The Big Remodel

To add to the changes happening in our lives Barry and I decided that now would be a great time to start the bathroom remodel we have been talking about for the last two years. Hmmm smart to get it done now or really really unsmart?!? We shall see. So far we have the walls (except for the shower that we are leaving alone) down to the studs. Let me rephrase that, the studs and the insulation. Which keeps falling down... One of Barry's friends is coming to help with the electrical and my parents are coming up to help with the dry walling. Then it's tiling and the installation of the vanity and toilet. Should be an adventure!

On baby news, we had another ultrasound and the baby is doing well. And is still a boy. He was weighing 11 oz. (or as Barry says, almost a can of soda) which is a little ahead of schedule. Maybe the baby will show up more towards the first week of January instead of the second!

Nesting?

Last week I cleaned my kitchen floor with a toothbrush. During the process I asked myself two things: 1. Is this what "nesting" is? 2. I need to purchase this brand of toothbrush again because it is getting into all the little nooks of the tile and grout!

After a couple weeks into the second trimester I started feeling so much better. I am relieved to say that I barely remember what it felt like to be nauseous all day every day. I have a lot of energy and thus the nesting. I am excited to get the baby's room set up and feel like we can do a lot more now that we know our baby is a boy!

It's A...

BOY!! Barry and I had an Ultrasound on Friday that revealed our little baby is a boy. We are both really excited, probably more that we are learning more about our child than what's it's gender actually is. We would have been happy with either (just not both, that would have been too complicated). Our ultrasound tech was fabulous. We spent 45 minutes looking at the baby and along the way she pointed out and measured things and told us each part was normal and developing well. We watched the 4 chambers of the heart pump blood, saw a partially full bladder and knew the digestive system was working, saw little kidneys, and looked at the brain and spinal cord. Even though I have been tracking what develops when in my books I was amazed to see this little being with all it's working parts! We are so excited to find out more about the baby...Barry predicts blond hair and blue eyes (him at a young age) while I am thinking brown hair brown eyes (typical of my side of the family).

The purpose of the ultrasound was to give a due date but we didn't get an answer on if that is changing or not. We won't find out until my next appt on August 20th (which will include the typical 20 week ultrasound :)

The Speed of Life

Today and yesterday I was struck with the speed of life moving on. On Wednesday we were all struck by the bridge collapse and today television is back to it's normal programming and it's life as usual. I know it's the natural progression of things and people must return to a state of normal. But, my heart also breaks for those who will never know the same normal again. Barry's co-working is one of the 8 still missing, assumed to be trapped in the river. I am focused with thoughts of his wife and family who will never again see their loved one on this earth. I pray for them and for all of Minneapolis to turn to God in this time of sorrow, but I am having a hard time doing that myself. I also have a lot of anger towards those who decided the money didn't need to be allocated for bridge repair at this time. I just hope and pray that precautions will be put in place so this never happens again. But it still doesn't change the fate of the 100's affected by this catastrophe.

And yet, I too find myself moving on back to life as usual as Barry and I prepare for an ultrasound later today. Mixed in with the thoughts of lives lost are thoughts of the little life growing inside of me. Today we may be able to know if it's a girl or a boy...