Christmas 2008

4 Months

I am now four months pregnant and I received the BEST news this morning. After having blood work done last week, our baby is healthy (the baby tested negative for Down's and Spina Bifada). I can't tell you how many prayers I said asking for a healthy baby (or how many thank you prayers I said today). It was a great way to start the Christmas holiday! Last night, DJ and I exchanged Christmas gifts and he gave me little tiny baby booties with Michigan's logo on them. I have never seen anything so tiny! I think our child is destined to be a Wolverine's fan if Dad has anything to do with it, but I'm still pushing for the Boilermakers!

Jackpot!

After finding the perfect bedding for our little one's crib, I was so disappointed because it was on backorder until June 15th. Well, that wasn't going to work so I had given up. Then ... I found almost EXACTLY the same pattern for about 1/4 of the price! My generous older brother Nate bought this for me for Christmas. I'm SO excited to get it in the mail and have already started dreaming up our baby's nursery. A ways to go I know, but I can't help it!
Thanks Uncle Nathan!

3 1/2 Months

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

PREGNANT TURKEY STORY

One year at Thanksgiving, my mom went to my sister's house for the traditional feast. Knowing how gullible my sister is, my mom decided to play a trick. she told my sister that she needed something from the store. When my sister left, my mom took the turkey out of the oven, removed the stuffing, stuffed a Cornish hen, and inserted it into the turkey, and re-stuffed the turkey. She then placed the bird(s) back in the oven. When it was time for dinner, my sister pulled the turkey out of the oven and proceeded to remove the stuffing. When her serving? spoon hit something, she reached in and pulled out the little bird. With a look of total shock on her face, my mother exclaimed, "Patricia, you've cooked a pregnant bird!" At the reality of this horrifying news, my sister started to cry.It took the family two hours to convince her that turkeys lay eggs!

DJ's Funny Dream

DJ called me at work this morning and told me that if we have a boy, we were definitely going to be sending him to Quarterback camp. He had a dream last night that we sent our son to Quarterback camp for a year. He was a already star at 9 years old. By the time he reached college, he won the Heisman trophy at Univ. of Michigan. DJ said our son thanked his "loving father" on national television for inspiring him to be such an amazing athlete. DJ said he was a very proud papa. :)

13 Weeks (189 Days To Go)

Here's what babycenter.com said today:
"Fingerprints have formed on your baby's tiny fingertips, her veins and organs are clearly visible through her still-thin skin, and her body is starting to catch up with her head — which makes up just a third of her body size now. If you're having a girl, she now has more than 2 million eggs in her ovaries. Your baby is almost 3 inches long (the size of a medium shrimp) and weighs nearly an ounce."

Matt is funny

My brother Matt sent me this e-mail this morning...

"I dont want to say i'm important but look who cleaned my room at my last hotel stay!"

...So funny!

Three Months

So I'm three months as of last week. 1/3 of the way there! I can't believe next week I'll be in my second trimester. :) I had DJ take a picture last night because I'm starting to show a little bit. I wouldn't say I have a bump, I just can't suck in at all any more. :)

Here we go!!!!

Snow

Good old South Bend - we got 8 inches of snow last night! This was our first big snow of the season....and before Thanksgiving! Now I'm ready to start Christmas shopping! I can't wait to use the fireplace for the first time this year.

My brother Josh loves photoshop

11 Weeks

I'm just about 11 weeks. I can't believe that in two weeks I'll be in my second trimester already! I always check websites to find out what should be happening to me right now, what's going on with the baby, etc. This week, thebump.com said, "Cuteness update: Hair follicles and nail beds are growing ... She's the size of a lime!"

Baby!

It's official - everyone knows I'm pg. I told my friends at work last week and yesterday. After our ultrasound yesterday I was too excited to keep it to myself any more.

At yesterday's appointment we saw our little one's heart beating and got to hear it! It was amazing and made the whole thing "so real". I can hardly believe we're going to have a baby. I'm so excited and I already love him/her so much. All I wish for is a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. If that happens, I'll be so grateful. These pictures aren't the greatest, but I had to post them. He/she is a little less than an inch long.

Zach

Please say a prayer for my nephew Zach. After having bronchitis for a week, he has now developed pneumonia. If he's not responsive to antibiotics, he will be admitted to the hospital Saturday.
Love you Zach! Get well soon!

Oh Baby!

Congratulations Phil & Alissa! You will be great parents. I can't wait to meet Cameron!

BLOOD

So I had to have some blood drawn this morning. I was extremely nervous about it of course. When I sat down in the "blood giving chair" the lady said, “You don’t like this, do you?” I don’t know what gave me away – my sweaty palms, my heavy breathing, or the fact that I wouldn’t look in the direction of the needle from the second I stepped into the room. I told the nurse the horror story from my very first blood test. Some lady who'd had a stroke or something jerked the needle around my 15-year-old arm like it was her job. Ouch!

