(Almost) Three Months Later

Wow, so it really has been a while. I ought to do a better job at maintaining my spot here, but the truth is, I don't really feel like the day-to-day happenings in our little lives are all that noteworthy. But I suppose you're all due an update. So here'goes...

This is my first post from our new spot in sunny California. We've been here about a week and a half, and so far things are going...okay? We've unpacked everything in our new home and are excited to be settling into this new community and exploring our neighborhood. It's a crazy place, at any time you may see either turkeys or Peacocks (and Peahens). They wander freely, chillin' in driveways and front yards, calling out to each other incessantly throughout the neighborhood. The first few evenings here, I wondered to myself why those kids' parents let them stay in the park so late, and why they were making such ridiculous and repetitive noises. TURNS OUT those weren't kids at all. It's crazy!

I've been job hunting pretty aggressively since the end of March with exactly zero luck, and it's starting to get a bit discouraging. I suppose I can't say zero luck. I did secure an interview in Oakland with a nice-sounding company for a job that would have been very stressful and didn't pay very well. I declined on that one. And my email inbox fills up daily with messages assuring me that insurance sales is the career I am destined for. I'm not sure how true that is, and I'm starting to get a sneaking suspicion that they send these emails to everyone. With no other options, I'm beginning to consider it...

Peanut is growing far too quickly for her own good, and given her ability to pull herself up onto anything semi-stable (coupled with a complete lack of balance), her beautiful little face is now marked up more often than not. She sleeps less during the day, but I'm still getting two naps and 12 hours at night out of her, which is nice for mommy's sanity (and job search). She says all sorts of little words (ga, ma, da, ba) and sometimes combines these into bigger words, but still does not comprehend any meaning behind the words, near as I can tell. She just as readily says "ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma" when looking at Jeff as she does at me.

I've been researching things for us to do with her here, since she's so eager to climb things these days. So far no luck, although I did hear today about a local water park that has an area especially for babies. I'm excited to check that out. I've also heard a bit about gymnastics facilities that offer open time for smaller kiddos.

I suppose that's really all the updating I can do right now. There's more to tell, but I'm sure it would just bore most of you anyway. I'll really try to be better about updating, especially since I'm farther from family than I was before.

Cheerio!

2 Months: Stats, Shots & Smiles

This past Sunday, our little nugget officially reached the two-month mark of her short little life. My, how time flies. Jeff and I grow more smitten with her every single day, as she reaches new milestones and grows more and more into the person she will become.

We visited with our amazing pediatrician on Monday, and she assured me, again, that Caleigh is absolutely perfect. (DUH!) Here are her updated stats:

Length: 23 inches (73rd percentile)

Weight: 12 lbs, 5 oz (73rd percentile)

Head: 15.7 inches (92nd percentile)

In comparison, here's where she was at her very first appointment, four days old:

Length:19.25 inches (34th percentile)

Weight: 5 lbs, 15.5 oz (8th percentile)

Head: 13.8 inches (75th percentile)

Talk about growth!!! This kid has gotten huge!! I can't get over the improvement in her weight. I remember vividly, the second or third night we were home, I called the nurse line convinced Caleigh wasn't getting anything to eat and was starving to death. I bawled in Jeff's arms because I felt like a terrible mother, not being able to feed my baby. What a difference two months makes! This kid clearly isn't starving, and it's showing in her round little body and chubby face. She's developed those adorable little baby rolls in her arms and legs, and has acquired an additional chin.

Monday's visit wasn't just to check on Caleigh's growth stats, it was also an opportunity for immunizations. She received one at the hospital before we were released, but the nurse had taken her out of the room and brought her back sleeping, so I have no idea how much she freaked out then. This time was a totally different story. I had the "pleasure" of holding my tiny girl while she got stuck with big needles THREE TIMES. I'd been able to get her to sleep while we were waiting for the nurse to return with the shots, so she didn't react too bad to the first one. She noticed it, but with her paci securely in her mouth, she handled it pretty well.

I wish I could say the same for the next two, wowzer.

The second one saw the paci come flying out of her mouth and my daughter wailing like I had never seen before. Full-on mouth wide open, eyes scrunched tight, in the most pain she has ever experienced in her little life. My heart broke in two. And then she got stuck again, and I think that one hurt a little more, because she looked at me, tortured, and wailed and wailed and wailed. My poor little baby girl. My heart broke some more. I was crushed. I am already dreading having to take her back again and again and again, and especially when the time comes that she'll know what is about to happen and can tell me how much it hurts. My heart will break some more I think.

So after the shots, I managed to get her clothes back on, calmed down and back in her car seat. She fell asleep in the car on the way home, but I gave her some infant Tylenol when we got home just in case. She napped in the afternoon and seemed fine the rest of the night, so I'm thankful for no adverse side effects. Minus my still-broken heart, of course. Maybe next time Daddy will have to take her.

We also received a referral for a local eye doctor because our pediatrician (at my inquiry) suspects Caleigh might have one or both crossed eyes. We haven't made the follow-up appointment for that yet, so I'm not sure if she actually has crossed eyes or not. We'll find out more in the next few weeks.

Finally, the two-month mark has brought us something super exciting: SMILES!! Jeff and I are definitely learning what things we can do to help bring on smiles (tummy tickles, excited faces) and do them as much as we can. It is another level of parenting when your child smiles at you. Didn't think I could love her little face any more, and then she SMILES at me and it's like

OH. MY. GOODNESS.

She's too much cute for one baby. We're looking forward to continuing to watch her grow and change. It seems like every day she learns something new, or shows us some more of her sweet personality.

That's probably about all for my update, so here's some more recent pictures of our angel:

Napping with daddy.
My loves. <3

Smile!

So much change in just 31 days!

Outtake from our 2-month photo shoot.

Outtake from our 2-month photo shoot.

Outtake from our 2-month photo shoot.

Beaver believer!!

37 Weeks: Swollen Hands, Swollen Feet

Alright, I have to warn you. I don't have a 37-week bump pic ready yet. So if that's all you came for, you might as well leave now. I'm working on my chalkboard today and hope to take my pic tonight, but I still have no idea when I'll get around to posting it. Pregnancy has made me pretty lazy these days. I did manage to vacuum today though, which I'll consider an accomplishment. =)

But I do have other updates!

At 37 weeks, we should be about three weeks away from meeting our Peanut. But we're not. We're actually quite a bit closer. I had another visit with the doctor this week, and she'd like to go ahead with the plan to induce labor on Monday, July 28th. So sometime in the next ten or eleven days, Jeff and I will be proud parents to a sweet baby girl.

