family and both sides are throwing me a shower. I have one on Friday night with my mom's side and one Sunday afternoon with my dad and step-mom's side. I can't wait to see everyone, it's been a while since I've been home. It's going to be a short trip, but with work these days I can't afford to stay much longer.

Well, back to work. Have a great week everyone!

22 weeks

Greetings from Nags Head, NC! We're at the beach this week for what I'm considering my last vacation before Emma arrives. We won't be doing much travelling from here on out (together, that is). I do have two baby showers in two weeks that I'm flying to Michigan for, but after that I'll be homebound.

The beach is great. We got her Saturday evening around 6 and will be staying until this coming Saturday. I think we're going to go visit some friends in Kilmarnock VA Sat evening to wrap up the weekend, which should be fun. Cooper is enjoying every minute of this vacation... he's getting to swim every day, which he LOVES! He gets in the pool like it's his second home and never wants to get out, he just swims laps. It's hysterical and get's me nervous sometimes because I can tell he's tired but keeps going! He's got two puppy friends here, Chica and Dixie, and loves chasing them around. He's a bit of an instigator when it comes to rough housing, but it's great to see him get along with other dogs. Yesterday he got to go for a run, swim in the pool, go for a car ride and got to go to the Sound so he was pretty tired. I'll try to take pics of him swimming in the next few days.

Based on my due date we're 22 weeks now. Emma's growing rapidly, but I don't seem to be, which I guess is a blessing. I thought I was pooching out more but I looked at my past weekly pics and not much has changed. I'm definately in maternity clothes now but can still wear some of my old tops. I'm sure that will change in the next few weeks. :)


Here's a pic of Cooper and me in my preggo bathing suit... so comfy!!!!


I got some great news last week from my cousin Scott that he and his girlfriend Jen are having a baby a few weeks after us. (hi Jen - can't wait to meet you!) I am so excited for them and thrilled that I'll have someone to talk to that I'll actually know who's going through some of the same things as me. I talk to a lot of girls on an online thread but I've never met them so it's a bit different.

I've had some pretty bad heartburn lately and more leg cramping, which stinks, but other than that I'm feeling pretty good. I've been able to stay up late with all our friends here and have been sleeping pretty well considering the anaconda pillow is at home. The bed sucks here, but I think I'm so tired by the time my head hits the pillow it doesn't matter much. I know my time of sleep is limited so I'm trying to get as much as I can now! Dear Dave has been great and let's me sleep in every day, I can't tell you how wonderful that is!!!

Here's the update for 22 weeks:
Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

Emma's room is still the same but we've cleared out some of the big toys we got from friends and I've started cleaning out the dressers. Our plan is to put up the bead board in the next few weeks but we'll see. I'd like to get everything done before Thanksgiving but not sure we can stick to that schedule, work has been very hectic and time just flies!

Well, it's time to eat again... one of the best parts of being pregnant!!! I'm eating constantly and love it! My fav's these days are all fruit popsicles, Smart Start cereal and any pretty much any piece of fruit I can get my hands on. Emma likes fruit too... she kick a lot right after I eat some. :)

Love to all!

I apologize for the delay in posting, but there's good reason... I've been up to my eyeballs with work and there's no end in sight. Well, I shouldn't say that, I am going to the beach next week.

I deserve this vacation more than ever before, I am truly exhausted and on the virge of breakdown every 15 minutes. I find myself crying more and more, kinda like the old days when I had a "boss". The pressure to get things done these days is unbearable and finding time to look for quality help is near impossible. When I have a free second I find myself eating, showering or cleaning... and if you were to see my house you'd see that there must not be much time to spare!

The only highlight of my day today has been feeling Emma kick. She's been pretty active in the past few days and for the first time this morning she took pleasure in kicking my bladder. That was fun. I'm feeling her kick my lower right side, she must still be breech and liking her newfound motor skills. I just wish I could enjoy it more, these are the moments I want to remember, not the sobbing and complaining I've been known for the last few days. Maybe she's trying to tell me something....

