happy things

the yellow and orange fall leaves, Sunday night church, my animal family, perfect days and mornings spent with Mark, overalls, the weather even looking cool out, the Coraline soundtrack, Ilona Smithkin, vanilla wafers, La Vie en Rose -song, watching the baby on our dvd almost everyday…how it puts it’s little arms crossed behind it’s head, riding around to listen to music in the car and do some car-dancing with Mark, getting rid of unnecessary stuff at a yard sale, giving Frida a bath, hearing of little miracles everyday (like Mike and Patz’s cat Gerdie coming back after 59 days missing) Halloween time, asparagus almost everyday

a fabulous lunch break purchase

Yesterday during lunch I had a mission:  to buy a plant to go in my office.  Every space you spend any considerable amount of time in should have a plant.  Having something living makes for a much happier environment.

So, I went to Lowe’s and got 2 plants- a funky little fern and a voluptuous hanging number.  I ran by home and replanted the little fern in a vintage green pot I got from Meme’s house, put it on a handmade blue ceramic plate to catch the water, and surrounded it with marbles.   And if that wasn’t enough happiness for one lunch break, I stopped by Mandeville to see if there was any container that caught my eye to plant the other in, and found this great vase of buttons!  It was $25.  I tried talking myself out of spending that on buttons, but when you add up just how much the little sheets of small shirt buttons are at the fabric store, $25 adds up quick and on a much less fabulous variety.  Last night I couldn’t wait to dump them out and see what I got….and in just the bit I went through, my $25 was well spent.

a working experiment…

On average, how many post-its does an office employee use in one workday? 

This is our new task here at Black Creek…to prove Bruce’s hypothesis to be correct.  An office employee uses an average of 17-18 post it notes daily. 

(Let the documenting begin.  We will let you know the results in about a month.)

18 weeks today

 

“there’s a bump in the building.” -mike fowle

yesterday’s ultrasound

still shot of the baby, 17 weeks 6 days, heart rate 145 bpm, everything measures to be healthy and on track

 

Yesterday we had our mid-way ultrasound.  It was so much fun and so amazing to see our little baby for a while.  It has definitely changed since the ultrasound at 6 weeks…it looked like a butter bean then and now it looks like a real baby.  It was so cool to see the bones, and brain and heart.  We felt very good to hear that everything is measuring right on and looks healthy.  It’s an incredible thing that’s happening.  Right now the baby is probably about 5 inches long and is starting to put on some fat.  I haven’t been able to feel the baby move yet, but we could see it move for sure.  One time it had it’s arms crossed up behind it’s neck and it’s little feet crossed in another.  It was also busy stretching and moving it’s little legs.  

Also, while we were there I had my regular check-up.  Everything was good-blood pressure, how I’m measuring and my weight.  I was up a half pound from my last check-up (still under starting weight though)  My doctor said that they aren’t worried about that since I have been gaining my lost weight back and eating well.  He said now I should start to gain a pound a week.  (That will be one heavy Bethany by March!)  So I think now I can safely say goodbye to my starting weight.  Oh and by the way, I saw the same doctor from my last visit and he was much nicer.  I think that must be an answered prayer…  I have no icky feelings about him anymore.  We just had a bad first meeting together I guess.  

the crib is in…

YAY!  WE ARE GOING TO PICK IT UP TONIGHT.  

I can’t wait to see it in person.  I’m hoping that we really like it.  Sometimes things are different in your house than they seem on the internet, but I think we will like it.  We will see just how difficult it is to put together.  I’ll put up a photo when it is up in the nursery.  I’m ready for 6 o’clock for sure this workday…

the cutest (and safest) darn car seat you’ve ever seen

last thursday mark and i went to charlotte because thursday he had a class to go to, and friday we both were looking at pelton and crane-the place that makes dental chairs and what not.  thursday while mark was in class, flora beth and i went to babies r us and to buy buy baby.  it was so much fun!  well and so informative.  basically like baby 101 for me.  these very well trained and nice guys gave us the stroller and car seat demo when we realized i had no idea what i needed and how things worked.  i was thinking travel system- after reading and looking at some things on line.  but in the store i realized just how bulky and heavy those really were.  so while the guy was showing me about that, and heard the reason i thought that’s what i wanted (all inclusive, not a lot of separate things and wasted money) he brought over the city mini.  which i must say is the best stroller ever.  why?  it does everything in one stroller.  it turns like a jogging stroller, can have an add on to hook the carrier to it, folds very easily, weighs nothing, is compact, and can hold the baby lying down and then sitting up.  it’s perfect.  

then we went on to the car seats.  and got a great safety and how to demo.  we decided on a britax- in COWMOOFLAUGE.  that’s the best part.  i am always plain…get the brown one…but this time i went funky.  and it is so adorable.  not to mention, it made my mommy instincts feel good to see how safe this seat really was.  

so friday after our dental stuff, mark and i went back to buy buy baby, got another demo for mark, gave the things a try and then we registered for them (just the stroller and the car seat since there aren’t any buy buy babys in sc)  we are so excited about our choices.  if nothing else, now we feel prepared to bring the baby home.

baby owls are born….

 

one baby was born yesterday, another today.  they are the little owls for the mobile i started making.

“wow, you’re fat”

the title of this entry is a quote from my 4 year old niece elizabeth grace.  i came to mom’s to eat my lunch today, and got to have an extra treat, because egs was here and we got to visit and play too.  anyway, we were looking at the crib that we ordered last weekend and then at pictures of the baby…and she said “wow, you’re fat” about the latest belly picture on my blog.  i just love the honesty you get with children.  when do we grow out of that and get all what people want us to be and say-ish?  it’s too bad we aren’t all more like a 4 year old.  i think that the world would be a happier and more free place if we all stayed child like.

rain, rain and more rain

I love rainy days.  Last night it started raining and it is still raining out. I’d say 12 solid hours of rain so far…and I love it.  I love rain, but especially when it comes and makes a stay for a while. 

I love the grayness of the daytime when it’s rainy and wet.  I love sleeping with the sound of rain.  I love to be in the car in the rain and watch as the drops dance their way across the windsheild.  I love the moment of silence as you drive under an overpass and the rain is stopped.  I love how everything looks wet- healthier and happier.  I love the birds in the rain.  They too sound like they love the rain with their more lively chirping.  I love how Frida stands under a bush to go potty so she won’t have to get wet.  I love raincoats, galashes, and umbrellas.  I love a line full of school children bundled in their rain gear.  I love puddles and raindrops.