Appointment #2- We are having a baby!!!

We went to the doctor yesterday, a new office in Raleigh, recommended by our friend Jill. Jill went to medical school with one of the doctors in the practice and we are excited to go to someone who comes so highly recommended!

Our appointment was at 9am and we were there for about 2.5 hours. We met with Lane first, who did our "interview"... family history, blood type, etc.

Then we met with our nurse practitioner, Janice. LOVE HER! She talked with us about tests and plans and what we need to know. She said we passed with flying colors, we are both happy and healthy and will be great parents.

We had the 11 week exam and blood work. We also got to hear the heartbeat (168!), which Janice said is very strong and sounds like a healthy baby! They used a crazy microphone thing and it was amazing how clearly we could hear the heartbeat. Can you believe that at just 11.5 weeks into it- our baby has a 4 chamber heart that is pumping blood!?!

No pictures this time, just the Dopplar heart rate. We scheduled an appointment for Thursday, March 11th to find out if Peanut is a boy or a girl. Hard to believe how quickly this whole process is moving along!

Peanut is a lime!

Peanut currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through it. But fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

Cloth Diapering and Village Tavern

We are making the Winston Salem "circuit" this weekend, sharing the good news with our friends.

On Saturday, we made a trip out to Advance to visit the Gregorys' and their beautiful twins Elizabeth and Samantha. If you are looking for someone who has this whole parenting thing down- spend an afternoon with them! Their 16 month old twins are adorable, well behaved AND cloth diapered. In addition to the pages of other mom to mom advice Erin shared with me while we were there... she shared with me the joy of cloth diapering.

Let me tell you, they have it down to a science! For cost, environmental and health reasons, we've been talking about cloth diapering for a while now. I met with a diaper service in Charlotte a while back, and we've been exploring our options. Fate led me to ask Jeremiah and Erin about it... and any fears we might have had are now gone. Stay tuned for more detailed info... Thank you Jeremiah and Erin for sharing your home and your advice with us. You two are incredible parents!

After we left Advance, we came home, took a quick nap, and headed out to Village Tavern for a celebratory dinner with friends.

We met JO and Ally, John and Nikki, and Yadam and Nicole at Village Tavern to share the news. It was awesome to see everyone and catch up on their busy lives. JO is about to graduate nursing school (watch out, folks!), Nicole just got a new job at Guilford College and Yadam started his own website. Check it out for some awesome play by play action. John and Nikki taught us about cameras, computers and all things electronic. And Ally is planning a trip to Amsterdam and England (JEALOUS!).

Thank you guys for a fun night and for your love and support. I'll post everyone's "predictions" in an upcoming post...

Yassa Maki with good friends!

Amanda and John took me out last Thursday to celebrate the news of baby Peanut! Amanda and I have a weekly date to have some dinner, watch Grey's Anatomy and usually go shopping. We went to Champa for sushi. No, not raw fish... Veggie Sushi- everything is cooked and Peanut likes sushi YUM! Though it took a little convincing- what I like is apparently called Yassa Maki, tempura style :)

Since John was in town this week, so we got to celebrate with him (and not spend all of our money shopping :)) He also took the time to explain to me (in layman's terms) the surgery that Eli is going to have, and what our options are. Little Eli will be having knee surgery in the next few months... and John and AK have been kind enough to be our own, personal veterinarians to walk us through the process.

Thank you guys for an awesome night out to celebrate Peanut and thank you for teaching me too!

Crazy dreams

At this point, I don't sleep through the night... and if I do, I dream some of the most ridiculous things...

First of all, Peanut is already talking and crawling when it is born. (sometimes the baby is a girl, sometimes a boy).

Another night, our darling newborn Peanut BIT ME and said ... "wheres the food? "

And last night... hmm... I can't remember at the moment.... but it woke me up at 3:30 for an hour or so.

I'll keep you posted... :)

Crazy Cravings

Last week I texted Mike....
"I'd really like some French Toast RIGHT NOW" (at 9:30 at night)

His response
"What?"

Mine:
" With or without gummi bears, please"

And yes, we had french toast and gummi bears this weekend :)

DELICIOUS!

Peanut is a prune!

With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, Peanut is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working.

 (Soon, legs will too.)

Seriously, this time next week, Peanut is going to be the size of a lime!!

Aunt Zoe and Uncle Keith give in to the idea of Baby Peanut :)

Mike came to visit this weekend bearing gifts....

1) Mail- which I wasn't going to read anyway
2) Our digital camera that we ordered at Christmas, AWE-SOME!!

3) The "What to Expect While Expecting Pregnancy Journal" from Keith and Zoe!

It is an awesome book that tells us each day what is happening that is new and exciting... and helps track Peanut's milestones in the coming year.

Thank you guys for your love and support and for the awesome book!

LOVE YOU!

FEED MUH BELLY!

Had a great dinner with Mom last week (veggie lasagna- DE-LICIOUS!)- it was nice to just have the time to sit down and chat!

Of course when I got there, she had a beautiful card and two books waiting for me.

"Feed the Belly" which you are certain to hear more about shortly... is chock full of great recipies to make sure Peanut and I get all of the nutrition we need.

And she also got me a workout book, pregnant exercises, so I can be fit to chase little Peanut around when he/she arrives!

Thanks Mom and Dad! Can't wait to start sharing some of the recipies!

Parents- to- Be Bracelets

Kerry and Brad bought Mike and I "Parents to Be Bracelets", a planning calendar to mark Peanut's milestones, and some belly bars (cuz Mama needs chocolate! :))

The blessing below is kinda tough to read... but, wear them until Peanut arrives to signify our tie to each other and the gold bead that represents our little Peanut! :)

Of course with us being in separate cities, they serve as a daily reminder of our love for each other and our baby... and we LOVE them.

Thanks Kerry and Brad!!

Peanut is already an Appalachian fan!

When we went home last weekend to see the family and Ben... we found this awesome baby blanket for little Peanut. Thanks Momma C!

How I broke the news of Baby Peanut...

I was in Rhode Island when I found out little baby Peanut was on the way... so I'll share the story of how I told Mike.


He met me at the airport when I flew in from Boston. It was the night before our Christmas Party and we'd planned to spend the night cleaning and getting ready for our guests.

I asked him to come inside and meet me and he was waiting when our plane landed.

At this point I had 3 positive pregnancy tests, a book and some "I love Daddy" burping cloths in a Christmas bag, and told him I had an early Christmas present for him. Then I gave him a card about all of the reasons I love him... with the one inside being "...and you're going to be a great Dad... in about 9 months".

I'd give anything to have a picture of his face at that moment. We both burst into tears and he just kept saying "Really? Are you serious?"

I couldn't be more excited to start a family with my very best friend!


.......... the story of how we told our parents to come.....

What's up with the Daddy...

Okay, this is Rachel, writing about how awesome Mike has been.

He won't let me lift a finger. Literally- he cooks all of our meals, carries our bags, cleans our house... he is AMAZING!

He reads his book and shares with me something new on a nightly basis. He is teaching me tips and tricks and updating me on little baby Peanut's growth!

Mike is so excited to be a Dad and I know that he is going to be an incredible one.