One week Old and already making progress!

It has been a week already and every morning I wake up to find myself falling deeper and deeper in love with my Lucia. Yesterday, we were visited by the "home visiting nurse". Lucia has gained back all the weight she lost in the hospital and is now 7 lb 13 oz. She lost half an inch (probably due to her head rounding out after the birth). She is at VERY low risk of jaundice, she was rated "2" and I think they you can get as high as 18 before they worry. I forget the name of the test but I think it starts with "Billi". So we are both very happy and healthy.

This the last few days Grandma Obert has come to stay and enjoy new baby. Last night she made her "sweet and sour chicken" that I've been craving. We've only managed one outing to the grocery store because there is a BLIZZARD here in Iowa City. So, we've been knitting and tating and looking at quilting books in our PJs mostly.

Here are some other highlights:

• Melissa and Sara's family visited.
  
• JR and Andy's family visited.


• Grandma Olson and family friend Mrs. Kellerman visited.


• The Nelson Family visited.


• Lucia and Daddy watched thier first super-bowl together and they both cheered when the Giants won. Yea! for the underdogs!


• Lucia can hold her head up for significant periods of time.


• She can clasp her hands in front of herself and cross her arms.


• She is smiling and giggling (one morning when we were waking up together I said, "Good Morning Lucia and she responded with a big smile!).


• She is still sleeping and eating AWESOME!
  
• We think MAYBE we see a dimple (not sure yet).
• Lucia likes to wave her hands, listen to music, sing with Mommy, suck her fingers, and play with her hair.
• Lucia also had her first spongebath!

Hello everyone... Well are you ready to hear of our crazy labor ride? I know you are! Here is the run down... I will bullet it so it's easier to follow:

• Katy called Kent on Monday, January 28th to prepare him that she thought that the baby was going to come that day at about noon (due to details most of you won't appreciate).



• Kent went into work at 1pm.
  
• Katy went shopping at Fareway, did laundry, and cleaned the house while she was in early early easy labor.
  
• Katy got in the bathtub to relieve labor pain. Pains increased... Katy started timing the labor.
  
• Kent received phone call to come home from work around 6pm. He hightailed out of there and returned about 6:30pm.
  
• Kent recorded contraction times until they were 3 mins apart and about a minute long (Katy thought that was sufficent "Labor at home" progress to go into the hospital).
  
• Katy and Kent alerted our labor support person, Sara, and dog sitter, Genevieve, and went into the hospital at about 11:30 pm.
  
• Nurse determined at hospital that Katy was 2 cm dialated and was showing only minute contractions. She sent the labor team to go walk around for an hour to see if any progress would turn up.
  
• At about 1 am Katy was put back on monitor and nurse determined that no progress was made. She told us, "Keep your appointment for friday" and that it was probably false labor. She advised to sit in the bathtub and see if the pain subsides.
  
• Team returns home. Katy sends Kent to go rest and hops in the bathtub where she primarily labors for the rest of the night. Katy used, "Baby dancing" and pelvic tilts to cope with labor pain. She chants, "Making progress" and "Opening" to hypnotize herself and goes into dreamstate to acheive rest between contractions.
  
• At about 7 am Katy starts pushing without really knowing it.
  
• She makes phone call to Mercy Labor and Delivery to warn them of her progress. They advise she can come in but if no progress is made that, "there will be nothing they can do for her."
  
• Katy gets off the phone to discuss with Kent but ends up only able to moan.
  
• Kent and Katy promptly get into car to head for the hospital.
  
• They hit 8 am school traffic...
  
• Katy's water breaks and she feels the baby fall...
  
• Kent drops Katy off at entrance of the emergancy room.
  
• Katy frantically calls for them to let her through to LD.
  
• She gets into the elevator with her hand holding baby in...
  
• She alerts Labor and Delivery that, "This baby is coming NOW!"
  
• Kent arrives by following the sounds of a woman screaming.
  
• They call for a Doctor who opens Katy to find a head.
  
• Baby pulled out and born 8:12 am, January 29th.
  
