Post-Birthday Glee

Whirlwind. Most of you know that just hours after my last post, Matt showed up at home with JACLYN. Talk about shock. I am not easy to surprise -- a strength/weakness of mine. I -- had -- no -- clue!!!! They've been planning "Operation Black Ice" since the beginning of November...and I suspected absolutely nothing. Not even an inkling that something big was happening. All in all, #25 is probably the most memorable birthday I've had right along with my golden birthday (19) when Alicia threw me a surprise party at TGIF!

Friday night, we had Andrew and Elizabeth over for chicken parmesan (my first time making it). It was oh so tasty! They brought a cookie dough ice cream cake from Cold Stone. We played the LOST board game...and they all hated it. I think we eventually let Andrew win because he controlled the most people. I guess I couldn't remain champion forever. It was such a fun birthday. And I managed to get by without blowing out any candles or being sung to in person. The only song I got was from my precious nephews, niece, and their parents. That and the flowers from my mom TRULY make my birthdays real birthdays. It wouldn't be a good birthday without them. :-) The orange is for Aut, the pink for Momma. <3




I need to get pics from Jaclyn...but I did get one pic of us all before she left. Saturday morning, the three of us went to the Duck Club Grill for breakfast -- and now I'm glad they finally understand why I've been dying to go back there. So wonderful! It did happen to be the ONLY foggy morning in a long time, but it was still glorious. I'm hoping Matt and I can stay at the hotel for a night for our anniversary and have breakfast again. Of course...nothing like being 8 months pregnant for your 3rd anniversary. Another thought keeps occuring to me...Aut and Andy will be married for SEVEN years this May. Wow!



We got our nightstands today! Woo hoo! And it only took a year of waiting and saying no to several negotiations!

Judah got to go to the doctor this morning. Poor guy has RSV, which is apparently going around here. So now he's on albuterol as needed, and his cough just makes me so sad. I hope it does go away within the next few days as we were told. He has gained over a pound and over an inch in the past 2 1/2 weeks. For me that is just further confirmation that it truly was time to start weaning. This week we're only down to one feeding in the evening. I was going to stop completely next week...but I'm getting more emotional as the time comes. Maybe I'll just hang on to the evening feeding until whenever. No need to give that up, right? My energy is 10x what it was!

'Nough said. I need to go nap while Judah naps. He's not sleeping so well at night with this cough. Not that he's asleep -- he's enjoying his crib. But, rest I shall. Ta ta!

Thursday

Today is my sis-in-law's 17th b-day! Happy Birthday, Melody!

Yesterday, Judah was trying to figure out how to open up a box that holds some of his books. He was putting it aside to move on, so I held out my hand to him. He looked back at the box, then at my hand, then got the box and handed it to me. To see the gears turning in a little brain never ceases to amaze me!

Cheddar served alone made Judah break out a tiny bit, but not like usual. Still experimenting.

Matt told me last night I'm starting to show just a tiny bit. I'm certainly at the point where I look normal in the morning, but by evening I do have more of a pooch. I'm just glad I'm not yet into the in-between normal and maternity clothes stage. What a hard spot to be in...unless you do Aut's ponytail-on-the-button trick. ;-) I am now 11 weeks (almost 3 months) pregnant: Your baby is now between 1.5 inches and 2.5 inches long and weighs 0.3 ounces! He or she is almost the size of large lime—but much sweeter! This is a rapid growth stage, and your baby's length and weight will likely double in the next three weeks. At this point, the head is almost half the size of the body, but that will change in the weeks to come. Your baby's head also begins to "uncurl" as the chin lifts and the head rolls backwards towards the spine, allowing the neck to better develop and grow. Now there are fingernails! The genitalia are also developing during this time frame, though the sex of your baby is still a secret. (from Babyfit.com)

I feel crafty this week, probably due to increased energy from less nursing. Yesterday I painted "Toys" on Judah's new toy box (a $7 Sterilite box). I hope the letters stay on there longer than I'm expecting.



