No News is No News

I am still pregnant (40 weeks and 3 days).  We had a very quiet Christmas at home.  Too quiet!  We are still anxiously awaiting out little one and trying to be as patient as possible.  Some of our relatives have said since there is German heritage on both sides of our family this baby is going to be stubborn and take his/her time to arrive.  We could have a New Years' baby.

I am glad my mom is coming tomorrow to keep me busy and my mind preoccupied.  Maybe I will schedule pedicures for us.  I have heard that there are pressure points in your ankles and if I get them massaged labor may start.  I am going to avoid the castor oil.  I don't need to get sick from that on top of going into labor.  Ugh!  We've tried other things but this baby is just on a different schedule so we will just wait.

We have an ultrasound Tuesday to measure the baby's growth.  If the baby has my big head, maybe the doctor will decide to get things started.  I would like to avoid a C-Section so we keep praying for labor to start naturally.  That's really the best way for things to go.

Time to make a list of things to do this week.

Today - Grocery shopping & long walk

Monday - Pedicure with Mom & long walk

Tuesday - Dr. Appointments & hopefully some news

Wednesday - ?

Thursday - ?

Friday - ?

Maternity Leave Officially Started Today

My maternity leave from work officially started today and guess what?...I AM BORED.  I worked so hard to get all my Christmas stuff done anticipating the baby would be here this week.  I guess that can still happen but we'll have to wait and see.  My husband insists on driving me everywhere I need to go so that really limits me...not that I would like to be at any stores these next few days.

I will have to find some things to do that I wouldn't normal give much thought too...like cleaning up the basement, preparing the recycling for tomorrow's pickup, laundry (on a Wednesday, huh?), washing the floors (not on my hands & knees), assembling the baby swing, start writing in the baby's book, organizing my cupboards (again), baking cookies (& give them away because we don't need all that sugar in our house) and taking long walks outside.  Maybe if I do these things, labor will start and our baby will be here by Christmas.

Speaking of the baby's arrival, we went to the doctor this morning and I am only dilated to 1 cm.  I was hoping for 2 or 3 but 1 is better than 0.  We have an ultrasound schedule for Tuesday to check the baby's growth and make sure there is enough fluid in my uterus.  Then I have a non-stress test (for the baby) and a visit with the doctor to discuss the results of everything.  If I don't go into labor on my own before the new year, they will induce me sometime during the first week of January.

It's weird for us to think that Christmas is 2 days away.  Every year for the past 10 years we have been back in Wisconsin to celebrate with our families.  This year has been so different.  I excited to start some of our own traditions even if this baby is not born yet.  This could be our last Christmas as a family of two.  What a special time!

I hope everyone who reads my blog has a safe and merry Christmas however you end up spending this joyous holiday.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

God bless!

We're in the home stretch!

Yesterday I started my  39th week of pregnancy.  I can't believe we've come this far already.  That last 2 months have just flown by.  We are soooooo ready for this baby it's unbelievable.  The last few weeks we really started to get anxious about meeting out little one.  The suspense of a boy or girl is just killing us now.  We are believing that labor will start Monday so we will have time to get home to have Christmas with our family.

The next picture you will see is of our little one.  I can't wait.

Here's a list of things I can't wait to do after giving birth:

1. Sleep on my right side without pain.
2. Lay on my stomach.
3. Put my socks and shoes on without struggling to reach my feet.
4. No more swollen ankles or feet (or hobbit feet as I call them).
5. Driving without being uncomfortable.
6. No more itchy belly.
7. No more jabs to my bladder.
8. The constant feeling I have to go to the bathroom (getting more intense the last few days).
9. Carrying things on my hip - like a laundry basket. (I currently don't have one)
10. Working out.

Most of all I can't wait to hold our little one and share the joy of officially becoming parents with my loving husband.  Let the journey begin.

Maternity Pictures

I had some beautiful maternity pictures taken and thought I would share.  It was more fun than I expected and the outcome was even greater than I could have imagined.  My friend did a great job on these shots and we'll have these pictures forever to remember my first pregnancy.

I do wonder what our family will think 75-100 years from now when they see these pictures. "Why did women take pictures of their pregnant bellies like this?"


Click here to view these pictures larger

Well Our Bags Are Packed & We're Ready to Go!

It's amazing how fast these last few months have gone.  I started my 37 week of pregnancy yesterday.  What a month we have had!  November involved 2 baby showers, 3 childbirth classes, infant and child CPR class, lots of work done in the baby's room, holiday parties, Thanksgiving with the Davis family, Packer game a Ford Field and shopping for those last items we need for our little one.  Oh, did I mention all the doctor's appointments.

