And I thought 2011 was an interesting year!

I can't wait to see what 2012 is going to bring!

This last year has brought me so many different feelings: joy, sadness, stress, excitement. I've learned so much! I've watched my daughter grow from a helpless little newborn to a rambunctious toddler in what seems like the blink of an eye!

I honestly can't believe how much she has learned in the last year. She has learned how to roll over, how to sit up, how to eat "real people" food, how to crawl, how to clap and laugh, and even how to walk and run! I swear her vocabulary grows by leaps and bounds every day! I love to watch her crinkle her whole face up in a grin when I come home from work or we visit her at Mimi's. She's such a sweet and tender and funny little girl and my heart swells with joy and pride whenever she's around. That's not to say that there haven't been stressful times with her. I remember the early days of her not sleeping because of her reflux. But once we got that under control it seemed fine...until she started teething. Since then it's been off and on, good days and bad days, but in the end, there's nothing I would change about any of it. I can't stomach being away from her for more than a day or so. I start feeling at a loss for what to do with myself. It's not that I'm bored, it's just that I'm lonely and miss her.

I also can't believe how much I have learned about myself in the last year. Becoming a parent teaches you lots of things about yourself and how you interact with the world around you. Things that you never would have thought possible you somehow find the ability to do. Situations that seem impossible seem to somehow work out-though not always the way you expected. You also learn to love beyond what you would even think possible. And you learn different kinds of love. The kind of love you have for your spouse even changes....ok, maybe not changes, but takes on another dimension. There's the love that you have for them when you get married and fall in love, but when you see your spouse interacting with the child that you made together, it's a different thing entirely. I am truly blessed to have found this wonderful man and even though we haven't had the easiest life starting out together, we are mature and have been able to deal with whatever that crazy life has thrown at us.

In the next year I look forward to MANY things! I look forward to the new chapters we'll be opening in the New Year.

In just a few short weeks Adam will be starting nursing school. It's a big chapter and really, the final one in what we hope to be a great and rewarding career move that not only allows him to further his education, but get a well-paying and rewarding job. Hopefully it also allows me to stop working full-time to concentrate on finishing my own degree and spending more time with our children.

I also look forward to seeing what the end result of his latest surgery will be. His time on crutches should be over by the end of January and as his rehab continues, we're optimistic that he can get back some of the quality of life that he had before this all began.

The new year will also bring us a new son! There are so many things I look forward to about this! I can't wait to see all his firsts all over again. I can't wait to see who he looks like and what his personality will be like. Will he be laid back or will he be just as rambunctious as his sister? How will he and his sister get along? How will I, as a mother, deal with 2 children so close in age without losing my mind?

I'm not one who typically makes New Year's resolutions, but I think this year I'm going to make a couple that I think are reasonable and that I can stick with.

1. I want to be more organized. I've been starting some organization in different parts of the house, but I'd really like to make a bigger effort at it. Reducing the clutter in my house will hopefully mean that my life, in general, will be less stressful. I plan to make a list of how to organize each room and then slowly work at it when I have the opportunity.
2. After Samuel is born I want to get back into shape. I didn't have a lot of trouble losing all the baby weight from Clara, but I wasn't even close to being in shape. I want to (as much as I can) get back the body I had before I got pregnant at all. I've done a good job of watching my weight and what I eat while I'm pregnant with Samuel so I know the weight loss after he's born will be easier, but it's the rest that I worry about.
3. I would like to reduce our debt load. We already have somewhat of a plan in place for that, we just have to be really good about sticking to it and do a better job of managing our money.
4. I am going to try to be a more positive person. I did a better job of it over 2011, but I really want to try harder.
5. I am going to try to take more time for myself. Time to myself does not include things like: grocery shopping, doing laundry, cleaning, or any other housework. Time for myself will be things like: getting manicures/pedicures, hanging out with friends, working on scrapbook or other DIY projects, gardening, or relaxing while watching TV or playing video games. It's a matter of being more efficient with my time and reworking my priorities a little. I think if I can get better organized it'll be easier to take time for myself.

I hope everyone reading this has had an awesome 2011 and can have an even better 2012. I look forward to growing as a human being, a wife, and a mother and I look forward to sharing all of these experiences with everyone.

What's on your mind?

It's Friday and time for yet another "What's On Your Mind?"

