It's beginning to feel a lot like...fall

Today when I left school I realized the most beautiful thing had happened. The weather actually corresponded with the correct season!?!?!?!?! We live in Texas, Houston no less, and it felt like fall. What a beautiful day. It made me want to go to a football game and cheer for the home team. I was seriously on cloud nine. Usually I don't care if we have seasons, but being twice my regular size, I have a new appreciation for cool weather. Whether it feels like it or not, fall is in full force. We are 5 weeks into school, football season is underway, and the sick kids are already creating a symphony of coughing, sneezing, and wheezing. Speaking of which, I have had sooo many kids out sick, it's just plain ridiculous.
Although 1/4 of my class is gone, I am grateful to be teaching. Here are just a few of the things that I love:

Seeing a kid understand something for the first time.
Getting hugs from Kindergarteners you've never met just because you were standing there.
Watching a student gleam with pride when you had back a fast facts test when they realize they went up by 20 points
Having discreet 5th graders ask in the most polite way if you are pregnant
Having a not so discreet 1st grader ask what was up with your belly
Having blatantly obvious Kindergarteners do a double take and stare at you as you walk down the hallway
Joking with the boys about how they annoy me
Joking with the girls that I shouldn't have a boy because they annoy me
Seeing a sliver of hope when your most disorganized student manages to find a paper that has been missing for days
Having the kids ask you where you were like they actually cared
Watching boys and girls become more mature pre-teens

Today we (me and baby) hit a great mark. The 24 week mark! woohoo. At this point, babies are considered viable and are able to survive with serious medical intervention and a few miracles. At this point our baby is supposed to be about a foot long and weigh 1.32 pounds. I do not believe that this kid only weighs just over a pound; it feels like I'm carrying a watermelon around all day. Also for your viewing pleasure (mostly Vanessa's) here is a picture of me, with and without the shirt covering the belly. It just looks so much different I couldn't not post it.

Pictures

This is the crib that we bought. Its a Delta crib, and had awesome ratings. I love the wood color and should be able to find other furniture that matches.




This is me at 21 weeks pregnant. This T-shirt used to be loose fitting and now it is skin tight.

I can't believe how much I have grown already. Here's to another 41/2 months.

It's A

BOY!!!

I can't believe it took me this long to post the results of our ultra sound. Shame on me. Anyways, here are some pictures of our little boy.

Here is the picture of his spine. He is facing down in this one.

I love his little foot. So Cute!

In this one he is crossing his legs. He is facing the front. You can see his legs and one little foot.

We couldn't ever get a true profile picture, he liked facing the machine.

He was just shy of 20 weeks when we had the ultra sound. At the ultra sound he weighed around 11 0unces. Most babies at that point weigh just less than 10.5 oz., so he is measuring slightly larger. Today I am 22.5 weeks pregnant, ya. At this point he should be about 11 inches long and weigh about a pound. Thanks to him getting bigger, I am able to feel him every day. Brian has felt him several times, but baby doesn't always kick hard enough for him to feel.

I can't believe that we're now past the half way mark. This past week we got a little more prepared and purchased a crib. We should be able to pick it up with in the next two weeks. We get more excited as we continue to get ready for our wonderful baby boy. I have my next appointment on Monday, so I'll give another update then.

Lots of baby updates

Sorry this post is going to be a long and scattered. Brian and I have been up to a lot lately in preperation for school and this baby. First we went shopping for some baby stuff and this is what we got.

We really liked the carseat and the stroller was a great option for us because we live on the third floor and this is something that I can haul downstairs by myself. We also liked it because the carseat is the same style as a stroller that has two seats. No the blue does not mean that we are having a boy, we still don't know. BUT- we are going to find out Monday at 2:00. I am sooooo excited!

This week I went to the doctor just for a check up and everything looks great. Here are some stats for the baby. Based on the growth of my stomach, baby is looking the size it should. We will get more precise measurements when they do the ultra sound. The heart rate dropped again which they said is totally normal and should now start to steady out a little bit. It is now in the 140's. Our baby at this point (almost 19 weeks) is about 6 inches from head to hiny and 8.5 ounces. I can't believe how big it is getting. One of the most exciting things that has happened since our baby has gotten bigger is that I can now feel our little one moving. I can only feel it when I am still, and it usually happens right after I eat. Today our little one felt like it was throwing it's own party. All I could feel was kick*kick*roll*kick*roll...This lasted for a full 5 minutes. Apparently baby is really active at times.

