Weeks 29-31

Wow, a LOT has happened since I posted last time. Peanut's future husband has arrived and is currently educating his parents on what to do with a newborn so Christina can try to keep me sane in just a few months. I do have to mention that Peanut has a very, very handsome future hubby. He is so cute. Welcome Chase! We were so excited to meet you and can't wait to see you in February! We went home (Yardley) for a few days to visit Chase, celebrate Kirk and Devon's engagement with a big party at KC's parents house and to eat some really good food (and of course to visit all of the family who has yet to cave and move to Texas). 2 very big things happened while we were up north - 1.) We had a 3D ultrasound done 2.) I had a surprise shower! Since i want to include all of the fun things that happened in the last two weeks I thought I would list the 3D ultrasound and shower in separate posts.

We also started our childbirth classes - which we both are enjoying. Our teacher keeps things very interesting and everyone involved. It's one of the first classes that I have seen KC actively involved in. The first week we did an exercise where we had to list the mom's favorite and least favorite things about being pregnant and the dad's biggest fear about the pregnancy. Here how we did:
1.) My favorite thing: Feeling her move and seeing KC when he felt her move for the first time
2.) My least favorite thing: Not being able to do things for myself (putting something away on a high shelf , because a 7 month pregnant lady should not be on a ladder according to KC)
KC's biggest fear was all of the unknown when it comes to the financial aspect, especially with a girl. He sees clothes, make up, shoes, but most of all a wedding in the years to come.


I have repeatedly told KC how much I love being pregnant. And I really do, even though I can no longer tie my shoes and even reaching the bottom of the washing machine to change the laundry has become a challenge, it has been the most amazing experience. Two things have only become apparent in the last week or so. First, that my pregnant time with Peanut is almost over. No longer will i be the only one feeling her kick all the time and it also comes with a whole new host of worries. Right now I have a pretty good idea of how to take care of her and keep her safe (i.e. no climbing on ladders, seat belt tight across the hips, drink lots of water, etc, etc.) So while I am excited to meet her and share her with KC it's a big change.

The other aspect of pregnancy that is making me quite uneasy is that we are entering the period of the unknown. No books can tell me when i will go into labor or what timeline she will be on, or if it will all go smoothly. I have always leaned towards being a type A person and pregnancy has only increased the need for organization, planning, and scheduling. Our calendar is not only complete for the next few months but also color coded. This is the hardest part of pregnancy for me, no control at all over what happens next.....

*The other exciting thing that happened was we worked on the nursery. It took us 14 hours from start to finish to paint and install the install the chair rails for the entire room. We also finished putting her closet organizer in. I promise pictures will be posted as soon as I can take some good ones.

And in the past 4 weeks....(Weeks 24-28)

Wow, we are now officially in the third trimester. It is amazing how fast this has gone. We can't believe that she will be here in just three months! We keep joking that we want to meet her right now and then i get scared and have to tell her at least 9 more weeks until she can join her family.

In the past four weeks....

My OB went on maternity leave to have her own little girl (last time i asked she was going to name her Isabelle). So i have seen her partner who was almost as good as my doctor). I had a glucose test and passed with flying colors. Anyone who knows me is well aware of the anixety i had before taking a test that i could not study or prepare for in any way. Yep, i think i just put the fact that i am a complete dork on a public website! There is a good chance that KC was more relieved than i was with a good result. He didn't think the next three months and me with no carbs - especially french fries - would be fun.

I am not eating as much as i was a few weeks ago and everything i put in my mouth gives me heartburn. As a reslt i finally caved and asked hte doctor for some prescription heartburn meds. THANK GOD!! The only thing that was not giving me heartburn was milk. Cheerios even did it. I keep asking KC if she is giving me this much heartburn before her arrival does that mean she'll be a hell raiser when she gets here?

As I mentioned earlier KC's brother, Kirk, got engaged in July. We threw them an engagement party along with the other siblings and spouses. It also meant we were lucky enough to have out of town family come in for the big party. We ended up with about 45 people this Saturday night at our house. People kept telling me i was crazy at 28 weeks but it was the ultimate motivator. My house is cleaner and more organized than before the party. I think the thought of random people finding my house dirty or disorganized scared me into action. Plus that whole nesting thing didn't hurt....The family in town was KC's Dad (a surprise for his brother) and my 2 sisters. And Peanut cooperated by putting on a nice show of making my stomach move or at least giving a good kick every now and then to get the people excited.

The Ongoing Nursery Saga...

