Thump Thump

Adam and I had another Dr. appointment today - and we FINALLY got to hear the baby's heartbeat! I can breathe easier now and enjoy myself. The heart was beating between 150- 160 beats per minute, which is right on target for its size. It took the doctor about 30 seconds to find the heartbeat, which felt like an eternity to us. Adam and I looked at each other and I could feel the tears coming - but the baby was sitting really low and on my left side. The doctor said that sometime before our next visit in four weeks, I should start showing!! YEA! The picture of me was taken today, exactly 15 weeks. As you can see, nothing much there that wasn't already there before ;) We are going to take a picture before each visit to monitor the progress.

Here is the weekly baby progress:

Your little one is now the size of an apple. She is 4 inches long and weighs about 2 ½ ounces. Her legs are now longer than her arms and her bones are getting harder and stronger! At 15 weeks, her skin is still thin and transparent, but she has developed a thin layer of hair to help protect her body. This layer of hair is called lanugo and it is present on every part of your baby's body, even her finger nails! She is also moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract. This action helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. And even though her eyes will remain fused shut until approximately 26 weeks, she can actually sense light in your womb!

New Countertops

Here are a few pictures of our new countertops. We love them! Sorry all of our recent blogs have been about our remodel - but thats all we have going on right now - we live pretty boring lives - at least for the next 5 1/2 months at least!

We are installing pendant lighting - we still have another light to hang over the island

We still have to pick out new hardware for the cabinets - I think we're going with a dark bronze

Diaper Dilemma

At the request of my little brother Brett, it's time for me to make a new blog. Not much going on around here, just finishing up the remodeling. We are a few days behind schedule because the mud in the bathroom is taking longer to dry then expected. Our contractor will be back on Monday to hopefully sand everything and texturize the walls. So, the painting and bathroom floor won't be finished until later this week. Probably not until Adam's next day off, which is Wednesday.

In babyland, we are stocking up on diapers every time we make a wal-mart run. I think we have two packs each of sizes 1 through 4. We were buying one particular brand each time, but after talking to my sister-in-law, she said some babies may have an allergic reaction to different brands of diapers. So now we're trying to buy different brands. If we find that one brand does not work so well with the baby, then we'll just have to exchange them at wal-mart...they'll take anything back without a receipt! We're just trying to be as financially prepared as possible because who knows what my job forecast is for next year. So far - not so good. Both Belmond and Clarion have an elementary teacher retiring, but are NOT planning on hiring a replacement - stupid budget cuts.

Take the diaper poll on the right!

1st Trimester: Check!

Well, I successfully made it through my first trimester! My next Dr. appointment is next Tuesday and we should get to listen to the heart beat. This will put me at ease because I'm always worried that something is wrong. I still don't look pregnant so I second guess myself a lot. I'm sure my motherly instincts are kicking in - I'm such a worry wart already! Everyone keeps telling me that in the next two weeks my belly will "pop." I sure hope so! I get an email every week from parents.com that informs me of what is happening each week with the baby. I find it so fascinating. I copied a portion of the email for you to read for your enjoyment.

By week 14, your baby is the size of a lemon, measuring about 3 1/2 inches and weighing 1 1/2 ounces. Their body also starts to even out this week, as the arms and head are finally proportionate to the rest of its body. Their hands and feet now measure about a 1/2 inch long, and are actively punching and kicking inside you. Don't be alarmed if you can't feel this movement, it's too small for you to feel.
Your baby is also busy making facial expressions by week 14. It can squint their eyes and its lips can turn into a frown. The neck has grown longer and the chin starts to take shape. The baby's kidneys can produce urine and its liver has begun to produce bile. The spleen has even begun to help in the production of red blood cells.

Sunday Funday

The remodeling is getting closer and closer to being done! Last weekend my parents and Brett came down and set up the crib and changing table. We're using the nursery set that Brett used as a baby - its really cute and in good condition. My dad came down again today to hang the drywall in our bathroom and around our half wall. Adam also helped him install the countertop on our island - it looks so good! I can't wait for the rest of them to get installed later this week.

Our contractor has also been at our house a few days this week. He has been working on the plumbing and electrical stuff. He'll be back tomorrow to tape and mud the walls and hopefully install our new pendant lighting over the island. He said we should be able to get everything painted by this weekend and the bathroom floor installed. Adam and I are going to tackle the bathroom floor ourselves - I'll be sure to keep you posted! Then all we'll have left to do is install the new hardwood floor in the kitchen and we'll be DONE! YES!!!!!!!!!

Grandpa and Daddy putting together the crib :)

Uncle Brett helping too!

The comforter - so cute!

We're in the process of painting the walls a tannish color that we got from the bedding

My dad and Adam installed the new coutertop on the island - I put together the new bar stool

I was in a bind tonight for supper b/c I didn't have any clean pots - so I finally broke out the Pasta Express - it does work!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GARY!!!

Today is my father-in-laws's birthday, so we're going to meet Adam's family in Mason City tonight for some Chinese food!

This week started out great with awesome spring weather! I wore flip flops and capris both Monday and Tuesday! Yesterday I went for a walk outside and enjoyed the sun - saw tons of robins, which is always a good sign! Adam and I grilled steaks on the grill for supper - he was able to enjoy a beer or two, not me though! I'm really going to miss not being able to drink my usual Chelada (1/2 clamato 1/2 beer) this summer while grilling! The sacrifice is worth it though!