And here are some fun family pics we snapped last night. He's not a baby anymore, but a little boy. I so wish I could get a good pic of his EIGHT teeth!




And now I must go clean the bathrooms, dust, windex, and iron as fast as I can to see if I can finish before Judah wakes up from his morning nap. I am so thankful I have a patient, encouraging husband who tells me he knows I can do it!

And can I just say I am SOOOO excited for Saturday morning! Matt is taking me to breakfast at a restaurant in the Monterey Plaza Hotel. It hangs out over the bay, has white linens, quiet atmosphere, and good food. I've been wanting to go on a date their since more than a year ago when my mom, Hope, and I went. I hope we can find a babysitter!

Cold Sprite Weans Birthday Pillows

Literally. We did discover today that perhaps one reason we've been on the colder side is because...our sliding door has not been shut all the way! No wonder it was drafty. No wonder I kept thinking I could hear outside noises too well. Problem fixed.

Sprite/Sierra Mist is my nausea saver. Love the stuff like never before.

We've successfully cut out Judah's two mid-day feedings. He doesn't miss nursing, I'm pretty sure. He had grilled cheese for the first time today. Smallest one I've ever made, about 2x2". He LOVED it. And he didn't break out in hives on his chin. Perhaps if dairy is cooked it's ok? Experiments to follow.

I broke out my new sewing machine (obtained from BCLR Share & Swap) and on-hand fabric today. I made pillow cases and a sash for our decorative pillow to go with the quilt. Lookie! We also invested in some frames for our family photos that we hung in the dining room. I learned two picture hanging tricks from Matt that he'd forgotten about until tonight: 1) put a dot of paint on the nail hanger of the frame, line it up on the wall where you want, and allow the nail hanger to hit the wall so a dot of paint stays on the wall where you want the nail, 2) slide a piece of paper between two hung pictures, with a pencil mark the edge of each frame to get the distance and use that to measure the distance for other pictures needing to be hung.

I'll be 25 on Friday. Diane made me a surprise birthday cake on Sunday. It is DELISH! They also got me some Dove dark chocolate and an earrings/necklace set that is just wonderful. So weird to be coming up on 25. Half of me is indifferent, the other half seeing it as half-way to thirty. I'm just thankful for another year of the Life abundantly!

Miracle of Life

Before we left for the holidays, we had our first prenatal visit with Dr. G. I was only 6 weeks along, but we did get some ultrasound pics. I had my second visit today at 10 weeks, again receiving pics. It is AMAZING how much our baby has grown in 4 weeks. From .5cm to 3.7cm. Heart rate from 115 to 160bpm. A blob on top of a yolk sack to a baby with umbilical cord.

6 Weeks

In the black and white photo, the baby is the blob attached to the top of the black area. In the 4D photo, the yolk sack is the round object on the right side; and the bumpy object on top of it is the baby. Just .5cm long!




10 Weeks

In the black and white photo, the baby's head is towards the left with it's body extending to the right. Count 7 periods in (on the CRL line), and just above the 7th is a round object which is a hand. The other hand is a brighter white opposite the first hand. In the 4D photo, the baby's head is at the top right with it's spine running down the right side of the black area. The legs and umbilical cord extend from the bottom of the spine towards the left. Now it's a good 3.7cm long!



