Ringing in the NEW YEAR

Before welcoming 2010 I thought maybe we should recap this last decade. I mean, a LOT has changed for us in the last 10 years.

Since 2000 I have
graduated highschool
graduated college
gott my masters
become a nurse midwife
delivered 200 babies! WOW
married my last boyfriend ;)
become a puppy mommy
bought a house
lived in 3 states
AND, got pregnant

and Dominic has
graduated highschool
visited China, Germany and Czech Republic
graduated college with honors
lived in 3 states
bought a house
adopted Eclair as his own
married the most wonderful woman ever
knocked someone up

In just 10 years we've done all that. I cannot imagine what the next 10 years will bring but we're certainly excited for 2010 to find out.

My new years resolutions last year were:
1. Post at least once a week- DONE started out a little slow but once I got knocked up I kicked it into gear thanks to those belly shots
2. Finish up all our house project currently in the works-
a. trim (paint and install) - DONE
b. paint front door screen green - didn't get to it, but I do have the paint, does that count?
c. get duct work fixed (damn rats) - DONE
d. buy and install new master closet organizer - DONE
3. Play wii fit 5X/wk - no where close. Guess I could probably use this one again come may 2010?
4. Frequent Starbucks no more than 2X/wk - DONE again, baby g helped out. There are even weeks where I don't go at all, that's a miracle
5. Plan a trip to Europe - not so much. I was all set to start planning and then found out we were expecting. I'm seriously considering going with an infant though, crazy as it sounds. Only problem, we want 2 close together so hopefully I'll be knocked up this time again next year. Kinda puts a kink in the budget :(

and Dominic's were short and sweet

1. make my wife happy-DONE with a capital D. He's wonderful and I'm lucky to have him.



Overall I'd say we're doing pretty good.

Here are my goals for 2010
1. continue to post on the blog weekly, hopefully with pictures of G outside my belly before long.
2. revamp our budget and set better limits on my spending.
3. get back to my prepregnancy weight of 140lbs.
4. purchase and learn to use a DSLR and photoshop



And Dominic's goals

1. get under 300 pounds

2. limit work hours to 45/week

3. win mega millions

4. learn to speak spanish (please note we've had the Rosetta Stone for this for 2 years now)

5. keep my wife happy

6. eat dinner at the table 5 nights a week



Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year's Eve! I'll leave you with the final belly shot of 2009

All I want for Christmas 2009

I GOT! I think Dominic did too. It was my first time on call for Christmas, and probably won't be my last. It has been quite the busy few days as far as babies go, with 3 deliveries so far and at least 2 more to go before I'm done on Sunday. Thankfully Cindy and John came to visit, since Hailee was visiting her dad in California for the holiday. They kept me company while I was off work for a few days before Christmas and Dominic company while I was being called away numerous times on Christmas Day. Skype came in handy this year, as both the Jensen's and Garguile's were able to see us open gifts It sure was nice to have family come visit and hopefully it will happen more frequently once G arrives. I imagine it's going to get a lot more difficult for us to travel with an infant and a pup. What did we do? Lounged around, made tons of cookies and baked goods, went to look at lights, wrapped to our hearts content, unwrapped gifts galore, and finally ate a delicious dinner made by Dominic that included Nana's pudding. Needless to say, the day was wonderful and Santa was sure generous. Here's a few shots of our celebration.

28 weeks

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds, about the size of a napa cabbage (our baby was estimated to be 2 pounds 10 ounces at the 4-D sono on tues) 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. Is it a little weird that baby G can SEE inside me?? I think so.

It's been a while since I answered the 'questions' so I'll given it a shot this week

Maternity Clothes: I'm pretty exclusively in maternity now. My athletic pants and big sweaters still fit fine but I'm really noticing my PJ tops getting too short

Stretch Marks: Still nothing, thankfully.

Sleep: I'm waking up to go to the bathroom several times a night already and my back is starting to ache a bit by morning but I'm not even having to implement the barrage of pillows yet so I can't really complain.

Best Moment this Week: 4-D ultrasound for sure. I keep looking back at those pictures thinking, that baby is INSIDE ME right now. Even feeling the little one move and delivering babies doesn't really make it real for some reason.

Movement: LOTS! I can tell the babies position and what appendage is poking me where now. I think Dominic and I even felt hiccups a few days ago.

Food Cravings: Sweets. I've always been a dessert girl and that hasn't changed. My appetite has been better in general and increased a few weeks back even more. I really do need to behave because I've done so good at this point that I'd hate to ruin it by splurging too much at the end.

Gender: Still no peaking. G was nice and modest and kept knees together for the ultrasound we just had so there was no need to avert our eyes or anything.

Labor Signs: Still nothing, thankfully. G can remain put for at least another 10 weeks as far as I'm concerned.

Belly Button: Innie. It's getting a bit more flat and my scar from the old belly button piercing is tighter but I still maintain that it will not turn out.

What I Miss: That glass of wine still :( Took a sip of Dominic's at Christmas dinner and I think it just made me miss it more.

What I'm Looking Forward to this Week: 2010, the year our first child will be born!

Of course the belly shots:

And for the nursery, with Cindy here I was able to pick some fabric to add length to the crib skirt and create the skirt for the desk that will hide some storage underneath. Stand by for a brilliant idea I have to keep that skirt touching the floor no matter the height setting on the crib, hint velcro. We decided on a striped fabric for both projects, here it is with the crib fabrics:

Of course we loved this circle fabric and thought it would be perfect to lenthen the drapes just a bit so they actually skim the ground like they're suppose to. I think we'll have mom insert it at about this height. I need to get a different color for the sheer behind and we're thinking white.

