It's mah due date!

Wednesday March 14th - my estimated delivery date!

Nothing yet - but Miss Parker is jammin' around in my belly right now.  I am wrapping up work this morning, doing my best not to leave any loose ends for my colleagues, and then taking care of some last minute things around the house before heading to the doctor at 1 pm.

I'll update you on any progress! 

I'd post a picture, but I really look the same...huge and puffy!

XOXO wish me luck!

It's almost time!

We are doing a serious countdown now...the official due date is this coming Wednesday, March 14th.  I keep getting bigger and bigger and bigger...and more and more uncomfortable.  Still pretty puffy and I'm looking forward to that going away.  My belly isn't the only thing that's big right now!!  Check out those swollen hands...

Livin' Large

At the doctor's visit last week, we were told that Miss Parker is officially gearing up to get out, and my body is cooperating.  This is all good news!  If everything goes right, she should come screaming into our lives before the weekend.  If she waits an extra day - then she has a pretty good chance of being born on St. Patrick's Day!  That could be fun to have a shamrock baby!

As we get so close, I think about how much has changed over the last nine months, and how much I appreciate the support and love of my husband, friends and family.  I could not have made it through all this without everyone cheering me on.  I've had a fairly easy pregnancy compared to some of the other stores I have heard and am so lucky.  For the most part I have felt great, and have only had a few minor hiccups to deal with.  It's even been fun at times.

That being said, there are a few things that I am going to be looking forward to after this is all over.  These are, in no particular order:

• SHOES
• Wearing my wedding ring (I still check the spot where I have been keeping it every few days to make sure it's still there!)
• Non-maternity clothes (okay, I know it will be awhile, but I'm still excited)
• Ankles
• Being able to put shoes on and get dressed/perform everyday activities without grunting, groaning and getting out of breath
• Not having to go to the bathroom every ten minutes

I will miss being able to feel her move around inside of me.  It's incredible.

We're so excited for Parker to enter the world...to see whose eyes, ears and nose she has.  To see her tiny fingers and toes...as I speak she's pushing down trying to claw her way out into the real world.

We will keep everyone posted as things progress.  I'm pretty tired and my arthritis is acting up in my hands, so I am going to have to cut this one short.  

Getting closer every day! 35 weeks...

So I know it's been awhile since I've updated...we've had a lot going on!

Of course, as you know, Paul made it to CO safe and sound.  We're in the process of getting the house set up and everything unpacked...and by we...I really mean Paul.  Being eight months pregnant doesn't really allow me to do much unpacking.  I try to do a box here and a box there, but Paul has done 99% of all the work to get the house ready.  And I am so grateful!

Parker's room is just about finished.  We are still waiting for the rocking chair to get here.  With everything going on, we didn't get around to ordering it until last Friday.  They said it takes 4-6 weeks to arrive, and Miss Parker's debut (at the time) was 6 weeks away.  I guess we're cutting it a bit close, but oh well!  Here's her room:

Miss Parker's room!

We have a lamb theme going on here...her sheets have lambs on them, she has a lamb mobile, a lamb lamp, and lots of other lamb-related things.  There are also a few things in here that belonged to Paul and I when we were kids including Paul's train set, my original Dr. Seuss books and stuffed animals (including my Paddington Bear - with hat!!).  The "creepy piano" (as Paul calls it) is in the corner back there.  That was mine as a kid as well.  

As for me, I'm getting bigger every day.  We haven't been taking as many pictures because, well, for that exact reason.  But, here is me and my belly, at just about 35 weeks:

I have been feeling pretty good for the most part, but if I'm on my feet at all, my ankles tend to...well...disappear.  It's rather disturbing, but completely normal of course!

Have to hit the sack - big day tomorrow as one of my greatest friends is getting married.  I am so excited for her but we have a lot to do so I'd better get rested up.  I'll post more pictures (including pictures from the baby shower) when I have more time.

Our little family has (almost) landed!

Well, it has been a whirlwind over the last few weeks. Paul frantically packed up the house, I finished my stint at Merrill Lynch, and started my new (old) job at OppenheimerFunds. Well, I don't know if I have really started...I just went in yesterday so I could make an appearance before year-end for administrative purposes. Since I technically started before year-end, they are reinstating my benefits and granting me maternity leave when Miss Parker arrives in January. What a blessing. I mean, let's be realistic here. Who hires a woman who is seven months pregnant? I suppose after a rough time this year, our family deserved a break.

Paul really had his work cut out for him. Because of the pregnancy, I have been really limited as to what I can do to help him pack up the house. As my belly has been growing substantially, bending, turning, tying my shoes,picking things up...these have all become more difficult. And as Parker grows, she is taking up more space in my abdomen, leaving less room for things like my stomach,my lungs, etc. So I get out of breath quite easily.

But back to my original point, Paul deserves a freaking medal for pretty much packing up the whole PA house and loading it into two PODS. All I did was pack up my shoes (VERY important) and a few things here snd there around the house. He is currently driving across the country, towing the Mini Cooper with the dog and two cats in the truck. I do not envy him and am so grateful for his willingness to get shit done.

Doesn't this look like the exact opposite of fun?
What a hot mess.

He will arrive on New Year's Day - what a great way to start off 2012!

Since my spoiled self just had to get on an airplane and fly back to Colorado...I have had the past couple of days to spend with friends and family. Below is a picture of me and Jes finally accomplishing the "Belly Bump" that we have been talking about for the past six months or so.

Belly bump!!

So while we wait for Paul and our household items to arrive (PODS get here on the 12th), I am getting to spend some much-needed time with friends and family.  I stay with my parents on the weekend, and with Matt and Jes during the week, since it's much closer to my work.  Lucky Matt and Paul - two pregnant ladies under the same roof!