• Lucia (pronounced Lou-See-Ah) Anne Olson. 7 lb 12 oz (some of which she has lost since then) and 21" long.
  
• Whew. We successfully achieved an all natural birth with sense of relief and pride.

Some of the nice things that have happenned since are:

• Uncle JR visited during his lunch break everyday.
• Grandpa and Grandma Elaine have visited (nice) on Wednesday. Lucia scared them off with dirty diapers (That was not so nice, Lucia).
• Aunt Genevieve and Joshua stayed with us a lot on Tuesay.
• Aunt Sara (see labor coach) stayed with us and baked us cookies on tuesday also.
• Kent's work sent us flowers!
• Katy's work sent congrats in the form of e-mails to hospital that were delivered like daily mail (nice surprise).
• I had the best am nurse: Carla. They took such awesome recovery care of me! Thank god for "ice diapers".
• Olivia is staying with Daphne and the Barrons. Apparently, Daphne (thier yorkie poo) knows how to keep my girl in line when its her house!
• Kent is a natural Daddy.
• Lucia and Mommy are a natural, "breast feeding team".
• Lucia sleeps through the night except for 4 am and 6 am feedings.
• We are a family.

Aquarius!

I will be sure to post the adventures in the birth of Lucia Anne Olson but I am typing with only one hand.. enjoy these pics in the meantime.

Phil Collins- The tangled web he weaves...

Yesterday the song "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins came on the radio as my friend, JR, and I were pulling into Red Lobster. My friend explained that the song was about an incident where Phil was molested on a boat and then later in life was given a front row ticket to a Phil Collins' show to be exposed by spotlight while Phil sang this song.

Here is an example of another myth taken from the Internet: "I heard that there is a significance to the song "In the Air Tonight." A friend told me that it was written about an incident that happened when Phil was a youth. He said it was something about a drowning and that he invited some guy that he new that watched a friend of his drown. At the end of the concert he finished with that song, and had that guy he new was arrested after the show."

I looked up a bit more and unfortunately the story is not that exciting. There are several variations of this myth. Another one got around that Phil witnessed a drowning where a man refused to help the victim and was unable to help himself.



In fact, the song was written as a result of Phil's divorce from his first wife. He didn't write it in one night and he didn't expose anyone by spotlight. He actually wrote it as a result of experimenting with new "drum machine" technology that had just come out. Nonetheless, its a pretty chilling song to listen to and it was a fun thing to think about for a day even if, "It's all been a pack of lies!" (Ha ha)


Here are the song lyrics for those who are curious:

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord
I've been waiting for this moment, all my life, Oh Lord
Can you feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord, Oh Lord
Well, if you told me you were drowning
I would not lend a hand
I've seen your face before my friend
But I don't know if you know who I am
Well, I was there and I saw what you did
I saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off the grin, I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies

And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord
I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, Oh Lord
I can feel it in the air tonight, Oh Lord, Oh Lord
And I've been waiting for this moment all my life, Oh Lord, Oh Lord
Well I remember, I remember don't worry
How could I ever forget, it's the first time, the last time we ever met
But I know the reason why you keep your silence up, no you don't fool me
The hurt doesn't show; but the pain still grows
It's no stranger to you or me
And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, Oh Lord...

p.s. I like to look up urban legends and myths on "Snopes.com". It's something fun to do when you're bored.

Happy Birthday Patrick, you rascal!

Sorry I can't be there to celebrate with you and your family... I'll make you a little cousin to meet this week. I hope you can meet him/her very soon! Kent and I miss you!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!
I hope you have a romantic dinner and a nice evening... Is this #39?
Love you!
p.s. still no baby

Breaking News: Olivia was Hit Hard with appointments this Week

Here is a picture of one pathetic and exhausted Olivia Olson. She was groomed yesterday and had her teeth cleaned and wellness exam today in preparation of Baby "O". They put gunk in her eyes to keep them moist during the cleaning (hence, the weird look). Good thing we took her because it turns out she had a small UT infection. I feel pretty guilty because in my heavily pregnant state I've been sore at her when she asks to go outside a gazillion times to pee. We even started kenneling her overnight because she was getting us up every couple of hours. Anyway, upon her return home she headed straight for our bed and is still asleep. I don't expect much excitement out of her today.

