Good Report!

Another doctor appointment down, another good report! I have been having some pretty good swelling in my ankles so they wanted to make sure I had no other symptoms of Pre-Eclampsia, which I don’t, but he did say the swelling probably won’t go away anytime soon, like, until she gets here. Awesome. I love not having ankles. But- if that is the only rough part I am very lucky. I will again say how very lucky and blessed we have been to have had a complication free pregnancy and a very healthy girl so far. We will keep praying for that for the remainder of this journey.  I have gotten a few comments over the last day or two about my growing belly, so I guess that means she is getting bigger. We have another appointment in 3 weeks, and then the appointments start happening every 2 weeks, with the first of them being an ultrasound!! (at 34 weeks.) The due date is drawing nearer! Some days it feels like it will never get here and some days it feels like it is flying by. We still have the CPR class and the parenting preperation class- (sort of like Lamaze) so we have plenty still going to keep us busy!!

In the meantime, Brian just got home from a guys weekend at the Gorge. It was good for him to get out and spend some boy time, drinking, fire building, hamburger cooking, scratching, and spitting. They picked one of the coldest weekends to date but he said they had a good time anyway. I think he realized he can’t drink like he used to but I think a good time was had by all. It was nice to have some quiet time here but I missed him being home. It was a lot quieter even though he isn’t a loud person.

We’re in the dead of winter now, jsut staying inside and riding it out. I would be okay if the Spring showed up now.

2/3 the way!!

Beginning tomorrow, Monday 1-24-10, I will be starting my third trimester!! I am so excited to only have 12 weeks left to go! I don’t know that I am going to miss being pregnant. The only thing I am going to miss is feeling her move around. I get such a kick out of feeling her roll around in there. BUT- the swelling, mood swings, side sleeping, more easily fatigued, back pain, frequent potty trips and indigestion can all hit the road!! The reward will far exceed the price paid, and come May, I’m pretty sure that this pregnancy thing will be a faint spot in my memory. These last 12 weeks will probably go by so quickly! We have classes left to attend, her room to finish, 2 baby showers, getting things put together for her, and then everyday life going on, so I don’t know that time will drag. I cannot wait to meet and hold her. I cannot wait to see this process come full circle. I cannot wait for her daddy to meet her. I know that nothing will prepare him or me for the emotion we will feel when we meet “our” child for the first time. I know that the minute she first looks up at Brian I will become the second woman in his world. I can be okay with that. We are so very blessed that this has been an uncomplicated pregnancy. We have been so blessed to not have had additional worries and that she has progressed and grown just like she should without any problems. I pray every night that this continues through the very end, and for the rest of her life if we are going to get technical.  She has so many people who are anxiously awaiting her arrival, and who love her so much already. I have spent a lot of this blog, in the last 7 months talking about Aniston, and I sort of think that it might stay that way for a while. I almost feel like I should apologize for becoming that person, who does nothing but talk about her kid. But- I’m not going to. I hope that everyone out there at some point in their life gets to experience this kind of joy and anticipation. Maybe it not be with a child if that isn’t something you want, but something equally as wonderful. My wedding day was wonderful and the love I have for my husband is immeasureable. I cannot imagine those feelings being any stronger. But I have a feeling that those feelings are only going to get stronger and that I haven’t felt any amount of love yet. This pregnancy thing has been an interesting journey, but I have a feeling that the journey hasn’t even begun.

A Little Inspiration…

Every now and then, you need a little inspiration. Something that shows you that while you may dealing with your own daily struggles in life, that there are many people out there facing struggles of their own. There are two really amazing blogs I follow. I am very grateful to these friends for posting their lives out on the web for all, including me to see. If you get the chance you really should check out Taryn and Ricky (see link to left) and Carly and Jay (link also on left.) Both couples have beautiful children with very special stories. Both Carly and Taryn attack every day with a smile and a positive attitude that is infectious. Both have been down a very rocky road with their children and amaze me with their stories and attitude. So, to Taryn and Carly, thank you, so much for sharing your amazing journeys with me and the rest of the world.

She said YES!!!

Thursday evening, 1/14/10, we got a phone call from my little brother. He was really excited to share the news that he had proposed to his girlfriend of 2.5 years, Carolina and SHE SAID YES!! I cannot believe my little baby brother is old enough to be getting married!! Brian and I  are both so excited to welcome Carolina as part of the family. I know that they will have all the happiness in the world!! We want to wish big CONGRATULATIONS to the happy couple!! I know Dustin will make a dashing groom and Carolina will be a beautiful bride!!