Well, I'll stop complaining now... I have a lot to look forward to and this work will come to an end. I'll just picture myself floating in the pool as I gaze over the fence to the ocean next week. Yeah, you heard right, our house has a pool and is right on the beach. Let's just pray the weather cooperates and I can float for hours. Lauren, are you ready????

The nursery is coming along slowly. My mom is helping with the bedskirt and draperies when she comes to visit in October. I found the perfect fabric, it's sage green Dupion silk with emroidered butterflies, it's gorgeous and 100% the look I am going for. I haven't found the perfect sheets to match but I'm still on the prowl. For now I'll settle for ivory. I also need to find a good rug to tie everything together. I'm looking for something fairly simple with a cream base and touches of sage and maybe yellow/gold. Rugs are hard, they're either really gaudy or $1000 a pop. I think Target is a grear rug resource, if you have 14 hours to dedicate to searching.

I had another doctor's appointment on Monday and learned that indeed my due date has been moved up. The new one is Feb 4th. I think it's too early (since I pretty much know when she was conceived) but she's measuring big so you never know. She's the product of a 5lb mom and a 10 lb dad so anything goes. Dave jokes about her possibly being a Superbowl baby and how much she's going to hate that when she's older. I agree, if my birthday was ever on Superbowl Sunday I'd be pretty peeved too. I guess she'll just have to become a raging Steelers fan!

Well, it was supposed to be my 20 week mark, but since my due date is moved I'm not sure what to do... so, I'll post both 20 week and 21 week updates...

You're at the halfway mark — congratulations! Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's about 10 inches from head to heel. (The way your baby is measured now changes.) A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats your baby's entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance made of dead cells, digestive secretions, and swallowed amniotic fluid, which will accumulate in her bowels and end up in her first diaper.

Okay, that was gross, let's see, is 21 weeks better?

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. Her eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel her move. She's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if she starts working out just when you're settling down for the night.

I'll post a 21? week picture soon, just gotta find the time...

love to all.

The verdict is in....

We had our ultrasound this morning and are 99% positive it's a girl! The picture above is a cross section looking up. Our little girl was very cooperative throughout the test and looks perfect! Her heartbeat was 145 and she weighs about 10oz. Her heart, kidneys, brain and spine all look great.

She has 10 fingers....



...and ten toes...



Our ultrasound tech, Laura, told us that based on the 12 week measurements they moved my due date up to Feb. 4th. We still need to check with our doctor to see if that's really the case. We see her on Monday and will know a lot more.

With tears in my eyes I am so happy to introduce Miss Emma St. Clair Simpson!

Wives Tales... are they right?

Ok, it's my last chance to test those old wives tales to determine the sex of the baby... well, that is unless the baby hides tomorrow. Oh golly I hope not.

Here's one test I took on the interet at childbirth.org... pretty interesting!

You have a 14% chance of having a boy.
And you have a 85% chance of having a girl.

And Here's Why...
You are carrying the extra weight around the hips and bottom, so it's a girl.
The hair on your legs is not growing any faster during your preganacy, so it's a girl.
Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. You are having a girl.
Dad-to-be hasn't been gaining weight along with Mom-to-be, so it will be a girl.
The maternal grandmother doesn't have gray hair (dyed or natural), so a girl will be born.
You didn't have morning sickness early in pregnancy, so it will be a boy.
You are not looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a girl, because girls steal their mother's looks.
Your chest development has been quite dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a girl.
Since the sum of the mother's age at conception and the number of the month of conception is even, it will be a boy.
A needle on a thread held over you belly moves from side-to-side, so it will be a girl.
Your urine is a dull yellow color, so you will have a girl.
You are craving sweets, which means that it is a girl.
Your nose hasn't changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
You have been craving fruits, so it is a girl.
Your baby's heart rate is 140 or more beats per minute, so it's a girl.
You must have orange juice every day, so it's a girl.
You are having headaches, so it's a boy.
Your belly looks like a watermelon, so it's a girl.
You show them the palm of your hand, so it's a girl.
You use the body of the mug, so it's a girl.

