LOTS and lots of stuff has happened since my last post a few weeks ago! This entry will include:

1. November 10th- an interestingly significant date.

2. Mommy goes back to work!

3. Justin's new relationship with his son

4. And of course, lessons learned since last blog

Here we go!

1. Well, we have officially permanently moved to Indianapolis. I'm not sure if I'm more excited to be here or saddened to leave Lafayette. We had to officially relinquish our lease on our apartment on November 10th (an old friend's birthday, btw), and everyone in the apartment office was sad to see us go. I spent a couple hours cleaning up and making sure everything was in good shape before I turned our keys in, and as I locked our door for the last time I felt a strange urge to burst into tears. It was very weird. If any of you have seen the last episode of "Friends" you'll be able to sympathize- it was like I was leaving a very important chapter in my life, and heading out into the unknown "grown up" world of homeownership and parenthood. I mean, Justin and I were married a little over a year when we moved from Fishers to Lafayette, so we have spent the majority (two-thirds!) of our married lives in that cute but little apartment.

But moving on to homeownership- it hasn't been all grins and giggles to this point, though it is nice to know that when we pay all this money every month we will get it back when we move (as opposed to our $100 deposit in an apt). We've been super excited to have a garage to park in, walls to paint whatever color we want, and a fenced backyard so we don't have to walk the dogs on a leash 5000 times a day. On the other hand, we've been so used to the apartment maintenance crew practically waiting on pins and needles to help us when we needed something that it's been infuriating to get anything fixed around here!!! Case in point: When we closed on the house on Sept 28th it was 70 degrees all weekend long for us to paint and do other fixer-upper things. The following Friday the temperature spiked to the mid-90's and I flicked the AC on, only to discover that 24 hours later the house was only getting warmer...  And no, I did not mistake the AC for the heat button. To make a long story short (those of you who have actually heard the story know how long it truly is), we received our new Air Conditioning unit on this past Friday, November 9th. Yeah. One not-terribly thing about this was that we had one year of a Homeowners' Warranty included in the purchase of our house, so we only had to pay the $500 deductible, but that was still more than we had budgeted for this fall unfortunately. But at least now we have working AC (good thing, considering the temp here is now holding steady in the 40s...) and our heat will work efficiently all winter long, so we won't have to worry about it when Baby comes.

2. I have also gone back to work- part time only!!! My schedule really couldn't be any better, really. I feel like such a slacker!!! Haha. I go to work from 8am-12pm Monday through Thursday. So instead of working my usual 60-75 hours per week (and this time I'm seriously not exaggerating) I'm only working 16-20 max! I was thinking it would be a breeze, but come Friday morning I was completely wiped out! Oh to backtrack really quick- the reason I'm back at work (still with Enterprise FYI) is because my Area Manager from Lafayette got a promotion and his assigned branches here in Indy are the ones clustered right around our house. But anyway, it's been really nice to be back at work and feel like an adult who is appreciated by other adults, ya know? I think I will still try to work maybe one half day a week after Baby is born, just to maintain sanity and contact with the real world.

Oh and if anyone needs to rent a car, call me.

3. This past week Justin has been getting to experience this whole Baby thing in a whole new way and it's been super exciting. I've been able to feel him move since about week 17 (6 weeks ago), but only from the inside. Then starting around 21 weeks I've been able to feel it from the outside, which is cool but it just feels like little bubbles bursting on my palm. Every night we'll be sitting on the couch watching TV before bed and Justin will rest his hand on my belly and try to feel something. And it's almost as if [Baby] can sense it because he's been putting on quite a show, but Justin still hasn't been able to feel it, which has been a little frustrating and disappointing for me to say the least. But on Friday night something amazing happened- we were laying in bed and I couldn't sleep because [Baby] was kicking and dancing around so darn much, so I took Justin's hand and put it right on top of where all the action was happening, and he felt it!!!! We were both so thrilled. I know he's been very excited since we found out we were expecting (he asks the doctor every visit when I will start to "show" because he's so excited for me to be pregnant), but up until now it's been kind of like he's just an observer and now he gets a physical connection... I think it was a little magical for him.

LLSLB

1. Going back to work is harder than I thought! I definitely know why it's so hard for so many women to ease back into a full time career after Baby is born, even though I'm easing back into a part time career before he even comes... I thought 4 hours a day would be a cake job (go home for lunch and don't go back; hel-lo naptime!) but I get home and I'm pooped! And exercise is almost out of the question, which is sad because it's something I really need to get on top of. I used to be able to run a few miles a day a few times a week, and now I can barely hoof it up the stairs without huffing and puffing, haha. I'll keep you all updated on how that's going.

