Another Month Flys By...

Wow what a weekend!

Friday night Tony and I registered at Babies R Us. It took us 2 ½ hours to go through the whole store, check out all the cute baby things, and decide on what we wanted to add to the registry. The store gives you a list to “check off” as you scan in items, but a lot of the things listed we weren’t sure we really needed or what they were even for! We didn’t really register for too many small items like rattles, pacifiers, toys, or other little things like that mostly because we have no idea what our little guy will like or what we need. We did manage to get some things on the registry though, and we had a great time looking at the newborn items – such little things for a little guy – so cute!!

Carrie also came home Friday night. I got up early Saturday to meet up with her and Kelli (one of Carrie’s bridesmaids who we’ve know since childhood). We had a great time together. We stopped at Traubs (local bakery) where we hoped to get a nice sampling of their wedding cake and desserts, but the woman who spoke with us was very rude and the prices were outrageous! She wanted to charge $500 for a wedding cake but wouldn’t allow Carrie to have anything on the cake that she was looking for. She actually told her “um…No” several times to Carrie’s ideas! How rude! We also stopped to look at our bridesmaid dresses at David’s bridal and we stopped at Double Decker’s Pizza (in Ridley) for their famous (and oh so delicious) Inside Outs. We did nothing but laugh and enjoy one another’s company – it was truly a great day! Sunday I met back up with Carrie (and Mom) for a cake tasting. It was AMAZING. I can’t recall the name of the bakery off hand, but it was truly scrumptious!!!! Best cake I’ve ever tasted (especially the spice cake and the marble cake with the Oreo filling). I’m salivating just thinking about it. It was so nice to spend so much time with Carrie this weekend. I’ve really missed her.

I also got a chance to hang out with one of my best friends Lauren on Sunday. We went to David’s bridal so I could purchase my dress for her Wedding in August. I’m so excited!!! It’s really nice to have both Carrie and Lauren’s Weddings to look forward to this summer. I love them both and I can’t wait to be there when they become Brides!!!

Another bit of news for Sunday was the birth of my very good friend Dana’s son Christopher Michael. Dana and her hubby Michael’s little guy wasn’t due for another week, but he was determined to get out and explore the world a little bit early! I went to see them yesterday for a few hours at Virtua West Jersey (Voorhees, NJ) where I also plan to deliver my little guy. I have to say, Dana looked great for having just given birth less than 24 hours before & the baby is absolutely adorable. I instantly fell in love with him (really, how could you not – he’s just so little with this precious little face). I’ll put a picture on here so everyone else can see how cute he is too.

It made me really really anxious for my little one to get here. I really can’t wait to meet my little man. Don’t get me wrong, I want him to take his time and finish “baking,” but I just can’t wait to hold him in my arms. Just a couple more months and the wait will be over!!!

Burch Family

My Aunt Barbara passed away on Thursday morning. Mom and Dad as well as some of my other family members are flying in to LaCrosse, WI to be together for the burial service on Monday. I just wanted them to know that we're thinking about them, wish we could be there with them, & they are in our prayers.

Snowball Fight Anyone?

I’m officially six months pregnant!! I can’t believe how fast the time has flown by. I feel as big as a house, and I can’t imagine my belly getting any bigger but I know it will before my little boy is ready to come out. He’s really active. I can feel him the most in the evening and especially when I lay down to sleep, but he’ll sometimes move and kick when one my toddlers is sitting on my lap. My friend Miss Jenn who is the head teacher in the class next to mine felt him move this morning. I just love when others can feel him moving too, it’s so nice to share in this awesome feeling.

It’s become much harder to move around. I have some trouble getting up off the ground, yet that is where I am most comfortable. Sitting on chairs/couches or standing for too long makes me ache, but since I waddle sometimes its best if I just find somewhere semi comfortable to sit and rest. Sleeping has begun to be a big issue too. My belly feels like a bowling ball so when I lay down to sleep everything rolls, it’s a very strange feeling. It’s funny how for the most part you don’t mind all the strange things your body does and how your body feels so foreign to you – and the kicks and organ crushing is all just par for the course. I think I’d go through hell as long as my little guy is safe and sound.

It's Snowing! The first of the year. I wish I could go out and play. Unfortunately, I have a sinus infection, so I'll stay inside and keep warm. I did take Mav out for a couple of minutes. He absolutely loves the snow. After 10 minutes of laughing as he rolled around in it and shoved his face down into it, I ushered him back inside - don't want his little toes to get frosty. I’m waiting for Tony to get home from work. I’d love to cook something nice and comforting for him after his long trek home in this weather, but I think all I have the energy for is chicken fingers.

