First Field Trip and Baby Update

Today we took to the big city for our first real field trip and my OB check up for baby #3. We started the day with a visit to one of our favorite libraries, and ended with rainbow sherbet from Baskin Robbins-the boys declared together that it was the "best day ever!!" (As an aside, we have a lot of those lol!)

First stop-the library. After filling our backpacks to the brim with new books to explore (mostly dinosaur related) we enjoyed an awesome storytime program. Aren't these kiddo librarians just about the most energetic, colorful bunch you've ever seen? Engaged kids= thankful me!

From the library and after a quick detour to Kohls, we made our way to a favorite family lunch spot-Pei Wei! I was bound and determined to have it at some point during my birthday week. As usual it did not disappoint, and I'm happy to report that Evan's chopstick skills are improving with each visit. :-)

Thankfully, my doctor's visit was mostly uneventful-just what you want to hear! This was just a routine check up and we were in and out within 20 minutes-praise the Lord. I'm measuring right on schedule(surprisingly), my blood pressure is great, the scale is tipping and little boys heart is beating strong. So far the boys have been to every baby appointment with me, and really enjoy listening to baby brother's heartbeat each time. For myself I'm definitly getting a bit more uncomfortable at this point, and have already begun to experience the lower back and pelvic pain that I *feel like* should be reserved for those last few days and weeks. Ahh the joys of pregnancy round three!

Bennett still thinks it's time for the baby to come out of my tummy every time we go to a doctor's office. I can only imagine how exciting it'll be for him when we can finally say "YES, we're having the baby today."

Our OB's office is just down the street from the NC Art museum, so I couldn't resist planning a trip! I looked online before hand and found this really fun "Tour in a Tote" feature for kids, and knew it would be there perfect guide to our little field trip. The website describes the tote as "A free lending resource for young visitors to explore works of art in the permanent collection through kid-friendly, interactive prompts."

Evan was especially interested in the Egyptian section, but nothing caught his eye quite like this painting of the revolutionary heroes. It was his favorite of the whole museum and I have to say I'm impressed with his taste.

Bennett found himself at home in the colorful modern art section. At one point here Evan made quite the face at one exhibit in particular(a pile of broken glass on a giant serving tray) saying "that's not art...that's a mess." I couldn't help but laugh, he's definitely my budding realist.

To top off our long day we stopped by Baskin Robbins on the way home. I was secretly craving some rainbow sherbert, and didn't think the boys would mind the stop. Talk about cool points.

And now that the day is done and I've got two tired boys tucked into bed, it's time finish off that leftover birthday cake...

Resting in Romans 8:28

I am often ashamed at how quickly I forget the kindness of God, or am tempted to grumble at the smallest of financial flurries(like new tires, or the Target pharmacy). It's easy to walk past many a miracle in the everyday hustle and bustle, to waver in the waves and to dismiss the blessings of a new week with "a case of the Mondays."

This post is long overdue and written with thanks after thanks, as both a reminder to myself and a testament to the kindness of our savior. God has been unfailingly faithful and all sufficient to our family in the past few months, and I'd like to share our great, big answered prayer:

After months of anxious anticipation over Evan's hospital bill, God made a way for us-a surprise, abundantly supplied, covered in FULL kind of way.

Praise upon Praise!!!!

A little background-Having great insurance but no maternity coverage, Chris and I were stretched a bit thin over the past year paying out of pocket for prenatal care and all of those fun tests, ect. that go along with a pregnancy. But with a bit of creative budgeting and God's never failing provision, were able to manage our "second mortgage," as we lovingly called it, with little to no problem. That is..until the news of the hospital bill hit us like a bomb.

