Wii!

Duane and I celebrated our 2-year anniversary Tuesday. It snuck up on both of us, because i didn't realize April 22nd was Tuesday until I heard that Monday was April 21st! I don't know if that makes sense, but you catch my drift.


In honor of our special day, we decided to go to dinner. After that, I wanted to walk around Best Buy, because Duane has fallen in love with the Wii gaming system ever since his brother got one. I can't say I blame him -- if you have never played Wii, it is highly addictive. Plus the cost is minimal compared to competitors like Playstation 3 and XBox 360. So I figured we would look around, because Wii's are quite popular, and thus extremely hard to get ahold of.
Almost like a sign from above, Best Buy had 1 Wii in stock.
I have been trying to save money for baby stuff, because everyone keeps telling me how shocked I will be at the cost of having a baby. Even though we plan to breastfeed, I hear diapers aren't cheap! But Duane's birthday is Monday, and we both have worked very hard these last few months (hence, the minimal posting to the blog), so I decided we deserved a little splurge.
I cannot describe to you how many of my muscles are aching right now! What a workout!! If you have never played Wii, I really recommend you try it sometime. It isn't your typical gaming system, so it entertains just about everyone in the family. My mom and dad are even thinking about getting one!!
Plus, it is something that Duane and I enjoy doing together, and it gets me off my lazy butt so I can actually get some exercise in these last 8 weeks of pregnancy. Maybe it will help get me back in shape once our little Rachel arrives! I could be the Wii spokesperson, like Jared is with Subway. Hmmmm...

Acrobatic Baby!

We had our 4D ultrasound today. It was such an amazing experience! We were lucky to have our family there with us. Duane's brother Phil and his wife Jen, my sister, my parents, and Duane's mom were there to see our little Rachel's debut. She started out in a very awkward position! Her feet were all the way up by her head. She kept grabbing her toes! It was so awkward that the technician had me stop in the middle and get up to walk around so she would readjust!

I never realized how much my movements would affect her positioning in me. When I turned to the side, she would turn as well.

We have a VERY active little girl, and it looks like she might be taller than we are someday! She is already 16.5 inches long and about 2.5 lbs. The poor girl inherited my feet though! Long and skinny tootsies! Her facial expressions remind me of Duane's expressions.

We had such a wonderful time! It makes me all the more excited to meet her in a few months!

A little bit late!

We have our 4D ultrasound this Thursday at 4:45 p.m., so I figured I should probably post the pictures of our 2D ultrasound before I post the next set! I can't wait to see Rachel's little face and features! She is moving around a little bit, and sometimes I feel her kicks so hard it startles me! Duane thinks she will be very active (like her daddy). I was impressed with the progress he made on the nursery this weekend. He pulled up the carpet so he can start laying the floor down this week. I am really excited to get everything set up!

You can see her face in this picture. The doctor said she kept popping her face into all the pictures! She is quite photogenic!

Speaking of photogenic, I am happy to announce that my friend Kim had her baby last Thursday. Aiden Michael Cotter was born at 6:08 a.m. and weighed in at 6 lb 9 oz. He is such a cutie! I got to hold him for a little bit last Friday, and I have to say that Kim and Mike did an awfully good job of making that little guy! I think he has her eyes, but she thinks he will look a lot like Mike! So my congrats go out to the Cotters. I can't wait until Rachel gets to meet her future playmate!!

Way behind!

I just realized I never posted pictures from the National Championship! Then I realized I haven't posted belly pictures in a while either! So man, I feel like I am way behind on my picture posting. I haven't updated enough recently because I haven't had the pictures to illustrate things. So consider this my Update Blog.

Our little Murdock had to go to the vet last week. He has been losing patches of fur all over his back and shoulders. We thought maybe he was allergic to something or perhaps just a little anxious about Rachel's impending arrival (they say animals sense things). But the vet said she believes Murdock is suffering from a hyperthyroid problem, and he may have to take pills for the rest of his life. We are waiting on conclusive results, but if that is what his problem is, we are thankful it isn't anything too serious.

As you can see, my belly has sprouted. Really, ever since we found out we are expecting a little girl, the belly has come into its own. There is no question that I am pregnant these days. I have gained about 25 lbs in 25 weeks, which I guess is ok, but I would like to limit my total weight gain to 35 lbs, and it isn't looking like that is going to happen. Oh well, Rachel will grow as much as she feels like she needs to grow! I will just have to diet later.

Speaking of Ms. Rachel, her daddy painted her nursery this weekend, we bought the flooring for her room, and I went and ordered her furniture. We got a decent crib that converts into a daybed and full bed and a really nice dresser with room on top for a changing table. The furniture is in, and we pick it up tomorrow. I can't wait to see what it looks like in her room! Duane will work on the floor this weekend, and I just have to get the border up on the walls. I registered for my bedding and decorations for the room, so I am really excited to see everything come together!

I had another doctor appointment Thursday. Everything checked out okay, and the doctor measured my stomach. My next appointment is my test for gestational diabetes. It takes about an hour and I can't eat anything sugary beforehand. I scheduled this for the morning, so I don't have to go all day without my sugar!!

Here are a couple of random pictures that I have neglected to post!

Registering for Rachel

Funny how two different women can carry their babies so differently. Kim, who is having a boy in March, carries almost entirely up front. Me, I carry all over. I have expanded from front-to-back and from side-to-side. I am just getting round like an apple! :)

I have been working so much lately, and I anticipate 50+ hour weeks for the next month. It happens, I guess. I have to get through it. I got another excellent review this year, so maybe I will get a decent raise. I got a bonus for last year, so that is more money to stow away for Rachel's arrival. It's nice to get that little incentive, even if it does get taxed insanely.

