McBaby's room is almost ready :)

During the middle of week 18, Josh's mom and Grandma came down (McBaby's Grandma and Great-Grandma) to help us paint and finish the nursery. I can't explain to you how helpful this was. The amount of time the three of them put in is unbelievable.

Grandma painted the ENTIRE living room for us! She and I went to the store to pick out some paint on Thursday afternoon, and then Viola...just like that, Friday evening the room is painted and put back together! It looks awesome! We did get new blinds as well, but I forgot to take a picture of them...so if you want to see how beautiful they look, either wait for the pictures - or just come down to Austin to see :)

While she was busy painting, and I taping, taking pictures, breathing in paint fumes and relaxing...Josh and Lynn were busy sanding down an old dresser. You see, why buy an expensive dresser when you can just refinish one that you have AND make it so that it matches the bedroom :) We did just this - Correction...THEY did just this! I can take no credit in the process, just the color choice :)

While we were putting the living room back together, Josh recommended we put the glass case in the guest room...then suggested we get ride of ONE of the night stands in there (we had two). Then I came up with a BRILLIANT idea...why not refinish that too so that it'll match the nursery and dresser (sorry mom and dad - I know this was part of your bedroom set, but I figured McBaby would benefit more!)!!! Needless to say, I gave Josh and Lynn more work :) The animals on the dresser are a special gift that Josh bought for our baby! A hippo and a Hippo book, and an elephant with an Elephant book!

Grandma finished the living room early, so she helped the other two with their projects! Lynn is an unbelievable painter (YES YOU ARE LYNN!!!) and not only painted the entire nursery, but added a special grandma touch...she put little white dots around the entire room where the yellow and green meet. It really added a final touch.

Oh yes, and while we were shopping for paint, Grandma wanted to buy Josh his Birthday/Christmas present...so she bought him a glider for the nursery! Looks like I will benefit the most from his gift (maybe not though!)...so now all we have to do is go back and get the ottoman :) LOVE IT! It has a locking effect on it so that it can rock and then lock when you want to get out of the glider ! That way McBaby will not meet the floor :)

The beautiful crib that you see put together is a gift from McBaby's Grandma Lynn! She wanted her grandchild to be safe and have a good night's sleep! We absolutely love it!!!


Here is an upclose picture of the Gopher Mobile we bought! It doesn't match at all, but it was WAY too cute to pass up! That and it plays the Minnesota Rowser, so our baby will be a Gopher fan right away! This is also a preview of McBaby's closet. I'm a little obsessed with buying clothes...can you tell :) Some of these are gifts too, so I don't feel as bad! But they are just too cute NOT to buy!

Week 18, an Ultra Sound and Snow...

Today was the day that we have been waiting for for quite some time now :) Today when we woke up, we realized it was "ULTRA SOUND DAY!"

When we looked out the window this morning, it was a little disturbing...SNOW...and lots of it! I swear it wouldn't stop coming down. Had it not been warm enough, I think we would have had over a foot of snow-easily!

After school today I drank about 25 ounces of water in about 30 minutes. You have to have a full bladder for your ultra sound...
WELL WELL WELL....little did I realize that when we got there, I'd have to go to the bathroom so badly that I thought I was going to BURST...and then we had to wait an extra 20 minutes because they were running behind. The Dr. who performed the ultra sound let me go to the bathroom just a "little" bit before she began. I'm not sure what was worse. Having the pain of needing to go really badly, or going a little and having to STOP!

Anyway, the moment she began it was pure bliss (besides her pushing on my bladder continuously, only to remind me how badly I had to go)! Our little one was moving around so much. He/she was also laying very awkward! It looked like McBaby was laying/lounging on his/her side! So our Dr. couldn't get the "best" pictures, but I think she got some pretty great ones! All of McBaby's measurements came back great! Here are the 7 pictures she took of McBaby...enjoy! Oh and if you "think" you can see a little something something in one of the pictures...it's actually the umbilical cord! We avoided seeing the "gender" areas...we want to be surprised! Our Dr. still doesn't even know what we're having...that way she won't slip up, so that area was avoided all together!

After our ultra sound we ventured up to our Dr.'s appointment. Our blood work came back and everything is wonderful. McBaby is growing and healthy! We celebrated our great Dr.'s visit by going to Steve's Pizza - the best pizza place in town :)

Dad - the "flying object" is still on the ceiling-haha!

It was great to share our wonderful news and pictures with our great friends - Jason & Lisa Denzer! Of course their kids too! We just love the four of you...thanks for being so wonderful to us!

Technically tomorrow marks our "Week 18" mark, but since we were having such a great day, we decided to take our Week 18 pictures tonight! Here they are...I'm finally starting to show :) The red line on my stomach is from my tights. It was too cold to wear just a wool skirt...but hey-nothing maternity yet :)

The "Wave" of feelings!

Well, it is official...

McBaby is moving around inside of me :) It was Tuesday night (the night of our 17th week), and we were laying in bed. I am a back sleeper, so I was just laying there while Josh was already asleep. My stomach started to feel REALLY weird. After a couple minutes I realized what it was! I grabbed Josh's hand and placed it on my stomach. He woke up and was said, "Oh my gosh is that what I think it is!"