Isn't God's plan for life amazing and mysterious? I am happy to point out that while I thought I had gained a whopping 7 pounds over our two weeks in IN (thanks to all the sweets available), I am now only 3lbs more than I was 4 weeks ago whether the IN scale was wrong or I lost some since being home. Whew! We also decided yesterday and got the go-ahead from Dr. G this morning that it is for sure time to wean Judah. I get frustrated more than I enjoy nursing now. I am ALWAYS tired...extra tired. And that was Dr. G's main reason for encouraging us to stop as soon as we can. I have pregnant tired plus nursing tired which equals a good amount of fatigue. As props to my hubby, he suggested last week that a good reason to wean now is for my energy's sake. I gave Judah formula at his dinner feeding last night, and he didn't even seem to care he wasn't nursing. So apparently he doesn't care where he gets his milk, or he too is ready to move on. That makes it easier emotionally. :-)

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As to the "Testing" post some of you saw, I had a website recommended to me at Titus 2sdays this week. http://www.blogarithm.com/ It's a place you freely subscribe to and enter all the blogs/websites you visit to check for new posts. I did tests to see if it works. Blogarithm sends you a morning e-mail listing each site that has been updated with a little excerpt from the most recent post. That way you don't have to spend time checking every blog to find that nothing new has been posted. SpanishMorning and Savary Sensations were not listed in today's e-mail, but a few others were. So, I encourage you to check it out in order to save time. I'll let you know if I still like it in a few days. :-)

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Can we say cold? It was 26 when we checked the temp this morning and frost all around. There were patches of ice on the sidewalk at the doc's office. Apparently LA is expecting snow and very cold weather. It's downright wintry and snow-smelling outside! Doesn't help my freeze-outs -- something that occurs several times a day due to pregnancy. Most women get hotter...I get colder. Dont' know which I'd prefer.

Testing

For Blogarithm

Everyday Life Update

We've done some rearranging and accumulating. We moved the desk out of Judah's room and into the living room. This way Judah can actually play in his own room without us breathing down his neck (though he's not really into toys right now...more like walls, doors, drawers, etc.), and it also prepares room for a second crib! :-P It also is nice for Matt to be able to do homework whenever he desires, and I can sit next to the desk in the comfy chair or do housework while we are "together." We also think it makes the living area more cozy and home like. The accumulating we did was to have our new dining set delivered! Praise God from whom this blessing has abundantly flowed! Seriously. Last year we were blessed with bed/dresser. It is SO amazing how much more family-like one feels when you don't have "newly-wed" quality things. We have always been thankful to have what we need, but we are also very thankful to have "family quality" things. This is our table for life. We absolutely love it! And for those who knew our glass topped dinette set...you can hit the new table and NOTHING wobbles or spills! Woo hoo!



Matt has a big experiment/paper he and some other students have been working on that's due beginning of next week. Pray for him that things will continue to run smoothly and quickly, that he'll be able to write his paper easily, and that the recipient will be pleased. He got pretty sick Sunday/Monday but is fine now, thank the Lord. It's tough when he's out and I'm left with Judah/house/pregnancy AND sick husband. ::sings humbly:: His strength is perfect when our strength is GONE... :-P

I think I may be on the downside of evening sickness. I'm better this week than I was last week. I go Friday for my second check up when they will confirm due date and I believe set a c-section date. So weird to KNOW what day you will see your baby's face! I'm totally fine on all other fronts save for two: Belly = Pudgy for sure. Thankful God apparently thinks we can handle to babies close together...because I'm realizing what a challenge it will be!

Judah's been a little out of sorts lately. He's got his first ear infection most likely due to all the congestion from teething (which he has 8 teeth now). So he's on antibiotics. We also wondered if he wasn't getting enough to eat because he is slowly losing weight. We pondered weaning him slowly and were going to start yesterday. But he all the sudden started drinking his soy formula at lunch yesterday. So we decided that we won't wean him yet. We'll just give him formula to drink with every meal at the table. He seems to like it -- and I discovered yesterday he LOVES plain bread, untoasted and unbuttered.

And did I mention he crawls officially...and quickly. And pulls up on EVERYTHING. And opens cabinets and drawers? And disappears if you turn your back to him? And won't stay seated in the tub? Autumn, you were right. My life is not the same now that he is not a bump on a log. Which is why the thoughts of having a toddler and newborn are kind of daunting! We went to Target yesterday to get some cabinet latches and decided to wait on getting some for drawers until he opened drawers. Home not for TWO minutes, and he was opening a drawer. Ah, how children make you smile in the midst of difficulty. Such little explorers.