• I've never really made New Year's resolutions that I stuck to. I think maybe one of my resolutions for next year should be to stick to my resolutions!
• Maybe I need to make resolutions that I actually CAN stick to.
• I'm beyond thrilled to have Clara home with me all weekend! I can't wait to pick her up after work!
• We're almost halfway through the "6 weeks" that Adam was given for an approximate time to be on crutches. I can't wait until the 5th to see how it's coming along.
• We got a bunch of money for Christmas and I can't wait to go buy some stuff! We need a new grill since ours burned up over the summer and I can't wait to get it so we can make the cheddarwurst that I have in the freezer!
• I can't believe I'm just 1.5 weeks away from being in the 3rd trimester of this pregnancy! I can't believe how quickly it went, and I was right-the holidays did seem to make the time go faster, even though we didn't do much.
• Since it's boring at work today, I think I'll work on my New Year's resolutions...and maybe my to-do list as well.
• I love having a real Christmas tree, but I am SO looking forward to taking it down so I can have my living room back! Maybe this weekend....

What's on your mind just before the New Year?

25 weeks down, 15 to go!

Weekly Survey:

How far along? 25 weeks 1 day down, 14 weeks 6 days to go! Yikes!

Total weight gain: +16.4lbs (144.4lbs)

How big is baby?: The size of an eggplant, though I think he's had a major growth spurt in the last week!

Sleep?: Sleep is ok, I guess. Clara is back to sleeping through the night, but my back has been so bad that I've been sleeping fitfully and waking early and often.

How are you feeling physically? I'm feeling pretty good, except for my back.

How are you feeling emotionally?: I had a pretty rough week, emotionally and this week probably won't be any better because due to scheduling, Clara will be spending most of the week at my IL's house and that's already rough on me just thinking about it. Traveling is getting easier with Adam, though, so maybe we'll at least be able to go see her in the afternoons when I get done with work.

Best moment this week?: Having Christmas with my family. It was a good time and Adam and I even got some time just to ourselves on Christmas morning before Clara woke up. That was probably my favorite moment. :)

Movement?: Still a ton of movement! Some of it is getting rather sharp!

What is baby up to this week?: Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required). Inside the womb, the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

Food cravings?: I've been eating REALLY badly over the last week: lots of sweets and cookies and not much exercise.

Labor signs?: Thankfully not!

What I miss: Having my little girl home all the time and having a healthy and 100% mobile husband.

What I'm looking forward to: I'm looking forward to Jan 5th because it's our next appointment for Adam and our next baby appointment, and we'll get to see Samuel again!

Random Thoughts: SHOPPING SHOPPING SHOPPING!!!! :)

25 week bump pic

Holiday Hiatus

As you may have noticed, What's On Your Mind has been missing from my weekly posts. Well, it's been a little nuts with the holidays. Ususally I do my blog posts at work but I've been off of work the last couple Fridays so it hasn't gotten done and any time I may have had at home, I've been busy getting things ready for the holiday festivities.

So I'm happy to report that since I'll be working Friday (and because the holidays are over with and Clara is at Mimi & Papa's all week...sadly) WOYM will return to it's regularly scheduled time.

I also realize that I missed my weekly pregnancy survey. Well I'm working on that as we speak as well as Clara's 13-month survey. I have a bunch of pictures I need to get uploaded for that one, as well as getting a weight and measurement for her.

Speaking of work-my schedule is going to be a little nuts for a while. This week I had Monday off due to the Christmas holiday so I work Tuesday through Friday 5:45-1:45. Next week I have off Monday for New Years and then I'm working 5:45-1:45 Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday and Thursday I work 5:45 til Noon because Adam and I both have appointments all afternoon. The following week I may be taking a day of vacation to take Adam to his orientation for school...depending on how he feels about driving and being out by himself all day.

So it looks like I may not be working a full week until almost the end of January! It's nice to have some extra time off, but it makes it really hard to come back to work! Before I know it, I'll be off work for an extended time so we can welcome our little boy!

Be someone's hero-BeTheMatch @ www.marrow.org

I just got finished watching my friend Eric's latest blog entry. He is currently recovering from his THIRD stem cell transplant in order to finally be rid of his Leukemia. Long story short-he received his latest transplant from someone who registered through the bone marrow registry and at day +29, he's doing better than expected.

