Chowda and Pizza Pie...here we come!

Well, here I sit at 10:15pm and we haven't even started packing yet! Clothes are in the washer and dryer, ate a late dinner, we are sloooow! Oh well, we will be ready by the morning.

This is by far the most un-planned trip we have ever taken. We have no tours arranged, no play tickets bought, we are WINGING IT! But I think we will do just fine. I look forward to sleeping and just doing what we want! We may take the lap top with us so we can have computer access for researching things so Ill update pics if I can.

I hope you all have a wonderful and relaxing long weekend. I am looking forward to spending the week alone with my hubby!

Happy Labour Day Weekend!!

No More Wonder Years

Ok, so The Wonder Years has always been one of my all time favorites show but I think it may be in my household's best interest if I stay away for the next 5 hormonal months ;-) The title of tonight's episode was "Private Butthead", who would be crying at that? I am sitting here crying about Wayne failing his physical to go into Army while the great narrator voice of Kevin Arnold describes the bond between a father and a son. Wonder Years is great at verbalizing those poignant moments in life and watching this father and son moment just brought me to tears. I know they say how little boys love their mommies, (which is proven by retailers carrying all kinds of little boy clothes with "I Love Mommy" on them) but I am SO excited for Matt to have that father-son experience. He has a great relationship with his dad and I can't wait to watch that relationship grow between Matt and Zach....or Mark....or James. No matter what the name, I know he is going to make a great daddy! Although Matt may be a tad tardy at times and a bit obsessive-compulsive, he is a man of great strength, character, faithfulness and integrity and I know he will do his best to pass all of these things and more on to our children!! Oh yeah....and a love of sports too! ;-) I can't wait!!!

I think that about sums it up! If I didn't get a hold of you last night, I will try tomorrow! Everything looked great, measuring ahead (not surprised looking at mom and dad) and I have only gained 4lbs. That's not too bad, right? Mommy Daddy, Grandparents, Uncle Chris, etc are all excited and now we can start shopping!!

Now its time for names.........Zachary Matthew, James Matthew, Mark Matthew, David Matthew.........we can't decide! :-)

Tooooomorrow, Tomorrow...You're Only a Day Away!

I almost feel like a kid at Christmas...tomorrow is the big day, the big reveal, and baby may have a name! Or if nothing else, a new pronoun to be referred by! Some days I honestly can't believe it's real still. I think tomorrow knowing whether I am carrying a little boy or a little girl will definitely help it to sink in! So say a prayer tomorrow at 2pm that baby Wittliff shows us what we need to see and mommy doesn't have to go home unhappy!

Rain SUCKS!

All I can say is thank GOD I live close to work today! My friend Kerri and I decided to get out for lunch and got attacked by the flash flood that occurred around noon today. Rain was flying sideways about the size of ping pong balls yet we decided we could make it from the parking spot to the cover at the shopping center. Boy were we wrong! After getting out and starting to walk towards the restaurant, in less than 30 seconds, we were drenched. Not just wet, but DRENCHED like I got in the shower in my clothes! So, we ran back into the car to get out of the rain. Kerri lost her shoe along the way and had to get back out to go get it. HA HA! She looked like a raccoon with mascara running! So the only option was to head to my house and clean up cause i could NOT return to work this way. Luckily Kerri and I are good friends too so she didn't mind borrowing a t-shirt and shirt to wear while we threw our clothes in the dryer. I literally had to re-dry and straighten my hair. It was like I took a shower. But, in the 15 minutes or so of doing this, it has all completely stopped raining and not a cloud in the sky! Isn't that the way it always goes? ;-) So, we went to lunch anyway in our soggy shoes and damp pants after it was all said and done. It doesn't sound as funny in writing as it actually was but it has had me giggling all day!! Do I really want to move to the burbs after that? HA!

Is it Wednesday Yet?

I'm pooped from a long but good weekend! Happy 10th Anniversary to Chuck and Theresa!!