I have to admit, I've warmed up a bit to the idea of the induction, but that could be because I know I really don't have a choice. The doc believes that this is what's best, so I'm trying to be as on-board as I can. I'm a little worried, because at this point my body is showing zero signs of being ready to let this baby go, and I think we could be in for a challenge getting it to give Peanut up. Not that I blame it, she's sweet and adorable, who would want to let her go?

If nothing should change in the next week or so, by my next appointment, I'll likely be admitted Sunday evening, the 27th and given chemicals to start to prepare my body for an induction. Sometimes labor is induced even though the body has already started the process on its own, and sometimes you have to start completely from scratch, so to speak. I'll try to save you the gritty details and keep this as G-rated as possible.

They'll need to get my body started Sunday night so it's at least a little bit ready when labor is actually, technically induced sometime on Monday. From there, it's just a matter of how quickly my body responds to the drugs, and how agreeable Peanut is to arriving a little early. I'm (obviously) hoping for a smooth labor with minimal complications. The book is very clear that labor inductions have a higher chance than natural labor for any type of assisted delivery, including use of forceps or a vacuum, and cesarean section. I'm hoping Peanut isn't quite as stubborn as her mom and just goes along with what's happening, but you never know for sure. So I'm hoping and praying for the best.

This has been a particularly rough week for me, and although I don't feel comfortable elaborating more here, I'm happy to discuss privately what's been happening, should your curiosity get the best of you. Don't worry - Peanut and I are fine - we're just feeling strongly for people we love that have faced very challenging days this past week. You know who you are, and you know that we love you very much.

So as the reality sets in that we're just over a week away from meeting our little one, I've been trying to line up the last few details of our lives so that we're ready for Peanut's arrival. After a couple hefty Amazon and Target orders, and with the exception of one last package arriving on Monday, I think we've got everything we need to care for our baby. Now we just need the baby herself. It's surreal to think "at this time in two weeks, we'll have our baby" or "next time we do this it will be with a baby." Even after almost ten months of carrying our Peanut girl, knowing about her, and dreaming about her, it still seems surreal that she'll be an actual baby girl, laying in our arms in just over a week. I think Jeff and I both have done a good job of side-stepping the panic and anxiety that first-time parents sometimes face (as much as we can), and are focusing on our excitement to meet our daughter.

My plan right now is to do another post with my week 37 pic tomorrow or Sunday, and then update again after my doctor's appointment next week, along with my 38-week bump pic. After that, you may not hear from me again for a bit, as we head to the hospital and then bring home the Peanut girl. I know you're all dying to hear what we've decided to name her, and you've only got another few days to wait, so hang in there! Just don't expect me to stop calling her Peanut, I think we've stuck her with a lifelong nickname there.

That's about it for today, I'll try and post the week 37 picture as soon as I can! Happy Friday everyone!

The Misnomer of the Nine-Month Pregnancy

Here's the thing: society, pop culture, and the media have been perpetuating this idea that pregnancy is a nine-month process. And yes, while it occurs over roughly nine months, ten months is a more accurate timeline. Look at it this way: you know there are usually four weeks in a month, and that there are 40 weeks in a pregnancy. Do the math here, folks. Forty weeks is ten months. I became pregnant in November, I will have my baby in August (or late July...). November --> August is ten months.

Thus, at 36 weeks pregnant, I am officially nine months, with another month to go still. Not feeling terrible, but good gracious I woke up this morning to painfully swollen hands! I think they'll loosen up as I go on about my day and get my circulation moving (maybe typing this post will help?), but yikes!

Right on time, here's my 36-week pic:

My book says my belly is just about as big as it will get, as Peanut is pretty much at her birth weight and length. As I mentioned last week, my belly already feels huge, and rolling side-to-side in the bed is getting increasingly difficult. I'm also experiencing pain in my hips if I lay on one for too long, which means lots of switching sides (and did I mention how difficult that is??). It doesn't make for a seamless process or uninterrupted sleep. Luckily, I have no problem laying down for a daytime nap here and there. ;D

Little girl is still very active, even though she's running out of room. Her hiccups are killing me these days, as I find the sensation irritating, especially in the middle of the night! Besides hiccups she does lots of rolls and stretches, still exploring her ever-shrinking space.

At this point, the book believes she is roughly 19 inches and weighs about six pounds. Obviously at this stage, there is no way to know for sure, since all babies grow differently in the later stage of pregnancy. Any day now, she should begin to move down into my pelvis, hopefully making breathing easier and relieve some of the heartburn I experience sometimes. It's still surreal that we're going to meet our baby girl SOON!

This is "the book" I'm always referring to.
I highly recommend it if you're also pregnant!!!

I had my 36-week visit with the doctor yesterday, and while she said all is relatively normal and baby is growing as she should, Doc still believes she might come a little early. However, if Peanut doesn't show up in the next two weeks,  the doc wants to induce labor between weeks 38 and 39 due to my increasingly high blood pressure. The risks to baby and to myself increase should we continue the pregnancy beyond 39 weeks, and at that point Peanut should be developed enough to survive just fine on her own. We'll find out more about the induction at my appointment next week.

Am I super stoked about this news? No, not really. Labor is supposed to be a natural process that starts on it's own when baby is ready, and I have mixed feelings about forcing my body to begin labor. Some women also say that induction of labor is more painful than when labor begins naturally, which nobody wants to hear anyway. Of course I don't want to put Peanut in any kind of danger and I completely trust my doctor and her advice. If she thinks delivering Peanut between 38 and 39 weeks is the very best thing for her, then that is what we'll do, whether I'm thrilled with it or not. Jeff and I have always had the attitude that we'd cross each bridge as we came to it, not worrying too much about what will or won't happen. We're trying to be as laid-back as we can about the process so that neither of us stresses out too much if things don't go "as planned."

We want our daughter healthy and happy, no matter how that happens.

I told Jeff last night I was hesitant to share this news with you, since (like baby names) everyone has an opinion on what should or shouldn't happen during labor and delivery, and (like all other pregnancy-related situations) everyone is more than willing to share their own unsolicited stories, opinions, and medical advice from their own doctor. How did so many of my friends and family go to medical school when I wasn't looking? My point is, Jeff and I will decide what is best for our daughter and the labor and delivery process, and would appreciate nothing more than your unwavering support and encouragement. It's scary to think that you might be putting your child at risk before she's even born, and we can definitely use, and will immensely appreciate, your cheers and prayers.