I am often reminded of how much I am like Judah to God. If only I could be more like Christ to Judah. I'm glad I'm not able to be perfect this side of heaven. Striving for it is hard enough...to attain and maintain might be harder!

Lovin' My Blog

Momma tagged me.

A - Available or single: Available for my husband only.
B - Best friend: Not sure I can answer that...how can you have a "best" when each one is so different and offers your soul something unique? Not to mention it brings in hints of competition which is not nececssarily good in relationships.
C - Cake or pie: Chili's molten chocolate cake, my pumpkin cream pie
D - Drink of choice: Peach Orange Mango juice (I always jokingly call it "the nectar of the gods"), decaf sugar free hazelnut latte from Sbux, decaf earl grey tea English style
E - Essential item you use everyday: Clothes
F - Favorite color: Purples and light blues to wear; purple, green, orange, yellow to decorate with
G - Gummy bears or worms: Both...just gimme some!
H - Hometown: Grew up in Central AR
I- Indulgence: Dove Dark Chocolate
J - January or February: January -- my birth month! (25 this year...so unbelievable!)
K - Kids & names: 2 - Judah Gabriel, Unkown :-)
L - Life is incomplete without? God, Matt, creation
M - Marriage date: July 2, 2004
N - Number of siblings: 2 sisters - I'm the middle
O - Oranges or apples: Oranges if they are juicy and good, Apples if they are fuji or gala
P - Phobias or fears: spiders and clowns (though I have outgrown both considerably)
Q - Fave quote: "I wish I could just take you inside of me so you'd still be with me." -Said by Matt as he was hugging me very tightly while we said goodbye at the airport for the first time after we were engaged
R - Reason to smile: Because God is so good!
S - Season: What's that? I hardly remember since I live in season-less land. I love fall's colors and clothes. I love springs flowers and greenery. I love summer's laziness (but not the heat in AR). Not fond of winter unless I can be indoors with some hot chocolate and a cozy blanket.
T - Tag 3 or 4 people: Nah.
U - Unknown fact about me: Most recently I have begun to find out that not many people know how much of a fireball I could be with my words if I would always say what was on my mind. It is by God's grace that I can think before I speak. It's sooo hard to control the tongue -- which is why I am the silent type when I'm angry. I know what I have to say will only make things worse. Now if only I could be as controlled in the words I THINK...
V- Vegetable you don't like: cabbage (blech! even the smell...)
W - Worst habit: picking/biting my lips. ::sigh::
X - Xrays: wrists, back; my dad's livelihood
Y - Your fave food: Olive Garden's fettucini alfredo and tiramisu
Z - Zealous about: God's sovereignty.

Happy New Year

Can you believe it? 2007 is upon us. I graduated highschool 7 years ago. 9/11 was 6 years ago. The turn of the millenium was 7 years ago. Those sounds like quite a long time, and yet it seems like yesterday. And just three years ago today, Matt proposed to me...3 years. Now we've been married for 2 1/2 of those three years, have one kid and one on the way living all the way in CA. And I STILL think it was the perfect proposal -- I will cherish that story for years to come!

Poor Judah visited Matt's childhood doctor on Friday. He had several days of fever and now has quite the little cough. It's strange to hear him cough -- and I wonder what it is like for him to cough for the first time. I think it hurts his throat sometimes because he gives a little cry after the harder coughs. I think he is on the mend. The doc said that it was more than likely teething...he has, after all, gotten three top teeth in the time we've been here! And I do believe there are a couple more to come very soon.