Labor Day weekend we came up with a plan for the nursery and it has been only slightly altered until this week. This week the bottom fell out of the plan. We can't find fabric that we like and the plan for the paint is not gelling for KC. The deadline (our trip to Philly next week) is fast approaching. We'll have to think of something.... We were lucky enough to recieve the first piece of furniture for our nursery - a glider/rocker from George and Di! It is possibly the most comfortable piece of furniture i have ever sat in. I'm already looking forward to reading to Peanut. I think i might have to start now. According to our weekly updates Peanut can hear and recognize voices and blink her little eyes (with her eyelashes, which if they are like KC's are extremely long) I'll have to add that to the list of things i want her to inherit from KC. Just a few things already on the list, his hand eye coordination - only one klutz needed in this house, his toes - mine are pretty square, and I'll save the rest for a later post...

We are anxiously awaiting Chase's arrival (Peanut future husband). He was due to show up last Friday. I think there are some people in PA a little more excited for his arrival, his mother included. If KC is this jittery waiting for Chase December will be quite an interesting month.

I also wanted to make an addition to my earlier list of what not to say to a pregnant woman:

"You can't get any bigger!" Really? wanna bet? I can pretty much guarantee that i will be bigger 12 weeks from now. You think that the thought doesn't cross my mind on a regular basis (getting ready in the morning, trying to find a shirt that is long enough,...) I have three months left, show some love for the big pregnant!

And just because I have to have the last word (something I hope Peanut does NOT get from me) I would like for Eric to rescind his comment in July about the Phillie's making the playoffs. Last time I checked they were tied for the wild card and have a legitimate shot making it to the postseason for the first time since 1993.

A long, long time..... (20-24 weeks)

Well, I have been very neglectful of Peanut's blog - Sorry guys! In the four weeks since we found out we were having a girl a lot has happened. She started moving around all the time. Her favorite time seems to be when I sit down at my desk in the morning. Maybe she's a morning person like her mom? KC also felt her movements for the first time. And last night she gave him a good hard kick. We have narrowed the name game down to a final four. I think we will probably go into delivery undecided..we'll see. I also said we weren't going to find out what we were having, you see how well that worked.

We have started the process of finding bedding that I love and in turn decorating a nursery. When we got married 3 years ago the search for bridesmaid dresses almost sent me over the edge. Bedding for Peanuts room is slowing moving in the same direction. At this point we are looking at fabrics so my mom can make the bedding because so far I haven't found anything that I am in love with yet. I didn't think it would be this hard to find something I liked. It seems like there is a lot of pink or blue out there but not too much in between.

We did get the registered for all kinds of fun baby things. Thankfully my mom was here to help me. Baby stores can be quite overwhelming, especially if you are not sure what you need beyond diapers and a stroller. And this is where my new favorite book comes in. At some point in the past 4 weeks it dawned on me that while I love being pregnant, in about 16 weeks this will be coming to an end and I will be responsible for a baby, a real life human being depending on me for everything. And then what happens? So far we are at the part where it is telling you how to hold the baby. It doesn't hurt to learn the basics.

What else has happened.....

Well, KC became an old man of 28 and we took a weekend trip to San Antonio. KC had to spend the week down there and I flew in on Friday night. Peanut was trying to punch her way out on the landing. Our trip in a few weeks, once she is quite a it bigger, will be interesting. I hope she doesn't fight quite as hard on that landing. Since you haven't had a belly picture in a few weeks here is a picture of KC and I from our weekend trip.

San Antonio Weekend, August 25th

Here is a list I am working on becuase it is better to laugh at people's insensetivity than to cry:

Things not to say to a pregnant woman:

1.) "Are you sure you're not having twins?" What do they expect you to say at this point? Gee, have i gotten bigger? And I thought I was having a skinny day.

2.) They ask when I am due, when I say December, they grimace and say "oh, really?" Should my reply be - Nope the doctor was just kidding. I'm going to have her any day now. And did I mention that I'm having twins?

3.) "Wow, she's going to be a big baby, huh?" Um, hello do you think I am unaware that I have a child growing inside me? Do I need some idiot telling me that in 16 short weeks I will be trying to squeeze this, according to them, giant baby out? nope, I can worry about that all on my own.

Suggestions and Additions are welcomed.

A Peanut or A Peanutette?

We went to the doctor today and we are having a perfectly healthy.......



Little Girl!



Although KC has been saying since the day that we found out it was a girl I think we were both a little shocked when the doctor told us. It just started to sink in that we are going to have a daughter. A little girl who will play with dolls, pass notes in class, have her heart broken, go to the prom, and eventually have a wedding. When we got to the wedding is when I saw the fact that we were having a daughter really sink in for KC. She does have a good start on her father. She already has him wrapped around her little finger, all 14 oz. and 9 inches of her.



Onto the name game....we had a few boy names, all of which we would have both loved. The girl names are another story. We have about 5 that we both like but we are not in love with any of them. Tonight we will start back at the drawing board. Going back to all of the girl names we eliminated over the last few months because, of course, we were having a boy! Shows what we know!