Here we were getting ready to meet our precious little guy and I'll admit my excitement was coupled greatly with stress and anxiety over the final bill. As much as I trusted that everything would work out, I'd be fibbing if I said I wasn't a teency bit worried about the financial aspect of labor and delivery(okay, maybe a tad more then a teency). And when our all natural, uncomplicated, in and out birth plan turned into a 36 hour induced labor and ended in a C-section....well you can only imagine what our hospital bill turned into. Let's just say that the bottom line started with a 2 and contained one more digit then we had planned on, which is to say that it was quite a large amount. And the Lord provided for every penny! We still have some odds and ends to take care of on our on-but they are small and manageable in comparison to the lion of the hospital's fee. We are relieved, weightless, humbled, overjoyed, grateful.

Our paster Justin Childers wrote this reflection on God's kindness while we were studying the book of Ruth a while back, that "None of us deserve God’s kindness. We should respond with humble astonishment when God shows favor to sinners like us. His grace is only possible because our Redeemer was willing to die for our sins. " Humble astonishment is the perfect word for my reaction upon opening this special letter from the mail, and I am ever thankful for the kindness of God, expressed in the love of Christ, and extended to silly old me.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His steadfast love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

Welcome Evan Matthew!

Evan is here! I'm posting from the hospital this morning with a short and sweet update on our little guy. We are all doing wonderful and swimming in thankfulness and pride over our new, chubby chipmunk cheeked babe. :-) I plan to write a more detailed birth story later, but for now, here are some pictures of our journey, and a copy of the accouncement email we sent to proudly welcome our little one to the blogging world.

..............................................

Hello world!

We are proud to announce the birth of our first baby boy! Evan Matthew Scott was born on Sunday morning, April 25th, at 3:08am. He weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds 13 ounces and measured 22 inches long, he is a BIG boy! After an induction that did not progress we ended up having to deliver baby Evan via C-section, but both mom and baby are doing great. We are so thankful for your continued support and encouragement during this exciting time and praise God for a healthy baby boy!

With love and thankfulness,
Chris, Rebecca, and baby Evan :-)

On the way in for the induction-our last picture as a family of two.

This is just after we were admited-at the very beginning of our LONG delivery and in excited, happy moods!

One of Evan's very first pictures, just after being delivered via C-section. So cute!!

Again-we can't say enough thanks for all of the encouragement and prayers during this exciting, exhausting, amazing, challenging, new, and precious time. :-)

40 Weeks + 5 Days

and still waiting...

To update everyone who has so kindly called/emailed/fb'd on wondering how were doing and if the baby is here yet...I am still very much pregnant, and all the more anxious and hopeful for a baby soon! We appreciate the prayers and encouragement, and are really hoping for some activity today or over the weekend-right now the race is on between a natural labor and an induced one. Our appointment on Monday and test results will ref that call, so were really hoping to be snugly in the hospital bed with our new little one before Monday rolls around. Until then I'll be walking the pup, inventing more things to do around the house, eating rasberries and possibly working on a cheer to encourage baby Evan out.

40 Weeks + 2 Days

At 40 weeks and 2 days, we are overdue but hopeful. In a nutshell-we had a discouraging doctor's appointment this morning, but are staying positive and prayerful! If baby Evan does not come on his own within this week(and God willing he will!), an induction has been scheduled for Monday night, the 26th of April. Until then we are resting in God's good hands :-)

and feeling more whale-ish then ever!

40 Weeks + 1 Day

Where to start? We had a wonderful, fun, active, busy weekend-oh, and I'm still pregnant!

On Saturday my parents came up and we took Piper and the belly to downtown Raleigh's annual SPCA doggie day. It was a ton of fun with plenty of things going on-live music, Vic's pizza, wonderfull Spring weather and of course a plethora of puppies everywhere! We had also hoped that all the walking would encourage baby Evan to come, but no such luck-0nly sore tootsies! Piper had a blast though and is really enjoying all of this extra walking and attention-he is one happy puppy!

On Sunday we went to Open Door Baptist to stay close to home "just in case" -it was a completely differant Sunday morning experience "sleeping in" and driving to a church just 2 minutes down the road, not to mention not setting up/tearing down. And while it was a bit less stressful getting out the door and a refreshing rest for Chris being able to enjoy worship on the other side of the mic-more than anything we both realized how much we love Wilson and missed it so much-it just was'nt the same and we are so grateful for and blessed by our church. We LOVE Christ Baptist! Afterwards we decided to-guess what-do some more WALKING! We packed up Pipey again and drove down to Cameron Village for a nice lunch out and some more Spring strolling.

