One step closer....

Just keep sending your good vibes, positive thoughts & prayers... we're one step closer to Colorado.

May Flowering

Things are pretty good here in Southern-Weberville. We were on vacation last weekend to the Smokies of Tennessee so we could celebrate the wedding of my friend Andrea to her beau Dana. It was a beautiful ceremony and a very fun time. I reconnected with her family, met many extended family members and tons of friends- it was a great time had by all. I felt honored to be her guest and her Matron of Honor. She did get a bit of a deal out of it since I was carrying a little "Fetus of Honor" as well. :) While in TN we got to visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Biltmore....all the while we stayed in Cosby, TN - "Moonshine Capital of the World." Good times...if you stay away from unmarked mason jars.

Back in Chicagoland - here we are at the beginning of week 16 - almost 4 months of being knocked up. I am still feeling pretty good - occasional nausea, not as tired, sleeping somewhat better. I've had 2 doctor appointments get canceled on me this week, so I am a bit irritable having expected to again hear the baby's heartbeat and instead getting "the doctor had something come up...we have to reschedule..." Grrr.

In condo news...the condo is now officially on the market. Whoo hoo. Please send out your good real estate vibes into the universe, send up a prayer, send over a buyer...anything. We think the place will show well - we just need to get some showings. So...send some good thoughts our way.

And, I turn 30 in less than two weeks. It is kind of freaky, kind of exciting, kind of a non-issue. However, I'm planning to try and get people together for dinner at Moody's on my birthday in the outdoor Beer Garden. Moody's is one of my favorite Chicago haunts...the menu has about 4 items on it - which is perfect because their burgers are about as far as you need to go. So- if you're in Chicago on Friday, May 23rd - come on down for a burger and a beer (or soda if you're me).

Now I'm off to clean and garden. Hope the baby pitches in...

And the ClearBlue Easy said...

I have mentally composed this email a half dozen times, but finally today - 6 months from the predicted "due date" I am finally writing to share our big news...John and I are expecting a baby on or around October 28th, 2008! So...I am officially preggo, knocked up, with child, in the family way, the bun is in the oven and we are proud parents-to-be.

So I figure the best way to tell everyone (pardon the mass email) how we're doing is to answer commonly asked questions...and here goes:

Q: How are you feeling?
A: All said and done, I am feeling great. I get tired. I get very cranky and light headed if I haven't eaten. However, I have been thankfully free of morning sickness, I've just had all day nausea especially when I don't eat. I feel very lucky and am trying not to take it for granted.

Q: Was it planned?
A: Yes, John and I decided to start in January of this year. We maybe didn't realize it would go so quickly. Again- we feel very blessed.

Q: Are you showing?
A: I was showing in week 8. I had to buy all new pants. It's been...an interesting time for me clothing wise. I'm now wearing 100% maternity clothing. (Hint for the Ladies- getting pregnant is a good way to get a whole new wardrobe if you're tired with your current clothing choices...)

Q: Are you still moving to Colorado? (Alternative Question: What? You're moving to Colorado?!?!)
A: Yep! We are still planning on packing up and heading west...sometime this year...before the baby is born. We just have to sell the Condo. So, there are a few things we have to do...and we both understand how bad the market is. We're staying very optimistic and positive. We are planning to relocate to a town somewhere between Denver and Boulder. (That's about all I can say w/o getting too emotional...I'm very happy to move back to CO...VERY sad to leave my Chicago...)

Q: So, do you have jobs for when you move?
A: Yes and no. John has a few good leads on fire jobs and so we're staying positive. I will be able to transfer to Denver with my company - so I'm very excited to have that opportunity.

Q: Do you know if it is a boy or a girl?
A: While I have a feeling for what the baby is...as far as sonograms - it is a bit to early to know. I'm only 13.5 weeks/3 months into this process. Week 20 seems to be the magical time when many questions can be answered. However, John does not want to find out while I do. So, I am going to respect my husband's crazy desire to be surprised and not find out.

Q: Have you seen/heard the baby yet?
A: I have had 3 sonograms and have heard the baby through a doppler heart monitor. The first sonogram was waaay too early to see the baby. The second one at 8 weeks revealed a cross between a tadpole and a baby. The last one at 12 weeks was amazing. We got to see the baby jumping and moving around. It also looked more human. The baby moved and jumped so much the technician got a bit frustrated. John and I both noted that this is obviously our child - stubborn and a pain in the ass...but very cute. The sonogram tech wished us much luck in the future.

Q: Have you felt the baby yet?
A: Again, it is too "early" but I have begun to feel the "gas bubbles" that is supposedly the baby kicking and moving around. Sometimes it wakes me up. I think it is an active little buggar.

Q: Any names picked out?
A: Yep - we have names for both a boy and a girl. Right now we call the baby either "Baby" or "Chaz" (ok John calls the baby Chaz) but no other nicknames have surfaced yet.

Q: Any weird cravings?
A: The weirdest things for me is I am hungry in the middle of the night - so I usually have a bowl of cereal around 2am. Otherwise, desire for food has just intensified (Especially for milk, red meat, all kinds of fruit and cherry-flavored candy). The only aversion so far is chicken- but that's not consistent.

Q: Are you excited?
A: EXTREMELY!