I think maybe this is what finally prompted me to do something I'd been considering for a while: become a registered donor. It's very simple! Go to http://www.marrow.org/ and join the site. You will answer a short health questionnaire and then they will send you a kit in the mail. Once you get that kit, all you do is swab the inside of your cheek with a q-tip, put it in a baggie, and send it back to them. They'll put your information into the system and-v'oila!-you become a potential donor! If  you're contacted as being a potential match, the procedure is no more difficult than donating blood. If you can donate blood, you can donate stem cells! You have the potential to save someone's life. Eric wouldn't have had a chance if it weren't for the generosity of his donor. I hope they get to meet someday.

I'm never able to donate blood because I'm either always anemic or pregnant when there's a blood drive. With the stem cell donation, you don't even lose any of your blood. They hook an IV to your arm. The blood flows out of your arm and into a machine that spins the stem cells out and then the blood is returned right back to you. It actually seems pretty neat. :)

So I'm encouraging all of you out there to consider becoming a donor. It's easy and you could save someone's life. Lots of people are out there that need a match and never get one. Be someone's match and sign up today!

Viability day! 24 weeks down-16 to go!

Weekly Survey:

How far along? 24 weeks-Viability!! At this point Samuel could live on the outside, but he’d need a lot of support! We’ll just keep him cooking a little longer yet.

Total weight gain: +13.8lbs (141.8lbs)

How big is baby?: Still the size of a papaya.

Sleep?: This week has been a real challenge for sleep. Adam had his surgery on Wednesday so I’ve been waking up multiple times per night to hand out meds, get him things he needs, and to refill his ice machine so we can keep the swelling down on his leg. At least Clara has slept through the night the past 2 nights! I think it helped that she was pretty much exhausted.

How are you feeling physically? My back is sore and I’m more tired, but there’s not really much I can do about that right now considering I’m the sole person in our house who is capable of taking care of Clara.

How are you feeling emotionally?: Overwhelmed and stressed out! Maybe it’ll get easier as time goes by and Adam heals more, but we’ll just have to wait and see. There’s really no predicting it, which I think contributes to some of the stress-just not knowing how things are going to change between now and even Christmas!

Best moment this week?: That’s a tough one. I guess the best moment would have to be when Clara finally came home to stay after being gone all day Wednesday, Thursday, and most of Friday. It’s a LOT more work with her home, but I missed her so much.

Movement?: Yep! Samuel is still as lively as ever. It almost feels like he’s running out of room due to the types of movement I’m getting now, but I’m sure he’s still got plenty. Maybe he’s just a space hog and likes to have all the room he possibly can. I’ve been feeling actual body parts (not sure if they’re hands, arms, legs, etc)!

What is baby up to this week?: Still much of the same as the last couple weeks. Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Food cravings?: Nothing in particular. I didn’t do a very good job with my eating over the last week, but I’m happy that my weight gain was under 2lbs. I’m sure the stress doesn’t help anything, either.


Labor signs?: Thankfully not.

What I miss: I miss being able to take care of Clara the way I used to-and I’m certainly not going to get any smaller as the weeks progress.

What I'm looking forward to: I’m looking forward to so many things right now. I’m looking forward to this week being over with. I’m looking forward to Christmas (sort of). I’m looking forward to Adam getting his staples removed. I’m looking forward to our next OB appointment and ultrasound on January 5th. I’m looking forward to seeing how well this surgery worked and hopefully resuming a more normal life together. And of course, I’m looking forward to meeting my son! I can’t wait to see who he looks like and see what his personality will be like. :)

Random Thoughts: I have so many that if I tried to write them all down, I’d probably be here forever. Lol I can’t believe it’s viability day today! It’s a huge milestone and I’m really glad that we’ve made it this far. Sam seems to be doing really well and seems healthy and happy. He’s doing all the things he’s supposed to be doing-I just feel bad that I’m so stressed. I’m sure it’s not fantastic for him, but I try to do the best I can.

