I went for my 1st weekly check-up - only a few more weeks to go. and I should say a couple because we already have some movement of the "trap-door: - it's opening just slightly! The contractions that I have been having are "extreme Braxton-Hicks"- per the doctor. She said that some women have a sensitive uterus and I must be one of them. I go back next Friday to have a sonogram to check Reece's growth. We are hoping he isn't already 9 pounds - he should be about 8 pounds by then. So, we have at least one more week to get the house in order and for me to finish all 12 weeks worth of lesson plans for the sub!

Last weekend, Mom (Reece will know her as Jayne- so far she thinks this is the best option - Patty is thinking of Mia) came in town for a shower. We were given so many wonderful things~ It's amazing to see the love our family and friends have already for our baby boy. Thank you all!

Grandma Patty - who may be Mia....

Grandma Jayne - don't we look like a jigsaw puzzle?

The hosts... Jamie, Me, Sarah, and Megan

This weekend our Sunday school class is having a shower at our friends, Ashley and Ross's, home. I can't wait!

oh by the way... here's what happens when you leave a down pillow in the vacinity of dog with Cabin Fever - Layla has the evidence on her face to prove it!

She looked like a cat who just ate the tweety bird!

spoiled - our dogs that is...

So we brought Layla home yesterday from the doggie hospital after she had her heartworm treatment. We were thrilled and so was she. Marley, on the other hand, does not like things to be out of the ordinary. He was a confused and frustrated dog last night wondering why Layla couldn't play or run around with him. I felt sorry for the poor guy until I came home from work today. He had been a little _ _ _ t. There was pee in 3 THREE different spots and poop in another. UGH... so freaking annoying! Layla has to be crated for 4 weeks and apparently that wasn't going to work for him. So we had to pay the price. He's not happy when he doesn't get what he wants~

On another note, Reece's tests all came back normal last Thursday. We had a sonogram to make sure that he was growing at the correct rate - which he is! Also to make sure that he doesn't have skeletal displacia - which he doesn't! thank you god for always protecting and taking care of us~~

We had a busy weekend taking some belly photos with a photographer our friend, Amanda, recommended. Here are a few that we liked...

We can't wait to share the love!

Turn your head b/c we can't edit it - not even to turn it around...

Grandma Jayne will be here to visit this weekend! yay!

Playing catch - up!

I can't believe it's been a month since I last posted. I definitely am not as eloquent with my words on here as some of my dear friends.. but I guess that's just not me... so I will include a visual representation of the past few weeks.:)

First, Jay and Suzy got married!! We had a great time celebrating with them on 12/15. The reception was at the Petroleum Club downtown with spectacular views. Unfortunately, my battery on the camera died right after we arrived, so I have this one photo from the night...

After a grueling last week of school (.. seriously the longest ever~~ 4 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas is just too long. The kids and the teachers are soo over everything) we headed to Vegas to spend the day with Monty's dad and brother, Matthew. It was a different way to experience Vegas - no gambling or drinking - just family time and a little shopping at Cesar's Palace. We did make it over to The Bellagio to see their atrium that was decorated for the holidays. It was really beautiful. Getting a chance to celebrate Christmas with Jerry and Matthew meant a lot to us all.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the fiasco about traveling on the 22nd. Don't do it. We thought we were good with a 7:05 am flight. Our driver was coming to pick us up at 5:15 and we were to be at the airport no later than 5:45. 5:30 came and went and still no driver. Monty was furious so we hopped in the car and headed to DFW. We pulled into the terminal at 6:05 and entered the crazy zone. It was the most disorganized mess... needless to say, Monty sprinted to the gate at 7:00 belt and shoes in hand and told them his preggo wife was on the way. We sat in our seats at 7:04. I have never been so sure we might miss a flight. Phew... okay.. on to California...

