meet my friend progesterone

Back at 6 weeks. 

Back at 11 weeks (although this picture was taken at 9pm rather than 9am ... stomachs look quite different after 3 meals and 4 snacks and 94 ounces of water. Just fyi).

Back at 13 weeks. 

Yesterday.

I am currently 16 weeks pregnant.
My babe is the size of an avocado.
Does that look like an avocado to you?!

I think I'm having twins.
My doctor thinks I'm having "freakishly high levels of progesterone".
But what do doctors know ...

P.S. I know I skipped about nine weeks in there and I know random bathroom photos could always be better, but this is the best I can do. Dan's really not a huge fan of taking pictures of me (he's so different than most other guys, huh?) and I kind of want to keep him around since I'm having his baby and all. And Sherman still refuses to learn how to use a Canon T2i. Oh but don't worry, we only have about five more months of self portrait bathroom bump pics to get through. Plus now you know where I pee every day at work.

country livin'

Although Dan and I currently live in the city, we both adore the country and our dream is to own some land one of these days. I grew up swimming in muddy creeks (pronounced "cricks"), playing with frogs and turtles and attaching leeches to my skin for fun. Yes, for fun. I built forts and climbed trees and dug in the dirt and mud and had more ticks in my hair than any little girl should ever have. 

And although I still love going out to the country every now and then, I will be the first to admit that I've become quite the baby. I now shriek when I run through a spiderweb and I'd prefer not to have snakes slither across my shiny Hunter boots. Frogs and turtles are okay, but I really just prefer dogs now. :)

However ... I will say that seeing Sherman run up the hills and around the trees and through the water makes my heart ache to be out in the country again. Watching the kids use their imagination outside (outside!) to build forts and castles and make branches and rocks come to life is the best thing ever. To wade through muddy water and breathe in that country air ... it truly makes me want to move out to the country tomorrow. But for now I must go to bed so that I can wake up early and take yet another extra long, extra hot shower to make sure there are no ticks on me. Ewwww. ;)

A very happy {belated} Mother's Day to all the amazing moms out there!

And a very special thanks to my mom for a fun weekend out in the country. That and about 22 million other things. I love you mom! 

best reaction ever

Ok, so your reactions to my recent news were kind of awesome. Seriously brought tears to my eyes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your sweet comments. And although I can't seem to find the time or energy to type up 90 emails, please know that I want to. I want to quit work and not sleep and literally write you all back and make sure you know how much I appreciate each and every comment. And I read every single one of them. Twice.
Ok, fine. Three times.

But, as much as I loved your reactions, I have to tell you that you are still tied (it was close) for "the best reaction ever". You can't blame me. Just look at my sweet nephew's face up there! When Jack pulled out his "I'm going to be a big cousin" shirt from his Easter basket when he came to visit last month, it was seriously the highlight of his life. I'm kidding. He was just laughing because I was poking him in the belly. BUT, I still think he's pretty psyched to be a big cousin.

Oh Jack. 

You make me laugh. 

Happy Friday everyone!

Get ready for some serious baby talk next week.

And somewhere between 4 and 44 ridiculous self portrait bump pics.

Or ... maybe I'll just blog about Sherman. :)

nine years later ...

And I'm not talking about the length between my blog posts now-a-days, although the same could be said. :) So the last time I wrote I was celebrating the fact that Dan and I have been "together" for nine years. And what an awesome nine years it has been. We graduated from college and grad school, we traveled to Mexico six times (and yet my Spanish vocabulary still only consists of about three words, two of which are vino and cerveza), Hawaii, Turks & Caicos, Honduras, Vegas, Chicago too many times to count, Colorado just as many times as Chicago; we've been snow skiing, water skiing, skydiving and scuba diving. We got engaged and even followed through with getting married. ;) We bought a house, we renovated a house, oh and we got the dog of our dreams.

And now ... nine years later ...

It's finally time!  

We are so happy to announce that we are expecting our first baby (second "kid"- can't forget the Sherm dog) in early November! Or October. Whenever the babe decides to show up. Due date is November 4th, so my guess is Halloween. I can't sleep at night because I'm so gosh darn excited. Or maybe that's because they make you sleep on your left side and I am a right side sleeper. Oh the horror! But honestly, we could not be happier and I am just over the moon about being pregnant. I'm also over the moon about getting to eat for two. Whoever said you only need 300 additional calories a day was clearly never pregnant. ;)

a dating anniversary

I know having dating anniversaries is kind of cheating, but here's the thing.
I've been doing Dan's laundry for seven years.

And he's been cooking for me for eight.

And even though we've only been married for two ...
I've loved him for nine.

So here's to you, Dan the man.
Nine years down and another whole bunch more to go.
Thanks for making me the happiest girl in the world.
And for cooking me those 2,920 delicious dinners.
Maybe one day I'll cook you one.

a few from the weekend

I think he likes me better when I don't blog.

And with that said (even though I didn't really say anything) ... for a girl who loves fall and winter and cold weather, I think I could get used to this 70 degree stuff. 

Just not sure Sherman agrees.

signs of spring

Kansas can't seem to quite make up it's mind (what's new) ...

But we're pretty sure it's Spring. 

happy friday. 

happy weekend!