The final countdown to "4"

We're just one week away from LAUNCHING a BLAST of a BIRTHDAY party for a certain little boy.....

The final coutdown is on for February 7th, 2011

31 weeks and 5 days Pregnancy Highlights

 William took my 31.5 week profile picture using my Iphone.  It's pretty good for a 4 year old photographer, but kind of hard to see the "bigness" since I am wearing all black.   Today we are having an ice storm and now it is snowing.  Gotta love winter around here.

 31 weeks and 5 days Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: Almost 32 weeks
Size of baby: Baby B is the size of a sack of potatoes
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Total of 24 lbs so far. Lost 1 lb at this last appointment. 
Maternity Clothes: I'm wearing my maternity dresses with my boots and leggings. My black pants are also a staple.  The sweaters are in full force too.
Gender: IT IS A GIRL!
Movement:  She likes having a party at night.  I feel her the most in the evenings once I finally sit down.  She's also made more of a racket when I first try to fall asleep.
Sleep: I sleep on my left side and wake up a few times in the night to readjust myself.  I have had a heck of a time with congestion at night.  I am stuffed up and have a hard time breathing through my nose.  It's worse this go round than with William.  My legs have also given me a few Charlie Horses which are so painful!  I also have a muscle on the left side that aches down by my pelvis and hip. 
What I miss: jogging, but I stay active with William. Climbing 42 stairs to my door everyday, several times a day is also handy.  I also miss having lots of energy.  I tend to have to pace myself more often and do a few tasks before sitting down for a bit.
Cravings: meat sandwiches from Quiznos, eggs, fruit, orange juice, a surge in the sweet tooth, but I am mostly hungry for just 3 meals a day. 
Best Moment this week: Just thinking how close we are getting to meet our little lady!  8 weeks and counting!

Random pictures off the Iphone

I haven't posted in awhile, but we just haven't had anything thrilling to report.  So, I will entertain you with a couple of random (and unsightly) photos off my Iphone.  Enjoy the airplane theme.

1. William sporting his second Pilot uniform.  

2.  Mom Mom and William suiting up as pilots for an afternoon of make believe.  I even did the laundry while wearing my cap.

3.  William inhaling a donut at Reagan National airport after we had dinner and watched the planes from TGI Fridays.

Suds on a Stud

28 Weeks and 4 Days Pregnancy Highlight

28 Weeks and 4 Days Pregnancy Highlight:

We went for an ultrasound today and got to see Baby Girl Barron again.  She's measuring right on track and ahead of schedule by a few days.  She's 2 pounds, 12 ounces and the doctor said she's got long legs!  Way to bring those genes to the table Dada!  

She was sitting in hammock position meaning her back was downward, her head was on my right side and her feet were curled up under my chest.  So, she's laying like she's in a hammock looking up at me.  We also got to see and hear her heart beating at 162 bpm. 

And, before we were done she gave us a quick glance at her profile. 

2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

We rang in 2011 with quite a busy day.  William had a birthday party to attend at 11am and then we met up with Caroline and her family for a 3pm basketball game at George Washington University downtown.  Then we went to their house for a pizza party.  By 9pm, William could barely see straight.   So we headed home and all three of us were sound asleep by 11:30 pm.  WHEW! 

Christmas Morning 2010

 Christmas morning is always a thrill whether or not you are a child.  Santa has never stopped coming to see me in 33 years and for 33 years, my pile of Santa loot is always in the same place every Christmas morning.  The curious thrill of what awaits you from the jolly man in red is certainly one of my fondest moments.  Each year, it takes me back to being a little girl and the incredible "wow" factor my siblings and I had when we rushed down the stairs to see what Santa left us.

(note:  Do you see what I see? Army men in the Christmas tree)

With this treasure in my heart, I don't intend for Santa to ever miss our house as the years come and go.   This year was particularly sweet because William really "got it."  He talked all month long about Santa coming, the reindeer and what they might like to eat, making sure his list was in order and in the mail, his elf Candy Cane, and most importantly, his awareness of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus.  He's even able to talk about the Christmas story and how Christmas isn't just about presents, but about Jesus.  Be still my heart!