Now that we know we are having a girl we have quite a bit of decisions to make - name, bedding, nursery, and so many things that I can't even think about right now because I am still so amazed at the fact that KC and I will have a daughter.



Here is the belly shot that I have neglected to post the last two weeks:

A busy, busy week....

Peanut's extended family has had a very, very exciting week. After 4 years together Kirk and Devon got ENGAGED!! I think they are going to have a destination wedding next summer so at at only 6 months or so Peanut will be a traveler. (Hopefully for our sake a very good traveler. )

Seriously, are they not so cute? And perfect for each other.....

In other Chewning/Devoto news Kara is gainfully employed! She accepted a position yesterday as a 6th grade English teacher in Houston. We are excited that she will still be so close. Now if we can just get those last few family members in PA down to Texas.....

And on to baby news.
I think that I have an acceptable amount of information in my head, some useful, some completely useless. Unfortunately for me, KC, and possibly Peanut very little of this information actually relates to caring for a child or all of the equipment he/she needs. KC and I have browsed at a few different places, taking a quick look at baby furniture, strollers, car seats, etc, etc, etc. At this point we are just basing what we like on the fabric or design used on the item. We do realize that this is probably not the best way to keep your child safe and sound. There has to be a book or how to guide for this, right?? At this point I will be relying on the expert knowledge of those friends with babies to steer me in the right direction. Or as it happened this week, Sex and the City. When Christina said she got a papasan chair at her shower i thought to myself, "Is this something I should get? Do I have any idea what that is? Do we have room for it?" After seeing her shower pictures the papasan chair was pictured in the box with big lettering on the front. I thought to myself "I know what that is. Miranda's neighbor brought it over to keep Brady quiet on that episode of Sex and the City". Note to my mother: Here is where you leave a comment saying you are coming to stay with me until I feel comfortable on my own or Peanut starts school. Whichever comes first.

If anyone knows of a good book about this stuff feel free to forward the information. (consider it a favor to Peanut)

A Texas Hail Storm and a 17 Week Belly Shot!

On the day before Peanut's seventeenth week is set to begin the Land of the Lobos was struck by torrential rains and what CBS 11 called "golf ball sized hail" for about twenty minutes around 3:30 this afternoon. Which is the last thing we need around here. The lakes are over flowing and some of the fields or pastures are completely under water. The pictures we have show the hail to be smaller but no less painful than that of golf ball size. I found out first hand while scrambling to cover the cars with cardboard boxes.

We also have some pictures of my round and growing yet beautiful wife. This kid is starting to get big and we shoud be able to find out what kind of leg peanut has for his/her future on the soccer field. The experts claim that the little peanut is over five inches long. Not bad considering we have 162 more days to go. I think you can see the difference from last week, but you be the judge.

Until next time,

KC

Peanuts First Phillies Game

We traveled to Houston this week for 3 reasons:

1.) To visit Kara who in serious training in the Teach for America Program (yea Bear!)

2.) To celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary somewhere other than Dallas

3.) To see KC's beloved Phillies play the Houston Astros

This was Peanut's first Phillies Game. Knowing KC's complete devotion to the Phillies, I am sure Peanut has a bright and long future of Phillies games. Peanut's favorite thing (other than the 8-2 route by the Phillies) was the fact that it was dollar hot dog day at the ballpark. As anyone who knows Kara also realizes that this was Brandon's favorite thing as well. On Wednesday we were both cheap dates!

Other than the constant rain and the being lost in downtown Houston for a good potion of Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon to was a fabulous anniversary. It had all of the requirements - family, friends, a win by our home team, lots of food, and we even made it home in time to see fireworks from a friends backyard. Best of all, Peanut didn't even push on my ribs too hard!

Happy Belated Fourth of July! Next year the three of us plan of heading to the Jersey shore to celebrate the fourth and our anniversary. We can't break tradition 2 years in a row.

We watch the Phillies win one for KC (and try and keep their playoff hopes alive)

Belly shot to come

Picture of Peanut

Here is a picture of Peanut when he/she was only 7 weeks and 3 days. We will have a new picture in a month (so far away!)

My First Blog

I still am a little amazed (and scared) that in just a few short months (6) we will be mom and dad to someone. Since we have family far, far away we thought this would be an easy way to share everything going on down here in Texas.

The big news this past week is that I actually have a baby bump and we are expecting to feel Peanut anyday now. I had some morning sickness and lots of heartburn my first trimester but other than that nothing too bad in the first 14 weeks. And then came the pain. The last week and a half has brought a lovely, sharp pain to the right side of my rib cage. After seeing my doctor this past week she informed me that it is my ribs spreading. Everyone has informed me that I am carrying "high". I wonder if this is somehow related to the fact that my ribs are not large enough to handle this baby.

Here is my first belly picture: (Ande has been requesting this for weeks!)