38/39 weeks!

I suppose I should take a moment and document some of this awesomeness relating to this baby. First, of all, it has been incredibly easy. The only thing I can really complain about are the cankles... and swollen sausage hands...

This is what I look like apparently. I don't actually feel this huge. I feel like I still move around pretty well, and waddle very little. I might be wrong... the ladies at work love to make comments, but actually they're all pretty sweet.

Noel and I finally got carpet installed in the basement and have begun to move stuff down there. (He and Tony and Heather moved things, I just directed...) We have the office set up and the beginnings of a master bedroom. We'll be able to put it on the market, and hopefully sell by the winter. After the office was moved downstairs, we were able to set up the baby's room! We just set up the pack and play for now... (we might not mess with the crib yet, depending on selling the house.)

This is the artwork I plan to hang on the crib wall. It's John Lennon's Imagine. "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one." Once that is up, we just need the baby!



So, my ticker up top says 8 days! Crazy. I can't really wait to meet this little one. And after he/she is born, I get to start counting down to meeting his/her cousin!

25 weeks

These pictures were taken at 24 weeks while I was in Boston for work. That's my hotel room. It was a nice place to live for a week, but I'm glad to be home.

So I'm definitely feeling movement. Twice in Boston, I was able to feel it from the outside which was kind of exciting... it's getting a little stronger and more noticable now, which really makes me feel at ease. I have had it pretty easy, I definitely can't complain. I'm looking forward to finishing the basement this month and being able to start setting up the nursery. :) We're thinking the house will go on the market around May 1. Crazy? I think so.

Twenty. Two. Weeks.

I feel like I'm in denial. I never honestly expected this pregnancy to go so well. Or for so long. Is that doubt and fear or what? Anyway, as my belly expands my denial is forced to retreat. I am beginning to really get excited, but am now facing fears too, which I'm sure are somewhat normal. Are we actually ready for this? We're working on it. We've been stocking up on diapers... and buying little things on clearance when we go to the store. We bought a changing table and glider off of craigslist. We're slowly accumulating A LOT of things. Why do we think babies need so much stuff? Anyway. I feel like I'm rambling. I am.

We are 22 weeks. More than halfway! It's pretty exciting. I have taken 1 picture. At 20 weeks. (Sorry it's dark. I haven't really figured out how to light the living room without a thousand lights. The light just gets sucked away... that and the camera on my phone sucks).

In other news, I get to go to Boston for a week for work. Surgical Education Week. Sounds exciting eh? I'm looking forward to a week on my own, as a grown-up. I'm sure I'll miss Noel and my pups terribly, but I love my job and I am really looking forward to this opportunity.

*Note- Next year's conference is in Orlando: which is a much better location for a March conference.

Here comes Shutterfly, Here comes Shutterfly, right down Christmas card lane...

When we were first married, our dear friend Jess worked as a photographer for a portrait studio. We were hooked up, we got great deals (free) on our Christmas Cards. (Thanks Jess!) Two years ago we got some from Sears as a tradition, and I did not love them. Last year, I searched for coupons and found some great deals, but didn't really like any of my options on Wal-mart or snapfish. Let me tell you. This year, Shutterfly has a ton of options and really cute Christmas photo cards too!

They definitely have a monogram theme going this year, which I love but which do you choose when you have a hyphenated last name!? Do I use the S, or the M? Let's face it, I can't use both... I'm just not into that.

I have always felt the need to include 5 pictures, but rarely do we ever collect 5 good pictures of the both of us. This year, I could easily include 20 great pictures of my puppies... but maybe only Heather would like that. This classy, simple card would solve that problem.

I also thought the options were so... blah... in the past. Green, Red, Brown? and either religious not. This year there are classy snowflakes, pretty colors and lots of sentiments to choose from.

I love receiving Christmas Cards, I still have Gavin's, Asher's, my grandparent's and the Hahn's on my fridge from last year. And this year's cards are rolling in already! It makes me smile when I see their smiling faces! I love sending out cards too. And, thanks to Shutterfly, I'll be sending really cute ones this year. (I did not include my favorite in this post, it will have to be a surprise.)