So given this news, it sounds like July 28th may be induction day if Peanut doesn't show up sooner on her own. Don't hold your breath! Things can always change, and the 28th still may not end up being Peanut's actual birthday. Little girl may also decide she doesn't like to be scheduled and just show up on her own. However, July 28th is a heck of a lot closer (relatively speaking) than August 6th. It's pretty much two and a half weeks away. Luckily, with the exception of a few more things to throw into our hospital bag, we are READY! Now we just wait and see how things go and hope for smooth sailing from here on out!

That's probably enough updates for this week! Since I'm visiting the doctor weekly now, I'll have more news to share after next week's appointment, and perhaps more information regarding the possibility of inducing labor.

Have a great weekend everybody!

34 Weeks: Feelin' the Love!

Yes, yes, I realize I've been gone a while. It's been almost two weeks since my last post, which sucks for those of you who check for new ones regularly (which, apparently, is a lot of you...haha).

I'm six days late with this post, but here's my 34-week bump pic, taken from my baby shower at home this past weekend:

I did my photo a little bit different this week because I found a bunch of cool chalkboard fonts online that I wanted to try out, so I made a virtual chalkboard instead of my usual one and put it with the photo. Looks okay I guess, but it ended up being a lot more trouble than it was worth, so I think I'll stick to my normal chalkboard. Only five more to go!

I'm feeling particularly pregnant these days, and certainly noticing some of the discomfort of pregnancy, although I try not to complain too much. I know there are a lot of women out there who contend with a lot more than the discomfort I feel, so I should be grateful I've got it as (relatively) easy as I do.

I had my Oregon baby shower this past weekend - what a great time! It was so nice to see some of my friends from childhood, girls I've worked with at Oregon State, and other friends and family who traveled to visit with me and celebrate our little Peanut girl. She certainly is WELL LOVED!! Thank you to those of you who came (or wanted to!) I very sincerely appreciate it. And a HUGE thank you to my Auntie and Mom for putting on such a wonderful little party. The food was delicious, the punch was tasty and the atmosphere festive. It really was a great time.

Baby showers are funny. You hear your friends and family talk about how excited they are for your child, and you know that they are, but then to see their generosity with their time and their gifts, and watch their faces when they tell you how much they're looking forward to meeting your little one, it's amazing. I really cannot believe how loved this little girl already is by so many people. She is beyond blessed to come into such a huge network of love and support, and Jeff and I are beyond grateful for each of you. You don't have to love our daughter as much as we do, but it seems as though you do anyway. Incredible.

I had a visit with my doc last Wednesday, and everything went pretty much as expected. It seems she's no longer very concerned with the preeclampsia, given that I'm not "spilling proteins" (Google that if you need more explanation...) but she did say she still believes that Peanut will arrive around 37 or 38 weeks. I didn't do a great job of asking for clarification on why she thinks Peanut will come early, but that is my main mission at my next appointment (a week from tomorrow for those of you who are curious). If she truly does arrive around week 37 or 38, that's only 2-3 weeks from tomorrow, which means Jeff and I need to kick our prep into high gear. We are mostly ready, but do still need to pack our hospital bag, install her car seat, and generally make sure we and our  home are ready for our daughter.

No doc appointments this week, but this is my last "week off" from visits. Starting next week, I'll see the doc every week until Peanut arrives to check my progress and just generally asses how things are moving along. This means I'll have even more to update you about! Hopefully...

After a fun few days at home in Corvallis visiting friends and family, I'm glad to be back in Klamath Falls for a while. It feels like I've done quite a bit of traveling in the last few months, and I'm looking forward to taking it easy until Peanut arrives. Undoubtedly once she's here, there'll be few relaxing moments.

I suppose that's about it for this week. I'm technically 35 weeks tomorrow, so I'll try and post another photo maybe Thursday (although at this rate, they probably won't look much different).

It's 89 degrees outside as I write this - at 8:30 at night - so I'll be spending the evening in front of the window hoping for a breeze. Air conditioning is a rare thing in Oregon, so we're stuck with fans and wind. Not that I'm complaining...

Toodles!

33 Weeks: Putting A Face To A Name

I have a feeling all my posts from now on are going to take on the same tone of nervous excitement. Peanut is going to be here soon, whether Jeff and I are ready or not. Granted, we feel ready, and I think if she showed up tomorrow we'd be alright. But that doesn't mean she should.

Do you hear me little one? You stay in there and keep growing for as long as you need to, okay?

At 33 weeks, little Peanut is growing like a weed. Or at least it sure feels like she is. She moves almost constantly, which means I regularly have the pleasure of feeling little feet in my ribs and little fists in my side. Sometimes it feels like shes somersaulting, and it takes my breath away for a second. No matter how long she's been growing in my belly, I don't think I'll ever get totally used to some of the strange sensations that happen when you're sharing your body with another person, even if that other person is very, very little. I'm glad she's moving around though, I'd prefer that to a lazy baby. At least I know she's active!

I had an additional ultrasound yesterday to check on Peanut's size and growth. Normally the last ultrasound of a low-risk pregnancy is the "anatomy" scan at around 20 weeks, but because my doctor was concerned about preeclampsia, she wanted to look again and make sure Peanut is a normal size and all is well. Here are a couple shots from the scan yesterday:

Peanut's face from the front. She's so cute, right?

Side profile shot.

I realize ultrasounds are, for the most part, ugly and unclear photos. Frankly sometimes I'm shocked at how much the ultrasound techs can decipher from what looks like static to me. It was a little eerie to see her this far into the pregnancy. Even at 21 weeks, she didn't appear too much like a baby. She had all the main features, but they're so much more developed now that she looks like a little person. Not so much in these pictures, they don't really do her justice. I'm convinced she'll be a doll though.

And if she's not, just lie to me and tell me she is, mm'kay?

Most importantly, after all the measurements were taken and averaged, the ultrasound tech told me Peanut is measuring at about 33 weeks and 5 days, so about 5 days "big." I'll have to see what the doctor says about this when I go again next week, but it definitely rules out the small baby doc was worried about. I'm thinking this might ease her fears about preeclampsia and she may reevaluate her idea that baby girl will need to come early.

