Caffeine Kick

Ken and I (and Ava and Kallyn), met for lunch at Starbucks today. We both ordered mochas (again with the chocolate addiction.) Mine was supposed to be decaf but I think they mixed them up. This kid is really kicking me!!

Coincidence?

I am officially back to my prepregnancy weight. Coincidentally, I hit the big number the day after Thanksgiving.... hmmm...

I guess it's not SO bad - I did lose 13 lbs the first trimester, and now I'm back at almost 28 weeks (and I have a much bigger belly than I did before!) So can I start now and count everything I gain from now until this kid is born, or do I have to start from the 13 I lost?

I really think I need to cut down on the chocolate, or things could get out of hand.....

It's Thanksgiving weekend

And here are a few things I'm thankful for...

1. Baby Pack, of course. We are so grateful for her, and can't wait for her to get here. Everybody pray for her!

2. My fantastic husband. I can't wait to see him in his new role as "Daddy." I'm sure she'll have him wrapped around her finger in no time!

3. My dad's health. He had triple bypass surgery just 3 weeks ago. He is well on the road to recovery. We are so blessed they caught it in time and could fix it.

4. My family. They are all amazing, generous, giving people, and lots of fun to be around! My Grandma, Aunt Lisa and Aunt Christy drove 8 hours each way just to sit with us in the waiting room while dad was having his surgery. They made the day go so much faster and it was so great to see them. So many people in our family are great examples of what I want to be someday (especially mom!)

5. Our house. It may have been built in 1968, and have all the original appliances and cabinets, but it has plenty of room for our family, and is within walking distance to church, mom and dad's house, and my job.

6. My job. I get to take care of two beautiful, fun girls every day, and work for a great family. Also, I can bring my baby with me.

7. All our friends, especially our church community. I'll have to write more about them later.

8. Our Church, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. www.olmc1.org I can't imagine a better parish.

9. Being Catholic, especially because of the Sacraments.

10. Relaxing and enjoying the 4 day weekend!

Baby Names

Guess what we've been doing?

Any suggestions?

I just hope she has hair....

When we go to New York City in a couple of weeks, Ken wants to get her this. I just hope she has enough hair to put a nice pink bow in....

Baby Girl Pack

Looks like she's making the Sign of the Cross. Good Catholic Baby. ;-)

I love the pizza man

Ken and I went out for pizza and a movie on Saturday night. I ordered my slice and a bottled water. The pizza man said, "You know we have caffeine free beverages as well." I looked at him a little funny and he said, "Well, my wife just had a baby too and I know how it is."
Do you know what this means?! It means he actually thought I was pregnant and not just chubby! I love the pizza man!!!

It's a GIRL!!!

Chris and Sarah threw us the "What Sex?" party this weekend and we announced it. It was a great party! Everyone wore either pink or blue for their guess, and one half of the room was decorated pink, and the other half blue. Everyone had to decide which side to stand on when we made the announcement. There were only a few people on the girl's side!!

We are thrilled, and can't wait for her to get here!

Halfway there!

I made it to 20 weeks, and it went fast! I feel great so far in the second trimester. I went to LePeeps with some friends this morning, and they asking if I could actually finish my breakfast this time (last time I couldn't!) I finished it this time with NO problem.
Little Snack is kicking me all the time, and I love it. I can't wait to tell everyone the sex. My friends have gone from begging, acting mad, and now they're bribing me with presents if I tell them before the What Sex? party on Friday. But I haven't given in!!
Mom knows, and she can't seem to stop buying baby clothes in the correct color for this kid!

Ultrasound results

Well, we had our ultrasound last Wednesday (then left for Cancun so I didn't get to post!) It was amazing. 10 fingers and toes, cute little face, and the baby even waved to us! In one of the pictures it looks like you can see his/her guardian angel. (My mom pointed this out to us.) We are so excited, but can't reveal the sex yet! Our friends are having a "What Sex" party on Oct. 13, so we will announce it then. Hopefully I can figure out how to put pictures on here soon!

Baby Pack makes her first "appearance"

Two exciting days in a row. The first was my regular doctor appointment, and I got to hear Baby's heartbeat, and also scheduled our ultrasound for next Wednesday!!
Yesterday, Ken and I were laying around watching House, and Roofus the cat was laying on my stomach. Little Snack Pack tried to kick her off! I definitely felt "her" this time (just guessing it's a "her"). It was amazing. I think I had a big grin on my face the rest of the night. Now I'm going to try to get Roofus to lay on me again so I can feel it tonight.

