Still Obsessed With My Little One

I hope you all had a fantastic 4th of July! What a perfect opportunity to spend time with family and, of course, eat lots of yummy food! Jon's parents came yesterday to spend the holiday with us. My mother-in-law was so good to me -- she brought along all of the food and she and Jon got everything ready so that I didn't have to lift a finger! Wonderful!

Yesterday morning was my first opportunity to get out of the house since Tanner was born. Where did I go? Starbucks, of course. I was anxious to have a little bit of time to myself, but honestly, I didn't enjoy one minute of it. I missed my little boy the whole time (and I was only gone for an hour) and spent the whole time thinking of him. When I got home, he was still sleeping, just like he was when I left. I'm so silly to have separation anxiety like that!

Last night, I broke down and tried the pacifier again. It's one thing to nurse your baby for nourishment (I LOVE it!) and quite another to be his human pacifier. I couldn't take it anymore. Especially with everyone home and wanting to hold him, he kept waking up and acting like he needed to be fed every half hour. Finally, I got out the pacifier and held it in his mouth until he took it. It totally broke my heart. I don't know why. I'm not against using them -- I think I just felt a little sad knowing that something else was soothing him other than me. Anyways, it worked and he was able to be awake AND content at the same time. Now I'm just going to have to buy about 100 of them to make sure I have one with me all the time.

This morning we went for a little walk and then to Tanner's first doctor's appointment. He did SO good! What a relief! (The pacifier was a godsend!) He has already gained back most of his weight -- he was 7lbs 6oz. I feel like I can finally relax a little and know that all this nursing is working to help my little boy grow big and strong. He still has a tiny bit of jaundice, but the doctor said not to worry about it. I was so proud of him by the time we left. I told him that if he was just a little bigger, I would take him for ice cream because he did so good. I guess Daddy will just have to take ME for ice cream tonight instead. It will eventually make it's way to Tanner's tummy -- right?? :)

I can't believe he is already 6 days old! I am already torn between wanting him to grow nice and big and wanting him to stay just the way he is. I am constantly surprised by the strength of my feelings for him. Motherhood is no joke. I always wondered as a teacher if you felt different about kids when they were your own. Now, as a mother, I would say -- Ummm YEAH -- COMPLETELY different!



Not much else is going on here. Hope you enjoy these pics from the past few days.

Our little slugger. We put socks on his hands so he wouldn't scratch himself.

Wardrobe compliments of Uncle Patrick, who tried to talk us into naming him "Knute" after Knute Rockney.

"Are you SERIOUS??" This is how he looks when you wake him up to feed him.

Slide Show

I can't believe it's taken me so long to put this together. Well, actually, I can. My life right now revolves around breastfeeding -- rejoicing in each poopy diaper that shows me he is actually getting some nourishment!

I am totally addicted to this little human being. I just want to inhale him. He is the sweetest, softest little thing I've ever known. We are starting to have a little bitty routine. I usually have to wake him up every 2-3 hours to nurse. We nurse, do a diaper change, nurse a little more, then back to sleep. Exciting, huh! The first two days home, we couldn't get him to fall asleep on his back at all. Jon actually had to sleep on the floor the first night with Tanner on his chest! It's hard not being able to ever put your baby down! Last night, after beginning the night on the couch with Tanner sleeping on MY chest, I was trying all I could think of to get him to go down in his crib or his pack and play without screaming. (I even tried a pacifier, which is a no-no in those early breastfeeding days! -- Thankfully, he wasn't at all interested.) Finally, I figured out that if you swaddled him with his arms out, after his diaper change, before going back to nursing, he will fall asleep peacefully and allow me to put him in his crib. Thank the LORD!!! Hopefully, this continues to work. Otherwise, it's back to the drawing board!

Click on the link below if you want to see the slideshow of his first few days!

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AbM2rJu3btmLiY&notag=1

My Sweet Boy is Here!!

Thank you all so much for your prayers and good wishes these past few days!

A few hours after writing my last post, I went into the hospital, hoping they would tell me that I was in active labor. However, after my exam, they found that I was still only dilated 1 cm. My goodness, was I disappointed! Luckily, they gave me an IV and some pain medicine and let me stay the night. The medicine put me right to sleep and I got the first good night's rest I'd had in a while. The doctor came in to examine me again in the morning. I was fully expecting her to send me home again, but I had dilated to 3.5 cm and they said that I wasn't leaving the hospital without a baby! YAY! I was so excited and relieved to say the least. Little Tanner was coming to meet us at last! And the best part was, they started my epidural right away, before starting the pitosin to make my contractions stronger. Boy was I in heaven! That epidural was WONDERFUL!! I literally slept most of the day away as I quickly progressed to 10cm. By 4:30 I was pushing, and at 6:44 the sweetest, softest, most lovable little boy was placed in my arms. How do I even begin to describe the feelings I had the moment I saw him!

I am trying to figure out how I can put a slide show of all of our pictures on this blog, but for now, here are a few to hold you over. Jon, Tanner and I are doing well. We are home, which is definitely nice, but a little scary, too, with no nurses to help when I am in need! I had a bit of a meltdown yesterday as Tanner seemed to forget how to nurse somewhere between leaving the hospital and arriving home. We'll keep working on it, though -- he seems to be doing better this morning. More updates as soon as I get a little rest. Enjoy the pics!

Our little smushy boy.

7lbs 7 oz

20 inches long

June 29, 2007

6:44 pm

The Hall family.

This is my favorite way to spend time with my guy -- all wrapped up inside my PJs!

The two loves of my life. Aren't they precious! Jon has been superdad -- SO helpful and loving! He definitely has the magic touch with our new boy.

All bundled up for the ride home.

He didn't like actually being put in his carseat. But just like his mommy, he was asleep as soon as the car started moving.

Quick Update

Had regular contractions last night again from the time I got in bed at 11:00. Got up, moved around, changed positions, took a bath -- nothing would make them subside. Finally, at about 5:00, I called the doctor and Jon and I went to the hospital. The last time the doctor checked me at about 8:00am, I was only dilated 1/2 centimeter! DISAPPOINTING!!!! All that work for 1/2 a centimeter! The good thing is that the doctor said I was not having false labor, I was just in the early stages. Feeling a little more encouraged, I followed the doctor's orders and returned home.

My mom came in to town to keep me company -- thank goodness! My mother-in-law should be here later tonight. The contractions started to subside again this afternoon, so my mom and I went to the mall to walk around. What better place to labor in than Barnes and Noble, huh? Feeling much stronger contractions now. I hope they continue so that I can go back to the hospital tonight. I just have to say ... this labor thing is no joke. The contractions SUCK!!! I'm counting the minutes until I can get an epidural.

Say prayers and keep your fingers crossed that my little boy comes in the next 24 hours or so!! I don't think I can do these all-day/all-night contraction fests for much longer!

Making Some Progress??

Today was quite a lazy day for me. I spent most of the day on the couch sleeping, watching TV, and reading. I was so tired -- I didn't sleep for most of the night last night. I woke up around 2:00 and had regular contractions until about 5:00 -- not Braxton-Hicks, but contractions that felt like really bad period cramps. Finally, at 5:00, I decided to get out of bed and shower and then call the doctor. However, after I was up and moving, they kind of just went away -- must have been false labor. I have been having them off and on all day. I'll have one or two, then won't have any for like 20 minutes -- kind of frustrating, but at least I'm starting to feel a little different! The good news is that my body is showing some signs that labor could come soon -- I will spare you the yucky details! Maybe, just maybe, this baby will come before his induction date!

