It's contagious!!

Ugh! What a busy weekend! We had an OOT friend come in and stay with us over the weekend. It was nice to see him again, but the weekend just got jam packed. We played mini golf on Saturday and both Jim and I got sunburnt-that'll look classy for the wedding in less than a week. We had a cookout and RockBand/game playing until late. Then we had breakfast this morning at my favorite place. Then off to a 1 year-old's birthday party. I'm thinking of swearing them off for our children. Then I mowed the yard. Probably not what a pregnant woman should do, but I just couldn't make Jim do it and it needed to be done.
We're going to be _very_ busy this coming week as we have a ton of things to do and still have to move furniture out of the back 2 rooms. And we're leaving Thursday to drive to NJ with Jim's mom. I'm so not looking forward to the trip, the wedding, or the "vacation" that's supposed to come with it. Jim's mother has already gotten a little snippy with me recently, so 14 odd hours with her in the car sounds completely delightful. Luckily I have an iPod, which I will only utilize when I fear I may not be able to hold my tongue. Now taking bets on the frequency of it's use and whether it will be effective. Go!
Jim has been changing as much as my waistline. To be very honest, Jim has never been the super-protective kind of guy. I, very early on in our relationship, realized that he won't be seen putting his arm around me or coming to my rescue. I guess he thinks I should rescue myself for whatever trouble my mouth gets me in. Anyway, he's had 2 sweet comments lately that have made me wonder if he's feeling differently now than he previously has. He was upset that I carried something heavy while dropping off some furniture to be donated and was mad they didn't help "his pregnant wife." He also was upset at the idea of me mowing the lawn (which has always been my task) today and I pointed out I've already done it once this year. His response was that I'm more pregnant now, so it scares him more. Very sweet man who's been hiding for quite awhile now.
In other pregnancy news, we have an appointment the day we get back from "vacation." Hopefully then I'll get to schedule another U/S to find out the gender of our baby.
And there must be something in the water. Anna, Tana, be glad you left!! So Jim's friend's wife (I wouldn't call her my friend, thus the explaination) is pregnant and due one month after we are. Well, another couple we hang out with is pregnant and due 2 months after us! That was exciting news, but I felt I didn't give them the appropriately excited response at the picnic today. Now I've only got 2 more friends in mind to get a project of their own under way- I'm talking to you L and T.
So, wish me luck and a stress free time on this "vacation" we've got planned and that we make it through all the prep beforehand. I hope to check in regularly and post once or twice. All depending on what kind of connection we have while we're staying with god knows who.

Thanks Mark, Laura, and Hayden

We got our first baby gift!! The wonderfully helpful Hayden-Hart family stopped by last night in the pouring rain to deliver our first baby gift. I found out that I share an infliction with Mark's family- box re-using! Our organic cotton kimono-style gender-neutral embroidered onesie was packaged in an iPod Touch box. That was a big clue as to what we were _not_ getting for Al. Anyway, it was lovely and so touching that they got us our first gift. We have nothing for Al except ideas. And I learned that Sally is wary of babbling babies. Good to know, she's got a surprise waiting for her!
We have been busy with the holiday weekend and family in town. We have no free time until August due to a friend from ATL coming in this upcoming weekend and then being in Jersey for Jim's cousin's wedding the next 2 weeks. I finally ordered a dress online Monday night- it should be here tomorrow and I'm looking forward to trying it on and seeing how it fits. I'm not big, but some of my clothes are not fitting as well anymore.
We have been trying to spend time getting our back 2 bedrooms ready for the floor refinisher to come while we're gone. We have enough space, but not when we put 2 rooms out of commission. So things are getting tight in the house and I'm hoping we can actually get it all ready before we leave town the 17th, while actually getting sleep.
I've gotten my first belly rub (completely unjustified if you ask me) and my first pudgy comment (also unjustified- I had just had a big lunch was my excuse). I'll try to post more pictures soon and some will even be of something other than my pasty belly.

Belly Pictures- I'll have to see if I have a prepregnancy picture

9 weeks:
10 weeks:

11 weeks:

12 weeks:

13 weeks 1 day:

14 weeks:

Decisions, decisions

So many decisions in everyday life, not to mention when you're pregnant. So we decided against having the NT scan due to it seeming unnecessary and it wouldn't change my decision to keep the baby at this point anyway. I'm already a fairly nervous nelly, so also I didn't want the added stress. That's the update on that front.
On my other front. I feel like I'm starting show, but likely it's just my own wishful thinking. I would describe myself as "thickening up" lately. Mostly just looking chubby with no distinct bump. I'm in that phase where people who don't know are likely wondering in their heads "Is she? Or is she just putting herself out to pasture?"
I'm not really wanting to wear maternity pants, but they are likely just around the corner. Maternity shirts on the other hand are very nice and long and help this long waisted girl keep everything covered when bending or scratching my head. Those I could likely wear even after this pregnancy is over. We'll see if I'm making that statement this time next year.
I'm having no real cravings (which I've always been fascinated by and want to experience), though I love fresh fruit. We're normally an apples/ maybe bananas in a great while kind of household. We have in the house at this very moment, drumroll please: Cantaloupe, blueberries, nectarines, bananas, apples, and cherry tomatoes (which are really fruit!). Oy, what a fruit explosion!
I have belly pictures, as well as pictures of my gardens. I'm really proud of both, though one looks like crap and the other looks like it'll be nice someday. I'm ready to post them up. I think I'll do that in a separate post though. Wait for it, wait for it....