I think people are under-estimating how difficult life is in our house with just me to take care of 98% of things. Adam is the one who usually does most of the caring for Clara, since I work full-time and during his last semester of school only had class 2 days per week. Not only that, but he did a lot of the bedtime stuff and lifting/carrying since my back has been so bad and my belly is in the way. Now that he can’t help with anything (he’s on crutches and cannot carry her at all) the responsibility of caring for her falls on me. That means when I get home from work at 2, she’s all my responsibility. That also means that if I need to go someplace I can’t just leave her home-I have to take her with me, which is not always fun or easy, especially being 24 weeks pregnant. Keeping her entertained at home isn’t too difficult. It gets hard when it starts being time for naps or getting dinner cooked, getting Adam and I and Clara fed and then starting the bedtime routine. It also means that if she wakes up in the middle of the night that I’m the one who has to get up with her, even if I do have to get up at 4:15am for work every day. Adam had a big part of Clara’s care and I don’t think I ever realized how much until he couldn’t help. It’s really hard to not get frustrated with her, especially when I’m tired and stressed. I used to go to bed right after she did. Now I have to stay up late to finish chores around the house that I couldn’t get done while she was up and around. It’s getting to the point in my pregnancy where I should be taking naps again but I just don’t have the time or ability to do so. There’s too much other stuff going on. Thankfully we have a lot of help from our families, but it’s really not the same as having Adam around to help.


Adam had a countdown to the end of the semester going. I think I might have a countdown of weeks until he’ll be off crutches and can be back to “normal” again.


See what I mean about the amount of random thoughts, though? That was just one thread!

24 week bump pic

23 weeks down-17 to go!

Weekly Survey:

How far along? 23 weeks-17 weeks to go!

Total weight gain: +12.4lbs (140.4lbs) I lost this week!

How big is baby?: Still the size of a papaya.

Sleep?: Crappy again. Clara has been cutting the last of her 1-year molars and has been pretty cranky and not sleeping well. I’m sure my sleep is not going to improve after Adam has surgery on Wednesday.

How are you feeling physically? Aside from a nasty pain in my back, pretty good. I’m sure going to the Chiropractor on Tuesday will help, though.

How are you feeling emotionally?: Stressed with the holidays coming up and with Adam’s upcoming surgery. I’m not worried about the surgery itself, I’m more worried about what’s going to happen with the recovery and child care with me working all week.

Best moment this week?: Picking a name for our son finally!! His name will be Samuel James. We also learned the name of our new nephew. I’m so excited! I really can’t wait til April!

Movement?: Oh yes! Lots of it. And I think he’s getting bigger because his kicks are getting a lot stronger!

What is baby up to this week?: Much the same as last week. Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Food cravings?: Not really. I was astonished when I saw that I actually lost weight this week because I pretty much felt like all I did was snack all weekend, even though I wasn’t particularly hungry.

Labor signs?: Nope. Just some Braxton Hicks contractions.

What I miss: Hmmm, nothing really. I plan to enjoy a glass or 2 of wine over the Christmas holiday so that should curb my craving for a while.

What I'm looking forward to: I’m looking forward to having Adam’s surgery done and over with so we can move on with the next phase of our life plan. I’m also looking forward to January 5th, when we have our next appointment…though I’m not looking forward to the glucose testing that day.

Random Thoughts: I don’t have too many random thoughts this week. I’m too busy getting everything ready for Christmas!

23 week bump pic.

Formally introducing...

That's right, our son finally has a name! We're absolutely in love with this combination and it's pretty far from what we had originally considered. We'll be calling him either Samuel or Sam (NOT Sammy, lol) and James is Adam's middle name which is nice to be able to carry on.

We can't wait to meet you, little man!

Author's note: I intended to do this reveal slightly differently, but due to my lack of computer skills, I couldn't do exactly what I wanted. :) Oh well, you get the point. 

What's on your mind?

It's Friday once again. I thought I'd do another edition of "What's on your mind?". I'm thinking of turning this into a weekly post.