Throughout all of Wednesday and so far today I have felt these same feelings randomly. I discovered I feel it a lot when I have music on and am singing and dancing with my kindergarten class! I think this baby likes music!

So there you have it! I have not been sick. I have not had any of those other "typical" or "traditional" pregnancy feelings. I'm 17 weeks and not showing...but I'm okay with it! Because now I can actually feel our baby inside of me :)

It's REAL! He/She is really growing in there :) YEAH!

Week 17-WHAT A WEEK!!!!

What a week this has been! If our baby has ever had more excitement in his/her short life...it is this week!

We went to the Gopher Football game on Saturday vs. Wisconsin Badgers. They lost, but it was so much fun to be apart of the atmosphere! Then on Sunday we went to the MN Twins last home game in the dome! Well, what would have been the last game. There were so many great memories that have been created in the dome...and we were able to be apart of so many of them! I guess we'll only go there now for Vikings Games! But that's okay- we like them too!

Speaking of which...Monday Night Football - can it BE anymore exciting! Vikings Vs. Packers...HECK YES! The best part: We are in a Fantasy Football League, and I was up against our good friend Jason Denzer. Well, going into Monday night I was down 23 points...WELL! Good thing I have Favre as my quarterback, because he brought the heat! I came back and WON!

Tonight the Twins played for the Division Title Vs. Detroit...went into 12 innings and they also WON! Seriously SUCH A GREAT WEEK IN SPORTS :) And this poor baby has been suffering my lack of sleep because of all the excitement.
The good news is that Josh and I have our season tickets already for next year and our seats ROCK! Section 103 Row 3...HECK YEAH :) And McBaby will be about 2-3 weeks old and already staying with a sitter (Grandma Lynn...are you available on April 12th to babysit?) because Josh and I will NOT miss the home opener in the new stadium :) SWEET!!!!

Maybe Josh will read this post and provide me with a really good, long back rub soon!!!

So I'm not popping out officially the way I thought I would. It's more I'm starting to just look fat...not pregnant. People may say "oh look, you're popping" - but that's because they know I'm pregnant...in all reality-I'm just looking fatter-which sucks!

You must notice my sweet attire in my pictures tonight too! I couldn't bare to take off my Twins attire...but I also didn't want to be in jeans :) So my comfy sweats it is!!!

We also have some new attire for our baby! New Gopher onesie, a Twins Tee (2-both gender specific), and a MN Gopher mobile to hang above our crib...it even plays the MN Rowser! Our baby will be singing that by 6 months in age :) YEAH :)

Week 16

According to the text, our baby has developed tiny bones in its ears this week, and it can finally hear! It recommended singing to your baby to help mature these ears...well, good thing I sing ALL DAY! He/she is going to come out singing sight word songs :)

(Tune of Mary Had A Little Lamb)
T-H-E spells THE THE THE, THE THE THE, THE THE THE T-H-E spells THE THE THE, T-H-E spells THE! Yup - I sing it about 20 times a day :) Along with many others...Maybe all this Spanish that I have been speaking will help our baby in the Bilingual department!I have had several women that I work with tell me that I "look" like I am starting to pop. But then I have several others tell me..."You're 16 weeks, are you sure?!" You take a look for yourself...
Right now, our McBaby is 4-5 inches long and weighs about 3 ounces. He/she has eyebrows and eyelashes! I wonder what color hair he/she will have!??

We still haven't told our classes yet. I think I am trying to wait for my stomach to "pop" more...which isn't and hasn't been happening :( I'm sure we'll get SO MANY questions, but it'll be a good learning experience.

24 more weeks...Wow, that seems like forever away!

Week 15

Week 15 :) Can you believe it! In 5 weeks we will be at our half way point! Where on earth did this time go? At week 14 Josh and I were thinking that MAYBE it was a possibility that I was starting to show...but it was a lot of the bloating feeling. So here we are, 1 week later, and I feel like I can actually say "I am SHOWING!" Maybe it's not that much, but at least it something!


Yes I have the infamous "Shellum Sway Back" that only a few of us girls have (my mom, Heidi and myself), but I really think it's showing baby this time around :) FINALLY!

If you compare last week to now...I think something is there :) Hopefully I'll have more to show at week 16! Until then...Happy Growing McBaby!

Week 14

So Josh and I hard our 2nd Dr.'s appointment this week. We were able to hear our babies heart beat which was a relief! I have been feeling SO GOOD that I was starting to worry and was thinking..."Am I really still pregnant?"

YES WE ARE! We heard the heart beat and our little one was moving around like crazy :) It was so precious! I'm going to try and record our next visit.

We also realized that we've dropped the ball on picture taking. Here is a picture of my stomach at Week 14. We will try and update this weekly with new pictures of my growing belly! So far I'm just bloating up...haven't popped yet, but VERY SOON the Dr. said! She thinks for sure by October 12th I will have popped!!! YEAH :)

Until then...