The Nursery: A work in Progress...

Well, Kent and I have gradually painting and putting things together for the nursery. Here is what it is looking like lately... Also I featured the stencil and the Clock that Momma Obert gave us. Uncle Bernie gave us the Harley bear which I promptly put into the baby carrier that Uncle Jim and Aunt Mary gave us and carried it around the house. I knitted the froggy huggum's blanket for Lil "O".

Bowling for Kids Sake with the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program

I will be participating in the "Bowl for Kids Sake" fundraiser again this year. You can visit my Donation webpage by clicking the link. As some of you may remember I also participated in this last year. Many of the children I work with and am very close to benefit from this program and it is one that is close to my heart. I have a very modest goal of $200.oo. Please help me reach that goal.
Thank You!

Happy New Year (pregnant style) to you too!

Well, today is my last day of holiday break before going back to work tomorrow (that should be interesting). Tomorrow will be a full day, as well, because I have caucusing and a doctor's appointment.
Today I am at 36 weeks. One more week makes my baby full term and I could go into labor any day. My advice has been to enjoy this time before baby and I feel I have, for the most part. Being home while Kent is at work as well as having friends and family out of town has been admittedly boring and has increased the feelings of "waiting". Moving around isn't very fun but I have floated in a pool and gone for a walk amongst the snow and ice.
Olivia didn't like that very much. About half way through the walk she looked at me dejectedly with her tail between her legs. I resolved to picking her up for a spell and sticking her in my coat for a little warm up. The walk was OK but I had the urge to pee for most of it.
As for the New Year... It was a really nice one. Kent had to work. I had friends over for dinner. I made tater-tot casserole which was agreeable with everyone including the kiddos. The chocolate milk was also a huge hit! We ate left over holiday sweets for dessert. At about 8pm everyone went to their respective New Year's plans.
I went with Melissa and Sara for our regular poker group. I enjoyed watching as my friends got inebriated and acted silly and racked in the dough (a whole $6.05 above my $5 buy in) at the end of the night! I drove home the drunkies and then settled in with my sleeping hubby for the night.
The next morning, Kent made me breakfast and we had a very relaxing and cozy New Year's day. He built his LEGO deathstar and I knitted the baby blanket I've been working on for Baby "O" (sorry, I didn't take any pictures of my adventures).
I guess I just need to hang in there. This coming weekend Kent and I have our birthing class and the following weekend is the Baby shower. After that- Baby "O" is welcome anytime.

At the risk of posting something political I wanted to brag a bit about my friend and poker buddy who made NATIONAL NEWS! Click here or here to read about what Brian Hagmeier said about being a republican in support of Barak Obama.

So, I married a Jock...

Kent's X-mas wish list included having all his medals, memorabilia, and general "stuff" from his mother's basement. Since Kent made this request the boxes have been literally POURING into our home and since then I have learned something I only had only begun to acknowledge before... I married a real JOCK! Kent's swimming career went so much deeper than I realized before!

Over dinner this X-mas Elaine and I started talking about Kent and his swimming and I described how much I underestimated it because Kent rarely swims anymore, even on vacations, and he didn't swim in college. Elaine told me the sad story of Kent coming home from his freshman year of college. He was unable to make "a splash" at Iowa State. He thought he was going to be a big swimmer and engineering student there. Somehow, things didn't work out as expected and Kent came home to regroup and "figure out a new plan".

I had a similar conversation with my friend Sara on this very topic of that crucial first year at college. It is dangerous, although rewarding as well, to put so much stake in certain talents. If you are identified too strongly with something it is hard to figure out something else when that doesn't work out for you or when you somehow get lost in the crowd.

