Category: Pregnancy


Nursery Update

Hey Y’all,

I know many of you have been wondering about how things are looking in the nursery. Well… Those of you who aren’t friends with Darrell on Facebook since he has been posting some progress pictures. But here is the progress thus far with the nursery:

While going through pictures, I realize that I didn’t exactly have a good before photo. So here are two semi-old photos of what the nursery looked like before:

 

We spent a whole weekend in the middle of April moving everything to the front room to make the front room the office/guest bedroom/music room. This is what the front room currently looks like:

 

 

 

 

We aren’t quite done with the room as there are some changes we want to make, but it is close, so we aren’t spending to much time worrying about it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, with the Nursery cleared out, it was time to begin to tape. I did this while D was at work. It took a couple hours, but I got it done.

 

Then came time for the first color. We decided to do the blue first because it covered more area than the green was going to.

 

 

 

So after we finished the blue, we waited 24 hours and then we began to work on the green.

 

 

 

 

So once we finished the green, we let it dry again. This time we waited a few days as we were going to be starting the stenciling. I did one attempt at the stencil, and we decided that the greens that came with it are a little to dull for our taste, so we are going to go out and buy a brighter color green for it. Our hope is to get the stenciling done this weekend. No guarantees, but it is our hope. We also took all the tape off of the upper parts of the room. We left the baseboard tape on so that we won’t accidentally drip paint on the white baseboards while painting the stencils.

 

 

 

Here is another couple of shots of the stencil next to the fabric that we got our idea from and the one we are probably going to use for curtains.

 

So that is what Baby Ross’ room looks like currently. Darrell likes that it definitely looks like a kids room. It is nice and bright. We can’t wait to see it finished. If we get our stenciling done this weekend, we are going to contact our friend who is giving us a crib and see if we can get the room cleaned and a crib put in it. Things are just slowly falling together. We have 11 more weeks until our due date unless baby decides to come early. We still have a lot to do, but we are getting there. We haven’t decided on a name quite yet, but we are slowly narrowing down our list. We are hoping to have a name nailed down by the end of June. Just in case baby decides to come early.

Hope y’all are enjoying your friday and that y’all have a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend! Enjoy the 3-day weekend!!!!

~S

 

Here is part 2 of our month of May. The Second half of the Month was busy, but it wasn’t quite as busy as the first half. It just seems that way. ๐Ÿ™‚

Darrell had a couple of gigs with the Abilene Pipers, so we went to those. One of them was playing for the Illumination ceremony for the Breckenridge Relay for Life. The photos didn’t turn out all that great, so, no photos for that. The next day, the Pipers played for the Abilene Zoo’s Zoolute to Dyess. It was pretty fun walking around the Zoo and seeing all of the families there. It was probably the most crowded I had seen the zoo with the exception of Spring Break. The picture of the Flamingo’s is in there because the Flamingo in the middle has a baby under it. The other ones are sitting on eggs.

 

Then I can’t go a month without adding at least one photo of each of the cats. Zedd has always liked laying down with his feet crossed and Darrell finally got a good picture of him. It might just end up on the Christmas card (if there is room after all Baby’s photos are on there. :P). And then for the longest time, our towels kept being pulled off of their racks onto the floor and we knew who was doing it, but we couldn’t prove it. I finally got proof that he was pulling them down and then getting them situated for himself. He is always dragging clothes around the house. He really likes to help when it comes to Laundry day. Just the other day, Darrell noticed that their towel from the bookcase was missing and we spent a long time looking for it. We found it when I finally took out the last load of laundry that I had done. I never took it off the shelf, so the only other option was that Poleeko decided it was time to clean it, so he took it to where I would pick it up and throw it in the laundry. They sure are funny cats. ๐Ÿ™‚

 

