lilypie

Lilypie Second Birthday tickers

Friday, December 31, 2010

A New Year...

Wow, the last year brought lots of changes, both planned and surprises.  I didn't expect to get back into middle school.  I didn't expect my mom to retire early.  I didn't expect to get to graduate until next December.  I didn't expect to get new and wonderful work friends!  I did plan on having a baby though (thank goodness)!

The prospect of what the new year will bring is definitely exciting and scary at the same time.  2011 will be the most life-changing year I've had so far in my life.  There are a lot of changes I know to expect, and many, many more that I can't even imagine!  As I look to the future, I know I am blessed to have the support of wonderful family and friends.  It will be the most difficult year in some ways, and the most rewarding in so many more.

I am so proud and happy that I get to raise my child with the best husband I could ask for.  He may worry about his ability as a father, but I have faith in him.  I know that he will be wonderful.  He is so full of love that he wants to share with others, that it will overflow into his role as a daddy.

I am excited to share the experience of a new baby with my family.  The support and excitement they already have shared with me makes me even happier to be able to share this new chapter of my life with them.

Even though I did not plan on moving back to middle school.  I know it was a wonderful decision.  I am fortunate to have found a school where I "fit".  My experiences over the last year and half have changed my perspective personally and professionally.  I know how lucky I am to be in a school where I can be happy, even when facing the challenges that current trends in education bring to my profession.  This will be an environment where I can grow professionally while feeling secure in my position and happy to go to work each day.  Things won't be perfect, but they never are.  I do have the support of my co-workers and friends to work through these challenges and face whatever changes will come.

Completing my Master's has been a very fulfilling experience for me.  The goals I set for myself before I started a family were to own a home and finish my degree.  It feels good to know I have accomplished those things, so I can focus on my family more than stresses for the future.

Happy New Year dear family and friends.  I hope the year brings many great things for all of us.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Stork Vision visit 2

Tonight was a lot of fun!  Hopefully soon I will have a baby pic of me to compare to the images we got!  It's amazing how much their little features change in 8 weeks!  I even have some short videos, so this blog will be mostly pictures and video with very little reading...
hands curled by the face just like Mommy!

BIG yawns!


Peek-a-boo!

This little piggy...


I have a dimple in my chin like Mommy!


cute little ear and neck wrinkles!

Here's a comparison of the 2 different sessions, so you don't have to flip back and forth!



We started off the evening sleepy...


Adorable yawn action!








Daddy will be very pleased that Baby Hyde appears to enjoy posing for the camera.  We made it 1 minutes  out of the 20 minute session and said we were done by turning our back on the camera!  The lady doing the sonogram tonight said she wished every baby behaved as well as Baby Hyde!  Do we have a camera ham in the making?  Possibly....

Monday, December 27, 2010

Wonderful break

I've really enjoyed this Christmas break!  I've been able to spend time with family and friends!  I got some really great things for the baby as Christmas gifts!  Derek and I are on track to get the nursery ready by January, and I've even had time to rest in there!

Nothing hugely exciting has happened.  I missed out on a family friend's wedding due to a need to take it easy for a few days.  I'm sad about that, I have been looking forward to going to their wedding for a while. It would have been nice to catch up with good friends, but my health and the baby's health has  to take priority over everything else right now.

I did get to spend Christmas my favorite way!  We've always celebrated on Christmas Eve in our family.  We fix a favorite family meal (usually homemade enchiladas or bierox...the bierox won out this year thanks to Derek).  Then we open gifts together.  It was nice to spend that time like we always have.  I don't know what new family traditions will start next year or what changes will be made thanks to Baby Hyde.  It was a really great gift for me to spend at least one more Christmas the way I always have.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas full of family and friends.  Here's a new year full of surprises and new adventures!

Adventures in painting

Well, the first few phases of redecorating the nursery are finished!  We had to empty the room first...(yuck)...Then we decided to pull the trim off that ran around the room halfway up the walls.  That was Derek's job.  Then we had to patch the uneven line left by the trim and the holes that Derek's shelving system made in the walls. (I could have killed him for those...we're talking holes the size of pennies and bigger!)  Next we had to re-texture the walls.  That wasn't so bad thanks to my dad's texture sprayer.  For never having sprayed texture before, I must admit my hubby did an outstanding job!

We got both coats of base coat on the walls yesterday and this morning.  Once again, for never having rolled on paint before, Derek did outstanding!  (I'm the one who has painted the walls for any other decorating project that has been undertaken...)  I can't wait to see how the sponge effect we are going to try turns out.  I think it will really be neat!  The over all effect will make it seem like you are under a Caribbean sea with the light filtering down through the water!

I've been informed that I'm not allowed to post pictures or show any family members the room until it is painted and furniture has been built and placed.  Not to worry though; we will have it all done before I go back to work on the 3rd. :D

Happy waiting!

