Hillbilly House

Check out the two satellite dishes on top of our house! We're one step past the giant dish in the yard. I noticed this when I was outside taking pictures the other day. It didn't used to look so bad because we only had one dish and it wasn't on an extender like it is now. Thank goodness for the second dish though because it saved me from the dial up internet! We'll let everyone know if we pick up any extra terrestrials.

PS For any of you guys (and there are a lot so don't feel bad) trying to post a comment let me help you out. Click on comment. Then type your comment in the box. Then, you will have to type the word verification. Under that is four choices, it says choose an identity. You don't have to be a blogger member to publish a comment. You need to choose either the button that says Name/URL or if you want to be anonymous do that one. If you choose Name/URL then type your name in the name slot. You don't have to type anything in the URL slot. All you have to do now is click on publish comment. Your comment should then be added to the blog. You might have to refresh the blog to see it show up. Good luck!

Eleven Weeks

The crown to rump length of the baby is 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Fetal weight is about 0.3 ounces. The baby is about the size of a large lime. Her hands will soon open and close into fists, tiny tooth buds are beginning to appear under her gums, and some of her bones are beginning to harden.She's already busy kicking and stretching, and her tiny movements are so effortless they look like water ballet. These movements will become more frequent as her body grows and becomes more developed and functional. You won't feel your baby's acrobatics for another month or two — nor will you notice the hiccupping that may be happening now that her diaphragm is forming.

You can't see me if I can't see you!

Look at this baby. He's under the coffee table, laying on his back. I honestly think he thinks he's hiding because he can't see anyone else. This is the least shy cat I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Any time he has a chance to get on a lap, any lap, he takes it. If he doesn't think he's getting enough attention he meows in a certain loud way over and over. Oh yeah, he also has to sleep between me and Noel every night with his blankie. But, we are very lucky because he is not spoiled.

New Couch

This is our new couch! We were in desperate need of a new couch. Our old couch was beat-- nails were sticking out of the bottom, it was filthy, the tops of the back cushions had no stuffing so they were hard as rocks. The new couch is so comfy. It's great for naps. Now when grown men sit on our couch their knees won't be up in their chest! haha Maybe this is divulging too much but we got the couch at Big Lots and could not have gotten a cheaper couch anywhere, but I challenge anyone to find a comfier couch in any other store!

BTW, we have the old couch on the porch for burning if the 'Eers win the tourney! We can pull that kind of shananigan up here in the holler. Maybe I'm kidding and maybe I'm not ;)

The Easter Bunny Came!

Check out this awesome Easter basket my parents made for us! That's not Easter grass in there either, that thing is plum full! There is every kind of candy you could want--not to mention some fancy hair products and some T-shirts (amongst other goodies). I can get started on that thing and be in stomach ache city in no time!

Thanks to my Mom I also have some new maternity clothes. I know I'm not too far along but my clothes are a little too tight. The elastic maternity pants are a dream and they're not tight so I don't have to go around feeling bad! I want this pregnancy to be fun and pants that are too tight are not fun!

I think this picture says it all

We couldn't be more proud of our team right now. From Wheeling to White Sulphur Springs and everywhere in between, it's a great day to be a Mountaineer wherever you may be.

Ten Weeks!

How your baby's growing:Though he's the size of a small plum — a little over an inch or so long, crown to bottom — and weighs less than a quarter of an ounce, your baby has now completed the most critical portion of his development. This is the beginning of the so-called fetal period, a time when the tissues and organs in his body rapidly grow and mature.He's swallowing fluid and kicking up a storm. Vital organs — including his kidneys, intestines, brain, and liver (now making red blood cells in place of the disappearing yolk sac) — are in place and starting to function, though they'll continue to develop throughout your pregnancy.If you could take a peek inside your womb, you'd spot minute details, like tiny nails forming on fingers and toes (no more webbing) and peach-fuzz hair beginning to grow on tender skin.In other developments: Your baby's limbs can bend now. His hands are flexed at the wrist and meet over his heart, and his feet may be long enough to meet in front of his body. The outline of his spine is clearly visible through translucent skin, and spinal nerves are beginning to stretch out from his spinal cord. Your baby's forehead temporarily bulges with his developing brain and sits very high on his head, which measures half the length of his body. From crown to rump, he's about 1 1/4 inches long. In the coming weeks, your baby will again double in size — to nearly 3 inches.

