Photomontage of the month in review

Technically this was in January but here is one of the primary causes of stress this month, the three-season-porch leak from ice damming.



At the beginning of Feb. we got away to a cabin for respite, centering, and a plain old vacation. Here is S and G by the fire!



Here is a picture of the basement mid-search for the “problem”….i.e. pipe burst.



Shortly after the pipe burst our wonderful family members, K and B arrived with their 8 month old Newfoundland, Olive. She and G had their moments (we blame G) but are very good dogzins!



Finally, the one you all have been begging for, the 30-week belly shot in the nursery. Isn't she so cute!!!! Enjoy!



Happy end of winter…we hope!

The name game

I'm sure E will have more than 2 cents to add to this...

When we first found out we were pregnant, I uttered these words (ala "famous last words"):

"I want to have a name picked when we find out what we're having so that we can call the baby by name from then on."

Hmmm... so, we began to compile a list. Anyone who knows me IRL should not be surprised to learn that we used a book complete with graphs and statistics and then put that information into a spreadsheet (my most favorite-est thing on earth. just thinking about spreadsheets brings me peace. ahhh.....) The spreadsheet helped us eliminate names that were too popular (E has a fairly common last name, so a rather uncommon first name will be required) and let us compare names that were rather similar etc...

So, sometime in September, when the weather was still nice (pre-arctic conditions), we spent a lovely lazy weekend afternoon on our newly constructed deck where we settled on a lovely name... for a girl. We were absolutely unanimous (me, E and the spreadsheet). The name met our rarity criteria, our preferences criteria, included a familial (middle) name, and we BOTH liked it.

We managed to narrow the boy names down to a short list that day.

Flash forward to November, and we had managed to narrow the boy names down further to two with a sure shot middle name. December crept upon us and we found out we were having a boy yet two names still sat on the list. Then we knocked one off and added another one. E now asks me at least once a week, "what's the chance we're going to name him F.J.?"

I haven't wavered in my answer for quite some time now "60%".
Then she will likely counter, "What's the percentage we will name him H.J.?"
Of course, I can't resist, "60%".

Sure, we've been talking about names for years and years. How can you not when you'd been trying to have a baby for at least that long? Why can't I settle on a name? I don't know. Unwillingness to commit? Inability to realize that a little PERSON will be joining our family in 2.5 months? Plain old indecision? Quirkiness? I have no idea....

(Nearly) 30 weeks

We have almost hit the 75% mark. As of tomorrow, we will have accomplished 3/4 of this pregnancy. Wow! The time does seem to be picking up a bit, which I admittedly welcome... even though we still have so many projects to accomplish at home before our little guy comes... including deciding on a name!

The biggest change I've noticed this week, besides an increase in discomfort, is a tremendous growth spurt. I'm not sure if it's baby or if it's me, but my belly is a ton bigger. E was gone for 3.5 days and noticed it when she returned on Saturday night. Tot does, again, seem to have grown stronger. Some of the kicks and punches positively surprise me! and I still love them all.

This weekend, Grandpa is coming to visit. We always look forward to spending time with him. It's been over two months since we've seen E's dad, so this is a particularly welcomed visit. I'm sure we'll do the usual: sit around and chat, go out to eat, eat in, sit around and chat... I'll go to bed and they'll chat some more. As much as we're looking forward to his visit, I think Gladys might be the most excited if she knew he was coming. He may be her very favorite person on the entire planet. If only she knew what was in store for her!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Merr and Sum got their +HPT!! Big congratulations!

Home again home again, jiggety jig

My dear sweet E is home. She has rescued me from myself.

I don't know how I did it. Usually when she is gone, I pout. I pout constantly and hard and let myself have a terrible time. I watch tons of TV varying that activity only with surfing the internet, and I eat junk food if I eat at all. I let the house go to pieces and bank on the moment that she arrives home.

Can you imagine the pressure that poor woman has to endure while she is away earning us our living? She is pulled in 1000 directions at those meetings and then has a sulky wife sitting at home waiting for her calls and her return.

This time, however, I worked hard at being a SANE person. I mostly managed it too... with quite a bit of help from some other folks that love me. I swam and took the dog to the parks (several times, which didn't seem to be enough because she was still terribly rambunctious yesterday). I finished up the registry at the local store, got a new (same) cut & color and went to the grocery store. All while receiving phone calls from a couple of magnificent sisters and a good friend in CA and a few cards from my father-in-law.

Of course, all of that love makes me want to move to be near them even more. It is, however, also a testament to how lucky I am to have such marvelous people in my life, even if they aren't in my immediate vicinity. I love my peeps.

E arrived home last night in time to go out for dinner (after a scare that she wouldn't get home until after the start of Sat.urday Ni.ght Live.) She has promised me a lovely day together. The temps are mild today (we're probably going to rise above freezing!!!) and the sun is out, so I'd say things are looking pretty good so far. Now, I just have to go wake her up.... I love having her home.

Surviving so far

Well, E has been gone for approximately 24 hours. So far, so good. I know you were all worried.

I managed to head off a big portion of my lonely blues by heading straight to the gym after work yesterday. I had myself a very nice swim (in my new maternity suit, so comfy for swimming!) and then headed home to make dinner and speak with a friend via telephone for an hour. I even managed to clean the kitchen (a.k.a. load the dishwasher.) After so much productivity, I was quite pooped and found myself snuggling Gladys while watching Amer.ican Idol for the rest of the evening.

I think the swim was the best thing I could have done for myself. In spite of my frozen hair by the time I made it back to the car, I just felt good about myself... which was especially needed given my failed test news from the other day. (BTW, follow up next week Friday.)

I'm a bit tired of feeling ho-hum lately and I'm glad to be feeling a bit better today. I know the blues are likely to return a bit, especially since more snow is predicted for next week. I think, though, that I'll be ok.

Baby is certainly growing. My belly is getting very big; I went back to the maternity store to buy new FULL panel jeans. I can't help but look at the belly when I pass by the mirror now. I also find myself rubbing its side quite often. I don't even know why I do that. I guess I just love the baby in there.

Finding a pediatrician

Well, E and I are about to start the search for a pediatrician. I'm going to throw a few questions out to you wise folks:

• How do you conduct a search anyways? I mean, we have lists of names and some recommendations, but now what? Do we make an appointment and come up with a list of interview questions? Do we just call? Do we just take a recommendation? (not likely, we're research junkies.)
• What questions do you ask and what do you look for in a pediatrician? I'm sure we will come up with a good list, but we've not yet begun to think about this, so if you have any good thoughts or questions/answers that you found illuminating, please share!

E left this morning. She's such a saint. She's already called me twice to tell me she loves me. She knows that a hormone-filled wife is even more needy than her usual!