Last but definitely not least: As many of you know, I have quit my job. Today was the last day of the school year, and my last day at work. I am going to just be a stay at home Mommy. I might go back occasionally just to keep my license up and help out when they are desperate. But, since I was leaving, the lovely ladies and gentleman at the bus barn threw me a surprise going away party/Baby Shower. I truly felt loved and appreciated. They did a wonderful job and Baby got some needed items. Many of the girls gave me a hard time because they didn’t know the sex, so they had to pick neutral items. We loved everything they came up with! One of the girls I talk to the most found the cutest little ride along/push School Bus. I absolutely love it and can’t wait until Baby is old enough. There weren’t many photos taken as it was just a get some food after your route kind of deal. It did make me a little sad that I was leaving, and I didn’t get enough time to write thank-yous for everyone, but I will get them out at the beginning of next school year. They just said that I needed to bring Baby by so they could see him/her.

 

So that is what we have been up to this month. I am glad that it is almost over, but our preparation for Baby has just begun. ๐Ÿ™‚ I do have Nursery photos of the painting we have been doing, but I think that shall wait till tomorrow.

~S

 

Old Wives Tales

Hey Y’all!

We have been fairly busy lately. I have gone to Seattle to visit family for my cousins wedding, Darrell is currently in Orlando for a work conference and then he is flying straight to CA for the Boonville Beerfestival, we have been working on Pixel’s nursery, picking names for Pixel (haven’t decided yet), working outside, and we just bought some new toys (an iMac and iPhones). So with all of that going on, I haven’t had much time to post. Once we get everything transferred and organized, I will have some more photos for y’all since I know many of you just come for the photos. Either I will have a post up next week, or it might wait until after I am done with work (12 more school days). So until I get my stuff together, here is something for ya.

Since many people have asked me a couple old wives tales to determine what I am having, I thought I would do a nice compilation of the ones I found online along with my answers. I was very surprised when I found 37 that related to the sex of the baby. There was a total of 50 old wives tales, but some of them just related to how baby would look. So for your reading pleasure, here is the list of 37 with a fun #38 thrown in. ๐Ÿ™‚ What do you think Baby Ross will be? Boy? Girl? Only 93 more days until we find out! (Or at least until the due date)

Old Wives Tale #1: ย Heart Rate

If the babyโ€™s heart rate is above 140 bpm, it is said that the baby will be a girl. ย If it is under 140 bpm, then it will be a boy.

– Babyโ€™s Heart rate has been between 145-155, so this could mean Girl

Old Wives Tale #2: ย Shape of Belly

If you are carrying high with a big, round belly, you are having a girl. ย If you are carrying low with a smaller belly that sticks straight out, itโ€™s a boy.

– I am currently carrying low with a big, round belly. This might change as I get bigger, but right now, it means that I am having a boy since carrying low, but a girl since I have a big, round belly. So no set answer yet.

Old Wives Tale #3: ย Ring Test

Using a string, hang your wedding ring over your pregnant belly. ย You are having a girl if the ring swings back and forth ย and itโ€™s a boy if it swings in a circle.

– I havenโ€™t done the ring test. so no idea about this one.

Old Wives Tale #4: ย Shape of Momโ€™s Face

When your face gets fuller and rounder when pregnant, it means youโ€™re going to have a girl. ย If your face is long and narrow, itโ€™s a boy.

– My face hasnโ€™t changed, so this doesnโ€™t have any notice for me.

Old Wives Tale #5: ย Key Test

This test involves a key. ย If you pick up a key at the top (the roundest part), you are going to have a boy. ย If you pick up the key at the bottom (smallest part), you are going to have a girl. ย If you happen to grab the key in the middle, congrats, itโ€™s twins!

–ย I have always picked up the keys in the middle. This means twins, but doc has said that it is only one, so there goes that one. ๐Ÿ™‚

Old Wives Tale #6: ย Mayan Tale

The Mayan tale adds the mothers age at conception and the year of conception. ย If the result is a even number then mom is having a girl. ย If the result is an odd number then a boy is on the way!

–ย I was 26 and the year was 2011 so that is odd and makes for a boy.

Old Wives Tale #7: ย Drano Test

The drano test combines a tablespoon of Drano and urine together. ย If the mixture turns green, itโ€™s a girl. ย If it turns blue, itโ€™s a boy.

