Another Month

So it is a month since the last belly picture was posted. So here you go just a few days shy of 17 weeks. We have a doctors appointment tomorrow and we will get to schedule an appointment for the ultrasound where we will find out if it's a boy or a girl. I can't wait to know. I think that will make it all real.

Mike was feeling left out so he wanted to add a picture of his own. A self portrait of Mike.

Shrubland

When we moved into our cozy little home I had no idea just how much I was capable of loving a house. I knew that this was the house for us from the moment I stepped through the front door. While it is far from perfection I find myself never wanting to leave. I know the day will come where we might need more space or need to move to a different location all together but I just can't imagine leaving.

The list of things I love about this house include the homey feel it posses. Though it has less square feet than our last place the vaulted ceilings that soar in every room make it feel open. Everything is on one floor. We live in a wonderful neighborhood with friendly and welcoming neighbors who are quickly becoming friends. There is a park right behind our house that our two hairy children love to visit. Oh and I have a large kitchen.

Of course, there are the things I could change, the outdated early 90's light fixtures, the sterile white walls, the old carpet that becomes more and more disgusting with every doggie paw that steps into our home, then there was Shrubland.


While I directed, no grunt work for me and baby, Mike so willingly ripped all 13 shrubs that shrouded the front of my perfect little home. I hated every single one of them. I would open the door and felt like I wasn't a part of the neighborhood. That and then the sprinklers couldn't water because all they could do was hit shrubs. Leading to an infestation of every type of moss known to the greater Spokane area. Slowly but surly every shrub came out and while it is still a work in progress slowly but surly new things are being carefully put into their place. I call it my adventure garden. It is still undergoing work so it might look a little bare but we will get there. Imagine plantings and window boxes.

Hi Ho Hi Ho it's off to...

I was approached about working Full Time at work about a week and a half ago. I don't know if I will ever change but I am a sucker for helping people out even at my own expense and despite my inner longing to say no I heard the words "yes I would love to" come sliding out of my mouth. So last week was the first week I would work 8-4 everyday. Only Monday I was sick and tired so I stayed home. I got to work the next day and I was greeted with a pile of mistakes I had made the week before. On a normal day I wouldn't have appreciated it but after months of feeling sick, tired and having every hormone I swear God created flowing strongly through my veins I was in no mood. I went to my desk and began to see that these weren't normal mistakes I had a case of pregnancy brain which made everything worse. Shortly after this my co-worker walks through the door and simply and pleasantly asks "How are you today, Laura Lou?" I burst into tears, luckily the man has four kids and was very understanding and concerned. After I had consoled him and proven that I would be ok, which in fact I wouldn't I just didn't want to scar the poor man for life, I turned back to face my pile of mistakes. I began to cry uncontrollably. Unable to regain any form or semblance or composure I marched back to the Office Manager, shut the door to her office and stated that I was sorry I couldn't control the tears before I came back here but there was just no way I could do it. I informed her that I was delusional when I said I could work full time and in fact I can't. She was very sweet and understanding. She had lost a baby in her second trimester because she had taken on too much at work and she was no where near as sick as I am. She was hoping I would come to this conclusion on my own so she wouldn't have to watch me experience what she went through. Having miscarried only once and very early on I understand to a small degree what that loss feels likes. At this point in my pregnancy I don't even want to imagine what that would be like. I was thankful for her that morning as she cried with me and told me everything would be ok and we would hire someone new. I said I would stick it out as long as I could to help transition a new person into the office. This morning I had a visit with my toilet. So I called in and said I would be late and I sit at home trying to ease my stomach back to a place where I can make it through the rest of the day. Thankfully there is a light at the end of one tunnel. I will not be working for much longer.

My apologies

I know I haven't posted in a while. It has been part life got busy and got away from me and part I still don't feel good. So I will try to recap everything that has happened lately I feel like I have so much to share.

First, last week Thursday Mike and I met up and went to the doctors for a check up on me and baby. We got to hear babies heart beat loud and clear. We even called my Mom so she could hear it over the phone. She begged. :) The heart beat was still a fast 160 BPM. The nurse began to tell us that wives tale says that the faster heart beats means its a girl. Then she followed up by saying I wouldn't run out and buy something pink though, their theory is flawed. You know I thought for sure I would cry when I heard the babies heart beat but no. You know when I did cry. While we were watching AFV-America's Funniest Home Videos. I was laughing uncontrollably at the video montage they did (like I always do, those montages really get me going) then suddenly uncontrollable laughter turned to uncontrollable tears. Poor husband didn't know what had happened. I just looked at him and said "We're having a baby." Then I went back to laughing at the next clip. Hormones!

After our doctors appointment we loaded up in the car and headed south to Lewiston to see my Cousin Chris who was visiting from Maui. I love him so much! He is like a big brother. We had a wonderful visit. My Auntie Liz gave me a lesson in gardening, we ate Portuguese Soup and then we all watched the 2 hour Grey's Anatomy. It was wonderful.

Friday we rushed back to Spokane to greet our house guests Ian and Maria. They were very forgiving of my house and my hostessing abilities. I am not all here and having just done a whirl wind turn around things weren't what they would normally be in the James household. We had a great weekend. We watched "Spiderman 3" on IMAX, cooked steaks on the grill, ate smores around our fire pit, watched the Amazing Race finale (the amazing part is how much our lives center around TV). It was a wonderful time with great friends! Come again soon!

During the weekend Ian and Nicole came and brought their little man Peyton. We went over to join them at Greg and Courtney's and Nicole made us a wonderful Dinner and Dessert. She is amazing that way, as well as in many other ways. It was a great time with them and the Henson's just hanging out talking and catching up. Not that we had much to catch up on since we all talk so often but it is great to have such wonderful people for friends.

Then we headed into a crazy work week. This week I was approached about extending my hours at work. For those of you who don't know I am incredibly spoiled and have been working M-W 7:30-3:30. It leaves me this great 4 day weekend and I can't tell you how much of a blessing it has been while I fight off 1st trimester sickness. I agreed to extend my hours to M-F 8:00 -4:00. I am not sure why I agreed to this. The very next day I was having second thoughts. Then it got worse when Mike and I would start making plans for this or that and say "Oh we could go on Thursday and then have a 4 day weekend." Then we would realize it wasn't that easy anymore and it would make the regret of my decision even deeper. I don't know what to do.

Well hopefully I will be better about keeping up with my entries. I love blogging and I love receiving your comments. Thank you for all of you who keep checking back here even if I am not good at keeping it up to date.

Happy Mother's Day, MOM! See you tomorrow.