I'll keep you posted! I'm off to DQ for a snickers blizzard!

Too Cute!

Last night, I kept calling Jon to come downstairs for dinner. After about 10 minutes, he finally came down. "I was hanging out in Tanner's room," he said. I didn't think anything of it. Look what I just found:

Remember this guy?

He's been hanging out in that same spot since we finished the room.

This is how I found him when I walked by this afternoon:

I think somebody might have been pretending he was a real baby!!

:) That just melts my heart. :)

I Think I Might Have Made a Friend ...

Remember the girl I told you about whose email I was given by another woman from MOMS Club? Yeah -- you know -- the one who I emailed out of nowhere like a crazy woman desperate for friends to see if she wanted to get together sometime? Well, we got together yesterday for lunch and it turned out to be really fun. We had great conversation and lots to talk about with our pregnancies. Hopefully we will get together again soon! You have to know, I had to take a MAJOR step out of my comfort zone to just email a stranger and then actually go to meet her. But maybe that's what has to happen for God to start answering my prayer for friendship. Now if he could just bring me a few more friends ... I promise I'll be patient!

Not much is happening today. I went for a long walk this morning, but it was SO HOT outside, I think I'll just stay inside for the rest of the day. I'm trying to keep myself busy cleaning the house. (I even washed the windows!) My mother-in-law told me that's what she was doing when she went into labor with one of her boys, so I thought maybe it would work with me! Nothing yet, though. If this little guy only knew how many people were waiting to meet him!

Still No Baby

So today is my official due date. I'm still not feeling much different, though -- just waddling a little more than usual. I know its partly because my little guy is sitting so low right now. But it could also be due to too much junk food -- oops! After I lose this baby weight I will never joke again that my thighs are rubbing together, because now I know what that really feels like and it stinks! Does that stop me from asking Jon to take me to Dairy Queen for a snickers blizzard? NOPE!! Does is make me think twice about having just one more s'more as we roast marshmallows in our backyard? Absolutely NOT! I know most pregnant women hit a point in their pregnancy where they just aren't hungry because the baby is so big that there is just no room to fit food, but I never hit that point.

One of the things I'm most looking forward to is getting back into shape after Tanner is born. It's kind of like during the holidays -- where you kind of just let yourself go a little -- eat whatever you want, work out a little bit less. By the time January 1st comes, I'm usually ready to start eating much better and get my butt to the gym for harder workouts. That's kind of how I feel now. I can't wait to get some of this weight off! I hope my little guy likes to go for walks!

Jon and I had a pretty good weekend. On Friday night, I picked him up from work and we went to dinner with one of his old Army football teammates and his wife -- Mark and Ally. I had met them two or three times before while Jon was at West Point. They just had a little girl in March, so we had LOTS to talk about. It was so much fun! They live about 45 minutes away from us, but I told Ally that I'm not afraid to make the drive, so hopefully we'll get together often once I'm feeling settled with the baby. It was so nice to have someone to talk to!

On Saturday, we just kind of slept in, did some work around the house, and ran some errands. This was the first Saturday that Jon didn't golf for most of the day, so it was great just having him around to hang out with. I took him to TJ MAXX for his first time ever -- he loved it. Not quite the same love as my sister, Katherine, and I have for the place -- but still. "Why the HELL have I been shopping at Macy's?" was his reaction as we finished checking out and left. On Saturday night, we grilled out and then went to see Ocean's Thirteen. The movie was okay, but definitely not as good as the first one.

Yesterday we tried a new church. I really liked it and we'll probably go back again before we make a final decision. The worship wasn't very exciting -- nobody even stood up! But they did have a visiting group doing the music, so maybe that's why. The teaching was awesome, though. Sometimes I have trouble paying attention for the ENTIRE sermon, but not this time. I loved the minister! After church, we went to the community pool across the street for a few hours. Jon loves to watch all of the little kids and laugh at the funny things they do. He is SO excited for Tanner to get here and play with him! Jon loves the water and I can usually pick him out from everyone else because he is the one in the deep end doing handstands all by himself. After the pool, we came home, grilled out again, and then made s'mores in our little fire pit until like 10:00. It really was a great weekend.

Now, if only this little guy would stop being so stubborn and come out to meet us!!

Baby Update

I swear -- nothing can ever be easy for me. (Okay -- that's not completely true, but sometimes it feels that way.) My appointment today was scheduled for 1:30. At about 11:00, I got to thinking that I hadn't received a phone call in the past few days reminding me about my apointment. So I decided to call and confirm just in case. It's a good thing I called! They had no record of it! Luckily, I asked if they could squeeze me in sometime today with any one of their doctors and they were able to see me.

I LOVED the doctor that I saw. She didn't act rushed at all and was so pleasant and nice. The good news is that the baby is really low and head down. The bad news is that I am still not one bit dilated. She said that my cervix isn't ripe AT ALL -- whatever that means. (if there are any guys reading this I am sorry if that was too much information) The doctor set me up with an appointment to be induced in case the baby is really late, which I am really happy about. It's nice to know that this little boy will be in my arms by a certain date in the near future! We made the appointment for July 5. I'm so excited. If he comes before that, great. If not, I guess that's not so far off! My next appointment is on Thursday. Maybe I'll make a little progress before then!

I am measuring a little small, so maybe this little guy will have a chance to get a bit bigger before he comes out. My husband always says that he hopes Tanner has my size and his athletic ability. I'm pretty tall and strong for a girl and my husband is kind of average size for a guy -- but VERY athletic and coordinated. Just like many sports-obsessed dads, he has visions of his son playing quarterback for Ohio State or University of Michigan in 18 years. Unfortunately for my husband, one side of my family has pretty tiny genes -- my mom's family -- they range in height from about 4'10'' to 5'2''. So sometimes we joke -- what if Tanner comes out looking like my grandpa! My grandpa is the sweetest, fiestiest old man -- but he is SO SHORT -- like an oompaloompa! Too Funny! Seriously, though, I wouldn't mind a little Bobby Fagan!

Okay, got to go to bed now. All of you readers are so sweet to leave such encouraging comments for me! I just love reading them!

Desperate??

I got an email from this week's cooking club hostess. Apparently, the head of cooking club (whom I RSVP'd to) didn't tell her I was coming and only one other woman was going to be able to make it, so the two of them decided to cancel. OOPS! I could tell that she felt really bad. Oh well -- at least they know I was making an effort to be part of their group!

Another woman from MOMS club gave me an email address to a friend of hers who is expecting her first baby this fall, but is already staying home. I emailed her to see if she wanted to get together sometime, and we are going to plan something for next week. I am excited about making a potential friend, but I feel a little bit nervous as if I'm going on a blind date or something. The only way I'm going to ever make friends, though is to just put myself out there, right? Gosh, this is so much harder than I thought it would be.

Yesterday, my brother came to play golf with Jon after work. Of course, my mom talked him into coming in the morning so that she could ride along and we could spend the day together. My mother-in-law ended up coming, too. We had a lot of fun together. Eric kind of just stayed at the house and did his own thing until he had to go meet Jon. Us girls went to the farmer's market in town (so cute) and then shopped in all of the little shops and boutiques. It was so nice to have both of them here -- and like always, so good to have companions for the day. My mother-in-law was trying to make friends for me everywhere we went -- too funny. Nothing like feeling a little bit desperate!

