33 Weeks - Update

A little more than 6 weeks left to go and I think my body is telling me it is time to chill... BUT there is still so much more left to do! I've had about 3-4 bad days in the last week where I'm just in pain, tired, or dehydrated. Is this what they mean when they say to rest up before the birth?
Anywho, got a lot done last week on the house. Had a Wednesday deadline to be ready for insulation which was pretty much met, then it was sprayed in on Thursday. That was interesting stuff. They came in and wrapped everything up in saran wrap that was not to be sprayed and then sprayed the foam in. It sealed up everything! Looks like puffy marshmellows. Then Saturday the sheetrock started to get hung. Even though there is a lot more to do we feel like we've made it over the hump.

32-1/2 Weeks - Pics of Madilyn

These were taken by Aunt Lisa.

8 days old.

31-1/2 Weeks - Presenting Miss Madilyn

Awwwe, isn't she cute!


Born 12/3/08 at 4:20p.m.
6 pounds 1 ounce


Where did that dark hair come from? I thought Jane and Jason were natural blondes?!


Hey Moodys, she reminds me of Rachel when she was born.

30-1/2 Weeks - Belly Shot

Last week, 29, proved to be quite a growth spurt for the lil rascal. All of a sudden instead of a bumps and pinches, it is now rolls of whole arms and legs being felt. Instead of waiting for baby to kick to feel a part I can now just put my hand on my belly and feel something sticking out. I'm sure I will grow to catch up. I can now also feel hiccups all the time, at least 3-4 times a day. Baby also likes to party all nite long sometimes keeping me up too. However, Joey told me I slept thru one of the episodes of activity - I was asleep with my belly was against his back and he said the baby was going to town riding his bicycle. Joey also got his first little high five last week. He put his hand on my belly during a "quite time" where the baby's arms are and wham, one very strong punch.

JANE UPDATE:
Well, I'm sad to say that I have lost my $5 bet on Jane delivering on Thanksgiving. (For those who don't know who that is, it is my my pregnant sister due on Joey's b-day, Dec 2nd.) The doctor told her she'd go a week early so we are in the red zone for sure. Maybe we can get a double b-day if she hits my nephew Maxey's b-day on the 29th or Joey's b-day on the 2nd.... Joey's cuz Sharon on the 1st or my brother Robert, our friends Janice and Heather on the 3rd. Madilyn only has a few days to pick a day where it is all her own!

29-1/2 Weeks - How are you feeling?

.... fat!
Can you grow out of your maternity clothes? I think I did! My 'goto' shirts are now too short which reveals the panel (ask Rachel) and the elastic on the lovely maternity pants are getting too tight! But, only 10-1/2 weeks to go! It really hit me at 12 weeks to go, I was OMG we are gona have a little kid in 12 weeks! Joey was like don't worry everything will get done! I was like it's not that... WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY IN 12 WEEKS! Yikes!

Joey's comment leads me into the house reno.... it is going well. (I add this kind of stuff because I get asked about it a lot, so there you go.) Of course, different things take longer than anticipated and we've blown our budget by 60%, but hey to be expected ???? right? Thank goodness for the hand-me-downs for my poor lil baby. Let's throw some thanks out to Mark Andrews, Chuckles, Jay, Clay, Eric, Tom, Cheryl, Issa and all the rest I may be forgeting due to my prego hores. For those of you that know Tom I think he got in the last of the demo and I think he really enjoyed it, a lot! It may have been a 3 shirt day for him!

Oh ya, the baby! What about the baby? Well, the last few nites at around 4 or 5am I've been feeling these kicks in the same spot at the same intervals. I think they are hicups.

28 Weeks - The Fair's in Town

28 Week Checkup
This is one of those benchmark appointments; we did a glucose test for gestational diabetes, I decided that it would be delicious to put chocolate chips on top on my whole wheat bagel... uummmm... oh no, the test! It came back ok, but my iron is low so now I gota take another pill. We met the last dr today, I told my baby knows how to pinch me, she thinks I'm crazy!

