let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!! Especially with nearly a foot of snow on the ground. That's what we got yesterday, well... that and a HORRENDOUS commute. Steve, Carson and I left work at 12:00, and didn't get home until 2:45 and that was at the beginning of the storm.. I can only imagine what other's travel time were.. I heard upwards of 5-6 hours for some. We had one spin-out, that could have been disastrous, but luckily the cars around us were able to squeak by and stop in time for us not to hit them...

We're getting in the holiday spirit here.. depending on the weather, we've got two holiday parties to attend this weekend, and then its only a week until Christmas! It really seems like its flying by this year. I have one more work-related trip to take Sunday-Tuesday to San Antonio, and then I think I'm done for 2007!!

Carson has been under the weather this past week, so its been a long week...Steve and I have both flirted with getting sick, but I think we have escaped with just minor sore throats. We hope to be germ free in time for our trip South for the holidays..

It's all about the comforts...

Ugh... I hate getting sick. That's exactly what happened yesterday. All is great at work, and then wham... my head's in the wastebasket. What's worse is that Steve and I carpooled yesterday to save gas... well that was a great idea... Steve had to come get me at work, take me home, then drive back to work... We saved a lot of gas alright..

I get home and go straight to bed... In my bed is Carson's flannel sleep sack that she wears over her pjs.. it still had the her baby lotion smell.. That was the most comforting thing I could have wished for.. I snuggled up to it, and just fell asleep.. When I woke up, one of my favorite movies "Anne of Green Gables" was on WGBH, so despite being sick, it was a comforting afternoon.

Post Turkey-Day Thoughts

Thanksgiving Day and the Saturday after are the days to travel, or so I'm told. My Mom, Grandmother and Sister all flew up on Thanksgiving day, and had the easiest time, and the same practically for the Saturday after... I've traveled on Christmas day a few times, and that day is a breeze for flying, but I have never flown on Thanksgiving (I've always been with the other 5 million crazy people who fly the day before Thanksgiving).. but you know what? I would totally fly on Turkey Day.. it gets you out of dinner preparations... you just fly and then eat. The only thing you miss is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade... and you know what... I could live with that.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, I sure did. We have a lot to be thankful for this year, as I'm sure a lot of you did too. I was very fortunate to have part of my family up here this year.. They got to see the baby and house all in one trip!

Well, I've been told to update our pictures with pics of the new house and Carson, so check them out.. http://picasaweb.google.com/spitt926

On to the Christmas frenzy! To my small fanclub in the South, we'll be home (yes, with Carson) Christmas Day through New Year's Day....

Princess Leia

Carson as Princess Leia!!!

Happy Fall everyone! Its been a busy one for us! We are almost all settled into our new home! We moved this past weekend (in the rain)! Between Carson, work, travel, packing, painting, and moving... we are exhausted, but very happy! We sat at home last night and passed out candy to the trick-or-treaters. We got at least 50-75 kids easily (and we got home a little late!) . We're in a great neighborhood. Some of our neighbors have come over and introduced themselves and in some cases, brought baked goods!!

The commute is something we are having a hard time adjusting to, but we are slowly getting it together. We're carpooling a few days a week, which makes the time pass a little better.

We tried spoon-feeding Carson again... she seems a little more interested this time around, so we'll start the feeding schedule. Time's flying... she's almost 6 months old!!

3 wonderful years!

Our 3 year anniversary is coming up on Tuesday, so we chose Saturday to semi-celebrate, procrastinate from packing, and to take Carson's first trip into the city! For those of you who don't know... Steve and I met at a bar in Boston. The bar recently closed, and became the Hard Rock Cafe Boston. We decided to check it out, and to return to the scene of the crime (sorta)... We had lunch, and then took off to do a little sight-seeing before Carson had a melt down.. We made it to Fanueil Hall and to the Harbor before going home. It was a beautiful day. 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky! The Hard Rock Cafe is lacking the charm that it had on Clarendon Street, but it was fun to check it out and to be where we met 6 years ago.

If all goes well, we'll be closing on our first home on October 18th! We finally got into 1st gear this weekend, and have packed 3 or 4 boxes. We both hate packing. I just want to get in the house..... I want the stuff to be magically packed and delivered... I want to shop for paints and appliances!

I have to start traveling for work this week, and I'm dreading it. Thankfully its only a one night trip to St. Louis, but it is still leaving Carson, and I'm not comfortable with it. I also have a trip to Houston, another trip to St. Louis and a possible trip to Portland, OR in my future.

Carson is doing great. She'll be 5 months old on Tuesday. She recently went to the doctor for her 4 month appointment, and she checked in at 14lbs, 3oz. She has doubled her birth weight!! We tried spoon feeding her last week for the first time, but she didn't seem to be too interested yet, so we're not aggressively pursuing it. Other than that, not too much to report. Her Bebe (my mom) came to town to visit last weekend, and that was a lot of fun. It was good to see her, and good for Carson to get re-acquainted with her Bebe..

wow... Where to start??

Where to begin... well as you can probably guess.. going back to work has been rough! I have so much to do and usually only 4 days to get it in.. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to travel until the new year, but now that is just not possible.. but it is what it is...

Carson is doing great! She's "talking" all the time, she smiles, and she's getting BIG!! She's up over 13lbs now. She'll be 4 months old on the 9th.. Hard to believe!

On the health front... we had quite the labor day weekend...3 people in our family went to the ER this weekend.... my father-in-law, CARSON and me! Father-in-law is fine, Carson was having some gagging/throwing up issues related to the sniffles that she has, and I caught Carson's "blocked tear-duct" or so the Pediatrician said it was... In actuality... it was conjunctivitis, and I got it bad!!! All of us are fine now for the most part, but I was never so glad for a long weekend to be over with!

On the home front.. we've got news! We put in an offer on a 2nd house, and it was accepted! If all goes well, we'll be in our new house in October! As much as we like our homey basement apartment.. we are excited (and a wee bit nervous) to get into a home and spread out!!

Well, the next 2 months will be super crazy with work, Carson, and moving, but I will try to update again soon!