We had an amazing ultrasound last month and can't believe the picture the technician was about to capture and print for us.  It's been a treat to discuss with each other and our family members and friends just who they think the baby looks like.  So for those of you that haven't seen the picture yet, here it is.

This month we are finishing up the baby room, getting maternity photos taken, installing the car seat, taking care of those things we want to have done before the baby arrives (like haircuts, dog grooming, filing, etc) and having our bags packed.  I did manage to get some Christmas decorations up so that if the baby is born before Christmas we can celebrate his/her first Christmas together in our home with all the decorations.

I am also trying to get some Christmas shopping done but it's becoming difficult because the last thing I want to do it go to a mall.  I am usually so on top of Christmas and this year I just don't know what to get people.  This year is so different. We usually buy our gifts online and ship them back home to WI.  We've done this for the last 8+ years. It's weird not going through those same motions and not preparing for a trip back home to spend with our families.  Although I have to say that that is the last thing I want to do right now.  I can't imagine traveling in winter being 8 or 9 months pregnant.  So Christmas will be what it will be.  We're so focused on the arrival of our little one that I know everyone will understand.  Maybe they will get their gifts in January.

So here is a picture of me starting my 37th week.  I have scheduled my weekly appointments up until my due date so we'll see how things progress and I'll be sure to let everyone know as soon as we know.  Thanks to everyone for their love and support during my pregnancy.  We couldn't have done it without out.  Most of all, I want to thank my husband for his love and support.  I know it was hard on him because I was not my normal self at times and he just didn't know how to respond to me.  He's a great husband and it going to be an amazing dad.  Our child is already blessed with a great father and wonderful family around him/her.

My How Time Flies

Where do I start?  First, this is a picture of my baby bump at 29 weeks.  (This Friday I start 31 weeks - next picture will be at 32 weeks).

My mom and her husband were here for a visit the end of September and helped us out alot.  My mom painted the baby's room and her husband took care of several little things around the house that needed some TLC.  The best part of their visit was seeing them of course but they also surprised us with a wonderful gift - a handmade cradle with original designs on it.  

 

My mom's husband made the cradle and they had the designs added by an artist friend of theirs that doesn't normally do this kind of thing.  His designs are all original.  It's amazing work.  Each side of the cradle has a design of a dragon on it.  That is said to protect the baby.  This is definitely an amazing piece that we will cherish and hand down as a family heirloom.

We took a tour of the hospital this past Sunday and it was very informative.  It was nice to know what to expect when we get there and not have to worry about the 'unknown'.  There were 6 or 7 other couples in our tour group.  Lots of babies being born soon.  We start our CPR and birthing classes next week.

I put the crib together last week also.  It was challenging at times but I made it work.  My belly sometimes gets in the way of how I would normally do things.  It was nice to get that piece put together.  The room look so small now with the big crib in there.  Manufacturers are definitely making pieces bigger today than they did in the 40s, 50s, or 60s.  I believe our house was built in the 40s and the rooms are small by today's standards.

We just have a few more things to get done around the house before the baby comes and I'll be a happy mommy.  November is a busy month for us but we always make it work.  It will be so nice to see family at Thanksgiving.  

Well, I am off to work now.  Where I have to put in extra work to put together work instructions for my backup while I am on maternity leave.  There will also be some training time in there and of course I am in charge of planning the annual holiday party and sending out cards/gifts.

Lots to do. 

Baby Bump Picture - 26 weeks

Wow! I can't believe I just started my 26th week of pregnancy.  It's going by fast but in the last 2 weeks I have REALLY started to feel pregnant.  I can't do some things the same way and have to find new ways to do them (i.e. bending over, getting up off the couch, out of the car, etc).  After the shower in WI,  I really started to pop out and that's probably why I was so tired the last few weeks.  So here's the latest baby bump picture taken yesterday.

I am nervous this is going to be a big baby.  Adam and I were both just over 9 lbs.  I have an appointment on Wednesday so we'll see how I am measuring.  So far I have been right on target.  After next week, I officially be entering my third trimester.

Baby growth this week:

He/she now weighs a full two pounds and measures nine-plus inches. And this week, his/her eyes, which until now were developing under fused eyelids, start to open. Of course, there's not much to see in there, but if our baby spots a bright light (or hears a loud noise) near my belly, we may notice an increase in fetal activity. 

