Our Little Girl!

We had an ultrasound this afternoon to check the position of the baby, and to make sure her growth is on track. The last time we saw her was at 18 weeks and you could see her entire little body at once. We are now at 35 weeks, and she is quite a bit bigger! They estimated her weight at around 5 pounds 6 ounces. She is breathing, sucking on her fingers, tapping her fingers across her face, and her little heart is beating strong. So wonderful and relieving to see her doing so well!

Below are several images that we got from the ultrasound- these are pictures of pictures, but I think you can get the idea of how she looks right about now! One month until we get to hold the little sucker!

Here she is sucking her finger- which she pretty much did during the entire ultrasound.

Look at that nose!

Lips

Hands

Girl!

Just like Mama and Dad!

9 weeks (give or take) to go....

Well, I (think) have had just about the easiest pregnancy that one could imagine.  Monday morning came as a bit surprise, then, when around 8:45, I had the school nurse take my blood pressure and it was high.  I called Patrick, who was able to get in touch with my doctor- she advised me to come to the L&D floor to have some tests run and to have Abigail monitored. 

What?! You want me to go where?!  

I pretty much looked like this, but pregnanter. 

After checking in at the nurses station, they sent Patrick and me to a room. A delivery room. Gulp.  I was  given an impossible crazy gown to put on (took three of us to get it on correctly- certainly doesn't bode well for our ability to dress a child, does it?) and they strapped up monitors to my belly and a blood pressure cuff to my arm.  And that was the excitement for the next hour and half or so. 

Oh, and while we were waiting for the labs to come back, Patrick and I heard a lady loudly go into labor, push, and a release a baby.  That was a little too much reality for me.  

Patrick was with me the whole time, everything came back normal, and Abigail enjoyed showing off her strong heartbeat for over an hour.  

Before leaving the hospital, our nurse gave us a tour of the floor, which is newly renovated.  It is family centered- so there is no nursery and the rooms are large so that the parents and baby can spend time together while in the hospital.   This type of set-up encourages skin-to-skin contact to help regulate the temperature of the baby (our body temperature will rise to compensate for the baby's)- a concept that I think is amazing. 

Next week, baby shower in Atlanta- can't wait!!

Abigail Update!

Well, I had started a different blog to devote solely to this baby-on-the-way.  But, something about it didn't seem right- when, after all, I already had this blog titled "This Happy Happy Life."  So, we are back over  here and here we will stay! 

I am now 29 weeks along, and can't believe this little chimp is going to be here in a few short months.  I find myself looking forward to so much- springtime, flip-flops, longer days, blooms, and Abigail. The image below sums up my feelings pretty accurately:  

 I know these warms thoughts will help get me through February, my least favorite season. 

Patrick and I have had fun putting together Abigail's room. All of her furniture has arrived and is assembled.  It is great to walk by her room and see its existence- helps us to understand that this is really happening!  Below are a few pictures of what is completed so far! 

Crib and three signs that say : laugh, wish, fly

In the corner is an awesome playmat from Bubbe!

The bookcase has a few books for Abigail, and one that is titled "HELP!" for me

Dresser/Changer  Thank you, Nana for the diaper pen- let's hope it is too big to actually use on Abigail....

Already has her robe on a hook-a sweet gift from Sam :)

                                   

 

I'm getting bigger, but know that even bigger is on its way!  Abigail moves quite a bit and seems to love to dance....I'm pretty sure she is already an expert at the Macarena (and if she is like her mama, she is always at least half a beat off). 

I wear the workout pants to make myself feel more accomplished. 

Life

My husband is a 2nd-year resident in Oral Surgery. I am always very proud of him, but sometimes the day-to-day of "not knowing when he is going to be home" can cloud the pride.

Recently, we went to dinner to see the wife of one of his patient's sing. Because of the types of surgeries he does, I normally do not have the opportunity to meet anyone he has helped, so I was excited to meet this couple.

After performing, the patient's wife came straight over to our table. She gave my husband such a loving hug (her husband, the patient, had been standing by husband with his hand on his shoulder).

Then she turned to me, looked me right in the eyes and said, "Your husband saved my husband's life."

Such selfishness I felt for being irritated when he is running late. I will hold onto this statement, close, to keep the cloud away.

My Oma

My grandmother, whom we called Oma, passed away last summer. She remains a sweet sweetness in my life. I think about her often- especially when I am in the kitchen. I wonder if I am like her- if there is a certain timbre to my voice that echoes hers; if my eyes have the same twinkle, if my love is of the same brand.

Oma, for being 90 years old, had one helluva grip. She didn't just hold my hand; she grasped it with passion and strength. And when I hugged her.... oh, she was my grandmother: Round, soft, and full of a singular love.

I am writing about her now because there is a woman whom I see regularly at church that has the same light and shape as Oma. I find myself staring at her throughout Mass, wishing she would just hug me. I realize, of course, that she isn't my Oma, but how I miss that embrace.

In turn, I think about my nephew and my future kids- and I love that they will have my mother, Oma's daughter, to hug and hold them tightly.

Billboards- The Cracker Barrel Variety

Patrick and I have been on the road the past three weekends driving to various places. Last weekend we spent about 18 hours driving down the highway- and I read almost every billboard that we passed (yes, it was as exciting as it sounds.) But! My favorite billboards of all time (and these past trips have not let me down) are definitely those belonging to the Cracker Barrel.

You ask me, "Is it the welcoming front porch that you know awaits weary travelers like yourself? Is it the crackling fireplace that burns in the hearth, making you feel at home no matter where you are? Is it the country store full of items you never knew you needed?"

"No." I say to you. "'Tis the billboards."

I have a few that I particularly love- but below is my all

time favorite:

I know it is a small picture (only one I could find!)

Carrots. I do like cooked carrots; however, what I love is imagining the person that sees this billboard and HAS to go to Cracker Barrel to get THOSE CARROTS. Like, they cut across lanes of traffic, risk getting a speeding ticket, and careen into a parking spot. They see that billboard and think JACKPOT! :) Makes me smile every time.

I like to think of similar people who see this one:

HONEY! CORN! TURN RIGHT!

:) Keep your eyes open the next time you go for a drive- you never know when that billboard of green beans will hit you just right....

My Nephew.....and Skype

I cannot believe that two whole months have gone by since I last updated this little blog. School started and just like that my free time on my computer has been drastically cut.

But! Here I am!

I have a nephew, we'll call him "D." He is the first baby of my amazing sister, and my first nephew/niece. I've always known that babies are fun and cute and all other stereotypical baby adjectives. Oh my goodness. I had no idea HOW fun or HOW cute this baby was going to be- how much I look forward to seeing his face- and the lengths that I will go to make him smile.

Technology is a mysterious, wonderful thing. Have any of you been on the ride that is inside the Epcot Ball? Well, it in the past has been sponsored by AT&T, and a focus is the evolution of communication. For the past 15 years, I have ridden that ride at least once every year, and I am always most in wonder of the last scene- where you see a child talking to his mother (who is half-way around the world) via his television. I NEVER thought I would ever see that kind of technology.

Now! I have had the chance to do exactly that (but through my computer) with Skype. Skype has allowed me to see my nephew grow from a tiny baby to a toddling toddler. He and I learned to play Hide&Seek together, he recognizes my face, and soon he will recognize my name.

D makes me happy. Seeing my sister in a role as a mother, a role that she was born for- makes me happy. Skype and its magic that brings D and me together makes me happy.

Below are a few pictures of D that make me happy.... hopefully, because he is a cute baby, they will give you a smile too :)