I can't say I'm surprised she's a little big (and I'm pretty sure this isn't terribly uncommon), because I still feel like a whale. Sometimes I look down and I'm amazed at just how big my belly has gotten. Wasn't it just yesterday I was wondering if strangers could tell that I'm pregnant? No doubt these days, haha.

(Random side note: to this point, I have still managed to avoid any uninvited belly rubs. At this point, I'm considering myself the champ of whatever facial expression it is that says "Do NOT touch my belly.")

Here's the 33-week bump pic:

 Thankfully the ultrasound tech also confirmed that Peanut is still a girl! Thank goodness.

I would've been in so much trouble if she were now a boy, somehow. I've got enough pink to outfit ten little girls for a lifetime, haha.

My iPhone app says shes the side of a cauliflower, but I myself have never seen an 18" cauliflower, so I doubt that's a good size reference. I think for the most part she probably just looks like a small baby. A VERY CUTE small baby. =)

We also start our "childbirth classes" tonight, and I'm interested to see how that goes. With so much information out there so readily available, I'm not sure there's too much they can teach us that we don't already know, but it'll be good to tour the birthing center, hear about some recommended techniques for labor and delivery, and maybe meet some other people in the same boat as us. Perhaps I'll write another update about that tomorrow, but only if it's terribly exciting.

I visit the doctor again on Tuesday for my 34-week checkup, and I'm sure we'll discuss Peanut's size and doc's thoughts about the preeclampsia. This will be the first doctor appointment I go to without Jeff, which makes me a little sad. By some miracle, he's been able to attend every single appointment we've had, and I think he's really liked being able to participate in the whole process. But since he just started training, he wasn't able to go with me to the ultrasound yesterday, and will probably miss all of our doctor appointments from now on. I suppose as long as he's there for the last one that's all that really matters.

I think that's about it as far as updates from this past week. I'll check back in soon with more updates!

30 Weeks...or...Holy Crap We're Having A Baby SOON

Happy Thursday my friends!!

I have to say, I am feeling pretty darn accomplished this morning. Not only did I manage to take my 30-week photo on the correct day, but here I am posting it on time too! Go me!!

The 30-week mark is unbelievable, and I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that we're 3/4 of the way through this pregnancy. It doesn't feel like all that long ago that I was keeping such a big secret. 

Speaking of secrets...(kind of)...here's this week's bump photo:

 

Ta-da!!! The big secret is out!! Peanut has a NAME!!!! Besides "Peanut," that is. 

Jeff and I have finally settled on a first and middle name for our daughter, and we're both pretty excited about it. We also have a couple "extras" in case she comes out and we don't think our choice really fits with her little face. BUT I think we're pretty firm here. 

Now here's the part none of you are going to like, despite the fact that I've told you this was our plan from the beginning:

We are not planning on sharing Peanut's name until she's born. 

I've known too many friends who've had rude, judgey people make rude, judgey comments about a child's name to the parent's face. Now, I know none of you are rude and judgey, but Jeff and I still want to keep this last surprise until she joins us. Look at it this way: you've really only got to wait ten weeks, which is totally doable. 

Plus, she's still got a super-cute nickname, and I love that our friends and family have whole-heartedly embraced calling our daughter-to-be Peanut. It's adorable, and you're awesome. 

That's about it for today's post I think. We're heading north today for a visit to Corvallis. I realize it's only been two weeks since I was there, but Jeff's not been back since he left in October of 2012, so it's been quite a while for him. He's looking forward to seeing some family and friends, and of course hitting up some of our favorite local eateries. 

If you'd like to visit with us while we're in town, just let me know!!

Have a great Thursday, it's almost the weekend!! 

27 Weeks: Home Sweet Oregon

We made it!!

At least, Peanut and I did. Jeff's still making his way to Oregon, with an extended stay in Vegas to visit his family, which he's enjoying a lot. 

Because I'm late writing this, we've been back in Oregon for a whole week now. I (we) arrived around noon last Saturday, running on barely two hours of sleep. I was exhausted, but happy to be home, and glad to give up the sleep to be able to attend 14-05's Drop Night. Since being back I've wasted no time making plans and visiting with friends and family, most of whom I haven't seen in over a year. 

It's good to be back in Corvallis, but this little town certainly doesn't change much. It's a little bit comforting and a little bit nostalgic, like knowing a piece of your childhood can never be altered. I'm glad to be back within range of home too; Klamath Falls is just a four hour drive from this little town that raised me. 

Had to take a little bit different bump pic this week, since we're no longer in Texas. Excuse the poor photo quality, the lighting wasn't great and I had an inexperienced photographer (although I appreciate your help, Mom). Since I knew I'd be without my chalkboard for a while, I'd prepared it in advance. Here's the mashup:

At 14.5" Peanut is more than a foot tall, and it sure feels like she's growing fast. A few times I've felt what I believe are hiccups, spasms that feel like her whole body is jerking out at once. I'm pretty such that's what they are. I've also felt consistent pushes from her little limbs, not just kicks and punches. Sometimes she'll press into my belly, and if I push back with my hand, I feel a little limb there. Very crazy. 

Just in the last week or so, it seems her kicks have gotten a lot stronger. Especially her early morning wake-up sessions. She seems to be an early riser, that's for sure. 

I'm starting to feel better about our "nest" for Peanut too. Since I've been home both Jeff's family and mine have been making VERY much-appreciated contributions for our little girl. She's now got a stroller, car seat, crib, and dresser with changing table, plus both the crib mattress and changing pad. Most of the pieces we'll need for her nursery, and a car seat to bring her home. I'm sure in the next few months we'll collect eveything else we'll need to feel ready for her. At least, as ready as two brand-new parents can feel.

I'm ready to have Jeff home (I'm ready to actually BE home, in K Falls) and to truly start nesting and preparing for our little nugget. Thanfully, we've got some time before Jeff starts training again to settle in (and put all her furniture together, hehe).

I think that's about it for this week. Next week will be my 28-week post, which I'm counting as a few big milestones. It'll officially be the beginning of our seventh month of pregnancy, and also the third and final trimester. Very, very exciting. 

Man, this journey sure has flown by. 

BaBy-Q!

Oh. My. Gosh.

I am so lucky.

Even "lucky" doesn't begin to describe how incredibly blessed I am. Last Saturday, Peanut and I were treated to the most amazing BaBy-Q baby shower ever. My two besties hosted a fabulous party with even fabulous-er food (YUM!!!) and so many of my favorite ladies came to celebrate Peanut.