A Baby Shower on "Labor Day"

We're home and I finally feel recovered from the weekend.  Originally, Adam wasn't planning on making the trip with me because of his knee but about a week before we left for WI, he decided he wanted to come too.  Before that I was so sad he wasn't going to make it but once he told me he wanted to come along, I was so excited and became more and more excited as the day to leave for WI approached.  It was a long drive but worth it.  I couldn't have imagined spending that day without him.  


Here's some pictures from the day.

This was in the front of the house. The letters on the lanterns spell "Baby D".

It was a bbq themed baby shower.  Adam's mom thought of every detail.  There were bottles of KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce for party favors for our guests with a note that said "Thank you for celebrating the anticipation of Adam and Becky's Masterpiece".

There was a photo frame to sign and a receiving blanket to write message to us and our baby.

This was the tree of parental knowledge and wisdom. Our guests wrote tips and advice for us on cards shaped like diapers, rattles, and baby bottles. (Sorry I couldn't rotate it).

They dressed us up as chefs.  My apron said "Masterpiece in the making" and Adam's apron said "I put the bun in the oven".  Our hats said "Mom-to-Be" and "Dad-to-Be".

We played the dirty diaper game.  You had to guess the candy that was melted into the inside of the diaper.  I was surprised at the number of people that couldn't handle that game.  The winners of the game are pictured here sitting with blindfolds on.  Their prize was to be contestants in the next game.  Their partners are behind them.  They had to pick someone that they were not related to and whom they didn't know very well.  Adam's cousin on the far right picked my grandma.  Other blindfolded contestants were my favorite Uncle Wayne (2nd from right), my cousin and godmother, Claudine (2nd from left) and my cousin Jen (far left).

Partners had to feed them samples of baby food and they had to guess what flavor it was.  It was hilarious and everyone was a good sport during the game.  My cousin Jen and her partner Batch, Adam's uncle, pictured on the end here, were the winners.  My grandma fed Evan on the far right and she had a blast.

We had two cakes since we are not finding out the baby's gender.  These cakes were so good.  Thanks Mom and Dad.

Next were presents, my sister-in-law made this diaper cake out of disposable diapers and a bottle in the center.  She's so talented.  Thanks Jen.  

We were so blessed with all the very thoughtful gifts we received to help us prepare for our baby.  Thanks to everyone for the gifts and for coming to the party to celebrate with us.  We were so overwhelmed, in a good way, that day and felt very, very loved.  We have no doubt our baby will feel the same love from our families.  We are very blessed to have two wonderful families that are always there to love and support us.  A special thanks to our parents for hosting this wonderful party. It was more than we could have every expected.

  We love you all.

Some pictures of some family members.

My brother Jon and niece Chloe.

My sister-in-law Jen and niece (aka "mini me") Hailey.

My mom Marilyn and niece Hailey.

My dad Mark signing the baby's photo frame.

My Great Uncle John.

Mom-to-Be Day in WI

Last Saturday, my wonderful mother-in-law planned a Mom-to-Be Day for me and all the women in my family.  We spent hours at a spa in Milwaukee. I got a prenatal massage that was to die for.  I felt so good after that massage. I could use one a week.  There were presents, lunch and of course dessert...cheesecake from Simma's bakery. (That place is amazing.)

Check out this wonderfully decorated table and yummy food.

The cheesecake from Simma's.  It was so good.  It had raspberry filling too.  Notice the design on the cake match the napkins.  Adam's mom also had cookies make with that design.  She really went all out.  I felt so special and loved this entire weekend.  This day was just the start.

Everyone had crowns and necklaces to wear for the party.  They were all labeled with "Grandma to Be", "Aunt to Be" etc.  That's my mom behind me and my grandma next to me (see is 83 and thought we were all crazy but loved being there).

The only thing missing was Adam's grandma who came down with vertigo that morning and was hospitalized.  We missed her so much so we took the party to her hospital room later that evening.

This was such an amazing day.  I am very blessed to have such great women in my life.  Thanks again for making my day so special and spoiling me rotten.  I am still unpacking my gifts.  I love you all.

Our baby - Week 22 (Check out my bump!)

This week, our baby weighs in at a whopping pound and measures nearly eight inches, about the size of a small doll. He/she can now perceive light and dark. He/she can also hear our voices, my heartbeat, my gurgling stomach, and the whoosh-whoosh of blood circulating through my body.

This week, my husband felt the baby moving. We were lying in bed reading and before I knew it, I was feeling very strong kicks or punches. My husband immediately assumed it was gas but I assured him it was not gas at all. His face lit up with happiness and pride. We can't wait to meet our little one in December. Some days it is scary and overwhelming but at the end of the day we wouldn't change a thing and anxiously anticipate our baby's arrival.

