My Lazy Daytime Companions

Flowers :)

It's incredible how many people have helped us already as we transition into bedrest land and parenthood. We've had family and friends shop for us, cook for us, paint for us, keep me company on the couch and give much needed encouragement and advice (especially from those who have been through similar situations). Check out these gorgeous flowers from my Grandma Marie, Grandpa Rod and Aunt Jean! :) We are so blessed! :) (Also in this photo are some of BJ's pears from the orchard - aren't they just adorable?!)

For the Baby's Room

My original plan was to make a lot of the decor in the baby's room like this mural - but now that that's not a possibility I am trying to find new creative ways to decorate without leaving the couch. The walls are now a happy apple green and brown (thanks Linda!) which has me inspired! I am still going with a woodsy theme, but now am adding owls (and a teal accent color) to the mix. Last night BJ helped me design these prints (the day and night contrast was his idea - I LOVE that!)... to be framed with some lovely Ikea frames.

[click to enlarge]

Next I am going to tackle a few owl pillows (like this, this or this) and possibly a growth chart like this.

24 1/2 weeks!

With anywhere between 4 and 6 contractions an hour... the bedrest continues... but at least one benefit of all this is getting to see our little guy so much. On Friday we had a fetal echo which showed his perfect heart (yea!) and then today we finally got a bit of a profile shot while they were checking things out contraction wise. He has his hand up by his cheek and he was drinking (gulp gulp gulp)! :)

Four Months of Labor

I thought some might appreciate a bit of an update... about 4 weeks ago I started having these contractions which we now know were the beginnings of preterm labor. They have only picked up since then, and so I need to be very closely monitored for the rest of the pregnancy. Our hope would be to make it to 37 weeks (I am 23 weeks along now - 40 is full term), but the realistic goal (from the doctors) is 34... which would bring this baby into the world around the first week of November (our official due date is December 15).

So my life is now modified (ie. not strict) bedrest. Anything that can be done from the couch I can do (like working from home) and I can get up a bit but I have to take it really easy and avoid things that give me contractions (like standing for more than a couple of minutes). It's been an adjustment already, but we have such an amazing support group of family and friends that makes it all so much more bearable.

There's another contraction now! I have to chart them, which is a pain (during the 12 hours I am awake during the day I usually have around 38 contractions), but I'd be more stressed if I didn't. This way I get a clear picture of what's happening and how I'm doing bedrest wise (also, I take medication whenever I have more than 6 an hour).

So that's our status! Just working on keeping this bun in the oven as long as possible! :)

Photo Album

In case you're not on Facebook, here's a link for our ever-growing baby album!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2538214&id=13742577&l=97ab1df86f

The latest pics!

These were taken last Thursday at 22 weeks (I'm 23 weeks now). Pregnancy has gotten just a little bit more complicated... and so I am on moderate bedrest for now (long story), but the baby is healthy and doing well. And... he's worth it! :)
Some fun things - BJ can very easily feel the baby now. He kicks so hard sometimes you can SEE him move! As of last Thursday he weighed 1 pound 2oz. I've slowly been gaining weight myself but read recently that I should now start gaining about a pound a week!
This is why I love love love hospital ultrasounds!

Our BOY!

Yup! It's a BOY! :) We are completely thrilled! If you're wondering like most about his name... it's a secret. Yes, we want to drive you all crazy. :) Also, you'll never guess it.

So far this pregnancy has been pretty easy on me. There are some normal pregnancy things that I have come up (such as heart palpitations and round ligament pain) but I can handle anything that's normal. :) About two weeks ago (at 20 weeks along) I started having what we believe to be Braxton Hicks contractions, which aren't painful just a bit uncomfortable. These are also normal so again, no worries. :)

This Thursday we have TWO more ultrasounds! We get to see our little man and we then get to check out me to be sure my Braxton Hicks is in fact BH and not the real thing.

Here are a few photos from our 20-week ultrasound...

The money shot...
His foot...
His face (right), torso (left) and arm (top)... SO cute! :)

Family Reunion!

