Grandma and Grandpa Hodges Were Here

And Abby had a good time, right up to the point where she tried to give Aunt Emily a kiss goodnight and Aunt Emily wouldn't let Abby kiss her on the lips. She gave Emily one good night kiss on the lips and then decided she would give her a second one, but she didn't close her mouth all the way, so Emily said no. Abby was heartbroken. Her little eyes were all welled up and she didn't even try to give Hannah a hug and kiss. It was funny but I felt bad for her poor little girl feelings who don't know that big girls don't like open mouth kisses from nieces. She wouldn't even give Emily a good bye hug when they left this afternoon. We have some rehabbing to do before our next visit apparently.

We had lots of fun with Grandma Mary, Grandpa Scott, Aunt Hannah, Aunt Emily, and Carson. We took them to The Antlers and let them see all the real fancy stuffed animals. We even let the wolf hold Olivia's car seat for her (Grandpa Scott assisted). Abby had a lot of fun with her birthday presents - a radioflyer wagon and an art easel (Thanks Mel, Glenn, & Jack!). Hannah and Emily also searched the basement and found Abby a GI Joe doll to be "The Beast" and they found the old doll clothes we had for a barbie doll version of the beast, so we had lots of fun playing with him and the "Belle girls".

And we had a yummy birthday cake with all of Abby's favorite princesses to celebrate her birthday. She really loves the birthday song and has been singing "Happy birthday to Abby" ever since Wednesday. It's been pretty cute around here. Except at 5:00 a.m. when Olivia decides to wake us up and stay awake. Or 6:00 a.m. when Abby decides to make our bed into her bed. I just keep telling myself I only have a few weeks of this left. I hope.

The Week 36 Checkup

Steve and I went to the doctor's office for the week 36 checkup. It was NOT fun. I am big and uncomfortable and not dilated at all. And... for the doctor to determine I was not dilated was the most uncomfortable part of pregnancy thus far. Needless to say, I left the doctor's office as a very unhappy camper.

Our doctor will be in Jamaica next week, so the current goal is to make it to the second week of April. He's hoping we don't have to meet his fill in next week and that we can aim for week 38. We will see if Sparky will cooperate with the current plan. With both the doctor and Steve and my parents hours away, next week would be a really bad time for her to decide to make her arrival.

We learned an important lesson this week - cough drops, even the sugar free ones, will make your blood sugar high. So... I've had a high reading most days at lunch because the cough drops were necessary to make it through the afternoon (in the morning I can use the hot shower and the evening I just sleep). Luckily the doctor doesn't get upset when there is a logical explanation for the high readings. Unluckily, the baby is still crazy from the extra sugar, even if there is a logical explanation for needing it.

Steve is leaving me this weekend to go scope out houses in Sault Ste. Marie - I am going to try very, very hard to stay off my feet and relax. We finally got the mortgage situation under control, so hopefully we will have some housing arrangements for "Up North" soon.

Week 25 - Only 105 days (and then some) left

Things are "growing" or going nicely for Sparky. My waistline expanded by a whole painful inch (up to 43 1/2 inches). All week I've felt like my belly was going to split right down the middle. Sparky is up to about 13 inches and is around 1.5 pounds, but after walking all around Ann Arbor tonight she feels more like 1.5 tons.

Not only is my belly getting big, I've also started retaining extra fluids in my legs and I've got some extra weight in my face. Other than that I've been feeling pretty good, except for leg pains during the night and waking up a whole lot (5 or 6 or 7 times each night). I guess it is good training for all of those late night feedings that we will be doing soon.

Steve and I are taking Sparky on her 3rd trip to the Upper Peninsula this week. We are leaving Thursday morning for Sault Ste. Marie and Steve's second interview with the Chippewa Tribe for the open dental position. We've been assured that the job is his if he wants it, so Sparky and I are going to focus our efforts on finding suitable housing while we are up there. We may also try to catch the Lake Superior State hockey game on Friday night. Sparky's favorite dog Maize is already safely in Hastings - so we will have to make a stop there on the way back on Saturday.

Below are samples from the baby afghan that I'm making for Sparky - I have 4.5 of the 9 squares done. 5 of the squares are going to be different and 4 are going to be solid yellow. Hopefully we will have this done before Sparky's first appearance.

Week 17

Steve's out of town again this week - so no photographs again. Maize, Sparky and I are trying hard to entertain ourselves as best as we can. I've popped all the way out to 41 inches around this week and added a couple pounds. Sparky has also decided to make himself (or herself) very well known to me this week. I've been getting lots of internal pounding, but so far neither Steve nor I have been able to feel any kicks on the outside. I am certain that the internal kicking is Sparky - it is random, painful at times, and generally not related to any other internal discomfort. Hopefully this child will begin kick outwardly and into the muscles, rather than my internal organs.

I've just about completed the second block of a 9 block, crocheted baby afghan for Sparky. I went with yellow yarn so that it would be gender neutral. It's beginning to actually look like something that may be finished on time.

Sparky, Steve, and I went up north to Sault Ste. Marie last weekend. It was Sparky's second up north experience so far. We had a great time checking out our potential new home. Steve's "interview" with the dentists seemed to go really well and we are going back in January for a second interview with the rest of the staff. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed a little free time on the way home.

Steve will be home late Wednesday night, so we will update with the photos hopefully on Thursday.

Week 16 and counting...

Steve is out of town for the week and next week as well, so there is no photographic display of the expanding waistline this week. Maize, Sparky and I are holding down the fort and trying to get our house back in order after one very wild weekend. Our washing machine died this weekend. It had been on its last leg for a while, but Friday it finally spun its last spin and died with a tub full of water. Luckily we knew someone with a washing machine and dryer that they needed to sell. So... we got a new washing machine, Grandpa Harley and Steve installed it, and then they left to take the truck back to the golf course. While they were gone, and after they had me start a load of laundry to make sure the water would run, the drain pipe started leaking and leaked the entire load's worth of water onto our floors. Being pregnant, I just started wiping it up with towels and waited for Steve to pull the washing machine out from the wall and fix it. At least the breaking down may be done for the time being.

Now for the week 16 stats. First, the belly is now 40 inches around (up 1/2 inch from last week). My weight has remained constant for the last 6 weeks, which has been a good thing. My belly pains have decreased. Sparky is about 5 inches and about 3 ounces. He's probably starting to move, but I haven't felt anything yet. This weekend Sparky will make his second trip to the Upper Pennisula and will visit Sault Ste. Marie, where Steve is interviewing for a job.