Week 22 - The daycare search.

As much as I've been dreading this process of finding the right daycare, I have to say it's been pretty uplifting and has made me realize once more how much Eric and I have in common and what a good parenting team I think we'll make.   We have the same instincts, the same sense of humor, and the same values.  We've realized two sets of eyes are better than one, and there is really nothing we've not seen eye-to-eye on.  We've really enjoyed exploring this whole new chapter in our marriage and I can already see many happy days ahead.

SO, we looked at three group centers around the area, some closer to work, some closer to home.  We also looked at one in-home daycare.  All of these came on recommendation of excellent parents and friends in town.  I think that's one of the reasons we have had such a good experience.  We didn't waste our time on places that didn't have a shining reputation.  Of course, some of the places we've attempted to look at have waiting lists, so we're not spending time looking at those.  One place even got snatched up in the week that I've set up all the appointments. 

We are down to two options, both group daycares, one is closer to our house, one is closer to work for both of us.  Both made us feel very comfortable, we had a good rapport with the people, and they both answered our list of questions (only 2 dozen or so) with good responses! 

So, our plan is to sleep on it, and make one final visit to the one we didn't see "in action" at the time we were there.  We should have a decision by Friday, which is a full month before when I had set as a goal to have this done!  Hurray!!

Since there are really no visuals to go with this post, I'm including one picture.  The first bloom in our newly landscaped area on the side of the house!  I planted all kinds of tulips, allium, daffodils and other bulbs this fall and when we got home tonight, the first bloom had opened.  The first sign of SPRING!!  Hurray!!!  (And no sign of fresh cat poo!)

21 Weeks and the Results are IN! GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eric and I went for my ultrasound today, where after much breath-holding and squinting and tilting our heads, the technician revealed that we are, in fact, having a GIRL!!!

I cannot tell you the anticipation I had going into this appointment.  Tossing and turning all night, antsy at work, not able to concentrate on anything but the minutes counting down... it was like I was 10 all over again and I was waiting to see what Santa had left me under the tree.  Times a thousand.

Needless to say, Eric and I shared immediate tears of joy and lots of hand squeezing and hugging.  And I think I have turned to Eric about a hundred times since the appointment and said "Can you believe we're having a GIRL?"  We went to Trostel's Dish over by the doctors office for a celebratory lunch complete with cheesecake for dessert.  Eric insisted that this was a celebration, and required such extravagances, and you only find out the gender of your firstborn once!  So talk ensued about names, about how we'd better start saving for her wedding now, and how Eric appears to already be wrapped around her little finger.

The baby was stubborn (again) despite me downing a Pepsi and cookie on the way over to get her moving, and Eric said "she's just shy".  The doctor made a joke about seeing just how "shy" she is when we have our first Target meltdown.  So we get to go back in 6 more weeks to see her again so they can complete the measurements she simply would not share with us.  But I agreed she was in a very ladylike position, which is to say her ankles were crossed.  (Fairly common fetal position but I couldn't get enough.)

So, who do you think she looks like?

 And for good measure, and because we are not showing our unborn child's genitalia on a blog, (sorry, you can see it in person if you ask really nice), here we have a foot. 

20 Weeks - HALFWAY DAY!!!

Well the pregnancy is halfway over - can you believe it???  I am definitely in maternity clothes now!  I'm still not a super obvious preggo, but I'm working on it!  I feel like it really is the luck of the Irish that I'm 20 weeks on this special week of St. Pattys. 

So, I went to Gap Maternity to return a top that had a small hole in it and I came out with two WAY cuter tops!  Just so happens that the mall has a genius location for the giant cookie shop - just outside the pregnant lady store!  Well how about that?  You guessed it, I bought a massive shamrock cookie and took it to work that afternoon, practically skipping with glee out of the mall.  You'll never guess who begged me to save him some and bring it home... none other than my very own cookie monster!  (And yes, that is his potential Halloween costume this year.)

We also went to Jill's for an authentic Irish meal of corned beef and cabbage, which was delicious as always!  Jody brought one of my faves - Reuben dip.  The baby likie.

Now it's a 1 week countdown to find out - boy or girl?  I'm going to try and get a poll going on this thing - hopefully it works!

Week 19 - White Party!

Well, no news on the pregnancy front, so I thought I'd share a few photos from our White Party!  Saturday night we welcomed friends over to come see our new living room, and in an effort to keep our floors and furniture stain-free, we made it a white wine only party, complete with white food, drinks, and outfits!  Yay for themes!  Luckily for Eric, this has distracted me temporarily from all things baby.  :)

Week 18: The bump emerges - in Florida!

Well it could have been all the good eating or possibly the fact that I was in a lot of waist-free dresses that let it all expand as needed, but I really think I've got a bump!  (Yes, I may be slightly pushing it out, but hey I'm a Frost at heart, exaggerating is in our nature.)  That and I also think I have felt a few "flutters" along with some pressure in the belly region.  Could have also been the flight, which I have decided Baby Morse did not enjoy, unfortunately. 

The trip to Florida was primarily for work, where I attended the Commodity Classic tradeshow and worked our company's booth.  I'll spare you those highly exciting photos and overview.  Eric went out and played while I was hard at work, so to even things out, we spent a few days doing what pregnant ladies do best - lying with our feet up, concentrating on as close to nothing as possible while listening to the waves crash against the shore.  We managed to do pretty well in Clearwater Beach.

So, here's me showing off my fabulous new "curve" at the beach!  It just so happens there were TONS of pregnant ladies at our same hotel, which was kind of in a quieter location, off the main drag.

Here was our view pretty much every day.  Yes, we sprung for the cabanas and chairs two days out of three - I discovered quickly that lying on the sand doesn't do a lot for back support.  Also something different about this trip was that we didn't lay out at the pool at all.  Too loud and morning chair snatching was pretty competitive.  So we opted for front row seats to the saltwater.  Seemed to drown out any loud kids, drunk ladies, and teenagers on their cell phones blabbing about what the latest Facebook drama is.  Don't worry, there was a lady from our hotel that came by periodically with her drink truck to sell Eric beer and me ice for my water.  Yes, it was a perfect indulgence.

And of course, we had to at least have one big outing and do a sunset cruise on a giant sailboat our last night in Clearwater!  (Note, my hair is obviously blowing around furiously - I haven't completely given up on making an effort to look good -- yet!)