Happy Holidays!

What a year it was for us! We got to enjoy and relax on our trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, with the extended Kienert family in March. A highlight was seeing whales on Banderas Bay and visiting the isolated town of Yelapa. We celebrated our first anniversary with a weekend trip to Door County, spending the night in Sturgeon Bay and hiking in Peninsula State Park. We spent most of the year waiting excitedly for our baby to come. And suddenly, he was here. Felix Robert was born on July 12, and he has brought so much joy to our lives! Nick had an exciting end of the year, changing jobs to Strategic Wealth Management and getting his law practice underway. Many great opportunities are in store for him! We are excited about our first Christmas together as a true family, and about the coming year and all the firsts it will bring. We hope the coming holiday season and the coming year bring much joy and happiness to you and yours!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Felix: 5 mos

Digging Out

Just a few days shy of when Felix turns 5 months old, he had his first snowstorm and snow day. We got (unofficially) 18" or so of snow on Tuesday night, so Felix's daycare was closed. Nick and I decided not to fight the elements, and instead, celebrated the day as a family at home. While Nick was shoveling, I bundled Felix up and took him outside. He was taller than the snowfall, but only by half a foot.

Driving him to day care this morning was a little hairier than I would have liked, but we made it. First a blizzard, now arctic temperatures. Welcome to winter in Wisconsin, little man.

Felix: 4 mos

So Thankful!

'Tis the season to give thanks, and we have so much to be thankful for this year! First and foremost, for a healthy pregnancy and the birth of our son, Felix, who amazes us every day. For Nick's new job and the wealth of opportunities that accompany it. For the new challenges and ongoing familiarity of my job. For our families who are even closer in spirit now that Felix is here, and for all they have done for us before and after his birth. For our friends and neighbors, upon whom we can rely and borrow tools. For the great teachers who watch over Felix during the day and who care for him as much as we do. For our new friends at Prairie who welcomed us so readily into their community. For everyone who has touched our lives this year, and for all who will help us in the coming years, THANK YOU!

Felix update: He's gotten so much bigger! At our last doctor's visit on 11/16, he was 13.6 pounds and 24.5". We've learned some basic infant massage techniques, and we've been practicing them almost daily for the past two weeks. Felix has been sleeping slightly better since we learned to put him to be at his bedtime, not ours (duh, I know), but he's still waking up at least once during the night. He's also discovered he can use his hands to grab for things in the last few days. That's made me very happy, and it's made tummy time easier now that we can put toys in front of him that he can try to reach for. Felix is learning he has a vocal range (low to high and soft to loud), and is putting it to the test. He's also had a few shrieking/wailing episodes, though, that we have yet to figure out the cause of (hopefully it's just related to "look what I can do with my voice"). Except for those few episodes, he's a very smiley, happy little man!

Felix: 4 mos

Dedicated

Last weekend, we had Felix's dedication ceremony at our church/fellowship/society. Aunts, grandparents and great-grandparents were all in attendance, and Felix wore the same christening gown worn by my great-grandpa in 1902. Afterward, everybody came back to our house for lunch and old fashioneds, then the Packers game. It was a crazy, busy day, but it was so meaningful to us.

I don't think Felix liked the time change too much. Four out of the five work days this week, he wailed for a long time shortly after we came home from daycare, then slept because he wore himself out. Last night was the first night that we actually had some play time and no crying when we got home. Hopefully that was just a phase.

(Felix just replied "Hi" when I smiled at him and said hi to him!)

Felix: 3 mos

Little Pumpkin

We've gotten into a nice routine around here. Getting up for work and daycare at 6, coming home, time with family, then to bed around 9. So far, so good.

Today, we had our first non-Badger game Saturday, and we're making the most of it. I bought a large pumpkin last week, and with Felix watching, hollowed it out. I put Felix in some of his Halloween clothes, then put him in the pumpkin for some pictures. It was either too chilly out, or too uncomfortable being in the pumpkin (I wouldn't know - I've never been in one), but I didn't get the smiles I was hoping for. I did get a few cute ones, though.