So the pregnancy brain already makes me somewhat scatterbrained and stupid...and now the anxiousness it going to add on top of it and make me lose total concentration until Wednesday is here! AH! My grand plan is going to be to bring a poster board to NYC announcing the big gender reveal but alas, I don't know if I will be able to wait that long! Although it would be super cool and I would love to make my national TV debut with Al Roker ;-)

The grand majority think it's a little boy Wittliff in the belly anyway so it probably wont be a huge surprise, but there is a 50/50 chance so it could go either way! If its a boy, I am prepared for complete sports and music overload for the next 18 years. Grandma Cindy will be elated to have her little Astros fan to brainwash from birth! :-) But, if little Hannah surprises us, we will be in baby doll and shopping heaven for the next 18 years! My luck she will be a tomboy but Matt reminds me that "tomboys are cool too". Ha ha!

So anyway...this is a big week for us. I am so excited to put a name with this baby and cannot WAIT to see our little peanut up close again! Praying that baby isn't being a stubborn Wittliff and will show us what we need to see! Ill keep you all posted!

Holy Gaucamole!

So I am 16 weeks today...officially in my 5th month (4months completed...just starting month 5, I find this confusing still). WOOHOO! My baby update today says LLBean is the size of an avocado now. For some reason that made me chuckle because just yesterday I was telling a co-worker how much I love avocados these days. Or at least yesterday....avocado was quite tasty on my sammich!

The baby bump is still small and unnoticeable to the untrained eye. I can definitely tell in jammies but regular clothes still fit just fine which I guess is good. We will see next week what the "official" weight gain is. I am definitely getting more and more anxious for next Wednesday. I am ready to see baby again and of course know what Baby Wittliff is! 5 days and counting!

Quiet Weekend, Missin my Friend

So this weekend Matt had a boys' day with his Fantasy Football League, The Pearl Drinkin Fools...which left me to my own devices. I didn't do a whole lot, which was nice! Cleaned and organized and took a nap Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening I ordered Pei Wei and watched "Because I Said So" with Diane Keaton and Mandy Moore. It was a good chick flick. I teared up a few times which is probably only hormone related.

I had been chatting with Claud earlier in the evening. She and PS went to Galvestion to visit the Bishop's Palace where Rachel and Rodney were to be married. For many years, PS has collected Christopher Radko and other glass blown ornaments. His tree is always beautiful. In Rachel's honor, they asked if the Bishop's Palace would accept them as a donation for Christmas. The curator happily accepted and told the Smiths how the "Rachel Story" is well know and it would be their honor. So now at Christmas, there will be a Rachel Tree or something of that nature on display...I look forward to going to see it.

"I always knew looking back on the tears would make me laugh.But I never knew looking back on the laughs would make me cry."- Unknown

It had been since Rachel's birthday that I had last watched one of the videos (thank you again Roxanne, I will treasure that always). I think about Rach every day and talk with her, but it's a lot of emotions to watch the video. What I miss most is just calling and hearing her voice and laugh and catching up, or "passing out cards" as we called it. We would often play phone tag before we actually caught each other and had fun leaving silly messages. I just miss her. On the last conversation I had with Rach a week before she passed, along with talking about her upcoming nuptials and the girl's weekend we had planned, we discussed having babies. She talked about how maybe even on their honeymoon they would thorw caution to the wind and start trying as she thought it may take her awhile like it was for me. One of the pics in the montage is of Rachel holding Shawn, the first baby of our group. That just really got me...seeing Rach holding Shawn like we all have been pictured this last month holding Katie and J.P. , it brings a lump to my throat just writing that. I cried for Rachel not being there to hold my little one, for us not being able to call and chat about random pregnancy cravings and symptoms, for me not being able to hold her babies, for our kiddos to be romping together, and for PS and Claud, they miss Rachel so much. It is one of the things in this life I really will never understand and is at the top of my list to ask when it is time. There are so many blessings appearing these days...and I want her here to share in it!! But deep down I know that she is, and in my heart I know that she has a hand in these blessings too. I miss you Rach!

"Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you canmeet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes,is certain for those who are friends."- Richard Bach

Ho Hum

Nothing new to report....this is a slow stage for sure....I am anxious for stuff to start happening!