• Today is the last Friday I'll be working for 2 weeks!
• Monday will be the last Monday I'll be working for 2 weeks!
• Adam's surgery is only a few days away now. He has his pre-op appointment with our GP this afternoon and then we're spending the next day and a half trying to get some major things done around the house in preparation for him being out of commission for the next 2 months (minimum).
• The list of things to do this afternoon includes: wrapping the presents for Christmas on Saturday at my brother & sister-in-law's house, finish decorating the tree, clean out the garage, clean out the refrigerator, do some laundry, buy one last-minute gift, and finish cleaning stuff up outside for the winter.
• I'm in a better mood than I have been the last few days. Truth be told I was in somewhat of a funk most of the week, but I feel better today.
• We finally picked a name for our son! I'm working on the reveal and am really excited to let everyone know what we decided on! I think everyone will be surprised, since it's pretty far from what we had been considering!
• I feel like a major geek because I got a new P-Touch labeler for St. Nick and am REALLY stoked about it! I can't wait to start using it! Ok, who are we kidding? I am a major geek. :)
• It's freezing outside, but at least there's no snow yet. Being pregnant and having snow on the ground makes me nervous. I don't want to slip and fall...and I'm not particularly fond of having to drive to work most days before the snow plows will be out.

So, what's on your mind on this chilly Friday?

22 Week survey-18 to go!

Weekly Survey:

How far along? 22 weeks! 18 weeks left

Total weight gain: +13lbs (141lbs)

How big is baby?: The size of a papaya.

Sleep?: Last night it was terrible. In general, though, it’s been pretty good.

How are you feeling physically? Today I’m a bit uncomfortable. I’m not sure if I slept funny or I haven’t had enough to drink yet or what. Other than that, I’ve been pretty good. My back is starting to bother me again, but I think it’ll work itself out again.

How are you feeling emotionally?: Good. The hormones/emotions have been pretty well in check lately.

Best moment this week?: We got our Christmas tree! I ended up having to pick it out by myself! We picked Clara up from Mimi & Papa’s and stopped at a Christmas tree place nearby. Well, she fell asleep in the car in between so Adam stayed in the car with her while I picked a tree (don’t worry-I had someone else carry it out!). It’s not decorated yet, but it’s up!

Movement?: Of course! Our little man had a quiet day yesterday but he seems to be back to his regular antics today.

What is baby doing this week?: Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

Food cravings?: No cravings, but I’ve been eating like crap all weekend. It’s time to get back on track. I’m pretty sure that’s why I gained 2lbs this week as opposed to my usual 1lb. I’m making a run to the store tonight so I’ll be re-stocking my supply of healthy and delicious snacks.

Labor signs?: I hope not! I’ve been feeling crampy this morning, but I’m hoping it’s just gas and/or the baby growing.

What I miss: My back not hurting!

What I'm looking forward to: St. Nick comes tomorrow! He was very busy this year so he didn’t have time to make much for our little family, but he told me to check my stocking and there will be something there!

Random Thoughts: We’re counting down the days til Adam’s surgery. I’m not nervous about the surgery part (though that may change, too). I’m more worried about how things will go after he’s done and recovering. I’m a planner and the fact that nothing is planned and everything is up in the air is driving me nuts…especially the prospect of not seeing my daughter for the better part of a week or more. I’m also sad that I’ve been wishing this pregnancy away too much. With Clara I could sit around and daydream about how it would be to have a baby. Now I’m too busy chasing her all over the place and wishing I was more physically capable of keeping up with her! Well that, and I’m looking forward to meeting this little man who thinks it’s fun to beat mommy up all day long.

What's on your mind?

A local radio station does this every Friday: Tell us what's on your mind. So I will! I've been feeling very bloggy lately, anyway. :)

