Spurts of productivity and such

Glenn decided (oh, Thursday) that this weekend would be the one in which to tackle the wood flooring in the baby's room since we are mid-November and nice weather may be lacking soon. He would need to cut the pieces requiring him some outdoor sawing time (sorry neighbors) and to my proud amazement, he knocked it out in one weekend! This was on top of playing  2 football games and of course a day full of Sunday NFL. Impressive indeed! Some fun in the sun football photos below:

this basically sums up our football team, Love at First Pump

Enjoying the day with Miss Kara! Go Orange!

sweet action shot of Daddy & Team

Fall Football 2011

This of course, does not mean that my end of cleansing the room of clutter and clothes and shoes and lord knows what else is complete....nooooo way not even close. It's stressy for me to even think about, but it WILL get tackled. Soon. Currently there are baskets and clutter all through the house but I am hoping to consolidate soon.


Glenn spent Friday night while I was out for sushi tearing the old carpet up, which apparently was alot of work, ripping out the nails holding everything down.

Fab deal on Pergo! Shade is "oak something or other" (I forget)

Don't worry - the tablet was on hand for up to date football news

Gross under-carpet padding stuff. Be gone!

He had got the first portion of flooring (to the closet door) done before football on Saturday - and finished to rest today! Big props to this weekend project, Glenn is a pro!

Sneaking a peak...

doin work, son!

busy getting those last few in place

Finito!

We (I) decided it would be good to start taking "shots" in the baby's room, so once we start to fill it up with baby things it can be a bit livelier (no more blue wall in the kitchen!). The lighting is alot different with the 2 skylights so do trust I am not this pasty in real life. 

Post jog (2.5 slow miles!) later....

yeah baby yeah!

Bonus view:

freckles and floor!

Cheers to 12 weeks!

Completely thrilled to have crossed this milestone - after 12 weeks, and a visual or audio of the heartbeat, all systems are go! We went to the GBMC Harvey Institute for a Nuchal Translucency screening to make sure Baby Lovelace was a healthy grower at 11 weeks 6 days. 


It was a great experience! Glenn's sister is an ultrasound technician and was pleased we were going to be seen by Dr. Jari and her team (who went to school in Pennsylvania where Regina works with one of Dr. Jari's colleagues). I think it gave us a little bit more "visual time" to share this tidbit with the technician.


Everything looks great! The Nuchal Translucency measurement is at 1.5-1.6, and baby is completely healthy. Anything 2.8+ is a marker for Down Syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities. We got a good half an hour or so of time looking at Baby, and the technician was very thorough with detailing the heart, arms, and legs as well as taking many measurements. 


I apparently follow directions too well, the technician said my bladder was ginormous and let me "release" about a cup and a half to be more comfortable. In that time baby had flipped upside-down! It's crazy to see how much they move around. I can't wait to start feeling those movements in these upcoming weeks!

We also shared the news with the world, aka FACEBOOK! It was a very exciting moment to tell everyone, and the enthusiastic feedback makes me smile! It's nice to see how much love is out there for a new baby.

Baby Lovelace's big debut...eating a "burrito" like Erin said :)

12.5% of  my facebook friend population is excited, ha! We also told our respective jobs, so it is good to have that cat out of the bag, or the baby out of the bunting as it were....my boss was supportive and offered to call HR to get me some feedback on the maternity leave policy (as it has been at least 5 years since anyone was pregnant at the company). I am curious and excited to see how the rest of the company will react to the news! One thing is for sure, at least everyone will know what this bulge is, and why I've been drinking all that gross decaf coffee. 

little teeny wiggle worm 

Below is one of my favorites, because you can see the full development of the hand, much like baby is waving at us! Sup Ya'll?! See ya in May!

The shot on the left is taken sorta "head down" so you can see the arm waving, and to the right we see Baby "giving us 5" . I have upcoming standard prenatal visits, and next ultrasound is the anatomy at 18-20 weeks! Stay tuned!

11 weeks and a taco party!

This week I felt like I looked preggo...as in, wow is that a bump for real? One day at work I did a double take in the mirror at my expanding belly. I am not sure if it was the outfit, or my lunch, or what, but I felt all bumplicious!


I kinda feel like my coworkers who aren't in the know, are doing double takes...probably thinking my gym slacking is paying off in a fat way. Soon enough we shall share!


This weekend also brought a cooking party with good friends...the theme was FANCY TACO NIGHT, which was right up my alley. Sheena made a bazillion salsas, and I managed a queso via our pal Emeril. 

cheesey deliciousness

It was so good to eat and be merry with fab lady friends

We nommed on mexican delights and watched the Steelers-Ravens game (boo). I had some delicious German non-alcoholic beer (Thanks Sheena!) and had a blast staying out on a school night. 