I have another doctor's appointment today, so I will write more later!

All Right Already

I'm so bored. This must be God's way of getting me ready for my little boy to arrive. I look at the ticker on the top of my blog and can't believe my due date is just 5 days away. I certainly don't FEEL like I'm going to go into labor anytime soon. I haven't had any signs and to tell you the truth -- I actually feel the exact same way I did probably a month ago. All this waiting is for the birds.

Cooking Club Disappointment

Okay, I feel like a complete idiot, but I really don't know what I did wrong.

The MOMS club that I joined has a cooking club and they were supposed to be meeting this morning at 10:00 at one of the members' homes. The theme was "breakfast foods," so I made my favorite -- sticky cake -- yum yum. I have to say, it turned out just perfect and I had taken it out of the oven right before I left so that it would still be warm when I arrived. I got there at about 10:05, rang the doorbell, waited ... knocked on the door, waited ... nobody ever answered. Of course, I'm thinking I must have made a mistake -- written the date and time down wrong or got the wrong address. There was only one car in the driveway -- so it didn't look like a get-together was happening or anything. After waiting for about 5 minutes, I got back in my car and drove home. Immediately I checked my email. I had two emails with the date, time, address, and directions to the house, along with a section in the MOMS Club newsletter about it. I had everything correct. So I thought -- why not just drive back and make sure I had the right house. I did have the correct house, and there were still no cars in the driveway, so I turned around and came home again.

I feel like a total loser -- and I know I shouldn't. I'm not quite sure what happened. I emailed the girl in charge and asked if it had been cancelled, but she hasn't gotten back to me yet. I should have been more persistent with the knocking and doorbell ringing. But really, I didn't want to knock the door down and then find out it wasn't even the right house or something. Hmmm ... WIERD.

Starting to Worry ... :)

Today as we were leaving church, Jon says to me:

"So how are we going to decide who sits back in the section with the babies and who sits closer to the front each week."

SERIOUSLY???

Don't worry ... I got him all straightened out on that one.

My Husband Says the Funniest Things ...

So last night, Jon and I were sitting outdoors at this fantastic place we found for dinner. We were excitedly talking about what we think it's going to be like those first few moments after Tanner is born. I just wanted to make sure he was prepared and I told him that you are supposed to try to nurse the baby soon after he is born. He was like, "Umm ... I leave the room for that, right?"

Oh. My. God.

And he wasn't even kidding.

:)

This morning was my next doctor's appointment after having last week's cancelled. Thankfully, I got to see someone this time! The whole visit only lasted about 5 minutes, though. The doctor basically just checked me and left -- didn't even sit down at the end and ask if I had any questions -- which I did! Oh well. I think he was REALLY busy -- there were tons of other pregnant ladies in the waiting room. I had secret hopes of being dilated at least a little bit and having the doctor tell me that it wouldn't be long now. However, I'm still not dilated at all, but I refuse to be disappointed about that! My little guy is going to come whenever he's ready and there is nothing I can do about it. (Which is especially true if he's anything like his dad!) I read somewhere last week that when the baby is ready, he releases a hormone and that's what gets everything going -- crazy!

After my appointment, I went to Borders to sit in the cafe and read. I wondered if it was against the rules to go to the bookstore and read your books from the library. :) Nobody kicked me out, though. I probably could have stayed there all day. Of course I did some browsing and also spent a while reading a book on breastfeeding. I feel totally committed to it, but I'm still a little anxious about all the details and feeling a little awkward at first. I guess it's one of those things that you can't really learn without experiencing it first.

I finished The J.A.P. Chronicles. It was basically about several EXTREMELY privileged Jewish girls who are bunkmates at camp for many years together. It tells about each girl's defining moment in life. It was good at first, but by the end, I was kind of sick of seeing the "f" word so often. I probably wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. However, if you are looking for some good, light, funny summer reads, you should try Emily Giffin's Something Borrowed and Something Blue. I read those earlier this spring and LOVED both. She's also got another one out called Baby Proof.

Okay, gotta go. I'm on a mission to find a fun restaurant for Jon and I to eat at tonight. We have to take advantage of this last bit of time with just the two of us!

I went to my first mom's club meeting today. It went pretty well and the women were very friendly. I think I'm going to like it!

I've been a little bit bored since the meeting ended this morning, though. I know there are definitely a few things I could do -- like go through the house and get all of the marks off the walls with a magic eraser or do some ironing. But none of that sounds very fun, does it? I guess I'll just do some reading instead. I'm very proud of myself. I actually went to the LIBRARY yesterday to get some books instead of Barnes & Nobles or Borders. It totally wasn't as fun looking for a book without a good latte, but that's okay -- it was free! I picked up these books:

The J.A.P Chronicles
The Thirteenth Tale
The Rapture of Canaan

They should keep me busy for a while! I'll let you know how they are! So far, I am enjoying The J.A.P Chronicles -- a fun summer read that requires absolutely no thought whatsoever.

Ready and Waiting

I decided to forego the expensive bumpers. Now I can see my little guy as soon as I peek in the room. :)

My favorite part of his room -- the comfy glider and ottoman (and I got them for such a good deal!)

Who Loves You, Baby? Pics of all of our family members above Tanner's changing table.

This little guy is already waiting for his new friend to get here. Doesn't he look so cute?!

Today or Next Month?

Yes, the countdown is really on! Less than two weeks until my official due date. I think the hardest part about this time is realizing that the due date I've been looking forward to since the beginning of pregnancy (which seems like ages ago) does not actually determine when I will give birth. So really, it could be today, or it could be in a MONTH if I am late. It's kind of like waiting for your husband to return from a deployment. You have a general idea of when he will get home, but you never know the exact day until you get the call the night before. I guess I'll just have to be nice and patient, enjoying these last few days (weeks??) of uninterrupted sleep and little responsibility. The nursery is finally finished (I'll post pictures soon), the carseat has been installed and inspected, and our bags are packed for the hospital so everything is ready for his arrival!

I'm still feeling really good. Definitely a little more tired than usual, but other than that, I'm not completely uncomfortable or anything. I was very disappointed on Saturday morning. I was supposed to have my weekly appointment with the doctor to check and see how I was doing and monitor the baby, but she had to cancel that morning because she got stuck at the hospital. Bummer -- especially because I didn't find out she had cancelled until I was AT the doctor's office! So I just swung by Starbucks for a frappucino and made my way to Babies 'R' Us and then the mall for some retail therapy. (If you can call spending $80 on nursing bras retail therapy!) I have another appointment this Friday, so I'll just have to wait until then to see if I've made any progress. At the last appointment, they said I was measuring a little bit small. Growing like I'm supposed to between visits, but just a little bit smaller than normal. The doctor didn't seemed concerned at all, she just said I probably won't have a huge baby, which is fine. I wasn't dilated yet or anything.