Fun news, though. We've introduced him to the world of finger foods. He's had Mamaw's pancakes, lightly buttered toast, goldfish, cheerios, turkey. He also has tried mashed potatoes (again) and a taste of vanilla ice cream which both made his chin break out in hives. Dairy? Who knows. He's had so much fun with feeding himself. To watch his little fingers pinch food and take it straight to his mouth is fascinating. He wasn't very good at it at first, but he caught on very quickly. And he does best putting food into his mouth with his right hand, though he can use his left hand for picking things up and pushing pieces farther into his mouth.

I've forbidden Brenda to make any more sweet dishes except for her banana pudding until we leave. Goodness! This is certainly a "home SWEET home" which I know Matt has enjoyed. Well, ok, I have enjoyed it too -- but more than I should! Pies, brownies, cakes, ice cream, Little Debbie treats, Twizzlers, etc. So tasty. And my hip/thigh region has thought so too. My belly is also pooching it's jiggly self a little more now. But, 'tis to be expected. I am 2 months pregnant now. I just hope it doesn't take years to get rid of this spoiled sweet tooth I've gotten. ;-)

I think we may end up doing a name game like Hong & Tami did. Give us suggestions for girls and boys names (first and middle), and if we pick your name you get a prize. :-) This will be a running game so you can leave a name in a comment from here on out regardless of what the post is about. :-) This should be interesting. I will say there is one boy's name I have begun to think about quite a bit, but it reminds Matt of Strongbad (for those who know what that is). I think maybe he could let go of the relation if he just thinks about the name a little more. It's not Biblical which suprises me. But I do like this name quite a bit. We'll see.

Ok, Matt wants to show his dad our church's website (link at left) and I need to go do a few things before we get to church. I hope you all have a wonderful celebration to bring in the New Year tonight! Love to all!

Christmas Pictures

Well, we had a successful Christmas yesterday. Why "successful" you ask?

1) There was not 4 feet of snow like our last Christmas-time in Indiana.
2) Matt and I actually had gifts for each other that were unknown to the other and opened on the correct day (this rarely if ever happens).
3) Judah knew just what to do with his presents -- even playing with the gifts more than the packaging.

I'm not sure what Matt's opinion would be, but I have two favorite gifts. One was a Willow Tree figurine called "New Life." I have always loved the Willow Tree stuff, but Brenda never knew that. It is a very special gift to me, one that makes me feel peace and joy when I look at it.

But my most favorite gift has no price. It is a new heirloom for our family. It was an extremely thought out, worked out gift. Brenda noticed a particular comment I made on my blog from a while ago about a quilt Helen had given Judah.

I said that I liked it so much the thought had crossed my mind to add to it to make a quilt for our king sized bed so that his would be the center piece of our bed......Brenda told Grandma, and then in October, Grandma started this...

Shock & Awe. Priceless. A wonderful, relaxing Christmas. Judah's first. Yummy food. And might I say Matt and I are still on a roll with "new" Christmases. Here's how our Christmases have gone since marriage...

1st...marriage

2nd...pregnant

3rd...first child

(4th...we'll have two children)

And on a more serious spiritual note, I think this is the first Christmas I really lacked a whole lot of "Christmas spirit" and focus on Christ's birth. I don't know if it is because there was a lot of hubub surrounding this Christmas or if I am growing differently spiritually -- I'm feeling a change to more celebration in my heart with Easter rather than Christmas. But I do remind myself...He had to be born so that He could die. And that is why Christmas is so special.

Week 1 of Holiday Vacation

Well, here we are almost at the close of week one of our hoilday vacation here in Indiana. It's been relaxing...once we got over the time change. Sunday night was aweful! Judah only slept for 6 hours when he usually gets 10-12. Matt and I were both exhausted, so it made it very hard to *happily and patiently* tend to Judah's needs. But, we are past that; and Judah is perfectly on Indiana time now. I do not, however, look forward to trying to change him back to CA time...as it is now, he'll be waking at 5 am when we go back. :-O A kind lady that Brenda works with loaned alot of stuff her grandaughter uses for Judah. One was a portable crib. We were stoked about it...until we figured out Judah could stand up in it and shake it nearly to pieces! I also think it was so unfamiliar that it was distracting him from normal sleep...which affected OUR sleep. So we went to Target and bought an "Esparza Household" pack n play. It's the same one we have at home. Judah has slept SO much better since then. He shocked us by showing us he can even pull up in a mesh sided pack n play, but at least he can't shake it badly.