In everything we did this weekend we were dripping with anticipation as our anxiously awaited due date approached-and now that's it's come and gone, I feel like our sweet ice cream cone of come baby goodness is quickly melting into a sherbet of anxiety, mixed with a bit of frustration and a lot of discomfort. Over that past few days, we've walked, walked, and walked some more. We indulged the wive's tales with spicy food and speedbumps-more than anything waiting and praying for a baby SOON! Chris even started to have "sympathy contractions" on Sunday afternoon, lol. :-)

Aside from feeling like a whale, I was disappointed that baby Evan did not make his appearance yesterday for many reasons. For one, my FAVORITE doctor happened to be on call yesterday so I was really crossing my fingers-but now it's a gamble. Tomorrow we've got another OB apt-one I'd hoped not to make, and the one where we'll be having the o-so-dreaded "induction" talk. However, I'm keeping positive and still hoping for a natural delivery, and sooner then later! After all, we've waited 10 whole months-what's a few more days?! He could even come today...only God knows. Praise praise praise to the one who holds everything perfectly in His hands-even baby days!

Come on Evan, we can't wait to meet you!!!

The Last Mile

39 weeks behind us, 1 week to go. I've said it again and again, but where did the time go?! Even though these past 39 weeks have flown by, this last one is starting to rollll. Boy are we are anxious to meet our new little guy!

My 39 week doctors appointment this morning was as uneventful as ever-which I can't complain about. I was sort of ready to go at 37 weeks when we got that original full term "green light," but I guess he'll come when he's good and ready-like a ripe apple falling from the tree.

39 week stats:
BP-101/65
Weight gain-2.5 pounds over the last two weeks-right on track!
Baby's heartrate-120's
Milestones-Just making it this far is a HUGE milestone! Dare i say that everything is ready and waiting for Evan's arrival. I know it will come and go in a second, so I'm trying extra hard to savor our precious few last moments of "twoness."

37 Weeks and Counting Down!

Carseat? Check!

Crib? Check!

Pediatrician? Check!

Hospital pre-registration? Check!

At 37 weeks we have been given the official green light and are ready to go...well, as ready as you can be anyways. After my doctor's appointment yesterday it looks like everything is going-or should I say growing-according to schedule. I was infinitely relived to hear that I tested negative for the Group B strep, and am thus spared the few rounds of IV antibiotics prior to delivery. Praise God!

On the downside, I feel like a whale this week and the scale agrees! In just one week I jumped 4 pounds from 132 to 136....believe me I had to double take as well. Apparently though it's all swelling, and alot of it! Though I'm showing signs of some early edema(plus 1-2) around my feet and ankles, my blood pressure and proteins look great so it's not concerning at this point. Other than that, and adding some extra iron to my diet & daily vitamin regimen, we are golden.

Aside from the normal diagnostics, this appointment took on another tone as we talked about labor signs, on call doctor rotations, and other housekeeping issues like what we have packed for the hospital and carseat safety. Just as Spring has come there is another sweet change in the air these days-baby is definitely on the way!

37 Week Stats:

BP-99/65
Baby's heartrate-140's to 150's and very healthy
Weight gain-4 pounds, 1 week...that's a record for sure!
Milestones-Hitting the "full term" 37 week mark...just a few weeks now and we'll be a family of three-plus our Piper of course. :-) Stretch marks have made their un-glorious debut and I'm feeling beyond uncomfortable by the day's end. Sleep...let's not even go there. However, the end is in sight and we can't believe April has come so soon!