• A BUMP! I can see it for sure, but since there was a belly there before, the untrained eye (AKA- anyone besides me and maybe Matt) probably wouldn't notice. But i definitely do! Maybe Ill take a pic. It sticks out in front differently now, not just wide across. Does that mean anything? All my clothes still fit too, a little differently perhaps but comfortable still.
• Feeling the baby! When does this start? Some people say as early as 14 weeks...but that it feels like gas so 1st mommies prob wouldn't know what it was. I want a good solid kick in the ribs little one! Bring it on!
• TO KNOW Well this one has a good end in sight. Less than 2 weeks till the next appointment! My co-worker who's wife is due a day later than me had a sonogram on Tuesday and found out its a boy! Soo...if she was only 14 weeks, than surely I could at LEAST tell if it's a boy at 17 weeks! And if we can't tell, its a girl I guess??? (Don't forget to make your guess! http://www.expectnet.com/games/BabyWittliff)
• To buy stuff! I have some bedding kinda picked out, but I want to know for sure as all the stuff I like is pretty gender specific! Not sure how this whole "building a nursery" thing is going to work while trying to move....should be interesting.....

That's really about all going on Now. Matt just sent me a document called "Upcoming Schedule". We have 6-8 FREE weekends through the end of 2007, and many of those have asterisks next to them for possible things going on (baby shower, visit friends, mom & I's trip to F-berg) HOLY MOLY! That's not a lot of free time!

Anyway............hope all is well with you my friends! Lots and lots of exciting stuff going on out there (you all know who you are!!) and I am excited! Ready for only more good news to come!

Anniversary Cake Ice Cream...Two Thumbs Up!

It is DE-LISH! It's called Anniversary Cake Ice Cream by Blue Bell for their 100th anniversary and is to die for! Anniversary Cake combines flavorful almond ice cream with delicious white cake pieces and a swirl of rich amaretto cream cheese icing.

How can you resist that? If you like wedding cake, you will like this. It's not super sweet like some birthday cake ice creams....just super YUMMY!

Advice from the preggo...pick up a tub from your local grocer's freezer pronto! I plan on having some for dessert tonight!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Can someone tell me when the tiredness ends?? Or is this it for the next 20+ years! ;) Sundays are always the worst. I think it's because I sleep for crud all week long and am getting up early...but I get through it because I have too. But by Sunday........whew! I lay down for a cat nap and wake up 3 hours later!

So even though today hasn't been particular productive, yesterday was. We finalized our door orders, got all new faucets (we need a plumber, any suggestions?), new lantern for outside, new entry way light and a couple other odds and ends. The hope is to have the house ready for end of month to put on the market and then we go from there. Sure would be nice to be in somewhere new before Christmas! So, if you know any one in the market for a town home in town, please let us know!

Last but not least...baby update! LLBean is the length of a lemon this week and weighing 1.5 oz. Wow, 1/12th of a coke! Tiny! I've read that some people can feel the baby this early now too...but most first time moms just think its gas. I'll let you know! 2.5 more weeks till the next ultrasound....hoping we find out what we are having!

WARNING: Pregnancy brain is for REAL!

Just like the having to tinkle a lot...I thought preggo brain was kinda one of those old wives tales that people use as an excuse! But, I am here to state that yes ladies, pregnant brain is REAL! If I don't write things down for work, I will forget them almost instantaneously! Its weird! Not work related, but for example, my friend told me about this new ice cream by blue bell that tastes like wedding cake this morning over our coffee. About an hour later I was still thinking about ice cream and asked her who made it again! Throughout the day, I think I asked her about 2-3 more times the name or type of the ice cream! How crazy!

BTW, I stopped by the store on the way home and bought the ice cream. Ill let you know later how it is! :)

He's here!

Welcome to the world J.P.! After about 14+hours into the induction, J.P. and the doc's decided it was his time to come into this world, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Arriving around 10pm and weighing 6lbs 10oz and 19 inches long...he is quite a handsome guy!