Anyway, all was fine – seriously it didn’t even hurt. I apologized to the lady for being such a huge baby.

FALL

I absolutely love fall. It's the best weather for riding and for everything in general - not too hot and not time for those winter coats that I hate wearing.
My favorite things of fall are pumpkins, carving pumpkins, mums, Starbucks Pumpkin Lattes, kids in their halloween costumes, Thanksgiving, tek vests, boots/jeans/sweaters, putting up "fall stuff" in my house, riding with dj in the combine, tailgating, the leaves turning on Kern Road where they hang over you when you drive through "the tunnel", candy corn, and hay rides. Hmmm...I think that's it. I have a really great idea for my carved pumpkin pattern this year. I'll post in when its ready.

Happy Fall!

Florida Here I Come...

I'm headed to Ft. Lauderdale tomorrow afternoon and I can hardly wait. Mom was supposed to come here last month, but she wasn't feeling well enough to travel alone. I'm excited for a little sunshine, R&R, and time with the fam. I'm bringing presents along this time in order to keep my favorite sister/favorite daughter status. Wait...I'm the only girl! :)
Here's what I'd like to do:

• Go to The Grill for the world's best clam chowder
• Meet David's new puppy, Delilah
• Go for a walk on the beach with my dad
• Paint my mom's toenails (it's a thing)
• Rent movies with Joe
• Get a T-A-N!

P.S. I had a HORRIBLE dream last night. I dreamt that DJ and I had a small child and that Tucker bit her finger off! I'm so worried that when we have kids that Tucker is not going to deal. What will I do? I don't think I could stand to give him up. Let's hope it's not an issue.

TV

I am counting the minutes until tonight's season premiere of Grey's Anatomy. This is one show that I have to admit I'm truly addicted to (with One Tree Hill coming in at a close second). Maybe it's because I'm not at home during the day to watch soap operas that I love this show so much. I think I love this show for the same reason I loved "Who's The Boss" when I was little. Derek and Meredith are bound to end up together just like Tony and Angela were. Of course, if Derek and Meredith do become a permanent couple, it will probably be the end of Grey's Anatomy - I'm not sure I could handle that.

Lindsay's First Horse Show with Dan

Dawn just sent me pictures of Lindsay's first horse show with Dan. We went to this show back in July. It POURED that day - you'll notice our sopping wet hair and clothes in a lot of the pictures. This was an awesome experience for me as Lindsay's "coach". She did a wonderful job and Dan was awesome. I love him so much...don't know if I could ever really sell him.

Happy Anniversary, Kara & Paul!

Tomorrow is my good friends Kara and Paul's 4th wedding anniversary. I cannot believe that it has been four years already! Now they have Ava and she is the cutest little thing ever!! Love you guys! Happy anniversary.

Happy Birthday, Josh!

Happy birthday big brother! Yesterday, my 2nd oldest brother Josh turned 36... wow! I can hardly believe how old we are all getting. It seems like yetserday that we were playing laser tag in our house on Osborne Road. Josh - hope you're able to do something really fun for your birthday. We think about you every day and are hoping that you are safe and well. Happy Birthday! We love you!

TGIF

It is Friday! I am so happy. The past two weeks at work have been crazy! That's a good thing though. :)
We have a fun weekend planned....Tonight we're headed to Hacienda for my Uncle Billy's 39th birthday. The whole Cole clan will be there so it should be a fun time. Can't wait to see Carlee, Kendall and Little Trace (Marnie and Billy too)!
Tomorrow we are headed out for some tailgating. DJ is going to the game with Adam. Here's a pic of Adam dressing up with his roommates last season. Go Irish!

Going crazy...

Work has been absolutely insane this week. I think there must be a full moon or something. It has been one crisis after another. I feel like I'm struggling to keep my head above water. On top of all this, I need to start preparing my presentation for a nurses group in Albany, as well as my materials for a visit to my clients in NYC. Luckily, Jen (my boss) has been incredibly supportive and level-headed. Her calm nature has been great for all of us. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday! I'll be ready for happy hour for sure.

This is a great place to vent! I feel better already. :)

On a more positive note, I went to ride a new horse last night. His name is Mister. He's a 10 year-0ld quarter horse. He has a great foundation and would be a good horse for me, but I'm not ready to commit yet. When I bought Dan, I knew right away that he was for me. He is so big and beautiful and I felt comfortable with him right away. With Mister, that wasn't the case. I haven't ruled him out, but I'm excited to start looking for a barrel horse!