T-minus 20 weeks...and counting

Here are the things we found out at our 20 week sonogram -

• Baby S-W (heretofore referred to as Chaz) is doing very, very well
• Chaz has a little nose and big feet
• Chaz is currently hanging out upside down
• Chaz has a great looking spine! (I was fascinated with the spine - way to go Baby S-W)
• If you don't want to find out the sex of the baby, the technician gets real quiet towards the end...

So- it was a very successful trip with 5 photos...that I need to scan and post. And, I have pictures of me and my growth - but I don't have cords to connect the gadgets to the computer...hopefully this week I'll be able to take care of posting some photos.

We are now past week 21...19ish to go. I have about 30,000 books to read, a condo to sell, a move to make, a house to buy...and I need a pedicure. Job stuff will come in time - thankfully we both have employment on the other side - we're just not sure when John's will begin.

We also took the time to do a baby registry...and I think registering for a baby was much more exhausting than wedding registry. At least with wedding registry- everything is a known quantity. You should get 10 placesettings...you need a few changes of good sheets...you shouldn't register for toilet paper. But with a baby - it is all brand spanking new. How many bottles do we need? No idea. What kind of stroller? Not sure. Anal or ear thermometer? Yikes. It's all so new and unfamiliar - very exhausting. We also decided to hold off on everything to give ourselves the chance for some Consumer Report research to pick the best car seat, stroller, baby bouncer seat, breast pump, et cetera. Good stuff.

The other observation we had is - babies get gendered assigned sooooo early. It seemed to me that once we know the sex - all choices are being made for you on what they'll like. No one waits to ask the baby what they want. Everything was either blue or pink - and tons of baseballs for boys and butterflies for girls. Not really that many choices for the "we're not finding out" crowd. Don't get me wrong - we love green and yellow...it just limits your options. Though, I can't say if we knew the sex we'd have a different set of clothing or bedding - John isn't thrilled with the sports bedding/clothing motifs and I've never been a big butterfly person. Ah well.

Also, little Chaz has started to kick. It's not a really obvious feeling. More of a displaced digestion feeling...at first it is unsettling but I'm getting used to a few kicks every couple hours. Usually at 6pm at work when Chaz is thinking "let's go home" or after meals that have garlic. Chaz is currently saying hi...probably poking me to go make dinner. Good idea, Chaz, good idea.

So this is 30

For the past few years, when people ask me what I do for a living, I reply that I am a Change Management professional. Personally, this is a good thing- because this year is now officially the year of "Change." During the course of this year, I'm weathering a ton of changes - from changes as small as new glasses to changes as large as becoming a mother (look out October!). And last Friday, I marked "Turning 30" off my change list. I am officially 30.

With this latest change, I thought a new title would be appropriate for the blog - something that better reflects where I am right now in my personal life. Little Miss Pregnant seemed to capture it best - especially with the rate my belly is growing these days.

The past week has been a great one. As announced, the 30th birthday was celebrated at Moody's Pub. I had a great time celebrating - the highlight was when my "table" (which took up half the restaurant) began serenading me with "Happy Birthday" and it caused the entire restaurant to sing along. That, my friends, was pretty cool. I took a few polaroids of the event, and fewer digital pics...but I'll try to scan and upload on my flickr - you may have to check back later. Thanks to everyone who showed and we missed those of you who weren't able to make it.

Also on my Birthday: John's new job was confirmed. It still has to be rubber-stamped by the powers that be in Alberquerque...but John is employed in Colorado! Yea! Now we have to sell the condo...and, fitting of the busy day, we had our 1st showing on my Birthday. No call backs yet...but we're forumlating a new strategy for the MLS. I'm planning on surviving yet one more Chicago summer and heading to CO sometime in August...and I'm very hopeful our Condo sale will fall in line with this plan. Again- keep your fingers crossed.

So - in the parade of "things to do before I leave Chicago" we went to the Chicago Botanic Garden this past weekend and had a great time walking and gathering inspiration for future gardens. We still need to hit up the Chicago Architecture Boat Tour, Taliesin East, the Shedd...maybe even the Leather Museum. Who knows. Let me know if you have suggestions.

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