We got to stop by and meet J.P. today after work and of course check in on mom and dad too! Dad was quite the guy we heard, keeping all the family informed and calm during the process so kudos to him! Jenny looked fabulous (so jealous) and was up and moving around already. I am super impressed! We had our usual little party in the hospital and everyone enjoyed passing around the little guy. He definitely has the Dupnick nose and the Aday eyelashes...we will have to see what the rest turns out to be! :)

Congrats again Jen and Silas and welcome to our little family J.P.! We look forward to you meeting the littles ones already here and the ones to come too!

Guessing Game!

Let the guessing begin!

http://www.expectnet.com/games/BabyWittliff

Hopefully we have an answer in 3 weeks at my appointment on Aug 29th! We shall see! :)

Wedding Bells and Babies crying!

Well life has been quite busy for me and my gal pals over the last week! I had my 12 week appointment/entering 2nd trimester, Ginny found out she is pregnant, Allison got married, and Jenny is in labor! All this in less than a week! WOW!

So to the wedding first, it was BEAUTIFUL! Allison looked gorgeous of course and she and Justin looked so happy! The ceremony and reception were just perfect and we all had a great time! Got some good dancing in and had my other preggos to sit with and watch those drinking enjoying themselves as the night wore on. I did stay up way late and am paying for it now but it was worth all the missed Zzzzzzs to see one of my best friends on the biggest day of her life so far! I am truly just so happy for them both and am looking forward to sharing many more memories with them to come! They are on their honeymoon in St Lucia now! Congrats Al and Justin! :)






And Ginny is pregnant!! She is a superstar and did not test at home at all before her blood test. I am super impressed at her restraint. I tested 4 days early! OOPS! Her initial beta result was 139 and Sunday's was 270 so doubling just as it should!! First sonogram is scheduled for August 20th and then we will know if she is carrying one baby or two! I can't wait to find out! Estimated due date is early to mid April. I think Tax Day would be perfect for Jeff! Congrats again Gin & Jeff...so excited for you my friends!

And finally....Jenny is in labor! She was induced this morning...things are progressing slowly but Mom and baby are hanging in there. Hopefully JP will be here tonight, I cant wait to meet him!

Life for my group is changing rapidly. We have Aaron & Katie's wedding coming up in October and looking forward to that, but after that no more weddings are planned for awhile. I love weddings and am sad for the break but excited for my friends who are starting the next phase of life! And the babies...they are doubling our group quickly, I love it!! With Alex, Jackson, and Katie already born, JP on the way, Caroline due in October, me in Feb, Gin in April, and hopefully a few more soon to follow (you know who you are!!!), we are one busy group! I get a big grin thinking of the play dates we will have!

I love all the life changes going on and am so excited for everything the rest of this year and all the surprises we still have yet to come! The second half of 2006 was very tough....but 2007 is shaping up to treat us much better! Bring it on! :)

13 weeks...WOOHOO!

So, we had our 12 week OB appointment on Wednesday and everything looked "normal"!! We got the results of our NT scan and bloodwork and it came out to be 1 in 10,000 chances of having Downs Syndrome or other chromosomal issues which Doc said was the best that they can give you! YEAH! :) Excited that everything is progressing along and that yes........I am in my SECOND TRIMESTER NOW! Woohoo! Can you believe it? I really can't still! I am ready for my baby belly to pop and to know what this little kiddo is! Doc said that hopefully in a month at my 16.5 ultrasound we should be able to tell!! YIPPEE!

Other than that, life is moving along at a great pace! Big Al's wedding is this weekend and I am SO THRILLED and happy for her and Justin! Its going to be a fun weekend and I cant wait to see Alla looking wedding beautiful and to see all of our friends together! This will be the last wedding on my side of the friends until we have some new couples so looking forward to the festivities, sober and all! :-)

The creative juices are slow tonight...watching crazy BB8 and wondering WHY people don't put up ED, I HATE HIM! Favorite line of the night was when the Anna Nicole vs. Genuine were duking it out....and from the patio, we heard Zach say, "should we go watch?" HA, thats awesome. I enjoyed the hilarity of the whole argument. Make of your mind dani, do you like your dad or not? And can Amber please stop crying? Its to the point of MIND NUMBINGLY ANNOYING! STOP THE INSANITY!