–ย I refuse to do the drano test. I have heard some bad things about it, so I wonโ€™t even give it a try.

Old Wives Tale #8: ย Acne

If you have acne while pregnant, itโ€™s a girl. ย Itโ€™s thought that acne during pregnancy is caused by the extra hormones.

–ย I have been breaking out really bad on my chest so that means I should be having a girl.

Old Wives Tale #9: ย Cravings

People believe that if you are craving salty foods while pregnant, you can count on having a boy. ย If you crave sweets, fruit, and orange juice, you are having a little girl.

–ย My cravings change from week to week. Some weeks it is for sweets, other weeks is for salty foods. This doesnโ€™t give us an answer though.

Old Wives Tale #10: ย Smell of Garlic

If a pregnant woman eats a clove of garlic and the smell does not come out of her pores, itโ€™s a girl. ย If the smell seeps out of her pores, itโ€™s a boy.

–ย I eat lots of garlic, but usually Darrell eats it to, so no idea whether or not the smell comes out my pores.

Old Wives Tale #11: ย Skin under Left Eye

The eye test is when a โ€œVโ€ or โ€œbranchesโ€ appear when you pull down the skin under your left eye. ย If you see a โ€œVโ€ or โ€œbranchesโ€ in the white part, youโ€™re having a girl.

–ย No โ€œVโ€ or โ€œbranchesโ€, so that means it is a boy.

Old Wives Tale #12: ย Previous Kids

This tale only applies if you have had previous kids. ย If you have and that childโ€™s first word was momma, you will have a girl. ย If your first childโ€™s first word was dadda, youโ€™ll have a boy.

–ย This is our first, so this one doesnโ€™t apply.

Old Wives Tale #13: ย History of Parentโ€™s Kids

You can find out the sex by going off of your parentโ€™s kids and the order. ย If you are the first born, you will have what your mother had but starting with her second child. ย If you are the middle child, you will have what she had, but starting with the third child. ย If you are the last child, you will have what your mother had in the exact order. ย I think this tale only works when the parentโ€™s had three kids.

–ย According to this one we are set for a girl. We are both first borns, and our second siblings are both a girl. Plus, our donor only has a sister. We donโ€™t know whether he is a firstborn or not though.

Old Wives Tale #14: ย Time of Conception

The person that is most aggressive in bed at the time of conception is the opposite of what the baby will be.

–ย This one doesnโ€™t apply to us because I was on a table at a doctors office.

Old Wives Tale #15: ย Legs

If your legs get really big, youโ€™re having a boy. ย If your legs stay in shape and lean, itโ€™s a girl.

–ย My thighs have expanded a little bit, but they were big to begin with. Supposedly this means it is a boy.

Old Wives Tale #16: ย Moodiness and a Little Pecker

If you are really moody, you are having a girl since you have another extra girl hormones in you. Your pregnancy will make you smile and be more happy if you are having a boy because thereโ€™s a little penis inside you.

–ย Iโ€™m not any moodier than I was before pregnancy. So this is another count for boy.

Old Wives Tale #17: ย Bread

If you eat the ends of bread, itโ€™s a boy. ย If you eat the middle of the load, itโ€™s a girl.

–ย I eat the ends occasionally. Not on a regular basis, but if we are down to the end, I will eat the ends. So this makes it a boy or girl.

Old Wives Tale #18: ย Chinese Gender Chart

The Chinese Gender Chart claims to have an accuracy rate of over 90%. ย It is based on how old the mother is at conception and the month that she conceived.

–ย If I put the date of the IUI procedure in, then I am having a boy. By putting in my due date, then I am having a girl. So who knows!

Old Wives Tale #19: ย Momโ€™s Beauty

Basically you are having a girl if your beauty disappears during pregnancy. ย It is said that the girl โ€œstealsโ€ the motherโ€™s beauty. ย If you think that pregnancy has never made you look more beautiful, you might just be having a little boy.

–ย According to Darrell, I have never looked so good, so this leans for a boy. A lot of my co-workers say that I am looking good as well.