Anyhow, I'm having a week where I fall in love again with another part of my husband. I find every so often there is a time when I uncover new deeper reasons to love him as I continually learn more and more about him. This time its a younger part of Kent. I look in these pictures and recognize that same twinkle in his eye he has today.

I've also learned that if this baby will look anything like "Baby Kent" we will have one adorable baby (esp. mixed with a little Obert/Wuennemann good looks). Part of me is glad Kent is not an "in your face and everything up front" kind of person. His stories take awhile to come out and it takes a lot of patience to listen to him... Mom and I laugh about the way Kent tells a story because it usually starts with some statement that makes sense to no one but him. After that he follows up with something starting with, "Well...." then a long story after that. It will probably be one of the only things you hear out of him the whole day (unless your me and then you hear a lot more of them).

Kent was hard to love at the beginning as he fought it kicking and screaming. Then once your in his heart he's even harder to stop loving.

Kent and I will celebrate our first date/kiss on January 1, 2008. It will be seven years.

Merry Christmas 2007...

We are now at the Obert household about to have brecky.

Kent and I spent last night with the Olsons. Kurt, Kent's brother and his new wife had all the combined kids last night (FOUR girls , all puberty age--- Boy, I'm beginning to have new respect for Mike and Mar Moyer, sorry girls) and AJ... FULL HOUSE!

Kent got a X-mas singing Scooby.

My Father-in-law, Duane, received a "bathtub" complete with bubble bath (beans to make farts in the tub), scrub brush, bar of soap, and towel from Kent and I. He said that he needed a bathtub and we gave him the best our money could afford- a galvanized tub.

Weekend in CR

Well, I'm back on line after a weekend at home. I ended up going to Cedar Rapids on Saturday to see my niece and nephew in a Christmas program at Kennedy High School followed by cookies and Hot Chocolate. AJ, as many of you know, is quite a performer and a wonderful singer. His little sister Lindsey performed, as well, with her elementary school. Many of you may remember her singing, "We are Family" at our rehearsal dinner at the Longbranch (my wedding).

Afterwards, Duane and Elaine took me to dinner at Granite City. Duane has one of those electric/hybrid cars. It was freezing rain and the windshields wouldn't melt as fast as the rain was coming down. Needless to say, I feared for my life for a period of time. Dinner was good (I had a Buffalo Burger) and got home safe and sound.

Our first snowy snowy night

I made the holiday drop chocolates last night and finished cleaning the house in lieu of going to Cedar Rapids. It was snowing pretty heavily and conditions were not good for driving. I have learned, however, that multi-tasking and melting chocolate do not go well together. My first batch of "Peanut Clusters" were disastrous and came out looking more like "Peanut Poop"(you know what I'm talking about). They are tasty enough but very unappetizing to look at. I was so frustrated with myself that the "Chinese Noodle cookies" turned out perfect but the recipe made a small batch. The turtles were OK but I didn't heed my mother's advice and dropped them on wax paper... Getting them off the wax paper caused swearing and high blood pressure. Making these holiday goodies was not at relaxing and fun as I anticipated.
The view outside is wonderful right now... Right out of a Christmas card. I REALLY want to go X-country skiing as the snow is light and powdery. I surprised my husband last night. He came home to find I shoveled the sidewalk and driveway. It was nice enough outside and the snow wasn't too heavy. I don't feel very debilitated by my pregnancy at 7 1/2 months. In fact, I feel less so now than ever. My hips and other joints ache all day but I have more energy than ever.
So.... X-country skiing? Bad idea?

Holiday fun

This past week I made holiday spritz cookies and they turned out lovely. I'm planning on making some of those chocolate drop cookies this week too. I will try to post a photograph of them.
I have joined a choir for the holidays called "MetroMix Choir". Its been lots of fun and we have been preparing for a concert at the Englert on December 13th (doors open at 6:30) called "Festival of Carols". There will be cookies and hot chocolate and a reading of The Night Before Christmas as well.
Our tree is up and I'm just really enjoying the season. I will be preparing for the greatest gift of all: our new family member. There is a song we sing called Mary did you Know that gets me all emotional. I can't help but wonder what wonderful things are in store for Kent and I.

