Final Countdown

So I'm six days from my due date, and lordy, I hope this baby comes sooner than that. To put it mildly, I am not the most pleasant of campers these days.

Taking the brunt of my unpleasantness? That would be my dear, sweet husband who has done nothing but, you know, cause all this...

Taking what unpleasantness doesn't come Roma's way? That would be my dear, sweet sister who let's face it, loved me through adolescence and isn't going to stop now...

Because I know you're curious:



Here I am at 38 weeks with what appears to be a basketball under my shirt...


And I know you might be thinking, you're not late yet, what do you really have to complain about?? Silly girl, you should still be feeling like this:

To that I say, you are wrong. I might not yet be late, but I already feel like this:

But that's because I just really can't wait to meet the little squirmer who's spent the last three weeks teasing me into thinking labor is imminent...


And also I suppose, because I can't wait to be able to pick things up off the floor again.



Or go up and down stairs with ease.


Or sleep in a position that isn't my side.


But mostly because I can't wait to meet her.


So come on little Eleanor, get here already.

Jacky-Jack talks to Eleanor

Here's a video from a couple of weeks ago of Jackson talking to my belly. He knows his cousin is in there, but let's be real, he doesn't know what the heck that actually means.

Oh, he'll find out soon enough :)

36 Weeks and Counting

And just like that, I'm a month away from my due date. Pretty exciting.

The past few weeks had their challenges. First, strep throat went around the house. Roma and I managed to avoid it, thankfully, but we were unable to avoid the nasty cold that tagged along with it. My cold resulted in a double ear infection, which resulted in one very pathetic and needy pregnant lady. There was, well, lots of dramatic moaning and groaning as I lay comatose on the bed, ear pressed to the heating pad. I was a real delight.

I am happy to report however, that the infection has cleared and the cold has more or less dissipated. Pregnancy wise, I'm getting huger and huger by the second. And, in case you were wondering, yes, I'm in full waddle these days.

Here's a shot of the belly from a couple of weeks ago. My favorite part of this picture is Jackson down in the corner. He came running into the room during our photo session with a toy bucket on his head.

(Thirty-three Weeks)

He then decided he wanted to get in the picture with me, but didn't want to take the bucket all the way off. He's too funny. Lately he's just been so darling. In addition to calling me Derol, he's also taken to calling me Sweetie. I of course, encourage this to no end. Who wouldn't want to be called sweetie by their cute little nephew??

In the midst of being sick and growing in girth, we've managed to do a bit of nesting around the house. (Have I mentioned that Roma and I are so incredibly grateful to Sarah and Steve for letting us live here? Because if I haven't, it's worth mentioning now.) They have graciously allowed us to use their office for the baby's nursery. Steve coined it "the officery." (To which Sarah later said is much better than calling it "the nurffice." I have to agree).

Here's a picture of the pack-n-play we have se tup. Not that exciting in and of itself. However, seeing this picture, specifically the convenient little changing table on the left hand side, helps the next picture make a little more sense.

You see that's Klitchko, hiding in the darkness underneath the changing table. He's not sure what's up with all the baby stuff, but he knows something is a brewing. I think he just wants to make sure he's not left out.

Speaking of Klitchko, he went missing for an entire day this week. That might not sound so alarming except Klitchko never strays far from the house. In fact, he's usually very close and he always comes running when Roma calls. He's like a dog that way. So when he was MIA all day it was alarming, particularly because it was about seven degrees and snowy outside. We were worried about him, Roma especially. And where did he eventually turn up you ask? In my middle dresser drawer. He'd apparently crawled in there when I was getting dressed in the morning and he's so darn black that I didn't see him in the shadows. So, there he remained all day long, shut up in my drawer. Silly cat.

Anyways, on that note, I'll wrap things up and leave you with the most recent belly shot on file.

Here I am at thirty-six weeks... and counting.