Oh, and one more thing.. there was quite the college football game this weekend... Appalachian State and Michigan. My office mate and her husband went to Michigan.. I did love going back to work this week to rub it in... "So, what did we get in the first week of the 2007 college football regular season? Oh, just last year's Division 1-AA national champion, Appalachian State, going to the Big House in Ann Arbor and knocking off fifth-ranked Michigan in one of the greatest upsets in history" (Boston Globe, 9/7/07). Go ASU!!!

Wow that was fast....

I knew this day would come, I just didn't think it would come so fast! after 13.5 weeks, I went back to work today. I miss her. I really do. All I have been good for today is staring at her picture. I finally broke down and called to check in at 1:15. Of course she was fine, but I was still sad. I can't wait to get home to see her. I'm sure it will get easier as my days start to get busier, but right now, the day is going by painfully slow.

Home again, home again.. jiggity jig

(Carson and her twin.. Rainey!)

So the road trip has come to a close, and I'm happy and sad to report that I'm back home in Massachusetts. It was really nice being back south, but I really did miss Steve (and he really missed us too). Carson was a big hit... she met so many people, that I'm afraid that she's going to be lonely and bored with just me to hang around with!

Steve flew in on Friday night, and we thought that we were going to start loading the car up that night, but hurricane-like rain pounded our area (and mom and me on our run to get a pizza and baby formula).. so packing was put off until Saturday morning. We got everything packed up and went to breakfast with GM and Mom... and then got on the road at 11:00. Half way through North Carolina, our GPS system (thanks Dad!) said that if we were to drive straight through... we'd be home by 11:30 pm.... that sparked an idea to drive straight through (of course depending on Carson's attitude towards her car seat)... Well...Carson wanted to get home too I guess, so we drove straight through.. and took the GPS detour to NYC too... we got home at 2:00 am (not bad considering our 5 pit stops and traffic backups).

Carson went straight into her "big girl bed" (crib) Sunday morning and again last night... so far so good... I already have designs on what will go in place of the bassinet beside my bed!! Our plans for the rest of the summer? I've got two weeks left on maternity leave, we've got some birthday parties to go to, a marriage celebration, and we're starting the house hunting efforts again! I had my eye on a cute house, but just as soon as I asked our realtor to schedule a showing for this week.. it went under agreement! So, we start again! Wish us luck.

Road Trip update

Well, the road trip has been fun!! In the last two weeks, we've driven through 11 states so far (MA, CT, NY, PA, MD, WV, VA, TN, NC, SC & GA). Carson did amazing during the trip down... She slept most of the trip, which helped us out a lot. We ended up stopping in Carlisle, PA for the first night in a smoky HoJo inn... there literally was no other place to stay... Our stuff stunk the next day!! We then arrived in the Mountains for Mom's birthday weekend, and then we visited my Dad and Stepmom in Georgia. Steve has been back home for the last week, we've got one week left, and then we head back home on Saturday. I got to say, that the hardest part has been having Steve gone. I can only imagine what he's going through. Carson has gotten so expressive in the past week. She's smiling A LOT, she's giggling, she's had her first case of major congestion (think nasal spray and aspirator - she's not a fan of either).. and last night was the biggest milestone of them all... She had her bath, and she didn't cry AT ALL (well until the very end when I was getting her out and cleaning her backside at the same time). This is a HUGE accomplishment. Now, I'm not fooled into thinking that magically she now will love her bath, but its a big step towards it! Now we need to work on her loving baby lotion!!

We are having fun here in Charlotte. We're seeing friends and family, and basically taking it easy. We take long walks almost every day... which has been nice. There are no nice places to take walks where I live, so this has been threapeutic for the soul.. and hopefully trimming some baby weight off too (of course I need to lay off the SWEET TEA)

When I get back to MA, I'll have 2 weeks left on my maternity leave, which I'm very sad about. Its going to be hard to hand her over to other people to watch her during the day. But, we're also going to renew the house hunting efforts full force!!

Well, I'll have to think about that another day... right now, I'm home and having fun!!

Road Trip!

Here I sit on the eve of our big road trip to the South, and I must confess... I'm getting a little nervous. This so seemed like a good idea when I was pregnant... Now that Carson is here and the 16+ hour trip is upon us.. I'm not so sure. I couldn't have imagined the degree of exhaustion that Steve and I both suffer from, nor all the baby crap that comes along with Carson.. 3 weeks on the road is a long time... especially for a baby. We couldn't possibly go away for that long and not bring along all the comforts of home.. She spent 9 months in the comforts of my belly, only to be rudely taken out of the incubator (10 days early) and then spends 8 weeks adjusting to the outside world and the gizmos that help recreate the womb (or makes the transition to the outside world better) Only to take those away?? I don't think so!! We taking almost everything with us!! We're taking her swing, her chair, her bathtub, her pack & play (which she IS going to love sleeping in.. she just doesn't realize this quite yet), and her stroller just to mention the BIG items... We ended up renting a rooftop cargo box for the trip just so we could bring along everything!

Carson had her 2 month checkup today, and with that came her first rounds of shots. She did amazing considering the pain. I do have to say.. The nurses handled it pretty nicely.. They worked together and 1-2-3 they simultaneously stabbed both of her legs. One shot in both thighs... Carson didn't like it... but it was better than having to go through it twice. Luckily it was breakfast time, so I had a bottle waiting for her to help calm her down. Hopefully she won't have any true discomfort this point forward. She's a growing girl! She's now 22inches and 10 pounds-13 ounces. I was thinking that she was going to be close to 11 pounds, and she didn't disappoint.

Well, gotta run finish packing and doing laundry... We've got a lot planned! My mom has a big birthday this weekend, so we're all convening in the Mountains for a birthday get-away weekend. Straight from there Steve, Carson and I are heading to Georgia to visit with my Dad, Stepmother and Max.. where we'll get to hopefully visit our good friends who live nearby... then we're off to Charlotte for the remaining 2 weeks. After a big family portrait session, we're dropping Steve off at the airport where he'll get to fly back home to go to work (and get uninterrupted sleep!) for two weeks.. and then he flies back to help pack me up and drive home!

I'll try to update periodically from the road! It'll will be a crazy time, but it will be good to see family and friends (and to show off my cutie-pie!)

