Michigan City, Indiana (June 16th)

Just a quick work trip to Michigan City, Indiana. Here is a photo from the Washington Park Zoo and lake Michigan.

Make sure you are scrolling down!

I am back posting a bunch of baby stuff! I hope I'll get caught up soon!

Things are heating up...

So for the last week or so (15 weeks pregnant) I have been eating some really hot and spicy foods. I have been doing pretty well eating lots of fruits and veggies, but it seems like every time I cook I have made something hot. From buffalo chicken dip (doubled the amount of Frank's Red Hot Wing Sauce), to chicken fajitas (with extra chipotle seasoning) and then for a work party - black bean and corn salsa (with jalapenos added!) This is so not the usual me. I can handle medium, but that is usually it. I told Andrew the love of hot foods must have been something he passed on to the baby because it's not a normal craving for me! (And no for those of you who may ask....no heartburn either, yet.)

Congrats Jeff and Emily! (June 5th)

Somehow I managed to delete the photo of the bride and groom while I was uploading to the computer?!

Telling our big news....

Telling Megan: I had the idea to tell Megan by giving her a babysitting book with a note in it. Andy and I picked one out at Borders and I wrapped it up for her. We knew she had soccer practice, but we didn't want to wait until afterward. We went over and saw her and I gave her the gift. When she unwrapped it she said "Cool!" so then I said, "Read the note inside." She read the note out loud, but stopped after, "Hey Megan! We're having a ....." She just looked at us with her mouth wide open. I said "Go show the note to your dad." She ran across the room and handed it to Andy F. After that there was lots of congratulations and hugs. They were very excited!

Telling work: I had met with my boss and told him the news, but asked him to not say anything until the following day. The next day I brought in a bunch of cookies with a note on them saying "Have one....WE ARE!" I also stamped a couple of baby-themed stamps on the card. I then left some in our departments office and also by the main employee entrance/time clock. It was so funny. Some people would scream when they saw it, and some people stood there and ate two cookies before someone had to clue them in on it. I really had a fun time sharing the news this way. The comments after were quite the range, I had about 5 guys tell me they already knew (I really don't think they did) and I had one woman say, "I asked so and so if they thought you were gaining weight last week!" This was coming from someone who has always had some tact issues :) The whole day was really fun though, I wish there was exciting stuff like this everyday. Also, I know the photo has cupcakes in it, these were actually for the vet's office, I just didn't get a picture of the cookies.

Telling the restaurant: I ended up telling the restaurant a week before I had planned too. I was having some wardrobe issues and felt like there wasn't a shirt I owned that was capable of disguising my tummy. I was getting ready for work and would come downstairs and ask Andrew, "Do I look pregnant?" And he would just smile and laugh so I would too and then go upstairs and change again. After like 3 or 4 outfits he suggested that I just tell them. So when I went in I told one of the owners right away. I told everyone else there at the same time and then I felt this humongous wave of relief. I didn't have to hold in my tummy anymore! The next day I went in again to tell the other owner and the staff that was working that day. I had gotten a bag of pink and blue candy from Betty Jane's and when they unwrapped it they couldn't figure out what the candy was for. Easter? Umm, no Easter was 7 weeks ago. Finally it hit them...."Oh my gosh! You're pregnant!" The only blue candy Betty Jane's had was gummi sharks. I thought it was fitting with the aquarium, but man did it make for some funny guesses. Also, this was my day off and I went shopping for a couple of things before I went in for lunch. I have a very hilarious Victoria's Secret story from this same day, but I've decided I'm not posting it on the internet. If you want to know you'll have to ask me when you see me.

12 Weeks

We had our 12 week ultrasound on June 1st. We saw the ultrasound technician first and she was able to get all the measurements she needed. It was funny, the baby would roll away from her and she would push on my belly to get it to turn. We could see its arms and legs moving, but other then that it was pretty difficult to distinguish what was what. When she switched the machine to 3D (last photo) it was crazy. Not really human-like, but maybe more human like then the grainy black and white ones. The heartbeat was 176 bpm which she said was great. It sounded like a really fast whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. After the ultrasound we met with the midwife (there are two and we have now seen them both) and she was really great. I didn't have very many questions, so for my 16 week appointment I'll have to write some down. Overall everything checked out great!

Memorial Day

Zach Urban stars in "I swear these aren't my baby brother's shorts."

Maybe it's just the angle of everyone's heads, but man do you guys look alike in this photo!

So, on Memorial Day weekend Chris & Andrea came up from St. Charles and we had the Urban family over for a cookout at our house. We were excited because we were telling the family this weekend. We did have to swear them to secrecy for another week though, the major reveal was going to be after our 12 week ultrasound.

