Christmas & New Year's!

This Christmas Jason and I stayed in Colorado. For Christmas Eve we went to our church's candle light service which was standing room only! From there we had our semi-traditional steak dinner. It snowed all night and Christmas morning we had quite a cover with it coming down for 4-8 inches more that day. We actually broke the Christmas Day record for snow in Colorado.

We invited our friends Chris and Susan to join us for Christmas lunch and they invited a couple with a 2 year old son and one on the way and a man that his wife and child were away for the holidays. The two men were the pastors of their church. Within 10 minutes of their arrival and minutes of my warning that Sidney was not kid friendly.....Sidney got their 2 year old on the lip. It did not break the skin and was just a scratch and according to the other Susan the child went to Sid's food bowl while he was eating.....but none of this made the situation any less humiliating and embarrassing. We were just so thankful that they little boy was not actually hurt - but just scared. So that incident was a bit hard to get over! Then Jason and I got to spend the afternoon and evening together just enjoying the snow and warmth of inside.

Between Christmas and New Year's we had more snow so Jason got to come home early. Since I'm off through January 3rd it was nice to have him home during some of my holiday. We were also able to meet Emily, Correy & 8 month old Ella for dinner. We had such a great time that we are going to try to be better about getting together with friends and have a dinner date planned with Lindsay and Ryan for after the new year.

New Year's Eve was spent watching Clemson in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Wanda & Jim were there live so we had fun looking for them on TV. We rang in the New Year as the last one before baby boy gets here in May and celebrated with sparkling cider!

Speaking of baby boy he moves every day now and Jason and a girlfriend Emily have even been able to feel him. My girth is getting bigger and bigger and it seems like I am going to be all belly. Baby boy also got several Christmas gifts and clothes and items from the grandmothers since Christmas. The rate things are going we won't have to worry about buying clothes for a while.

New Year's Day we had our home group over for a potluck. Being southern, Jason and I provided the black-eyed peas (and rice) and collard green (with cornbread) for our pennies and dollars for the new year.

Picture in blue was taken New Year's Eve - and I had to use the one where the ferocious Sid Vicious got in it! He said, "be afraid....be very afraid...rooow." The other two are New Year's Day.

It's a boy!!!

We found out Friday, December 21st, that we are having a healthy baby boy. This was a big surprise to most of our family and friends that thought we were having a girl. We were able to see our 12 ounce, long-legged baby boy in all his glory.
We also got the results from our triple screen and everything came out negative - which is great.
We are now registered at Babies-R-Us. That was a sight. Jason and I are so clueless that another couple told a sales person that we looked like we needed help. We muddled through a lot of the big things and our friend Lindsay will go back with me to finalize the smaller items.
So we have enjoyed the Christmas season knowing that we will have a little boy to celebrate with us next year!

Tossin & Turnin

Butterbean must know that something is up - or maybe it was that dose of NyQuil - but I am feeling more and more movement. At first I wasn't sure if it was the baby or not, but it's really become so frequent and in the same spots that I convinced it's the baby. Now Jason likes to lay his head in my lap and talk directly to my belly where the movement is occurring. This was sweet for about 5 seconds.....I'll leave it at that.
Starting Thursday I have been fighting a cold. The list from my doctor said I could take NyQuil - but I'm still paranoid so I only took a third of a dose two nights and suffered through it the rest of the time. I'm not taking anything during the day except for Vick's vapor rub, saline nose spray, cough drops, fluids and rest whenever I can get it. I go Friday for my big ultrasound so if I am still sick then I'll talk to my doctor about taking something.
So the holidays are really upon us and I only have 3 more days of work in 2007! We are booked Thursday through Saturday with double appointments on Friday and Saturday for holiday celebrations and then a quite week home for Christmas. I can't believe it's already here!

The Holidays Are Coming....

Jason and I have been as busy as ever this week and for the past few weekends. It seems like it was so much harder to get ready for Christmas this year - but we are close!

