Ultrasound Pictures!

We had our last ultrasound on Thursday and everything is looking good!  Here's some pics!

Hand in the top, weird movement in the bottom.

Foot!

Maybe a Carmody nose?

Week 29 - Crib is built!

Next thing checked off of our to do list:  build crib!  Joe conquered the crib with no problems this past weekend!  I think LJ3 will be happy to see that his dad sported his Elmo t-shirt while doing so.  The crib is actually pretty awesome, we made a good pick!

And as you can see here, we're still growing - well, I'm still growing!  I can feel things getting a little tighter in there!  We aren't able to figure out body parts when he moves yet, but it is definitely obvious when his little butt (or head) is pushed up against my stomach because it gets as hard as a rock!

This is a short one because I'll have much more exciting news (and pictures) for you tomorrow after our ultrasound!  We can't wait to see him, and can't wait to show you!

Until then, have a happy Thursday!

Love,

Robyn

Quick Update - Week 28 Check-Up

Went to the doctor yesterday and we are happy and blessed to say that everything is right on track!  Couldn't ask for anything more!

We have our final ultrasound next Friday and we can't wait to see the little guy one last time before we see him i  color!

Anyways, we're just always happy to hear good news!

Third Trimester!

Can you believe we're beginning the third trimester?!  Only 12 weeks left!  The thought brings great excitement…and with it, great anxiety!

In lieu of our weekend trip to Illinois, our little guy has been communicating with me more than normal.  I think he might be a creature of habit (or maybe I am) but he was all up in arms about the tremendous shift in schedule and menu.  He was moving like crazy all weekend and I think he was a little relieved to be back in our own bed last night.

Turns out that traveling is much less enjoyable while pregnant.  Back in May when we flew from St. Louis, I had my first experience puking in an airplane bathroom.  Last Thursday, I almost had my second.  I again wound up kneeling on the bathroom floor of the airplane, one place I would prefer to never be close to again.

While the occasion from the visit was far from ideal, outside of the funeral, it was nice to spend time with family.  It is always good to see our little nieces and nephew who are growing up way to quickly.  We are very lucky that they are equally always excited to see us!

The three of them, Cora, Melia and Peyton, are all at different stages of understanding how babies grow.  They got a test run with Erin & Eli and now, with one under their belt and a year's worth of knowledge, they're beginning to catch on.  Cora is content touching and talking to my belly through my t-shirt while Melia needs to pull all of my shirts up, probably thinking she'll actually see a baby underneath.  Peyton follows Cora's lead and cups his hands to talk to the baby, usually saying "hey!" in his very serious voice.  I was eating some cashews in the car and Cora asked if she could have some.  I told her I was eating them because the baby was hungry.  She said, "he's eating peanuts"?  I said, yes, and she said "do you crush them up really small?"  So cute.  Cora has decided that our baby will be Baby Repunzel.  Works for me. 

Vic's little brother Paulie was also learning a lot about babies and was trying to understand what Erin was doing when she was breastfeeding Eli.  She has a little cloak she wears and he was asking her why Eli was laying underneath it.  She said that Eli was eating from her chest.  Paulie replied, "So what is there like food spread all over your chest?"  So precious.  :)

The weekend was exhausting and ended with some sinus complications for me and sleep deprivation for Joe.  We're glad to be back in Seattle and are trying to recover.

Here's some pics of our little ones growing up! (Apparently they all love wearing glasses.)

In Loving Memory of Victor Cuomo

This weekend we made an unexpected trip to Illinois.  Sadly, Vic's dad (also named Victor) died last Tuesday and we went to be with him and his family.  We are very sad for Vic and Erin's loss and we are glad we were able to be there with them.  Vic has 3 brothers, two of which are just 8 & 10 - so we pray that God will give these boys the peace and support they need as they get ready to go back to school.  And we thank God for the gift of Heaven for Vic's dad, and ask that God will take extra care of the family that stays behind.  Eli brings a lot of life and joy as Eli, like his dad, is his grandpa's namesake - Victor Eli.  

Little Vic, Littler Victor Eli, & Vic's brothers Paulie & Teddy 

We certainly would have preferred to be surrounded by family in different circumstances, but in times of loss, it is always a good reminder to be thankful for what we have.  

Week 27

Today is the start of Week 27…which means we're really pregnant now, and there's only 14 weeks left to figure this whole thing out!  

How about that maternity elastic?!

Anyways, I feel like we've got a lot going on - so let's see which of it translates to an interesting update for you!