The Scotts in Spring

As Spring has sprung upon us, I am:
36(almost 37) weeks and counting, 1.5 pounds heavier and waddling along. Baby Evan is head down, sitting lower and continues to grow big and with a steady heart rate. Notice the bulging belly button below; it reminds me of a cake rising in the oven or some kind of "ding!" done cooking type signal, haha. Popping buttons aside, I do love this picture of my boys :-)
In other Spring joys, I am loving the special Spring Oreo's and explosion of pastels now lining the grocery store aisles. Piper is also happy to greet Spring and the gorgeous dog park weather it brings. We've been twice in the past week and have had a dog gone good time(we told him to soak it up for now while he's still our furry firstborn!)
Last but not least, Spring has brought a nice close to our congested calenders.Praise God we are finally getting over this "busy" bump we've been whirling through this past month. It seems like every weekend since Febrary has been packed full-with work, school, church events, weddings and doctor's appointments squished in between. Chris has been especially busy lately learning and adjusting to his new job, planing and playing music for a disciple now youth weekend w/a local church, and finishing up his last online class at Southeastern.

On my front, I've been increasingly exhausted baking baby Evan while continuing to work full time and organize all of the details of his arrival-financial, work-wise, nesting and all. Thankfully after our own church's "God Revealed" conference this week and the Spring Festival next weekend, we have blank calendars for a long time-hallelujah(you know, aside from having a baby and all)! Being busy is good, but right now we are ready for a good breather :-) Especially in this beautiful Spring season!

34 Week Brief

Knocking on wood, everything continues to look great. At 34 weeks, I'm feeling alright, definitely more tired at the end of the day and officially sporting the "waddle" walk at work(in case you were wondering, it's not as cute as a baby duck's waddle). Evan is moving around a ton, and thankfully has finally maneuvered himself into the correct head down position-hopefully he stays this way! The 34 week appointment was blissfully uneventful-and though we were dealt some pretty shocking news regarding the hospital bill to come-we continue to be grateful for a healthy pregnancy and growing baby. Here are the latest stats:

BP-101/65
Baby's heart rate-150
Weight gain-We've officially breached the 130's people! That's about 2.5 pounds since the last appointment 3 weeks ago. Chris says it's nothing but baby weight, somehow I think it's the brownies...
Milestones this week-Feeling baby hiccups, having massive caffeine cravings, and sleeping much less. Also, we are officially on the 2 week schedule for our ob appointments and after next time will be going every week-reality is sinking in!

Speaking of caffeine-and no, I haven't completely abstained-I am in love with Mickey D's new Caramel Frappe's! Yummo-they are out of this world amazing! In fact, things may get a bit out of hand once Evan arrives and I'm not so weary of my daily caffeine count-I'm already plotting our side-trip on the way home from Rex...

Where did the weekend go?

We packed alot into the past weekend and boy did it fly by. On Friday night Chris and I headed to Goldsboro for the Crossway Church launch and then spent the night with my family. It was an excited and long anticipated night for Crossway, Christ Baptist's first Goldsboro church plant, and we are so excited to be a part of it. On Saturday we packed up Piper and added a new passenger for our trip back to Raleigh-mom! We took a few detours to Smithfield and Babies R Us before heading home to rest, walk the mall, and eat a delicious dinner out at Applebee's. It was a full day, and we were tired by the end of it! Lots of walking and good exercise though :-) Springtime gave us a beautiful preview this weekend with some much enjoyed warm weather-I can't wait till it's here to stay!

Me and Sami posing w/ baby Evan

Chris, Piper, & Dino at the Outlets-Looks like the Flinstones were before his time..

On Sunday after church Chris and I attended our last childbirthing class at Rex. On one hand I was sad to be completing them since they were a lot of fun and very informative-but on the other hand I'm happy to have made it through and I know it means were getting closer and closer to the big day. We learned some really good and practical tips on newborn care, and were also given the low down on Cesarean sections-a fate I'm praying fervently to avoid!

At 32 weeks, this whole labor and delivery thing is becoming more of a reality, and as things slowly but surely fall into place getting things ready for our new addition-it's a reality I'm actually really looking forward to!