So Christmas Eve night, he went to bed in full anticipation of Santa and airplanes.  Christmas morning he was up early and shouting "SANTA CAME DADA!  LET'S GO SEE WHAT HE BROUGHT ME!"  So Dan got the video rolling and I got the camera ready and William charged down the stairs with a smile on his face.  He rounded the corner, and his whole face just sparkled!

"WOW!  OH MY GOODNESS!  I GOT EVERYTHING I ASKED SANTA TO BRING! THANK YOU SO MUCH SANTA!  OH MY GOODNESS!"  And the smile NEVER left his face.

He LOVED LOVED LOVED the boxed airplanes Santa brought him.  He was overjoyed that Santa left several still in the packaging so William could unbox them.  "Unboxing" airplanes is one of his favorite games to play.  He likes us to watch him as if he was doing a demonstration on QVC.  It's hilarious yet so endearing.  He just could not believe he got so many model planes.  Pure Joy.

He also got an airport, 2 Light Sabers, a Lego Duplo cargo plane with people, an electric train set (HUGE hit), a Playmobil Private Jet (another HUGE hit), a Busytown board game, a money bank, and lots of maps.  He loves a good map.

I have so many pictures of him opening gifts on Christmas morning, but these are some of my favorites.  Oh, if I could only bottle up these moments in time.  365 days is a long time to wait to experience such a FUN morning all over again!

Christmas Eve 2010

As you already know, we spent Christmas Eve morning making our fabulous Christmas Colossal Cupcake.  Then at 4:30pm, we headed out to church so we could attend the 5pm Christmas Eve service.   I chose the early service because it had childcare and we'd be out in time to enjoy a nice dinner before coming home to "work" - wink, wink. 

This was our first time to be in DC for Christmas Eve at our church, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect.  I took William down to childcare because I assumed our normal Sunday routine was the way to go.  However, Dan and I noticed that the 5pm service was much more "family friendly" with goodie bags to entertain the kids who stayed in the pews.  In fact, the whole service was about Christmas carols and communion, not a lengthy sermon.   Right before the service started, we made the quick decision to go grab William from childcare and let him sit with us in the pew.  He was really curious to sit with us and asked me, "is this where you go when I am at Church preschool?" - (his meaning of Sunday School).  He sat as quiet as a mouse and watched in wonder at the music, soloists, and all the fanfare.  I think he loved it. 

When it was time to walk to the front for communion, he followed us like an old pro.  He saw me take a tiny piece of "bread" (cracker) and instead of whispering, he told me flat out, "Mom, I am hungry.  Can I have one too?"  I cracked up and kept moving.  The last part of the service was the song Silent Night.  We each had a candle in a cup and during the song, the candle lighters came around and pasted the torch.  This part of the Christmas service is my favorite.  The candlelight is gorgeous and the sweet sound of Silent Night fills the sanctuary. 

Little did we know that William's cup had a crack in it.  The hot wax touched his hand and he jumped as high as a jack rabbit and let out a cry.  It wasn't so loud that people turned around, but I knew instantly what had happened.  Dan rushed him out of the sanctuary before William lost his mind with fright.  Thankfully it was the last song of the service and I met them out in the lobby.  William was all smiles and told me just what had happened and how Dada put cold water on his fingers to make it all better. 

As we pulled out of the parking lot, William threw in a few words of wisdom.  "You guys know what my favorite part of the Christmas service was?"  "It was walking in the long parade to the front of the church where I got that yummy cracker.  I would like to eat another one."

Such a bittersweet Christmas Eve for our little family of 3. I relish every second of our "lasts" with just William.  The time with him is so precious to me because he gave me the gift to become a mommy.  I am overjoyed with the pending arrival of our baby girl, and all the memories she'll bring to our lives.  However, there is just something about any "first" in life.  I can't explain it, but little William Barron has been my sidekick and best buddy for 4 years.  I can only imagine the JOY that awaits me with two little people to cherish.