The Belly

Its here and I am assuming it is only going to get bigger. This is taken at week 23. Jamey, a friend from work has graciously offered to take a picture each week from now on in the same spot and put it together in a phote movie at the end so I can see how much I "grow". I promised her I would not post this so I am in trouble. But one want hurt. So no more until the movie, that should be entertaining! Enjoy and let the expanding begin!!!

Procrastination

So I am sitting here trying, really trying to complete my article synopsis for my class this week and I just don't want to do it. So I thought I would write something on here.

I am in the process of finishing my Master's in Education as we speak. It's amazing how things work out. I always said I didn't want kids until I finished my Master's. Well, if finishing your last class on may 29th and being due June 1st isn't cutting it close I am not sure what is.

Things have actually worked out for the good. I was originally scheduled to take two classes this summer. I was able to take one this spring and the other was my practicum or student teaching. Because of my experiences in past teaching jobs, I was able to have those count for the 80 hours I was going to do this summer. So May 29th.....I am finished. So as they say, things always work out. We will see in May how well things are working then = )

Bring out the Tape Measure!!!

Today I had a doctor's appointment. I just love going to the doctor. I'll be perfectly honest, I do not think I have been this much in 15 years! Its actually fun. I get a half day off work, not to much poking and prodding around....really not that bad. However today we had something new. Besides the routine heartbeat check, (which is maintaining a steady average of 155-160 ,for those trying to guess) and weight in (not telling) they measured my stomach this time. I thought there might be some fancy gadget that OB's have for this. but no, its a regular tape measure. You could just pick it up at Wal-mart, Target or your local hardware store! I just starting laughing and said, well I guess I made it to another stage! The science experiment continues!

I am "measuring" right where I need to be and everything looks good. Right on track. My only difficultly here the past week has been my sciatic nerve. I seem to have a "hitch in my giddy up" at random intervals on both sides. Its quite funny if you are around me when strikes. I look like I belong at the old folks home with my walk and hobble.

Baby Hutchinson is moving aroung quite a bit these days. He/she likes to sleep 45 minutes later than I do, then is moving all day and chills about 20 minutes before I go to bed. Maybe we can keep that schedule....wishful thinking!!!

Waterworks....

In so many ways around here. I have found that being pregnant evokes these things called EMOTIONS!!! I am not a very emotional person. I usually do not cry at the drop of the hat or for no reason at all, but the past week was another story. I should have bought stock in Kleenex, and gotten Jeremy a prescription of Xanex. Speaking of Jeremy, yes he is still alive and has survived this round of my emotional terror. As a matter of fact, he just told me it was okay, asked if there was anything he could do, then laughed at me, when I laughed at myself because I could not explain why I was crying!!!

I chalked my most recent emotional breakdown...yes that is what we are calling here...to the fact I was sick this weekend. I have to brag again. A good day of the napping on the couch and bed combined with Jeremy's (yes, he does all the cooking) homemade chicken noodle soup had me back to "normal" in no time. What a great guy. Maybe I should think twice before throwing something at him next time....j/k.

Totally different subject, but it did bring the waterworks, we went to see the movie Marley and Me. If you have ever had a pet of any kind you need to see this movie.

20 Weeks!!!

Just wanted to do a quick post and let everyone know that we are halfway there!!! Its hard to believe. Time has really flown by and thing are really starting to pick up....and grown on my end. I promise to update and put a good belly picture when I get one!

Meow Meow's Buddy

Our cat, bless his heart, has a little green stuffed frog that is his friend, Frogman. We can leave and Frogman will be in one room and when we get back, he will have taken him to another. He does this by putting the stuffed frog in his mouth and carrying him from one room to another. Needless to say the other morning, Meow Meow was not ready to get up or was feeling lonely and needed some snuggle time. This is what Jeremy found!

I Didn't Run to the Shoe Department Today!!!

Today Jeremy and I went to Babies R Us and registered. I have to take you back a few months and explain why this is such a big step. First, let me explain I am not one to panic. I usually remain very calm. That out of the way, I had to get a gift for a baby shower. I was around 7 or 8 weeks. I am not sure if we had told anyone yet. I set out to the local Target and headed straight for the baby section full of confindence an intrigue. I think I made it down the first isle before I started thinking to myself....what is that...what does that do....do you really need all this stuff....HOLY SH**!!! and then I ran, striaght to the shoes. It was very comforting in the shoes. I knew what to do with them and even tried a few pair on while I "regrouped". I finially headed back to the baby section, quickly picked out a gift and left.

I didn't tell anyone about my panic attack until Christmas when mom and I went to Babies R Us to look around. I did great then, no panic attacks!! Today's adventure was fun, almost comical. We both decided we needed more education or an engineering degree to work half the stuff. Anyway, we made it out without yelling and and agreed on everything. I think its because I let Jeremy have the scan gun.

19 Week Ultrasound

We went today and had our ultrasound done. We went to UAB to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic for a specialized targeted ultrasound to check things out since I am taking medication while I am pregnant. The doctor's wanted to make sure everything was progressing along normal and get a good look around. That they did. They looked around for 30 minutes and got great shots. It was really neat to see the pictures of this "thing" that is inside of me!! On a side note, if any of you have been around me lately, I would like to say the besides being pregnant, the child is hanging out really low, right on my bladder, so that explains my frequent trips to the restroom.

Below are a few of the pictures from today's ultrasound.

New Year's Eve Bonfire

Last April a storm came through Bolton and did a great deal of damage and blew quite a few trees down. What better time to have a bonfire!

Jeremy and I in the pasture at the bonfire

Even Otis wandered out to the bonfire! He is such a great farm cat!

Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning is full of Tradition at my parents house. We have the same spots to this day that we had as children. We wait until all present are handed out then rip into them like little kids and when it is finally over, my grandparents come up for breakfast. Here are a few pictures of the morning.

Taylor, Jeremy and Nina looking over the gifts.

Mollie modeling her new hat and scarf....

Grandy in "his" chair waiting on the food.

Taylor inspecting his gadget.

Mom in the kitchen. Notice the half eaten monkey bread !!! It never stood a chance.

This year we gave the turkey the finger....

Since barely recovering from our turkey coma's in November and not being the biggest fan, the Mellon clan decided to "try"something new this year for our Christmas Eve Dinner - Snow Crab Legs! This involved several steps and of course a giant pot, which was acquired. The actual cooking was not that difficult, it more or less was the eating that became the interesting part.

For the meal, we invited my aunt and uncle up. The table was set, the crab legs, corn and potatoes ready to eat and it was then and only then that we realized we forgot to buy something to crack them with. Never fear, in case you are ever in a restaurant and need something to crack your snow crab legs with, pliers will work. We had small ones, large ones, adjustable ones, basically any size you needed. Needless to say, it provided quite a bit of entertainment with the meal. If words don't describe the the pictures might help.

We finished off the night by playing the game apples to apples. I highly recommend it.

Catching Up

The girls and guys for high school.

Each year three of my girlfriends from high school get together and exchange ornaments. If we are able to get our guy friends from our "group" together we do. We haven't been able to the past few years, but this year it worked out that most everyone was able to meet for an early dinner. We had lots to catch up on. Four of our group are expecting, three of us withing three weeks of each other. One couple is expecting TRIPLETS!!! We got a chance to visit with a friend who is living in California and I haven't seen in 5 years. We had a great time and can't wait to see each other soon. Our ten year reunion is this year. We can't wait to see each other then!

The girls and guys plus some.