Renovations have begun!

Brandon and I started the day by running to Home Depot and Lowe's to buy a new light fixture, light swithes, primer and additional paint supplies. Mom and Dad came up to help us strip the wallpaper border that was in the room that we're renovating into Beanie's room! We had some patching to do from previous items that were hung on the walls and a few other odds and ends that needed done. The new light fixture made a BIG difference in the room... so glad to have found one we really liked with very little shopping! Mom and Dad were so helpful this weekend. We were even able to get the primer on the walls. Once Brandon and I decide on wall colors, we can move forward with the next steps.

We are so excited to get this process under way. Knowing that it would take 6-8 weeks to arrive, we ordered the furniture for the Baby three weeks ago. To our surprise it came in a week later! The store is very gracious and willing to store it for us until we are ready for it.

A few pictures of my workers:

Beanie... Can we please see your face?

We went to the Dr. again on Friday for the kidney re-evaluation and to check the facial bone structure. Beanie was again not cooperating and we had no such luck! The kidney remains the same at this point. So.... we will go... again... to the Dr. in two weeks to have a bit more of an advanced Ultrasound to check these two areas. Wish us more luck next time!

Saturday we went to the hospital to learn a bit more of what to expect during/after labor & delivery. It is nice knowing in advance everything that they will do with our little one in its first few minutes/hours of life in this world!

Saturday evening we had dinner & a slumber party with Larry and Judy. This will be our last visit with them until March!!! They are headed south for the month of February! Instead of their traditional Florida trip this year they are off to New Orleans for some mission work and a Frontier Power Conference for Larry. Of course they will do some additional sight seeing and visit with friends/family along the way. We wish them safe & healthy travels!

Michelle & Dan!

We were so excited to have my cousin Michelle and her boyfriend Dan come to stay with us on Friday night! Michelle got Dan Cavs tickets as part of Dan's Christmas present. It is alway fun to share my job with family. Brandon went to the game with them and all had a great time! Saturday morning we had a great breakfast at Bob Evans and they were on their way to their next stop while home from Athens for a short while.

Saturday, Brandon and I then ran some errands and ordered furniture for Beanie's Room!!!! We are excited to get moving on this new project of converting one of our spare bedrooms into a baby's room!

Today I am off of work for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Mom and I went shopping for maternity clothes and had a nice day together. Of course there are few things to choose from in maternity stores, but I think I am making the most of the selections. Thanks too to Alisa for providing me with her things!

Well.........

Brandon and I went for our Ultrasound on Friday morning. We did decide NOT to learn the sex of our growing bean! However, the nurse gave us the results, well stapled in a piece of paper, just in case we ever get the urge to look! So far, we are not tempted.

We are 19 weeks into the pregnancy. Beanie is growing well and is measuring as he/she should be. We are scheduled to have another Ultrasound in 2 weeks. The Dr. was hoping to see the face to check for Cleft Lip and Palate (a routine check). We will also re-evaluate the kidney. There is a slight bit of fluid in the kidney and there shouldn't be. It is a minor problem that most often fixes itself during the pregnancy. If not however, the baby will be on antibiotics for a short while after birth. It is nothing to be overly concerned with at this time.

We are proud to share pictures of our little Beanie... though not such a bean any more...

Spine/Ribs

Feet

The bubble on the right is the belly.
As you move left across the picture you can see the knees,
ankles and feet. The bubble on the right is the top of the head.
The small floating ball is right right hand/fingers.
In the middle of the picture is the left forearm, hand and fingers.
The legs are visible on the left of the picture.

I don't know what to do!

In 24 hours we have the opportunity to know the sex of our baby that is growing inside of me! While that's REALLY exciting... I'm starting to have second thoughts. I'm now not sure that I want to know the sex of the baby. Brandon has stated that he will support me either way. He can see the pros and cons of each. I will continue to think about it today and may decide by tomorrow. If I am still uncertain tomorrow, I will have the Ultrasound Tech record it in an envelope and place it in our file. Therefore, if/when I decide later that I want to know, they can share the information with us at that time.

I don't know what to do!

Back in the swing of things

Whew! The holidays are behind us and it's now time to get back in the swing of things. It's hard to believe a full week of work is in store, but we are really looking forward to Friday! Before we look ahead to this Friday, let's look back to the weekend.

I worked on Fri, Jan 2 as a normal day. Mom, Dad and Brandon came to watch the Cavs take on the Bulls in yet another victory at The Q! Let's hope the home court winning streak can continue! We stayed up visiting with Mom and Dad after the game before realizing it was late and then going to bed.

Saturday we woke early. Mom and Dad went out to run some errands. Brandon and I met with our contractor to discuss our plans for the new house. We are getting very close with the plans and can see ourselves building in 2009 or early 2010. After our meeting, we all set off to New Phila for a quick trip through the mall to explore maternity clothes options. After the mall, Mom and Dad went home and Brandon and I went to lunch with high school friends. Aaron Myers and his wife Tiffany were home from California for the holidays. It had been since just after High School when Brandon saw them last, so it was great catching up. Aaron is in the USAF and anticipates a job transfer in about a year, bringing them to S. Carolina so we hope to see them more often. Saturday evening I had to work the hockey game. Brandon was a great sport and drove me to Cleveland so I didn't have a late night of work by my self! Saturday was a great day, but we were exhausted by the time it was over!

Sunday morning we made small changes around the house in preparation for Beanie! Nothing major at all, just a bit of rearranging and getting rid of a few things that we no longer need. Brandon was off to work around 2:30. I then did some meal preparations for the week and enjoyed the Playoff Football that was on TV.

Now... looking foward... We are really excited for our Ultrasound on Friday! We will know the sex of Beanie by noon on Friday Jan 9! I will take the morning off of work then go to Cleveland as we play Boston that night.

Until then.... Hugs & Smiles!

Happy 2009!!!

Brandon and I brought in the New Year with our dear friends, Matt & Alisa. Taking a moment to reflect, we had determined that 2008 was good to us with nothing to crazy to report. We were blessed to celebrate a number of weddings and births this year with family and friends and of course we lost a couple of loved ones as well. As Brandon and I think about a New Year's Resolution, there isn't much that comes to mind. So, though not a resolution, we have vowed to be the best first-time parents that we can be in 2009! We are so excited to become parents this year and look forward to all of the challenges that come along with a little one. We do realize though that along with challenges there will be countless joys to look foward to as well!

We're counting down the days to learning the sex of our growing Bean...One week from today!