Look Mom - NO HANDS!!

I had my 6-week post delivery checkup last week, and I'm almost as good as new.. A couple of pregnancy pounds leftover, but other than that.. I'm good. I celebrated by starting a new workout regiment... For those of you who don't know me.. I'm an infomercial junkie. The latest gimmick to catch my eye was the Hip Hop Abs. I bought it when I was 8 months pregnant.. and I finally got to start using it on Wednesday after my doctor's visit. It was a lot of fun. I hope I can keep up the routine..(I don't have a good track record - I buy the gimmicks.. but I rarely keep up with them) My mother-in-law has agreed to watch Carson for an hour and a half each day (until she heads to Maine for the summer) so I can get a workout and shower in. So far.. so good! Wish me luck!

I've been officially discharged from the OB-GYN for the next year... It was kinda bittersweet. I've been going to them for the last year so often, that it was strange when they told me that they would see me a year later. Of all places to have separation anxiety.. I never thought it would be the OB-GYN!!

So a funny (in a screwy odd kind of way) thing has happened to us... When Steve added Carson to our insurance plan, his company's HR department somehow dropped me from the coverage!! I didn't know this until I tried to fill a prescription and was told that I was not covered. Sure enough.. two days later I received my COBRA notification... here's the funny part.. it said on the letter that the COBRA was kicking in due to my recent DIVORCE!!!! The other screwy thing is that somehow they put Carson on the plan as of June 5th, not her actual birthdate.. so needless to say.. A lot of insurance claims are getting rejected, and we'll have to have both mine and Carson's doctor offices re-file once this mess is all set.

Carson is 7 weeks old now.. Hard to believe. Time flies when you're having fun (or sleep deprived). She's doing amazingly well. Her head control is great, and she's got pretty strong legs too. She hates her bathtime (Steve says that she burns at least 1000 calories by screaming so much!) but we have the routine down that we do bath, pjs, swaddle-blanket, bottle, BED. Its working so far...

Her head control was so amazing.. that we experimented with putting her in her new bumbo seat (Thanks baby CiCi!)... She sat in there for a few minutes without her head getting tired! I told you she was strong!

9 Pounds 7 Ounces!!!!

Girlfriend went to the pediatrician yesterday, and we're happy to report that she has GROWN!!! In the last 2.5 weeks, she's gained 2lbs and 4 oz and she's grown 2 inches! She's now above average for her height and weight whereas she was below average before! We figured that she had gained some weight, but we didn't expect a 9 pounder!! She's doing great with the exception of some spitting up issues.. We've added some rice cereal to her bottles so hopefully that will help the situation a little. She's now a month old... its hard to believe!

Is She Happy, Or Is It Just Gas??

Carson is 4 weeks old today.. Time flies when you're having fun!! Seriously...life has been a whirlwind the last few weeks, so we apologize for not updating more often. There isn't much to tell on a day to day basis... She eats, sleeps, and poops...oh and she SCREAMS when she's naked or her diaper is getting changed. She's eating like a champ.. She's got her 1 month checkup on Monday, so we'll see how much weight she's gained.

Today, she had an "off" day... she was fussy most of the day, and it didn't seem that anything I did would soothe her. That is frustrating.. mainly since she can't clearly communicate what she wants or needs. We were supposed to go visit my co-workers, but I canceled at the last minute.. hopefully we'll get there soon! My co-worker who had her baby in late April is coming over tomorrow for a visit... Our goal is to take our babies and ourselves to lunch, and then maybe a walk afterwards.

Carson has been out to eat 4 times already, and thankfully she's slept through them all! Its been great for us to get out here and there. Staying in our apartment all day can get a little boring day after day!

Her Grandpa and Grandma Susan came up to visit from Georgia this week. It was a really nice visit!! They are in love, and I think Carson got a little spoiled by being held for 12 hours straight! My sister and her kids are coming up this weekend, so Carson will get to meet her North Carolina cousins then!

Hope everyone is doing well.. We'll try to update soon!

Hungry Barracuda

Carson went in for her 2 week weight check up today, and I'm happy to report that she's back up over her birth weight (and two days before she turns 2 weeks!!) She weighed in at a hefty 7lbs and 3.5 oz today!! Its a good thing too.. because last week they gave us her percentiles, and I gotta tell you.. she really is a peanut! She was only in the 16th percentile for her weight, and 36th percentile for her length..

She's doing great though.. Our newest challenge is keeping her awake during the day more, so she'll sleep at night better.. she's got a 2 hour wake up time in the middle of the night, and that's not going so well with Steve or I.

Steve had to go back to work today, and my Mom leaves to go back to NC tomorrow... Everyone has been so helpful.. My mother-in-law has been preparing meals for us each night, and has been doing the grocery shopping, and Mom has been helping me around the house, and well Steve has been super dad!! He's been on diaper duty, clothes changing duty, swaddling duty, and he's the burper extraordinaire! I can burp Carson for 10 minutes and get nothing.. hand him off to Steve, and within 10-15 seconds a good belch comes on out of Carson! I don't know how I'll be able to handle all the new workload by myself, but I'm sure I'll manage!

The recovery from the c-section has been harder than I thought.. I'm getting better day by day, and hopefully will be able to drive within a few days.. I have my new car, and I have only driven it twice!!!

We took Carson out to dinner on Saturday night to celebrate my birthday! She slept through the entire meal (and with a band playing too!), so we're hopeful that we won't be confined to the house forever! The weather is getting nicer, so hopefully I'll be able to get out with her and start dressing her up in all the adorable outfits that everyone has bought her!

Baby P = GIRL!

Introducing... Carson Elizabeth!

We've been busy lately...

just when I thought Baby P was never coming... SHE decided to pop out (literally) on Wednesday, May 9th! My water did literally POP at work... I was bending over in my chair to pick up something off the floor that I dropped, when my co-worker and I heard this loud POP... and then the fun began.. I went prego running down to the bathroom leaving a watery trail behind me... and then my co-workers drove me home... I believe I'm the first person at my work to go into labor at the office! We got to the hospital around 6:30 PM-ish, and all was well and on schedule until I got my epidural... A wonderful thing that epidural.. but apparently our baby girl didn't agree... She somehow managed to wrap the cord around her head, and her heartbeat started fluctuating anywhere from 170 down to 80....