Also new this week, I bought maternity clothes. I bought black and khacki pants and a black tulip skirt. I also discovered that I really hate shopping for maternity clothes. I usually hate shopping for clothes but this was a whole different level of annoying. Also for your viewing pleasure is my 18 week picture. You can see the belly a lot better when I pull my shirt up, but I don't think anybody else should have to see my belly. If you want it let me know and I'll email it to you.

A Letter to My Tire Theif

Dear Spare Tire Theif,

Thank you so much for stealing my spare tire off my Jeep Liberty. That really helps the little thing hold its value even better during these economic times. How did you know that I wanted to spend $300 replacing a tire? And wake up to that fabulous new this morning? I am grateful for the opportunity to file a police report in a city where the crime rate ensures that this will never be looked into. I know it looked really easy to steal, I mean who leaves their spare tire on the back in plain sight. But really, thanks for pointing out that major design flaw. I also appreciate that now I have to put wheel locks on both cars to ensure that this won't happen again. Because wheel locks are really cheap in Houston. How exactly did you know that the price of the tire falls beneath what insurance will cover so it comes right out of my savings account? Now instead of buying a crib and a glider which we so badly need for our bundle of joy, we get to replace that tire. That also makes it really convenient while I am trying to save for a 3 grand hospital bill. Appreciate it, I really do. Oh, by the way, should you choose to come back you will be greeted with wheel locks on several vehicles, I think we were an inspiration for our neighbors. Happy hunting for the other 3 spare tires that will make a set, because I would HATE to think that I was robbed for a measly $50 which is likely all you will get from selling one poorly rated tire. Because seriously, not that many people just need one. I thoroughly enjoyed being robbed by you. Have a nice day.

P.S. I hope the sky falls on your head, just a thought. Oh, and Karma is not a pleasant thing if you catch my drift.

Heather- the pregnant lady that you stole from

15 Weeks and Another Check-Up

Today I am 15 weeks along with our little bean. woohoo. Only 25 more weeks to go until he/she comes. Around this time, our baby is about 4 inches from head to rump. It weighs in at about 2.5 ounces. Exciting, our baby is getting bigger. On Monday we went to a much anticipated doctor visit. This was the first one where they did the doppler instead of looking at the baby with the ultrasound machine. I thought our baby would still be asleep since it was at our first appointment early in the morning. Boy was I wrong. As soon as the doppler went on my belly, we could hear a lot of random noise. It sounded kind of like sloshing? or water moving? It was a really weird sound that I've never heard before. She explained that it was the baby moving. Turns out the baby was moving a lot. She spent the next minute (the longest minute of my life) looking for the heartbeat. I think even Brian was concerned, probably because he knew that I was silently freaking out. By the time she found it I was well on my way to a heart attack. She was just about to give up and do an ultra sound when she finally found it. That is such a wonderful sound to a worry wart like me. The little peanut spent just enough time to get an accurate heart rate before it was off again. Little stinker!

At this appointment the heart rate went down, this is completely normal, but it ruined my theory that this baby is a girl. When the heart rate is towards the top of the scale, it is more likely a girl. Towards the bottom, more likely a boy. I now have no idea what it is. I thought no big deal since we should be able to find out in only 4 weeks but, after talking to the doctor its going to be more like 8 weeks. Grrr. I'll be almost 23 weeks before we found out what exactly we will be having. I guess I'll have to live with it and develop some patience.

Baby on Board

Although I am sure everyone who reads this already knows, we are pregnant. The baby is due January 13, 2009 and we are really excited. Today I finally past the magical 12 week mark and everything looks good. We have already had two ultrasounds to see the baby and they were both really neat. The first one we went to the baby was completely still and in the very middle of the amnio fluid. It made for a great picture. The second ultra sound at ten weeks was a lot of fun. The baby was moving all over the place. It stayed mostly at the bottom of it's house and kept kicking and elbowing me. I was kind of glad that I can't feel that yet. This kid was throwing some powerful elbows. Most babies at this gestational age are about 2.5 inches long and weigh half an ounce.