I took a few pictures while Mav and I were outside. I just think a snowy landscape is majestic and magical. I just hope everyone who has to drive in it is careful and arrives safely home.
I took this by a tree in our front yard. I thought it wasn't such a bad shot.


Maverick watching the snow through our front windows. He's too funny, all he wants to do it go out there and play.

Maverick was too busy playing to actually take a moment to pose for me. This is the best I got of him (brat!)

So much ice cream so little time…

Mmmmm. Oh the joy of opening a brand new container of glorious ice cream…then eating the entire container for dinner. YUM! I know, I know…slow down girl! I just can’t help it. I had a rough week this week, so I decided to give in and indulge my need for creamy chilly ice cream. We went to ACME this morning and wonderous surprise of all surprises, the ice cream was on sale – buy one get one FREE!!! Our freezer is now stacked with the following flavors: Vanilla Bean, Turkey Hill Touchdown Sundae (vanilla with peanut butter and fudge swirls & mini chocolate-peanut butter footballs), Mint Cookies & Cream, and Mint Chocolate Chip. Not to mention the frozen raspberry sorbets, gallon of sherbet, and ice cream sandwiches that I’ve also stashed in there. Yes, I’ve found my new craving. Really, this works out for Tony too. Instead of making him run out to get whatever ice cream I’m craving at the time, I’ve got plenty of choices to get me by (that is until I eat it all – I give it about two weeks…maybe.) Thank goodness I’m walking on my treadmill. It doesn’t help me to feel guiltless about indulging in my ice cream cravings, but at least it’ll help if even just a little bit. And the baby is enjoying it too. He has been kicking and kicking away.

Two couples we are good friends with have already given birth to their new babies (both were due early Jan 2008). Kelly & Jim had Abigail at the end of December, and Crystal & Brian had Anthony at the beginning of January. Another one of my good friends is due within the next two weeks. Reality is starting to set in. Like all new parents, we worry about everything. Am I making the right decisions for my baby (yes even in-vitro), will we be good parents to him when he’s born, etc etc. There are thousands of thoughts running through our heads. Concerns, questions, worries, and the underlying thrilling fact that we are lucky enough to be at this stage of our lives.

We have started going to church regularly. I think the stress we’ve been feeling was one of the motivations behind us starting back again, but the goodness we feel during and after each service has been a great help in keeping up the commitment. Everyone at church is so wonderful, congratulating us and welcoming us warmly…not to mention the excitement about the baby. No demands, no unwanted opinions, just friendship and support - I don't think you could ask for more in a church congregation. After the Pastor retired (the one who wed us), I was not sure I’d feel as comfortable but we’ve really felt embraced by one of the Pastors who preaches mostly at the 9:15A contemporary service & its been so nice to feel another strong connection to the church.

I am pretty sure we’re starting on the baby’s room next weekend. Tony, his brother Mikey, and our friend Mike B finished up the tile floor in our laundry room, and now that the room is finished it is looking fantastic!! Honestly, the room turned out better than I think we anticipated and we are really happy. I’m so proud of Tony, he did such a good job!!

I’m almost 6 months pregnant!! I can’t believe it…four more months of growing and stretching & my body going through all the startling activity and finally our baby will be here! I just want to rush through these next few months so that I can meet him and know that he's okay.

Here's Our New Laundry Room: new walls, new doors, new paint, new tile floors. Isn't it pretty!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...

Last Sunday we picked out the Baby's Nursey Decor! And by We I mean my best friend Lauren and I. We spent a good hour just looking at all the different themes for the baby's room - and at all the adorable clothes! (Thank you sooo much Laur for going with me, couldn't have done it without you!!).

The decor is called Goodnight Star. It's sooo cute!! Mostly blues and greens which were the colors we wanted for the baby's room anyway, so I'm really happy with the choice.

Here's a couple pictures (below - I pulled them from the website). Isn't it cute!! Now I am REALLY anxious to get started decorating the baby's room. We are just about done with the laundry room. Tony's finished the remodeling down there and painted the room a pretty lemon color, now we just need to lay the tile (this weekend!) and finish with some trim then we'll be ready to get started on the nursery! We picked out a pretty green for the walls - I can't wait to see how it turns out!

Also - Happy 2008 to one and all!! I tried to stay up for the official ball drop but at 11PM, I needed to sleep! Thanks to our friend Mike for letting me borrow his bed for a couple hours so the baby and I could rest. I may have slept through the changing of the years - but it looks like 2008 is going to be the best year ever and I am so happy it's started!