Yikes!

Today was an adventure! One thing I've noticed about my emotions while pregnant is my extreme sensitivity to someone saying, 'aauugghhh'... you know, when you see a cute baby... or when you see a cute little golden retriever puppy... or when someone is feeling sorry for you... yeah... that absolutely triggers the 'start crying' response.

So, today I dropped my kids off in the lunchroom (upstairs) and then headed back to my classroom to eat my lunch (back downstairs). While I was dropping the kids off, the older children came into the building after recess and tracked snow- wet- and water everywhere... I bet you can see where this is going...

Yeah, I slipped and fell down the stairs at school today... about 6 or 7 of them... on my big, chubby butt (I knew god was putting extra weight back there for a reason lately!). I was on my butt/ back the whole time... just a little stunned and out of whack because it totally took me off guard.

There was a student nearby that made sure I was okay... but then I just went to my room. I tried to figure out if I was okay... what hurt... if anything felt weird in my belly region...etc. I just sat there alone... trying to assess the situation... then I decided to drink a bunch of cold water. Baby brock goes crazy when I drink anything cold... but... she didn't go crazy... and I was about 32 oz. in of cold water.

So, I called Jason's office... and asked him to come down... and of course he could tell by my crackling voice that something was off... and then it came... the 'aauuuggghhh... what happened'... and then came the automatic 'start crying' response.

We called the doctor and she told us to come in right away just to make sure all is well. So we did. We left school and headed to Dr.Sinopoli who saw us right away. She pressed and prodded and poked... and listened to the heartbeat a few different times... and said that she sounds great... no worries...

The prescription for the day was to go home and relax...and that baby brock would probably return to normal activity once I returned to normal stress levels... so... I did... I came home, put squishies on, and hit the couch...

And all is well once again... baby brock started back to her crazy moving routine after about an hour of relaxing on the couch. My butt and back are still a little sore/ bruised... but baby is alright...

whew!

Jason wants the doctor to prescribe bed rest for me from now on... and he's insisting that I take the elevator from now on... and that I only where tennis shoes with extra grip....

I say... thank god for big butts...

Here it is!

Well, the time is finally here... we've found our first house!

In the never-ending search for a good deal, I think we've finally found it! We've spent the last few years driving and pricing and walking through open houses in areas that we've wanted to live... and we've always felt defeated with the price vs. the value/ size of the house. Most of our searches were in Bayview (just south of the city, right on Lake Michigan)... and most of the houses there are small bungalows, with a small alley garage (or no garage), in need of major repair--- and bordering our maximum $$ (meaning no cruises for the next 30 years). Then we also spent quite a bit of time circling the Wauwatosa neighborhoods (near our close friends), only to find higher prices ($200,000 +) and less yards. Many of the houses also have very compartmental living areas-- which doesn't really work for our giant furniture/ style.

So... that led us to this house! It was love at first sight! We drove by on New Year's Eve and put an offer in the next day! It has great potential-- it's the perfect house for our style and comfort. The best part about the house is the tall ceilings on the first floor-- with a large 'roomy' feeling. The house is in need of some repair/ updates--- new roof, new garage--- but to us, that's part of the fun of owning your first house! We've spent the past 7 years talking about all of the fun things we'd like to do-- once we have our OWN house--- and here's our chance!

Closing is set for Friday, February 2nd-- and the big move will be Saturday, February 3rd!

There's more info/ pictures of the house online... you can google the MLS #850063... I can't remember how to add a hyperlink to a blog posting??

Belly Butter...

I can only imagine how my latest purchase was invented-- mommy-to-be, alone in the kitchen, doing everything she can to avoid the 'flavor of the day' pint of ice cream in the freezer-- wondering how she can avoid any additional pressure on the stretch marks creeping around her bulging-baby-belly--- and then she sees it--- butter---

the rest is history---

The crazy thing is where the stretch marks come. It's not so much the lower belly where I can feel the hard 'egg' of Baby Brock-- but around my belly button! My belly button has actually stretched open-- I think I could actually hold a ping-pong ball in it if I tried!

Aside from 'stretching' a little-- Baby Brock (and mama) are doing wonderfully. I feel her moving regularly-- and if ever there is a lull, I simply slam some cold water or orange juice (and then she does a few flips to warm up)--- a little cruel I suppose, but I'm sure she'll get me back some day!

And yes-- it is not by accident that I am referring to Baby Brock as a 'she'-- we found out that we are having a girl! Right after our ultrasound appointment that said- 'girl'- Jason and I went to the nearest 'Babies R Us' and picked out our favorite 'girly' outfits-- and took our photo:



So all is well in mamaville-- I am nearing the 6 month mark-- about 23 weeks along! It's amazing how time has flown by! We are savoring every moment-- and can't wait until the moment when we meet the 'mini brock' eye-to-eye-- such a wonder to think what a mix of carie and jason will look/ be like-- children only inherit your best qualities, right?