The doctor decided that since I was only 4 centimeters dilated at the time, and was facing at least another 6-8 hours of labor that the baby would not fare well with that kind of stress for that amount of time, so we quickly decided to proceed with a c-section. At 11:46 PM, our Carson was born... 7 pounds 1.oz and BEAUTIFUL!! (I'm biased.. I know!)

We left the hospital on Sunday (Happy Mother's Day to Me!!) and now we're trying to adjust to having our new addition at home.. She is obviously adjusting to life on the outside as well. I fed her constantly last night, and Steve held her and changed her most of the night... I think she finally fell asleep on Steve's chest around 5:00 am this morning. I know all you veteran parents are all saying "been there-done that" for the first night.. but I gotta tell you.. I had NO idea it would be so hard in the beginning.. but so worth it. I'll update soon with new pictures. Be sure to check back for the next chapter in our lives!!

It's going to be a beautiful day.. IT IS

So, baby P was playing a trick on me yesterday.. He/She must have been jumping on my bladder, because I thought a small "trickle" of amniotic fluid was starting to leak... maybe that what I hoped it was, but alas... nothing more materialized, no contractions to speak of, and I'm still here with no baby in sight..

But TODAY is a going to be a great day! Steve and I picked up our new car last night! We upgraded his civic to a "family" car... A 2006 Toyota Highlander! and the best part is... I get to drive it!! He gets my accord, and I get a new ride! Driving to work was fun (that and the DECAF fun coffee drink that I treated myself to). My co-worker is bringing in her baby today, so that will be fun too! So even though my baby has no intention of EVER coming out (mind you... we're still a week 1/2 from my due date - I do realize this) The sun is shining, its going to reach about 80 degrees here, I'm going to have a great day!

Baby P's estimated size...

So... you may be asking... how big is the baby?? Well... they think its 7.4lbs right now. They could be off, but they felt like they got some good measurements so they feel confident that I'm a low risk for the baby's shoulders getting stuck.. so that's a good thing! We got to see the face on the ultrasound.. and that was very cool... It wasn't a 3D image, but we could see Baby P yawning and taking a gulp of fluid, and the funniest and cool thing was that we could see little strands of hair floating in the fluid!! This baby will most definitely have a full head of hair!

Now guys, don't get too grossed out, but when my doctor did her internal exam... she laughed and told me how Baby P was squirming away from her finger.... I know.. TMI but it was really kinda funny. Clearly Baby P is happy in the incubator, and is not ready to come out anytime soon.

So, this was a very QUICK week for once... I got in to work early and left early every day, and I was very busy putting out some little fires at work, so it made the week fly by! Thank GOD!!

38 weeks today! 2 to go... I'm hoping for sooner!! Stay tuned!

Time Stands Still

Hi All- As of tomorrow I'll be full term! I'd like to say that this baby could come anytime... but I know that realistically it could be another 2-5 weeks before Baby P emerges! I went to the doctor today, and since they're a little concerned that the baby's size (and my rapidly growing physique), they are planning on doing an ultrasound next week to gage the baby's size and to see if there is any concern for shoulder dystocia ... so good news is we'll get to see Baby P (we haven't seen him/her since week 18) so that will be cool! Bad news... is I'm officially fat.

Time has literally stood still since my co-worker had her baby on Sunday... I'm so happy for her (he's adorable!!), but now I feel all alone, and I feel like I have months to go... We were pretty much on the same track throughout our pregnancies (her being 3.5 weeks ahead) but now she's crossed the finish line, and I'm still at the starting line (or so it feels). I think I've just hit that mark where I'm so uncomfortable... that I'm miserable! I do know its right around the corner though... but this has been the LONGEST week ever!! (Yes, I know that last week I said was the longest week ever... but this seems just as long and drawn out as last....I see a pattern forming here!)

Oh, and to add to my gloom... last night my husband couldn't even fake it when I jokingly asked him what he was going to get me for my birthday (again... baby P's due date as well) and he said "Oh GEEZ... I have been so completely focused on the baby!!!"

It starts. He of all people has forgotten that my birthday is coming up!! It's all about Baby P! (I guess that's not so bad!)

And then there was ONE...

I'm happy (and jealous) to report that my co-worker had her baby today!!! Baby boy Gannon arrived at 12:16 today!! There were three of us that were pregnant at work, and now there is only me! My co-worker got her wish.. she had her baby in time for her husband's vacation this coming week! She went in and had a pressure-point massage on Saturday morning, and then had Mexican last night... and then the contractions started this morning right after her water broke!! I might have to look into this pressure point massage thing a little closer to my due date...hmmm...

GO RED SOX!!! They swept the Yankees this weekend!!!

This weekend was BEAUTIFUL!! It gives you a whole new outlook on life when the weather is nice! We went to the Christening yesterday, and let's just say that Steve did a lot of *toasting* (a.k.a. tossing down shots and drinks) with the baby's family, so he definitely had a good time! There was a family friend there with an 18-year streak for correctly identifying the sex of a baby ahead of time... and although he put in a disclaimer due to the heavy amount of "toasting" that was going on... he felt strongly that my baby was a GIRL. We'll see if the streak continues....
Hope everyone has a great week!

Here comes the Sun!

The sun is finally shining as the LONGEST week ever comes to an end. My co-worker and I were discussing that it seems like 2 weeks ago that the VT tragedy (and Boston Marathon - our local big news worthy event) happened rather than 4 days ago. It has been a rainy miserable week, which I guess slows down time (that and the depressing news).

The sun is shining though, and it has given people up here in New England a new zest for life (that and the Yankees are in town to play the Red Sox). We have plans to go to a Christening tomorrow, other than that... we're going to bask in the mid-60's glorious sunshine!!

Baby P and I went to the doctor again yesterday, and all is well! It seems that the head is down for the time being (which is a good thing), but other than that, no progress... (not that there should be at this point). So we're all here and well! I'll be 36 weeks tomorrow.. so we're officially on to the one month countdown!