My New Hobby

Just wanted to let you all my new favorite thing to do is cuddle in my bed listening to NPR and doing a crossword puzzle. Surprisingly, I'm not knitting. However, I am nesting so the rest comes after a vigorous cleaning of the household- organizing drawers, scrubbing floors, laundry cooking, baking and dishes.

Doctor Visit

Yesterday, I visited my doctor. My friends tut-tut me because I'm not going to a specialized OB. Anyway, I like my doctor because she has a real laid back approach. I'll be going every two weeks now. The baby seems to be a persistent breech which means I may get that third ultrasound yet. Still no good specific word on the sex of the baby. Maybe I'll be in a "go get 'em - I want to see the doctor of this place" mood next time and insist on a professional word from the doctor. I hate getting second rate care from techs. Last time the tech gave me a mouth full of information that was (as my doctor put it) wrong and that she shouldn't have done that. Must be hard when the patient doesn't even get to see/talk to the doctor.

Anyway, the appointment went well and she estimated the baby a little "longer" than average. The heartbeats were normal but on the lower side (some say this is a sign that its a boy). I know the "tech" told me she things its a girl but I still can't help wondering if its a boy...

Internet Dilemma

Just wanted to wish everyone Happy Thanksgiving and Happy birthday to my sister-in-law and brother. Kent and I are negotiating an internet plan at the moment so I am unable to check e-mail or blog unless I'm at work.
I want to ditch dial up and our home phone to opt for a cable internet service. Kent wants to get a cheap dial up that would add to our monthly costs. I don't think its worth it and the only calls we get on our home phone are from telemarketers.
So, let the peace talks resume.

Halloween 2007

Kent and I had a quiet night at home receiving trick or treaters. Our yard, ala Momma Obert, was decorated for the occasion. I had to dress in a costume for school that day but promptly took it off upon arrival home as my belly buldge was making me uncomfortable in the clothes I scraped up in my closet for a pirate costume. There is photographic evidence of that costume- However I am not in possession of it. Olivia wore her "ladybug" costume. We got to see Hannah, Damond and Quincy, Liam and Mae and last but not least Josh in his Elmo costume. I forgot to take pictures of the former children (Sorry!). They were all adorable! We did get a few "Older" trick or treaters... I think one of them was about thirty with her daughter. We had plenty, if not too much, candy and low turnout so I gave the "older" ones candy nonetheless (and No, JR, Melissa, and Sara I'm not talking about you guys!). Here are some pictures for you to enjoy!

Just want everyone to be pulling for my Grandma! Some of you may remember her from my wedding as the old lady shredding up the dance floor! She's having a bit of a hard time with her health and no matter what higher force you all believe, please send something out there for her to get better... She's been steadfast and strong for so long. Send her and the people there with her your love... it's one of those moments when we need to share some strength.

My Brother-in-law Kurt got remarried to Kim on October 5th!

Congrats to the new Couple. Thier wedding was very nice and casual. We all drove down to Arkansas to support him. In fact, Kent and I stuffed ourselves in Duane and Elaine's mini-van with Kurt's kids, Lauren, Lindsay and AJ... It was a full ship! That was the first "family" car ride I have experienced since I was probably... Oh... 10 years old or so. 24 hours in a car full of Olsons... priceless. Thanks to all the Arkansas people who put us up for the that couple of days!

It's a girl?
Well, after about an hour of poking and prodding around my belly they, "Guess its a girl." I'm not convinced. I wish I had something a little more conclusive to share. You see, first it was hiding its genitalia behind its hand, then it was hiding in back of my belly button, then it was hiding its genitalia behind the umbilical cord. They said they didn't see anything poking out and tried to show me where they though there were three lines representing the labia were. Hmmmm... A friend compared my baby's hiding to an Austin Power's movie where there is always something hiding the naughty something. I thought, "Well if it is a girl then she must be a "Venus de Milo": so full of chastity ;)."

