16 weeks - We're an avacado!

Hi all. This is going to be a long post as I have a lot to update you on.

First, we just got back from our 16 week doctor's appointment with good news, the baby is doing great and all our tests came back with great results. The ultrasound, blood tests, and nuchal translucency are all normal. We heard the heartbeat again with a few kicks thrown in... the little one wasn't cooperating with the dobbler this time!

We also scheduled our 20 week ultrasound at which we will be able to find out the sex of our munchkin. The "Big Test" is scheduled for Thursday September 20 at 8:30 am. I can't tell you how excited I am for that day and know that the next few weeks are going to be a true test of my patience! I'm looking forward to knowing this little one a little better and getting to start to decorate the nursery! For all of you that have been guessing the sex, your day will come soon!

I also wanted to update you all on the baby's growth:
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. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

As for me, I am feeling great, just thicker. My shorts don't fit anymore but I did find a few tops that I have been living in - very loose and flowy... perfect for my expanding waistline. I haven't had much nausea to speak of, but I'm finally able to eat a normal amount of food although fish and chicken are still appalling to me. I've been craving tacos, and lots of them, healthy right? I'm also a lot more thirsty these days and have an easier time drinking water (Dave's happy about that one!). I've gained only three pounds, which is terrific in my opinion and great by the doctor's standards so we can stop worrying that I'm not eating enough.

We finally got the storage room (aka crypt) done and have moved all Dave's prized possessions (aka tools) into it. The room may be huge, for our standards, but man does that boy have some tools. Note to self: stop buying tools for holidays. :) The basement looks great... well, aside from the half orange half blue wall... see, I couldn't paint the other half b/c all Dave's tools were in the way! We brought down the futon from the baby's room and I've made it a nice little sitting area. There's still work to be done, but it's finally not embarrassing to look at! I'll post pictures once the paint is done.

The nursery plans are coming along too. I went to look at the crib I registered for and decided I didn't like it. The color was terrible - more like a fake red brick color instead of the rich cherry finish I am aiming for. So, my chubby belly and I went to Babies R Us (while Dave was Dryloc-ing the crypt) and picked out a new one... it's gorgeous! It's made by Baby Italia and I think it's going to look great! Once we get back from our long weekend away we're going to start putting up bead board and trim, scrape the textured ceilings and paint. Here's the new crib:

We're going to see my best friend Nikki, her husband and new baby Drew this weekend in Indianapolis. I'm really looking forward to seeing them, last time I was there Nikki was just about 4 months pregnant and we redecorated their kitchen and family room to prepare for their baby. Little Drew is now almost 6 months old - him and our little one will be almost exactly 1 year apart. The drive is going to be a long 10 hours, but well worth seeing our friends again.

Some other great news, we sold the Jeep. Surprisingly Dave was very excited when we let it go this morning. Funny thing is, almost everyone that looked at it commented on how clean it was! If they had only seen it before we de-Cooper-ized it! I guess that 4 hours of shopvac, Windex and rolled tape hair removal was worth it! It's new owner is a young girl from Temple Hills MD.

And lastly, I wanted to post some pics I took of the neices in Sunset... they loved when Aunt Amy took out the camera and we're just hams for me. I love their smiles!

Well, I guess I should work now although I'm more in a find-something-else-to-do-other-than-work kind of mood right now. But, gotta pay the bills!

Love to all!

Our Last Day At Sunset Beach

It's our last day at the beach and I'm sad. :( I don't want to go home! Going home means more work and no beach! How am I ever supposed to keep this tan!

It's been a great week, the weather has been very cooperative, the house is nice and we've been keeping ourselves very busy. On Tuesday we took a trip to Myrtle but were sadly disappointed to learn that they tore down the amusement park. We went to Ripley's Believe it Or Not instead and ate some pretty greesy food. The girls had fun, but it wasn't quite what we were anticipating.