31 Weeks

Time continues to wiz by. Chris and I took the tour of the birth center at Rex this weekend, and are looking forward to our last class next Sunday on newborn care. At 31 weeks, baby E continues to grow and look healthy. Again, our little boy measured completely on track for 31 weeks this morning, so maybe I just feel really big, lol. Here are our the stats. from our appointment:

BP-94/58
Weight Gain-1.6 pounds, pretty good for 2 weeks! Should be gaining a pound/week at this point.
Baby’s heartrate-140’s
Milestones-We are almost done with our classes at the hospital…feeling more anxious about the realities of childbirth as d-day gets closer and closer…no signs of stretch marks yet but I feel like they could be just around the corner with this growing belly! Sleeping is not so bad except for dealing with this annoyingly persistent cold and congestion-can't wait to have my immune system back to myself!

As per baby’s latest activities-he should be weighing around 3.3 pounds and measure 17 inches give or take-plus he’ll be hitting a super growth spurt soon. He is super active these days and tumbles and turns most during the night. Can’t wait to see him in person-getting the tour of the labor and postpartum rooms, and seeing the baby warmers and nursery at the hospital was sort of surreal, but also exciting. Just 9 weeks or so to go!

It's not a belly, it's a baby

Alternately titled the "Almost 30 weeks update!"

Other than my surprise shot, today's doc's appointment was a very good one. Baby E continues to look healthy, and I really enjoyed the doctor we saw today. He didn't seem hurried at all and really took the time to talk to us and give us some helpful insight, plus he was older and seems like he carried a lot of good wisdom & experience under his belt. Here are the stats:

BP-100/56
Baby's Heartrate-150's
Weight Gain-Creeping up the scale a whole 6 pounds since the last appt. 4 weeks ago. I knew this baby was growing!
Milestones this week-Finding it much more uncomfortable to bend over, trek up and down the stairs and move in general like I used to. Surprisingly, the baby's measuring on track and is not tipping the charts like I supposed-feeling so enormous and all. Looks like I've got lots of growing left to do...not sure how excited I am about that ;/

This Sunday we start our "Childbirthing and Babycare Basics" class at Rex and I am super excited! Crib, dresser, and mattress are on the way and all things baby are slowly, surely, and somewhat steadily falling into place. After seeing Michelle Duggars emergency birth with precious baby #19 at 25 weeks, I am just so thankful to have made it this far and praise God for many good graces He's given me along the way.

On the mind...

My brain is sloppy scrambled eggs lately-here are some thoughts on the menu…

• This week I’m hoping to order baby E’s crib and dresser combo-I can’t wait to get it in and set up in his room! On that note, I’m having trouble refraining from going into his blank canvass of a nursery-one too many times a day-to imagine what it will look like soon...furniture, blankets, baby and all.
  
  

• Why are strawberries so darn expensive and harder to find now-a-days? Can’t a girl enjoy some sweet strawberries in January?
  
  
• God is getting an early start on teaching me how to live on less sleep-getting to sleep is harder and harder to do now, and I can’t imagine what it will be like a month from now. Dread.
  
  
• 1 week and 4 days till Girl Scout cookie-palooza…but who’s counting…
  
  
• Work has been rough this week-and it’s only Wednesday.
  
  
• We’ve hit a dinner slump and are running low on ideas for creative, new, and most importantly-inexpensive-recipes. Must satisfy the carb addicted picky eater- myself- as well as the garbage disposal/will eat anything without onions/Texas sized appetite, lover of food husband. Budget friendly ideas welcome.
  
  
• The weekends are increasingly less sufficient for laundry-maybe a “white load Wednesday” is in order.

Hello 3rd Trimester-my how fast you've come!

I can’t believe it’s time for the third trimester already-I feel like it’s barged in like a thief rather than knocking slowly at our door and waiting patiently for me to collect myself, pick up the laundry off the living room floor, scurry to fluff some pillows ect. Not to say that we aren’t completely excited about its arrival, just maybe a little frazzled by how fast it’s made its way here! I suppose I should be very grateful that we haven’t run into any major “traffic” along the way and have enjoyed a very easygoing pregnancy so far-here’s to hoping my good graces carry out till D-Day!