Here's the latest baby bump picture taken this morning.


In 2 weeks, I head to Wisconsin for our baby shower thrown by our parents. I am looking forward to the weekend home but will miss Adam terribly. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures of him and for my post after I return. We already got our first baby gift in the mail this week and I am sure the baby's room will fill up fast.

2 Minutes & 8 Seconds of Fame

It's been about a week and a half since my husband's knee surgery. He is doing great and getting anxious to get past the next 4 1/2 weeks. His doctor was very happy with how the operation went. I was relieved the minute I saw the doctor's face. He had a completely different expression on his face after this surgery than he did after the first surgery.

I've posted some images of his surgery and knee after surgery. Do not click on this link if you think you may not be able to handle the interior images of my husband's knee. They aren't for everyone.

http://picasaweb.google.com/radavis78/AdamSKnee?feat=directlink

I am amazed that this donated cartilage and mixture of adhesive and probably some other stuff. The hole where the cartilage was missing was the size of a quarter wide and 1/2 and inch deep. Who knows if this would have been catch before my husband was in major pain if he hadn't been running a year ago and kicked his leg out which popped the cartilage loose. We are thankful things are working out for the best and he'll be back on his feet in time for the arrival of our first little one.

Since this procedure is fairly new and my husband's was the 2nd surgery performed in Michigan, he was interviewed by the local news. Click on the link to view the news clip.

http://www.wxyz.com/mediacenter/local.aspx

Scroll down to the Health Edge section.
Click on the "New Option for Knee Surgery" story.

Obviously I am bias but I think he did a great job on the interview after everything he was going through right after his surgery.

It's been a challenge to get into a new routine at home. We get up at 5 or 5:30 and start the day. If you have never been on crutches before, you may not understand how difficult it is to do things for yourself. Most of the difficulty comes from not being about to carry anything. I started going to work earlier since I am up and because I can get home earlier to help my husband after he's been home all day by himself. Not only is he focusing all his energy into work to take his mind off his knee, he also busy spending time on the range of motion machine we have at the house. It's not the most comfortable thing to lift off the ground but we are managing between the two of us. As of last night he was already at 83 degrees of range of motion. He's doing so great. It's not the easiest thing in the world to rely on others for simple things and be patient with recover from something like this. I am so proud of him.

Work-Life Balance: A True Test.

I experienced a true test of work-life balance today. I went to work with every intention of coming home at 1:00 pm to continue to take care of my husband. My husband is recuperating from reconstructive knee surgery. His surgery was on Tuesday and he is unable to put any weight on his leg for 6 weeks. 6 WEEKS!!!!

If anyone has gone through this type of recuperation, you can sympathize with his situation. I had two knee surgeries in high school and I don't know what I would have done without my family there to support me and (let's face it) wait on me hand and foot.

So today I went into work and wouldn't you know it, I was unable to leave the office until 4:30 pm. How did this happen? Is it lack of organization? Did I let co-workers convince me I could stay? Did I feel obligated to stay because its my job?

It's probably a multitude of things. I came up with an idea for a direct mail piece that was a Plan B to our failed Plan A. We had not time and so much money and other things were riding on this event. It's sometime hard to shine in the environment I work it unless I do something to stand out on my own. So I had to see this project through from start to finish because it was my idea and I believe it will work better than the projects we have done in the past. It was so hard to stay at work to finish out the project knowing that my husband was home trying to manage every day things we take for granted until we don't have them. When you are on crutches and pain medication, it's difficult to get around. There we multiple deliveries to the house today and I know he was frustrated I wasn't here to help him. Don't get me wrong here...my husband is very supportive on my job/career.

Today really made me think about how things will have to change when the baby comes in December. Work-life balance is very important and is something most people struggle with every day. I know things will definitely change when our baby arrives and changes more than just our home life.

How do you keep a good work-life balance?

My Pregnancy - Week 20 (HALF WAY THERE!)

Our baby is now the length of a banana. Can you believe it? He/she is now 6 ½ inches long and weighs almost 10 1/2 ounces!

Our baby can also hear sounds. At 20 weeks, he/she can cover his/her ears with his/her hands if the sounds are too loud and he/she may even "jump" inside my womb if any sounds startle him/her.

He/she is also moving around a lot. Many times, these first movements are described as a flutter, or may feel like bubbles or gas. It is said that I may be becoming aware of his/her sleep cycles.