Felix has also developed a fascination with the letter G. He will go on 30 second spurts of saying "goo-ah" over and over, changing it slightly each time. It won't be long before he's a talker! Here's a clip of it:

Felix: 3 mos

Infant at Last!

It’s a sign of how busy we’ve become that I haven’t posted a blog update in a few weeks. And what weeks they were! Since the last posting, I have returned to work. That first Monday back was rough – leaving Felix at day care and returning to the drudgery of my job. Felix was fine, apparently, with being left. I, however, needed three tissues and a mini-3 Musketeers bar to get me through the drive to work. It’s gotten easier, though, especially because they’re doing such a great job with him.

As of Monday, Felix is 3 months old and officially an infant! He's come quite a long way since he was born. Now, he's generally a happy little man, full of smiles (especially if you make a ridiculously goofy smile at him first) and coos. He's got a full range of "oo" sounds: goo, boo, woo, even aaaoo. I'd just once before the month's over like to get a "boo" after I ask what does a ghost say? :o) He is a pro at tummy time now, too, and I've noticed recently that he's starting to figure those hands of his out - looking at something and moving his arm to see if he can touch it. He's also going through another growth spurt, so he's eating lots and sleeping less in the past few days, which make for a very tired Mama. His 3-6 month clothes are ready and waiting for him, though!

We also took our first long car trip and overnight with Felix, and overall, it was a success. Last weekend, Nick’s cousin Ben got married in GB. On the way up, Felix was alert and looking around the first half hour or so, then slept the rest of the way up. He was pretty good during the ceremony (though I did have to get up almost immediately and start walking around to keep him from making too much noise). We took him to the reception, but they allowed smoking in the building, so I didn’t stay after dinner. Sunday morning, a few relatives on Vicky’s side came over to meet Felix over breakfast. On the way back to Madison, we stopped in Oshkosh to introduce Felix to my uncle Brian and family. Slowly, very slowly, we’re making our way through the families. :o) We’re hoping to get more people at Thanksgiving, because we’re planning on doing small family Christmases in Madison this year.

Congratulations!! to my Uncle Steve and Aunt Lori in New Jersey, who had my brand new cousin (more importantly, their first child) on this past weekend. Welcome, Eric, and we can't wait to meet you!

Felix: 3 mos

10 Weeks

Time keeps going forward, which means he's getting older and I'm getting closer to having to go back to work. I've got two weeks now to get used to the idea of Felix spending all day with strangers, while they get to watch him do more and get more interesting. Frankly, I'm jealous. But unfortunately, we can't have me off work much longer. And my brain could use the stimulation.
Yesterday, we took Felix to his first Badger game! If it wasn't for the sun and the fact that he gets hungry every 1.5-2 hours, we would have stayed longer than the first half. He seemed very intrigued by all the bright colors (well, red and white) and sounds. We're already looking forward to when we can take him for a whole game, like next year.

Felix: 10 wks

Two Whole Months

Tomorrow, Felix turns two months old! Goodness, the time has flown. Today, he had his two-month doctor check up. He had his first series of shots - three needles and one oral. I guess the first week's heel sticks were much more traumatic, because he handled it pretty well. Turned bright red and screamed for about ten seconds, then quieted down immediately when I picked him up afterward. He's getting bigger, climbing up the growth chart - getting closer to the 25th percentile!

His development is really progressing. He can hold his head up continuously during tummy time, even looking straight ahead with his head at a 90 degree angle. He's smiling and cooing more, and he's following things with his eyes. He already has a favorite animal among those along his changing table - the smiling monkey. This afternoon, Felix smiled at the monkey. :o) He also is eating like a champ, which means he's going to grow bigger soon, if he can keep any of it in his tummy. (Still spitting up like a champ, too).