Our plumber finally came yesterday to prep everything. He should be back today to finish the plumbing. Hopefully my parents will be able to come down again this Sunday to install the fixtures and hang the drywall.

Thinking warm thoughts

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Adam and I were taking off for Jamaica exactly one year ago from today. I thought I'd post some pictures to get everyone in the spring mood! It is supposed to be 70 degrees today - so capris and flip flops for me!

Anniversary...kind of

With this ring....

Lighting of the unity candle

First Dance - Come Away With Me by Norah Jones

Celebrating in the limo

...And the greatest of these is love

It's hard to believe that Adam and I renewed our vows one year ago today! We will always remember this special day - however, we will not celebrate our anniversary today. We will always celebrate it on the day that truly matters - June 9th! Year number three is just a few months away - hard to believe! A lot of people tell me that we should celebrate both days - twice the flowers/gifts - haha! Adam and I unthawed our top layer of our wedding cake a few days ago - definitely did not taste as good as the first time around! The top layer of frosting kind of tasted like dirt/plants because the flowers were left on it - whoops! I'm going to put a roast and potatoes in the crockpot today for supper - and I'm MAKING Adam watch the video of our renewal ceremony with me! You can just about imagine how he feels about doing that - but I told him its something that we need to do every year - and someday have our kids watch it with us - the starting of a family tradition!

Hope you enjoyed the photos - I don't have any of the professional ones on my computer - I don't want Mary to sue me ;)

Fat or Pregnant?

I'm at that HORRIBLE stage right now - where I look fat - not pregnant! I HATE IT! All of my shirts look terrible on me - it looks like I'm trying to fit in a shirt that is one size too small - my jeans are getting a bit snug - I hate getting dressed - I wore a hooded sweatshirt everyday to work this week! I've only gained a few pounds - buts its all in my stomach - which was not the smallest to begin with - so imagine my pre-pregnancy stomach - pushed out a few inches - GROSS! I can't wait until I 'pop' and it looks like I have a baby bump - not just a big gut! I think it's too early for me to start wearing maternity clothes - they all look so huge! So I'm stuck in this horrible stage for a bit longer!
A few kids at school yesterday told me that I kind of look like I'm going to have a baby - and last night when I was working at the skating rink, I heard a girl whisper to her friend "Is she pregnant?" - I just wish it was obvious! Hopefully in the next month I start showing so people don't think I'm a cow!

Big Decision

Adam and I have a big decision to make - whether or not to find out the sex of the baby. We originally did not want to find out, but now we're rethinking that plan! Regardless if we find out or not, we are still planning on buying/registering for neutral items to use with future kids. I don't know why I want to find out now - maybe just to be more prepared?! We have decided on a boys name, and finally agreed on a girls name - but not 100%. If we found out what we're having, it would force us to get serious about names. Plus we could start buying cute clothes :)
On the other hand, it would be neat to keep it a surprise. I have a feeling that if we find out what we're having, I will regret it forever! And what would happen if they were wrong - and it came out opposite of what we thought?!?!? We don't know what to do! We will be able to find out in 8 more weeks at the next ultrasound - so at least we have some time to think about it. Any suggestions are welcome!!!!!

Painting Party

Adam and I spent most of last weekend painting our kitchen. We got rid of the ugly navy blue that was in our kitchen and replaced it with a tanish color and reddish rust color. It looks so much better now. Our plumber should be here on Monday or Tuesday to get started on the bathroom. We're also going to have him drywall our half wall. Here are a few pictures of the progress...

Not the best lighting - but this whole wall used to be Navy - now its brown

All of this used to be navy too - above and below the cabinets. The paint doesn't look the best with the countertops that are in now - but we will SOON have new ones - darker ones! The paint color is much darker now after the second coat

My favorite wall - I love the red!

I took all precautions so I wouldn't hurt the baby :)

Too Many Questions

"Congratulations Mrs. Brooke"

Reactions. You can tell how a person feels by watching their facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. We were most excited to see our families reactions to our baby news, but I was also excited to see how my students in Connections (the after school program) would react. As you can see by the picture, they are so excited! The director of Connections got everyone's attention one day during snack and had me announce my news. The kids all clapped and cheered, but were also in shock. I don't think a lot of the littler ones understood, because they kept touching my stomach and saying "theres no baby in there." It was so cute!

Now EVERY day at work, I get asked "Is it a boy or girl?" "What do you want it to be?" What are you going to name it?" "When is the baby going to be here?" "Will you bring the baby to connections so I can hold it?" "Can I babysit it?" "When are you going to get a big belly?" The kids will ask me these questions every day, and I tell them the same answers every day!

I teach the 4th-8th graders, and they are surprisingly excited too. They've been asking me since DAY ONE of Connections when I was going to have a baby and I've always told them that I hope to have a baby belly by the last day of school, so they were at least expecting the news at some point. The girls in my class have been great, making me posters and cards, asking me how I feel, offering me some pretty off the wall baby names :) , and supposedly saving their money to buy the baby something when it gets here. The boys will ask me questions every once in awhile, but I don't think it's really "cool" for them to be excited about babies. I truly am looking forward to bringing the baby back to Connections next year to let the kids meet "it."