Old Wives Tale #20: ย Dream of Sex of Baby

If you have dreams that you are having a boy, you will have a girl. ย If you dream about having a girl, it will be a boy. ย Dreams show the opposite of what you are having.

–ย I havenโ€™t really been dreaming much about the baby. I have had dreams about twins, but nothing about what the sex is.

Old Wives Tale #21: ย Clumsy vs. Graceful

If the pregnant woman is graceful throughout her pregnancy, sheโ€™s having a girl. ย If she becomes clumsy, sheโ€™s having a boy.

–ย I have always been clumsy. I have about the same amount of clumsiness now, so that would indicate a boy.

Old Wives Tale #22: ย Toddlers

If a toddler boy expresses interest in a pregnant woman, she is having a girl. ย If he doesnโ€™t show interest, sheโ€™s having a boy.

–ย I have hung around a couple of toddler boys, and it really depends on what they are doing. Sometimes they express interest, sometimes there is something better going on. So this doesnโ€™t indicate one way or another.

Old Wives Tale #23: ย Side You Most Rest On

If a pregnant woman prefers to lay on her left side, sheโ€™s having a boy. ย If she prefers resting on her right side, sheโ€™s having a girl.

–ย I prefer to lay on my right side about 70 percent of the time. I still lay on my left side and my back occasionally. So this would indicate a girl.

Old Wives Tale #24: ย Hands

When the pregnant woman is asked to show her hands, itโ€™s a boy if she keeps her palms down and a girl if she shows her palms up.

–ย Iย always show my hands palms up. Guess that means girl again.

Old Wives Tale #25: ย Dadโ€™s Weight Gain

If the dad-to-be gains weight while you are pregnant, itโ€™s a girl. ย If he doesnโ€™t gain weight, youโ€™re having a boy.

–ย Darrell hasnโ€™t gained any weight during my pregnancy yet, so this would mean boy.

Old Wives Tale #26: ย Breast Test

If a pregnant womanโ€™s left breast is larger than the right breast, sheโ€™s having a girl. ย If the right breast is larger, itโ€™s a boy.

–ย My right breast has always been slightly larger than my left. during pregnancy, they have about evened out. I would lean more towards girl in this case.

Old Wives Tale #27: ย Necklace Over Hand

Have someone hold a necklace over your hand. ย If the necklace swings back and forth, itโ€™s a boy. ย If it moves in a circle, itโ€™s a girl.

–ย This is another test I havenโ€™t done and probably wonโ€™t do.

Old Wives Tale #28: ย What Do You Think?

71% of the time, the mom-to-be knows what she is having.

–ย I am still thinking it is boy/girl twins, so I donโ€™t trust my intuition.

Old Wives Tale #29: ย Morning Sickness

If you had a smooth pregnancy with no morning sickness, itโ€™s a boy. ย If you were sick or felt really nauseous during your pregnancy, count on a girl.

–ย I was slightly nauseous and it was only while in a moving vehicle. this leads to a vote for girl.

Old Wives Tale #30: ย Areolae

If yourย areolaeย (the part around your nips) have darkened, itโ€™s a boy.

–ย I do have to say that my areolae have darkened. Not gotten really dark, but they are definitely a shade darker. Another vote for boy.

Old Wives Tale #31: ย Protein

When a pregnant woman craves meat and cheese, count on a boy.

–ย I do crave meat and cheese occasionally. I donโ€™t know whether it is a true craving or if it is just because the midwife said I needed more protein. Either way – vote for boy.

Old Wives Tale #32: ย Feet

Are your feet colder now that you are pregnant? ย If so, you just might be having a boy. ย If your feet have stayed the same before pregnancy and during, youโ€™re having a little girl.

–ย So far my feet have remained about the same as before pregnancy. I do wear socks almost all of the time though. Vote for girl.

Old Wives Tale #33: ย Hair on Legs

If the hair on your legs has been growing at record speeds, you might be having a boy.