Need some gift ideas?

I have a friend who created a photobook for his wife (and child) detailing her pregnancy and the first few months of the baby's life. He used their favorite pictures and added his sweet thoughts. It was a really beautiful keepsake.

I never know what to get my grandparents for Christmas. They are not easy to shop for, but they all drink coffee and they all use mugs. Why not get them photo mugs? I mean, be real, who wouldn't love a mug with my "mug" on it? After all, Grandma U. always tells me to sit still so she can look at me... a little creepy, I know... but she loves me. They can look at me all they want with "cate mugs". Genious.

Thanks Shutterfly,

You've played Santa to many during this recession and we are thankful!

(If you blog and noticed mine was recently updated, it was for this good reason. If you would like to be eligible for 50 free cards, complete this submission form .)

Progress.

When we bought our house, we both immediately knew the potential. It was dated, but mostly due to BAD wallpaper and lack of modernization. We've been steadily, er, not so steadily updating the basement. I prepped, primed and painted the master bathroom in the basement bedroom. As I began to remove the painters tape, I removed the paint as well. In. Sheets. Ugh. So I re-prepped, re-primed, and re-painted the bathroom. Then, fearing peeling paint again, I left it incomplete without painting the trim, or putting any fixtures back up. It's sadly neglected. Even though it should only take about 2 more hours of work to finish it COMPLETELY. We have painted the master bedroom and the open office area. The only thing remaining are the doors... man, doors are a pain. Only the family room still needs to be primed and painted, and the downstairs will be ready to shine.

Upstairs, we took the easy way out. We hired someone to remove all three, that's right, THREE layers of wallpaper on just about every wall. She charged way over her estimate, did a crappy job, had to come back and fix things-(& charged us for it) and left a terrible mess. I will not be recommending her. But it is nice to be done. Yesterday, Noel and I were productive and put up blinds in the kitchen. They look nice and clean, and for the 1st time in 4 months, our kitchen is off display to the world. Feels good to accomplish things around the house. Now, if house training this little puppy would be accomplished, I could just sing!

The problem with never blogging...

is that when you finally do, your entry is a long, rambling, often incoherent mess. (Oh, someday I want to be able to describe something as a hot-mess, but this is not that moment). I feel the need to document this crazy year.

Let's start with buying our first home! Such a great idea! I was so over renting that tiny apartment. The $8,000 tax credit wasn't to shabby either. We love this house. It needed some work, but we both immediately saw the potential and began to make it our own. We knew the basement was the first thing to change. I mean we could live with the 70's dark brown paneling, and brown shag carpet that crunched when you walked on it, but why not class it up a bit? We had a plan and we got to work. And then we got side tracked. And then fiercely back to work. And then a stand-still. And now back to work. Here's why:

Feb. - Found out we were pregnant! Woo! Crazy/exciting and scary too. I'm without a job: what will we do? "let's rent out the basement!" Great idea, lots of room and a private entrance. Got right to work. Total wetbar/apartment kitchen remodel- took lots of time with Noel's Dad and Brother helping but it looks great.

April 1- Miscarriage. Really hard couple of weeks. Don't need to rent the basement after all. Took a nice long break from home improvements.

May 16th- House burglarized. Stole Noel's video game systems. Busted in the back door. (what do you expect having an interior hollow core door?) Sense of security totally shaken.

May 17th- Debated Dog/Gun. Dog won. Researched Dogs. Met Rory (then called Alice- yep, like from Twilight). Liked her. Told breeder we'd be back for her.

May 19th- Brought Rory home. Have been frustrated smitten ever since.

May 20th- New Steel doors on the house! Now a tougher exterior and a guard dog...

May 24th- Job interview in Iowa City for a job I really want.

May 25th- Job offer from interview yesterday! Great Birthday present. . This will be the beginning of my career. Will I stay at this position? Who knows... will I stay at the University? Absolutely. Here is the kicker. It is a 3 hour commute every day from our lovely home. You see where this is heading? Yeah, not for long... we will be moving closer to Iowa City. Our home we just bought in November? Ugh... Back to work on the house. Will put it on the market next spring.