Poll time

We're at about 16 1/2 weeks...and there finally some belly changes! In addition, tomorrow we get to hear our baby's heartbeat again and then one week from tomorrow (on Nov 5) we'll know whether we're having a girl or a boy! That is, we'll know as best as possible until our baby is born :)

So, what do you think: is it a girl or boy?

Other than awaking a few nights ago because of a 'twitch' in my stomach and the occassional twinge or bubble, everything is pretty boring (in a good way I suppose). Though, I can't wait until I can feel some kicks and Daniel can join in on the fun!

Week 15

As promised, we're posting a picture now that the camera has been located. I wouldn't say that I've "popped" (such a pleasant term), but I'm definitely showing some baby... Kris Diegle, our labor & delivery nurse friend, said it looked like I was carrying a girl - and then laughed because there's just no way to tell something like that...even sonograms sometimes get it wrong. We shall "know" on November 5th!

<3 Family

I love family. My dad and Grayson came to visit Daniel and myself in our "new digs" from last Wednesday to Monday morning. It was glorious. I felt bad that Grayson slept on the couch, but she didn't seem to have trouble sleeping:)

It was nice to eat at a table with them in the evening and watch movies with them...whenever. We walked around the lake park downtown (Tempe) and attended the Cardinals vs Panthers football game. Truthfully, I think that was a harder game to attend than anticipated as loyalties sometimes run deeper than anyone realizes until it's put to the test!
We were also royally spoiled by dad with grocery store visits and a few other goodies. While I realize it may thrill only <0.1% of any population, I'm thrilled abnout the drying rack for our back patio! Not only is the AZ environment perfect for drying things outdoors as it rarely rains, but it also helps us out as power is pricey and our dryer sorta bites. Anyway, Grayson left with most of my clothes (as none of them fit me any longer) and Dad left us with some goodies and plenty of food - not to mention how satisfying and pleasant it is to be with family. It's also nice that when some of your family is with you, you feel closer to the rest of them. Even though my mom was still in Raleigh teaching, it didn't feel like 4 months since I'd last seen her when speaking on the phone.

Now, I'd love to post a picture of the weekend...but somehow the camera is un-findable. I haven't really looked hard and neither has Daniel, but I figured it was about time we made it clear that we were still alive and well! When we locate the camera, we'll get to posting a picture and perhaps there will be some noticable baby growth to my mid-section. No promises, though.

Also, we want to congratule the new parents Jesse and Christy Steel who are now joined by their healthy little girl Lily!

First Trimester Down

Today marks the end of the first trimester...at least according to the dates we've been given thus far! I think my body wanted to make sure I didn't forget the nausea of trimester 1 by reminding me throughout the day today. Oh well, it also reminds me of the life growing everyday inside me- and in that I get endless amounts of pleasure.

I don't really think there's been much external growth within the past few weeks...

In the past week, Daniel and I have done quite a lot! This past summer my music loving dad got us some concert tickets to a Dave Matthews Concert here in Phoenix...and aside from the 2.5 hours in traffic to get there (ugh), we had a great time and a real date. The next day we moved. again. And thanks to Daniel's family and lots of willing college (LCM) students, we got the majority of our stuff into this apartment Wednesday night. This move was into our official apartment with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We feel like royalty. Though I believe rent and all the living costs of this (and all) big city are utterly obscene, this apartment- our home, is SO very much worth it. And I know how much more we'll appreciate it in the coming months!

And the beat goes on!

We've officially heard our baby's heartbeat! How exciting...and unlike what either Daniel or myself expected. I expected to hear a garbled, washing machine like noise and daniel expected a beat slower and closer to what his sounds like. What we heard was a beautifully clear and distinct heartbeat just rapidly pounding away! What a beautiful noise...

At the brink of the second trimester (currently 11.5 weeks) I've gained 3 pounds and all the blood tests came back negative, so we're looking very healthy and right on schedule. I think that it's safe to say that I am not going to throw-up due to pregnancy...this is a very thrilling possibility. Another cool discovery in all of this was finding out that I have the same not-so-typical blood type as my dad, B-. I inherited my dad's allergies and laid-back personality, I may as well have his blood, too :)

Ode to Saturday

I. Love. Weekends.

I have always really loved them, yet working the 8 to 5 thing really makes me appreciate them that much more. I get to sleep past 6:30, I get to actually see my husband, I don't have to dress professionally, and best of all- the work week is over and I'm not studying for tests or writing dumb papers for the next week. (Though I should be doing my thesis....which is already the longest paper I'll ever write).
In Arizona, I've come to find that the absolute best kind of Saturday during the summery-heat is the kind that starts out gray and rainy- and this rarely happens. I feel no remorse for sticking around inside clothed in my pajamas until much later in the day than if the sun and cloudless skies has been beckoning me to make good use of my time. Mmmm, I love rainy Saturday mornings :)
This particular saturday entails staying inside and repacking alllll of our stuff so we're ready to move come Wednesday. Perhaps at some point we'll trek to Goodwill so that I can extend my time before buying nice, yet possibly pricey maternity clothes. Before moving out here, I'd never actually moved my whole life from my home in Raleigh. (I don't count college apartments as quite the same thing.) Now, after having moved twice and soon a third time, I understand why people become less sentimental about objects.
When I first met Daniel he thought I was such a pack-rat and insisted that if the Chell house caught on fire it would burn for days. I thought he was just being insensitive. I now have a better idea of what he has saying- and while I have become less sentimental about objects that are not useful or immediately necessary, it can't be denied that if you go to my house in Raleigh, NC and develop a need for ANYTHING, you will be supplied with exactly what you needed. Someday in the likely very far off future when we have a house to call our own, I would like our home to be a happy medium of clutter-free yet resourceful! We shall see.....

One celebration after another

Last weekend, DP, myself, and the rest of the Pugh clan made a zippy trip to Houston, Texas for the eldest sibling (Tally) 's wonderful wedding. We now get to "officially" welcome Trent, her husband, into the family! He's one of the few males I've ever met that actually feels comfortable teasing me and all around giving me a hard time. While it may sound messed-up, I actually cherish that becauses it means a few things: he knows I can take it, he fits in just right with Tally, and I get to be in on the fun! Anyway, that's all just to say that I'm thrilled (and Daniel's thrilled...perhaps for a few different reasons) that Trent is part of the family and that he's Tally's partner for life. Congratulations!!

It really was a whirlwind trip, but it turns out a few things beyond a wedding happened around that time.

*For one, my clothes really don't fit so much anymore as a bitty belly is beginning to protrude. Here's a picture from about a week ago of some stomach action (9ish weeks)...

*Another thing is that we found out that Daniel's other sister, Traeci, is expecting her second baby due to arrive near the beginning of May.

*Yet another realllly exciting thing is that we signed the papers to get our 2 bedroom apartment starting September 26th! Phew!

*The last thing to happen is for Daniel to turn 24 today. As he is a 'bit' of a football fan (HA), he along with some family and friends attended the first home game for the Cardinals. What relief that they actually won...I mean, of course they won (ahem). His parents treated him to a birthday dinner last night where he received the gift of a hooded Cardinals baby towel. Very cute. Though it still seems sorta weird that we're getting gift for OUR baby...it's nuts!

This picture was taken last night after we'd gorged on some yummy dinner...and as you can just barely see, Izzy the dog wanted some serious attention!

That's about all I can think to write for now...we're in town now for good, so perhaps we'll keep up better with this blog!

Coming soon: our next Dr's appointment is September 26th!