Black & Gold Glory weekly pix:

this pic makes me feel like fatty fat 3000 %

Today I had my 12 week appointment - and from here on out until the 36th week things should be pretty routine. Pee in a cup, get my weight and blood pressure taken, and detail any changes happening since last visit. The good news of the day is that my pap came back normal (hooray!), my blood work was fab, and my cervix is apparently free of scar tissue (that the OBGYN can tell at least) thus far so I am free of any restrictions. It was great to meet a doctor I actually liked, who actually smiled and told me congratulations. She also checked for the baby's heart with her doppler and said it sounded great! Love those machines. Up next: the diagnostic screening and (hopefully) our big reveal!

Quilting Craziness

The nesting era has begun! I have been sleuthing different nursery oriented crafts via pinterest and Niter has been great enough to get us started on some quilts. She has a veritable treasure trove of fabrics gleaned from a sale of samples (likely from an upholstery store going out of business). While most of the fabrics are circa 1985, some of them were winners! 

We also hit up Hobby Lobby and Joanne's for some other goodies. My original color scheme (in my head) was as follows:

We'd like to do chair rail, in white...on the lower part of the room. Chair rail and up will be the gray color. All other colors will be accents (namely the yellow, coral and blue). I am not a hgue fan of the brown tone of this yellow, and intend on using more of my favorite mustardy yellow.  I also have haphazardly picked up a number of green pieces as well. So it is one big hodge podge, which I like. I am going for a colorful eccentric look and am not that pressed about things being all "matchy matchy".

I found a few fabrics at Joanne's that incorporated the coral and blue and we went from there. Currently Mom has...*ahem* 4 quilts planned. 2 of which will stay at her house in West Virginia, and the other 2 shall reside here. 

I'd like to disclaimer everyone and let them know I am aware of the SIDs risk with having blankets in the crib, and let you know, dear reader, that the baby won't be covered. The quilts can be on the side of the crib early on as decor, used as blankets for tummy time in the future, and will perhaps be that favorite blankie in the toddler age. Rest assured we practice safety up in here!

In any event, we had a fab weekend picking out fabrics and arranging them in orders we liked. 

swatches and swatches for days!

bright and dotty for at Grandma's house

a groovy ass tribal fabric I found in clearance in Joanne's

Quilt 1 : the coral with blue flowers and the large abstract florals are my favorites

The fabrics above will be cut into thin strips and will be put together to look somewhat like this:

simple, easy and bright! (well less babyish than this)

Quilt number two will have these colors"

again, the coral fabric with the blue flowers is my go-to favorite

I don't have an example of what this one will look like (yet) , since the pattern came out of a quilting book, but it is decidedly more complex than the jellyroll. 

Update: It is a "quick trip" quilt made in the diamond pattern (idea below)

 I like these colors for a boy or a girl...well more so a boy since that is what my intuition is telling me. If it is a girl, then we will throw some ruffles on it and call it a day! Or we can have Niter make quilt number 62 in purple and pink! I am excited to see how they will all turn out, and thankful for such a crafty mother!

Things I noticed after working out 3 times in 2 weeks (insert golf claps here)

Of note:


-- I miss running


-- I miss running outside


-- I miss Tuesday Night Class (I was just starting to get real muscles dammit!)


-- I am scared to do any leg lifting, back, squats, etc because of my damn cervix


-- I've been doing the elliptical and it is boring


-- I did a "new" version of the elliptical tonight and it was....you guessed it, still boring


-- I finally have purchased a heart rate monitor so at least I will be doing this safely 


-- It's weird to not be fully "showing" yet but be walking around with a belly that looks like I had too much fun drinking beer on Halloween. Or eating cake. Or eating cake and drinking   beer.


-- I ate alot of Halloween candy this week and going to the gym probably won't cancel it out


-- I am starting to get a ton of blue veins on my back, stomach, legs and boobs. Creepy yet    scientific! Flow, blood, flow!


-- I wish I could make myself work out everyday...but some days are just way easier than others. On others I like to take naps.


-- That being said, working out makes me feel really refreshed and energetic and keeps headaches away


-- My water intake is amazing


-- I have gained either 3 pounds or 6, it ebbs and flows. I should research what is considered healthy


-- I lean over now and I don't have "rolls"...it is like one big roll, the making of a bump? 


Exciting?


-- Number of times someone has almost walked in the bathroom whilst I awkwardly take photos (4)

curvature of gut

ain't no bakery up in here! (no rolls, but a bun in the oven harharhahrharh okay I quit)

10 (hallo)weeks!