Yesterday Dave, Mr. Bill and I went golfing. I didn't play, but instead drove the cart around and reminisced about my younger years.. of course we were never allowed to use a cart back then!!! I did play a hole and hit a few tee shots, but now I wish I'd have played more. Dave and I have been practicing a lot these days at the driving range near us and I'm getting pretty good considering I haven't played in about 10 years. I have to thank my mom and step dad for all those years of lessons, it's finally now starting to pay off!

It rained last night pretty badly so we didn't get to go take pictures at the beach. We stayed in, made a big dinner for the family and played Cash Flow while the little girls watched High School Musical 2. We also made homemade ice cream... yum! We got up early this morning so we could bring Coop to the beach and take some pictures... he loves the ocean.


See the smile on his face? Cooper made a friend on the beach too....

We're off to the beach now for our last day of sun and fun!
Love to all!

At the beach

Hi all. We're at the beach this week... and I think Mr. Cooper is enjoying it more than we are! I wish I had my camera with me when he first got in the ocean - he was sooo cute jumping the waves. He didn't want to get out and pulled Dave back in time after time. We're planning on taking him again tonight so I'll be sure to take pictures this time.

I did get a few of him in his second favorite place, the baby pool. I just love how he digs in it and pushes all the water out... if I can get video to work I'll post that once the battery is charged.

The beach has been great - the weather is wonderful, but HOT! I've been pretty exhausted come the end of the day from the beach and family activity but enjoying every minute of it. We all meet at the beach in the morning and again for dinner at night - it's quite enjoyable and I don't want this week to end. If I could just have a Corona like Dave is right now it would be perfect!

Wish you all were here!

Yeah! Second Trimester here we come!

Hi all...sorry it's been so long. Good news this week is that we're starting our second trimester. I am very excited about it since now big things are starting to happen. The baby is going to start growing like a weed, I'm going to be feeling great (so I've been told), and I'll stop hearing... "you don't look pregnant!" I know a lot of you are probably thinking that I'm crazy for saying that but I am actually looking forward to it.

Here's the update on the baby's growth this week...

Head to bottom, your baby's 3 1/2 inches long — about the length of a lemon — and weighs about 1 1/2 ounces. Her body's growing faster than her head, which now sits upon a more well-defined neck. By the end of this week, her arms will have lengthened and will be in proportion to the rest of her body. (Her legs still have some growing to do, though.) She's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair all over her body (called lanugo). Her liver starts secreting bile this week, a sign that it's already functioning properly, and her spleen starts contributing to the production of red blood cells. She's also producing and discharging urine into the amniotic fluid, a normal process that she'll keep up until birth. You still can't feel your baby's movements, but her hands and feet (which are now half an inch long) are more flexible and active. Thanks to brain impulses, her little facial muscles are getting a workout as she squints, frowns, and grimaces. She can grasp now, too, and she may be able to suck her thumb.

Here's what the baby looks like now...
A lot of people ask if I can feel the baby move. I'm not sure... I do get sharp pains all around my abdomen when I'm still. I've been told that movement feels like fluttering or hunger pangs, these definately don't feel like that, but are random and move around... I guess I'll know when they get more rapid and defined.

Dave and I are really excited this week... we're leaving for the beach on Saturday for a week. We're going to Sunset Beach which is just north of the South Carolina border, near Myrtle Beach. We are so anxious to be there, to see Copper run in the waves and to get some time away from the house and the office. Dave's family is all going to be there... him mom, dad, sister, brother and two neices... I especially can't wait to see them since I'm pretty sure they don't know about the baby yet. BethAnn, the youngest neice (5) couldn't stop talking about her teacher who was pregnant. She thought it was the coolest thing and I can't wait to share the news with her. I know Katie will be thrilled as well... there hasn't been a baby in the family since BethAnne was born.

So this week we're frantically trying to gather things that need to be packed and are wondering how we're going to get it all in the truck! Not only do we need to bring beach essentials, but we need to pack our computers as well since this is a working vacation. This should be interesting...