14 weeks to go…

For those of you requesting a growing belly picture, here you go! Disregard my facial expression, I don’t know what my photographer was doing but that is what I am looking at. Looking at this now I can understand a little better why it is already more difficult to breath!

26 Weeks

She has a name, and a room!!

We cannot wait to meet and introduce our little angel, Aniston Elizabeth Stahl to the world. Finally, we have settled on her name and are so excited with it. We have been busy around here getting things ready for her. We still have a lot to do, but she does have a room, and it is probably 70% complete so we are well ahead of the game. I have a tendency to not let grass grow under my feet so it really is no surprise that we have so much done!! You can see pictures of the progress below. I have also gotten us signed up for our hospital tour and our child birth education class. I have two more course I want to take before she arrives. I want to attend a breastfeeding course, and also an infant CPR course. I have another doctor’s appointment Monday so I will be sure to give the report. We’re praying for another good report. I look forward to every appointment. I get to hear her heartbeat and get the tumbs up that she is right on track. That is the only reassurance you get so it is very welcome every four weeks! I have been feeling her more often, which is another reassurance, but there is nothing like hearing it from your doctor. That is one reason I wanted to find a doctor that I loved and trusted. So that when he said something, good or bad, I trusted what he was reporting.

Other than getting ready for the little one’s arrival, we really haven’t been doing that much here. We got about 4 inches of snow this week, and Brian took the opportunity to go skiing with Drew at Perfect North. They said they had a BLAST and no broken bones were reported so that was good too!! Brian was a tiny bit sore, but other than that, not to bad. Which means he is still is pretty good shape!! It has been so cold this week that we have really just been going to work and staying inside. Brian has restarted framing the basement, so we are hoping to start making some progress on that little by little. It is going to be a long project to just be doing a little here and there, but at least we are making some headway. Mom starts rehab this week for her leg and was recently given permission to start re-introducing weight to her leg. She is still on two crutches but hopefully for not to terribly much longer as her therapy gets started and underway. It has been a long recup. for her and I know she is frustrated, but it has been almost 2 months already and they really have gone pretty quick. (well, for all of us that have two legs…)

Mimi and Papaw have made to Jacksonville, FL to spend time for the winter and for Papaw to get his proton therapy for the prostate cancer he was recently dianosed with. He is going to have to endure Chemotherapy at the same time, which we initially thought he was going to escape, but hopefully, he will only have to endure one round, along with his therapy to beat this. We are definitely hoping and praying for him.

I’m sure there will be some more posts here soon. It is winter and it seems like the best time occupier is sitting here, staying warm and blogging. I’m sure there will be a slow down come spring when the weather warms up and we are adjusting to our family of three.

Here is the “glorified rocking chair”

(these guys will not keep residence here. I have a plan for them but it has not been executed yet.)

I will post more when we have more done!!

Happy New Year. Bring on 2010.

T-minus 1 hour and 47 minutes until we say goodbye to 2009 and ring in 2010. Thanks to a baby induced emotional breakdown, we threw in the towel on New Years and decided to spend it at home. So, I am taking this time, trying to stay awake until midnight, to reflect on the past year and contemplate 2010. Here is a 2009 recap:

A little family drama here and there, my beautiful Godson was born, and baptized, we vacationed on Sanibel Island, Surprise, we’re pregnant, Surprise, it’s gonna be a girl, my mom broke her leg, we traveled to Rolla Mo. to see the Brunner/Cavender/Foote clan for Thanksgiving, my grandpa was diagnosed with prostate cancer, the flu or some sort of ick came rolling through the family and struck us all, (luckily, I came out with only a crappy cold, Brian and the rest of the Stahl clan got it much worse,) and Christmas and New Year has sort of come and gone. It really has been a different sort of holiday season this year for us. Due to the ick that invaded we missed a lot of the early December Christmas activities, I missed Nate’s 5th birthday party, and we both missed the annual Turner party. Christmas was pretty low key with mom down and out in the leg, and for the first time in a while, we did not get to spend any time with Dave, Leslie, and Nate for the holiday. Among other things it just caused for an abnormal holiday. So- while 2009 hasn’t been a “bad” year, we are already welcoming 2010 with open arms. Mom will be on the rebound and hopefully back on two feet before the end of the first quarter of this year, my grandpa received a pretty positive prognosis for the cancer he has, and is currently in Jacksonville FL getting treatments that the Dr.’s are pretty optimistic will cure the disease, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our little miracle, (and I am anxiously awaiting feeling like a normal person again!!), and that is just the events happening before the tulips bloom, (or about the same time.)

