See Parker's Progress!

Registries

A few of you have asked where we are registering for baby stuff, so I thought I'd just post that info here. We are registered at Target and Babies R Us. You can find both online. :)

Drumroll Please........

Our little peanut is, without a doubt, a little boy! The ultrasound appointment was so much fun- we got to watch him wiggle around, kick his feet, and even wave at us! From now on, we can call our little guy Parker, which is the name we have decided on.

Naturally, I went right out to go shopping and bought Parker's first little boy outfit with aligators and monkeys. So cute! We also began decorating the nursery this weekend which will be filled with fun, bright colors and animals. It's so much more exciting now that I can really begin to picture our life with our little boy. I'm sure he will be a real cutie and a trouble maker just like his dad. :)

My tummy is definitely starting to poke out more these days and I have given up on trying to squeeze into my pre-pregnancy jeans. I have graduated to some nice, comfy drawstring pants and stretchy skirts. My appetite is also increasing, as last night I followed my spaghetti dinner with a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, my latest craving. I also ate a whole tub of fruit salad yesterday. Ha!

Well, once again, can't wait to head out West in a couple of weeks. Yay! Love you guys!

-Laura

Little Wiggles!

I felt Peanut move for the first time a few days ago, and have felt him/her 5 or six times since then! Just a little poke, nothing huge, but it's so fun to imagine the little one moving around in there. By now Peanut can move his/her arms and legs and fingers and can even suck his/her thumb! He/She also holds on to the umbilical cord to practice gripping. My book says Peanut is also doing facial excercises like smiling and frowning to build up facial muscles. Now that is funny to picture!

Other big news for the week is that I have my appointment with the ultrasound lady on Saturday to determine whether Peanut is a girl or a boy! She told me to drink a large Mountain Dew before I go in so that the sugar and caffine will get the baby moving around so she can see between its legs! Ha! A few of you have asked about names. We like Parker for a boy, and Violet for a girl. Only tell me what you think if you like them, b/c these are pretty much our final pics so far. :)

I can't wait to see those of you who will make it to Roseburg in a few weeks! Tessa, I had no idea you would be there! That's fantastic!!! April, so glad to hear you'll be there too. Yay! :) Well, I better get some work done, but thanks for checking in. It's so sweet of you guys to read my blog. It helps me feel not so far from all of my important girls!!! Love, Laura

Second Doc's Appointment

Peanut and I had our second doctor's appointment yesterday, which went very well. He/she has a strong heartbeat and my blood pressure/weight, etc. was all right where it should be. Since it had been over 5 weeks since my last appointment, it was nice to have confirmation that the 'lil one is still doing well. It should be just a few weeks before I start to feel Peanut squirming around! How exciting!
My next appointment isn't until June 22nd, which is when they will do the ultrasound, but there is a chance I might get to find out sooner about the gender, so I'll keep you all posted. I can't wait to see baby on the big screen!

Chris and I celebrate our one year wedding anniversary this weekend! I cannot believe how quickly it has gone by, but at the same time it's hard to remember life before marriage. Pretty soon it will be hard to imagine life before baby! Chris has been a great support and is really excited to be a dad. He's even patient through my random mood swings and cravings. Last night he made me a burrito at 2 a.m. when I couldn't sleep and felt hungry. I'm one lucky lady. :)

Well, it's back to work for me today, but I hope you all have a great weekend. If you have a chance, toast our big day on Sunday with a glass of wine or a martini since I'll have to hold off until year two.

Miss you all! ~Laura

My First Mother's Day

Chris and I have enjoyed a relaxing mother's day weekend in his hometown in North Carolina with his mom, grandmother, and aunt. It's so hard to believe that this year Mother's Day has a whole new meaning to me. I've been feeling pretty good this week- now 14 weeks along. We are both getting more and more excited about parenthood and becoming more and more comfortable with our future roles as 'mom' and 'dad'.

I bought my tickets for my trip home yesterday, so I will officially be back in Oregon on June 15, 16, 17, and 18. I'm so excited to see those of you who I can meet up with or who can make it to my shower on Sunday the 17th at Leah's house in Roseburg. I thought I'd come early in the summer before I'm too uncomfortable and am still able to carry my own luggage around without too much difficulty. This will be peanut's first plane ride!

Hope you all had a relaxing Mother's Day Weekend! Love, Laura

A little Piggy

How ironic that the first stuffed animal I bought the peanut is a pig, because I just looked to see what the Chinese Calendar Zodiac sign will be for 2007, and it is the year of the pig! (I am a monkey). Check out what they say about those born in the year of the pig:

People born in the Year of the Pig are chivalrous and gallant. Whatever they do, they do with all their strength. For Boar Year people, there is no left or right and there is no retreat. They have tremendous fortitude and great honesty. They don't make many friends but they make them for life, and anyone having a Boar Year friend is fortunate for they are extremely loyal. They don't talk much but have a great thirst for knowledge. They study a great deal and are generally well informed. Boar people are quick tempered, yet they hate arguments and quarreling. They are kind to their loved ones. No matter how bad problems seem to be, Boar people try to work them out, honestly if sometimes impulsively. They are most compatible with Rabbits and Sheep.

Have a great week and drop me a hello if you have time! :)-L

Just a quick hello~

Good morning! I don't have much to report today except that I have hardly slept this week and I am SO glad it's Friday!!! Between getting up to pee every 2 hours, general restlessness, and an internal inferno making me way hotter than usual, its been pretty hard to get anywhere near a good night's sleep. I don't know what I'm going to do when its 95 degrees and humid! Yuck! We bought our first kiddy movie last week: Charlotte's Web. Of course it made me cry like crazy since its a devastating story to begin with and I'm crazy emotional pregnant woman right now anyway. For any of you who like the book, they did a great job with the movie and it's packed with celebrity voices: Robert Redford, Oprah, Reba McIntire, Andre 2000, Julia Roberts, and tons more. Of course I had to go out and buy the Peanut a little stuffed Wilbur pig for one of her/his first animals. :) My friend Nicole is hosting a 'Pamper the Mama to Be' luncheon/spa part on Sunday in my honor, which should be fun. A Body Shop rep is coming to let us try her lotions and potions and soak our feet and Nicole is preparing munchies and a key lime cheesecake. Wish Ya'll could be here! Well, have a great weekend! Love ya lots. xoxo- Laura