31 Weeks and Counting

Here is a LONG overdue picture of my ever-expanding mid-section. I am now 31 weeks along, which is crazy because people, that means I'm just two months away from being responsible for another human life. Don't worry though, I think I've got it. Though I've never kept a plant alive, my cat has survived a number of years with only a minor tail amputation...

And since babies don't have tails...

She should make out fine.

I joke, I joke.

Seriously though, two months away from meeting the little rascal who's been dancing inside my belly is pretty exciting.

As you can see, I'm now most certainly at the point in my pregnancy where my stomach is never mistaken for a beer gut, so that's kind of nice.

Last month I passed a huge milestone that was well, difficult to swallow even though I knew it was coming. What milestone you ask? The "I now weigh more than my husband milestone." Not many women can claim that one now can they? And even though I knew it was coming -- for heavens sake, I am an inch taller than the man -- it was still hard to accept. For some reason, that one particular pound was psychologically heavier than all the rest.

Speaking of pounds, I've now gained about 25 on behalf of our little lady. I'm not complaining so much as stating for the record that it's exhausting carrying 25 more pounds than you ever have. Between the extra weight and the protruding belly, I pretty much schlep to and fro now. Next month, shlep will be waddle. You can go ahead and quote me on that :)

24 Week Belly

So I figured it was probably about time for an updated belly shot. Here I am at 24 weeks.

My bellybutton -- which frankly, I'd never been a fan of -- has started to morph and protrude. Now I'm thinking, you know? It really wasn't so bad before...

I've been feeling great and continue to be blessed by an easy-breezy pregnancy. A couple of things you may or may not care to know:

1. I've been really into oatmeal the last couple weeks. Oatmeal, raisins, brown sugar...mmmm. Thinking about it right now is making me hungry.

2. Peanut butter and jelly also hits the spot in a big way.

3. Last week I had a weird thing with nacho cheese doritos dipped in cottage cheese. But then the boys finished the doritos, so... that was the end of that. Probably for the best.

4. I'm back down to one breakfast, which is also probably for the best. November was a big first breakfast/second breakfast month for me. It was also a big sweets month. I couldn't get enough cookies. I was obsessed.

5. The baby is moving around like crazy. She gets very active in the evenings and then again in the early, early mornings when Roma gets up to leave for work. It's pretty amazing to feel movement.

In other news, Sarah and I continue to go to the gym four days a week. (Probably good considering the amount of breakfasts and cookies consumed in November. )We do the ellipitcal machine twice a week and lift weights and do water resistance training on the other days. It's fun having a workout buddy, especially one who laughs at all my jokes.

Speaking of buddies. This little guy remains one too:

It has been special to be able to spend so much time with him. He calls me "Derol." He calls Roma "Noma." He does hilarious and random things like out of the blue announce: "I fast Jackson," and then sprint across the room. He's just lots of fun.

Lots O Snow

It's been a cold, snowy week here in Spokane, though last night, the snow really started coming down. This morning, we woke up to a winter wonderland.

The boys had some major shoveling to do in the walkways,

the driveways...

& off the carport roof.

It might be just me, but I'm thinking that the mail isn't going to make it today...

Hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving. We're having round two tonight :)

The Verdict Is In...

We're having a girl!

Her due date remains approximately the end of March.

She was incredibly squirmy during the ultrasound today. She must take after her father. He can't seem to sit still either :)

My belly has grown nearly two inches in the past week and a half. Sarah was kind enough to snap some shots of me. Here it is looking nice and round...

(20 weeks)

And here is just a funny out-take. This is me "raising the alarm" as Jackson reaches for my ice water. He's really into ice.

Some of you might be wondering how my other baby is faring. Rest assured that Klitchko is doing well. He has adjusted nicely to Spokane. He's buddies with my sister's cat, Tieton. He hasn't been nearly as pesky towards the other animals as he has in the past. Apparently all Klitchko needed to take the bully out of him was a big-brother cat and a toddler that keeps him on his toes...