Peek-a-boo!

Hi, everyone!  Lots of news to report!  We went to the doctor this morning and had our final ultrasound.  Baby Margaret was full of herself.  We had an opportunity to do the 4D ultrasound, but she was playing Peek-a-boo.  Both arms and legs were over her face.  All we saw was her behind...she gets this from her daddy.  She is about as long as a loaf of bread and weighs about 3 pounds.  We were actually able to see on the ultrasound that she has hair!!!!

My mom and I spent the afternoon shopping and unfortunately Baby Margaret has more clothes than I do.  It was lots of fun and I think we (my mom and I) are now considered Valued Customers at quite a few stores. (Thanks, Mom!!!)

On another note, I encountered my first "baby" problem with Brent this weekend.  We were out shopping and he wanted to buy the baby something (this is not unusual...he has bought her more clothes than I have).  So, we are standing in the store and he picks up a pair of blue overalls (very, very unattractive overalls).  Mind you, these were not just generic overalls, they were for boys (even the lady at the store agreed). After finally convincing him these were not the overalls for us, he proceeded to find another boy outfit.  I again explained, "Honey, I believe that is for a little boy."  He responded, "You're just going to have to get over this whole boy clothes/girl clothes thing."  Now, I know what you are all thinking...has he lost his mind???  Don't worry, I'm planning an intervention now, and if that doesn't work, I'm turning to Jenny (Brent's sister).  If anyone can set him straight on girlie stuff, she's the one.

We have also continued to make some progress in getting the nursery ready.  Crib - check.  Baby bedding - check.  Antique rocker recovered - check.  More pink clothes than we will ever need - check.  I think we're on the right path.  I still need to get some "stuff" to go on the walls, and as soon as I do, I will post some pictures.

Also pictured below is Brent with the stroller and carseat his dad sent us (thanks, Daddy Reese!).  All of you can thank me later for not allowing Brent to have creative control over the pictures.  He had visions of me posing with the stroller, pointing into the air, and all kinds of craziness.  (I know, you are all very surprised, but it's true.)

First glimpse of her face (obstructed by her leg)

Week 28

Proud Papa!

Hope everyone is well...we'll write in two weeks!  

Week 26

Not much new to report (still working on the nursery...pictures coming soon).  I go back to the doctor in two weeks for an ultrasound and we are very excited to see how much she has grown.  Hope everyone is doing well!

Mid-Pregnancy Update (A Reflection)

Well, it seems we are over the halfway mark. May 11th is getting here F.A.S.T.! I have learned a lot of things I never thought I would need to know (some of them I didn't want to know) and accomplished many of my "pre-parenthood" goals. Allow me to summarize.....

Things I Have Learned

• I am not sure about this whole sleep deprivation thing. Everyone keeps telling me how I better enjoy my sleep while I can. I believe them when they say it...I know it is true...yet I am not allowing myself to actually accept it as truth.
• For something so small, babies sure do need a lot of space.
• I now know how to put together a crib---I got (Mae's, Margaret's, Maisie's, Maggie's) crib put together last week.

Accomplished Goals

• I have painted the baby's room. (I painted it a nice bright pink! Something she will always know her daddy did for her)-------Just kidding....it is just a light beige color.
• I already mentioned this above, but it counts here too---I put her crib together.
• We have been making a lot of room in closets and attic space by making several Goodwill trips. Getting rid of all of my VHS tapes was easier than originally expected.

The most exciting thing I could possibly mention is that I can feel the baby move now more than ever! Just about any time I put my hand on "The Belly," I feel the baby!! It is really neat!

Here is a picture of my beautiful wife...

Week 24

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Formerly the office...soon to be the nursery...still needs a lot of work

Over the past few weeks, there has been lots of decision making in the Reese house.  We have decided firmly on the name, Margaret Lynn Reese, but are still struggling to decide exactly what we will call her (and Princess, Monkey, Booger, or anything of that variety will not suffice).  And, despite my dad's wishes, the baby cannot be called Allenette (or any other variation of Allen). 

We have actually ordered a crib, some bedding, and registered for some items - all of which required way too many decisions.  If we're not careful, Baby Margaret could be sleeping in the finest piece of furniture in the house.  We have cleaned out the "office" and it is now officially ready to become Baby Reese's room (I put a picture below of the empty room - let your imaginations run wild with all the possibilities).  I'm still working on convincing Brent to paint the room, and I think I have almost succeeded.  (He knows it's a slippery slope with a pregnant lady.)  It probably will just be a lighter color than it is now, but we'll see.  Hopefully by our next post, we will have some real furniture in the room and it will start looking more like a nursery.

I go back to the doctor January 24th for a glucose screening (I think this is where they test for gestational diabetes), and I will have another ultrasound at my 28 week appointment in February.  Please continue to keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer that Baby Margaret will be healthy (and well-behaved)!

One more thing...Brent continues to have late night cravings for sausage and bacon (turkey bacon is the best he is can get around here).  In the house at the moment, we have double-stuffed Oreos, lemon bars, and cookies galore - all of which are being consumed by only one person.  He's constantly hungry and always craving something sweet to eat.  I'm sure he'll be glad when all of these cravings stop. 

Goodbye favorite jeans...hello maternity clothes!

A picture of my Mom and Dad - my Mom was pregnant with me at the time.

 

It's official, we're having a...

Baby Margaret Lynn Reese

GIRL!  We went to the doctor this morning and it has been confirmed.  As you can imagine, we are both ecstatic!  The doctor said the baby's heart and other organs look healthy.  The doctor was also able to see that the spinal cord developed properly and this rules out about 95% of all types of spinal complications.  Thus, we are very thankful and praying for a healthy baby come May.

At the moment, the baby weighs about 12 ounces (which is what a baby should measure at about 20 weeks and 3 days, and I am right at 20 weeks).  So, everything is right on track!  Our next ultrasound will be in 8 weeks (around February).

We spent the day looking at pink clothes and browsing baby stores.  This is overwhelming!  Fortunately, I am married to an accountant who can (and will) create a nice little budget. 

Week 20 - Halfway there!

Brent bought the baby her first dress to wear home from the hospital.  He picked it out all by himself!

Update

We don't have any real new information to report, other than the fact that we are counting down the days until I go back to the doctor.  Our appointment is at 9:30 am on December 20th.  I just happen to be out of school (I know, the poor life of a school teacher) and I am a little concerned about the damage I might do at Target once I know what we're having.

I added a new picture, and my stomach is getting a little bigger.  From everything we've read, the baby's weight will multiply six times over the next four weeks.  At the moment, the baby weighs about a half of a pound.  So, when you all see me and it looks like I swallowed the Thanksgiving turkey, remember that the baby's weight is multiplying!  Ahhhhh, finally a valid excuse to gain weight during the holidays (and I have nice stretchy pants to wear too).  I know some of you are super jealous over this, but trust me there are plenty of drawbacks too!

FYI:  For those of you who are very visual, the baby is about the size of a six inch sub sandwich.  (Sorry if I just ruined that for you).

Happy Birthday to Brent!!!  He turned 28 today!

Mustachio!!!

I need a little help. I have been planning to grow a mustache by the time the baby arrives (May 11ish). Kelly isn't too keen on the whole idea, but I think it would be the fatherly thing for me to do.

So...where you come in...  I need a little help deciding on the style that best fits me. Choose one below and shoot me or Kelly an email with your choice as the subject. (If you subscribe to the blog via email, I think you can just reply to that address.) The style with the highest number of "votes" will be grown on my lip.