We got "home" Sunday morning and were headed to a Christmas brunch, when we were told that it was delayed because Dad's wine refrigerator was being delivered. If you don't know, he's obsessed with his wine. It has overtaken the guest room closets, so to have this cool place to keep his most precious babies, he was thrilled. Here's Monty, Dad, and Mom unpacking his new toy.

Christmas eve was different this year as we went to the 5:00 service. We normally go to the 11:00 candlelight service, but I guess everyone is too old and can't stay up that late. It was still special - the kids did a pagent of sorts and retold the Nativity story. The best part about the nights at Jayne and Ken's (mom and dad's) are the quiet times by the fire. Christmas Eve is no exception. We used to have to go to bed early so Santa could come, but now without the morning pressure, we can stay up and visit until midnight!

Don't worry - that's club soda and lime... did you know how much sodium is in one bottle of that stuff?!! I found out after drinking about 12 in 3 days... my legs poofed up!! Pellegrino only from now on!

Christmas Day is always great-- my mom's family gets together for brunch. This year we had it at Aunt Janet's - just a few blocks away. It was the traditional creamed chipped beef- a Randol family treat ;) - along with biscuits. But for a twist, she added ham, turkey, green beans, fruit, cake, and a spinach salad. We voted and it needs to be at her house all the time!

Everyone says that they are twins-- and this was totally accidental!

My precious little bro!

Ali and I at brunch... I am slightly bigger than her these days.. normally too, but much more so now!

OH the best part of California Christmas's -- The weather. We had brunch served outside in the 70 degree weather!!!

Aunt Janet and her cute scarf!! Ali and Danny chatting - that's the middle adult table... very fun!!

Papa and Grandma!

The week went by very quickly with the Annual Tweener Party concluding the fun! This year it was Itsy bitsy... whatever that means.. only about 45 people vs. the 125 who usually attend!

I have more to write but that will have to wait- I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and New Year's!

Jen

4D shots

First thing I must say about the 4D is... do it early. My friend at school had it done at 22 weeks the other day and it was awesome. Ours are not that great because Reece is getting so big! He also had both arms clasped together (the entire hour of the sonogram) above his eyes and forehead. So we have great pictures of his chin, nose, and lips. You may have to turn your head, step back or even squint to try and see everything. I know my mom and brother had a hard time even with me describing some of them.

This is his profile from his left side. His face is in the center of the picture.. the rest is fluid and stuff.

'

This is his foot -- obvious to see.

His little lips, chin, and nose..in the center - the rest is my gooey insides.

Here you see is two forearms and hands crossing. If you look closely, his face is down there...

Two hands cupped to the left of the frame and then his lips, chin, cheek, and eye to the right.

I have more if you would like me to email them to you.. however, I think these are the best.

So, that being said, we are very glad that all the drama occured last week and we did not have to pay for these. I did however have the same girls as last time, but before I went in, my ob assured me that she knew exactly what she was doing this time. The sonographer did ask if I wanted to pick my favorites to be burned to the CD and I looked at her and she said, " or you can have all of them." Yes, I will take all of them! :)

Hope you enjoyed seeing a glimpse of our little man... only about 10 weeks to go!

A bunch of pictures!

Last Weekend....

my very 1st baby shower...

I flew home and was completely showered with generosity and love from our closest friends. The brunch was at the cutest bistro in South Pasadena - Firefly Bistro. I can't wait to go home again at Christmas - it really is such a treat to see everyone and to celebrate life's greatest joys!

I have included a few pictures of the weekend.

my girlfriends...

my mom's bible study and my friend's mom's.

Not the best picture of the amazing flowers- but it gives an idea... the theme Ashley and Kristin used were the colors of the nursery - lime green and aqua. They did an awesome job putting it all together!

Reece received so many gifts - here are a picture of a few things we/he received....

A cool bracelet handmade in Mexico with his name stitched on it... From his cousins( Ali, Katie, and Christy)

Special organic baby products for his bath time - my aunt knows me so well!

