A fond farewell

We saw our specialist today for what is likely the last time! We are so grateful! We received a great report - our little man's heart looks great, and everything is on-track and healthy. And he weighs a whole pound! (I was kind of hoping he weighed 15...) Despite horrible weather, and an atrociously long wait, it was a great morning! I even found a great recipe for white chicken chili in a magazine while we waited for over an hour. I took picture of it with my iPhone and cooked it tonight in the crock pot. I think it is a new family-favorite!

So back to LJ - he finally looks a little less alien-like and is starting to look really cute. So here is a picture! He did NOT want to have his photo taken today. He sleeps with his arms folded just like his mom does!

Furniture

Jack put our glider together tonight! We put it up in the room and it's going to look great! Lisa reported that Dad has been working on the crib. We're refurbishing our childhood crib with new hardware, paint, mattress, and bedding. I know Dad is excited to have such a big job! We're also transforming a beautiful antique vanity into our changing table. We'll have to strip it, repaint it, fit it for new drawer pulls, and add a raised edge. This will be a "labor of love" from the men in my life!

Fun frenzy

We finished our registry today! I was a little frustrated because the staff was extremely unhelpful, but we figured it out ourselves. I had started the registry online after researching the "big ticket" items, but wanted to go together to finish the rest.

Men and women are very different creatures... my system was to carefully check items off the list in my hand as we made decisions. Jack's system was to start at aisle 1 and scan mercilessly until we made it to aisle 40. I have to admit his system was better. We found a glider we both liked, and that was my take-home present today! I was so surprised! It's comfortable and will look great in the room.

I got so tickled watching Jack scan the cute little toys and rattles and clothes. I think he had even more fun than I did! Where I can take 10 minutes to decide between one item and another, he can make an educated decision in the blink of an eye. It makes me nuts sometimes but I'm grateful for it!

The belly-touchers have come out for the season! It really doesn't bother me - I'm just so excited to finally feel excited! I've got some great new clothes that I feel really pretty in. Lisa is in town for Mom's CD signing and this will be the first she's really seen me since the first week in August. I know she will be excited and surprised. I'll have to wear the Future Sooner shirt over tonight to watch a little of the game with her. :o)

Kicking away

The pattern so far is that LJ is fast asleep when I'm up and around and it's loud - even at Glam Jam and in front of the drum line - and starts his gymnastics when I'm reclined and the house is silent. He usually is very active mid-morning, late-afternoon, and late at night. I wonder if this is a sign of sleep patterns to come... maybe we need to start conditioning ourselves to become nocturnal!

One of Jack's band kids tonight called out, "Aww, they're gonna have cute babies!" It was hilarious and adorable... and I couldn't help think about what he will look like!

My suit coat buttoned for what will likely be the last time tonight. I have found some cute black separates to pair with it. They will help disguise the three enormous stretch marks on my sides that I found yesterday. I am experimenting with our new Revitalizing Serum + Vitamin C to see how it repairs collagen and elastin in that area. I'll keep my MK family posted with results!!

PS

I forgot to mention yesterday that even with the grainy level I ultrasound we got a good look at all 4 chambers of LJ's heart - a really good sign! We head back to the specialist one last time next week to make sure everything looks fine with each chamber and then hopefully we'll be home-free.

He is doing all kinds of roundhouse kicks in there today!! I need someone to make a Chuck Norris joke...

Half-way there

We had a crazy day at the doctor on Monday - waited for over an hour to be seen and then were told after the ultrasound that we weren't even supposed to have one since our specialist is now following our progress.... it made for a looooong day.

We are really spoiled by the level II ultrasound at our specialist. It makes the level I ultrasound seem very low-tech! Even so, it was awesome to see LJ wiggling and turning. He even waved his hands at us a little! We got some cute pictures of his feet.

As I was sitting down to work this morning, I could finally feel him moving around! It's a bizarre feeling - but really neat. It's hard to believe we're half-way there! I know the next few months will fly by!