Labor and Golf

Our family sky just got brighter with the addition of a new star - our beautiful niece Alina Carolyn Noyes. Carrie added wonderful support to Meredith throughout the labor. However, at the end Carrie seemed a little scared. Typical male, I responded, think of it like Golf, You are on the 18th green, and your partner is away so he has to go first. This is great because you get to watch his putt and his read. Is the green fast or slow? Does it slope left or right? Carrie got to watch the whole labor process and learn from her partner. Same thing right? Ok, Meredith will probably agree, labor and golf are nothing alike. But its a good crack eh?

Blessed

Anyone who knows kids knows that little boys and little girls plan their lives when they are little. Boys plan on being neighbors with their BF's and racing bikes together or getting life size monster trucks and going 4 wheeling together. We maybe even talk about playing on the same football team together. Little girls (BFF's) talk about big weddings and having babies and watching their kids play together. What is about to happen to our families right now is partly a blessing from God but is was also planned. Our lives are turning out to just what we planned. We 'pretend' play football together....

We race bikes together....

and we are having babies together.



Soon our kids will all be playing together. We are blessed and we are thankful for this.

Final Countdown- 36 weeks!

It has been awhile since we have updated- my apologies! Things have been a bit hectic with our move to San Mateo. Not something I recommend to those that are 7 months pregnant! I am so lucky to have such a great husband and we are so lucky to have such great friends- all of which made a huge difference in making the move easier. We love our new spot and I finally get to start setting up some assemblance of a baby room!




My last day of work is Friday and so I have been very busy trying to establish a smooth transition for my departure. It is going to be an interesting time for me over the next few weeks while we are waiting for the baby and I am not working. I have never NOT worked... but the time has come. My feet are so swollen that I can't wear anything but flip flops. Sleep has become a major challenge so I am exhausted during the day- all of this will be good prep for the baby. My coworkers threw me a lovely surprise shower- I feel so lucky to work with such a great group of people!






Jason is tremendously supportive. He rubs my feet at night and tells me I am beautiful. I am so huge that I am starting to get scared about how big the baby will be and what this will mean for the labor! Think good thoughts for us!


Our wedding photographer just found a roll of film from our wedding that we hadn't seen and she sent the pictures- looking at these and realizing that it was only 8 months ago is amazing! I will include one. I am laughing at the difference between December 29th and August 29th!

This picture is sitting in our new backyard. Can you notice my belly?

30 weeks

Carrie has been talking to the baby much more these days. It's as if the baby is sitting with us in the room. We can see the movement. Crazy. I have been mentally preparing for what is about to happen. Life is changing. I don't know exactly how but it feels good. Here we go....

28 weeks

Big Big Big!

I may look like the good year blimp- but I feel great! My hairdresser asked me if I was carrying triplets- the nerve!
Good news is that my glucose test came back normal- and the report is that all is progessing as it should. I even spent 4 hours in Labor and Delivery earlier this week and got to hook up to the fetal monitor and listen to the baby's heartbeat (on amplified speaker) for about 4 hours. Very consisent and healthy heartbeat- between 140 and 150. I of course came racing home to research if you can determine sex by the fetal heartbeat. I had heard rumors that you could. Of course, all reliable research points to the fact that this is nothing but a myth. The detective in me can't stand not knowing whether it is a girl or boy so I am constantly trying to find out with these hokey pokey tricks. Ultimately though- I really don't want to know and am very excited to be surprised.
The baby has been extremely active lately. Major kicking and gymnastics going on. The other night we got to watch an elbow or something roll across the belly. It is so crazy to experience.

Meredith is at 30 weeks-looking great! here are a few shots of our bellies and recent trip to their house last weekend.

Adventures of a little Willard

We have heard that it is best to expose your unborn child to those experiences that he/she will be exposed to once he/she is born. So, this past week the Willards adventured Michigan. Our trip first started with a red eye flight to Detroit. Occasionally Carrie would rub her belly but as I tried to cop a feel, baby was quiet again. Maybe s/he is just trying to re-adjust during turbulence? Once we arrived we spent some time at Dale and Judy's house (Carrie's Mom and StepDad) and then ventured north (4hours) to Cederville in the Upper Peninsula. Not much action out of the little one during this part of the trip. My hope is that s/he is comfortable with air/car travel. Judy and Dale have a beautiful/tranquil home on Lake Huron which most likely soothed baby Willard. After a couple days of relaxing we did some Kayaking. Very little reaction from baby but certainly a valuable experience. I would occasionally look at Carrie and find her rubbing her belly and describing to the baby what was going on: "we're Kayaking now". Very cute motherly stuff. Baby also got to ride the motorboat. Wow! What a great time that was. I think s/he liked it. Especially my single ski slalom action. A little action here and there. Maybe s/he is excited to give it a try. Wed morning the baby must have been chomping at the bit to get out on the water again because I think s/he was doing flips and spins and twirls and every move possible. Very exciting for us. A sign that our baby is enjoying the early exposure to adventure. Overall it was a great trip. The car/air rides home to SF were quiet, a sign that the baby was worn out from such a wonderful trip. It's fun to imagine what is happening with the little one. Stay tuned for more adventures of our little Willard.

21 weeks

Baby is kicking big time this week. Jason has been able to feel it and I can even see it visibly just by looking at my stomach! Pretty crazy.
Jason is in the final stretch with school and so things are winding down. This weekend we finally had some spare time and made it out to Vallejo to visit Mere and Roger. Rog needed Jason for some overdue "Man Projects". Meredith and I made lunch. :-)
Meredith looks absolutely adorable. We are shaped so differently it is funny. I am starting to take bets now as to whether or not we are having a boy or girl. Interested in hearing opinions from anyone willing to wager!
Name guessing continues, but we still haven't settled on any good finalists.....