• I just finished watching Eric's new blog post from his website. This is Stem Cell Transplant #3, Day +14 and it sounds as if everything is going well! The post itself was from Wednesday. As of then, he still had no white cells, but his platelets were coming up, which means it looks like the new stem cells have grafted! With any luck his white cells will come up soon and he'll be able to FINALLY get out of the hospital and into his new house! Such amazing news!
• Another young lady whom I have been following, Miss Scarlett, just had her every-three-month MRI to check for regrowth of her brain tumor. The scan went well and she is still IN THE CLEAR! More amazing news! For those who don't know Scarlett's story, check out the blog roll on the right. You can read all about her and her amazing parents.
• For those who don't know, my husband is a published author. I, personally, can't read much of what he writes because I'm a big fraidy cat and he writes horror. His latest accomplishment? He got published in a book of short stories! A BOOK! It's even on Amazon! OMG, I am a proud wife! He also has a blog where he has his other published works listed. You should check them out sometime.
• Another note about my husband, he is a USMC veteran with a bum knee. It's why he's currently in nursing school and not still working with me. Well, said bum knee has been operated on God knows how many times and is still not any better. So, we're going for another round of surgery on the 14th. I'm nervous as hell, not for the surgery, but for the recovery process. This is not a small surgery. Not to mention we have a 13-month old at home to take care of and I'm rather pregnant and I still have to go to work during the day. While he's on crutches it's going to be hard for him to take care of her so she'll be spending a lot of time with the grandparents which makes me really sad. I don't like when she spends tons of time away from home. I miss her too much. But at least he'll be off the crutches and mostly recovered by the time our son comes (hopefully!!). With any luck, he'll finally be healthy enough for everyday life! It's been a long struggle and we're really hoping that this is it.
• I can't wait to start really getting down to organizing the kids' room. There's a lot of Clara's things that need to get packed away, like the bumpers from her crib and some of the toys she doesn't play with anymore. I know I can keep some of the toys out for the little guy, but there are others that can get packed away for now-especially with Christmas coming up! I need to get the shelving system and bins that I want so I can get organized. I feel an overwhelming urge to be really neat and organized lately. Maybe that's why I put a label maker on my Christmas list (I'm such a nerd)!
• Speaking of Christmas: I have got to get some Christmas shopping done! I have a couple things for people, but am nowhere near finished! AND we'll be celebrating Christmas with my parents and my brother and his wife NEXT WEEKEND! I think we're getting our tree either this weekend or next. I can't wait to get that up and decorated! And my mother and I are going to a Christmas concert tonight.

Anyway, that's about it for now. It's Friday and work is slow, but I've got other things I can do like read a book. :)

Anatomy scan update

Yesterday afternoon we had our anatomy ultrasound as well as our monthly check-up with the doctor. Our ultrasound was scheduled for 2 and the doctor's appointment for 3.

I was really hoping that Clara would take an early nap so that she wouldn't be quite such a handful to deal with since we didn't have a sitter and had to bring her along. I left work at 1 and called Adam on my way home. He said Clara had just fallen asleep. Super. Of course she would do that when we have to leave the house by 1:45! So he put her in the crib and jumped in the shower. When I got home I changed clothes and helped get her stuff together. She also hadn't had time to eat lunch so we packed some snacks along, too. Unfortunately, we had to wake her up so we could get her dressed so we could all leave the house. I HATE waking sleeping babies. Luckily, she seemed to be in a pretty good mood.

We got to the ultrasound office (right next door and on the same floor as our doctor's office, which is really convenient!) and she amused herself by running all over the place. :) It was really cute. We got called back very shortly and got settled in to the room. The tech got all the shots she needed except for the heart. We could see the heart and the heartbeat, but she couldn't get him to move into just the right spot to get the exact angle she wanted. He was really quite stubborn. She had me roll on my side and jiggled him around. I even got up and went to the bathroom and he still wouldn't move! So, the verdict is we get to have another ultrasound in about 5 weeks. I wasn't upset by that. I love seeing the little guy! Everything else looked really healthy. He's measuring slightly smaller than his current due date (or weight-wise he's about 3/4 of a pound). We also got (unneeded) confirmation that he is, in fact, still a boy. It was so nice to see him. And we got a really cool shot of him yawning! Here it is:

See how cute he is with his little hands up by his face, rubbing his eyes?? Awww!! Too much cuteness!



Next, we headed next door to the doctor's office. Mind you, it was really early...I think the ultrasound took all of about 40 minutes (as opposed to the hour it's scheduled for)...but we still got in almost right away. I got all the usual-weight, bp, handouts for various upcoming testing and classes. Before too long Dr. V came in and we got down to business-which actually only involved him taking a quick look at the pictures from the ultrasound and whatever was written in my chart. He asked how everything was going (really well, actually!) and if I had any questions or concerns (which I didn't) and we were pretty much done! No need for the doppler since we had heard the h/b at the ultrasound. He would like to do the glucose testing and the next ultrasound at my next appointment, which thanks to the holidays won't be until January 5, 2012. I'll be roughly 26-27 weeks by then-ALMOST 3RD TRIMESTER! Yikes! I can't believe how quickly it's going and it'll probably feel even faster because of Christmas and New Years, and Adam's surgery!

So that's about it! Everything went well, the little man looks happy and healthy, and we're just cruising through! We do still have some hard work ahead of us, though...PICKING A NAME!