Monday, December 20, 2010

Baby Registry

Disclaimer: This IS NOT an attempt to make anyone feel like I expect a gift from you.  This is simply the fastest way I know to get this information out to people who DO want it.

I do have a baby registry started at both Babies R' Us and Amazon.  I will be starting registries at Walmart and Target shortly.  I know most people who read my blog do not feel they need to get me a gift, nor should they.  I want to let close friends and family know about it so they can pick things off of it.  I know I should have posted this before the week of Christmas for family members, but that's ok.  You guys know what I like/need/want and will do fantastic without this!

These registries are NOT gender neutral.  That means if you don't want to know what I'm having, you might want to avoid them!

Amazon Baby Registry

Babies R' Us Registry

I'm also posting these so that my wonderful mommy/grandma/aunt/etc friends can look through them if you feel the urge and give me advice on anything I might want to add that isn't already there.  I know there will be things I don't think of that will be essential after Baby Hyde is here!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Sleep breakthrough!

I got a WONDERFUL new body pillow for graduation from my mom.  It was supposed to be a Christmas present, but she thought (correctly) that I might get some good use out of it before then.  That was a fantastic idea, Mama!
Mine is brown instead of white, which I think will show less sweat, drool, etc than the white will.  I supports my neck and back very well.  It will be great as a back support and wrap-around pillow after Baby Hyde gets here too.

My cats Emma and Mao approve as well.  they each take one side and curl up with me.  
No, I'm not asleep, I was looking down at Emma when Derek snapped the pic!

I can see this pillow getting lots of use both before and after the baby gets here.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Lab work adventures and other updates...

There hasn't been much going on lately. I got my gestational diabetes test out of the way last week. That was an adventure.  The week before, my OB told me to go in for my diabetes testing.  He and his entire staff made it sound like it would be a nice, short in and out draw blood and your done experience....no on there mentioned that I would have to drink the glucose tolerance beverage, wait an hour, and THEN give blood!  (At least he made sure I knew about fasting beforehand.)

I went in at 8:30 when the lab opened that Friday to get it out of the way.  The lab tech walks out with the drink and starts telling me the process and must have been able to see the shock on my face that I did not have a clue that I would have to spend an hour plus at the lab.  I explained that to do that I would have to arrange for a sub and take a half-day of work because I couldn't miss that much of the morning otherwise.  She was super sweet and let me take the glucose drink home to drink at 7:30 Monday morning so I could come into the lab when they open at 8:30 and get the testing done.  I love understanding people!

The drink itself wasn't bad; it reminded me of drinking a melted OtterPop.  The blood draw was just as pleasant as any other draw I've had done.  I'm guessing they didn't see anything they didn't like because I haven't received a call that I need to come back in for further testing, so I'm all good with the process!  I WILL be letting my OB know that he needs to prepare people for the process better.  His office makes it sound fast, but most people do not consider over an hour a fast process on a work day!

Other than my latest lab work adventures, I get to graduate with my Master's degree in Education Administration on Friday!  I can't wait!!!  What a great way to start 2 weeks off work!

We have picked out colors for the nursery and are going to get the room cleared out today and next Sunday.  My goal is to have the room painted and furniture set up by the end of Christmas break.

As soon as we get everything started I'll post some pictures of the process!

Belly Diaries 3



24 Weeks

Just think, the next one post will be in the 3rd trimester!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

FINALLY!!!!

So, Baby Hyde finally decided to cooperate today!  If you want to know what we are having you will have to click on the link.  Remember, some of my family does not want to know, so keep congratulations and comments private!

Dr. Anderson was very sure of what he saw today.  I am SUPER excited to finally know!  And to put a damper on that excitement...I get to go have diabetes testing and all of that good stuff done within the next week.  At least that's a one time deal and it will be over with!

I go back on December 30, but the anticipation is different now.  The countdown for the main event is really starting now!  Only 16 more weeks until my due date.  That means only 13 more work weeks when you take out Christmas and Spring Breaks!  Gah!  How will I get everything done!!!!!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Movin' and Shakin' right through Turkey Day

So this week has been exciting!  Baby Hyde decided to give me a fantastic birthday present.  As of Tuesday, I can feel BH moving when he or she is kicking when I put my hand where the kicks are!  Yesterday BH was kicking hard enough in the bathtub that it was causing shock-waves in the water!  It's been exciting.  Derek hasn't felt it yet.  Everytime I get him  to stop what he's doing to feel, the baby has stopped kicking hard enough to feel.  It will happen eventually and I'm just ecstatic that I can feel it!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I know I have a lot to be thankful for this year.  Happy Holidays!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Sonogram video and good news...and so much to be thankful for



I tried uploading the video from my sonogram last week, but I think it's just too big!   It's really neat!  The lady doing my sonogram even switched to 4D imaging so we can see the difference when we go back in January.  I go back to Dr. Anderson in about two weeks, so hopefully we will get a definite answer on Baby Hyde's gender!