Yesterday I had an orthodonist appointment (braces come off next Tuesday) and an OBGYN appointment. The OB appointment was just a blood draw and a weigh-in - it looks like I am up to about 6 lbs of weight gain! Next week will be the big ultrasound appointment.

This past weekend we got snow and most of yesterday we got snow - so Jason had the day off from work! I however braved two interstates to make it in to work - I still don't like driving in the snow, but I am getting use to it. Looks like we are expecting snow again before the weekend.

Above you will see a photo of me at 17 weeks - and then some photos that did not make the cut for the Christmas card.

Enjoy!

What did I eat?!? Braxton-Hicks

So last night I experienced my first Braxton-Hicks contractions. They woke me up at 3:30am and all I could think was that I had a stomach ache and what did I eat that disagreed with me? Did I have to go to the bathroom? Then they eased off and I got relief......only to get another wave of pain. What was going on? So in my sleep daze this goes on for a few minutes before I think to look at the clock - they are coming about ever 3-4 minutes. The pain was so intense sometimes that it would make me nauseous and when I finally got up to empty my bladder to reduce the pressure I threw up! Thirty to 45 minutes have passed at this point and I get out my book with a comparison of Braxton-Hicks and the real thing. When I turned on the light I woke poor Jason up who proceeded to freak out when I told him I was having contractions but not to worry about it and go back to sleep. I started timing them and writing down when they started and ended. I was finally able to reassure him that instead of getting closer together they were getting further apart and he went back to sleep. Eventually they got milder and more wide spread that I was able to start drifting off in between them and finally I went completely back to sleep until morning. Things still feel crampy today - but I'm hoping that will wear off as the day progresses.

I had no idea they could come this early, but they can! Here I am waiting to feel a little flutter again or the baby start to move and kick....and I just jump ahead to the pain! Guess they will toughen me up for what is in store. All I can say is get a puke pan for labor & delivery!

Father Christmas threw up all over our house!

Now that I am starting week 17 the energy and the appetite have returned! This weekend we cleaned the house from top to bottom after the dogs' sickness and then started decorating. We put up 4 trees this year - ranging from 12 feet to 2 feet. The 12 footer was an after-Christmas power buy last year - so new this year. We are having to adjust our decorations for this obnoxiously large tree - so it will be a work in progress this season. I was prepared for the height, but not the girth. I am amazed each year at how much 'stuff' I have - but we finally have the house to spread it around!

Jason was amazed at how much larger my stomach looked this weekend than last - so now we are measuring 'the belly'. Last night I was at 36" at the largest point!

I also got an early Christmas present from Mom - a pregnancy body pillow - and sleep has been pretty wonderful since! I know that this will become even more important as I get bigger.

We'll be taking our Christmas card photos (in our home by a friend) on Wednesday - so if you are on the list look for them early next week.

16 week check-up & our 3rd snow of the season

Yesterday I had my 16 week check-up and the baby is doing great. I had no weight gain in the last month, but you wouldn't know it by looking at me (2 lb gain so far)!! Jason and I got to hear the strong heart beat again - and I promise you that little sound can make a miserable day great!

I found out that my OBGYN is also expecting (before me) so I'm a little freaked out that she won't be there to deliver our baby. I really like and trust her and am hoping she will be back in time for our birth - I'm not opposed to begging if necessary.

We are scheduled for our big ultrasound on December 21st - to see that our baby is healthy and also the sex - just in time for Christmas! We're pretty sure it's either a boy or a girl - so little David Jason DuBose, Jr. (DJ2) or Rose DuBose! (Just kidding guys!)

This morning we woke up to a nice blanket of snow that we had to make our ways thru to get to work. There is a chance for more this weekend - which is more my style - when we can open the blinds and sit in front of the fire with hot chocolate and watch it come down! Sorry the picture is dark - I leave for work kind of early....