I'm already starting to get emotional about leaving Sheppard and Wichita Falls, but Saturday may have put me over the edge. The women I've befriended here are AMAZING and have made the "ENJJPT experience" the awesome ride that it's been. Even as I write this, I know that my words are failing to really express just how grateful I am for each and every one of these women. As I looked around the room on Saturday, I was immediately reminded of a fond (and usually funny) memory for each face.

I love these girls.

I will miss them all terribly.

So for those of you reading who fall into this group, don't let me down! Keep in touch once I'm gone, and keep me in the loop on your lives. I promise to hold up my end of the friendship bargain, so please, please, do the same. I will Skype in for Drop Nights and send flowers for graduation. I'll assure you that there's a bigger plan at play when he doesn't get the plane he was hoping for, or it feels like he may never make it to the end of the program. I'll tell you a joke if you need it. We've got a good thing going here, you and me. Let's keep it up.

With that said, let's share some photos from the BaBy-Q!!!!

Cake Ball & Diaper center-pieces!

Decorations!

Gifts!

Delicious food!

Girlfriends! L to R: Tiffany, Victoria, Shelby, & Lisa.

Opening gifts

Canvas art sister made for Peanut's nursery. The quote is from Shakespear's A Midsummer Night's Dream

Friends!

Another shot of my beautiful pregnant friends!

My amazing hostesses, Tiffany and Maggie.

Little Sister made the trip! Wahhhooo!

23 Week Bump Pic

The wait is over! Although at this rate, this is more a 24-week photo than 23, but I'm determined to have a picture from (almost) each week. Can you tell I'm starting to lose creativity about these too? I feel like I've run out of ideas, haha.

Anyway, here's the 23 week bump pic:

Not much new to see here, is there? It's not like it changes much week-to-week (I feel like I say this every time!) but it's still crazy to see the progress over time.

Little girl is definitely getting bigger in there, now weighing in at one and a quarter pounds, and I'm feeling her on my bladder more than anything. She's also, supposedly, the size of a bunch of grapes, but at this stage, who really knows for sure.

For the first time last Thursday, my twice-weekly spin class was uncomfortable. I've been attending this spin class every Tuesday and Thursday (give or take) for over a year, and I love the routine and the cardio. I should have probably heeded the warnings of my other pregnant friends who attend the class, that eventually it would be more uncomfortable, because it definitely was. Luckily (or not, depending on how you look at it) I only have two more weeks of class until I'll have to shift my focus to our upcoming move. I'll miss the routine and the class, but hopefully I can find something to do to stay active once we get to Klamath. I have no doubt I'll be able to get in a walk or two with my little beagle nugget, Bailey, while I'm home visiting my parents. I'm told she loves walks these days, and I need to do something to stay active.

Not much other news to report, the little Peanut bugger is still kicking away. Jeff's had the chance to feel it a few times, but I still can't wait until she gets even bigger and her kicks are more pronounced. It was nice though, the other day he got to feel quite a few big ones. He loves this little girl so much, it's just too cute.

Not that it makes a difference, since we're not sharing, but Peanut girl still doesn't have a name, and the drama continues. Jeff and I came into our marriage pretty well prepared for it. We knew each other's feelings on the important stuff, and have been able to come to an agreement or compromise on everything so far.

But this?

Who knew naming our child would be such a struggle, and find us on such opposite ends of the spectrum? I'm sure we'll find some middle ground somewhere, but I'm thinking we may never be able to settle on a list, like we'd planned. It might be asking too much of us to agree on a short list of names to choose from. One (first and middle) might be all we can come up with. We shall see!

I'm super excited this week, for two reasons. I shared with you last Thursday that my little sister is coming for a long weekend visit, which I am SUPER stoked about. I haven't really spent much time with her in a while, and no real one-on-one sister time since she visited last October. I'm sure we'll find no shortage of fun things to do while she's here.

I'm also SUPER excited for my upcoming BaByQ!!! The weather should be nice enough this weekend, and I'm really looking forward to spending time with my awesome lady friends celebrating Peanut. It should be a fantastic time. Maybe I'll have some photos to share with you afterward.

I did attend a baby shower this past weekend (my 4th so far in three months) and had a GREAT time!! We celebrated our friends Courtney and Kristin and their upcoming little ones. We even got a chance to take a photo of four of us who are currently pregnant:

From Left (due): Courtney (July), Shelby (Aug), Kristin (Sep), Tiffany (June)

Hopefully they don't mind being featured on my blog! What a blessing it has been to travel this unusual and interesting road with so many companions!! I'm never without a friend who understands what I'm feeling; physically, mentally, and emotionally, and it's amazing. These ladies are the best!!!!

One more shower to wrap up the season, at least for now. No other ladies have stepped forward with big news, so for now it's just us, and I'll be the last one. It'll also be a nice little send-off too, one last chance to spend quality time with my friends before I leave. Bittersweet the whole way around.

I think that's about all I've got for today. The 24 week pic is due up in just a couple days, and I'll try to be better about it this time. I cannot believe that roughly six months of pregnancy have gone by already, and there are only four(ish) months until our Peanut girl makes her big arrival. So very exciting.

Take care my loves!!

22 Weeks!

I'm back!

And for the second time in a week, I'm seriously feeling like a winner here. Blogging WIN!

Time for the 22 week update which is...uneventful? At best.

I know what you came for anyway, so I won't make you read any more than you have to. Here's this week's bump pic:

At least I don't look so "tore up from the floor up" this week. (That is technically pronounced, "toe up from da flow up," just so you know...)

I had an actual outing today, so I made the effort to put on real clothes. Yay me!

Twenty two weeks in, and our little Peanut girl is finally, FINALLY tipping the scales at one whole pound. No more ounces for this little bebe! Only six or seven more until she's born (hopefully...). She's about the size of a football, although this probably isn't a great reference since footballs are all oblong and strangely shaped, and Peanut is just a little baby in there all snuggled up.

What can I say, I'm excited for our future Beaver fan!!

Peanut seems to be quite the lazy baby, spending most of her time sleeping and resting. Even when she moves around, they're slow and almost deliberate movement, not the violent kicks many of my other pregnant friends are experiencing right now. I understand stronger kicks will come as she gains more weight, but I just don't know if she'll be the sporadic type.