Have a great weekend everyone! I guess since I work for an environmental consulting firm, I should mention that EARTH DAY is this Sunday!! Happy Earth Day too! Be Green!

Another Baby Weekend!

I had my Massachusetts baby shower this weekend, and the weather was HORRIBLE!! (But the day was beautiful to me anyway!!) The weekend and shower were fantastic! Thanks to Emily and my in-laws for throwing a beautiful shower. Between the two baby showers, we are pretty much prepared to have this baby! What a great feeling! We also bought a new camera this weekend, and we bought the crib mattress. We now have a nursery nook for Baby P! His/Her nook is all decked out with the crib, mobile, and wall decor! And if getting tons of gifts, a new camera and the nursery done wasn't enough, I was fortunate to have Lobster Ravioli TWICE this weekend!! Yum-Yum!

So, 35 weeks and 4 days down, 4 weeks and 3 days to go! The countdown is on! Now the thing on my mind is will I go early or late??

More Baby Parties

The baby parties continue! Yesterday my co-workers surprised me with a company baby shower! Instead of baby things, they bought us Mommy and Daddy things! We got a restaurant gift certificate, spa gift certificate (for me!), Starburst Jellybeans (only the Pink, Red, and Purple ones! - again for me!), an ITZBEEN™ Baby Care Timer (I'm going to make Steve wear this next to his blackberry so he can be synchronized with all the feedings, diapers, etc. even while at work), a cute mommy + daddy= me photo frame, and a sweet pea sleeping door pillow... A woman in our accounting department made me a blanket too!! I always say this, but I'm so fortunate to work for such a caring, supportive, and generous company! We had yummy cake (Ok, I had 2 slices) It said "Welcome to the Parenthood" on it... very cute (and yummy!)

The only thing that wasn't so cool... is that they got the President/CEO in on the surprise, and he called me down to his office for a "talk"... What... were they trying to send me into labor early?

My Massachusetts baby shower is this weekend, and I'm really looking forward to it... although I wish the weather would cooperate and actually turn SPRING like... instead of winter.. We had sleet yesterday, and they are calling for more winter weather on Sunday into Monday (possibly threatening the Boston Marathon!)

Happy Friday!

I've gotten too fat... He's left me for another woman... Ok, so I'm just kidding.. this is an old Christmas photo with one of our nieces' presents...but it made me laugh... so I'm posting it!

I went to the doctor yesterday, and my blood pressure was fine! I also found out that my doctor is the only one in the practice that tends to let her patients go 2 weeks past their due date to induce... the other 6 doctors tend to only let their patients go 1 week... Hopefully Baby P will be so anxious to enter the world, that he/she won't want to wait an extra whole 2 weeks... That really could be a BIG baby!

Hope everyone has a nice Easter!

Handyman Steve!

We have a new kitchen sink faucet today, thanks to Steve! What was supposed to be a quick fix (a faulty sprayer) turned into an all-weekend project, and Steve got to show off his plumbing skills! Its funny how these seemingly small projects can turn into big drawn out affairs. Because of some weird plumbing configuration when the basement was converted into a in-law apartment, it took different hoses, bolts and screws (and five total trips to Home Depot) to make the new system work. But now, its lovely!

We also got some new dresser knobs for the baby's dresser, new outside mat, new vacuum, etc between the other trips to Costco, Grocery Store, and Babies R Us. Not too many more weekends to get these chores done!

As for the NCAA championship game tonight... I still have one team left in it, so hopefully for my ego's sake... Florida will repeat and win tonight over Ohio State!

Not your average Doctor's visit...

So, yesterday's doctor's visit wasn't as routine as we would have liked... They took my blood pressure twice and noticed that it was too high. They sent me over to the hospital for monitoring and testing to make sure that I didn't show signs of preeclampsia. That involved more blood work, more blood pressure screenings, urine samples, and a non-stress test on the baby. Everything is fine. The blood pressure returned to normal while I was on the maternity floor, but I have been threatened with bed rest if I don't get my feet up to reduce the swelling (which I think is just from the flying this past weekend)... so as I type... my feet are elevated! I'm now on the doctor's radar... I have to go back next week to get re-checked.

The baby's heartbeat clocked in at 144 bpm, and I got to hear Baby P on the heart monitor for a good 20-25 minutes while they were doing the non-stress test... He/She seemed perfectly happy to me. The doctor measured my stomach, and it measured exactly according to due date... 33 (I'll be 33 weeks tomorrow).

I honestly wasn't worried about the situation, as my blood pressure has always been fine, but it was a good run-through for admitting myself into the maternity unit for when the real thing comes!

Baby P's First Party!

Well, we're back from North Carolina and what a beautiful weekend it was! The weather was perfect, I'm still in first place in my NCAA tournament bracket (winning by a landslide!), and I got to see a bunch of family and friends at the baby shower! We got so many cute things, and lots of books to start Baby P's library! We almost exceeded the weight limit on the suitcase coming back, but we distributed the weight to our carry on bags. While Steve had a sore back at the end of Sunday, we managed to get EVERYTHING back home! Special thanks to Sonni, Brennan, and Amanda for throwing me a wonderful shower. Everything was perfect, and I'm so blessed to have such good friends as the three of you!

Laziness or Writer's Block?

I'm still here... for the 5 of you that actually read this blog on a semi-regular basis... I've just been suffering from writer's block (or I've just been plain lazy). To recap the last few weeks...

March Madness: I am attempting my first ever bracket this year. There is no money riding on this, just ego. I am currently in FIRST place, and I have been accused of cheating once or twice (by my own DAD). I will fess up to doing my online research, as I must admit I have not followed college basketball since I moved away from the wonderful world of the ACC. Its too early to say if I will win or not, but its been fun checking the scores and the jabbing emails back and forth between our family members involved in the group.

Baby Updates: I'm about 8 weeks out from D-day! There is still so much to do to get ready, but this weekend will help! I'm heading to NC for the first of two baby showers being given for me. I'm really looking forward to the weekend! It should be lots of fun! My other two friends that I mentioned both had their babies last Thursday, and I must say... of the pictures I've seen.. they are beautiful! My co-worker is closing in on 5 weeks until her due date. So its all getting exciting around here.

