Stop Thief!

Ted (also known as "Captain Obsession") has apparently been wanting to get a copy of an old board game that he loved as a kid. I wasn't really aware of this quest until his precious copy arrived on the doorstep, courtesy of some Ebay sniping.



He was very excited to play a round and we brought it to Teague and Mindy's last weekend to see if we could entice them. True to Ted's word, it's a totally rad game and I feel myself becoming obsessed with it as well. We played again this weekend and had a riot. I hope everyone else had a great 4th of July!

Baby B Makes A Move!

Most of you probably were not aware, but Baby B has been breech for some time now. They say that they can flip themselves at any time, but I was starting to become concerned (and also secretly hoping there would be some need for a c-section and I could have the baby early. Terrible, I know, but the suspense is killing me). I had a lot of pain on Monday and thought that perhaps the baby was flipping itself around, but alas, when I had the girls scan me at work we noted that the baby was even more breech than usual with its butt way down where the head should be and its little legs all smushed up by its head, which was under my right diaphragm. This was 2 hours before my OB appointment, so I intended to ask when we should become concerned that this little person had not flipped around yet. The midwife examined me and did not mention any abnormalities, so I brought it up, stating that the baby is breech (which I had just seen with my own eyes).

"No it's not" she said, defiantly.

"Uhhhh, yes it is" I replied.

"No it's not" she insisted.

"Yes it is. I just saw it on ultrasound about 2 hours ago."

She poked and prodded my belly again and insisted that the head was not where I had just seen it.

I left thinking she was a nutjob and wondering if I really should just find another OB center (there have been a number of things that I've had problems with when dealing with them during this pregnancy).

For the record, Ted believed her and couldn't believe that I wouldn't believe her. I was siding with what I had seen with my own eyes, however, instead of what some woman claimed she could feel.

I was telling the story at work today with a nice hint of sarcasm in my voice indicating that I thought this lady was crazy for thinking that the baby wasn't breech.

"Let's look again today" said my co-worker in a "We can prove this lady wrong and laugh about it" tone.

As soon as the probe touched my belly? BAM! Head down. Not slightly down. Not sort of down. DOWN. Ready for travel.

So I guess the midwife knows what she's talking about after all. Oops. I'm glad I only picked on her behind her back. :)

And the good news? Baby B has finally made it into the correct position and I can stop obsessing over it and move on with my life.

9 weeks to go! Any guesses as to dates I'll deliver and whether it's a boy or a girl? Winner gets all time holding privileges whenever they are around the baby! Or wait, all time diaper changing privileges? Better yet, winner gets to pay for college! What fun!

Race For the Cure

Teddy had his race this morning and did great! We are in a "Code Red" air pollution situation down here due to the wildfire, but they went ahead with the race anyway (you couldn't smell or see the smoke at all today, despite the "code"). Ted rocked it out and finished strong...


Go Teddy!

Check out the lady next to him. Looks like she's glad it's over.

Re-hydratin'

Thanks to everyone who sponsored him! We had a great time and I'd like to run it with him next year.

It's a pretty big "to do" down here...thousands of people were there and they had all sorts of booths to walk around to and check out. One booth was giving away pink capes. Guess who had to have one? He's been wearing it all day.



As you can see, it was a fun day.

3D Goodness.

Ted and I have been getting really excited over here. Even though there are 3 months left until the wee one's due date, we feel like we are in the homestretch and are spending more and more time lying around talking about what we think parenthood will be like. We had a 3D/4D ultrasound done today and got a really good look at the mug we've created. We're trying to decide whose nose that is and we're pretty sure that those lips are from neither one of us! Anyway, introducing Baby B in 3D. You can click on the pictures to make them larger. I think Ted said it best today when he said "There are three of us now." This is so neat.

25 Weeks!

Here's the latest pictures and videos of the almost 2 pounder I'm growing. I'm getting kicked as I type this...probably with THIS LEG:


Okay, take my word for it: this is a little miniature version of Ted's leg. Look at the musculature! The shape! I swear I'm looking at one of T-Bone's gams. So cool.

A nice profile shot with a little arm up by the face.

This is video I took with my camera today. It's just like the profile picture above, but video of it. At the beginning you'll see the baby's mouth opening and closing...probably taking big drinks of amniotic fluid. Then she'll scan down and show the feet. Toward the end you'll see some movement and hear me comment about how I felt it. Good times.

Quilt Bindings are Torture.

I caught a sewing bug this weekend. I was reading some blogs online this past week and saw some really cute quilts that people had made. I ordered a book on machine quilting from Amazon, but then found seemingly simple quilt instructions in Amy Karol's "Bend the Rules Sewing" book that I had on hand. Mindy got me some adorable owl fabric for my birthday and I've been trying to think of a way to utilize it for the baby. Once I saw those quilts online I knew I had found my answer. I made a trip to Joanne's on Saturday and got the supplies I would need. The book also had a pattern for some baby bibs and I have tons of cute fabric lying around that was just the ticket, so I got the rest of the supplies I would need for those too.