Right now, her strongest kicks usually come early in the morning (remember how I said she likes to practice karate at 3 or 4 am?), probably because she's been mostly resting all night and is ready to be up and start her little Peanut day. I was fortunate enough to feel her kick on the outside of my belly the other morning, during one such karate session. I happened to be asleep on my side with my hand resting on my stomach when she started kicking away. So neat!! Jeff had already left for work, so he missed out, but I'm really looking forward to the day he can feel her moving. He's tried a couple times, but the little turd stops performing the minute she knows someone is paying attention. We'll have to work on that.

Also - random side note - when they said kicks feel like gas, they weren't kidding!! When she's not kicking, just moving around in there, it feels like I have crazy gas in my abdomen. Such a strange feeling.

In other completely unrelated news, today marks one month until my final one-way trip home. The closer it gets the more sad I am to leave all my friends and our little life here. I'm beyond excited to get back to Oregon and be closer to family and the friends I have there, but I know that I will never have exactly this life again, and it breaks my heart. Especially knowing that so many of my friends will miss out on Peanut's early life because they'll be so far away, and knowing that I'll miss out on my friends' new experiences and babies is hard too. I'm hoping Skype and Facebook will help us stay connected.

Too sad to think about! On to more exciting news! Two weeks until my baby shower, and if I'm not the luckiest girl in the world, I don't know who is because

MY LITTLE IS COMING TO VISIT!!!!!!!

I knew this living in the same state thing would come in handy, even if she is still five hours away, and it is only for a few months. I couldn't be more excited. I was really bumming that she wouldn't be able to attend either of my baby showers since she just started working, so I'm over the moon that she'll be here for a long weekend with me and the Peanut girl. Wahhooo!!

Let's count down to that instead, much more exciting. Two weeks from today she'll be in town!! Can't wait!!

21 Weeks! And What's In A Name?

I've been gone for SO LONG! Sorry about that.

Once we got past the whole gender-reveal thing, I was over this pregnancy.

Okay, maybe not quite, but it feels like I've been too busy to do my chalkboard and take a picture. So I just got around to taking my picture today, at 21 weeks and 4 days, but it's not like my belly changes THAT much week-to-week.

Here's the pic this week:

Horizontal stripes are a pregnant woman's best friend, let me tell you that much. White pants, maybe not.

Anyway, we're 21 weeks (almost 22) and Peanut is OFFICIALLY a girl. That means I can spend this entire post (and every post here on out) referring to HER as a SHE. Ahhh man that feels so nice.

Can I just reiterate, real quick, how RIGHT I was??

Cannot even explain how I knew, and can't tell you I could do it again with the next kid. Since we found out about Peanut, she had always lived in the back of my mind as a she. If I wasn't thinking carefully, the female pronoun would slip right now. Jeff will tell you, more than a few times I had to quickly correct myself and add the "or he."

Now that we know, everyone's asking about names.

What shall we name this (hopefully) adorable bundle of cells?

You'd think Jeff wants to name her "No" at this rate, because that's about all that comes out of his mouth on the subject. We have a lengthy list that we've been slowly whittling down, but it's not looking good. We're basically on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to this. Jeff much prefers very traditional heard-it-before names, and I am adamant that this child not have a name common enough to share it with a classmate. It took me nearly 20 years to be in the same classroom situation (technically it was a work situation) where I was one of multiple Shelbys, and it's only happened to me that one time. Sure, when I was little I wanted to be an Ashley or a Tiffany, but since around middle school I've adored how unique my name is. It's not like it's unheard of, people always know what it is and how it's pronounced (and spelled) but I can nearly guarantee you, when people mention me in a conversation, they don't have to clarify which Shelby they're talking about. I want that for our daughter.   (Didja see that?  DAUGHTER!!!!!! WOO HOO!!)

So while I like names like Circe and Aubrielle (both no longer on the list), Jeff prefers Jillian or Sophie (also no longer on the list).

This might take a while.

I should probably just let it be known (again) at this point that we do not intend to share Peanut's name or those we are considering until she is fully part of the world (i.e. has been issued a social security card and is being watched by the federal government like a good American citizen). Ideally, I'd like to narrow the list to three or four names that both Jeff and I quite like, and choose one once we meet the little gal. I'm sure we'll have a significant (to the family) middle name worked out before hand. Maybe we'll give you that little nugget of info.

Or maybe not...

Either way, be prepared: if you ask what we're naming her, we're not telling! Sorry mom...

The only other big development (if you can even call it that) is Peanut's wiggles. She's an active little one in there, but still no movements felt on the outside. Poor Jeff.

We learned at the ultrasound...

(PREPARE FOR TOO MUCH INFO HERE!!)

...that I have an anterior placenta, which means its attached at the front of my uterus, just inside my belly button, instead of at the rear of my uterus, near my spine. This basically means there's extra cushion between Peanut and the exterior of my belly that she has to kick through for Jeff or I (or anyone else) to feel it. The ultrasound tech said in this situation, external kicks are usually felt around 24 weeks, so we're waiting anxiously for that. In the meantime, I'll enjoy her waking up every morning at 3 or 4 am to have a dance party. Silly little nugget.

I think that's about it for now, if I take my 22 week pic on time, you should see it later this week! We'll see just how motivated I am. It's supposed to be in the 80s this week, which will likely mean lots of time outside and not doing my chalkboard.

Oh well...

Halfway There!

Yesterday marked the end of our 20th week of pregnancy, roughly the halfway point. It feels like its drug on and flown by at the same time. Part of me can't imagine that in about 4 1/2 months, we'll get to hold our little Peanut. Another part of me, though, knows how much will happen between now and then, and that makes me a little anxious. I don't think anyone ever feels completely ready, but we're a long way from even being close to ready. It's mostly a conscious decision not to collect a bunch of stuff we're just going to have to move with us in a little over a month, and I think we're also waiting until we know Peanut is a he or a she to move forward with purchasing a lot of stuff. So it's been minimal nesting for me, so far. I'm sure next week I'll go buy a few little things for Peanut. He/she doesn't have much right now, and I feel kind of bad, haha.

Anyway, here's the 20-week pic. I really should try to start taking these earlier in the day when I don't look so darn worn out, but it's tricky when Jeff leaves the house at 5:00 am. So just don't judge my laziness, at least I put real clothes on, haha.

Also probably never wearing that shirt again...haha.

Not much else is new, we're just anxiously awaiting our gender sonogram on Monday. Our plan is not to find out at the actual appointment, but rather wait until later in the day when Jeff and I's reactions can be captured on video. I feel like there's something anti-climactic about sitting in the dark in the ultrasound room and having the tech just tell you what your baby is. So I've put my bestie Maggie Mae in charge of delivering the good news.