Everyone pray that we have luck tomorrow morning, I am dying over here... I want to know soooo bad!!!

And, here's the weekly Wednesday update on the baby's growth:

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing 6 million eggs in her ovaries. They'll dwindle to fewer than two million by the time she's born.

The nursery

The news for the week, until the BIG ultrasound this Thursday, is that we got our crib! Dave and I, with a little help from our furry housemate, cleaned out the nursery and put it together this weekend. I absolutely love it and want to send a special thank you to Bill and Barbara (Dave's parents) for the generous gift.

The crib is gorgeous and I love the way the room is coming together. Here are some pics of "daddy" putting it together and of the final setup:


I am going to take out the top drawer of that dresser and put in some cherry/brown baskets that match the crib. I'm also going to get new lamps with cute lampshades once we find out what we're having. The glider we registered for is the same color wood (a dark cherry) and will have cream colored upholstery to match the dressers.

If it's a girl I also want to put a sheer canopy over the crib like this:
I also really like the dust ruffle that's in that picture... mom, can we make something like that?
I'm also looking at putting this ribbon decal frm Pottery Barn on the wall:

If it's a boy, I really like the paint treatment they did in this room...I'd do it in different colors to match the vintage teddy theme, maybe dark taupe with a hint of rust. We'll be putting up wainscoting and chair rail on the bottom half so the paint will only be on the top half. The bottom will be painted cream.

And I really like this rug....


Goes good with my teddy idea, doesn't it?


I'm sure come Thursday I'll have a lot more ideas... but I wanted to post something fun. :)

Love to all!

We're a large sweet potato

happy Wednesday all. Today started pretty rough but has ended up pretty nice after a long relaxing dinner with Dave at one of my favorite restaurants. We went to Tokyo Japanese Steak House and I got steak, shrimp and scallops with rice and veggies.... I'm so stuffed!

I've been sleeping better now that the anaconda pillow is back on the bed. I'm also having really weird dreams... last night I had a monkey that was trying to escape through the duct work. That and I was doing laundry for a freshman boy I had a crush on! Random? Yes. But I'm thankful that I'm dreaming and not tossing and turning!

I have been noticing the baby kick a lot more lately, especially around lunch time. It's really fun to know it's not just gas! he he he. It's pretty fantastic actually.

Here's the 18 week update... 8 more days until the BIG ultrasound!

Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound. (I hope that doesn't happen!!!!)

Bad news this week is I have an eye infection... again! It's not fun but the good news is I can take the medication my optomitrist perscribed. I just can't wait to see again without goopies!

Have a great week! I hear the weather is tapering off (especially in Michigan).. keep warm!

18 weeks

Hi all... I know a lot of you (mom's mostly) have been anxiously waiting to see how the belly has progressed... well, here's my 18 week photo...



I'm not going to post much more tonight, it's been a really long day and I need some rest. Tomorrow I'll post the weekly update.

Love to all...

Danny and Lauren's wedding

I thought I'd share some pictures from Danny and Lauren's wedding this past weekend. The reception too place at the Blackthorn Inn in Upperville, VA, about an hour west of DC. (http://www.blackthorne-inn.com/default.asp).

Lauren had a great idea to use perrenial plants as their centerpieces that they will plant at their new house when they move in. Isn't that a great idea!!!!


Lauren looked beautiful. She wore her grandmother's wedding dress which fit her perfectly - she was stunning in that dress. (Danny looked pretty good too!)

Plus, we got to hang out with all our friends. We haven't seen some of them since our wedding almost 2 years ago...

And, no post would be complete without a pic of my honey... love ya bud.