The crypt is looking great. Dave has been working hard and has gotten the walls all skim coated with mortar. All we have left to do now is to DryLoc the walls and put in the shelves. After that I'll have my basement back! I was hoping to have it done before we leave, but it looks like we'll finish up when we get back. I guess it's something to look forward to.

Well, hope everyone has a great week... I'll try to post pics from the beach this week so you can all be jealous!

love to all.

We're a shrimp now

Happy Wednesday everyone!

One week left in my first trimester... now all the fun begins and the fears subside. Since I haven't felt too sick or miserable I can only imagine this coming time to be blissful. I am anxious about feeling pregnant, looking pregnant and knowing that the baby is at lest risk and starting to grow.

According to my trusted site babycenter.com, here is this weeks update:

Your belly may soon be big enough to announce to the world that you're expecting, but your baby is still tiny. In fact, he's only about 3 inches long crown to rump — roughly the size of a jumbo shrimp — and weighs just about an ounce. Despite the small proportions, there's a fully formed baby inside your womb now. Much more proportional than it was a few weeks ago, his head is now only about a third the size of his body. His tiny, unique fingerprints are already in place. His kidneys and urinary tract are functional, and he's starting to urinate out the amniotic fluid he's been swallowing. As you start your second trimester, most of your baby's critical development will be completed, and your odds of miscarriage will drop considerably.

I want to thanks a few key people in this post. First, Elizabeth Demers. Thank you so much for letting me borrow your maternity clothes. Although I haven't worn any yet I'm sure they'll find the light of day soon. I also want to thank Keith and Mary Burner who have graciously let us borrow oodles of baby stuff including a high chair, car seat, pack-n-play, play seat and much more. Now all I have to do is find room in the house for it all! Lastly, the parents, for being so supportive and helping us thus far... with planning, gifts and prayers. I'm lucky to have six of you and I know this baby is already loved.

The house is coming along. We're planning to somewhat finish the crypt this weekend and finally start putting away all of Dave's tools and making room for all the baby things that are now piled in the baby room. Soon I'll have a blank canvas to start planning the room, that is once I know if it's a girl or boy! Until then though we're planning on scraping the textured ceiling and putting up bead board. If you know me at all you'll know that I am SUPER excited to get to decorate!

I hope everyone is well... :) Amy

Not much to report

Hi all. I haven't posted recently since there's not much to report. I'm still not sleeping, having strange food cravings... like what I call OCD lemonade (70% lemonade, 30% Sprite) and still with the Arby's craving... although I am trying to stay away from that one! But not only are there cravings, but most food looks appaling to me... especially food that's good for me!

I'm still actively looking for baby room ideas. Dave and I looked at Babies R Us yesterday and didn't find much I liked. Dave did however find a glider that he's in love with, as if he's going to be the one using it the most! It's not my ideal glider... I want the ones that look like overstuffed living room chairs, but he does make a good point, those don't have high backs to rest your head. The one we did find is very nice, but still has that wood-chair-with-a-pad-on-it look which I'm not crazy about. Plus, all my furniture so far is painted ivory and the chair he likes doesn't come that way. I told him he could have the chair if he stripped the dressers down and restained them to match! He won't let me do it since the paint on them is very old and may contain lead... I have to thank him for that. So, I'm still working on the chair and decor...

We did decide that a cradle in the bedroom is going to be better than a pack-n-play. Our thought is that the pack-n-play is going to be used mostly in the basement while we're working and we'd hate to move it up and down three flights every night. So, the next best idea is a cradle. I found one I like online, but am still watching ebay for the "cradle of my dreams".

Alot of you ask about Cooper these days... and I'm here to report that he's the most spoiled dog in the world. He gets to go to the dog park every day and recently got a plastic pool that he LOVES! The only problem... he pees in it every time. It cracks me up since he's the pickiest pee-er in the world (ask his granddaddy!). His newset trick is to bring Dave his shoes and his leash when he needs to go out. I'll never get over how cute that is! Here's a pic from his first birthday. He has a mini b-day cake and is waiting very paitently for us to say ok...


Love to all and have a great weekend!