(Source: Planning Family.com)

I can't believe I am half way through my pregnancy. It's been amazing so far. I have been able to feel the baby move but sadly Adam hasn't felt the baby yet. We'll have lots of time for that. We've been doing fun things together before Adam has his surgery on the 11th. It's been alot of fun and I can't wait to get back to doing those fun things after his recovery is complete.

I'll post the next month's baby bump picture next week. Stay tuned. I'm looking forward to heading back to Wisconsin for a family baby shower (minus Adam though - :( ). It's too much stress for both of us to travel while he is recovering. He can't put weight on his leg for 6 weeks after surgery. Maybe we'll set up a web cam so he can see & hear what is happening during the party. I'll have to consult my father-in-law on that one. He's the gadget king and I know he will be able to rig something up for us.

We are very blessed to have great families that are hosting this baby shower for us. Adam's parents are having the shower at their house and my dad was able to arrange to drive me back to Michigan after the party with all our baby goodies. My mom is also heading up here about a month after the shower to visit and help us out with whatever we need. We are so thankful to have great parents (soon-to-be grandparents) in our lives.

My advice to everyone that has great parents, siblings, friends or other people in their lives that sacrifice and do wonderful things for them is to be sure to thank them and tell them how much they mean to you regularly. Sometimes we forget to show our appreciation to those great people in our lives and I think it is so important to do that.

So to all those people in our lives that have been there for us, helped us and just been gracious to us...we thank you from the bottom of our hearts and feel blessed to have you in our lives.

18 weeks and 5 days - Ultrasound Day!

Here is the long awaited photo of Baby Davis taken today during our ultrasound. On the left if the baby's chest and on the right is his/her head. See his/her ear? Both hands are up around his/her face. See his/her nose and lips? We were so excited to learn that everything is normal and our baby weighs 8 ounces (1/2 a lb.).

We made sure not to find out the sex of the baby during our ultrasound and doctor's appointment. I do have to admit that I was very curious though. The doctor showed me all the results of the ultrasound and covered the baby's sex on the second page of the report with his finger. It was killing me to know but I realize later that I would have been disappointed later. Then at the end of the appointment the doctor gave me my chart to take to the appointment desk to schedule my next appointment and said, "now don't look at page 2". That was torture. It was like that episode of Friends when Ross and Rachel have the opportunity to find out the sex of their baby because her chart was sitting in the exam room with them. We stayed strong and didn't look but I am jealous the ultrasound technician, the doctor and anyone that sees our chart knows what we are having and we don't. This just adds to the excitement and anticipation of the big day.

Our Baby this Week

Week 18

My uterus is now about the size of a cantaloupe and our baby's getting ready to bust a move. At five and a half inches long and five ounces in weight, he/she now may be large enough for you to feel him twisting, rolling, kicking, and punching his/her way around the womb. Plus, he/she's developing yawning and hiccupping skills (you may feel those soon, too!) and his/her very own unique set of toe and fingerprints.

Source: whattoexpect.com

Last night, I thought I may have felt the baby move but I am not sure that was it. It didn't happen for very long so I am unsure. Maybe some of you women out there that have been pregnant before can let me know. If I felt movement would I know for sure that is was the baby?

We have an ultrasound on Wednesday next week so watch for ultrasound pictures up soon.

I haven't had too many cravings but strawberry milk has been a favorite but I liked that stuff as a kid too. There is something about it that give me comfort. Lately I have been on a nectarine kick. They are so good and I eat one or two a day. My back has been a little sore (to be expected) but nothing my heat pack can't help cure at night before I go to sleep. The new bed also helps...ALOT. It's wonderful to get into bed without feeling like we are lying on plywood. This bed is heaven and I have to thank Adam for braving the furniture store on a Saturday to purchase the bed. Next, he may have to brave going to Target with me to fill out a baby registry. I have been working on an online registry for Babies R Us too. Some nights it's quite overwhelming to sit at a computer again after 8 hours of work and fill that registry. I do a little bit at a time and that seems to help.

I can't believe it's already near the beginning of August. This month has gone really fast. It's been two weeks since Adam's first knee surgery where they removed the floating cartilage pieces. We're going back to Adam's doctor today to see how he's healing and schedule his next knee surgery. This surgery involves a much longer healing process. He won't be able to put weight on his leg for 6 weeks. I am confident in his doctor and I know that God will be watching over him and Adam and this surgery will be a huge success. Adam will be ready to go come December. He's going to be an awesome dad.