Baby Lovelace has been growing up a storm, now the size of a kumquat! I wish I knew what a kumquat looked like in real life. In about 9 weeks baby is going to be the size of a banana. A BANANA. That is huge!


This week fly right by, and was celebrated with friends and Halloween festivities. Originally I wanted to go as "pregnant VMAs Beyonce" 

fact: no similar knockoff blazer exists

However I had a really difficult time finding a purple sparkly blazer, so I scrapped this idea with much sadness. Sadness turned to seething anger when I heard that Kelly Ripa had forged together MY COSTUME. 

whatever

So I did what any savvy lady would do in my position. I went as a guy. The sassiest guy ever. None other than PRINCE. 

full disclosure: all items I owned prior, except for the wig

I went to a friend of a friend's Halloween party (alone because Glenn hates dressing up because he is a giant walking party pooper) and it people were feeling the funk (and the costume). I fashioned "the" guitar out of a piece of cardboard with some assistance from my coworkers and all in and all it was a pretty fantastic get up. 

Sheena as "year of the rabbit" 

I make a ridiculously attractive man

Sunday I spent a good bit of the afternoon starting the arduous process of cleaning out my closet(s) if we are to ever make room for this precious bean. I was very proud in that I organized a good bit of clothes, and sent 2 huge garbage bags to Goodwill. Those of you who know my packrat tendencies can attest that this is a.big.deal. 


I also felt nesty and busted out the crock pot and made some vegetarian chili. Beans are good for you! And good for the baby bean! MMMM PROTEIN

quick, easy, and guaranteed to make pregnancy farts that much worse

On actual Halloween, I was completely lazy and inclined to take my bra off and put on sweatpants the second I came through the door. I did not pass out candy (I know, I know, I am awful). But I didn't want to scare the children, and only 3 kids came to the door and Glenn gave them sufficient amounts. I got excited looking at all of my friend's babes and thinking about how this time next year we will have a 5 (?) month old to dress up and carouse about the cul de sac with! 


And now it's time for your obligatory bump shots!

lookie who finally worked out again!

too much candy for the baby

These are actually photos from today, (10 weeks 5 days so I am way closer to 11 than 10 but you get the gist) 

do we have girth yet?

ULTRASOUND!

Sorry for the belatedness (avid readers, the 2 of you...Hi Mom! Hi Erin!) but finally an update! We went for our first ultrasound (it's been a long 10 weeks ya'll!) on October 27th. We were scheduled for a 7:30am appointment and were in lickety split. The actual process took about 10 minutes!


The whole thing flew right by. I was so glad Glenn was present for it, and had a good view. When she put the scanner right on my abdomen she found the baby in about 30 seconds. The best view I got the whole ultrasound was in that first few seconds. Baby bean was dancing around, kicking and fist pumping! It was amazing to see how much movement was actually happening, since I'm too early to feel anything. I sorta thought the baby was just chilling in there, taking a snoozer and thinking about future stock options...but oh no, little fetus of Love is ska-dancing up a storm!


Our quiet, fast-moving technician Janine took measurements of the baby (right on target at exactly 10 weeks, so due date is May 24th, although I know the night I ovulated was September 3rd so I say May 26th), my ovaries, and the yolk sac, and I don't know what else? I say I don't know because again, this provider was less than forthcoming with details. COME ON. I am not sure if it is the state of Maryland, and perhaps it's more of a booming metropolis  with high birth rates, but these first time appointments aren't the Hallmark specials I initially had anticipated/hoped for.


She didn't spell out what was the heart, or where the brain was (pretty obvious for us to figure out), but because my head was cranked in such a way, I had to look uncomfortably over my shoulder to see anything...so I didn't get as much viewing time as I would've liked. Glenn said he could see the heart flickering! Heart rate was at 163 beats per minute, which babycenter reflects as being about average for 10 weeks along (160 to be exact).


She did take a photo for us (after lambasting us for bringing a camera....boo) which now is proudly framed! Behold, the first photo of Baby Lovelace!

Black dot in head = brain! Its little hand is by its face, that's that "beak" sort of area

Janine said the baby looked great and measuring on pace for 10 weeks and then promptly turned off the machine and told us to have a great day. 


We went to the classiest Bob Evans available (read: across the street from my job) and grubbed on some fantastic pancakes and bacon. We both stared at the ultrasound picture and tried not to get syrup on it and took turns suggesting (and turning down) future names. After seeing the baby's image and hearing the heart rate was 163, for whatever reason my brain said "girl" but the rest of my body is still screaming "boy". Only about 7-10 weeks until we can officially find out!

A belly full of baby and pancakes = joy

Dad's belly is full of bacon