So reflecting on the upcoming 2010 here are a few resolutions I myself would like to make: (obviously and number one always, though not a “resolution” is to welcome a healthy and happy baby girl this spring. I thank the Lord everyday for the opportunity for Brian and I to be her parents, and cannot wait to meet her.)

1.) Take more pictures. We got a brand new camera for Christmas this year so I hope to start out the new year taking and posting a lot more pictures. And of course, once our daughter arrives I am sure there will be PLENTY of pictures posted.

2.) Finally just let go. There are a few unhealthy things and or relationships I have been holding onto for a while now and it is time to let it be what it is and let it go. I have been working on this within myself but have found it to not be so easy. To use the past, present, and the future to learn and grow myself as an individual. Which leads me to my #3.

3.) To become a better wife. A better friend. A better daughter. Learn my role as a mother. I want to get to a place where I feel like I am stable, and not so scatter brained, and fly by the seat of my pants. To strengthen my relationships with the people I love and who love me. To spend more quality time with my husband and to further stregthen our bond as well as relationship. To be more supportive of my husband, my friends, and my family. To really jump in to making sure they know that I appreciate and love them.

4.) To relax a little. Not be so hard on myself and laugh a lot more. Now more than ever am I approaching a time in my life when a little dust on the furniture is totally worth the smiles, laughs, and memories I am out making with the people that matter.

5.) To set the example for my daughter that I would be proud of her to follow.

Finally, to continue to further myself to be the person I want to see myself be. All the previous resolutions are going to be key players in this quest, but also I would like to strengthen my patience, be less judgemental, not jump to conclusions, and have more and be more fun, finding the joy in the little things in life.

That sets the bar for me as a person. Some days I feel like these things are attainable and other days it feels as if these things are so far away I will never get there. But I think it is important for me, or human nature, to continue to push yourself further. If you stop trying to better yourself and learn more about yourself, you stop the journey. There is always something more. There is no personal fulfillment or sense of accomplishment if you stop.

So, now that the countdown is at 21 minutes, and I have shared my aspirations for 2010 with you, what are yours?

I hope that everyone has a very safe, happy, healthy, and properous New Year! Bring on 2010!!

‘Tis the Season to be Merry!

So, here is it is. The weekend before Christmas. It seems like just last night that I wrote the Happy Thanksgiving post. Where does the time go? It really occurred to me in a few statements by people over the weekend that time just goes to fast anymore. Like Friday night, Brian asked Mike if he were coming over Christmas morning for sausage and cheese balls. (These were a tradition for me growing up and one I have carried over into my own family. These little bites of heaven ONLY get made for Christmas morning. And of course, you have to make several batches so there are leftovers to last through the season!) Anyway- I got side tracked. SO- Brian asked Mike if he were coming to eat sausage and cheese balls with us, to which Mike replied, oh yeah, but didn’t we just have those like a few months ago? Nope, last Christmas. Time Flies. And then- Heather makes the comment to me, just think, next Christmas, baby A  will be as old as NJ. 9 MONTHS OLD!! I cannot even imagine her here yet, much less crawling!! (which you really must see my adorable Godson do. He has quite the injured soldier crawl happening!!) Anyway- again, side tracked. I guess my point here is- time flies. I cannot believe how fast the last three weeks have gone. So, let me recap for you what we have been up to.

Shortly after our return from St. Louis, I came down with a cold, or something. Not being able to take medicine made this even more miserable, and I felt bad for a little over a week. BUT- we prevailed. In the meantime, Brian made the trip to Cleveland to attend our nephew Nate’s 5th birthday party!! I cannot believe he is 5 already!! I remember the first time I ever met any of the Stahls. He was 4 months old! He is such a big kid nowdays!! (again, time flies!) The week following Nate’s birthday, Brian came down with the same thing I had, only his was WAY worse, and fought it with medicine for over a week. Because of this, he missed my Tuesday night holiday shin-dig, and we missed the annual Turner Christmas party. Which stinks. We always enjoy that party! Dave and Les always come into to town to attend as well and it is nice to get to spend a night out with them. However, by this time, the ick germs that were working their way through the family got to Leslie and she didn’t get to make the trip in!  Mike and Ron both came down with this ick about this time as well. It has hit just about everyone now.