I do have some really good news to report. I had a bit of a meltdown last week as I talked on the phone to my mom. I know a lot of it had to do with hormones, but I was just feeling upset that I haven't met anyone yet from my area. She suggested that I google "Newcomers Club," so I did. I found two groups -- one for stay-at-home moms in the area, and another one for women new to my town. I have already emailed both groups and received information for how to get involved. YAY!! I am going to my first "Mom's Club" meeting on Thursday. They have tons of activities and ways to get involved. Book club, cooking club, play groups, mom's night out, coffee house discussions on parenting, service projects, etc. Sounds exactly like what I need. I'll let you know how it goes!

My little brother and his girlfriend came Sunday night to stay with us. He had planned a birthday surprise for her -- a day at Six Flags, so they got here Sunday night and left yesterday morning to spend the day at the amusement park. I think they had a good time. My mom and sister snagged a ride here with them and stayed also. I was so glad they came! We spent all day yesterday shopping. So much fun. I didn't really buy anything, but it was great to have company with me all day.

Well, I better get going and get to the gym. I slept in and have been watching "Oprah" and "The View" since I got up. No more excuses. Time to get my day going. I'll write more soon!

Bumper Pads??

I'm completely obsessed. I can't think of anything except for my baby and what life will be like with him. I apologize that every single post I write has something to do with my pregnancy! But oh well, it is the most exciting thing going on around here these days. Everytime I walk past his room I think about what it will be like when there is a real live baby in there! I hope he's like his daddy and likes to snuggle because I just can't wait to hold him (and I know his daddy can't wait either)!!

So I have an important question for all of you wonderful mothers out there. What do you think about bumper pads? Everything I read as far as safety pretty much says that you shouldn't have them, but they are so darn cute! Mine just came in the mail today and I just love them, except Jon feels pretty strongly that we shouldn't have them. They just make the crib look all cute and comfy and finished. I'm considering sending them back and using the money to buy the curtains that go with my bedding set instead. I don't know what to do. Any advice from someone with some experience?

The Sweetest Card

Until this past Sunday, I had yet to cry at a baby shower. Then I got this card ...


What can I give you ...
when you're about to bring home the moon
and the stars
wrapped in a soft flannel blanket;

when you're already practically face to face with an angel ...

What could I get you
that even comes close
to the tiny miracle
whose birth you've long awaited ...

A little rubber tub for bath time?

Or a tiny little comb and brush for hair as soft as down ...

Or maybe I could buy a squeaky yellow rubber ducky.

Oh,
If I could give you anything,
Anything in the whole wide world,
I'd give you the gift of knowing,
that you're the very best gift your baby will ever recieve.

Sniff sniff -- I've read it about 10 times now and it still makes me a little weepy.

HOT

I've just checked the temperature outside and it's only like 78 degrees. My air conditioner is on. However, I'm sitting here practically sweating. I am someone who is always cold, yet I haven't slept with any covers in like 2 weeks. I keep threatening my husband that we are going to get a fan in our room and he pleads with me not to as he is cold at night. He probably just likes how I have to practically strip down naked to keep from sweating to death. :) This is too wierd. It's a good thing I only have one more month of pregnancy and don't have to go through the entire summer!

Little T's room is slowly coming along. The bedding has been ordered and shipped and Jon just needs to get the furniture assembled. I've started washing his blankets, towels, hand-me-down clothes, etc in special baby detergent (it took 5 loads if you can believe it). I haven't even started on the new clothes and onesies that are hanging in his closet. I think I'll just do a few newborn outfits and then save the rest to launder once we are sure he really is a boy! It took me two full days to go through all of his things. I have to admit, though, it made me really excited to meet my little guy! Unbelievable that he could be here sometime in the next few weeks! I went yesterday to buy our car seat and stroller. I'm hoping to install it and go to get it inspected tomorrow. Then we'll officially be okay to bring our baby home from the hospital! The pack'n'play is all set up right next to my bed. I keep looking inside it and feeling amazed that there is actually going to be a little person in there soon!

Do you ever REALLY feel prepared to be a mother? I mean, I was sure I was ready for this way before we even started trying to have a baby. Now I have this feeling like, "oh crap, what did I get myself into!" Don't get me wrong -- I am completely excited and feel SO blessed -- but like I've said before, I'm so scared! It's kind of the same feeling I had when I waited at the starting line of my half-marathon a few years ago. Or for those of you in Colorado Springs -- the way you feel when you start the Incline -- after you are about 50 steps into it and you see that you still have what seems like 999,950 steps to go. It's the same way I felt when my parents dropped me off at college and I sat there at the welcome banquet with all of the other volleyball players, wondering just what life would be like as a college athlete. Like "YIKES!! Can I really do this???" Anyone who knows me, especially my husband, knows that being a "mom" (and wife, of course) is all I've ever REALLY wanted to be. Now I feel like I'm getting ready to start my dream job, the most important thing I'll ever do, the thing I've looked most forward to in life, and I just don't want to mess up. I want to enjoy every second of it.

It helps a lot when I read other mothers' blogs, like the Foss Family's, the Berndt Family's, or Gasperiniville. Their sweet pictures and anecdotes about their everyday lives help me to see that it's all going to be okay. I just need to RELAX about it all ... but I don't want to be TOO relaxed ... Oh my ...

I've been putting off going to the gym for about 3 hours now, so I better get going. Then I'm going to shower and treat myself to an afternoon at the book store reading and sipping a decaf latte -- or maybe a frappucino or milkshake instead with all of this heat!

My mom sent me a forward about being a mother and I just thought this picture was SO cute. Had to share ...

It's Been Too Long

What a lazy blogger I've become! It's been more than a month since my last post. I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday I was saying goodbye to my sweet friends in Colorado Springs! The move honestly hasn't been anything like I expected. I envisioned myself sitting on my back porch with a lemonade each day, finally getting some time to read all of those books on how to parent and get my baby to sleep well. However, it has taken much longer than I expected to get my house in order, get things ready for little T's arrival, etc. I only have 2 more rooms left to organize, and then I can get some of that relaxing in!

Two weeks ago, my mom and sister came to visit, which was SO MUCH FUN!! We went shopping, got pedicures, and just hung out. I just loved having them here, having constant companionship throughout my day. I have a tendency to work work work trying to get everything done on my "to do" list and by the time Jon gets home, I haven't talked to anyone all day! I'm working up the nerve to take my neighbor over some banana bread sometime this week and offer to walk with her if she ever takes her kids out. I'm such a chicken! Anyways, my mom and sister stayed from Wed to Fri and then Jon and I drove home to Michigan with them.

That first weekend, the women in my family had a baby shower for me. It was SO perfect and special. I couldn't help looking around at all of the wonderful women there and feeling incredibly blessed to be part of a legacy of such love and encouragement! It made me feel much less nervous about becoming a mom -- I know I'll have more support than I could ever ask for from my grandma, aunts, cousins, and sisters. The best part was being able to spend time chatting with my cousin, Carolyn, who became a mother this past year. Her stories and advice were so much fun to hear!

After my shower, Jon went back home and I stayed in Michigan for the week! Once again, I thought my time there would finally be a chance to relax, but it didn't quite happen like that! We spent the week preparing for and having a garage sale. We got rid of lots of junk and I made some extra cash, which is always nice! Then it was time to get ready for my little brother's graduation party. Everything turned out wonderful and all of our hard work payed off! I finally got my chance to relax on Monday when my dad took all of us out on his boat. It was a gorgeous day and it was so nice to have all of my family together! Last night Jon came to pick me up and I am back at home again. I missed my hubby! I am glad to be back here with him! We're taking one last trip home next weekend to watch my brother graduate and have one last baby shower. Then it will be no more traveling until the baby comes!