Now for the good news...I know it has nothing to do with the baby, but I am achieving another of my goals that I had set before I had children.  I will graduate with my Master's of Education in Administration on December 17th!  I passed my comprehensive exam and have been given approval to walk!  It feel soooo good to have this accomplished before Baby Hyde gets here!  I still have to do my observation hours next fall, but that will not be a problem in my current position.

This holiday season I have so many blessings for which I am thankful!  Finishing my degree, Baby Hyde, wonderful family and friends.  Things are falling into place better than I could have ever dreamed.  I only hope everyone else can find as many things to be thankful for as Thanksgiving and another Holiday season approach.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

No Definite News, But....

It sure was fun!  StorkVision is a really neat experience.  We got lots of good sonogram images, and the DVD of the whole appointment is SO neat!  They even did some 3D images!
SO sweet...

Already trying to twirl the hair like mom...



I know that sonograms are used primarily to ensure the baby is healthy, but having these images and the video makes Baby Hyde that much more real to me.  The image quality is SO much better than at Dr. Anderson's office.  Going with my mom and grandma made it even more fun!  I can't wait to go back in 8 weeks and see the differences!

We still didn't get to find out for sure the baby's gender, but the lady doing my sonogram made an educated guess.  Click here if you would like to know the guess.  Please don't comment about it directly on FaceBook or here because some of my family members do not want to know what the baby is before he or she is born.

Baby Hyde is definitely showing personality already!  He or she was sitting on his or her feet and would not move.  When BH finally decided to stretch those legs, it was with feet crossed like this....

I really did have to laugh.  I'm not going to stress too much about what gender Baby Hyde is.  As much as I would like to know now, I also know that I will find out in March or April.  I think it's so funny that BH is so active and moves constantly but refuses to spread those legs and let us see!  I know my grandma got a kick out of the baby's antics.  She says she's old-fashioned and doesn't want to know yet either!

Maybe we will found out December 2nd....and then again, maybe we won't...I'll just have to wait and see...

Friday, November 12, 2010

Let's try this again, shall we?

Okay, I'll admit it.  I'm falling into that trendy, money grabbing trap that is having a sonogram done for the sole purpose of having pictures and videos.  Granted, they will also do gender determination, so I MIGHT find out what Baby Hyde is going to be tomorrow.  Stork Vision also does 3D and 4D imaging during the 3rd trimester.  I am really excited to see what those images will look like.



(No they aren't Baby Hyde, but hopefully we well get some just as good!)


The really great thing is I'll have great images and maybe even video to post on the blog if everything goes well tomorrow.  They ladies at Stork Vision even give you a free return visit if for some reason they can't do a gender determination and you want to know.

The best part is I get to take my Mama with me to experience it!  I invited my grandma too, but she isn't sure she wants to go.  She says she's not "up to date" with all of the technology advances.  What she really means is she isn't sure she wants to know.  Part of the fun for her is waiting to see what the baby will be when he or she gets here! (Love you Mom!)  Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to give those of you who are anxiously waiting good news and an answer!  Cross your fingers and toes for us!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Belly Diaries 2

Here is the latest update from the Belly-cam!



That's quite a bit of difference from 16 weeks.

Ready to Stay Healthy!

So this is the second round of antibiotics in 3 months.  My diagnosis--ear infection, sinus infection, AND throat infection.  I haven't had to do this since the end of 2007!  Unfortunately, it took stronger antibiotics than Azithromycin to get it done.  That doesn't bode well, but I think after this week I will have some time to breathe. I have my formal observation at school and my Master's degree COMPS exam coming up this week.  I think with those out of the way, I'll have a little less to worry about.

I also have a fantastic sister who offered to help me deep-clean my house as a birthday present!  Doesn't sound like much, but when you just don't want to do anything but crash on the weekend, having an extra hand to help out is the best thing she could do for my birthday!

So hopefully between getting my big stressors of the year out of the way, and some help cleaning, I can step back and breathe and relax!

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Half-way there!!

I can't believe I'm half-way through! It doesn't seem possible that it's been 4 months yet!

Unfortunately we don't know if Baby Hyde is Thomas Brandon or Arianna Michelle yet.  When we tried to find out on Thursday, the baby decided he or she was going to give us all a taste of what kind of personality we can expect!  The baby was positioned so we could see it's bottom and it's legs spread wide but at just the wrong angle to be able to determine what we were having!  Derek and I both had to laugh.  My OB is determined enough that he is going to try again in 4 weeks.  Maybe then we will get a little cooperation.