This week baby E should weigh between 2 and a quarter to 2 and a half pounds, and measure around 14.5 inches from head to toe(hard to believe looking at my stomach!). This time is especially crucial to his brain and neuron development, so I’m trying to make a better effort to get in that extra dose of nutrition and drink plenty of water-does tea count?

In other news, I’m happy to say we had a good, productive weekend. On Saturday we checked a few things off my decluttering the house game plan. In addition to the weekend basics like laundry and grocery shopping, we finally found a new home for a huge piece of furniture that was taking up much needed space in E’s room and got his name letters on the wall. Sunday was restful and full of good fellowship, starting with church and a fun lunch afterwards with some dear friends and their o-so-adorable and endlessly entertaining girls-thanks for being such great host Lori & Jonathan! Later that night Piper got a much needed bath and now smells like a cinnamon stick; it makes me think of pumpkin pie and really I could just eat him right up!

Winding up the 2nd Trimester-27 Week Update

At 27 weeks along, I am exclusively in materninty clothes, figuring out the new song and dance of sleep, and craving chocolate all day long. I've never been a big chocolate fan, and now all I can think about are snowcaps, raisenettes, dove dark chocolates and m&m's. In other pregnancy news, I feel bigger and bigger everyday and am having trouble getting-and staying- comfortable at night. I don't forsee things getting any easier from here on out-rather bigger, stronger, tighter, more difficult...you name it. Oh, and I'm slowly but surely teetering the fine line between sitting down and "landing" on things-cars, couches, and office chairs beware.

Alongside all these less glamourous things though, I'm getting more and more excited about the realities of having a little one-and a baby boy at that. Looking at his tiny boy clothes and jungle friends bedding, I feel like I've really turned a corner when it comes to getting excited about "boy things," and have likewise become very fond of blues, greens and browns.

Milestones this week-lots of movement! And drumroll please.....the big event around the corner is none other than the third trimester! Man is this happening fast. From strolling the aisles of BabiesRUs and Target in creating our registries, to shopping online for nursery furniture, hanging up little baby clothes in the closet, reading "Babywise" and registering for our childbirthing classes, I am in total "baby mode." It's a little scary, sometimes stressful, and a lot of fun :-)

On how I lost my belly button...

I had never thought too much about my belly button before. It was always just sort of…there.

Until one day it wasn’t.

It started with a slow and sure stretch, until finally, was pushed out of its place! For 24 years I had an “innie” and now, thanks to six & a half month old baby in the oven, I have an “outie.” Without a doubt, the loss of my once averagely inward belly button has rushed a wave of reality upon me like none before-your pregnant! Of course I’d been warned, but somehow just never thought it could happen to me. I must admit that I was not only surprised, but also slightly frightened as my belly button slowly made it’s way inward out. Bulging belly, withering waistbands and misfit moods aside, my new belly button has now and finally awoken me to the reality of baby bearing.

On the lighter side, it is a little interesting and a lot comical at times-my new button and me. Chris and I have harvested many a chuckle while witnessing the evolution from innie to outtie, laughing as we’d see it “pop” from in to out while laying down and sitting up, laying down and sitting up. That being said, I won’t be sorry to see it take a bow and exit the stage once baby arrives…here’s to wishful thinking! I’m imagining it like my past innie is on a nice vacation somewhere in the Hawaiian islands, and once baby boy comes, the outtie will be outed and my beloved button will return to me once again...okay I'm officially carried away now.

Enough about belly buttons already...on to more exciting things like little baby clothes hangers and maternity induced moments of monogramed madness. :-)

25 Weeks and Growing

This morning marked our 25 week appointment and glucose screening. Aside from having to drink the nauseating sugar solution for the glucose test and having my blood drawn(which was traumatic as per usual), everything is looking good and on track. Oh and by the way, the sugar solution most certainly did not taste like flat sunkist! I'm fervantly hoping and praying that we don't hear anything back about the glucose screening, as no news is good news. I can't imagine having to go through the much more intense step two of the glucose testing as step 1 was nightmare enough. I have to keep reminding myself that there are worse things than sugar sticks and needle pricks, and that I am one lucky duck to have made it this far so well.