Jon seems to be liking his job so far. He is still learning about what he needs to do, but likes the people he works with and is already getting involved in the golf and basketball leagues. I get up with him every morning and make him his coffee and toast. I love watching him leave. He is always in a good mood and looks so handsome in his clothes for work!

As far as my pregnancy goes, I'm still feeling pretty good. I'm starting to feel just a little bit more tired than before, and just a little uncomfortable when it comes to sitting or lying in one place for a long period of time. I was getting a little bit nervous for a while because everyone who saw me commented on how small my tummy was for how far along I am. At first, I just dismissed it, but then started to get nervous as I heard the same thing over and over. My doctor said I was measuring just right, but still ... Anyways -- I have grown so much this past week, I think I'm finally looking more normal. Jon couldn't believe how much I had changed in the week I spent at home! I have another doctor's appointment later this week and should be going once a week from now on. I can't believe there's less than 30 days left until I'm due!!

It's hard to believe the movers will be here in just two days, packing us up for the next chapter of our lives! It doesn't quite seem real yet. Only one more week of work, one more girl's night, one more service at the church we love. We are really looking forward to living close to our family, but there will definitely be some things we miss here. Thankfully, Jon and my mom found us a place to live last weekend while he was home for a wedding. I was getting really stressed about moving across the country and not even having a home! The pickings were pretty slim as far as apartments went and Jon was getting really frustrated. Luckily, at the last minute, he found a really nice, big, brand new townhome for us to rent out. We had to sign a year's lease, but now think that will probably be best. It will give us a chance to really find out what area we want to live in and how much we can spend, etc. I am just excited to have a place to start nesting once we move!

I have the cutest bedding picked out from Pottery Barn Kids for Tanner's nursery, but I feel very guilty buying it because it's so expensive! I found two of the pieces on eBay this week, but ended up losing both auctions in the last few seconds. I'm not a very good eBayer! Oh well, it won't be so bad if I just buy a piece at a time. The practical side of me knows that things like bedding don't really matter and will only be used for a short time. I also know that what I should really do is get something unisex. But how fun is that? Even if I'm lucky enough to have the 3 or 4 babies I think I'd like, I'll only get to do this a few times! And isn't it just so cute?!!

My little brother, Eric, is here this weekend to spend time with Jon while he has some time off of work. I don't know how they talked my mom into letting Eric miss school, but they did! They have been golfing 36 holes a day since Thursday. Jon loves having a playmate here -- all they talked about the entire ride from the airport was all the competitions they were going to have in the next few days -- golf, x-box, hiking the incline. They leave at like 7:00 in the morning and come home just wiped out at about 8:00 in the evening. Too funny! It is fun to see how much my little brother has grown up in the past few years. He is almost 9 years younger than me and hasn't given me or my sisters the time of day since he was like 11. He's slowly starting to come around again. I love it -- he actually gives me hugs now! (God, I sound like a desperate sister, don't I!) Not much else is going on. I just got a call saying that the realtors set up a showing for our house in just a few hours, so I better get cleaning! They always set these things up at the most inconvenient times! I love having my brother here, but his room looks like a tornado hit it!

Tanner's First Baby Shower

We had our first baby shower on Saturday night. How blessed we are and how spoiled our little boy is already! Our friends, Brad and Katie, threw a couples shower for us. It was SO much fun! The best part was just being able to spend such quality time with such great friends! Here are some pictures from the evening ...

Our friend Sally actually made and decorated this cake. I'm still in awe!!

Jon, me, and our sweet friend Annie

Opening some SNUGGLY clothes for our little man.

My Dear Girls

The boys

Pregnancy Thought For The Day

29 Weeks

I've discovered why pregnant women waddle. I used to think it was just because they had a lot more weight to carry around and their balance was a little off. Now I know it's because after a certain point there is just no preventing your thighs from constantly rubbing together with every step you take -- Oh Lordy!

The Baby Book

Jon's mom just sent us a baby book for Tanner this week. It is SO cute and I can't wait to get started on it. She also sent us Jon's baby book to look at, which I thought was such a great idea! WHAT A CUTE LITTLE BOY!! He had these huge brown eyes -- if Tanner looks like him I just won't know what to do with myself I'll be so excited!

In the baby book was a little article that they cut out of their paper on the day he was born.

"Restless Type Who's Miserable Standing Still"
Saturday, October 27

Born on this date, you are one of those eternally restless individuals who is perfectly miserable unless you're "on the go."

Energetic almost beyond belief, you find it hard to understand those who do not possess the stamina you do. You are inclined to believe them lazy, failing to consider that they may be unable by nature to follow in your footsteps.

Women born on this date are determined to make a career outside the home; men born on this date encourage them to do so. (this is not so true with Jon)

Your personal magnetism is such that you are often surrounded by people when what you really want is to be alone to think your own thoughts.

Your powers of organization, which ultimately will guarantee your success -- are marshaled during periods of isolation.


I can't believe how true this description is of my husband. I'm sure those of you who know him right now are nodding your heads. Wild! I'm not usually one for horoscopes or things like that, but I thought this would be fun to share.

Lazy Blogger

My goodness, I have become SUCH a lazy blogger lately. I'm going to try and be better about this!

What's been happening since my last post?

Two weeks ago was my little sister's wedding in Atlanta. It was SO GREAT and I had such a good time. I just love the guy she married and know they will be so happy together! She looked gorgeous ... check out the pics ...

Two days after we got home from Atlanta, we were off on another trip to find a house. We had been really looking forward to this and had several homes picked out to look at. Unfortunately, we were not aware that most of these homes were in a not-so-nice neighborhood. After looking at 20 houses the first day and finding several that we liked, we asked our realtor to drive us to the train station. Once we were out of the subdivisions and seeing the town we were in, we were not happy! So the next day, we looked at about 20 more homes in another town (which we liked SO much better). However, we didn't find any houses that we were in love with, so we've decided to just get an apartment for the first few months in our new location. I know this is what's best, but I am just itching to start nesting in my next home (specifically painting and decorating a nursery for our little T). I guess I will have to put this off for a while. Jon has been such a good leader for our little family -- making important decisions and really researching things thoroughly -- I know that he's right in this.

We got back on Saturday night and Jon started complaining about chest pains as soon as we got in the car to drive home from the airport. Of course, I wrote this off as either heartburn or stress and he agreed it was probably one or the other. On Sunday morning, he woke up still complaining of severe chest pains and also saying it was hard to breath. We went to the emergency room and spent about 4 hours there getting tests done and all of that. I feel so bad now that I think about it. I gave him SUCH a hard time about being dramatic and I couldn't stop giggling about all of his antics. (I know -- not very indicative of being a good mother!) But anyone who is married knows what their husband acts like when he's not sick or feeling good -- basically like he's dying. And my husband has to be the best at having this skill mastered.

As he was laying in the bed in the ER, he was hooked up to all of these machines tracking his heartrate and blood pressure. At one point he was like -- "Oh my God, Rachel, there is really something wrong! My arm is starting to really hurt!" (his blood pressure was being taken and he hadn't yet realized it.) "All I want to do is live to meet my son!" (he then hears the monitor beep -- it does this every few minutes) "Oh my God, I'm flat-lining! Rachel -- I'm flat-lining -- call the doctor!" I mean, it was just too much -- I was almost rolling on the floor I was laughing so hard! Isn't that terrible!