Everybody thinks he's adorable, a Gerber baby, and we heartily agree. Now, if we can only find an agent and make a buck off him. ;o)

Felix: 8 wks

Nicknames

After a mere 8 weeks of life, Felix has acquired quite a few nicknames:

Catman or The Cat (several people)
Mr. ____pants or Man (Cara and Nick)
Buddy (Cara and Nick)
Chief (Nick)
Cheese(man) (Cara)
Fe-Rex, a Dilophosaurus [spitting dino] (Cassie)
Doc (Grandpa Kienert)
Lucky (Grandma Kienert)
And still, occasionally, Wiggle (Cara)

Eight weeks. Wow! The time seems to have flown. He's getting bigger, sleeping better through the night (about 3 hours at a stretch), cooing and smiling more often. He's also staying awake more during the day (though with more gas-induced fussiness, I think).

Saturday, Felix attended his first Badger tailgate! The late start time didn't make it worthwhile to try taking him into the game (especially because he usually gets fussy in the early evening). Maybe we'll try to get in a quarter or two in one of the coming games.

Nick and I took him for a hike today at our favorite hiking spot, Indian Lake County Park. Nick got to wear him in the carrier, and it wasn't very long before Felix was lulled to sleep. It was nice to get out into nature on such a beautiful Labor Day, though! We hope you had a great one as well!!

Felix: 8 wks

Seven Weeks

Felix is seven weeks old today! He's already grown quite a bit, and he's getting more and more interesting. We bought a baby gym for him, and he really seems to enjoy it. Put him on his back on it, and all of a sudden, he's looking around at everything, smiling and cooing. Of course, keep him on it too long, and he becomes Mr. Grumpypants.

Today, I took Felix for his first "hike." It was such a beautiful day, so the two of us drove up to Parfrey's Glen Natural Area just outside of Devil's Lake S.P. Alas, he slept all the way up and during the hike. He did, however, let me know he was not thrilled about being confined in his car seat on the way home. :o) He's been a sleepy boy today, overall, though. That probably doesn't bode well for tonight...

Felix: 7 wks

Milestones

Today is a big day! Felix has officially outgrown his newborn clothing and graduated into 0-3 month clothing. Also, he made his first tentative smiles at us this morning. Hooray!! Now we're just a step closer to his being a baby model and us making a buck off him. :o)

He's up to about 9 pounds now (despite all the spit-up), and getting bigger seemingly every day. He's also spending more time awake, which is both fun and time-consuming. His neck is getting much stronger - holding it upright from his tummy for 10+ seconds at a time. This past Saturday, he had his first Packers game, and we got some nice family pictures in our Packers jerseys.

Felix: 5 wks

Growth Spurts

Baby math: Growth Spurt + Gas/Diarrhea + Spitting Up= Constant Feeding. I'm getting tired. Hopefully at least one of the three will resolve itself soon. I do think it's kind of ironic that Felix's doctor recommended yesterday that I give him bacteria. The good kind found in yogurt, but bacteria nonetheless. It's to help with his tummy issues.

We started using the Happiest Baby On The Block methods to soothe Felix when he gets fussy. This picture shows our attempt at swaddling, swinging, and sucking. It seemed to work there! However, our little man is a little Houdini, and manages to work his arms free no matter how tightly we swaddle him. Beware - when this little guy starts to be mobile, he's going to be EVERYWHERE.

Felix: 4 wks

Staying Put

Yesterday, we took Felix for this first extended car ride, to Nick's aunt and uncle's house in Germantown for his grandma's birthday brunch. We learned one very important lesson - if a drive takes about the same amount of time or longer than the average time between feedings, we shouldn't go. Not yet, at least. On the way there and on the way back, Felix screamed bloody murder within about fifteen minutes of our destination. And we weren't in a position to stop and feed/change him. No way. No more trips for quite a while.

We did take him to the service at Prairie today. He was very good there - wide awake the entire time (!), and didn't even fuss. We did have to change his diaper, but that wasn't unexpected.

He's still spitting up a lot. I really hope that ends soon, because it's tough to keep up with the constant feedings necessary to keep something down, and our laundry is getting out of control. But that's the worst of it, which is pretty mild, comparatively speaking. He is growing, so he is getting plenty to eat. He's almost fitting perfectly into the newborn clothing - 0 to 3 month clothes aren't far behind!