I'll inflate two black balloons, one filled with pink confetti, and one filled with blue confetti. Both will be labeled and delivered to Maggie with a note from the doctor about Peanut's gender. She'll return later to our house with the correct balloon, and will record Jeff and I's reaction as the balloon is popped. I'm sure I'll be anxious all day, especially knowing that Maggie knows and I don't. It'll be fun to see our reactions live though, for the first time, and to be able to share that with our friends will be so fun too.

So unfortunately, you probably won't hear anything from me here until Tuesday. You can wait another day, I promise. If I have a chance I'll put something on Facebook Monday night, but I've yet to come up with a clever way to announce it.
"IT'S A ______!" 
just doesn't seem to do it justice. We'll see if my creative brain can come up with something between now and then.

Also in the meantime: spending today and tomorrow preparing for Tiffany's baby shower, staying up way too late on Friday night to go see DIVERGENT (I'm seriously so stoked about this) and then co-hosting Tiff's shower on Saturday. I suppose I'll need to spend Sunday resting and recuperating from such a busy few days, and then bright and early Monday morning we head out to see the doctor!

Eeeeeeee I can't wait!!




COUNTDOWN TO THE GENDER SONO: 3 days, 23 hours, 37 minutes...

Happy Friday!

This week I took advantage of an existing outing to take my weekly bump photo. My no-makeup face is not my favorite, and I was already dressed yesterday, so we took our weekly pic. My good friend Tiffany revealed the gender of her baby yesterday, and my guess was baby boy, so I wore blue. I was wrong (as I have been with every gender prediction of an ENJJPT baby) but oh well. So excited she's having a baby girl!! Excited to spoil her with all things pink and sparkly!

Anyway, here's this week's pic:

I feel like this thing keeps getting bigger and bigger!

Probably because it does, duh.

In the last couple of days I've felt quite of bit of soreness and stretching, I think Peanut must be going through a growth spurt. According to my all-knowing pregnancy app, Peanut is about the size of a sweet potato, but I bet I'll like Peanut waaaaay more than I like sweet potatoes...bleh.

Weighing in at about seven ounces, Peanut is rapidly approaching half of a pound. I can't believe that pretty soon I'll be able to track his or her weight in pounds! This little thing grows so quickly!

It'll sure be nice when I can just refer to Peanut as a "he" or a "she" instead of having to use both each time I reference it. 

Talking with Tiffany yesterday about her daughter has me all excited to find out what Peanut will be. I haven't done a very good job of keeping my mouth shut about what I'm hoping for, especially since I shared my registry story. I'm either setting myself up to look totally psychic, or to be the laughing stock of my friends. You won't be too hard on me, right?

We're down to 17 days until we find out! Can't tell you how I'll wait that long, except that I have quite a bit to accomplish between now and then. In the next 17 days I have plans to help my little sister move into her first out-of-town/state/west coast apartment on her own, elbow teenage girls out of the way at opening night of the DIVERGENT movie, attend one baby shower, and throw another. Plus we find out on my mom's birthday; I should probably send her a card or something, haha.

I imagine the next two weeks and three days will pass pretty quickly, but I still wake up excited every day to find out. I've been explaining to Jeff how much I think knowing it's gender will change the way we think about Peanut. We'll be able to start imagining our son or daughter; the activities they'll do, the things they'll like, the people they'll become. So much fun.

Still haven't felt Peanut moving around in there, I don't think. On Wednesday night I felt something that I can really only describe as a tiny elbow sliding down the inside of my belly, but it hasn't happened again, so I don't know for sure. It did feel kind of "fluttery," which is the word all the books use to describe those first few movements, but again, still not enough data to make a conclusion. Let's hope I get more feelings soon!

I watched my friend Jill's son kicking away at her belly from the outside the other day, and it just looks so neat. I'm excited to feel that kind of thing, and to have an idea of what Peanut is doing in there. Dancing? Sleeping? Practicing aerobics? Who knows.

That's probably about it for this week. Hopefully I'll have a chance to write another post soon when I can confirm these strange feelings inside my belly.

Until then, happy Friday!

COUNTDOWN TO THE GENDER SONO: 17 days, 00 hours, 21 minutes

Registry Crazy

Someone needs to help me.

I've developed an addiction.

While in the scope of a lifetime, a single pregnancy doesn't amount to much time, while you're waiting to meet that bundle of joy, time passes like MOLASSES! Patience is not a virtue I was blessed with. In fact, I am one of the least-patient people I know, so you can imagine how the wait to meet Peanut is just about killing me.

Needing something to occupy my time, (and perhaps some "nesting" has begun) I decided the other day to consult a few internet lists for things we'll need for Peanut. I created a few registries, deciding I'd only register for things that were gender-neutral since we don't know what he/she is yet.

Turns out, gender-neutral baby items left me registering for a breast pump and bottles. I kid you not, E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. else has some type of gender association to it.

"Oh, c'mon, Shelby. You just didn't look hard enough."

No, trust me. I did. I looked far and wide. I get it, new babies mostly look like potatoes, and if not clearly dressed in gender-delineating apparel, strangers are forced to tell you how cute your *mumble mumble* is.

"Oh you have the cutest son!"

That's my daughter...thanks.

Awkward.

So everything, from washcloths to onesies, from pacifiers to baby swings, from strollers to blankets, EVERYTHING is gender-associated. Clearly registering for one or two things wasn't going to satisfy the "need to do something" beast inside me, so I decided there would be no harm in selecting a pack of pacifiers that was pink and purple, instead of blue and green.

And from there, my friends, all was lost. Very, very quickly.

I now have two registries filled with pink this and purple that. Cupcake bibs and pink hooded towels. There was no going back.

This is either going to be the biggest jinx in history (especially now that I've told you about it), or I will look like the most prepared mom-to-be ever. Obviously, I should register for an equal number of boy things, so I only have to delete half of the stuff I've selected, instead of deleting AND re-registering. But honestly, I can't bring myself to do it!

My heart/brain/belly is so convinced this little person inside of me is a girl that I cannot bring myself to even consider the possibility that Peanut is, in fact, a baby boy. I can hear my friend Courtney laughing at me now (she felt the same way, and her little one is..you guessed it! A boy...).