Anyways, they couldn't figure out what was wrong with him, so they sent him home with a painkiller. I brought him home and got him situated in bed and he just started getting worse and worse. He started getting really pale and could hardly move. I started getting really scared and worried. We talked about going back to the ER and he told me I should call 911 because he didn't think he could make it to the car. Of course, I thought he was just being overly dramatic again with the whole 911 thing. I went to get the car ready and as I came back to get him, he started vomiting and shaking and just collapsed in his vomit. It was so scary and I actually did call 911 this time. They took us to another hospital in town (not the Army hospital we originally went to). Thank goodness! They took SO MUCH better care of us! They were so thorough and did just about every test there is to figure out what was wrong with him! Finally, they told us that he has something called Periocarditis -- it's basically inflammation of the sac around the heart and can be VERY painful. My poor guy! He has been taking it easy since then and will be going to the cardiologist this week for a follow-up. What a day that was! I'm just so thankful he wasn't having a heart-attack or something like that!

As for me, I've been feeling really good. I'm officially in my third trimester -- YAY!! Only about 11 weeks to go. I can't believe I'm going to be a MOM in just a few months! What an overwhelming feeling! I am so excited and scared all at the same time. I can't wait until they hand me my tiny, sweet-smelling little boy with his arms and legs still all curled up from being cuddled in my tummy all this time! I can't wait to cover him with kisses and just love on him. I'm so excited to see what he looks like and to watch his little personality develop. I really can't wait to see Jon with him. I truly think that he is going to be THE BEST dad! I'm so lucky to have married someone so wonderful and so excited about having kids! I'm terrified that I won't know what to do once I bring that baby home. I'm scared of what it will be like to be sleep deprived. I'm scared that I will make some bad decision in parenting and that my sweet little boy will turn out like some of the rough kids I teach. I'm scared that I'll never lose this pregnancy weight. I'm scared that I won't make any friends in my new town and that I'll be starved for adult interaction. I could go on and on.

3D Pics

Yesterday we were able to get a 3D/4D Ultrasound of our little snugglebug. It was so cool! I thought I'd share some of my favorite shots!

More Belly Shots

25 Weeks (3-12-07)

21 Weeks (2-13-07)

Book Review

I've been meaning to recommend this book for a few weeks, but just haven't gotten around to posting about it.

I was home in Michigan a few weeks ago for my little sister's wedding shower and needed a book to read on the plane ride home. My mom lent me A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I have seen this in the bookstore a few times but dismissed it as one of those classics that was probably depressing and hard to get through. However, once I started reading it I LOVED IT!! It was SUCH a fun book to read and I just fell in love with the main character, Francie Nolan. If you are looking for a good book to read, I would strongly recommend it! It is the best one I've read in a LONG time and I have been reading a lot lately!

News on the Move

Has it really been a month since my last post?!! Holy Cow! I do have an excuse -- although it's not a very good one. I've been waiting to post until I have a new belly shot. However, we never seem to get around to taking a picture! This week -- I promise! Today's post will just have to do without a picture.

Jon's job search has been finished for a few weeks now. He decided to take the job with Kraft, so we will be moving to the Chicago area -- think suburbs WAY outside of Chicago. He seems pretty excited, but also a little nervous. This "getting out" of the Army thing is hard for him I think because he's never quit anything before and feels like he's "quitting" now. I keep trying to remind him that he served his time and that the Lord has definitely made it clear to us that we need to move on. All in all, though, I think he's ready for the challenge of something new and looking forward to working with the people at Kraft. We are going house-hunting during my spring break, which should be fun. It seems like just yesterday that we drove up here from Texas to find our townhome. I will never forget that trip! I was still in college and Jon was at Fort Sill and we drove my little Saturn up here for two days to find somewhere to live. Hmmm .. memories. :)

I just broke the news to my boss that my last day at school will be April 27th. I was really nervous to tell her (you know -- because I already quit once this year and then had to ask for my job back!), but she was VERY understanding AGAIN and I feel so much more at peace with leaving early now. It would have been so complicated to meet up with Jon at the end of the school year, find a place to live in the mean-time, find a new doctor, etc. I think this will make everything easier. And I must admit -- it is a little nice to know I only have 6 more weeks of teaching to get through! We are starting our state-mandated testing this week (CSAP) and I have been SO irritable and uptight about it. Our district makes a HUGE deal about it (as I'm sure a lot do) and it is just so stressful! Especially when you are working with middle schoolers. I mean, you never know how motivated they will be from one day to the next. And it's not like their performance on the test affects them in any way besides class-placement (which they couldn't care less about). I could write an entire post on this, but I'll spare you. Luckily, we take the math portion first and that will be done by Wednesday!

Jon and I went and registered today for the baby. It was pretty fun picking stuff out for our little guy and made everything seem just a little bit more real. It is hard, though, to make a choice when you've got SO many options for everything! Oh well. We decided on the way home that if we made the wrong decision about anything on there it's definitely not the end of the world. We'll just take it back or buy something different. No use in getting stressed over it, right?! Tanner has been kicking lots, which I love and I can definitely tell that he's growing as my belly seems to be getting bigger and bigger! I was just tickled the other day as I was in the locker room at the gym changing into my workout clothes. A lady asked me when I was due -- which means she could definitely tell that I'm pregnant and not just fat. I swear the people in the gym look at me funny sometimes. They must be thinking -- that girl is in here every day and she just keeps getting bigger and bigger -- what is her deal? Too funny. I finally had to tell the guy at the front desk that I was pregnant a few weeks ago. Every time I came in he was like "you're here doing something -- that's all that matters!"

This week is going to be very busy! We've got a fairwell for the squadron commander's wife tomorrow. Tuesday Jon and I are going to see David Copperfield with another couple (so fun!). And Wednesday the girls at work and I are doing our draft picks for March Madness. Hopefully I'll get to see my "girls night" girls sometime this week, too!

The Best Part of My Day

Sadly, the best part of my day used to be when they handed me my half-caff/non-fat/no-whip mocha each morning at Starbucks. But now I think I have something to top that. Let me tell you about the thing I look forward to most each day.

I LOVE coming home from the gym every night, having some dinner, and then just lying down on the couch and feeling Tanner wiggle around. He does it around the same time each night and I just LOVE to sit there and feel his little movements. I definitely think it has to be one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced. What a miracle! I LOVE being pregnant right now! (Hopefully I'll be singing the same tune once 40 weeks has come and gone in the middle of summer and I'm STILL waiting for this little guy to make an entrance.)

Jon's job search is going well. He got a great offer from Kraft in Chicago and is returning home tonight from an interview in Virginia with a company called Barton Malow. He still has two more interviews to go with Exxon Mobil in TX and Whirlpool in Michigan before we make a decision. Thank you so much for all of your prayers. We feel EXTREMELY blessed with the opportunities that are being presented to us. I think Jon feels like a huge weight has been lifted off his shoulders after getting an offer somewhere. I'm sure he's been feeling A LOT of pressure lately with a pregnant wife who is adamant that she wants to stay home with her baby and not work. My poor sweet husband! I'm so proud of him for working so very hard to try to find a good job and a good place for our family to live and grow! I'll keep you updated once we start making some real decisions!