Felix: 4 wks

Fuss

Felix is growing bigger, and starting to show a tendency for being a little fusspot. He was so good about calming himself down, but now I think he's discovered he's got lungs and likes to use them. He lets us know quickly when he's not happy about something (but at least he's still pretty easy to calm down). He's still eating like a champ, and it's showing. He was 6 lb 10 oz and 20 inches at his two-week doctor's appointment on Monday. The doctor didn't think it was possible for him to grow two inches in two weeks, and thinks that they didn't quite get his length right when they measured him at birth. Oh well - he was bound to get bigger than that anyway.

Today we took a long walk, and got caught in a downpour. Well, I did, anyway. He was snug and dry in the stroller. We are also starting to do tummy time. He's 50-50 about it. Sometimes he doesn't mind it, other times, cries loudly the whole time. It seems to be working, though. His little neck seems to be getting stronger by the day, and it shouldn't be too long before he lifts it up on his own.

We got some of the newborn photo session pictures back already! 

Felix: 2 wks

Two Weeks

Felix is two weeks old today! He's currently sleeping on the couch between us, and I'm pretty sure he needs a diaper change soon. We're all watching the end of the Tour de France, but I don't think Felix cares much yet who wins. He's been a hungry little man the last two days, which I think means he's not going to be a little man for much longer. He's got a two-week checkup tomorrow, so we'll see how much weight and length he's gained. He still is pretty tiny, though.

Yesterday, Nick's family came down to visit. I think Felix was a little overwhelmed by the three of them - he didn't spend much time awake. On the bright side, I think Vicky fussed more than Felix did. :o)

I setup a Shutterfly account to share pictures: http://nickandcara.shutterfly.com. The password is our last name, all lower case. I also have a Skype account setup if anyone is interested in a video chat. Call or email for our user name (I don't want to post it here).

We're doing our newborn photo shoot tomorrow. I want to get professional photos of Felix while he is so little, since he's not going to stay this way. Hopefully, it will take less than a month to get those back from the photographer. We did get our Maternity photos back this week. Here are a few:

Felix: 2 wks

Better and Better

Just a quick little update. Felix is now ten days old! He's doing very well. His jaundice is almost completely faded, and he's starting to figure out his days and nights better. In fact, he slept for a whopping 4 straight hours last night, much to my delight. The hiccups he had in the womb have started to take over now that he's out. He went several days without them, but in the past few days, he's had them a few times.

My mom and dad came down yesterday, and Mom and I went for Felix's first extended outing - going to Best Buy, Kohl's and lunch at Granite City. So, we had our first public restroom changing, and first out-of-home feeding. So many firsts.

Nick is home with me today, so we're spending some quality time with Felix on the couch, watching the Tour de France. I watch it for the scenery. :o)

I got a new toy yesterday - a new laptop computer complete with webcam so we can share Felix with more people. We're going to set up a Skype account to use it.

Also, I'm going to set up a Shutterfly or Snapfish account so we can share the multitude of pictures we've taken of the boy in the past 10 days with everybody. I'll post information once that's done.

Felix: 10 days

Getting Better

Felix's bilirubin levels are steadily decreasing, so we were able to stop using the BiliBlanket yesterday. Hooray! My parents came down yesterday as well and cooked us dinner, which was fabulous. Felix was starting to be a bit more active during the day, which made things pretty entertaining. He is having some difficulty, however, even stringing together two hours of sleep at night. Wakes, fusses, wants to eat, suckles for a minute, falls asleep, fusses when I put him back in the co-sleeper, repeat ad nauseum. I saw every hour last night on my clock. Today, he's been out like a light all day, which makes me sure we'll have a repeat performance. Though, I thought he'd sleep better last night with all the stimulation during the day, and that wasn't the case. We'll see how things go. I'm getting pretty good at taking naps during the day. :o)

