We had a very busy week this week, offically becoming six months pregnant!  On Monday Clint and I had our first "Preparing for Birth" class.  It is a 5 night class and Clint is just so excited to be going with me!  I told him that just because I happen to be birthing this baby doesn't mean its any more mine than his and I want him to be involved in every thing we do.  I think he secretly enjoyed the class, though he would never admit it to me.  Next week we get to watch the birth video! 

On Tuesday we had a daycare interview with Wunder Years.  I really like the owner, Tammy and the provider Amy that we met.  They seem very high energy and they have created a very nice enviroment for the kids to be in.  I think we will plan on going with them!  They are only a few minutes away from our house in Lake Elmo.  Thanks to Mary Pat for the recommendation!  I do feel much better in finding someone to do daycare.  I have a feeling that if we waited any longer it would be too much pressure to find the right place and I wouldn't be happy with anything!  I will probably go over there a few more times before leaving the baby there, just to get myself ready.  Lord knows what kind of breakdown I will be having in six months when I have to go back to work!

On Wednesday I had my latest doctor's appointment.  Pretty non-eventful.  My blood pressure was 132/80, pretty consistent with where I have been since my first visit so the doctor is not worried.  My weight has gone up again, 2 lbs this time for a total of 14 lbs.  I think I need to start exercising or something because I really don't want to gain any more weight but I know the baby needs to.  At least my eating habits have improved slightly this week with the full use of our kitchen!  We actually ate three meals at home this week, plus a frozen pizza on class night (doesn't really count as home cooked does it!).  The baby's heart rate was good, 160 again.  The baby has really been freaking me out this week though.  On Monday and Tuesday the kid hardly moved at all during the day, but the next three days they have been very active during the day.  The doctor says that the baby doesn't know the difference between day and night (duh) so they really won't keep the same schedule as I do.  Especially since I sit at my desk all day, he/she finds it easy to sleep all day!  So I have made a point of getting up and walking around every half hour all day to keep the baby moving.  I think its been working!

This weekend I am going to get everything cleaned out of the baby's room and back into the kitchen (do I sound like a broken record yet?). But seriously, I am going to finish it!  Then Clint can do his stuff in there and we can maybe paint next weekend??  It would be great to get it done then because the following weekend we are going to Two Harbors for our romantic weekend away.  I can't wait!   Then I can start shopping!  Or not, according to my husband.  He says that I will get everything I need at my shower and I said that I don't even have any showers planned yet so maybe I won't get anything.  He said YEAH RIGHT!

Congrats to my girl Kari and her hubby James, the newest member of the 2008 baby gang!  They are expecting in August!  That bring the count up to 5.  I wonder who will be next...

It has been a good week this week, nice and short to be back to work after the holidays.  We had a good time up at the cabin over New Year's.  I even stayed up until midnight to ring in the new year!  I think that 2008 is going to be the best year of our lives.

Found out some exciting news last night...  Another baby for 2008!  Clint's "sister" (I put it in quotes because he doesn't really have any sisters, but she is as close as it gets)  Dana and her hubby Ben are expecting!! It is a year full of babies! First there is our good friends Jodi and Russ, who are due any day now (the 10th is my prediction!) then me in April, Clint's cousin Amie and her hubby Mike are expecting in June and now Dana and Ben in August.  Our baby will have lots of playmates.

Other exciting news yesterday... our new countertops are in!  Only two weeks earlier than they initally told us.  Clint is planning installing them tomorrow, along with the sink.  Then I can clean everything up and put all my kitchen stuff away.  Then I suppose my husband will expect me to start cooking dinner for him again on Sunday...  This weekend I am also going to take down all the Christmas stuff and maybe start cleaning the basement.  All of my scrapbook stuff has about five layers of dirt on it, so hopefully it will all come clean.  I really am itching to get back to work on some scrapping!