Well, the Fair has been in town for the last week. Since Joe is a carnie (really, he has a pass) we've been going just about every nite. Man, you guys missed some good shows. We saw Jason Michael Carroll and Phil Vassar, both were excellent and I am surprised it was not packed those nites. We also get to hang with our dear friends that do the Kachunga alligator show; Gil, David, and Bert.
This year they had a very special addition to the show, an albino alligator. There are less than 90 known in the world (or exactly 92 according to Gil); needless to say this valuable lil guy came along with the guys where ever they go like here to cook out at The Shed.

27-1/2 Weeks - Jane's Bebe Shower #2: at the Office

Nov 6th

Susan 27-1/2 Wks

Jane 36 Wks

2 month earlier

Sept 6th

26 Weeks - Jane's Bebe Shower

Here are some pics from Jane's Shower held at sis-in-law Cheryl's house.


(L-R) Jessica, Jane, Cheryl, Lisa

All my sister's except Cheryl.

Me and Jane... Lisa like to call us "The Belly Sisters"

Woops, Max (my oldest brother) came home while we were doing pictures, so we have all the 4 girls and 1 boy.

25-1/2 Weeks - Belly Shot

Woaw, grew a lot over the past month ehh?

25 Weeks - Is that... a stretch mark?!

.... or maybe I scratched myself. Ya! That's what I did, scratch myself. Yesterday I found a "scratch" on the left side of my belly. [Update: all the previous prego's I asked about this mysterious "scratch" say oh no you will definately know if it is a stretch mark... More to come.]

I'm feeling more baby head (or butt) and arm or leg rolls, and I think at times I can feel hiccups. My body has been completely taken over; nothing functions the way it used to (you mommies know what I'm talking about). And what's up with this acid reflux stuff!?! Gross! I think I've been getting into the uncomfortable stage.... I know, it only gets worse from here. Getting a little more tired lately, I mean whole days just fly by and that nite I'm like what did I do today? Need to exercise so if anyone knows of a heated pool or needs a walking buddy please come drag my hinny out of the house! Seriously!

Well, sorry I haven't seen or spoken to anyone lately, we have been extrememly busy at the house. Joey has completely gutted the kitchen - gone. Torn down the walls between the kitchen and living room, pulled off the sheetrock and insulation in the kitchen, living room, and dining room, tore out the closet in the carport and is now in process of building up the floor and framing in a laundry room. Everyone and their brother that wanted to take a sledge hammer to the walls; sorry, you missed your chance. We called, no one answered except for Robby Bateh. He bagged up all the 'stuff' drywall and insulation which was quite a job, so far about 90+ bags... and they are heavy (Joey had to bribe the garbage guys to take off so many). It has been interesting so far as we have found some oddities on how the house was built and some extra doors and walls and it makes you wonder how the house was before. The buildout of the laundry and floor have been like putting a puzzle together trying to match up new and old and Joe's dad Ed has been a tremendous help with that. Let us also thank Joe's cuz Mike for structure, layout, and design advise and drawings. Also special thanks to Joe's mama for bringing over dinner all those nites. Still a lot of work ahead, but boy does it feel great to finally get started! I never knew I would love to live in dust, dirt, clutter, and chaos while pregnant! Seriously, if you saw what was on top of the old cabinets you would like it how it is now better!

On a sad note, I missed Biketober Fest last weekend.... I know I would have fit in quite well with that crowd (pregnant chick on the back of a bike), but I just didn't want everyone to know how much of a redneck I am......

22-1/2 Weeks - Don't eat the last brownie!!!!

Or this might happen!

Sunday (Uncle Stevie's) birthday marks the start of the symphony of destruction! Place your bets on if it'll be down before baby arrives! We've been really busy the last few days mainly with house stuff; on one end - destruction, on the other - 'lining the nest' shopping and buying furniture (for us, we still do not have bedroom funiture. Our matress is on the floor and I use an aquarium for a night stand - it makes me crazy!) it'll be here in 2 weeks so I need to get a very large area rug and paint those walls.

We also celebrated our 2 year anniversary! Just think, 2 years ago we were in Costa flying thru forests drinking Caprihnia's!

The baby has been trying out new tricks, (s)he now knows how to tap dance and has found how

to kick my bladder....now on to the TMI section of our post: I swear it felt like thumping on a water balloon inside my belly, weird.