This weekend BJ and I headed up to the Bend for a family reunion and to celebrate birthdays (including my Grandpa Jack's 80th)! It was so nice seeing everyone again!! :)


We also learned a valuable lesson about putting Palmolive into the dishwasher! Ross (Julie's fiance) will forever be branded with the nickname 'Suds'! :)

Dogs Playing Outside

Girls Weekend

Check it out! I'm blogging!

Had a fabulous time in Indy with the girls this weekend!

Our preggo progression! 16 weeks 19 weeks and 34 weeks!

Grandma "Lake"

Happy 80th Birthday Grandma "Lake"!!! Grandma is truly amazing woman who has overcome so much in her life. I must say... my favorite thing about Grandma is how spunky she is! Especially during Euchre! :)

We love you!!!

17 Week Update

• I'm 17 weeks along today. Hopefully four weeks from tomorrow we'll find out what we're having!


• BJ's out at camp for the rest of the week. In an effort to save vacation days for da baby, I'm spending the week working... boo!


• BJ got our invisible fence installed last week! Now I'm working on training the pups to avoid flags. :) We're still looking for a good home for our sweet Zoe. She's a really really wonderful puppy... but the two of the wrestle and run around so much in the house we're afraid a baby would get trampled. Independantly the dogs are both pretty calm and lazy... but together they are just a little too hyped up! If you know of anyone looking for a sweetheart dog... let us know!


• I've back in the swing of sewing up a storm! I made 5 birds like this last night!

It's That Time of Year!

Here are a few photos of what's been cropping up lately...

This year we've expanded things a bit... Not including all the new fruit trees (the "orchard" has doubled in size), we are working on: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cucumbers, cantaloupe, watermelon, sweet corn, 8 types of tomatoes, 8 types of peppers, corn, spaghetti squash, zucchini, and sun flowers! Whew!

15 Weeks Today!

Slowly but surely things are moving along with the baby and preperations for baby. :) I'm reading a lot, peppering my mom friends with questions, and even doing a few things to get the nursery ready (we now have a crib, mattress, and bedding's on it's way). For the most part, I feel really great, and my plan is to do as much as possible now... before I am a house and can't move anymore!


Nursery Details: (for those of you who might find this fun)

Here's a piece of my nursery plan (I'm a nerd, I know). I am going to paint a tree mural (no-voc paint, of course) with a growth chart blended in... and hopefully incorporate a cute bird house like this one somewhere as well. I'm making mobiles... hence the flying birds. Also, the crib in the illustration is our actual crib, but the bedding is different.

Heartbeat!

We heart the heartbeat for the first time this morning (at the ultrasound last month we could see it, but not yet hear it)! I am practically skipping everywhere I am so excited. Everything is going SO well so far!

We are on a doctor rotation during the pregnancy, where we see a different doctor (all women) from the practice every time we go in. I've now met all of them and they're all so great. I'll be happy with any one of them delivering our baby! :)

Happy happy happy day!

Now back to our regularly scheduled blogcast...

So you may be wondering why I've been so bad about updating this thing... The truth is that we've been just a little preoccupied. We are have a BABY!

We found out super early (not even 4 weeks) - which was a blessing but it also made the wait to share the news even longer. At this point, I am 13 weeks along and just starting trimester #2!

Four weeks ago we had our first baby photoshoot... Lil' Murph (I'm told) looks a bit different now (more like a human... less like a gummy bear)...

Happy Birthday BJ

Once again... for one month... we're the SAME AGE! We have such wonderful friends. Thanks for celebrating with us!
Here I am with my FULL rack of ribs. Mmmm Mmmm barbecue!

Siblings...

Bill, Dad (John), Bobbie, & Jean

Vance Reunion

This past weekend, while BJ was helping with the high school Ignite retreat, I headed to Illinois to visit with my family. For the first time in nine years, all of my dad's siblings were in one place. AND we have a new addition to the family with my new cousin (who traveled all the way from Scotland like a champ!) Isla! She's amazing!