Baby Bump Picture - 17 weeks

Here you go. Here is the bump. It seems like I have popped out in the last week or so. We have an ultrasound schedule for July 29. We are so excited. I'll post the ultrasound images after that appointment. I am off to a wedding today. I tried on a dress I thought I could still wear but unfortunately it didn't fit. Off to the maternity store I go today for a dress. Hope there are some good sales.

Our baby - Week 17

Our baby is now the size of a turnip! He/she is 5 inches long and weighs 5 ounces now.

Though no new structures have formed this week, he/she has developed fat deposits under his/her skin that will account for about 2-6% of his/her total body weight at his/her time of birth, just 23 weeks from now!

His/her skeleton, which up until this point has been made up of flexible cartilage, is now hardening into bone. Another exciting event…his/her sense of hearing begins to develop this week!

Source: planningfamily.com

Note: I tried to take some pictures of my baby bump this morning by myself but it didn't work out. I will have Adam take some tonight and post them tomorrow. We've been busy dealing with Adam's knee surgery and soon-to-happen 2nd surgery. Lots to take care of before our baby arrives.

I've Fallen in a Trench and Can't Get Out!

I have a funny story to share with you about my little dog, Hercules. As some of you know, Adam has been working very hard to get our house and property up to snuff and ready for the arrival of our baby in December. He has been working on digging a trench 8 inch wide by 2 feet deep from the back yard to the front yard. He is about 1/3 of the way done. He always covers up the trench with plastic or boards for safety.

Here's a picture of the trench when he started so you can get an idea of the size.

He worked on the trench some more last night and we got a bit of rain around 9pm. We let Hercules, our all white Maltese dog, out at 10:30pm before bed. While he was out we were talking in the kitchen and all of a sudden heard him barking. I mentioned to Adam that his bark didn't sound like his normal bark. Adam responded with, "he probably fell in my trench". We threw on the outside lights and all I could see was Hercules' little white head sticking out of the trench. He looked so helpless. We ran outside to rescue him. I thought about leaving him in there for a moment so I could get his picture but Adam was worried he might have been hurt. He wasn't hurt but filthy dirty.

Hercules after his trench fall.

He came running across the yard to me. Adam carried him inside so I could clean him up. It took a good hour to get him back to his shiny, white color. He slept like a baby after that ordeal. I was still laughing about the whole thing this morning.

Our Baby this Week

Week 14 - Now

It's all about hair now as our baby sprouts some on his/her head, eyebrows, and body. Our baby is about the size of a clenched fist and sporting a downy coating of hair (lanugo) that keeps him/her nice and warm. Baby fat will accumulate over the next few months, keeping our baby warm and toasty — and allowing most of that hair to shed.

Week 15 - Coming up!

Our baby is kicking those little legs and flexing those elbows.  He/she will be about the size of an orange this week, his/her ears have migrated to the sides of his/her head, and his/her eyes are moving to the front of his/her face. Our little smarty-pants can now wiggle his/her fingers and toes and make breathing movements in preparation for life outside the womb.

Source: whattoexpect.com

Took the Big Step Today!

I am 14 weeks along today and I had a monthly checkup this morning. I got to hear the baby's heart beat with the Doppler. It's amazing how the baby's heart and the baby for that matter can be found with the use of technology when it is only 3 inches long. Adam didn't go with me this morning because we figured it was just a routine checkup but little did we know that we would be able to hear our little one's heart beat today. I feel so bad that Adam missed it. He was not happy about missing it at all. It was great to hear and reassures me that I AM pregnant and not just getting a fat belly and growing out of my normal pants.

See belly below.

(I took this picture myself...not bad, right? I think most of the bump is fabric!)

Speaking of pants, I gave in this morning and finally threw on a pair of maternity jeans. My belly is much more comfortable but it's weird to be in maternity pants already. I thought it would be a few more weeks until I was ready for that.

Here's a picture of me on my first day in maternity pants.

I am hitting the maternity stores tomorrow for some more clothes. There is a great resale shop called "Slightly Pregnant" that I plan on stopping at first. I am fortunate to have a great sister-in-law who loaned me some clothes. Those are her jeans. (Thanks Jen!)

Next doctor's appointment is Wednesday, July 29th, when we get to have an ultrasound. I will be almost 19 weeks by then (almost half-way there - WOW!). But remember, we are not finding out the sex of the baby so you all will have to continue placing your bets.

(All proceeds from your betting go to the baby, right?)

1st Baby Bump Picture - 3 months today!