Mama getting a little more tired and somewhat short tempered lately (you may have noticed in my previous posts).

21-1/2 Weeks - Belly Shot

My freak of nature belly seemed to have doubled in size over the weekend... at least that is what a fellow here at work told me... thanks, I didn't notice, I was wondering why I tried on 4 shirts this morning and they were too tight. Joey also was laughing histerically as I was sitting up rubbing my belly Sunday in the truck and saying look how big it got! I'm starting my list.... my pellet rifle has a scope. Speaking of rifles, our new friend - the white pigeon - was murdered Monday by a hawk! Hope the neighbors don't mind shotgun noise cuz any hawk I see is going down! The hors are moning!!!!!

Baby has been very active in the last week or so, sometimes moving for up to an hour. I think I felt a whole arm or leg the other day - freaky!

19-1/2 Weeks Dr. Appt & Ultrasound

Shhh, baby sleeping. The ultrasound today was not as eventfull as the last. Here you can see the hand over one eye making it look like a telescope or something, also some chewing action - that is about it.

Today was off-visit. On the list of scheduled appointments I had anticipated this to be a more exciting one because we get to 'see' the baby! ...well, it fell short of my expectations. whaa whaa
Every aspect from the wait to interactions with people left me with a "what the heck" feeling. Anywho, enough of that, we'll chalk it up to a bad visit.
Baby was sleeping, so we didn't see a show like last time. Got some "alien baby" pics, that's about it (these are face shots, not the cute side shots). The tech said again, "good looking baby," how can she tell? I know, I know it's all about the measurements and such they are looking at, not my need to put a cute picture in a frame! She measured the head (not too big and not too small), the thigh bone, and tummy. All normal and good, horay! On to the doctor, we met a new one today. She measured the "baby's home" and it is up to my belly button now and his/her heatbeat is 144 beats per minute. I expressed my complains of left side pelvic pain from standing, tailbone pain from sitting, and my hands and feet falling asleep at nite - she said I must drink more water... does beer count?

19 Weeks - Belly Sisters

2 Moody sisters prego at the same time....weird.

Jane at 28 weeks

Susan at 19 weeks

18-1/2 Weeks - Make Momma Cry

Ok, today is make momma laugh until she cries day..... Jane sent me this email titled "weird parenting site" I open it and it is a blog about "... parents who are better than you. It celebrates the art (and irony) of extravagant child-rearing. Sure, every parent loves their children. Some just love them a little more, and are willing to spend implausible sums to prove this to you. They are… The Best Parent Ever."
http://bestparentever.com/
Check it out, I laughed so hard I was sobbing. It is very funny to me probably because I've been looking at a lot of the items that this site dogs on.


And for those that know the preacher at my work.... he told me today that if I keep drinking coffee my baby will come out black.... I didn't know such things happened.

18 Weeks - Belly Shot

Many have asked for "belly shots." I told them I wasn't allowed to drink shots right now.....


So for those who want them I will try to post some every now and then. Hope you don't get too grossed out!

17 Weeks - Tropical Storm Fay - 1st KICK!

Well, Fay knocked out our power for 36 hours, blew my pool float out of the pool, and flooded our basement ...BUT, I felt the baby kickin' for the first time!

Sitting at work Thursday preparing for the storm and -- thud. I thought hmmm that felt different, then again Friday laying in bed a lot more thuds... maybe baby was dancing? Ya, all this stuff about it feels like butterflies.... uh feels like someone flicking with a finger from the inside, ewe. They are fast and quick, no flutters for me yet.

Momma getting noticably bigger.... Joey told me I looked 6 months pregnant, he is still alive. Probably because I am really mellow these days.

15-1/2 Weeks - Back from St. John USVI

Just returned from our trip to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands (there for week 14) for our friends' wedding Jaime Warfle and Matt Eaton. Beautiful place! We had a great time and met many wonderful people. We did a lot of snorkeling and island/bar hopping. Baby had to reel me back a couple times I think cuz I was diving too deep (my tummy would start to cramp so I stopped doing that), but lots of stuff to check out. Many of my fellow travelers were sure to tell me everyday that I was growing (probably cuz I had no clothes on most of the time [bathing suits], also a new friend we met that lives there told me he could tell I grew, and a shirt I brought that fit me the day I left Jax did not fit me a week later... bummer.