Happy Thanksgiving

On Wednesday, November 21st Jason and I left Colorado under a blanket of snow and arrived in South Carolina. That evening we had dinner with Jim & Wanda and Melissa, Dylan and Ted and then spent the night in Aiken with Melissa.

Thanksgiving was at Melissa's house with the Holberts, the Moles, the DeWitts, Aunt Lil, Ted and his mother Mrs. Darby. From there we headed to Allendale for the night. Cody, Amy, Terry & Aunt Lil also stayed with us.

Friday morning we got up and headed to Terry's house in Estill. From there with Dad as our tour guide we headed to the Mole stomping ground and farm. We ended up at Jimmy & Tammy Mole's house and then their son, James & Sherry's house.

Saturday we had to take Aunt Lil back to Generations and then straight to a BBQ that Wanda and Jim had arranged for us in Orangeburg. There were 53 friends and family that came so we got to see a lot of people. We also visited Jason's grandmother Vernelle that afternoon. Then came the big Carolina-Clemson game that we won't go into detail about. That night we stayed with Jim & Wanda in St. Matthews.

Sunday we went to church with Jim and Wanda and then to Columbia for lunch. At the restaurant I saw a man that I worked with at the movie theater 100 years ago! What a small world. They dropped us off at the airport for our long journey home. Our last flight was quite delayed but we made it home safely.......to pick up sick dogs from the kennel! I guess you can't have everything go smoothly!

I can't tell you how much it meant for us to see everyone when we were home - I had not been home for a year and a half and for Jason it had been 21 months. Our next trip will be when we have our little one to show off!

There were so many great pictures.....but only so many will fit!

Thanksgiving Week

This Thanksgiving Jason and I will be making our last trip home as two instead of three. We leave Wednesday around 11am and get in to SC after 6pm. This is the busiest travel weekend at DIA (Denver International Airport) and we will be just two of the 1 million that will pass through that airport over the next few days!

Trevor and Sidney have gotten their vaccinations and are all packed for their stay at the kennel while we are away. They'll be excited for the car ride, but probally not too happy to be left. These are the two unexpecting 'big brothers". They can tell that I change is happening in the house - but are unsure what it all means. Mama's lap still belongs to Sid for the time being. (This blog we wanted to share some photos of the other babies in our home.)

Kayce, JWU coworker, loaned me tons of maternity clothes and then passed on some baby items. So I will have lots to choose from to wear this trip home. I have been so blessed by friends loaning and passing items on - the un-nursery is starting to look more nursery than not. Kayce and Lindsay (another JWU co-worker) have also passed on newborn diapers as their newborns have outgrown them so I even have a drawer of diapers ready for our little butter bean!

Now for a note on the father-to-be:

As many of you know this summer Jason changed electrical companies. He had a whirlwind beginning where he was immediately promoted given a phone, truck and gas card. He is now a foreman with them and his main job is an over $1 Million school. He has 1-2 other jobs that he is also managing at the same time. He is handling everything for this school from the ground up. So most nights and weekend are spent pouring over blue prints so that he has the supplies there for his guys to do what needs to be done next. It's been pretty interesting seeing how all the different contractors work together (or don't work together) to get all parts of the job going up at the same time. So maybe by the time the school is completed for next school year he will be able to take a few days of paternity leave. :)

13 weeks

"Your baby weighs about 1/2 ounce and is between 2.5 and 3 inches in length. Your baby's digestive tract continues to develop as tiny villi (hairs) form inside the intestines. These villi will help move food through your baby's digestive tract. The pancreas has begun producing insulin, and all 20 teeth buds have formed inside your baby's mouth. But of course, the teeth aren't visible yet. "


In some books I am considered to be in my 4th month now and done with the first trimester - I should start to feel much better, even though I must say I've had it pretty easy so far.