It's been dreary and rainy since we got here, but it adds to the wintry feel. I got out and took a 20 min walk while it was spritzing outside yesterday, and it was nice and refreshing. I've been battling consistent irritating nausea all week, mainly in the afternoon/evening. I GOT MY ARBY'S though and was a completely new woman afterwards. We will be visiting again before we leave. ;-) I also got me some Sonic. Yeah buddy! I also feel that my belly is starting to get that first trimester pudge-feeling. The "My body doesn't look pregnant yet, but I'm not my normal slim self anymore" feeling. I know I don't look pudgy to everyone else, but the waist of my pants is a little more snug and flexing my abs doesn't change the look of my tummy anymore. Those of you who have been pregnant or closely watched a preggie know what I'm talking about. Can I get a shout out?



There are many gifts under the tree already. Matt and I are going to go on a dinner/shopping date hopefully today or tomorrow. I'm thinking Chik-fil-A. Gotta get all the non-CA restaurants in while we can. Mmm...chicken ceasar wrap. We have a few gifts yet to purchase, and yes we are nuts for going shopping so close to Christmas. But hey, it adds a little spice to the holiday. Judah got to open one gift last night because we need more options for sleepware here. Sometimes it's a touch too warm for a fleece sleeper. The PJ's? Some adorable t-shirt pants/tops with dinosaurs on them. I've had my eye on them for quite some time at Target, so I am thrilled that Brenda chose them (not knowing what I would have picked)!




Judah & Aunt Melody.



Playing piano with Mamaw.




Judah also is around stairs that are "safe" as in carpeted and inside a house. He surprised us all by climbing all 14 steps on his first try!



Highchair Happiness (and a cool colored photo Melody took that shows Judah's orange nose even more). :-P



Judah 9 mo check up: 18.13 lbs. (20% for weight down from 80% last time...he moves around more!), 95% for head size (still a big head!), 28" long (average). He's as healthy as can be. :-) All four teeth on the bottom are through, and one on the top side JUST popped through last night. He'll have the other top side tooth pop through soon as well. When it tooths it teeths in that kids mouth!

I hope you all are enjoying these days leading up to Christmas!

All Hail the Crib Travelers

So this week's new trick is to stand up in his crib. He does it OFTEN. So much so that it is hard to get him to go to bed/nap. And just today, he pulled up on the coffee table...and then cruised to get Matt's soup. Any bets on how soon he'll be walking?






We're up late tonight finishing up things before we leave for the holidays. It's about 10:30. And out of NOWHERE...ok out of the sky...we got hail! I was thinkin' to myself, "I knew it was supposed to rain, but that is some heavy rain...and rain usually doesn't ping off our windows." So I took some pictures. It's the second time I've encountered a random hail storm in CA. The first was on a sunny day at Master's -- I still don't understand where that hail came from. At least I know tonight's hail came from a cloudy sky. Perfectly pea-sized if you ask me.




Ok, off we go to bed...well ok after a few more tasks...

Snurzles & Holiday Quiz

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? My dad's egg nog milkshakes (I have yet to have an "adult" one because I've been underage or pregnant on the years we've had them)

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? Santa is not welcome here. We like to give our own gifts.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White all the way.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? We don't really decorate yet...once we are more settled (as in moved to Maryland) we will probably start.