Two weeks ago we went to an orientation for an organization called PEPS (Program for Early Parent Support).  It is a Seattle-based organization that puts you in a group with families in your neighborhood with newborns.  So, after our little guy is born, we'll be placed in a group of about 8 families with babies under 4 months old.  It's just a 12 week program, and once a week you meet at a members house to socialize, talk, etc.  We are really excited about this because we don't have any friends who have kids coming anytime soon!  We're hoping it will give us the chance to meet some people!  From what we've heard - people love the organization and the groups usually continue to meet once the structured 12 weeks are over.  Joe's boss was in a PEPS group that is still meeting weekly one year later, so she kind of forced us to check it out!

The orientation for this was a unique experience in and of itself.  We've not really spent any time at all with any other expecting parents.  Well, there were about 25 in the orientation!  Some were due any day, others were due after us…quite a collection of hormones as you could imagine.  It was nice - maybe a bit extreme for our first "conversation" with others in our situation, but always nice to know you're not the only ones feeling this way or that.  We probably won't see most of those people again since the orientation was city-wide and the groups are done by neighborhood, but it did affirm for me that it will be nice to have a group of people who are in our situation once the baby is born.  And, while saying all of this, we are SO lucky at how supportive and excited the friends we do have here are for us! 

One of our best friends here is Eric.  We were hanging out last night with him and he told me that he wanted to make sure we knew that once the baby was born, they still wanted to hang out and they totally didn't mind hanging out at our house or theirs instead of going out…then we both paused…and neither of us could remember the last time we hung out that wasn't at our houses!  We had a good laugh…glad we have friends who are content to eat dinner, play board games and talk.

This leads me to another awesome "prepping event" we got to do last week - a hospital tour!  After attending probably 20 of the 23 births of my cousins…I had a pretty good idea of what the hospital environment for having a baby is like … at St. John's in St. Louis.  Then, after having the appendectomy done at the hospital here (with rooms similar to St. John's) 

I wasn't sure what to expect from the tour.  But it is TOTALLY different!  The hospital we will be at has a "birthing center".  I'm still not sure exactly what that means, other than it is pretty separate, but connected to the actual hospital.  There were 2 other couples there for the tour with us, and one was a couple we'd met at the PEPs orientation!  Turns out they even have the same doctor as us!  I guess even Seattle can start to feel small sometimes.

Anyways, the tour was awesome.  The place is so nice- quite homey compared to the typical hospital hallways.  There was no room with glass windows where you look in and see all the babies.  In fact, they only birth 2-3 babies a day there and they stay in the room with you through your entire hospital stay (unless you request them to take them to the NICU nursery for a bit so you can sleep).  There's a jacuzzi in most of the rooms and kitchens in the hallway.  They certainly aren't as accommodating to the the clan we are used to at Carmody births.  In fact, the only "waiting room" is the lobby at the entrance…but don't worry, it saves everyone lots of money on flights and we'll be taking lots of pictures!  Plus, we're still planning to be in the midwest for Christmas!

The nurse manager who gave the tour raved about our doctor - this is always nice to hear!

So, in other news…the CPAP machine has been adjusted so I'm wearing it more these days, which means we're both getting more sleep.  And I ordered this crazy pregnancy body pillow which takes up half of the bed, but is quite amazing.  We might have to order one for Joe, too, because I think he's jealous.  :)  Other than tiredness, the only other main persisting ailment is heartburn, but Pepcid AC is a miracle drug, so if I'm smart about it, the heartburn doesn't have to be a problem either.

Dave was in town this weekend which also meant a lot of Eli time!  Joe and Dave went to the Columbia River Gorge to see Phish (they loved it, but thankfully didn't come back much hippier) so I got to hang out with Erin and Eli!  We had fun!  He just started walking and his 1st birthday is in less than 2 weeks!

And for the last part of this update, I'll tell you about the most precious time we have with our little guy.  He's moving all the time.  It is such a unique feeling - but I love it.  So every night before we go to bed, he's usually still as can be.  Before we go to sleep we talk to him.  Sometimes, it's just a few seconds and sometimes it takes a few minutes, but without fail he wakes up for us every night!  It is the most precious time we have together.  We talk to him, tell him to keep cooking and thank him for waking up so we know he's alright!  It helps us sleep better knowing he can hear us.  Then, we all go to sleep.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I have a lot more to share, so I'll write again sooner than later.  I love and miss you all!

Love,

Robyn, Joe & LJ3