Spring has Sprung!

These beauties seem to have sprung up overnight in our front yard. When I was outside taking these pictures after work, the thermometer registered at 70 degrees! Every season I can't wait for the next season so now I can't wait for spring. I look so forward to hanging out outside and going up to Snowshoe. I better not jinx myself though, we'll get 12 inches of snow next week!

Shock and Awe

This is the face I make when I listen to my dad talk about certain subjects. Shoo.

Our first baby purchase

This is a BabyBjorn carrier I scored from a friend for an awesome price! I think this will be great for carrying a baby around the store and such. For some reason Daddy thinks its only for breast-feeding. Don't ask me why he got that in his head. It's for mommies and daddies both to use!

Daddy's Practicing

Daddy wants to be sure he knows how to hold a baby by October so he is practicing with Hank. I think he's a natural. Next is diapers! Maybe Banjo will volunteer for that training session. haha

Nine Weeks!

How your baby's growing:Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape— and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

Sure, I'll sacrafice myself for a laugh.

I purchased this swim cap because I plan on swimming at the Y for exercise while I'm pregnant. I'm afraid if I don't wear a swim cap the chemicals in the pool will destroy my hair. I've never been a fan of the swim cap, but to be honest I had never tried one on before. Now I wonder, who knew a swim cap could look this good?!?!

Baby Oscar

This orange kitty is my shyest kitty. I found him on the interstate one summer. He tried so hard to run away from me but I held onto him tight and took him home. I think I got him a couple of weeks past the prime time to get a kitten because I never was able to get him to trust humans. Of course he loves his mommy and daddy and brothers and sisters but if someone else comes in the house, forget it, you'll never see him. But this shy kitty is always the first one to make friends with dogs, even when the other kitties only hiss and growl! Oscar throws himself down in front of the dogs and rolls around begging for attention. So cute!

Can they be trusted with a new dog bed?!?!

These two love to sleep on, or should I say beside, this pillow. As soon as one gets up the other has to run over and take it. Once upon a time we had a dog bed for them, but one new puppy who I won't name (ha ha) chewed the bed to bits. His daddy was so disgusted with him, he threw the bed away and vowed not to get another. But this is so pathetic I think we might have to relent.

On another note, we got tons of snow here yesterday. I think it's a snowed in day here on the hill. I don't have any problem with that. I'd be a little happier if I could have scored a gallon of milk, since I want to eat cereal for every meal, but I guess I'll live.

Eight Weeks!

How your baby's growing:New this week: Webbed fingers and toes are poking out from your baby's hands and feet, his eyelids practically cover his eyes, breathing tubes extend from his throat to the branches of his developing lungs, and his "tail" is just about gone. In his brain, nerve cells are branching out to connect with one another, forming primitive neural pathways. You may be daydreaming about your baby as one sex or the other, but the external genitals still haven't developed enough to reveal whether you're having a boy or a girl. Either way, your baby — about the size of a kidney bean — is constantly moving and shifting, though you still can't feel it.

Uncle Maxwell

This is my brother Maxwell. He is the favorite child of my parents. He said he is OK with being an uncle as long as he still gets all of the attention.

Here it is!

Here it is! The baby is a little over a centimeter long. The heart rate was 156. You could see the heart, the spine, and arm and leg buds. I am very lucky to have a wonderful doctor and she said everything with the baby is just fine!

I haven't gained any weight yet but I thought I would have. They took tons of blood! The only bad thing is I have a cyst on my ovary about the size of a tennis ball. She tells me it's fine for now but if it grows to 10 centimeters then it needs to be removed. Not to worry though, I've had a large cyst like this before and it dissolved on its own no problem. Even if it has to be removed it's still no problem.

Let it Snow

It's hard to believe this is what it looked like Wednesday of last week because today it was 70 degrees. I'm all for warm weather but I like to get snowed in at home too.