So I suppose my pink and purple cupcake registries will have to sit idle for the next 26 days, 18 hours and 15 minutes (not that I'm counting), until we know for sure. I realize I'm probably not kidding anyone when I say "sit idle" and really mean "tinker with constantly." I can't help myself! If there is a support group for registry addiction, sign me up. Stage an intervention. Whatever you need to do, do it!

Help a girl out here!!

In the mean time, you know where to find me. Stashed away in front of the computer or furiously scanning my iPad.




DISCLAIMER: As I've said, we don't know whether Peanut is a boy or girl, so please, PLEASE, do not go hunting for my name at common baby-registry locations. The last thing I need is all of you mocking my selections should Peanut turn out to be a boy. Nor do I need any of you preemptively purchasing anything (I'm looking at you, Mom). Thank you!!!

16 Weeks = 4 Months!

Four months! It's been four months!

That just seems crazy. I know, it hasn't quite been four months, but pretty much. We hit the 16-week mark yesterday and I don't feel a bit different today, haha. We did manage to take our bump pic pretty much on time this week, although not too much has changed:

No makeup. Ick.

I made a switcheroo this week too, to using actual chalk on my chalkboard instead of chalkboard pens. The pens were kind of janky and some of the colors were hard to read. The chalk colors all kind of look the same, but it's way easier to use.

Our little avacado/dill pickle/whatever other fruit or vegetable you want to call it has a heartbeat of 155 beats per minute - so fast! Still haven't felt anything from Peanut, but it's still so early.

Not much else is new and different in the past few days. Sleep is increasingly uncomfortable, but I attribute that to the fact that I am most comfortable sleeping on my stomach or my back, and I can't do either of those things anymore. Jeff was nice enough to get me a Snoogle pregnancy pillow for Valentine's Day, and it's helped some. My body just hates sleeping on either side, so it's a little rough. I spend most of the night tossing and turning looking for a comfortable position. According to most of the "experts" its normal to have crappy sleep most of your pregnancy (great) and there'll be no reprieve once Peanut shows up either.

Awesome.

I will probably never sleep well again in my life (this is a guarantee if I inherited even half of my mom's worry tendencies).

I'm sure your dying for a Snoogle graphic...

It is absolutely as amazing as it looks. I've only used it for sleeping, but apparently it's really quite versatile! I'm considering printing off this little image for reference later on. Who doesn't want to try out the Donut Deluxe??

Anyway, that's about it. I'm going to do some Craigslist house hunting this afternoon - only 71 days left in Texas!

The Secret's Out!

I definitely could not make it as a full-time blogger, I am terrible at it. Turns out, not that much changes day-to-day in a pregnancy, so I don't have an overwhelming amount of news to write about. I do have a few updates for today though, since I've been neglectful of my blog the past few weeks.

First up: we're back from Hawaii! What a great vacation. I think we both needed to get away for a while, especially Jeff (who hasn't had a real vacation since last Christmas). It was nice to get to just relax and do fun things for a change. We didn't get a chance to take a 12 week bump pic, but did finally post this to Facebook:

So exciting! We were overwhelmed by the well-wishes we received from our Facebook friends, and are beyond excited to share this journey with them. Now if Baby VO would just get here already!

Although we missed out on our 12 week pic, we still took pics for weeks 13 and 14. I'm definitely starting to feel like I can't suck in my belly anymore, although it doesn't quite look like a baby bump. Now I know what they mean when other girls have talked about that awkward in-between phase between no bump and definite bump, when you kinda just look fat. Yes, I know, my body is adjusting, blah blah blah, but it still looks awkward. Especially when I know baby isn't quite big enough yet to really cause a protrusion. Here are weeks 13 and 14:

 

I'm also less able to just squeeze my tummy into my jeans (like I've been doing, through week 13). I made my first trip to Motherhood Maternity yesterday to look around. It felt awkward, for sure, but I found a couple belly bands, and some maternity leggings. And GOOD LORD why did no one tell me maternity jeans were so comfortable?? They are AMAZING!! So I got a pair of those too. They are basically stretchy jeans held up by a big stretchy piece of fabric. Literally amazing, it's like wearing yoga pants that look like jeans. You'll be lucky to get me out of these things after Peanut shows up.

I'm thinking by weeks 15 or 16 the bump will start to stick out enough that my pictures won't look like maybe I just had a big dinner. I keep harping on another pregnant friend of mine who is six weeks ahead of me to embrace her bump. Sounds like I should take some of my own advice. I'm just not sure I'm ready to be visibly pregnant, although Peanut couldn't care less if I'm ready or not. He/she will grow, grow, grow, regardless!

We don't have another doctor appointment for a week or so, but week 15's bump pic should be coming up soon! Stay tuned!

It's Official!!

Today is our first notable milestone!!! While we've known of our pregnancy for about five weeks now, we hadn't yet had it medically confirmed. This can cause some stress, knowing, but not knowing, at least not for sure.

That changed this afternoon!!! We had our first ultrasound, and got to actually see Baby Van Orsow for the first time. Not long after we found out we were pregnant, Jeff and I decided to nickname it Peanut (and Butter, should there have been a second baby). So here's the first real look at Peanut, our little gummy bear: 

It looks, Jeff and I decided, remarkably like a baby. We had both been expecting a small blob on the screen that the ultrasound tech would have to convince us was a baby. But this, this looks like an actual, albeit large-headed, human baby. Who knew?!?! (That's a rhetorical question...obviously anyone who has ever had or seen an ultra sound knew...)

This probably goes without saying, but we're over the moon. We have proof now, real proof, that there is a tiny human growing in my belly. We heard his or her little heartbeat and watched it blip blip on the screen.

This is crazy. 

Because Peanut is only about the size of a strawberry (and hopefully just as sweet!) he or she hasn't really made his or her presence known in the way of a bump. Yet. 

See? 

Week 9:

I'm pretty sure any bump I'm seeing is just my jeans, right?? That's just bunchy denim?? Let's hope so, I don't feel quite ready to have my body spill the beans. 

That reminds me, it's KILLING me not to be able to tell my friends. Especially those who are already very suspicious. Now that everyone is coming back into town, I'm eager to see them again and tell them our news, but I know that I will feel most comfortable in the long run if I keep quiet just a little longer. Here's hoping my excitement doesn't get the best of me and let my secret slip!

So far, so good. I'm feeling fine as long as I can get a nap in, and it seems as though what little nausea or sick feelings I had have passed. I'll be a happy clam if I'm in the clear!!! 

I hope you're enjoying reading this, Pids. So far you're the only one who knows about it. ;D