Nesting.......

We are at 33 weeks and counting. Since we came home from vacation we have been very busy working, and as you can see, getting ready for the baby. So many of my patients from work have been SO generous. I have received so many sweet little outfits, a swing, bouncer, and baby gym. The swing, bouncer and baby gym are almost new, only used by one little baby who is 9 mo old now, so they are in great shape. We finally found a rocker that I liked the feel of so we brought that home, and I have been using it often. I am feeling OK, some days better than others. My blood sugar keeps dropping, so I have to eat frequent small meals. Working is really getting hard, so I am really looking forward to the next 5 weeks going fast! The kids are so heavy and they kick me often when I am drawing blood, or giving them shots. Who can blame them.... but it probably isn't good for sprout. We set up the crib this weekend, just for fun. The bedding is Hey Diddle Diddle from Laura Ashley (10bucks) and the crib is the Italian one I paid 20 dollars for long ago in Wisconsin. The crib is in our room for now, and the changing table is in the office/nursery. I got all my cloth diapers washed and ready to go. You have to wash them about 5 times to make sure they are really absorbent and fluffy. We received some gift cards for Christmas to Borders so we went to the bookstore the other day and bought "Where the Wild Things Are", "Harold and the Purple Crayon", "Dinosaur Roar" and a few others. I also bought a DK Truck book because if this kid is like all other boys on earth he will love all things truck like. Sprout is still very active and has started to kick back when tapped a few times, which is very endearing. I have one more ultrasound in 2 weeks so that will be fun to see once again how the baby is shaping up. I have been seeing some big newborns recently and I am feeling a little nervous considering how they get out! We have the hospital tour next Sunday so that will be good to check the place out before the big day. Hope everyone is doing great in 2008!

Happy New Year!

We returned home last night after 11 days in Washington. All in all we had a great time. We spent lots of time with Patrick and Bridget's little family. We stopped there on the way home from the airport so we could see them right away and meet the newest addition to the family. Sophie is SO cute and very advanced. She is a very happy baby, and very active. Connor was very intrigued by Uncle Jason's long hair, and kept forgetting his name refering only to him as the braid boy or the rubber band boy. On Christmas Connor said he was going to grow his out when he grows up. Hopefully he won't stick to that. Connor was also ultra active with his various sports equipment. I wish he lived in Wisconsin so he could really play hockey all winter in the playgrounds. He was extremely impressive for a 3 year old. Laura was a little shy at first, but warmed up as the days went on and by the end was very happy to see us. She loved being read to, and seemed to enjoy her baby dolls a lot. We went to the Everett Childrens Museum one day, it was amazing and had changed so much since I was last there as a nanny. I can't wait till Sprout is old enough to go. It was so nice spending time with the kids and Patrick and Bridget. They are such great parents, and Bridget is so calm with the kids and maintains her sanity so well. We were both very impressed with how well they handle 3 kids who are so close in age. It gives me hope that one will be no big deal at all. We went out to eat with Jason's family for my steak fix, I have been craving meat in the last month. Christmas was a 3 day affair for us this year. Christmas eve was with Mom and Molly and Cookie, Sprout got many cute things, including the outfit he will wear home from the hospital that Molly picked out in England. Then Christmas morning we went to Ryan's house for the Simmon's family bash. Lots of presents and Sprout got spoiled there as well, he got Robeez and Aunt Bridget crocheted him a VERY soft pale green afghan which I will bring to the hospital as well. Boxing day we went to Julie's and Sprout got a Lovely knitted hat, blanket and a chrocheted sweater with little peter rabbit buttons, which he can also wear home from the hospital. It feels so nice to get all these homemade things for the baby. I will really treasure them. Most of our days were spent at Mom's house, going through bins left over from Grandma and Grandpa's house and getting little things fixed around there. Jason put in a new kitchen faucet and changed the deadbolt lock, amongst other things. On New Years Eve day we went out with Grandma Jeanine and she bought lots and lots of various things we still needed for the baby. We took back an extra suitcase of stuff just for the baby and mom will bring another in march. I had my OB appointment this AM, I didn't gain anything, but the Dr doesn't seem worried, they did an ultrasound right before we left and it all looked great. The baby measured 2 weeks big. I see them again in 2 weeks. I return to work tomorrow, it is so nice to home and back into the normal rut. Happy New Year and have a great 2008! The picture of Laura is sideways and I can't seem to delete it, sorry....

Some Very Minor Christmas Preparations

Hello to all,
We have been busy working as usual, and have been getting ready for christmas. I haven't done any decorating this year, as no one but the cats will be here to enjoy it. I am spending tonight making cookies and a batch of Toffee. (Which may or may not turn out) We leave next friday, the Dr was concerned that I am flying this late, so I am having another ultrasound to confim everything is okay before I go. I'm sure it will be, Sprout seems fine, and very active. I got my hair cut the other day, so that was fun. It is pretty short, but cute. I am still working on gaining weight, and recently have been craving meat like crazy. I would love nothing more than to eat all steak for the next week. Jason took me out friday night and we got a nice pink, but sadly not bloody, steak for me. It was excellent. I will update with a new Ultrasound picture on wednesday, but until then everyone enjoy the season!

White Christmas

Today we had a snow storm all day, and to top it all off, we were rear-ended moments after leaving our house. A taxi skidded into us in our own parking lot. There was no damage to the car, but I did have some cramping, so I called my OB and they told me to go to the hospital. I spent 2 hours hooked to a fetal monitor. Everything was fine. It is very cold here, in the 20's and it's not supposed to improve anytime soon.

Belly Baby

Here it is in all it's glory, my first belly shot. I am amazed how all of a sudden I look pregnant. The baby moves quite a bit, seems to sleep for a while and then have a 30 min party, then sleep again. We went out today and got some bins and organizing stuff in preparation for Sprout. I wanted to go ahead and put up the changing table so I can start putting stuff on it. We also did some x-mas shopping, trying to get a head start. I am feeling pretty well, though by the end of the day I am pretty much ready to fall over. Have a great Thanksgiving!

A visit from Grandpa...

Mike came to visit us this past Thursday night. It was so nice to see him again. Hopefully he will be able to come back when sprout has actually sprouted. Jason and Mike went to DC on Friday and saw a few sights, then we went to Indian food that night, which was soooo yummy. We all love Indian food. Saturday we went to see Solon and family. They are all still sick. Gabriella is eating food now, and seems so much older. Alessandra was talking lots and lots. Mike left after breakfast on Sunday. The baby was truly jumping last night. It was pretty amazing. I am sure Jason will be able to feel it soon. The baby tends to stop moving when he wants to feel it. I am very frustrated with that! We are gearing up for christmas. I want to spread out costs this year, so I am starting early. I am looking forward to being home for christmas. I want to make Toffee again, which I have had no success with here on the east coast.

Kicks for the Kicker

Aunt Molly sent Sprout a lovely surprise today. Shoes just like Daddy's! They are so cute! I can't wait to put them on the baby. I went to the consignment shop today and got a bouncer for 7 bucks, and 10 outfits for 10 dollars. All very cute. I can't take pictures anymore, because my camera has died. I had another Dr appointment today, everything is fine. Baby was 147 beats a minute. Sprout is also moving lots today, rolling and turning frequently.