Pictures Commemorating Five weeks from D-Day

Below is a collection of photos from week 35 of Ryann's occupation. We are currently closing in on week 36 and are in disbelief at how soon she is coming. We really can't wait to meet this little corker. And my innards wants their space back.

Delinquent Belly Pictures

I just noticed that the last belly shot that I posted was from 24 weeks! Yikes! It's unrecognizable now. As an apology I will post the last THREE shots that we've taken. And as soon as we have week 35, I'll get that up here as well.

29.5 weeks

31 weeks

32.5 weeks

Brown Paper Packages Tied up with Packing Tape

Today is our 34 week checkup, though technically it's closer to 35 weeks. I ended up having to reschedule our appointment because when I originally scheduled it I completely spaced on a work meeting that was at that exact time. As a result, these next two appointments will be quite close together. The better to satisfy the Ryann craving! Always so much fun to hear her little heartbeat. Also nice to know that there's still something on earth that has a higher pulse than me. She outstrips my horrifying 95 by racing along at about 145. We had better have good models that can deal with a lot of milage, because they're getting a workout.

This week is an exciting mail week, as it brings not one, not two, but THREE deliveries. There's really nothing more fun than getting a package in the mail. The first one arrived yesterday and bore our long awaited diaper bag. Jared originally found it online a few months ago, but at the time it was an exorbitant amount and we just couldn't bring ourselves to actually fork over the cash. However, when returning to ogle again this past week, we saw that it was on sale. Not only on sale, on a $50 off sale! So, while it's still a bit pricey, we indulged and bought the bag. Noreen is now enjoying the packing box.

The second package should arrive today and will come filled with crib bedding. Sheets and a bumper and a crib skirt. And while we originally didn't plan on going all girly-girl on her, the crib will be flowing in pink. But it's a cute pink! Really! I swear! You'll just have to see.

The third package will be the salvation of my winter wardrobe. It will come bearing a full-length pair of pants (capris were never meant for winter), a skirt to be paired with my lovely boots and tights, and a gorgeous sweater dress that should cover Ryann quite comfortably. Also a new pair of comfy pants to live out my maternity leave in, as my current pair has now been cropped, is oddly stretched in the knees, and sports holes across my backside. They are way past due for a replacement.

In addition to the package excitement for the week, we have also been basking in birthday glory. Jared's birthday was just this past Friday while mine is this coming Sunday. Hip hip hooray! I dread the day I start dreading birthdays, they're so much fun! Let's hope Ryann waits an appropriate amount of time to celebrate hers. As long as she remembers she's supposed to be a NOVEMBER baby, then we'll be fine. And no Halloween birthdays. Creepy. Although that would make for some awesome birthday photo shoots in the future with Molly, the perfect Halloween cat. But I think I'll pass.

New Living Room and Bigger Belly

Some pictures to satisfy the masses

The other day while I was taking a bath I kept hearing the most intriguing crinkling sound. I figured it must be one of the cats, so I called them. But of course, being cats, they did not come. After I got out I snooped around to see if the crinkler was still about their business, and this is what I found.

She had actually knocked the lid off and taken over the box all on her own. Noreen tried this the other day as well, but being twice the size of Molly, he wasn't quite so successful. Though I think he would disagree. He looked a bit like an overstuffed, overrisen loaf of bread. But he was happy.

Last weekend, Jared happened to be in Portland on the WWU choir tour. He took along his brand new daddy cam and shot me a bunch of (dog looking for a place to pee) lovely videos. However, I do think he's going to try to tame his use of the words 'awesome' and 'wow' now. While he was in Portland he stopped by Moonstruck Chocolatier's and bought me a wonderful little 6 piece truffle box. Of course my favorite truffle is the one below.

And now for the long awaited belly shots. I apologize for the long wait and the random timings of the photos. We had great intentions of taking many many photos all in the same clothes in the same place and in the same pose, because that's always so awesome and creepy. Alas, I take after my Mother in my photo-taking habits. Toting my camera everywhere with me and taking not a single picture. Don't worry, we are working on curbing this habit.

7 weeks

9 weeks

15 weeks

15 weeks

Enjoy!

General Back-Info on 'It's' Progress

Mom, that title was just for you. We actually rarely call him an 'it'. We usually call the baby 'him', so we're in for some weird changes if we find out it's a girl. Maybe we'll call him Heshe, in honor of old grumpy-pants.

Jared and I found out that we were going to add to our little family on March 7. And on March 8 I promptly crashed in bed with a wicked week-long fever. As a result, we waited for a while before telling anyone about the little hitchhiker, just to make sure he was still along for the ride. We have a total of four pee sticks and a very active ultrasound video to prove that he's not to be budged.

When we were ready to announce the news, we wanted to do it in a fun and, for some, confusing way. We found that women generally saw it coming, while men had to have women tell them what it meant. The announcement is below:

Those were a lot of fun to make and send out. We knew people would get a kick out of them. After that, it was pretty quiet for a while. People around campus were slowly finding out, which was fun. Recently, people around campus have been noticing, which is even more fun.

The latest greatest news on the baby front is that I felt the first little kicks yesterday. They felt like three little popcorns popping in my belly. And no, it was not gas.