His car seat --- i was starting to panic that if I went into labor early, I wouldn't be able to get him home! From Jane Weaver and Kathy Palmer---some of Grandma Jayne's closest friends.

Tummy time!!! with love from Grandma Jayne's friends - Gioia and Lauren

I have a ton more pictures of all that we received, but I could only post the ones that I looked good in! :) sad to say that there were really just these... lol.

After the shower we had a family dinner with the Randol's - my mom's side...it was such a nice occasion to have dinner- none at all! We were missing a few people - Katie, Phil, Wes, John - and of course the significant others- Danny and Jules. But it was still a great time.

We are so close and have so much fun when we all get together!

Brian, Christy, Papa, Me, and Ali

Mom, Ali, Christy and myself....

and here are the ones that I had mentioned earlier about posting.....

We are celebrating Greg's 30th B-day the day after Thanksgiving at Texas de Brazil.

Thanksgiving Day at Grandma Patty's...

Layla resting with Mom and Auntie Margo from Tulsa -- watching football.

Getting in the Spirit

Tis the season to.....
1. Decorate the house
2. Enjoy the time with the puppies
before Reece's arrival
3. Drink extra Starbucks

4. Deal with idiotic people.

Let me start with the latter...

Yesterday we went to have our 3D/4D sonogram at the doctors office. We were so looking forward to seeing little Reece's face and hands and ears and well everything in "real" form. All was fine and dandy until I asked so we are going to get a DVD along with the pictures correct? And the temp sonographer said - oh no, you only get 8 still pictures. We showed her the pamphlet and it clearly stated for the package we were purchasing, we were to receive a DVD. Come to find out... she had never used it in that way - duh. She also didn't know how to work the machine. The office supervisor found the "owner manuals" and they began an all out search on how to do the 3D and save pictures. The doctor thought he knew how but in the end didn't. So the office lady decided to call the previous sonographer on her cell to have her describe how to make it all work. This is after 30 minutes of me lying on the table with goop on my belly. Not to mention, the exam room was literally 90 degrees. The heater in the office was on as was the extreme heat radiating from the machine. I had to take off my sweater and was in my little cami... which prior to prego was cute... not so much anymore. Anyway, finally after an hour of nothing - she was still "on a mission to find out how to... " - Monty rescheduled it for next Friday - for free.. and with someone else. So much for a "specialized sonographer."

This is where the 3D picture would have gone...

Decorating the house seems to be a much bigger chore this year than in previous years. We are doing fewer decorations because we will be in Cali for Christmas - Monty didn't even want to put the tree up this year! Pish-posh...

Here I am in all my glory - 28 weeks a.k.a. 7 months... starting to decorate the tree.

As far as Starbucks, well... my decaf drinks are becoming a great cool/freezing weather treat - one day a decaf nonfat misto, the next a decaf pumpkin spice nonfat latte - and if I am really daring....a half- caff...but watch out.. sometimes this brings on a stare or two from the Barista's. Luckily, our neighborhood ones know us well and they don't care. :)

I have to go to bed now... my sides are so tight I think I may pop! More to come later...including some Thanksgiving info!

Happy and Healthy

Reece's cute face!

I think he has the Parsons' family chin - and such a big eyeball!

Our appointment on Friday with the prenatal specialist doctor was very informative. He is measuring a week and a few days ahead of my due date - which from what I have learned, means that he's a big baby. The nurse even chuckled when she said - "oh he has a big head." Interestingly enough, I did not find that funny at all. The doctor did a thorough examination of all of his 2,000 parts to make sure everything was okay - heart, liver, kidney, limbs, brain, etc. But most importantly he said that Reece's heart was perfect. We were so relieved to hear that he was healthy and a "fine looking baby." We were a little nervous at first because the Dr. wanted to know why we didn't do any further screening after my first trimester screenings - well because your office told us not to! Kinda freaked us out but after his extensive screening, everything was all betta!