My sister gave me some great maternity clothes. This shirt is one of them, and I have received MANY compliments on it. I am needing maternity shirts for sure now -- especially since my chest just keeps growing. I am very appreciative, because I am trying to put all extra money away for diapers and things for Rachel.

Speaking of things for Rachel, while Duane was painting her room on Saturday, I went registering with my sister! She was the best person I could have taken, because she breastfed her sons, and a lot of stuff they tell you to register for is related to formula-feeding. There are things she clued me into that I never would have guessed (like registering for slow-, medium-, and fast-flow nipples so Rachel doesn't get frustrated with the slow-flow as she gets older!). We picked out SOOO much good stuff, and I found so many outfits I may have to go back and buy later! A couple of them were even pink. I am trying to hold off buying a lot of stuff until we get closer and have a place to put everything away. I just finished my freelance project that will pay for her nursery furniture and bedding!

She is kicking a lot more these days. I think she is starting to get a little more cramped, so she bumps into me a little more than usual. I love it! I feel like we are bonding when she gives me a little kick. I can't wait to meet her. I know she is going to be the most perfect little girl I have ever seen, and I will love her more than I ever thought possible!

It's a GIRL!!

For weeks, everyone asked me what I thought we were having. In the first few weeks of pregnancy, I called our baby a boy. But since I got to be about 12 weeks, I began to refer to Pudge as a she. I wasn't growing very fast (although I have definitely gained weight!!), and something inside me just felt like I was having a girl. But I didn't make a broad proclamation about it. To tell you the truth, I can understand now why people always say they just want a healthy baby. Because if you really love your child, unconditionally, it won't matter to you whether it is a girl or a boy. You may want one or the other because of all the things you can share with one vs. the other, but when all is said and done, you will love either one. And I didn't want anyone to think I was disappointed if I found out I was having a boy. I would have loved our little guy just as much as I will love our daughter, Rachel Louise.

The doctor asked what I thought it was, and I said I thought it was a girl, but it could have been because everyone was telling me that's what they thought too. She said "I think the majority might be right." And she went through all the other measurements and confirmed that it is 100% a girl!! I kept looking back at Duane (he also suspected girl) to see his reactions to things. His face was in awe of what he was seeing on the screen.

As we were leaving, I asked him how he felt. He was in a funk because we had waited for soooooo long to go back to have our ultrasound. The person in front of us had her whole family there and they didn't go back until it was almost time for our appointment. So as we left, I asked him how he felt. I think he was numb at first. He called his parents when we got to the car and kept saying "It was this..." and I told him "You can say she now!" Once he heard that, I think it started to sink in.

My parents are thrilled. They would have also loved a boy just as much as a girl, but they are beside themselves to have a granddaughter. Aunt Jen (my sister-in-law) already bought Rachel a onesie that says "My Aunt loves me" and I bought one for her that says "Daddy's little cupcake." My sister was excited, and so was my best friend Kim. She is having a boy (Aiden) in March, and she is already raving about them getting married. She gave me a scrapbook page and a balloon that says "It's a Girl." My brother reacted in his normal way, but everyone else seems pretty excited. I am already hearing about all the pink and lavender we will get. Gracious. I am not a pink fan, and it sounds like this girl's closet will be the color of Pepto Bismol! I am not a girly girl, so I really hope she isn't too much of one either. She doesn't have to be a complete tomboy, but I don't dig the whole Hannah Montana scene either.

It is hard to say how Duane is taking the news. Everyone asks me, but he is a hard read. I talk about Rachel all the time. Referring to her as my daughter thrills me to no end, and with every kick, I talk to her or about her. But Duane doesn't have the physical symptoms of pregnancy, so I think until the baby is here, it will be hard to understand what she will mean to him. I hope she will be a Daddy's girl.


And here I am at about 20 weeks. Still not much tummy yet, but ever since we found out about her secret (at 21 weeks), she has popped out quite a bit. I will post some more pictures on that in my next blog entry.

Roofs, Babies, Work, and more...

Sorry! I really wish I were one of those dedicated bloggers who can find something fun and creative to write about every day, but I just haven't had time to collect my thoughts lately!

I have this HUGE deadline at work. This has kept me busy for weeks now, and my hours are just starting to become somewhat normal again. Meanwhile, I accepted a freelance job from the company in NYC I have worked for a couple of times, and it is going to pay VERY well. But it is also going to suck up MOST of my free time between now and February 19th, when it is due. The money will be used for the crib and dresser, and...

Yesterday, I worked from home because we lost some shingles in the high wind gusts a couple weeks ago. So I waited for the roofers to come and give an estimate for the repairs. I have never needed roof repairs before, and our insurance deductible was $500, so I was thinking we would have to pay $200 or something and wouldn't bother with insurance.

The estimate was: $525. No kidding. How convenient. So there's more money that should be going toward baby prep that has to go toward keeping the baby's home in good shape instead. Grrrrr.

We picked a paint color for the nursery. I am hoping to go get that tomorrow night, along with the flooring. Then Duane will paint and refloor the nursery whenever he has time. (He has also been working a lot and going to school, so time is difficult to find!)

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY! Pudge's Secret will hopefully be revealed and we can give this kid a proper name. I am so excited but also trying to stay grounded, because I know today will draaaaaaaag by if I focus too much on the morning. I will be 21 weeks pregnant tomorrow. I can't even believe that! The little one has been raising quite a ruckus in my insides lately! It's nice to have the reminder that s/he is still there!