I started off simple with the bibs. They were super easy to make and Ted had to finally tell me to stop for fear I would fill up the house with bibs. I figure you can never have enough bibs, however, so I'll probably make more in the near future. Behold:


Adorable, no?

I got rolling on the quilt soon after and was exclaiming about how much fun it was and how easy it was turning out to be! "I should have been quilting for years!" I would yell from my sewing area, to no one in particular. Then I got to the binding. Oi. The binding. I couldn't understand the directions in the book, but thought that I was on the right track. I finally got frustrated around 11:30pm and called it quits. I picked back up today and decided to do some research on the subject. I found more written instructions that made no sense. Then, I stumbled across a video from Expert Village that actually shows you how to do it. Eureka! But I realized I had done it ALL wrong and had to rip the whole thing off and start over. Since then I've been sticking myself with pins, burning myself with the iron, and cursing. It's still not a very well done binding, but it's done and I don't think it's half bad for my first try. I don't think I'll quit my day job though. :)


The finished product

A close up of the owl fabric Mindy got me

My favorite part! I made that big owl all by myself! I love him!

The Getaway

When we found out I was pregnant in December we started planning our last getaway as a couple before the baby comes and ruins everything. Ted has been dying to take me to Pensacola, Florida because he used to live there and really loved it. We decided to take a long weekend trip and had been looking forward to it for months. Time was taken off from work, bags were packed, the gas tank was filled. I was just waiting for Ted to get home and throw his stuff in the back so we could head out. As we did a double check of the cats, we realized Mortimer hadn't been around in an hour or so. I saw him when I got home from work, but hadn't seen him since I had packed up the car. We started the house search, as he usually gets himself locked in a closet or hides under a bed. He was nowhere to be found. I had been closing the door as I went in and out packing the car, or so I thought. We checked the back yard, his usual hangout. No Morty. We tore the house apart. We drove around the neighborhood. We went into the woods in the back yard calling for him. We got the neighborhood kids involved. Still nothing. We had hoped to get on the road by 6pm with dreams of making it to Atlanta for the night. Around 8pm it was starting to get dark and we had no idea what else to do. After posting on the neighborhood web group that he was lost, calling the animal shelter, and leaving some provisions and instructions with our neighbors, we left town. I was really sad and felt so horrible knowing that it was me who left the door open enough for him to escape. Poor Ethel was crying for him when we left.

We made it to Atlanta at 2am, checked into a hotel, and got some shut eye. We both woke up with Morty on the brain but figured all we could do was wait. Just as we were getting on the road we got a call that he was found: he had made his way back home and was staring at Ethel through the back door window crying. Our neighbors scooped him up and returned him to his sister. We were so happy he was found and that we could stop worrying about the big lug.

Anyway, the point of my story? When we were in Pensacola we went to a book sale and found ourselves in the children's section. I picked up a random book to flip through it, and guess what page it opened up to?!



How hilarious is that? We cracked up.

Anyway, Pensacola! It was fabulous. We had such a great time hanging out together and just enjoying a little time away. We stayed at a gorgeous Victorian Bed & Breakfast, which I highly recommend if you are taking a trip like this sometime. We always stay in hotels and, though they are fine, there was something so much more satisfying and fun about staying at a B&B. The woman in charge was super nice and made a mean breakfast.



We kept ourselves busy the few days we were there: we went to the Naval Aviation Museum, the beach, a crawfish festival, out to lunch and dinner, a flea market, a book sale, took a walk on the pier and watched the fishermen, walked around downtown, met up with some of Ted's friends, and saw a movie. It was a really great trip. I'll leave you with some pictures:



Ted enjoys 3 pounds of crawfish. For real.

Sorry for the gross kissing picture, I just think this is so cute.

We loved this old school Pensacola Beach sign that greets you

For those of you bugging me for pregnant pictures, here's a "not so embarrassing" one. :)

T Bone on the beach

John Pinette is Hilarious.

For my birthday we went to see John Pinette perform at our local comedy club. My sides hurt from laughing so hard. Ted and I remember him from his "Chinese Buffet" joke back in the day. He didn't even do that bit last night and we were rolling the entire hour. This comedy club is an awesome venue to see comedians because it is fairly small...we were about 10 feet from the stage...and John came out to the bar afterwards to sign DVDs and chat. He's is super friendly and was kind enough to take a picture with us, which I'll proudly display below. If you ever get a chance, be sure to see his show. He has quickly risen into my top 5 favorite comedians of all time.


Ted, John Pinette, Eilis

Eilis's birthday dinner


John Pinette: "Chinese Buffet"

Spoiled.