We did get some cute shots of the baby looking right at the camera though!

Sunday, October 31, 2010

And the suspense continues...

Thursday seems so far away!  I don't care what anyone says, I'm excited to give this little being inside of me more identity!  Keep your fingers crossed for us that he or she cooperates unlike his or her daddy normally would! :D

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Impatient

I can't wait for next week!  We find out what the baby is a week from tomorrow! :D  I need to find a creative way to let those who want to know what we are having.  I know I can use the good ol' "message me if you wanna know method," but I would like to do something a little more original than that....I DO have space on Derek's website with my own domain name, so I might have to use that to my benefit.

Watch and see what I come up with!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Just a little cold...

I think I just have a little cold, but they aren't kidding when they say it's harder on you when you are pregnant!  I've never had to miss work for cold or allergy symptoms until now.  I don't think I could have made it though a day of work if I had to today!  I'm feeling better now, thanks to allowable cold meds and rest.  Hopefully I'll feel MUCH better by Monday!

On a brighter note, only 2 weeks until my next sonogram! :D  I can't wait!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Nursery Planning!

We picked out nursery furniture today!  I am SOOO excited!  I already have my bedding thanks to an early pregnancy splurge and a deal I couldn't refuse.  It feels good to have all of that decided!

Here is what we are doing....

The crib will convert to a toddler bed like this....
It's in Cherry.  I think it will be fantastic!

The changing table/dresser will convert into a dresser with a hutch like so...
I love the hutch for books, etc when the time comes!

The bedding I picked out will be great whether Baby Hyde is an Arianna Michelle or a Thomas Brandon.




I can't wait to see the finished product!  I'm hoping that by Christmas I can get the room cleaned out, painted, carpet replaced, and furniture set up.  Wish me luck!!!






Friday, October 15, 2010

Week 17

Nothing really new this week.  I've felt really good after Monday.  Hopefully that means the worst is over for now.  I've felt the baby flutter a few more times, but not as strongly as I did 2 weeks ago.  I can' believe I'm 3 weeks away from hitting the halfway point!  Where is time going?!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Belly Diaries

Here is the first of what will (hopefully) be monthly belly pictures!

Animals' Sixth Sense

If you asked me before I got pregnant, I would have told you, "Yes, animals can sense major changes like pregnancy."  If you had asked me a week ago I would have said if they do, none of our animals have that sense, or they just don't care.

Tonight I sat down to pet our dog Sophie because she kept following me around wanting attention.  (This is unusual by itself because she goes to Derek when she wants loved on, not me!)  As soon as I sat down she buried her nose in my stomach and started sniffing.  It was almost funny.  She never does things like that.

At least I know one of the fur-children cares enough to say, "I know something is different even if I don't know what exactly it means!"

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Here we go!!!

I want to have a place to keep everyone up-to-date with Baby Hyde as well as a collection of memories to look back on. I can't promise I will keep it up, but if enough people show interest I will do my best.

So...we found out we were pregnant at the beginning of July.  We saw the baby for the first time on August 9th.

I felt great for the first 12 weeks.  I had very few symptoms.  I dealt with some nausea, but nothing that Zofran couldn't take care of!  (BTW...Zofran is a M-I-R-C-L-E drug when you are preggers!)  I had fun sharing the news with family and friends.  Everyone has been very excited for us.

I'm really glad that my neighbor is only a little over a month farther along than I am.  It's nice going having someone to share the experience with on that level.  We got to hear the heartbeat in September.  That was an indescribable experience!  It was amazing!!!!!  I told Derek the baby is definitely his, it was being difficult and moving while Dr. Anderson tried to find it!

The last few weeks have been rough.  I have suffered from morning sickness almost daily.  I can only be thankful it started late and seems to be letting up for now! At almost 16 weeks, I'm feeing more energetic.  I felt the baby move last week a few times!  I had to stop and think when I felt it the first time.  that was incredible feeling!  I have already had to break down and buy maternity clothes because none of my pants fit and my shirts have started getting snug!  Thank goodness I have great a great family that has chipped in and helped with that!

I go back during the first week of November for another sonogram and to find out what we are having.  I can't wait!!!!!  This month will hopefully fly by between work and studying for comps.  I am amazed that it is already October!  At this rate I don't know how I will get everything done by March!  Our due date is March 26.  If I can make it to that point, I will be able to take the last 8 weeks off from school and enjoy almost 5 months of being Mommy before I have to go back to work.

I picked out an ocean theme for the nursery.  My early splurge was the bedding set I found for $100 off its normal price.  I just couldn't resist that kind of deal!  I can't wait to set the nursery up!

Ok, I think I have included the important points of the last 16 weeks....I will post more as I have new thoughts, information, and ideas.  Enjoy!