Tuesday, January 29, 2008

To the bump, to the bump, to the bump, bump, bump

Ok, Ok... I know you're all getting tired of looking at my gigantic belly, but it is still infinitely fascinating to me so you'll just have to periodically endure it for the next several months. Next week I hit 28 weeks... for those of you playing along at home that means 7 months! I used to look at pregnant women & could not even fathom how my belly was ever going to get that rotund... now I'm so used to it that I actually have moments where I think I'm still my pre- pregnancy size... funny how the mind protects you & makes you think that everything is normal!
I don't want Ross to feel left out of the embarrassing picture party so I leave you with the father of my child modeling one of her Grammy-made bibs... it seems to fit perfectly! Luckily he was able to keep the coffee in the mug & avert catastrophe... he's such a big boy! God they grow up fast!

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Alright! Alright!

The ladybugs are back in! Quit obsessing about it already, would ya?! Geesh!

We ordered our crib set today too... what do you think of the ladybugs with the "espresso" crib?

Friday, January 18, 2008

Registry, Smegistry

Our loverly friend Kim is throwing us a baby shower on March 15 and my work shower is sometime thereabouts , so we really have to get a move on this registry stuff... I don't know why but I HATE this process. Not so much hate... it really should be fun, right? A chance to shop around and pick out the things that we need for our bambina... I guess that's the problem... I'm not really a "shopper" per se, more of a "buyer". When I need it, I go get it. Registries are more for anticipating what you will need. On top of that, with baby stuff you must take into account what the Consumer Reports ratings are, how much space will it take up, will the baby even use it, do I need one of those, what the heck is that for........... and so on and so forth. It can really go on forever.

On top of that, I am totally turning into a crazy person when it comes to the nursery. Don't get me wrong, I haven't actually DONE anything in there... it's ALL in my head! I've rethought the bedding/ theme. It was once going to be little red satin ladybugs with green & pink background and black & white gingham... but the baby & I were up at 2:00 one morning discussing (in our heads, mind you) that maybe that wasn't what we wanted... now I am thinking about spring flowers... Pottery Barn Baby has some fabulous sets. I think I am focusing all of my excitement, fears etc. into the perfect choice of bedding... perhaps not that crazy but definitely hugging the line!

In other news, I found someone to do my longterm sub for the end of the year!!! That takes a HUGE load off of my shoulders. I met with her today & she seems really great! I hope I didn't scare her off with tales of my class... they really are good, who cares if I have 3 on behavior contracts and one who's selectively mute!

Baby is doing great! Growing, growing, growing! We can see her kick and roll on the outside now... pretty amazing & trippy! My belly button continues to inch closer & closer to the surface... I don't want to talk about it! The end of February brings the beginning of birthing classes, late pregnancy classes, breastfeeding classes and newborn care... we shood b sooper smrt bout birth'n babies by then... one can only hope!

Sunday, January 6, 2008

The Winds of Change...

So this past Thursday & Friday a huge storm blew through our parts... we're talking wind gusts up to 50- 55 mph... many people lost power & Tahoe got hit with a lot of needed snow. We were smart enough to batten down the hatches here at the old Gimpel homestead, but alas we could not prevent this from happening!

A couple of sections of fence between our neighbor's yard & ours blew over... not a huge deal considering how many people lost trees, etc. It's totally fixable! By the way, our grass is not dead! It goes dormant in the winter & will be back in full effect come spring :) Ross even winterized it in the fall! Don't want you to think we're neglecting our suburban duties!

Monday, December 31, 2007

Even More Christmakah Pictures!

Courtesy of Brent & Vanessa... thanks guys!

Click here for photos

Christmakah Pictures

Thanks to Maugh W we now have a few more pictures from our holiday... thanks mama!

Vanessa & Brent

Ma Ma & Pa Pa G enjoying some down time

The feats of strength... note to self: my mother in law is surprisingly strong! Better mind my P's & Q's! The airing of grievances will come later in the evening!

Cali & Skylin enjoying the stationary kits we gave them.

Kim & baby Gage

It snowed at my parent's house in Placerville on Thursday night!

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Updates & Bumpdates

We had a WONDERFUL holiday filled with family and friends. Brent & Vanessa flew out from Florida on the 21st. It was really great to see them again & to get the update on all the wedding plans. Vanessa is a fabulous cook, so we definitely reaped some of those benefits during our visit! Ma Ma & Pa Pa G flew out on Christmas Eve and we spent the evening here at our house. We had the traditional Wilford Christmas Eve meal of cheese fondue and then opened up presents! THAT"S RIGHT! We opened them BEFORE Santa even got here! Rebels, we are! Christmas day we headed up to Placerville where Maugh & Paugh W had another delicious spread! I can't believe how much food we consumed over the course of the week! We also got to hook up with the Willoughby's and spend a little time with Todd, Kim, Skylin, Cali & Gage. I can't believe how much the kids have grown!
I would show you TONS of pictures had Ross & I NOT been total morons & actually taken pictures! We are truly dumb asses & there is no excuse for the lack of digital evidence of a time well spent... These are the only pictures that we were brilliant enough to capture...

Sunset in Amador County... we took the kids wine tasting...mmm....wine...I remember it well!

Brent & part of Vanessa... the look says it all... or was that nothing at all... I can't remember!

I know that other participants were not as spastic as we were & hopefully :) they will send some pics our way (wink wink). We'll keep you updated!

Speaking of updates, Ross thought it was time for another "bump-date", as it were. I think I have doubled in size over the last week even! Ross has been feeling her kick & somersault pretty consistently over the past week as well... I also noticed today that she seems to have discovered that my bladder makes a fantastic trampoline... not sure I whole heartedly agree with her on that one! So without further ado I give you the final bump-date of '07.............

I decided to remain fully clothed this time around (in case there are small children out there who read this blog). I look at that first bump photo & it makes me laugh... I thought I was so HUGE! Of course, I think I'm huge now & know that someday soon this photo will also make me giggle!

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday as well & wish everyone the happiest of New Years! Catch ya in '08 suckas!!!