Here is the first baby bump picture. Not much of a bump yet but believe me it's there. I'm feeling great and Adam and I get more excited to meet our little one every day.

Adam is really amazing. He's doing lots of house projects to get our house in the best shape for the baby. He's a awesome husband and no doubt will be an amazing dad.

I ordered my crib bedding yesterday and can't wait to get the baby room painted.

Information about the baby at 12 weeks.

While it may seem as if I've doubled in size over the past few weeks, it's the baby who actually has! By now, our baby weighs a full half-ounce and is about the size of a large plum. Most of his or her systems are in place, though there's still plenty of maturing to do. For one thing, his or her fetal digestive system is beginning to practice contraction movements so he or she can eat someday, and his or her bone marrow is busy making white blood cells — weapons against germs once he or she's out of my safe haven. The pituitary gland (at the base of the brain) has started producing the hormones that'll enable him or her to make babies of his or her own in a couple of decades or so.

WOW!

Spread it out!

Since I have been experiencing some fatigue during the first trimester of my pregnancy, I decided to spread out my household chores instead of doing the majority of them on the weekend. It has really seemed to help. I don't feel overwhelmed and doing one chore a night is not impossible even if I am feeling tired and worn out.

Here is my schedule:

Sunday - Dust, sweep and mop floors (hand scrub every other week)
Monday - Yard work
Tuesday - Grocery shopping (less people in stores on off days)
Wednesday - Give the dog a bath and clean the tub after
Thursday - Clean the rest of the bathroom
Friday - Laundry
Saturday - Finish laundry, file paperwork

I have found I have more time for other things on the weekend and if I am tired, I don't feel guilty resting.

How do you stay on top of your household chores? Share your tips in the comments.
Happy cleaning!!!!

Great News! (sorry for the delayed post)

First let me apologize for not posting since the end of April. We've been very consumed with our life the last month and most, if not all, of you know what I am talking about. Adam and I are going to be parents. As of tomorrow I am starting my 11the week of pregnancy. It seems like just yesterday I was taking the home pregnancy test.

We are so excited about this new adventure. I think the whole family is...on both sides. This is the first grandbaby on the Davis side and the 8th on the Radloff side. The Radloff side is probably hoping for a boy to help even out the girl:boy ratio of 6:1.

For the most part, I am feeling great and am very fortunate to not be experiencing any morning sickness. I sometimes feel nauseous from smells or an empty stomach but that's as far as that goes. Last month I was very tired but the end of May and now I am feeling great and only experience a bit of fatigue occasionally.

I'd have to say that the highlight so far of this pregnancy is the joy we have both experienced sharing the exciting news with our families. The Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, we had our first doctor's appointment and had our first ultrasound. It was amazing. I always worry about how Adam is feeling or going to react that I sometimes forget to prepare myself. This was one of those times for sure. The minute we both heard our baby's heartbeat and saw it on the screen, I think we both stopped breathing for a moment. I remember thinking this was "amazing" and "wow, I really am pregnant" and "I really hope Adam doesn't faint". I looked over at Adam and his expression was priceless. His eyes were bugged out and his jaw was on the floor. Adam was sent to the waiting room while I got dressed and when I got out there, he was sitting there staring at the ultrasound pictures. He looked up at me, smiled and said, "let's drive home tomorrow and tell our families". So that's exactly what we did. We left our house at 5am the next day.

We coordinated to have lunch with Adam's parents to share our news with them first.  Adam was so anxious about this and worried it would not work out.  In the end it did.  We broke the news by giving them late Mother's day and birthday gifts.  What they opened were matching "World's Coolest Grandma/Grandpa" t-shirts.  Bob's (Adam's dad) reaction was "What's this all about?" and Nadine (Adam's mom) just cried out of happiness for about 10 minutes.  She was already emotional because we were home for the weekend.  This certainly put her over the edge.  They enjoyed calling each other Grandma and Grandpa the rest of the day.  

The next day we decided to tell the rest of Adam's family but let Bob and Nadine break the news with their shirts.  They both put them on and came out of the bathroom.  No one noticed for about 15 minutes despite their efforts to show off their matching shirts with large, primary colored lettering.  I finally grabbed Adam's aunt by the shoulders and told her to look at her sisters shirt.  The kitchen erupted with happiness.  Adam's grandparents were also very surprised and excited.  Adam's grandpa said we aged him 10 years but they were both overwhelmed with joy.

On Sunday we stopped by my grandma's house and told her and my dad.  I was waiting for a good moment to tell them but the right opportunity was not surfacing.  So while we were having a conversation about all the construction going on, I told them they might have to find an alternate route to our house this Christmas because I am 9 weeks pregnant and due on Christmas Day.  They both stopped dead in their tracks and looked at us with shock and happiness.