On a note of personal sadness... I have been waiting patiently for Brad Paisley to come to town when the winter weather is not an issue, and I have been waiting for Keane to actually come to the states for a tour... and what do you know.. May 25th Keane is coming to Boston, and June 7th, Brad Paisley is coming to town. BUMMER. I am so excited to be having a baby, but really bummed that I don't get to go their concerts.

Birthday thoughts

(me at age 2- already lovin' my special day!)

Today is my Grandmother's 89th birthday!! Happy Birthday GM!! As people tell me everytime they meet her or see a picture of her... She looks GREAT for her age... and she does!! Here's hoping you have a fabulous day! You deserve it!

(Grandmother and me about 4-5 years ago on one of our birthdays!)

Also, in birthday news... We have two sets of friends due to give birth next Thursday via C-Sections. One of them might decide to come on their own a little early... but if all goes as planned, there will be a little Nicholas and a little Amia next week, and we couldn't be more thrilled for them! Best of luck and we can't wait to meet them!!

More birthday news... My 7 year old niece has firmly put her foot down and told her grandmother that no-way, no-how, she does NOT want to share her birthday with my child. I can't say I blame her. I threatened my sister within inches of her life if she dared to pop her kids out on my birthday... I wasn't Kidding.. DAD.. really.. I wasn't kidding... Robin isn't lying when she tells you this. I told her to keep her legs crossed... So, thus her kids were born three and six days after my birthday. I know this will come back to haunt me. For those of you who don't know, Baby P is due on my birthday. This practically insures that it will be born on my birthday... seeing that I have been super protective of that day for 28 years. It also means that if I don't have it on its due date/my birthday, there are increasingly fewer days around it that I can have this child without getting a lot of flack. I could potentially have some kids mad at me if they are made to share their special day with their new baby cousin...

Finally in birthday thoughts... Steve and I were filling out our Maternity Pre-Admission forms that we have to send to the hospital prior to giving birth. These questions aren't rocket science.

When is your baby due? on my birthday.
When is your birthday? duh.
Your Age? ___________________ ???????

Ok, seeing that I have no idea when this baby will come, I might be 28 or I might already be 29.. How can I answer this question? Put 28/29? What if I get admitted on my birthday, but before 2:14PM.. then I'm still legally 28...Leave blank?? put some smart-ass remark? Of all questions to get stumped on... you wouldn't think it would be your age.

Starburst Jellybeans

Starburst Jellybeans... one of my favorite things... especially the Red, Pink, and Purple ones... Regular Jellybeans need not apply. They are not the same. When Steve and I were in Las Vegas back in November, we found the M&M store... there you could pick and buy your favorite color M&Ms... I need to find the Starburst Jellybean factory, so I can make a bag of just Red, Pink, and Purple jellybeans... I have no use for the green, yellow or orange ones. I pawn those off on Steve. With these raging hormones, he discovers my wrath if he sneaks a red, pink, or purple into his mouth.. I am all too aware of this deceit and will not stand for it. Thank goodness the Easter candy is only out for a few more weeks... especially seeing how fast we went through the last bag!!

Birth Class

Yesterday we had our all day BIRTHING CLASS. and it was ALL DAY.. 8-5. We had a lot of mixed opinions about the necessity of birthing class, but ultimately, Steve and I are really glad that we went through it. It's sort of a rite of passage. Seriously... you can read and read and read, but to hear a nurse from our hospital and my OB-GYN practice tell me exactly how things will go, and what to expect was comforting. We received a ton of information and we got to tour the maternity ward. Now, what was not so comforting was the incredible descriptions of the length of labor and the amount of pain that I will most likely be enduring... I knew this would be no picnic in the park, and honestly I hadn't thought much of the labor process... but now I'm thinking about it, and I pray that I'm strong enough to handle this! I guess its a little too late to turn back now anyway... Guess I'll just bear down and hope for the best! (best= being a relatively short and painless birth) They say its very hard, but so worth it. I would say having a new little baby would be worth the pain.

I do have to say, that I was pleasantly surprised by the number of couples in my class that are (just like us) being surprised in terms of the baby's sex. Only three of the eleven couples knew the sex of their baby. I'm starting to like surprises again!!

Its Monday already....

Good News... Glucose tolerance test came back normal.. so no gestational diabetes... Not so good news... Doctor said that the baby "is not measuring small"... I take that to mean that its going to be big. No wander I've been asked if I'm having twins.

We have decided not to make an offer on that house (way too long of a story, and too many people involved) but I am sad... More so that I'll still be in my 1-BR apartment for the indefinite future.... I started boxing up my books on my bookcase this weekend as a start to bringing in baby furniture into our bedroom... that turned into a Family Room makeover, and an even more depressing/cramped bedroom. I used to love our little apartment. Now that things are changing, I'm falling out of love with it VERY QUICKLY. I think I just hit that nesting phase, and I could already picture where things would have gone in the "new house" and I could have been happy. I'm sure another house will come along at some point... but that is no consolation right now.

I think house-hunting may move to the back burner for a while... Way too many other things to think about and do before this baby comes. Today I tried to line up the pediatrician that I wanted, only to find out that he is not accepting new patients. So, now I need to scramble and start a pediatrician search. We have our all-day birthing class this weekend, and then I have two baby showers lined up in the next month and a half.

Well, that's it for me for now... I'll update again soon!

Pressure.

Today, we got an email from our real estate agent saying that the house that we've been looking at has recently had its 2nd showing to another couple, and it has been shown a lot lately... Of course, we don't know if this is legitimate news, or just added pressure... It could be both. I think we'll make an offer (a low one) and if they go with it, great.. if not. oh well. We keep running the numbers, and I just don't see how things work out financially, and yet SO MANY people are homeowners... there must some secret that I haven't discovered.. Of course.. I got a D in 3rd grade math, so numbers have always scared me. You just keep hearing the statistics of foreclosures and bankruptcy claims...

but, on the other hand.. some baby stuff have started migrating into our apartment, and that is clearly starting to push us to our limits space-wise. To buy now, or not buy now.. that is the question.. So many changes coming upon us in the next few months.. its STRESSFUL!!