Mumsie and Dad get a kick out of how active Parker is...sometimes my Dad just looks at my belly and laughs.  It is pretty comical - I am really starting to look ridiculous!!

But it's great to be back.  When I flew in, I of course had to take an aisle seat...and the people next to me slept with the window closed the whole way, so I wasn't able to see the scenery below until we started our approach into Denver.  They opened the shade, I saw the mountains and downtown Denver and started crying once I realized that I didn't have to leave again in a few days.  I was a pregnant mess. :)  But a happy mess, which I think is totally acceptable.

THEN - I saw an old friend on my way home from work the other day...when you're away you really forget what a large mountain Pikes Peak is.  And not just tall, (14,110 ft for my friends outside of Colorado,) but it's also one of the largest in terms of land mass.  It's just freaking huge.  And gorgeous with the snow on it.  *sigh*

So once Paul gets here, I'll feel a little more settled.  I already have a doctor here, and I'll see her on Tuesday to make sure Parker is still on track.  Also - it's super exciting that I will be having her at Sky Ridge hospital. It's a really nice hospital, close to home, and there's a chance that Jes and I could have our girls at the same time! Wouldn't that just be cool??

Parker is going to be a Colorado native!!

It's official - we're packing up and moving back to Colorado!  Well, let me rephrase that.  I'm getting on an airplane December 28th and Paul will be packing up and moving us back to Colorado shortly thereafter.

It's been a long day today, and I'm pretty tired - but here's the quick version of the update.  On Friday, I got a job offer from OppenheimerFunds, I accepted, and today I resigned from my job at Merrill Lynch.  My last day there is the 23rd.  I start at Oppenheimer on the 30th.  Why start on the last business day of the year?  Well, without getting into too much detail, it has to do with health benefits, vacation and maternity leave.  It just made sense for me to start in 2011.

Between now and then, Paul is furiously packing away, the cats are stressing out, and I'm going to do what little my pregnant self can to help.

More details and posts to come...a lot has gone down in the past few days (all good things!!) and I'm just really tired and Parker and I need to rest.


And if anyone is keeping track, this is three moves in just over two years.  :)

Parker's first Thanksgiving...well...sort of.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends old and new...and family near and far.  Well, mostly far. :)

It's been a really fun day.  Kelly joined us for Thanksgiving this year, and showed me how to make my mother's stuffing.  Isn't it a crime that a close friend had to show me how to make the stuffing?   Here's a picture of it before cooking, doesn't it look amazing?

Mumsie's amazing stuffing! Brought to you by Kelly Edwards.

So the bird is in the oven, loaded with herbed butter under the skin. Cookies are made, pies were baked yesterday...so all that's left is to make the corn pudding and mashed potatoes.  SWEET.

I almost died laughing when I turned around and Paul was standing here with a "please make us martinis" look on his face!

Pretty please?

The men enjoying their afternoon martinis and snacks.

Right now I am sitting here wondering...is it inappropriate to have pie as an appetizer??

Kelly bought us a really nice bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue for Thanksgiving.  Paul isn't a scotch person, but he's really enjoying it too.  However, it could be the two martinis he had first...

Busting out the Blue

Rhyme has been drooling since I put the turkey in the oven this morning.  Once I took it out, I had his undivided attention.

Carving away!  The belly did push the roasting pan at one point.  It was pretty funny

Is any of that for me? It is my Birthday, after all.

Quite the spread!!  Charlie was eyeing the dinner.

And of course, after dinner...the animals had to have their plate.  Since today is also Rhymes birthday, Paul made him an extra special plate, with lots of gravy.

Rhyme waiting patiently

The animal chef at work.

And now, it's time for a well-deserved nap.  And then pie.  Maybe two slices of pie.  Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving.  And, in case you were wondering...Parker loves Turkey.  She was dancing around in excitement and is now experiencing her first food coma.

Yep. That's a pregant belly.

There's a baby girl in there!

So I'm just about 23 weeks (that's a little over 5 months now) and it's pretty clear that there's a baby on board. 

She's starting to become pretty active these days. She loves to headbutt my bladder on a regular basis, especially when I'm at work...usually on a conference call or on the phone with a client. Pretty much when it's most inconvenient. She also loves to wiggle around when I settle into bed for the night.  Since her inner ear is developing, it's probably because she senses the shift in my position and is getting comfortable herself. Paul can feel her kick, and the other morning she kicked me so hard that I saw my stomach move.  It was kind of creepy. But really cool.

Been trying to stay active, but I'm just so freaking tired this week.  We did go to our neighbors' wedding last weekend and had a blast.  Was so much fun, even being the DD! In between the ceremony and the reception, we hit up the bar. Naturally.

Smile!  You have a designated driver!

As my belly grows, I'm dealing with the usual stuff...round ligament pain (NOT FUN), bloating, back pain, general crankiness.  But, all things considered I am still very healthy and lucky to be feeling as good as I do.  Sometimes when I start complaining about back pain and stuff, I feel like a real asshole because there are so many women out there who would do anything to be pregnant...

If you've read this far - WOW.

For those of you who haven't heard, we have decided to name our daughter Parker Morgan.  Morgan is Mumsie's maiden name...and Parker was just kind of pulled out of thin air. Needless to say, Mumsie was really excited that we chose Morgan as a middle name.  She'd been hinting, sometimes subtly, sometimes not, that we should name the baby after her in some way.  What she didn't know, is that we had that picked out long before she decided to drop a hint. ;)

Okay.  I'm really tired.  We had a big night - it's Paul's birthday so we went out for Hibachi at Kome Steak House...it was delicious.  I am not looking forward to the soy-induced bloating in the morning.  Guess it's time to go fill my water glass...

Until next time - wish us and little Parker well!!