The baby bump has arrived…! 18 weeks, 2 days

Okay, these aren’t the most flattering pictures (we took them first thing this morning) but I’m excited to say that the baby bump has arrived! It’s obviously been growing slowing for a while but I feel like I’ve finally started looking somewhat pregnant over the past couple of days. I still haven’t felt our little one kick but at least I know he or she is growing. I’m starting to make the transition to maternity clothes. Although most of my shirts still fit most of them are not long enough to hide the elastic band on the maternity pants. So for now, I wear what I can. Hopefully I will start filling out the few maternity tops I have over the next few weeks.

Happy Two Year Anniversary!

Little girls typically dream about growing up, marrying their prince charming, starting a family and living happily ever after. I was no different. However, little girls usually don’t think about or can’t envision the journey along the way to happily ever after. Last night, while trying to fall asleep, I watched you sleep. I started thinking of our relationship over the past 9 years…all the struggles, the ups and downs, the fun times and happy times we’ve shared. Those times are what got us to where we are today. Our relationship as changed and grown so much over the years and it grows stronger each day because of the moments we share.

Last night as I watched you sleep I also started thinking of all the little things I love about you. The way you get this little grin on your face when our fibbing about something and the way you can fall asleep in 2 seconds flat (love and hate that). I love the way you sometimes use your thumb to gently rub your arm when you’re sleeping. Your laugh. You have this great laugh that makes me smile and laugh even when I’m upstairs and I have no idea what you’re laughing about. When I watch funny shows with you, you have this way of making them funnier. And when you watch sports I can always tell when something good/bad happens because you yell or shout at the TV and you can be so animated. I love the why you calm me down when I’m stressed out over something stupid and how you make me feel like I can do anything. I love how you can make me smile for no reason at all. And I love they way you have taken such good care of me over the past four months. I am so happy that you are so happy about our baby. I love that you want to be so involved with everything from finding a daycare and pediatrician to registering for baby items and decorating the room. I am so lucky to have a husband like you and our baby is lucky that it’s going to have a dad like you. I can’t wait to see you holding our little one this summer.

I love you!

The Blizzard of 08

The Blizzard of 08. That's what they're calling it. The snow started falling Friday around 10am and didn't stop until Saturday around 6pm. My company along with many other companies closed their offices early Friday and the city was basically shutdown on Saturday. I truly didn't believe we'd get as much snow as they estimated. In fact we were supposed to be heading to Decatur 1st thing Saturday morning. Brian was supposed to be attending a bachelor party and I was going to spend the weekend with my in-laws. Our plans changed when I woke up Saturday morning, headed downstairs to let the pups out, and felt snow fall on my feet when I opened the backdoor. The snow was still falling pretty hard and when I turned on the TV I knew the only place we would be going is...well, nowhere. Brian came down and shoveled the pups a path so they could go to the bathroom. He then spent most of the day helping neighbors clear their driveways and the sidewalk around our cul-de-sac. The best part of the day was when we let the pups out front to play and enjoy the snow. They kept running around the cul-de-sac and up the shovel driveways. It was adorable. They then made a path across the street..jumping and running through the snow. It was the weekend we planned but it was a great weekend at home.

February 28, 2008 – 16 weeks, 3 days

Brian and I had our 3rd prenatal appointment today. It was originally scheduled for next Tuesday but since I was still having pains in my lower ab region, the nurse decided to move my appointment up. This appointment consisted of more blood work and the doctor putting my worries at ease regarding the pains I've been having. After that, we had the pleasure of hearing our little one’s heartbeat again. This time however, it wasn’t immediate. The first sound we heard this time was our baby moving. He/She moved a lot! After about what seemed like a minute or so the nurse practitioner finally found the heartbeat...still strong and pounding fast (I didn’t ask the rate this time). The doctor said everything seems to be going well. Our next appointment is scheduled for March 27th. That is the day we’ve been waiting for. That’s the day we find out if our little one is a boy or a girl.

Morning sickness update…
The morning sickness seems to have passed...finally!! I’m starting to have more energy and I’ve even gained all of my weight back plus some! I never thought I would be happy about gaining weight! Now if I could just get rid of this head cold!

Weight = +2.5, Waist = +2 inches

Nursery – Step one complete

This past weekend, Brian started working on the nursery. His first project - redo the closet. I didn’t think this project would take too long but it turned into an all day event. Brian patiently removed the shelves that were already hanging in the closet and decided to fill the holes and repaint the entire closet so it would look better for our little one. He then hung the new closet organizer we bought. The closet looks so much better and we have so much more room for storage. I can’t wait to see it full of baby clothes and other cute baby items.

Other projects we have planned for the nursery include removing the popcorn ceiling, replacing the trim, and installing the wood flooring we just purchased. I’ll be sure to take lots of pics!



OH! I finally figure out how to add pics. DUH!

This past month...

Two big things happened this past month and I haven't had time to write about them so here I go...

Congratulations Laurel and Jason! Cole Wilson Naegele was born on January 24th at 8:10am. He’s absolutely adorable and I can’t believe my best friend is a Mommy! She’s doing such a wonderful job and Jason is so sweet with him. I’m looking forward to making many more wonderful memories with the three of them.

Happy Birthday Zane! My adorable nephew turned one on February 7th. I can’t believe it’s been a year already. Pat and Maya are doing such an incredible job with him. For is birthday, Pat and Maya had the family over to their house for dinner (all of Zane’s favorite food was served). We had such a great time. They put Zane in his crib with balloons and he didn’t want to get out because he was having so much fun. Then at one point during the day, he started crawling against the wall. After a few minutes we realized he was following his shadow! Too cute! And the cupcake…this was funny. He smashed the cupcake on his tray. He wasn’t too worried about eating it because he was to busy studying his hand that was covered in frosting. He would just open and close it over and over. It was cute to watch. Then he decided to share it with Griswald, Winston and Truman. They love a baby that shares!

A few weeks ago Pat, Maya and Zane came over to Columbus to visit and take pics of Baby Cole for Laurel and Jason. It’s absolutely amazing to see how much a baby grows and changes in the first year. I kept looking at Zane and then at Cole. They’re only a year apart but they are so different. Zane has grown is so many ways. I can’t wait to see what this year brings.

Second Trimester…

We’ve now entered the second trimester of our pregnancy. I can’t believe the 1st trimester is over. I have to say, I’m pretty excited. Every person I know that has gone through pregnancy says the second trimester is the best and so far my morning sickness seems to be getting better (fingers are crossed). Lots of amazing things are going to happen throughout this trimester: we’ll hear our baby’s heart beat for the first time, find out if we’re having a boy or girl, see our baby’s face (3D ultrasound), plus I’ll finally start showing!

We actually heard Baby Laurent’s heartbeat yesterday. Our doctor put the Doppler machine on my belly and we heard it instantly. It was one of the best sounds of I’ve ever heard. Our doctor said our little one’s heart is beating about 160 beats per minute which is perfectly normal. Can’t wait to hear it again at our next appointment!