2. Buy a Rainbow- I never realized how dirty my new house was until my brother did a home demonstration for us. It's a contraption similar to (but better than) the Ionic Breeze and has attachments to make it a vacuum cleaning system. It's pretty cool and we can't wait for it to be delivered this week!!! Check it out at www.rainbowsystems.com/ especially if you have alleriges (or are a neat freak, or pregnant, or all of the above).

3. Moving, even an hour away, is so hard! *whine* Especially leaving our church  And trying to make travel plans to see family (can we say Florida???) is nearly impossible around the holidays. Speaking of which, I'm being brave this year and doing Thanksgiving at OUR house...

4. Even though every once in a while my emotions flare up and I snap out of control, for the most part I've found that pregnancy has mellowed me out a little bit. I find it hilarious that suddenly I'm not so uptight about lots of stuff.

5. And finally, pregnancy will make your skin freak out and take on a personality of its own- I recently discovered Proactiv, which I highly recommend for all skin types because it's been working really well.

TTFN!

Maybe he's warming up to be the next Colt's kicker, or maybe he just thinks it's fun-- either way, our little guy has certainly been active!!! About 2 weeks ago I thought I could distinguish little movements from normal stomach flutterings, and then I started feeling little pricks and pokes, sometimes so tiny that I thought I was just imagining. In a matter of days that feeling evolved into the definite sense of being poked, kicked, punched, and summersaulted in  I can also feel when he's shifting position (which is like, all the time) because intead of a one-time pokey feeling it's more of a slide or dragging feeling. Very hard to explain, but those of you who have gone through this before know exactly what I'm talking about. Last night was especially exciting because it was the first time I could feel the motions from the OUTSIDE! I think the dogs have been able to feel it for about a week, because last weekend Summer was laying on my lap with her head on my lower belly and when I felt him kick, she popped her head up and looked at me like, "why did you do that???" It was hysterical. But I couldn't feel anything... until last night! We were on the couch watching the Colts dominate (sadly, even as a major fan, I find myself lately apathetic to watching the games because I KNOW they're just going to win... AGAIN) the Jaguars. I was kind of stretched out (since I can) and had my hand on my stomach for no apparent reason, and then felt a little pop! It was so gentle, but it coincided exactly with the fistfight I felt on the inside. Of course I got all excited and Justin wanted to feel. He had his hand on my stomach for a good five minutes and Baby gave him quite a bit of action, but he couldn't feel a thing  Maybe it's just because I'm so used to feeling it on the inside that I know what to expect it to feel like from the outside??? I told Justin not to worry because in a few weeks he will be able to feel it anytime.

We also had our doctor's appointment yesterday to follow up from our ultrasound last week. It seems that everything is going perfectly. Neither he nor I have any of the possible diseases (though I could've told anybody this child would be HIV free) and he's right on track as far as other development. He has a nice healthy brain with all parts accounted for; we got to see all 4 chambers of his tiny heart (the size of a jelly bean) pumping, which was especially cool since we had just watched Dad on his PBS heart series last week; and he's definitely a boy :) Justin was over the moon. Also, he weighs about 11 ounces, which is normal, and has all fingers and toes, and limbs seems to be working well as far as muscle movement and skeletal development. The only thing that wasn't exactly "on par" for 20 weeks is that my uterus only measured for 17 weeks along. Dr. Priddy said that was for 2 reasons: 1. I'm pretty skinny for a 25 year old pregnant lady (though the scale registered 144 lbs this visit- more than I've ever weighed in my LIFE!!!!) and 2. I have a "tilted uterus" which means instead of being straight up and down it leans towards my spine a little. No medical problem with that, but to measure she goes from the bottom up where the uterus can be felt to where it just barely reaches my belly button, so it's hard to get an accurate measurement if the true "top" is back towards the back of my diaphragm.

We also know he can hear, or at least distinguish certain sounds. I've been faithfully reading all my baby books on schedule with the pregnancy, and one of them made an interesting point about dogs- people who have dogs throughout their pregnancy usually have babies who sleep better through all kinds of noises. When they are born they are already used to the barking sounds, therefore dogs barking during naptime, or even other loud noises, usually don't effect him or her like they would a baby whose mother had a rather quiet pregnancy. Another book said that the dog sounds can actually be "soothing" to a newborn because it's something very familiar to what they heard in the womb, as compared to all the strangers' voices and other baby lullabies, etc. that he/she will hear. But anyway- Baby actually gets a little startled if the dogs are very close to me and then bark all of a sudden, it's the funniest thing! Like one afternoon I was reading on the La-Z-Boy and the wieners saw a biker go by- of course they both sounded the alarm from my lap and he jumped inside me!!! It was just a tiny quiver of motion, but definitely a whole body twitch instead of just a fist or heel. It's happened a couple other times too, like with a honking horn close to my car or Justin yells "TOUCHDOWN" from right next to me. It's really quite cute.  At this age they're supposed to be affected by certain kinds of music too, but I can't tell yet. We'll keep you posted.