5. When do you put your decorations up? See above.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Mashed potatoes/gravy and rolls.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Choosing and chopping down trees with my family and grandparents (but now fake trees rule the roost); sleeping with my sisters on Christmas Eve in our new Christmas pj's.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? When I was around 4 I think. My mom sat Autumn and I down and told us. Autumn cried. I didn't care.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Nope. But we opened some on Thanksgiving this year.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? It *will* be white/blue/silver themed sprinkled with all the ornaments from my grandmother.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? If I've no place to go and it's warm inside, let it snow.

12. Can you ice skate? Yes, but I much prefer roller skating.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Several: my "Snow Queen" porcelain doll, an adopt-a-dolphin, Swarovski crystal snowflake ornaments, my Pampered Chef soup pot, the scarf I just got from Autumn...and so many more!

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Egg nog milkshakes. Pumpkin Pie w/ whipped cream.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Pancake breakfast; new Christmas pj's; pouring the sparkling cider with my grandmother before New Year's midnight.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Both.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? O Come O Come Emmanuel

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I'll pass on them.

Peek-a-boo!

Beginning of the Last Week

So today begins the last week before our long Christmas vacation to Indiana. It'll be a busy week! Laundry and packing. Judah's 9 mo appt. My first prenatal appt. Garage sale with Rich and Diane. Hopefully see Todd while he's in town. Christmas party at a fellow student's house. At least I'm fully over whatever sickness I had last week, and the morning sickness doesn't seem to be bad (maybe even easier than with Judah). I am just so thankful to know ahead of time that Indiana will be relaxing...save for maybe the COLD weather. But hey, at least if it snows 4 feet we don't have anywhere to be by a certain day. :-P


Judah has decided to become a gymnast. Sometimes he shocks me by where he gets all by himself. And I know it'll only get more interesting as he grows more!


Ta da! In one side and out the front!

On a sad note, I seem to be having the same cravings I did with Judah...namely Arby's. Come to find out on Saturday when my dear husband took time out from his studying for finals to go get me Arby's...they don't exist in Salinas anymore!!! The closest one is at least 30 minutes away in Gilroy. ::stunned and hopeless:: At least I can get gummi bears at Safeway...

Turkey Clapping

Judah has Gerber's "Turkey Rice Dinner" and shows he can clap by himself now.

Not a Good Way...

...to start a pregnancy. Just as my irritating-but-not-dibilitating all day sickness kicked in, my body decided to get sick. The nurse thinks it is flu, but I think it could be that and/or some kind of intestinal irritation. It is NOT fun -- nagging slight fever, coughing, congestion, extra nausea, tender and bloaty abdomen, a load of exhaustion. And taking Target brand's cold/flu relief liquid is like drinking a bag of Hall's cough drops...which I can't stand. But the stuff works. I just hope it's all over soon. I'd settle happily with just the all day sickness.

At least the nurse was able to quench my slight fear that it could be lysteria since there have been recent cases of it from Jamba Juice...and we had Jamba on Sunday. She said lysteria is much worse with an uncontrolable fever. I go next Friday for my first prenatal appointment, so I look forward to that day to find out if all truly is well and good to go. Hmm, makes me wonder if technology itself, though a gift from God by way of His blessing of intelligence, actually makes us weaker in faith. Women used to have NOTHING to assure them their baby was ok until it was born -- talk about trusting God's control!

Anyway, on a brighter (and maybe scarier) note, Judah is pulling up more and more. Today alone he's pulled up on his toy turtle, the laundry hamper, the coffee table (yipe!), and his crib. Gone are the days of ever leaving him in his crib with the railing down. Matt went in to check on him because he was whining a while after we put him to bed. Judah was standing there, one hand on the side rail and the other on the front rail. TOTALLY could have flipped over and out. Thank you, Lord, for protecting him and giving us a warning! Whew! So maybe he really will skip hands/knees crawling and go straight from dragging to walking...

Matt's 5th quarter is about to end. That means there are only three left. Time. Has. Flown.

Two Surprises