On a few non-homebuying notes.... My favorite Country Singer (Brad Paisley) and his wife welcomed a baby boy this morning!!! yeah!! oh- and its Thursday.. Grey's Anatomy night... The question is... Will Meredith live or die?

Baby update: Baby P is quite the kicker... and I think it takes after me with the chronic hiccups.. My sister-in-law and I were just talking about this the other day (and I thought that everything I was feeling were just kicks) I have since realized that these are indeed hiccups, and the kicks are quite different. Tomorrow is the Glucose tolerance test. Wish me luck! I haven't been to the doctor in about 6 weeks (the doctor's doing-not mine!) so it will be good to get a new report!

All cried out...and ankles almost back to normal.

Now that I have fully recovered, and the tears have dried... I can write about my past week.... In a nutshell, I'm done traveling (for business) until after the baby comes... Here were the highlights of my trip (good and bad!)...

Thursday, February 8th- got stuck at the office until 11:00 PM with major computer trauma that would effect the outcome of my conference. Have to then go home and pack. Missed Grey's Anatomy.

Friday, February 9th- arrived in Florida- got to spend the night at Amy's new place (a true highlight)- downside... my feet swelled to the size of balloons by the end of the night - note: ankles non existent.

Saturday, February 10th- Had EMERGENCY pedicure for said swollen feet. Shoes do not fit. Must wear cheap Old Navy flip flops. Get Computer trauma FINALLY sorted out at 10:30 PM. Got ZERO sleep due to strobing bulb in hotel room, and drunken domestic dispute one floor below me that lasted from 2:30 until 4:00 am. (I thought that I was staying at a Disney FAMILY resort)

Sunday, February 11th - Conference starts without a hitch, boss decides to let me go take a nap... Get to my room to discover new annoying sound... Elevator cables skimming up my wall that operate the lovely outside glass elevator (runs only during daytime).

oh... feet STILL swollen.

Monday, February 12th - actually squeezed my feet into decent but comfortable work shoes to impress the big-wigs that were presenting that day... by end of day... FEET terribly swollen.

Tuesday, February 13th - Today, I got asked TWICE if I was having twins. Not the question you want to start your day off with. Self Esteem= ZERO. News of impending snow storm to hit New England...has me re-thinking my earlier decision to fly through DC to get home following day. Conference is going extremely well. Clients are happy, and boss is giving me a lot of the credit. My Boss and I go to Downtown Disney that night and I finally break down and buy my first gift for the baby.. a snugly Pooh Bear and a baby toy... (I would have gotten Mickey, but he looked funny). Flowers arrived at home from my Dad and Susan.. I hear they are beautiful!!

Wednesday, February 14th - Valentine's Day! Snow storm is hitting DC and North... I change flight to re-route me through Charlotte... Good thing because they canceled my flight to DC. Stand with 300 other weary travelers at the US Airways counter.... Luckily I'm a Preferred member... and I get to scoot to the preferred line... it still takes 45 minutes... I generously offer to stay in Charlotte for the night if they can get me there, and rebook myself to a Charlotte-Boston flight for Thursday... Again, good thing... because as I was in line, they canceled my connecting flight from Charlotte to Boston for that evening. This gives me a chance to spend some time with Mom and GM!!

Plane to Charlotte is delayed, due to aircraft in PA that can't get to Orlando.. I spend 5 hours in the Orlando airport before I get to go anywhere... Finally arrive in Charlotte. Mom is there to pick me up.

Thursday, February 15th- Was supposed to be on the 2:15 flight, but Mom and GM had a previous engagement to be at, so they dropped me off at the airport at 11:00. I manage to get on the 11:25 flight, and I was assured that they were trying to get my luggage on that flight too... I get to Boston, and no luggage. I talk to Steve, who has managed to catch the 24hour stomach bug... he can't get his head off the pillow without running to the bathroom... Needless to say, he is in no shape to come get me. Normally, not a big deal... but its 15degrees outside and I have NO COAT. Oh- and when my luggage does finally decide to arrive, its much heavier and bulkier than when I left (thanks to some baby goodies that were in NC that I decided to drag back). When my bag finally arrives at 5:00, I break down in tears to my mom over the phone... I have luggage, but no coat, I have no one to pick me up, and I now have to wait another hour and a half for traffic to die down, before I can get into a cab to go home (otherwise the meter would just tick away, and my cash would too!) So, after 5 hours in the Boston airport, I finally get into a cab and go home. I arrive to a slick driveway that I promptly slide and almost fall down in... I get inside, mumble a hello to my sick husband, and settle in to watch two weeks worth of Grey's Anatomy before heading upstairs to sleep in one of the guest bedrooms (can't afford to catch Steve's funk)

Home sweet home... and the pregnancy induced tears have dried. The ankles are almost visible again...

Time is flying by

I'm back in a temporary busy mode these days. I've got a meeting in Orlando next week that I'm preparing for.. Things are pretty much under control thanks to my wonderful co-worker Laurie... She's a God-send I tell you! And she's good for laughing and chit-chatting the slower days away too!

Anyhoo... as I try to wrap things up for what is (I expect) to be my last on site trip before the baby comes... I'm also trying to fit in house hunting as well. We really like the house we saw last week, but we're still keeping our options open. Today we went to a nearby town to look at 2 townhouses and one single-family. I gotta tell you.. we're weren't WOW-ed by them or the town, but that's ok.. I think we're going to start pursuing the one from last week. It might not get us anywhere, but its a first step. We're actually going back to that house tomorrow for another look-around.

Baby P is either punching or kicking WAY DOWN THERE... so today has been an especially active day.. for feeling the baby's movements and for running to the bathroom every 30 minutes! I can't believe I'm 25 weeks along.. that means only 15 to go! Wow time really is flying by! As I have said before... its baby central in my life these days.. Two of my co-workers are pregnant.. One was DUE YESTERDAY... and she is soooooo ready to give birth. The other co-worker is about 3-4 weeks ahead of me, so its been fun swapping stories and experiences. Two of my sorority sisters from college are pregnant... One due in a few weeks, and the other due right around my due date... and EVERYONE knows what they are having except me.