Q: Is John excited?
A: Yes - of course John is excited. He is also being a very supportive husband and is being very nice to me. He makes me pancakes or cheeseburgers, tells me I look beautiful and not fat, he's reading parenting books and he even brings me candy when I ask him to.

Q: What about your parents/John's parents - are they excited?
A: This is perhaps the funniest question of them all because the answer is also "of course." My mom has recently emailed indicating pictures and news of the baby is now more important than news about us. My mother-in-law has sent me some great maternity clothing and fun books. My dad carries a laminated copy of the 1st sonogram picture in his wallet. My father-in-law is refinishing a high chair and sent us news of this invention...just in case it is a boy. So, yes, each of them is excited.

Q: Do the dogs know?
A: I think they know something is up. They are both very sweet with me - Tycho (the boxer) is extra cuddly with me these days. Sometimes he rests his head on my tummy. It is very endearing.

I think I've exhausted most of the frequently asked questions. My apologies for not getting out the word quicker and for not being able to tell all of you individually. I do hope this email finds each of you well and enjoying the spring time.

Much love,
Kimberly, John & Future Baby Southern-Weber

Extreme Home Makeover, Chez S-W Edition

We're nearing completion of the changes to the condo. It's our own little version of my Reality TV guilty pleasure. Below I've posted some pics of the before and after - I think we've made some great changes to the place and I hope it sells quickly and for our desired price! My fingers are crossed.

Kitchen - Before
This was previously my most used/least enjoyed room. It was cramped and very closed it. It took no time for the room to overheat and then no one wanted to hang with me. When we moved in the appliances were caked with some unknown brown gummy substance, left behind by the previous owners for our enjoyment. I used lots of elbow grease in cleaning it - but it never felt like mine.

View from the entrance:


View from the door:


Kitchen - After
Now this room I can't get enough of. I'd move the bed in here if it could fit a California King. We replaced the wall with a breakfast bar, installed new granite countertops, bought all new GE Stainless Steel Appliances anout the wall and removed a pocket door, replaceWe replaced the crappy counters with black granite, painted it a lovely green. The opened wall has completely changed the feel of the kitchen. No more overheating, and it now flows with the rest of the condo. I am typing this from the breakfast bar- which is a convenient place to work or eat all of my meals.

View from the breakfast bar:


View from the door (we're waiting for cabinet doors under the breakfast bar):


View of the Fridge/Oven:


And then the Master Bathroom...

Master Bath - Before:
This bathroom was the epitome of an "eye sore." The color was overwhelmingly bad. While it was original tile from the 50's...the salmon pink was just not cutting it. The vanity had been "updated" probably in the 70's...it didn't quite match the tile and was generally awful. Look for yourself...


The vanity was slightly newer than the tile, but probably more hideous.


Master Bath - After:
We love subway tile. So we replaced the 50's salmon pink with a cleaner look of white subway tile. We changed the vanity and updated the cabinets adding more storage space..and overall I am quite happy with how this bathroom turned out. Now we just need to get new towels.

View from the door:



New cabinets!


Lovely vanity with the apron front sink...



So there you have it people. We have redone our kitchen and bath. Now we need to box up a lot of crap we don't use, clean the condo and finally put it on the market. Keep your fingers crossed...I'll try to keep you posted on the progress.

merriment

HAPPY 2008!

It's been a fun winter season - with plenty of time at home and with family. We've had a Thanksgiving feast, a Christmas party, a Drake alumni event, a Christmas in Chicago, a "tweener" weekend in Wisconsin and a very relaxed welcome to 2008. Looking back on the past month+ of activity - it feels like one big extended return to childhood. Ok, childhood with a few perks...but it has been a fun month. I'm sad to see it end as it has been a very happy time for me and the family.

Here are some pictures chronicling our adventures.

Our work "Holiday" Party. Ole!

Drake Alumni Event...Sara and Stephanie came in for the weekend
- and we enjoyed a really fun dinner and comedy event. However -
the best part of the weekend was seeing my Drake girls. (note: Sara left Des Moines to come to Chicago for a Drake alumni event...there was no end to jokes about that).





If this doesn't capture "laid back Christmas" (carhart's and a santa's hat)...I don't know what does.

Wisconsin...how we love you. In our trek up to Wisconsin, we were able got to see John's ma and pa, as well as spending time with John's cousin Jim, his sons Jeff & Carl, his lovely grandma Lorraine, the always engaging Uncle Bob and his incredible hostess of an aunt Ann. I wish there would have been more time for snowshoeing and snowshoes... but alas we have to return to the world of being an adult. One of the best experiences was having Tycho off leash and enjoying the big wide world, without leaving us too far behind.

Here is a shot of me in Natarajasana (Dancer pose). I can't explain how balanced, free and strong I feel in this pose - and I hope to carry this feeling with me throughout 2008. Balancing in snowshoes was pretty fun.

Here is little Tycho, pooped after so much snow and running.

And, while no photos were taken this morning, we had an awesome laugh-fest of a brunch with the lovely, charming and beautiful Chandra & Venus. Life is made so much richer having these wonderful women in our life.








So - again, I wish everyone a very happy 2008. May this new year be filled with love, life, strength and joy.