We have been getting an abundance of beautiful and thoughtful gifts for the baby in the past couple of months. Thanks to everyone who has thought of us! After a long debacle with my sewing machine I have finally finished hemming the curtains for the nursery and we are almost done putting it together. The one last thing I'd like to get is a nice fuzzy white rug, so I've got my eye out for that addition. We've added some wall stickers, the curtains, and a glider since our last photo session, so here's some updated pictures. It's nice and cozy and relaxing in there...I just spent some time in the glider looking out the window and it was very peaceful. Baby B was punching me while I rocked, so I think he/she was feeling at home as well.





My 29th birthday was yesterday and I was spoiled with more gifts for Ted and I and the baby. My family chipped in and got me the glider you see pictured above...thanks guys! In lieu of a card this year, my parents sent me my old newborn footprints from when I was born. They are framed and on display in the nursery...can't wait to compare feet with Baby B...though I'm really hoping that he/she has Ted's adorable box feet instead of my crooked toes. :)



You can also see some adorable knitted blankets that Ted's Mom made for the baby. There is nothing like those homemade gifts, you know? Thanks to Pam for all of her wonderful work. She also included an adorable sweater, hat, and booties for Baby B! Can't wait until he/she is here to wear them!



Ted's sister also surprised us recently with a package of cute outfits for the baby...including a shout out to the 'Cuse! Thanks Erin!




So, that's it on this end. I'm feeling the baby punching me all the time now, and Ted has even felt it! Pretty awesome. We're going to be 22 weeks on Wednesday. Over half way there!

18 Weeks Down...

We had our anatomy scan on Tuesday and everything looks great with Baby B. Two eyes, two ears, a cute little button nose...all of the bits and pieces are in order. Ted came to this one with me and we had a riot watching the scan together...it's pretty amazing how the baby has grown. I'm getting quite the little belly at this point and it seems to be getting bigger by the day. The baby is about the size of a bell pepper and weighs half a pound at this point. It's crazy how much more growing still needs to be done and how far we've come already. I can't get over the profile shots. We can't wait to meet this little creature and steal that little button nose and squeeze that little chin!



This one is my favorite. There's the chin I'm raving about.

The 2D pictures are always a bit freaky looking. I'm in love with the second one, however. Doesn't it look like the baby has little goggles on and is geeking it out or something?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEEKEE!!

It's my best friend's 30th birthday today. I hope she's kicking up her heels...

Nursery!

Teaguer came down last week for a visit as well as to build a wall and door on the loft so it can function as a nursery. We had a riot and I can't believe how quickly he got it done. He was even a trooper and painted the room when he realized that I'm not good at doing trim. Thanks Teague! Anyway, Ted and I have been working all day getting things decorated and organized and are finally at a point where we can show some pictures. There are still some fine details we'd like to take care of, but need to wait for another payday to get the rest accomplished. Below are the progress pictures for your enjoyment. We go for another ultrasound this Tuesday...I'll be 18 weeks on Wednesday! It's all about maternity clothes these days...


A "Before" Shot

I still have 5 more months of this?

Baby B is growing steadily and is getting more difficult to distinguish on ultrasound because not all of the parts fit on the screen at once! Here's a nice recording of the heartbeat--a healthy 145 beats per minute.



I ate a sugar cookie just before we did this ultrasound today and Baby B was on a sugar high moving all over the place. It's just amazing how big it's getting. Measured almost 9cm from head to butt...so add a bit more for the feet!



Apparently our baby is being delivered from outer space:



And is a giant...look at the size of that arm!:



And finally, something that truly resembles a baby:



Well, I'm in my second trimester now. 15 weeks along tomorrow and Baby B is right on track. In my case, it's true what they say: you start to get some energy back in the second trimester. Case in point: it's 8:23pm, and I'm still awake. Another example? I got on the treadmill Sunday for the first time since January. I'm so sore I can barely walk, but it did feel good to get some exercise. We went to Babies R Us on Saturday and started getting some ideas about what, in fact, the difference is between a "car seat" and an "infant carrier" and to try to figure out how to operate a stroller. It was pretty fun. I think we'll get the hang of it.

In other baby news, I got some test results back and it does not appear that baby B has any neural tube defects, so that's good. In bad news, the paint I ordered for the nursery looks more like "my old neon green windbreaker" than "Bok Choy." Hmmm. We appear to be back at square one in regards to room decor, which makes my nesting side go bonkers because I JUST WANT TO DECORATE ALREADY! The fam arrives on Friday, however, and Teaguer will be building the nursery wall/door, so that will be the biggest first step.

What else do we do with ourselves? We're still pretty much the same old Ted and Eilis, I just sleep more than usual. We have been laying low lately because I haven't felt the greatest and Ted has been super busy with school. We are starting to fill up our calendars with activities though.