–ย As I donโ€™t shave my legs all that often, I have no idea how fast my leg hair has been growing. Giving this one a boy/girl vote.

Old Wives Tale #34: ย Hands are Dry

If your hands are constantly dry, itโ€™s a boy.

–ย My hands are always sweaty on the palms, but the outside of the hands are definitely dry. I have been putting on tons of lotion. Giving this another boy/girl vote.

Old Wives Tale #35: ย Urine

What color is your pee? ย If it is bright yellow, you will have a little boy. ย If your urine is a dull yellow, plan on a girl.

–ย I donโ€™t know about most of yโ€™all, but my urine changes color density depending on how much water I drink. Lots of water = dull yellow, little water = bright yellow. So hereโ€™s another boy/girl vote.

Old Wives Tale #36: ย Nose

Do you feel like your nose is growing and getting wider? ย If so, you might be having a boy.

–ย My nose isnโ€™t growing at all. Vote for girl.

Old Wives Tale #37: ย Headaches

If you are having headaches, you might be carrying a boy.

–ย I have definitely been getting lots of headaches. Heres a vote for for boy.

Old Wives Tale #38: ย Full Moon

A full moon was believed to cause a woman to go into labor and give birth.

–ย Guess I better keep my calendar open for August 1st as that is the full moon before my due date. ๐Ÿ™‚

Total Numbers: Girl = 9; Boy = 10; Either = 11; Not Applicable = 7

Seems to be fairly evened out don’t you think?

 

Wowzers!

We have been extremely busy these last two weeks. We have planted the garden for this year, cleaned out the nursery, set up the office/guest room, Scottish Heritage Day at Abilene State Park, and giving Zedd some antibiotics for his feline acne.

For our garden this year, we are hoping things grow and produce like they should. I don’t know if we are being optimistic or not, but we planted a lot of things. We have: 2 zucchini, 4 cucumbers, 2 broccoli, 6 cauliflower, 4 green beans, 6 sweet banana peppers, 6 cubano peppers, 4 cherry tomatoes, 4 yellow pear tomatoes, 4 cherokee purple tomatoes, 2 cabbage, 4 basil bunches, 8 pea bunches, and a thyme bush. We also bought some catnip, but we haven’t planted that yet. We are hoping for a lot of veggies and the ability to share with neighbors and friends. ๐Ÿ™‚

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have had a lot of really good weather, so we have all been spending a lot of time outside. I really like this time of year and the awesome weather we get. Glad we haven’t ย gotten any of the nasty weather that areas around us have been getting.

We spent our Easter weekend moving the office to the front room so we have an empty room for the nursery. It was a lot of work, but we finally finished the moving part. We don’t quite have everything where we would like it in the new office/guest room, but we are working on it. I will put pictures up later after we get it finished. It might not be until June or so since we have a lot of things planned in the next couple weeks. But they will be up at some point.

Last weekend, Darrell had a gig with the Abilene Pipers at the Abilene State Park for Scottish Heritage Day. We had a lot of fun and it was a gorgeous day for it (even if a little windy :P)

I also realized that yesterday has been 2 years since we closed on the house! Boy does time fly when you actually have stuff to do ๐Ÿ™‚

We can’t wait until August and are excited to meet our little Pixel. We still haven’t come up with names, but we still have a couple months. Everything has been looking good at the last couple appointments. I am currently measuring 2 weeks ahead, so who knows what the next few months will bring. We are about 23.5 weeks along with 16.5 to go. Here are some pictures we took in our backyard. The first two were taken on Friday, the last two were taken on Saturday (hence the two separate outfits).

Enjoy your spring!

BABY!! (We think :P)

We had our level 2 ultrasound today. We were really excited to make sure that everything is going ok and that there aren’t any noticeable defects. Pixel is all curled up in a ball, so we didn’t get any good shots. We got a couple of pictures, but you can barely make out the face. We got to see the hands and feet as baby moved them around to curl up tighter. All of the shots look like a Jack Skellington face almost.

Looks like we have a stubborn kid here. ๐Ÿ˜›

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