Felix: 7 days

Glowing Green

Felix had to go in to the doctor again today for a check up because his bilirubin level was elevated yesterday... And it came back even higher today. Poor little guy - just a little early and with the bruise on his head, his liver isn't up to processing those old red blood cells yet. In the meantime, we got a biliblanket delivered this afternoon to help break down those red blood cells. The "blanket" consists of fiber optic cables that rest against his back (protected in a "vest"), and are connected to a noisy machine via a snake-like cable. Hopefully he won't have to wear it more than a few days. It's adding another challenging element to our care of him, and it costs about $200/day. Hopefully our insurance will pick up the bulk of the tab (fingers crossed).

Felix: 4 days

Welcome, Felix Robert Abts!!

It's amazing that approximately a half hour after my last post, at 2 pm, my water broke and my contractions started immediately. Actually, it wasn't clear what was happening, because I had just hopped out of the shower when my water broke. But just to be safe, we packed up the car and headed to the hospital. An hour later, I was already 3-4 (possibly up to 5) cm dilated, and by 6 pm, I was almost 9 cm. At that point, my contractions were coming hard and fast (every 2 minutes), and I had an epidural which was a blessing. Especially when the baby decided that it wanted to come out face up and I had a fair amount of continuing pressure/pain from back labor. After pushing for about 2 and a half hours, the delivery doctor pulled the baby out at 10:57 pm on July 12, 2009, and asked "Did you know you were having a boy?" And there he was.

Nick and I hadn't settled on a boy's name by the time we got to the hospital. Felix was Nick's choice (mine shall remain secret in the event we have another boy), and because I was so happy and felt lucky to have such a short (9 hour) first labor, I agreed it was a good choice of name. And thus, our son became Felix Robert. (We each have an uncle named Robert, but we mostly liked how the names flowed.)

Felix was active in the womb and showed no signs of being any different outside. According to Nick, he was rolling around the place while being measured and weighed (6 lbs, 4 oz, 18 inches).

We came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon, and it's being understandably challenging. Felix and I are trying to get the hang of breastfeeding, which is difficult when my milk hasn't come in yet, and he wanted to feed every hour without allowing much time between for sleeping or recovery. His doctor recommended some supplemental formula this afternoon, and that has helped to calm his feeding patterns and satisfy his hunger. He also has a touch of jaundice (being early and sustaining a nasty bruise on his head during delivery didn't help matters). Hopefully he will continue to thrive, especially as we all get to know each other better.

And because everyone's been waiting, pictures:

C'mon, Wiggle! (37/6)

[37 weeks, 6 days]

Thanks to everyone who attended our baby showers! Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures to post, but I should be getting some from my mom soon. A big Thank You goes out to Mom and Cassie, who put together the shower at Grandma Maxine's. We're all ready to go with our baby gear (again, thank you to all!). Now all we need is a baby to go with it!

I spent the last week with a pretty bad cold, and I think it's finally clearing up enough that I can breathe. (Learning infant CPR while barely able to breathe wasn't the greatest, but then again, I hope I never have to use that anyway.) Maybe that's all the baby is waiting for. Nick and I have started to try to give the baby the hint that, hey, today's a good day to be born! So far, however, no luck. :o) Wiggle's a little too comfortable in there, apparently. I have a hunch that our "any day now" will be in a few weeks and not today, as we'd like.

The weather's been helping me, though, not being as hot as it was a while ago. My feet are closer to normal shape, and it's easier to sleep at night. It's making these last few days/weeks be a bit more tolerable. My cold, however, has not helped, but that's getting better, too.Today has been pretty interesting already. There was a Native American speaker and dancer at Prairie, who gave us a tobacco blessing for the baby. Maybe our sprinkling the tobacco in the prairie outside and thinking happy, "soon!" thoughts will be all the impetus Wiggle needs.

T-minus One Month...? (35/6)

[35 weeks, 6 days]

We're under a month from our due date (but it's all up to Wiggle when he/she starts the Big Show). We're very excited, and more than a little nervous.