I almost bought my first piece of baby clothing the other day.. I saw something cute... and I figured that I'll eventually need something to at least bring the baby home in... but I resisted. It was hard though... the baby stores are all getting their spring gear out. Sigh. I guess I can wait a little longer. It would make it so much easier if I knew what I was having, but its still fun guessing!

well, I doubt I'll have time to write before I get back from Orlando... so I'll leave you with this.. I find it absurd that Disney does not offer PREGNANT WOMEN discounts... its not like we can ride the rides.. I just want to walk around the happiest place on earth... but at those prices (and no discounts), I think I'll be sitting in my hotel rooms at night. ;)

Busy Monday

So, today was a busy day... I think we found a daycare solution for our baby (starting in September), I spoke to my boss about the future of my job and future responsibilities, and Baby P starting flipping and tae-bo-ing with such force, that I actually felt it!! I had been feeling the kicks, but this was the first time that I could feel the rolling and body parts jabbing me... very weird, but very cool! Steve is dying to feel the baby move... he'll put his hand over my stomach, and the baby is kicking under his hand, but he can't feel it yet... Maybe now that I'm starting to feel the rolling and more forceful kicks, hopefully Steve will start feeling the movements too.

We're soldiering on with the home search. We have an appointment to see 2 houses of interest tomorrow afternoon. We were going to see a third one, but apparently the house just went under agreement, so there is no point to it... kinda a bummer... One of the houses would be perfect, but the price could halt us in our tracks, and the other is priced less, but needs a LOT of work... so it might be too much for us to undertake.... so opposite scenarios to look at, and we've got one other in a nearby town to look at hopefully later in the week or next.

Figuring out finances is a chore in itself... I was never good at math, so numbers are a scary thing for me. I think our next step is to have a financial consultant or someone accurately tell us exactly how much of a mortgage payment we can afford, especially now with daycare expenses, along with every other expense that having a new baby brings... Of course the Mortgage guy says we can afford a whole lot more of a house, than we KNOW we can afford... now is just figuring out the real number.

Post-Holiday Fun

We went to my company's post-holiday party last night... It was a fun excuse to dress up! Even though I didn't have a drop of alcohol to drink, I still managed to look drunk while dancing the night away. Being pregnant is a little strange when trying to dance... Your balance is all off!

Steve and I spent most of yesterday driving around and looking at potential houses. We found a few that we liked (well from what we could tell of the outside) so we might be taking the inside tours soon. It still SOOOO expensive. As hard as we try not to think about it, the more it becomes apparent that we need to... So many things need to fall into place in the next few months to a year. We keep waiting for one decision to be made, so we could start making other decisions... We only need one factor to fall into place, and then we could plan around it.

Today, my old roommate and I went to the movies.. We finally saw The Holiday. A very good chick flick!

all-in-all, another great weekend.... now off to work.. I can't believe its almost Monday again.

mmmmm OREO Balls

These are the best. My sister-in-law introduced these to me last summer. If you like chocolate (and who doesn't!) Then you'll love these!! This isn't the exact recipe, but its close enough... I feel it is my duty to pass on the recipe for these delectable treats! Amazingly enough... there are still some left in my freezer from a party last weekend! We have made these for a few parties, and they have been a hit... watch out chocoholics.. they are rich and addictive.

Oreo Balls
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
4 cups crushed Oreo® cookies
2 cups chocolate baking chips
1 tbsp. shortening

Directions:On high speed of an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add cookies and beat until well combined. Refrigerate 2 hours until chilled enough to roll.Roll dough into 1" ball. Over double boiler, melt chips and shortening until smooth. Dip balls into mixture and thoroughly coat. Place on wax paper to harden. Store in refrigerator.

(my lunch is SOOOO not going to be satisfying now!)

Friday's Baby Checkup

I went to the doctor's on Friday afternoon. As some of you know.. I was in my dark paranoid place, becuase I haven't been 100% certain that I've actually felt my baby kick. You can talk yourself in our out of anything, so I had convinced myself that everything I had felt since like the 16th week wasn't actually movement (and well more dark thoughts had taken over). I am happy to report though, that the doctor found the baby's heartbeat right away! I am now fairly certain that I have been feeling the "flutters", and now that the baby is getting bigger, the movements are actually starting to resemble kicks or punches!

I really like my doctor.. She is very nice, and she has been on the "Best of Boston" list of doctors for quite a few years running... I do however feel very rushed when I'm at the office. Perhaps its because my appointments are always late on Friday afternoons... but I always walk out, and within minutes of leaving her (and standing at the receptionist desk making my next appointment) it dawns on me that I actually had 3 or 4 questions for her.... this happens everytime. She asks me if I have questions, and sometimes I get one in, and then othertimes I stare blankly... duh. Of course I have questions... I just need to write them down, so that I'll actually remember them when the time comes! I must have flustered her too this time, because she had the tape measurer out to measure, but she skipped right to the heartbeat, and then told me I was all set to go for 6 weeks. So I can't even tell you how the baby is measuring...

Well, my next appointment is not for another 6 weeks.. and that appointment will be the fun GLUCOSE tolerance test. I get to drink the sugar filled orange drink, and then have my blood drawn... Did I tell you that the lab tech at the doctor's office told me that I had the veins of a junkie? I don't get it.. I used to be the champion blood giver.. Something has happened though.. With my last wrist surgery.. they actually tried to find my vein (and missed) three times. They ended up using a pediatric needle and getting my IV to go through my leg instead. sheez. This should be fun.

First week of 2007

The funk has been slow to leave my body, but I'm starting to sound better. I went to work all last week, and Steve and I actually went out to eat on Friday night!!! I can't remember the last time we did that when we both felt decent! We had a good weekend. We started looking and registering for baby stuff, and the weather was so nice, that we (on a whim) decided to test-drive a potential mommy-mobile on Saturday. I went to my sorority's area alumnae chapter's annual post-holiday party.. and I walked away with the best "Yankee swap" gift!

On Sunday, a fellow pregnant friend/co-worker and I decided to go dress shopping for our annual work post-holiday party. After finding outfits, we had lunch, and then did some more (you can guess) baby supplies browsing/shopping.

Steve is a happy camper today... The Pats won last night, and advance in the playoffs!