On our way home (back to Detroit), we stopped in Chicago to see Kendal (Adam's sister).  We had a present for her too.  It was a "Number 1 Aunt" t-shirt.  Her reaction was priceless.  First she looked at the shirt and couldn't understand why we gave her a shirt like that.  Then it clicked and she screamed so loud I think she probably woke up her neighbors in her apartment building.

Overall, it was a great weekend and I am thrilled with how everything played out and the memories we will have of this great moment.

I'll be posting more about my pregnancy and other stories related.  Once I am 12 weeks along I will begin posting belly bump pictures for everyone to see.

I am 11 weeks and 3 days pregnant today!  Watch for pictures soon.

Rush, Rush, Rush!

Adam and I are getting ready to spend the extended weekend with part of my family. We are headed to Illinois tonight. We'll be staying with my brothers family and my mom and her husband will be meeting us there tomorrow.

In preparation for this trip, these questions that arose in my head today:

1. Why do we spend so much time and energy getting ready for a mini-vacation?
2. Do we really truly relax once we get to our destination or are responsibilities still on our minds while we are attempting to relax?
3. How do we just leave it all behind and not worry?

I have been extremely busy at work preparing for 2 events that are happening simultaneously over the next few days. I feel that I have been working twice as hard to make these events spectacular and also working on tying things up so there is no reason for anyone to bother me while I am off for 2 days. I need to reduce my stress level after the last few weeks and recharge.

I found this on the Internet and know I felt this way a few times over the last few weeks.

So, I am leaving my work computer at the office so that I am not tempted to check email or have any chance to think about or do any work. This also means that fellow employees can not call me and request that I do any work because I simply can't. We as a society have become so reliant on the quick response technology in place in our professional and personal lives. There is nothing I hate more than someone emailing me, then walking to my office immediately after they have hit the send button to ask me if I received their email. What is the point of that? Do they really expect me to immediately respond to their email? Is there email that important? Do they really have no respect for the work I am currently focusing on? We've become a conditioned society where immediacy is key to our everyday functionality. Take for instance the new social networking application called Twitter. What is the point of this? Why are we so enamored with what other people are doing and thinking all day long? I just read an article today that stated that 60% of the people that try Twitter quit after one month of using the service. Can you say "Fad"?

Well, I envy my husband and am working towards his example he set last August. He went to Costa Rica for a week to help friends move with just a backpack of clothes, his passport, driver's license, 1 credit card, cash, a notebook, a camera, and a few toiletry items. THAT'S IT!!! NO COMPUTER, NO CELL PHONE. I remember asking him, "don't you think you should take this and don't you think you should take that?" He just said "Nope!". He came back completely rested and recharged. (And very sun burnt!)

So, I am taking "baby steps" towards not taking what I think are "necessities" with me on this trip, just the bare essentials. It's good to unplug from the things that keep us so easily connected to the world...especially when we are on "our" time. Vacation days should be reserved for just that...NO work interruptions at all!

So, after writing this post, I have officially decided that I will be leaving my work cell phone at home too. It's a start, right?

Technology for Grandmas!

My husband and I were recently home for Easter. A few posts ago, I shared an NPR story about my hometown. Since my 83 year old grandmother ( I know, she doesn't look 83 at all) does not have a computer, I decided to download the NPR podcast and let her listen to it on my iPod. (Yes, the same hot pink iPod Adam got me for my birthday.)

The funniest part about this whole thing was that once she put the iPod on, she was walking around her kitchen and house multitaking like a true iPod user. It was quite entertaining. My grandmother has never stayed current with modern technologies. She was completely happy with using a typewriter and accounting ledger for our family business from age 25 to 80. I was very impressed with how open she was about using the iPod. I think she really enjoyed the convenience of it. The Apple iPod is truly designed for people of all ages.

On a side note: It was great to be able to come home to visit our families, especially around the holidays. I hope we can keep up the frequency or increase the frequency of our visits once we have children because our family is so important to us. While our visit was short, we try to soak up every moment we can with family. Here are a few images of my 3 year old twin cousins petting my dad's pet pony, Buddy.

Besides his grandkids, this pony is my dad's pride and joy. He rescued it. The renters on our property didn't want to care for the animal anymore and were planning to give it to someone who was supposedly going to feed it to the lions (alive). How cruel!

God bless my Dad for his warm, caring, loving heart.