We had our first baby shower today, when the lovely folks at Prairie Unitarian Universalist Society threw us a small shower after the service today. And fittingly enough (since the discussion today was on "Summer Reads"), we got several books to read to Wiggle. We also got a big bag full of diapers* and several newborn outfits. We can't wait to put them all to good use.

We just have one more class to take (Infant CPR), then we will have all of the knowledge we need at our disposal.

Enjoy the pictures of the nursery!
*We're going to use a cloth diaper service (Mother Nature's Diapers), so please, no more disposable diapers. Thanks!

Wait for it.... (34/6)

[34 weeks, 6 days]

Nearly 5 weeks left to go (give or take...). This is just a teaser entry - yesterday, Nick and I had a maternity photo shoot. I hope to have shots to share soon! We took pictures in a nearby park/prairie, and then some Badger shots in our basement. Interesting question - is it possible to brainwash a fetus? I guess we'll find out! :o) In the meantime, please enjoy my latest belly shot.

Lots of Little Things (34/2)

[34 weeks, 2 days]

The frequency of the B-H contractions made me move up my doctor's appointment this week to Monday instead of tomorrow. I was checked out, and despite the frequency of contractions, Wiggle doesn't appear to be in any hurry to make his or her appearance. No dialation, all good. The doctor did say to cut down on things that seem to trigger contractions. So far, that's walking, sitting, lying down, getting up, doing Kegels, and drinking water. This may be trickier than I expected...

If Wiggle can wait until after July 5th, I'd be much obliged. With my showers at the end of the month/beginning of the next and our daycare spot available in October, the more ripening the kid can do in there, the better. Plus, I reach term on the 6th, so that would be good, too.

On the Wiggle front, Wiggle has a foot and has a favorite spot to push it against. If you see me suddenly make an "argh!" face, that's probably why. It makes me wonder what the other foot is up to. Wiggle will also be the most hiccupy baby on the block, getting them up to several times a day. And finally, unless Nick and I can come to an agreement on a name if Wiggle is a boy, we may just be putting "Wiggle" on the birth certificate. ;o)

We got together with my Uncle Steve and Aunt Lori last night who are also expecting their first child (a boy due in October). They told some stories that made me very glad I'm living in the sane(r) Midwest. (Scheduled C-section complete with tummy tuck? Egads.) We compared experiences so far, and our view about the labor and delivery. It was really nice to talk with them, especially since so few of our friends and family have been pregnant in the past few years.

I have my own view of the nesting instict now. I understand that after the baby is born, we're going to have no time to do anything around the house for the first few weeks, so anything that's been bugging me, I should take care of NOW. That meant repainting the bathroom because my previous paint job annoyed me and put up a new light fixture and towel bar and adding cabinet shelving, dealing with the old paint cans in the basement, taking most of the tools out of the case and hanging them on the pegboard, and making space for bottles/formula (just in case)/baby items/etc. in the kitchen cabinets and pantry. All this past weekend. So far, I haven't gone "must clean under the sink!" crazy, but that still may be coming (though one may argue that doing all of that over one weekend qualifies as crazy). I'm fighting a serious urge right now to go to IKEA and buy storage items like trays and boxes.

As things get closer and the excitement increases, hopefully I can shake the fatigue I'm feeling and try to post more regularly. :o)

Maybe not so ready... (33/6)

[33 weeks, 6 days]
We're starting to get a good understanding of what's going on during labor and afterward. We took a breastfeeding class on Thursday and had our childbirth education class yesterday. It's going to suck, but at least we found some ways to help manage the pain. Inhale-hee inhale-hee inhale-hoo. That should do the trick.

Last night, I started to get a bit concerned that Wiggle is going to come much earlier than expected, with many contractions (most likely Braxton-Hicks). At least so far there's no other signs of labor, but the contractions are starting to get fairly annoying. Good thing that a) we're going to take a hospital tour this afternoon and b) I've got another doctor's appointment this week and will be able to ask about it then.