LLSLB:

1. Baby is most active when I'm trying to sleep, or a few minutes after food. These are optimal times to feel movement: 12:30pm, 7:00pm, 9:30pm, 12:00am-7:00am.

2. Even though fall is caramel apple season, don't eat too many (um, like 5) in a day or it will wreak havoc on your digestive system

3. Pedicures are still awesome

4. Moving gradually is NOT the way to go- especially when trying to make travel plans to Florida.

5. Somehow I can sleep 8 hours and still take a 3 hour nap in the afternoon

6. And finally, Target has REALLY cute baby boy clothes; I definitely need to stop going there. (but sadly a lack of little boy shoes...)

Well, I keep trying to add pictures but they keep not wanting to get posted :) In the meantime, you can visit http://family.webshots.com/album/561093099rKAdUa to see pictures from the ultrasound today. I was sending an email about the ultrasound experience and realized I should just post the contents here:

"I can't even describe how amazing it was- we had the new 4D (4th dimension being time) ultrasound, so the whole time she was "probing" my stomach the little guy was moving around like it was soccer practice :) The coolest thing was that now I can associate what I feel to what it looks like! She kept nudging his head to get him to turn and he would kick his feet and move around- I could feel it!!!!!! I thought I would be a crying mess but it was too awesome for emotion almost, I've never felt anything like it before. It's just still hard to believe there's a real, living PERSON in there!!! He's so cute already, his little button nose just makes me want to drag him out early and hold him and squeeze him tight, ya know? And he looks so big in the pictures, but he's really only about 6 inches long from the top of his head to his butt, just a little bigger than a tin can :) If he were born today, he would have all functioning body parts etc so the next half of the pregnancy is just for him to grown and get stronger lungs and muscles to be able to live on his own instead of via the umbilical cord. Wow. I can't even describe it- it's just plain amazing. "

So there it is. It's finally starting to become a little real, and a little scary at the same time. I mean, here's this little HUMAN who's totally relying on ME to take care of him and give him everything he needs and protect him from every harm--- and that's just BEFORE he's born!!! I keep having weird dreams about when the Baby comes and what life will be like. I'm trying to prepare myself mentally and emotionally now, but it's hard because reality hasn't quite hit yet. It's hard to explain.

The nice thing is that now I can start buying little boy stuff! Every time I go to Target I seem to find myself mysteriously standing in the middle of the baby section with no memory of how I got there. Spooky. But there's no neutral stuff, it's all pretty much divided boy/girl, so I've been able to suppress the urge to buy things... until now. Now, I can let loose finally. Maybe that's not such a good thing...

His room is already a wonderful shade of Colts blue, compliments of the previous owners of our house. We're going to add soft yellow ducks to it and it'll be super cute. I've already started a baby registry at Target.com, but it only has like 2 things on it :)

LLSLB

1. Baby doesn't like anything sitting on top of him (i.e. wiener dogs)

2. My clothes don't exactly fit anymore... I need to go shopping, but as my cousins can attest, maternity pants just don't go well with my body yet.

3. It's hard to remember everyone you're close to! When sending important baby emails, I think I'll just send to the parents and have them pass it along, as I seem to leave someone out every time (sorry if that was you!!!)

4. Pedicures can cure any ailment, especially when accompanied by a good magazine or a great friend.

5. Finally, God gets more amazing to me every day- I don't understand people who don't believe; how can you NOT believe when you see the evidence of how a tiny baby is formed??????

Oops forgot to add this at the bottom of my last post:

LLSLB:

1. Cravings come on strong but eventually disappear- no more Caesar salad for me, yuck!

2. Don't procrastinate on packing to move

3. It's easier to drag myself out of bed early in the morning and take a nap in the afternoon than to throw off my whole day by sleeping till 11 and then not getting tired at night till midnight.

4. When your husband wants to get an expensive Bose sound system for the new house, let him get it- cause then you get the expensive professional camera you've always wanted! (true story!)