Check out some pics:
http://mattandjaimeswedding.shutterfly.com/


Went to the Dr. yesterday, listened to the heartbeat - cool, previous test results good, and they sucked a little more blood from me. No u/s... what the hay?! I thought they liked giving them to me! Ha, I'll just get Kristy to do then! Oh, and I've officially gained 3 lbs.... how bout that for a Porkchop, Donny?

Mommy (that's me) has been feeling a little $)!ty these last few days..... major headaches and growing pains.... I swear they are contractions, but the Dr. assures me they are 'stretching'. Well, it feels like a bowling ball in a certain area!

13-1/2 Weeks Ultrasound

The video is mostly of the baby facing down in a crawling possition. Head on left, butt on right. Towards the beginning you will see the baby face you (looks like an alien) then quickly turn away. You'll also see arms, butt, and a little bit of legs tucked underneath. You will hear us refer to the baby as a girl..... we do not know which it is, however the tech was guessing girl due to the nonstop movement.

This is a retake of last week's ultrasound. The Dr's office scheduled me with the wrong stenographer, so we had to retake with the one who was certified to do this particular test.

The baby was surely showing "Joey" traits today. Very active, and a little stuborn. It took us an hour and a half, 2 times looking, and every way to do an ultrasound to get the measurement the tech needed. The 1st time looking the baby would not give us a profile shot for her to take her measurement, so she asked us to hang out for a while and then we will try again. The 2nd time the kid just wouldn't stop moving and kept rolling around. Finally, an excellent profile shot, she goes to measurement and ...whooop... the baby flipped completely over. Guess I should lay off the coffee???....

12-3/4 Weeks Ultrasound

This is the ultrasound taken at the 11-14 week to measure the nuchal fold.... ya, I said that too.... it is a measurement of the clear space in the tissue at the back of the neck - normal.

Alright, enuff of the techy stuff...


The tech said the baby had a cute face...













We got to see the baby moving around! S/he likes to stick their arms over their head (like mama sleeps) and seemed to be bouncing or scooting when stretching the legs. Looking at these pictures I think the baby's arms are around the head. It was really cool. I was crying and laughing so much that I was bouncing the screen around. I had to chill.







Can you see that foot!?












S/he is 6cm tall.
Grown 2 cm in 2-1/2 weeks.

12 Weeks - Jane's Hitchin'

"Ma & Pa to Be" at The Ritz-Carlton all gussied up for Jane's wedding.

Ya, ummm my mom told me that I looked "very pregnant in that dress".... uh, thanks mom.

10-1/2 Weeks Ultrasound

Ok.... I think I see a head? Maybe this kid does not like to have his/her pic taken, but it's neat to have all the pics I can get my hands on of the little one. The doc was just taking a quick peek. Before we knew it she was done. I asked for a picture, so she did it again - 2 in 1 day!

Back in 2 weeks for another u/s.

Today was the 'Big Appointment' where they map out the next 7 months; how often to come in, what your insurance covers, what you can't eat (sushi), what ya can't do (scuba), what tests they will perform (a lot) and how often they will suck blood from ya (uhhh, like everytime! - 6 viles today - almost passed out and threw up, boy were people moving around fast! They gave me grape juice, it tasted like wine.)

10 Weeks - 4th of July

This is the first pic of myself where I thought I looked wide.

That's not a beer belly!

7-1/2 Week Ultrasound

Ok, what we have here is the confirming ultrasound taken Wednesday June 18th. Although we could not make out the form of the babe, we saw the heartbeat!

Joey said "is it suposed to be that fast?!" Then the Dr. had to explain to him that it was normal.

Uh Oh

We realized I was pregnant May 15th. I remember that because it was the day after Joey wrecked his truck. I was really nutty that day. I had an overwhelming feeling of anger toward him instead of feeling thankful he was alive! Wacky! Joey kept saying "what is wrong with you?!" I was also achy in places I should not be at that time and was dizzy. Took a test the first possible day I could on the 20th and there were the 2 lines.