On the baby front, we recently had a Dr. appt. and got a good report. Everything continues to look good, which we are forever thankful for. She is quite the mover and shaker though. Her heartbeat continues to be strong. She was moving so much that the Dr. just held the doppler on my belly and waited for her to find it. She was too active! She is so much like her daddy already and can’t sit still!! We took advantage of one of Babies R Us’s great end of the year sales and purchased the little one’s furniture. We thought we were going to have some time between the purchase and it’s arrival to get some things done around here, (like empty to room to be the nursery, but the furniture came in too quick, so we have spent the last weekend steaming carpets, changing rooms around, and painting. Friday night, Ron, Jan, Mike, Brian, and I took our car and the commader to pick up the furniture. We were so lucky they were abel to help because there was no way we could have gotten by ourselves! Both cars were stuffed and the Commander had boxes on the roof! We went for dinner and came home and the men unloaded. As I sit here tonight updating this, Brian is currently nose down on the couch, snoring. He stayed up until 3 a.m. last night, after we got home from celebrating the season with dear friends, trying to get her room painted. He finally finished right after dinner and is pooped! As of tomorrow evening everything should be in and the construction can begin. I am fortunate enough to have some time off this Holiday season in which I plan on organizing the closets and the guest room since it got switched and working in the nursery. There is still plenty to do to get ready for her arrival!! Although, I think it is safe to say that getting her clothing is not on that list!! Some how or another, she has ended up with a good amount of clothing already. (I swear I have no idea how!! ) But I have had a little bit of fun getting things for her. I just know that while trying and frustrating at times, this mommy thing is going to be pretty great!! Keep watch out for her name to be announced. You see earlier in this post where I refer to her as baby A. She has a first name, but no middle yet, so I am waiting until the whole name is complete to post!

So, for now, I am jsut looking for the strength to get through the next 2 days of work. These are the last working days of the year for me, and I am looking forward to getting to spend some time celebrating the season with family, preparing for the little one, and relaxing at home with Brian. I hope that this post finds everyone celebrating the season in the ways that are the most meaningful to them all, and that everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a very blessed, safe, and Happy New Year!! Here’s to 2010!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!! We have been super busy enjoying our own! We haven’t seen Brian’s family since our wedding so this Thanksgiving we all made the trip to Rolla, MO to see them. It was a great trip! We had dinner at Brian’s Aunt Jeanne’s beautiful home, and everyone made it in! Gram and Pal and Aunt Debbie (also our Reverend!) made it is from St. Louis. All the kids are getting so big! We played with Addy and Ava, and chased little Meaghan around. She is only 10 months old and has been walking for a month!! She is so tiny toddling around! They also threw us a baby shower since we won’t get to see them before our baby girl gets here! We got a lot of new outfits for her, and we got a lot of heirlooms, that were made for Brian when he was born. Such special items to have to pass down! After dinner, the boys all geared up for the Stahl/Cavender basketball game. I think it proved to those boys that to much time had passed since the last basketball game! Cavenders took that game, but got paid back on Friday when the Stahl boys beat them in golf! They played a round of 18 holes while us girls and the kiddos went shopping! We had a blast hitting the little shops in Rolla and St. James and had lunch there. Lots of Christmas decorations were out, and I bought the little princess a few things too!! Although, my favorite item we saw was the Christmas tree full of mache bear heads! Very cabin/woodsy decor. A little creepy!! Friday night (after a nap!!) we all gethered back at Jeanne and Richard’s and had the much desired Imo’s pizza! We don’t go near MO without a meal at Imo’s. It is AWESOME and Mike and Brian LOVE it. I think that is their favorite thing from “home”, sorry family!! You know those Stahl boys, food is uber important!!

Saturday we hit the road for home. Besides our early Christmas present from the state of MO, (gotta love speeding tickets!!) it was a pretty uneventful trip home. I have to say, we were all ready to get out of the car once we got home! My ankles had all the traveling they could handle! I am dreading going back to work, but just have to keep telling myself that there is only a few short weeks until my Christmas break. I will be starting on the nursery over that break, and can hardly wait! Next weekend, we get to go wish our nephew Nate a happy 5th birthday! This time of year is always so crazy!!

We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for and even more this year!!

It’s a ….

GIRL!!!

We found out on Friday, 11-20-09 that we will be welcoming a girl this spring. (Roughly April 19th, 2010) Everyone is super excited. But Brian and I are the most excited. Not only are we having a girl, EVERYTHING looked perfect on the ultra-sound. We could see all the important things, her brain was measured, her leg bones, her heart, stomach, bladder all look good, and she was ALL over the place! We could count her fingers and watch her put her hands up to her face. It looks an awful lot like we may have a thumb sucker on our hands!! We have so very much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, and every year. But this year is particularly special for us. Thank you for all the Congratulations and well wishes. We will just keep praying for a healthy baby- GIRL!