Next Wednesday is my next doctor's appointment.  I get to do the lovely glucose test that I have been hearing so much about, not looking forward to it!  Clint and I also are going to see a daycare on Tuesday so cross my fingers that I get a good feeling.  Wunder Years is close to home, kind of expensive, but highly recommended by our friend Mary Pat whose daughter Amanda goes there.  Peace of mind is worth a few extra dollars to me.  It would be very nice to have this settled now and not have to worry about looking further for daycare, even though the baby will not be in it until July!

Baby is busy as usual, really starting to enjoying my singing when we are alone in the car.  Or maybe not, since its kicks aren't exactly friendly.  The kicking activity is starting to become more regular, usually at bedtime for me is their most active time.  Then I don't think they wake up until at least noon.  I need to have a talk with this kid to let them know this is not the schedule I want them to keep! 

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Clint and I were very busy, but its always good to see the family we don't see too often.  It was a whirlwind trip to Wisconsin and we had lots of fun!  I got some very cute gifts for the baby, which I wasn't expecting.  Clint's mom gave us an adorable picture frame that has a spot for a new picture each month in the first year of the baby's life.  My mom gave us two outfits, one for a baby boy and one for a baby girl. They are both in my favorite Pooh line and are so cute!  She also gave us some other Pooh items, sheets and blankets and a little toothbrush for baby.  It was so nice of them to think of their new grandchild!

My husband got a wonderful gift for both of us to enjoy.  He rented a house on the North Shore of Lake Superior at the end of January for a weekend!!  I am so excited to get to go away with him and spend some quality time together before the baby comes.  He is such a thoughful guy, always taking such good care of me.  I know he needs some down time too, he has been so wound up trying to get things done around the house. It will be a good time for us to relax together!

We are off to the lake this afternoon and won't be back until next year!  We have lots of new snow here in MN so Clint is very excited about going snowmobiling.  He says its been years since he has been able to go on his birthday weekend.  Yep, Clint is turning the big 3-3 on Sunday!  Boy, is he getting old!   Sounds like the perfect age to become a daddy!

Kitchen update: All the appliance look gorgeous and work great.  Now we just have to wait for the countertops to come in so Clint can install them and the sink.  Then we will be ready to go!  Next weekend I am cleaning out the baby's room and putting all the kitchen items into our new cabinets.  Then Clint is going to start working on the baby's room.  A minor project, according to him, compared to the kitchen!

Baby is doing wonderful, moving more and more every day.  Clint even got to feel the baby kick last week.  He was very excited!  Feeling the kicks from the outside now is such a good assurance that our baby is growing!  According to the experts, the baby now weighs 1.5 pounds and it over 13 inches long!  I sure can tell baby is getting bigger because my belly seems to be growing outward now, making me "waddle" as my husband so lovingly says!

I hope you all have a wonderful New Year's holiday!  We are so blessed and I know that 2008 is going to be a wonderful year for our family.  Only a few short months until our precious little baby is here! 

Only four days left until Santa comes!! Can you tell I am very excited for Christmas this year?  Work has been very busy this week so I am excited to have a few days off to relax.  This weekend Clint and I are going to Wisconsin to see my families.  To Grandma and Grandpa's in Waupaca for the Weisbrod's on Saturday and to Aunt Ann's in Milton on Sunday for the Kirsch side.  Then back home for the Remackel's on Christmas Eve.  Busy, busy like all of you are I am sure!  I hope that everyone has a great holiday and stay's safe in the predicted snowfall.    

Everything is going well this week.  Baby has been kicking up a storm, moving around a lot more.  I am getting used to it, but it is so strange to have something growing inside of you.  I am sure those of you who have been pregnant know what I am talking about, but too bad those men will never get to exprience it!  It is truly amazing to know that the baby is growing each and every day inside of you.  Words really can't explain how it feels! 

My girlfriend Mindy did the pencil test on me at bowling last night and I am happy to say that it said GIRL! I am not sure how reliable it is, but any signs that point to girl make me happy! Clint is still positive the baby is a boy, so we will just have to hold on to our wishes and wait to find out!  We are just happy to know that the baby is healthy so far and we hope that it stays healthy throughout its life.  We will be happy no matter what sex it is, we just like to give each other a hard time!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!