It's A ...

BOY!!

Sweet little Tanner Michael Hall. I am still not believing it. I really thought it was going to be a girl! Jon has been smiling from ear to ear since the ultrasound tech showed him the penis. He says his cheeks are sore after 5 hours of grinning. I swear he made that poor lady go back to the scrotum at least 4 times while we were in there. Of course he's already trying to tell everyone our baby has a huge dingaling. It must be a guy thing -- I was thinking it was pretty tiny! :)

So looking at those pictures just made me so excited to cuddle with my snuggly little boy! He was all snuggled up and comfy in there and refused to move into any position that would help the tech get any of the really important pictures that she needed. He was definitely wiggling, though and it was fun to see him move. Here is a picture of his profile. Hopefully you are able to make it out okay.

We are so happy and it finally seems very real that I have a baby in my tummy. I am so excited to start bonding with this little guy! I do have to admit that I'm a little nervous to have another little Jon running around the house. The Hall house will be pumping with testosterone, that's for sure!

What Not To Say To Your Pregnant Wife

We've had a much better week this week at our house. We are all settled in our new home (which is basically an exact replica of our old place except for no paint on the walls). No more late nights moving -- Thank The Lord! I am a different woman than I was at this time last week! In fact, I'm not sure I even know who that other woman was -- all I know is that she was REALLY CRABBY!

Jon returned from his career conference late Tuesday night. It went really well and he came back feeling pretty good. Thanks so much for all of your prayers! He's going to be traveling to some different places for some follow-up interviews during the next two weeks. Hopefully, we'll know something by the end of February! One of the jobs is in Chicago and I am secretly hoping that we get to live there -- only about 2 hours away from our family! We'll see what happens!

We got to go for another prenatal checkup yesterday. My little sweetheart was being such a stinker, though! Everytime my doctor would find the heartbeat, the baby would move and we'd have to find it all over again! I found it so amusing! Too bad Jon had to miss it -- he had to run home to let the cable guy in and by the time he got back, my appointment was over! Hopefully the baby will be more cooperative on Tuesday when we get to go for our ultrasound! The kids at school are just DYING to know whether its a boy or a girl. I swear they ask me everyday! And I am a little bit anxious to know, too. Yeah right -- just a little. HMMM. Here is my belly shot from this week (19.5 weeks). My tummy is definitely growing, as is the rest of me. I talked to my doctor about my weight worries, but we both agreed that if I hadn't gained so much during Christmas it wouldn't be a big deal. I actually did okay this month, gaining about a pound a week, which she said was normal. Hopefully I can keep things under control this next month.

So my husband has tried REALLY hard to be extra sweet to me since I got pregnant. However, he just NEVER says the right things, bless his heart. He just digs himself right down into a hole most of the time. The other night we were getting ready to go somewhere. He knows how sensitive I've been about gaining a little too much weight. I was admiring my growing bump in the mirror and casually said "I really am getting bigger." Jon's response was "Yeah! IN THE BUTT!" I looked at him like he was a moron and of course he was just so pleased with himself for making a joke he thought was so funny. Later that evening at dinner I was telling him how I was dreading getting on the scale at the doctor's office the next day. I told him that if I just wouldn't have gained that holiday weight I would be fine. His response to that was "Yeah, you totally HOGGED DOWN when we were home for Christmas." I've decided that I should start keeping track of all these comments so that when I am finished with my pregnancy, I can actually make a little bit of money as a stay-at-home mom by writing a book entitled "What Not To Say To Your Pregnant Wife." He's lucky I have a sense of humor. And it does help that he's cute, too.

Changes

Wow! Lots of changes have been happening lately!

First of all, there is the matter of my growing figure. I am constantly surprised when I reach down to touch my stomach. My first thought is always -- WHOA!! How did THAT get there?! And then I remember -- oh yeah ... there's a baby in there! I have to be honest. Watching my body change has been probably the hardest thing about being pregnant. Everything else I love. But it feels as if my booty is growing as fast as my belly! I'm still exercising pretty regularly, but not as intensely as I used to. I mostly walk or do the elliptical at the gym. Just when I make the decision to let go and stop worrying about how much weight I've gained, I catch a peek at my backside in the mirror. YIKES!!! I really have no right to complain, though. It's not like I've been doing a great job of eating super healthy! I definitely have cravings -- but rarely give into them -- Arby's roast beef sandwiches and Doughnuts! The doughnut thing has really got me going. The other night I got into bed and Jon was trying to talk to me. I was like "I'm really sorry, but I can't concentrate -- all I can think about is doughnuts!" He asked me if that was his clue to run out to the store and I was like "PLEASE, NO! I can not indulge in this! I'll won't be able to fit out the door by the time I'm 9 months!" A few nights later I actually dreamt about going to Krispy Kreme. What a psycho! Anyways, this is the first picture I've taken of my growing tummy (about 17.5 weeks). I'm totally at the stage right now where people can't tell if I'm pregnant or just putting on weight. So I finally broke down and bought some maternity clothes. That is a whole other post by itself.

I can't believe I'm almost halfway. We go to get our ultrasound on Feb 6. We are planning on finding out what the sex is if possible. For a while I was sure it was a girl, but lately I've been thinking it might be a boy. We are really excited to find out so we can go ahead and settle on a name and start buying cute things! I am just waiting until I start to feel it moving. Sometimes I think I feel it, but I'm not quite sure. Every day I think about how excited I am to meet this little one! I can't wait! I feel so blessed!

On to other changes...

We sold our townhome, which is really great. We will be closing next week sometime. So we spent all of this week moving. A friend of ours who lives in our same townhome complex is trying to sell his unit and it's empty, so we'll be renting it out from him until we move or he sells it. What a stressful week, though! Probably one of the most stressful weeks in our whole marraige! We moved everything ourselves -- who knew we had so much stuff! And everything needed to be out by last night because Jon was leaving today for his career conference in Austin! I'm so thankful that we have a place to live, but it was so sad to leave my own house. I had put so much work into it. It will be really hard to look across the street and see someone living there!

Like I said, Jon is at his conference this week. He's been working really hard to prepare, and I think he'll do really well if he just relaxes and acts like himself. I just have this nagging feeling, though, that deep down he really wants to stay in the Army. We'll see what happens. Maybe he'll come home from this conference and be really excited about the corporate world. I really thought things were set but then he went in and talked to two of his commanding officers this week and now he's talking about some other options he has in the army. We'll see, I guess. I'm at the point right now where I don't really care what we do, I just want to know what I can plan on. I think both of us are ready for a time in our lives where our future is pretty set at least for a few years.

This weekend is my birthday and our anniversary. Unfortunately, Jon will miss it again, but I still get to celebrate with my close friends! We are going to see DreamGirls and then go out for Fondue. YUMM!! My favorite! I'm so lucky to have such great friends! I'll try to remember to take some pictures and then post them!

Settling Back In

I guess it's time to take my Christmas Break ticker off of the bottom of my blog and replace it with a countdown to Spring Break! Jon and I finished our drive back to Colorado on Tuesday and I started work again on Wednesday. It's really not that bad and the kids have been great so far -- still a little bit in shock about returning to school I think! It's funny how news travels fast in my building -- the kids knew all about me being pregnant before I even said anything to them! Too funny -- some other teachers must've spilled the beans. That's okay, though. It's always a little bit awkward, I think, to tell people you're going to have a baby. And I did want all of my kids to know so that they wouldn't wonder why I was getting big. They're old enough to know it's usually inappropriate to come out and ask a woman if she's pregnant. They were pretty excited, though, and I got lots of congratulatory hugs from them.