Then we stumbled on this dachshund fabric and COULD NOT pass it up. Baby G needs to pay homage to his or her big sis Eclair so Cindy is going to make a pillow for the glider out of this. As payment I got enough so she can make one for Hailee :)

I think that about covers it, just need to get all the measurements so mom can get to sewing. I'm thrilled that the nursery is finally coming to a finale and the finishing touches are about all we need to wrap up.

4-D ultrasound

We had our 4-D ultrasound today and baby G is doing fantastic. Baby weighs in at about 2.5 pounds and is ornery just like it's parents. We had a tough time getting good face shots because the little one insisted on keeping that hand in front of the face but more importantly everything looks perfect. Placenta is great and nice and high in the uterus, growing as it should with great implantation and everything. Baby G's heart, brain, kidneys and lungs look wonderful. Overall we're thrilled, I think Dominic even shed a tear or two getting to see this baby looking like a real baby! Here are the pictures, and YES picture number 5 is our child giving us the finger, I told you think little one is ornery, and NO we did NOT photoshop that.

27 weeks

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.


Belly shots:

Some nursery updates:

Here's 2 possible floor plans to go with our new swivel glider that we bought today. I know the chair is big but it has to be for comfort. Eventually it will move out into the living room as the second chair there and yes it does fit in there as well.

All the fabrics together, the sofa, chair and nursery bedding

Here's the chair in a different color, I'm pretty sure Dominic likes it.

And an upclose of the green microfiber for the chair

On the way out we marveled at the ridiculous parking jobs

And I can't leave out the three fabrics for our new sofa. The center fabric is the sofa and the two side fabrics are for 2 pillows each. The one on the left is actually discontinued but they were able to find enough to make the pillows out of and then gave me the swatch to do with as I please...I see another pillow in my future!

Here's the Sofa. It's the Chandler by Broyhill which happens to be the same that my mom got for their living room. We have a habit of doing that in my family, buying the same things. I guess all the research really does lead to a good choice if we each make the same one. Main factor in the choice for me was size, we needed a shorter sofa that still had a deep seat, and height, I like my head to rest on the back and not on the TOP of the back. Lets hope it fits through the door.

26 weeks

This is going to be a long one so grab a comfy seat and maybe a warm beverage.

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days



Belly Shots:

And now for the serious part:
this pregnancy and motherhood in general have been full of fears and since I’m not a shy person I figure I’ll share them so you can tell me how irrational they are! I know for a fact that most mothers-to-be share these fears, lets get started.

What am I afraid of?

1. Am I doing everything I can to help build a strong smart baby? I mean I don’t remember to take my prenatal vitamin every day, I’ve had a total of 1 ½ glasses of wine, and I’ve eaten raw cookie dough. Since I take care of pregnant women all day long I know these are the smallest of indiscretions but they’re still there. I want this child to have the BEST start and I can always be doing better. Lately I’ve been struggling with when to take off work. I could go as early at 36 weeks and get state disability and Aflac disability which amounts to my entire pay. If I don’t go until 38 weeks I just lose 2 weeks of full pay without having to actually work. I don’t want to overdo it and get exhausted and stress out the baby, but I don’t want to be a slacker either.

2. Will I love this baby enough? Right now I know there is a baby in my uterus and the little one moves around but it’s still this unreal thing in my mind. I can’t REALLY believe there will be a baby here in March or April. I absolutely believe this is normal and will instantly disappear once baby g arrives but I still can’t fathom how.

3. Can I possibly worry anymore? I’m already a planner and that’s by nature because I don’t really care much for unpleasant surprises. I realize that having a baby means that life will change, but I still believe I can have some semblance of the life we have now and certainly I can prepare BEFORE the baby arrives for the typical stuff. It really irritates me when people continue to say, ‘oh just wait’. NO KIDDING FOLKS, I completely understand I cannot anticipate everything but unless you want me to have a breakdown I suggest you pray that things go pretty close to normal.

4. Will our relationship change for the better or the worse? You always see these couples that are totally happy then the baby comes along and the stress is just too much. I don’t want that to be us and I know that Dominic doesn’t either. Right now we have a comfortable routine and plenty of free time to just lounge around and relax, how long will it be before we have that again?

5. How will the delivery go? I have seen so many deliveries myself and know all the possible things that could go wrong. Plus, I want Dominic to have a wonderful experience. There is NO WAY to control this one and I’ve worked hard on letting go of the actual labor but we are prepared with tons of techniques thanks to Bradley classes.

Certainly there are more, but these are the biggies.

What about some fun stuff? We are REALLY making some progress on the nursery. No, I still haven't painted the dresser but we did get a few more accessories for crib and have all the necessary pieces for choosing some fabrics to make the skirt for the changing table and to extend the readymade crib skirt. For a reminder, this is the bedding:

And here is the bedding that I found, it coordinates almost perfectly. The best part? It was 50% off at babies r us! I picked up the sheet, mobile and a few of the valances to use in our upcoming sewing projects.

And in continuing to check things off the to do list we took our Christmas card picture today, better late than never right ;) Here are some outtakes. The winner should be in the mail by the end of next week assuming the second batch arrives by then.

Up next week: ordering a new sofa for the living room and a glider for the nursery that will someday be in the living room. There are some tough choices to be made, can't wait to show you the final decisions!