Wiggle and I must have had a growth spurt in the last week, because suddenly I've had more people commenting on my size/state in pregnancy. Yes, I am a blimp, thank you for noticing. I'm hoping to join the Goodyear fleet soon. :o)

Perfect (32/2)

[32 weeks, 2 days]

I just had my 32 week appointment at the doctor this afternoon, and I'm measuring up beautifully (32 cm). Of course, that also means that I'm measuring up pretty huge (by comparison to what I was). Wiggle is definitely getting bigger and living up to its nickname. Last night, Nick put his ear on my belly to hear the baby's heartbeat and was rewarded with both the sound and a kick right to the ear. I have a hunch that, boy or girl, this baby will be a handful. :o)

June will also be a very busy month for us - prenatal classes, appointments, a hospital tour, and maternity photos later in the month. Stay tuned!

Almost Ready (30/0)

[30 weeks, 0 days]

Well, about as ready as we can be for 10 weeks or so away from Wiggle's arrival. We've got the nursery furnished, with a new bookcase and a rummage-sale glider and ottoman. At the same rummage sale, we picked up a few neutral pieces of clothing so if Wiggle comes much earlier than expected, we can at least dress the baby in something. We also got a bear hand puppet that has its own little puppet (Nick's contribution to what we had to purchase).
On Saturday evening, we babysat our neighbors' nearly 4 month old daughter. It was a brief taste and good experience for us (both of us got to deal with Happy Eve and Fussy Eve).

I'm feeling (and looking) much bigger lately. Lots of movement from Wiggle and my stomach is feeling a bit squished. Just the beginning, I know, but it's all new to me right now.

Happy (belated) Mother's Day (29/1)

[29 weeks, 1 day]

First of all, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there! Then Happy Mothers-To-Be Day for those like me who are eagerly awaiting their first children!

We had our immediate families over on Saturday to visit, grill out, and exchange presents (my birthday on the 8th, Mother's Day, and my dad's coming up next week). Good times.

Welcome, May! (27/6)

[27 weeks, 6 days]

It's been a busy weekend for us, even though we stayed in town. Friday, we toured another day care center. Saturday, we participated in the March of Dimes March for Babies which gave me a chance to get down on State Street for the first time in a long time. Oh, and we got free baby wipes! On our way home, we picked up soil and plants to turn the sandbox in the back into a garden. Now, we have tomatoes, basil, green peppers, and strawberries to look forward to. I also got my birthday present - solar path lights for our front walk. Later that evening, things took an unfortunate turn when we realized Cricket hadn't been seen all day. We found him hiding in my closet, looking glassy-eyed, drooling, and smelling awful. Cue trip to the emergency vet clinic... Our fears were relieved when we learned that his symptoms were caused by his two right side canines gone bad. Three hours later, we left with a groggy Cricket, but left four kitty teeth and nearly $400 behind.

Today, we went to the service at the UU church we joined last month, and then did some housework. I planted seeds in the front garden, and I have my fingers crossed that something will grow (besides weeds).

As far as the baby goes, little Wiggle is definitely making him or herself known to me. Lots of movement (especially when I hunch over) and it's fun to watch my tummy move as the baby moves. Only another 12 more weeks to go! I'm enjoying getting out in the garden while I can still move with relative ease. And I'm hearing it more and more how I'm "so little"! I don't mind - I guess it's better than having people ask if I'm due any day for the entire third trimester. I've also made many things for the baby, including the Badger Baby Booties below.

How Trivial (26/1)

[26 weeks, 1 day]

This past weekend, Nick and I drove up to Rapids to have a mini-Trivia team reunion. It was nice to see all those folks, most of whom I hadn't seen in several years as we all left Rapids.

Wiggle is getting bigger, and I'm starting to feel its effects on my stability. Wiggle is also very active at times. I get a kick out of feeling all of the turns and punches (though a little less at night) and even pausing during work to watch my stomach move and bubble. :o) Wiggle also seems to like it when I sing it If You Want to Be A Badger and You Are My Sunshine.