Yesterday, I went to a coworker's house to look at some baby things they wanted to get rid of. I was fully expecting to pay for everything, but they wouldn't let us. They gave us an infant car seat (so that we would have an extra for Jon's car or to leave at Grandma and Grandpa's), another little seat that vibrates and also has a little hood and a net that zips (hard to explain) that will be perfect for sitting outside late summer, and one other thing. I really feel bad that they wouldn't take any money for it -- I'm thinking of getting them a gift card to a restaurant or something. What do you think?

I'm still feeling pretty awkward about how I look. I totally thought that I was starting to show last week, but then this week at my appointment, my Dr. showed me where my uterus was and it's not really anywhere near where my tummy is starting to get bigger. Oh well. Too many Christmas cookies I guess! We got to hear the heartbeat again at my appointment (she said it was fast -- in the 150s -- could that mean girl??). I know it wasn't the first time, but I still felt like I was going to cry! It's just so amazing to hear proof that there is another little person living inside of you! I was walking the other day at the gym and all I could think about was how anxious I am to snuggle and love on that baby once it's born!

Speaking of my doctor's appointment, I just have to stop and rant a little bit about the Army. I know I can't complain too much since it's free, but they have GOT to do something about their customer service! The last time I saw my doctor she said she wanted to see me in 4 weeks. I tried to make my next appointment before I left, but they said they were only scheduling two weeks out so I needed to call in two weeks. That was fine. I called the day after Christmas to schedule. They didn't have any openings until JAN 20! I was so mad! Obviously some people were allowed to schedule way more than two weeks out! The guys told me that if I called on the morning of Jan 3, MAYBE he could get me in on the 4th (our first day back at school with kids). I did call, and he did get me in. When I got there, nobody even knew what my appointment was for. They thought I was just getting a routine physical. When I finally saw my doctor (no complaints there -- she is awesome and was definitely on the ball) she thankfully recognized me and knew just why I was there. She ordered my ultrasound and gave me the number to call at radiology. She said I should schedule it for sometime between 16 and 20 weeks (I'm almost 16). Of course, as soon we got in the car, I called -- we are so anxious to see the ultrasound! As it turns out, they don't have any appointments open until March, so they are referring out all of the patients sent to them, which I fully understand. However, instead of just giving me the name and number of places where I can go, I have to wait two weeks to get a letter in the mail from them with information on who to call. UGGH! I know it's probably no big deal, but when you're so excited about something, it kind of puts a damper on things. Once again, I guess GOD is trying to teach me a little patience!

Jon is doing good. He has spent lots of time snowboarding lately. I'm so glad. I know he's missed out on a lot after being gone for two years. It's one of the things he was most excited about when we found out we were going to live in Colorado. He's still helping me out a lot around the house, which means so much to me -- I don't think he realizes! At the end of this month, he goes to a career conference with the recruiter he is working with and starts his interviews. We're keeping our fingers crossed that something good comes up!

13 Weeks, 2 Days

Only a few more days until I officially hit the "second trimester" of my pregnancy. Do the first 14 weeks seem this long for everybody? For a few days, I was certain I had finally escaped the constant fatigue that has plagued me for the last 8 weeks, but I think nature was just teasing me. Hopefully this won't last much longer! It's not very conducive to getting my Christmas shopping finished! I guess I should just be happy that I'm not feeling sick.

I must confess that I feel like I'm in a very awkward stage of pregnancy right now. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE that I am pregnant and I am SO excited to be able to cuddle and love on my little sweet pea once he or she is born. I just feel awkward! I am having a really hard time right now watching my body change. I definitely haven't had the energy to work out as much as I used to. And I go back and forth between thinking "I'm pregnant, I'm just going to eat whatever I want for once and not worry about it" and "I don't want to be HUGE when it's all over an not be able to lose the weight." (The first thought is usually what wins out -- the second just makes me feel guilty!) I'm definitely not ready for maternity clothes yet, but my jeans are steadily getting tighter and tighter -- in all the wrong places like the butt and thighs. (HMMM -- it must be the dryer, right?) I know I just need to quit freaking out and ENJOY this time. I haven't even mentioned the mood swings yet. My goodness -- my poor husband! I started crying the other day in my car as I watched a fire truck pull up next to another car on post and help a mom and her little boy (who I think might have been choking). And don't even think about teasing me or joking with me -- that usually sets off the tear ducts as well.

Jon, on the other hand, is doing fantastic as an expectant father. He attended his first "Daddy Boot Camp" session last week, where they told him they thought he was going to be an awesome dad. I totally agree! I can't wait to see what he's like with a baby!

Other things ARE happening in my life right now besides growing a baby in my belly. I am HOME for Christmas and SO happy to be with family! (It is so good not to be working right now!) As always, it is wonderful to be home! I can't wait to see all of my extended family on Christmas Eve! I get to meet my cousin Carolyn's baby for the first time and I can't wait! Unil then, it will just be a lot of shopping, relaxing, baking, and laughing with my mom and sister.

In case I don't get around to posting again before the 25th,

Merry Christmas!

Change of Heart

Once again it's been a while since my last post. Almost a month! So much has happened! I was hesitating to post because I couldn't talk about the most exciting news -- it was still a secret. :)

Jon and I are expecting our first little one! I have known for a while now and couldn't wait to share the news. We just wanted to wait a little while to tell everyone! I am 11 weeks along and my due date is around June 25. We are just overwhelmed with excitement! Jon is just beside himself with happiness. He has even signed up for "Daddy Boot Camp" on post, which he starts tomorrow. Too funny! He has been quite the dream husband since he heard the news. I haven't touched the laundry or the dishes since the night I told him (I'll tell all about it in my next post)! I'm lovin' all this spoiling!

I feel really good. I haven't had any nausea or morning sickness, which worried me at first, but now I am extremely thankful! I've just been feeling unbelievably exhausted for the past 6 weeks. I didn't even think that kind of tiredness was possible. Things are getting a little better, though, and I'm starting to feel just a little bit more energized each day. The past 7 weeks since I found out have been incrediby long. It seems like the baby grows so slowly and I've been so anxious that everything is okay. The first few weeks of pregnancy are so wierd -- especially if you're not sick. I just kept thinking -- am I really pregnant because I don't feel pregnant! Yesterday was my first exam with the doctor and I feel 1000 times better. We got to hear the heartbeat and it sounds so nice and strong! It was so amazing to hear it! I couldn't help it -- the tears just came! What a miracle!

After thinking about this baby and how excited we are to watch it grow, Jon and I have had a change of heart about staying in the Army. We pretty much knew right away that Special Forces was out of the question, but were still planning to attend the career course at Fort Knox to see what other types of opportunities might open up while we were there. Well, after doing some research, we found out that the only "opportunity" would be to be sent directly to a deploying unit upon graduation from the course. YIKES!! So, to make a long story short, we will not be moving to Kentucky anymore and are now planning to get out of the Army. Jon is already starting his job search, which we are both excited about. It will be interesting to see what God has in store for us!