Woman Overjoyed By Giant Uterine Parasite

NEW BRIGHTON, MN— "I'm so happy!" Crowley said of the golf ball–sized, nutrient-sapping organism that will eventually require hospitalization in order to be removed.

Day two of not working...

I'm on day two of not working. I start my new job at an elementary school on September 10th. Kent and I are working on a puzzle. Now all we have left is the annoying non-descriptive background peices to place.
Kent did most of it because he just can't walk away from the damn thing.
I already love this weekend because its so gorgeous outside.
HORRAY! for good weather!
Thanks to another burst of hormones I have added yet another pimple to my chin. Geez these hormones drive a girl nuts.
Me and "O" a.k.a. Olivia will probably discover someplace wonderful to walk and I will talk to her, "Who's the best dog in the whole world?" *Olivia looks up at me with her tounge half out smiling-rolls onto her back and wags her tail* It doesn't get much clearer than that folks!
I have a list of things I want to do today/this weekend:

• Go for a walk with Olivia
• Go to Radio Shack for a missing plug-in for my Ipod.
• Shop for new light fixture for my bathroom. I need affordable!
• Maybe pick out some paint colors?
• Pick of car from the mechanic.
• Visit Tanger Outlet Center's Labor Day sale.

There is more but I'm done listing things.

Here are some pictures from our trip to Denver. Top to bottom/right to left: Kent and I at Cubs/Rockies game [Cubs won but also inflicted serious injury to a Rockie who was up to bat when the Cubs pitcher accidentally hit him in the head with a fast ball- cubs got booed :( ], Kent enjoying a Black and Tan at an Irish pub outside the left field entrance to the stadium, Coors Stadium, Kent at aquarium with the sharks, Katy and Kent at the Zoo, Kent at Summit point in Estes park just before the rain.

(above from left to right: "The cousins"- Me, Kent, Shelly, Chis, Jared(?), Lisa and Joel)
Lisa and Joel got married Sept. 22nd, 2006 and had their reception this last month.

I have the utmost respect for all the women before me who have endured this thing called, "Pregnancy."

I'm at about 17 weeks and still puke in the morning. I have a pinched nerve where my leg meets my hip.I'm EXHAUSTED and I have acne like a teenager. I have another friend who is just as pregnant as I but her pregnancy has gone much smoother than mine.

At about week 15 Kent and I went to Colorado for a reception for a cousin of his. We camped some and, thankfully, were able to check into a motel for a few nights. Camping the first night was nightmarish. I don't think I slept more than an hour. It got better the two nights that followed. We camped at Golden Gate Canyon State Park in Golden, CO. There is a gorgeous view of about 10+ mountain from a lookout in that park. Kent and I went for a very nice hike (minus the up-mountain hike portion of the hike) to that Panoramic point.

Kent's mother, Elaine, his Aunt Kay and cousin Shelly and Chris (any of you remember the guy yelling for someone to take him to breakfast during gift opening at my wedding?) stayed in Evergreen. That was a very quaint touristy town.Turned out that Shelly is only a week or two less pregnant than I!!! She is also having a fabulous complaint free pregnancy. She had been trying a very long time and had to endure a lot to conceive.

Kent and I had the best time in Denver where we saw the Cubs play the Rockies, went to the zoo, the aquarium and to the art museum. I LOVED DENVER! I would live there if it wasn't for having to drive a million miles around mountains to get anywhere. I also don't like the idea of driving through Nebraska anytime soon.

Now to tie in the Pregnancy to all this... Kent and I haven't seen a whole lot of each other. Kent wakes up to the sound of my retching in the morning but hasn't experienced all my emotional and physical changes.

Chris (Shelly's husband) is, lets face it, a loud mouthed, loving, hilarious Italian man. He is VERY involved in every stage of the pregnancy as he too waited and worried as they were trying to conceive. You could often Chris and Kent hiding somewhere to smoke what they professed was another one of their precious last cigarettes (that was more Chris than Kent). Shelly laid an ultimatum on Chris but I know better with Kent. You need to know when to strike, choose your battles, and expect nothing. Kent always performs but on his terms (usually). Kent has a prescribtion for Chantix but hasn't gotton it filled yet. Its going to happen when he's ready. I credit Chris for preparing my husband emotionally for the coming of our baby. Thank you so much Chris!