The first one is from 8 weeks and two days. The second one is at 10 weeks and 5 days. We are really excited about our new addition and appreciate everybody's excitement and support.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Folks, the semester countdown has begun. Nevermind that the rest of the nation is finishing up finals today :( Alas, I still have one more week being chained to this computer before I am free for a whole 3 weeks. For the end of the semester it is feeling a little anti-climatic. This has been one of the worst semesters on the record, although it may compete slightly with the semester I was wedding planning, working, taking too many hours, losing my mind. All I have left of my Junior Year of college is a research paper, formation of a science test, and three actual exams. Although I do not look forward to this coming week, I think I can finally say I see a slight flicker of hope at the end of this academic tunnel.
Out of 138 hours of school, I will have taken 114 of them next Thursday. It seems like this never-ending road may actually be coming to a close. Next Thursday at 11:00 a.m. I will be a SENIOR! At 11:01 a.m. I think I will be doing a happy dance in the parking lot. I'll let ya know how that works out.

Original Poetry my Foot

This is what happens when we are required to write 5 peices of original poetry for only one grade level and only one subject. I hope my prof likes it.

Space is a wonderful place
that I would like to Seeee
So far away from these People
Who always gripe at me

A spaceship, a spaceship
O how I long for a spaceship
A spaceship, A spaceship
Please come and rescue me

-By yours truly

Can you tell I was blowing off steam? Do you know the tune I used to write this lovely peice of literature?

Hope you enjoyed a little peice of my slight academic rebellion!

Picture Overload

Getting my make-up done

Sumo wrestling at Mary Jo Peckham Park

These are some of the pictures that we took with Brian's phone. I think it is even better than my camera (which doesn't say a whole lot).

Spring Break!!!!!!!!

My spring break just officially began. I submitted my last homework assignment for one whole week. Too bad my plans during spring break consist of nothing but cleaning, homework, cleaning, organizing, cleaning, did I already mention cleaning. Ugh! Oh well, at least I don't live in an apartment that stinks like smoke anymore. I have also decided that Spring Break should not be called a break at all. All of my professors have MAJOR assignments due the week after. Then they say, oh you can do this over spring break. HELLO PEOPLE, that is not the purpose. If I wanted to not have a break in the middle of the semester I would have gone to BYU. (Although most definantly not the main reason, it played a part in me going to TAMU instead)

I have to brag on Brian for a moment who is going to be put as a lead on a project (assuming Mustang wins the bid) sometime this summer. He is still pretty much considered a baby there. By baby I mean he has only been there for 18 months and is already getting a chance to show what a friggin genius he is. Exciting!!!

On a side note: Bones was really good last night, it was their first new show in 3 weeks. Brian says that means they are about to cancel it. I almost cried. :(

BLAH!

Today has been a BLAH day so far. It is now 10:41 and I have yet to accomplish anything significant. That is so sad, especially since I have so much to do. Mostly school work. I need to vent about school work and then maybe I can get on with my life. I am feeling more resentful than usual this semester for being in school. The "glamour" of the whole situation has been gone since I got married. (May 2007) I have been on a campaign ever since to quit and do something else with my life.

I am chalking this recent fit up to a mid-semester meltdown. Anyways, I suppose trudging along until spring break will do me good. I also have to remind myself there is so much to look forward to like...
1. I will see my sweet honey at 7:00 tonight.
2. Spring Break is in 2.5 Days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. I get to see Brian's family this weekend (possibly get my baby fix from a certain adorable neice and nephew)
4. I get to see my crazy family again over Spring Break.
5. There is a lovely canoe trip to break up the rest of the semester.
6. I will be married two friggin years on May 12 awoohoo!
7. We are taking a whole 5 days, count them (wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday, sunday) to ourselves in our first vacation since our honeymoon.

Just as way of an update, we moved again two weekends ago. I have great pictures from fun things that we have been doing lately. I can't wait to post them. I think you'll like them a whole lot.