Growing

So I've got this belief that I never have enough time during the week to get what I want done. I mean, sure, I've got time after school. But I honestly believe that there is an absolute need to wind down after school before dinner, and then before you know it, it's bedtime! This week, it seems particularly worse so. I think the baby is having a growth spurt this week. I'm sure you are wondering why exactly do I believe this. Well, I'm generally more hungry, I'm more tired, and I'm more crampy to be honest!! Hopefully it will get better soon!

The Bonaparte Estate


It's a rare occasion that they open the Bonaparte Estate here in Bordentown for tours, so when I got the email last night mentioning today's tour, we couldn't pass it up! It wasn't as exciting as I'd hoped it to be, but none the less It was certainly worth my time! I now know where to look for the infamous Bonaparte Tunnel along the creek, and we were able to see the creek from above, a completely different view than I am ever used to. It was a nice little hike for a Sunday afternoon.

Stickley




I stood there in the store, feeling my heart beating, running through every possibility in my mind. There it was, sitting right in front of me, and it was meant to be. What am I talking about?!

Well, A Stickley style Arts and Crafts chair, with an amazing price tag... $125!

I've been in the market for a rocker for a long time. Of course, this wasn't the Stickley rocker that I wanted, but it was everything without the rock. How could I turn it down? Then, from behind, I heard the shopkeeper say, "She discounts 15% with cash or check!" to another customer.

I had Joe echoing through my head, thinking back to Jackie and Suzanne's house, "How come we don't have such cool stuff?" Well, really, it's because I always find a way to talk myself out of it! If I walked away, I would forever regret this moment.

Oh My God! I had to buy it!

I asked her how we could get it out. I explained that I was pregnant, the roads were closed off due to Shad festival, and my car was two blocks away. She helped us out, and I rushed to the ATM. When I returned, she said she didn't realize the chair was already on sale and couldn't give it to me for the sale price without asking the consigner first. I told her I couldn't very well walk back to the ATM all pregnant! She got off the phone with even better news! $100, no tax!

We got it down the back stairs. Two blocks wasn't so far. Mind you, I often forget how pregnant I am, and now I find myself a bit sore even though the chair was rather light and Elise did a bulk of the carrying. Off we went!

"Nice chair!" echoed past us more than once on the walk. But it wasn't until we arrived at the car where we encountered another woman who was curious about the chair. "You got a steal!" she said. She'd recently purchased a similar chair and apparently spent much more on it.

In the end, I walked away feeling victory. I've got my chair, leaving me with one last conquest..

The barn wood table!

Spring is here!

Yesterday morning, I set out to Home Depot with the intent of picking up lots of gardening goodness. I came home a little while later armed with weekend projects. Of course, it's not nearly as easy as I know it to be with a few extra baby pounds and all, but I still managed to get quite a bit done! My ferns are starting to emerge with their fronds unravelling before my eyes. The smoke bushes are starting to get new growth renewing my hope that they would survive their first winter. After lopping off the weeping pussy willow, it too it starting to show signs of life. The maple's leaves are quickly emerging with renewed shade. My garden is feeling fresh and new again!

20 Weeks 3 Days HALF WAY THERE!!

I know..my life already revolves around baby..I apologize..but hey, this is some pretty exciting stuff..or would you rather hear about our income taxes that we owe (for the first time EVER bleh!) or perhaps how our two cats are handling being a couple again? Things are fine there by the way ;)



Anyway, baby news!



Baby is lookin good! Weighing in at about a pound. Everything looks healthy, still measuring ahead at 21 weeks 5 days (currently 20 weeks 3 days)!! Heartrate was 135, so in the "boy" range, whatever that old wives tale means LOL.

Now, she took all her pictures, never told us to look away, but managed to do a gender scan without us knowing, which drops me in the GIRL boat, because i think boys tend to be more obvious, no?

Everyone else is calling a girl!! Who knows! This not knowing business is kinda fun :)

The baby didn't do a whole lot of moving. I even drank some sugary iced tea before we went, but the U/S tech had to poke to make it move a bit!

My placenta is anterior, which could be why the muffled/lack of kicks! I THOUGHT it was! It is starting though! It's kinda neat, but only in the past few days have I felt really much at all besides two isolated twitch incidents nearly 3 weeks ago :)

I've been feeling really good, of course, minus the minor growing pains. I always feel blessed that everything has gone so smoothly so far. I know my mom is looking out for this baby.

Here are some pictures. She gave us like seven pictures, but the tech herself wasn't very cheery..she had about as much personality as a dish rag! All of the shots are profiles, but one attached has an ARM in front of it's head. We have settled on names, or so we think ;) BUT we are keeping it secret. Joe's taken to calling IT Baby Kenobi..as in Obi Wan? He thinks its funny, and it's starting to stick LOL! Hence, the labeling!