I honestly think Kent didn't know what to think (and sometimes still doesn't) when in comes to becoming a Dad and having a family. I think its been drilled into Kent's head for so long that it's something naughty or wrong to get a woman pregnant that he's adjusting to the idea that its okay now and actually very welcomed by our families. Guys are weird and programmed sometimes (no offense).

Kent was able to laugh and joke with Chris about their upcoming new roles. It was very nice to see. I always feel really good when I see Kent off with a friend (that doesn't make my skin crawl). He is generally a home body and its a relief when he gets out socially.

Lastly, I have quit my job folks... Don't ask. Long story. My last day is next Wednesday. I think we'll be okay but it is worrisome. I'm working on a plan. I might like to take this opportunity to see some family. Mom and I talked about the possibility of meeting my niece Madeline or going to see Grandma (+family) in Ohio. I love going to Ohio.

Oh, one more thing... The new house is coming along. Kent and I are in no rush to make everything perfect all at once. We will paint the baby's room after we find out the sex. I just read a friend's blog wehre she is also pregnant and she's WAY more on the ball then I have been. I have an appointment next week to get blood work done. My doctor calls it the "Big OB" exam. Then we will schedule an ultrasound. Pretty exciting even if there are no guarantees that they will be able to distinguish the sex.

Anyone have votes or suggestions for names?

Here are the current possibilities in order of likelihood that we will actually name our kid this:

Boys (According to me I'm having a boy):

1. Michael "Mikey" Anthony (which is funny because this is a prominent name in my family that I could never spell and let me add that it was at Kent's suggestion).


2. Martin "Marty"


3. Evan

Girls (according to Mom and Kent they want a girl)

1. Annette "Annie"


2. Vivian "Vi Vi"


3. Kara

I didn't post anything on Pop-o's Birthday but I spent the day with him on Saturday. It was great because I really missed my folks. I have been on a vacation in Colorado with my in-laws for a reception (more about that later).

I'd just like to dwell a bit more on my Pop-o.

Boy, is he the best. Popo works hard for his family. He isn't the most outgoing or showy of personalities but Popo can be very funny. The older I get the bigger kick I get out of spending time with him. I tell Momma, "I just like watching him because he's just such a goof-ball!"

Pop-o has always been the handsomest man I ever knew. I have compared his looks to Elvis Presley on occasion. People say he looks more like Raymond from, "Everybody loves Raymond," but he is really much more handsome than that.

Everybody knows that Pop-o is smart and is very successful but he also has a very big heart. He genuinely cares about the people in his life and has turned out to be a very fun Grandpa. Its not always easy to see how much Popo cares because of the aforementioned lack of showy but there are tells in the more subtle variety and he would do anything to ensure that the people he loves are safe from harm.

I have looked up to my father my whole life and know that when he is angry that he means business because most of the time he didn't pay any mind. So when he yells- I jump. Most the time he yelled because of something bad I had done to Mom. Popo was always the model of a protective and loving husband. I also admired my parents loving relationship and would take no less in my own marriage than the love my parents had.

Pop-o travels and enjoys fine things in life because he works hard to get those things. I hope you get to enjoy those things for another 50+ years Popo. Take care and I love you! Happy Birthday.

Happy belated Birthday Cutie.
Love, your pain in the ass sister.

Here it is! Here's the amazing Peanut with a beating heart!
Due date: January 29th, 2008.

Love you Pop-o!

I learned all the pleasures in life from you: Family, Wine, Travel, and hats ;)

Happy Father's day

Its true Folks!

I've got something like the above picture growing inside my uterus.

I've got morning sickness and about every other symptom you can imagine.

Growing an alien inside me.

Wish me luck!