16 weeks

I think I'm back to my old self again. Eating normally, sleeping somewhat normally (so I still go to bed around 9:30 but at least I'm not falling asleep on the couch at 7:30 anymore!)

I'm in the awkward stage. Regular pants are too small, maternity pants are too big. Ken thinks I should get a shirt that says "Pregnant. Not Fat."

We played at Jfest this weekend - everyone says I'm getting a belly. Can't believe it!

MaryEllen and Brian gave us a great stroller, carseat, high chair, and exersaucer this weekend. They are awesome! I'm using the stroller for Ava now.

My next appointment is on Monday. I can't wait to hear the heartbeat again! Mom is coming with me so she'll get to hear too.

Heartrate 170

My sister in law says that means we should start picking out girls names! I guess we'll find out for sure in about 5 weeks when we get the ultrasound. I loved my doctor yesterday. She spent lots of time with us, calmed all our worries, and told us about this great natural childbirth class. I think we're going to take it. She delivered her last child naturally and says it was a great experience. I'm not ruling out drugs entirely though!

12 weeks!

Well I made it to 12 weeks. I guess I'm past the scary part. I can't wait to go to the doctor next Monday and hear the heartbeat again. It's hard to wait!
Everything is going great. I feel much better, still exhausted but not nearly as sick.
It's going pretty fast so far!

Madre Maria Called It

Last year in June, I was in Tijuana, Mexico for my annual mission trip with Fr. John Tasto and the Missionaries of the Cross. On June 26, 2005, this was the first reading at Mass:

2 KingsChapter 4

One day Elisha came to Shunem, where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine.
So she said to her husband, "I know that he is a holy man of God. Since he visits us often,
let us arrange a little room on the roof and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp, so that when he comes to us he can stay there."
Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight.
Later Elisha asked, "Can something be done for her?" "Yes!" Gehazi answered. "She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years."
"Call her," said Elisha. When she had been called, and stood at the door,
Elisha promised, "This time next year you will be fondling a baby son." "Please, my lord," she protested, "you are a man of God; do not deceive your servant."

Madre pulled me aside after mass and asked if I was listening to the readings. (Normally I would think there would be a quiz if a nun asked me a question like that!) The readings were in Spanish, but I had been paying attention as much as I could, and I got the gist of this reading. She told me that I needed to believe with great trust in God, and that by this time next year I would have a baby as well. She was right! We found out about our baby on June 28, 2006.

More prayers

Wow, so many people are praying for us! It's amazing and very humbling. A friend of mine, who is pregnant with her 8th child, told me today she is praying the St. Gerard prayer every day, and that she enrolled me in the League of St. Gerard and I'd get something in the mail every month for the rest of my life ;-)

The Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawaka are praying for us every day as well, and my friend Dominic, who is going into the seminary this month. Not to mention Grandmas, Grandpas, Sarah and Chris, Deacon Dan and lots more!

We are so blessed to have these amazing friends. I feel like this kid is loved already (and not only by us!) What a great community he/she will be born into.

Mood Swings

Pants getting too tight, throwing up in the shower every morning, nothing sounding good to eat (except nectarines.) Crying for no reason.

Pregnancy is very interesting so far. I'm offering everything up for this kid. I think my husband thinks I'm crazy! He's being very nice though - he even went to O'Malias yesterday to get me stuff to make a root beer float, which sounded good at the time but I regreted very much later. He has had to put up with a lot so far!

I met a very cool Dominican Sister this weekend at the Frassati Conference: Sister Mary Brigid. She was very excited to hear about little Snack Pack. I told her about how Ken found the novena to St. Anthony, and we just happened to start it on the day that it would end on his feast day, which is June 13. Then in my pregnancy journal, I filled out the dates starting with my due date, and then it's supposed to end on the date of conception. Guess which date that was?

June 13. Thank you St. Anthony!

A friend of mine suggested that I start a blog to keep everyone updated, so I'm going to try it. Here's the email I sent to announce Baby Pack:

After Two Years

3 Doctors: $1000
2 Surgeries for Endometriosis: $1200
3 months of Menopause inducing drugs: $75
1 Novena to St. Anthony: Free off the internet


Being able to get my husband a bib that says "Daddy is My Hero" for our anniversary: Priceless!

Baby Pack: Expected arrival 3/6/07

Pray for us!