As an aside, I was rather amused at our doctor this morning. Our practice is comprised of many OB's, so we usually see a differant one each time. Let's just say that this guy was a little loopy sounding and a lot laid back, and seeing him walk through the door on D-day might just make for the perfect Steve Martin movie moment, lol.

Some stats:
Weight Gain-I've finally breached the 120's! Today's weigh in at 122 puts me at 12 total pounds gained so far, and who knows how more to go....
BP-103/68
Baby's heartrate-Steady 150's
Milestones-Lots of kicking and movement. All of a sudden this boy moves ALL the time, and every which way.
Also, it's 2010! When did that happen? April seems so close now!

In developmental news, baby E should weigh just under 2 pounds now and measure anywhere between 13-16 inches long. He is busy growing hair and smoothing out his thin, wrinkly skin with fat. In fact, I think he's just busy growing period. I feel like my belly grows more and more everyday, and can't imagine it has much more room to go. It's amazing what the body can do!

22 Week Update and Pictures!

Here is our baby boy at 21 weeks, now 22. I can’t believe were already past the halfway point!
Thankfully, he looks great, is growing nicely and is developmentally on track. It was amazing to see him squirm around in there so much, the u/s tech said he was a “busy boy.” And definitely a boy at that! I won’t post his “boy parts” picture here to avoid future embarrassment, lol, but needless to say they were 100% on the mark and are totally sure that we will be basking in blue. :-)
At 22 weeks, he looks like a miniature newborn and is growing more distinct features(as you can tell by his cute little profile). He’s getting little baby and adult tooth buds in his gums, and working hard developing his pancreas. His eyes and eyelids are completely formed but still lacking pigment, and as I mentioned before is getting very active.

With Christmas around the corner and many new things on the horizon, I know this next half is just going to FLY by.

Nice and Rosy and Comfy Cozy are we...

Complete with pink cheeks and hot chocolate, I’m happy to finally note a hint of Christmas in the NC air lately. Without a doubt Christmastime is my favorite time of the year. I just love decorating the tree, hanging wreaths, wrapping presents and curling ribbon. I love Christmas music and ringing bells, hark the herald angels sing and Charlie Brown specials. Jingle bells and shiny decoration aside, I more than anything love the spirit of joy, thanksgiving and noel that this advent season brings. :-)

If I believed in past lives, I have always said that I would have been a Christmas elf. What a fun job! Elf shoes aside though, we have both been busy busy getting ready for the holidays and closer on the horizon-Chris’ graduation! We are officially under two weeks and counting and it is crunch time! This weekend I checked a huge bullet off of my Christmas to do and sent out our Christmas cards-so much fun! We also enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner with one of my groups at work(the first of many holiday dinners this month!), and Chris and I even found a few hours on Sunday for some much needed Christmas power shopping before another long night of power paper writing(for Chris that is, baby and I went to bed early!).

In baby news, I am 21 weeks today, and feeling great. Sure, it’s harder to squeeze out of the car these days in the too tight parking spaces at work, and yes, maybe I am feeling a bit “doughy” lately, but all things considered-so far so good. Oh, and don't even get me started on that "pregnancy brain" thing, man have I got it bad! On another note, I'm sorry to say that the holidays have given license to my out of control snacking and vanilla coke cravings, so I’m putting myself on a serious water, fruit and healthy living like regimen this week! Poor eating habits aside, baby boy certainly seems to be growing like crazy, and should be packing some fat on his bones now that he can officially swallow and digest directly from the umbilical cord. In other developmental news, hair! I’m hoping to see a few sprouts on his tiny head at our upcoming ultrasound this Friday. But first, we’ve got a birthday to celebrate on Thursday-happy early birthday Chris!

And that’s all for now folks, many more random updates to come :-).