Final leg of Mother's Day weekend

So for the last night of our weekend in Minnesota we went to Mom's house where we proceeded to divide plants for a couple of hours (many thanks for all the flowers!) and then went out to dinner. Somehow we managed to fit these into the Envoy as well, really no idea how and no idea why we didn't get a picture of the car then - it was stuffed!

Shopping Madness! (Mother's Day weekend continued)

So, here are some photos from Mother's Day weekend in Minnesota. We went all over, I don't think there was a maternity or baby store we missed! (Mom, you had no idea this was how your weekend was going to be, did you?) No one bought anything too large, but lots and lots of smaller purchases really filled Lara's Envoy quickly. And note for future Mall of America shopping trips....the Hyatt Place had rooms for $80 a night, the room was actually two rooms hooked together and the price included a great continental breakfast. (That is a huge bonus for two pregnant ladies!) I really think this should be an annual trip...

Telling Mom.... (May 8th, 2009)

We told almost everyone at the same time, after our 12 week ultrasound on June 1st, but some of you did hear a little bit before that. Here is a video of me telling mom on Mother's Day weekend (almost 9 weeks). I had a petunia hanging plant for her and on the card from the florist I wrote "You're going to be a grandma again! Love, Andy, Abby, plus one" Big thanks to Lara who came up for the weekend and was able to be sneaky and shoot the video of the reveal for us! Andrew wanted to come, but knew we were doing some intense shopping at the Mall of America as well as various maternity and baby stores so he opted out. (The frog mentioned is a baby gift Mom had bought for Lara!)

ALMOST outed (April 18th, 23rd, and 25th, 2009)

April 18th - We were meeting a group of friends out at Champps for dinner, drinks, and a UFC fight (not my thing, but that's a different story). Well, I had been thinking about how to skirt around the whole not drinking thing and I had a few ideas that wouldn't tip anyone off. I ordered a virgin Bloody Mary (quietly) and didn't think anything of it until someone else ordered a Bloody Mary and it came in this big, elaborate glass with tons of garnishes. I guess they put the virgin ones in plain glasses. At least no one seemed to notice and the drink was really good!

April 23rd - Mom was in town this weekend for a visit and 5 of us - Me, Mom, Andy, Andy, and John met at Los Aztecas for dinner. The margaritas there are fabulous and were flowing for everyone. Mom kept saying, "Oh just split one with me." "Just try mine." Etc., etc. Well, a couple of fake sips seemed to appease the group. I got away with drinking Sprite after that.

April 25th - Andy and I were grocery shopping later in the evening when I ran into a former co-worker and her daughter. We caught up for a minute or two and I realized that although we had a list of about 10 things to get the only things we had with us at the time were Saltines and Ginger Ale. Umm, is that obvious?

I think it is just me. I feel like this is soooo obvious, but thankfully I haven't been called out by anyone yet. Our secret is still safe.

We're Pregnant Part 2 - Confirmed by the doctor (April 10th, 2009)

Today a blood test at the doctors office gave us more proof that were are indeed pregnant! We were also given some (okay lots) of literature and asked questions about pediatricians, breastfeeding, birth options, etc. I had the appointment just before going to work and my head was completely spinning once I went in. So much to think about...

We're Pregnant! (April 8th, 2009)

Yes, it's true! I woke up about 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday to use the bathroom (now standard procedure) and I was fairly certain I was pregnant. I had a pretty good feeling when I woke Andy up on Monday (our day off) at 6 a.m. to go get eggs and pancakes at IHOP and even the Saturday before that I was having symptoms that had me thinking I was. Well, anyway, back to Wednesday the 8th. I woke up and tested with the top test, a weird little strip test that came free with a purchase off of drugstore.com. It was faint, but there was a second line. I then used the second test, one Andy had gotten for me at the Dollar Store a month earlier. Honest to god, this test came in a pink and blue box and was only labeled "Baby Test". I was seriously doubting the accuracy of something that looked so generic, so I used the final test, a digital one that I had saved for when it was time to reveal the news to Andy.

Well, the digital popped up Pregnant in less then 30 seconds so I wrapped it in some tissue paper and added it to a gift bag I had stashed in our guest bedroom. I crept back into our bedroom (now around 5 a.m.) and quietly woke up Andy. He was obviously groggy and confused, but i told him I had something to give him and I needed him to wake up. I clicked on the lamp and gave him the gift bag. I told him to open the smaller wrapped one first. He opened the digital test, squinted, looked harder, looked at me and said, "Right now? You're pregnant right now?" I told him yes that I had just taken it and I think he woke completely up. He opened the second gift - a pack of neutral colored onesies and socks (newborn size, which is almost frighteningly small) and after that we just laid and bed and pondered what had just occurred. Neither of us were going back to sleep, we were just too excited!