This week has been very busy - getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday and all - so I apologize that this was so late being posted. I will do better next week before we fly off to SC - and of course when we return we will have lots to share!

Hope you all have a great weekend.

Goldilocks at 12 weeks!

So I am now too "fluffy" for my regular clothes and not quite big enough for most of the maternity clothes. So most of the time I feel like I'm in someone else's clothes - playing Goldilocks - this one is too big, this one is too small, where is my just right? And then it dawns on me that I will eventually be big enough to fit into these maternity clothes - and may outgrow some of them!

We are now at 12 weeks and I am feeling better each week. I don't seem to be as tired, but still get tired if I over do it. I'm only getting sick about once a week, but the hormonal headaches have become more frequent. I have found little tricks to keep from getting nauseous that seem to be working.



On Halloween I saw my doctor and heard the baby's heart beat again! She said that by 14-16 weeks most of these yuck side effects will stop and I will be able to enjoy Thanksgiving foods with gusto! When I was told that I had gained a total of 2 lbs I indicated my stomach and asked her what all that was then. She and the nurse got a big laugh out of that - and said that by my next appointment I will most likely double that little bump's size.

We will be flying to SC for Thanksgiving and thank goodness I have been given the okay to take Dramamine! Attached you will see me at 12 weeks in a top from my president, Bette.

I would like to add that as I am increasing in size, Jason is getting smaller. He is 6 feet tall and solid. He can now pull is 34" jeans off without unbuttoning or unzipping. We figured out that I quit cooking a few months back - so he's had to fend for himself. I guess this will change as I have slowly started contributing to dinner time again. I'm not into skinny guys - or guys smaller than me!

Fall is here...and it blew in the in-laws!

Jim and Wanda Holbert, my fabulous in-laws, visited us October 25th - 29th. These two have more energy and spunk that I ever had - and Jason and I always look forward to their visits. During their brief stay we were able to pack in: eating, Molly Brown House Victorian Horrors, eating, 15-acre corn maze done in the dark, more eating, 2 rounds of putt-putt golf, shopping, church and eating! There was also more laughing this weekend than I've done in a month!

And bless their hearts they brought us SC BBQ - more eating!

We also received baby gifts from then; a "DuBose" embroidered receiving blanket and calendar for the first year of the baby's life, along with 4 maternity outfits. From Emma Williams, (Wanda's co-worker), we received a handmade white bib with a cross on it and from Laurie, (Dr. Krzyston's wife), a hand-knitted "duck" baby hat. We are thrilled to see all these little things - it's hard to imagine the baby that will be using them since it's only about 2 inches long at this point.

Food Aversions,Cravings & other side effects

Who knew that something so small could turn your entire body upside down?! I thought I was skating through the whole morning sickness thing until my doctor informed me that it really sets in around 6-8 weeks - and it did. I would not have anything to do with meat, fruits or vegetables for a few weeks. All I could tolerate were dairy & plain carbs; rice, pasta, white bread, mac and cheese, noodle soup, etc. I learned how to add protein powder in things to get my daily protein and have slowly started adding fruits and veggies back.

One craving was raw tomatoes - I couldn't get enough, but then they were so acidy that I had to limit myself. Fresh strawberries are my new obsession!

Even though my smell has been heightened and I can smell everything now- (and had to move in church because someone smelled like cigarette smoke) - it has not really affected Jason eating what he wants. Poor guy has really been fending for himself lately with the cooking and cleaning.
I can tell that I am coming out of the aversion phase and as long as I keep something in my stomach (without overindulging),I can usually control the nausea. The prenatal is a challenge each day though.

Other side effects is the fatigue, thickening of the waist and acne from hell! I don't think I had acne this bad as a teenager! Fatigue & acne should go away in the 2nd trimester; waist thickening will continue. The good side effect is that my nails are fabulous and I have a great excuse to wear comfy elastic clothes! :)

We are expecting!

Jason and I are expecting our first little butter bean on May 17, 2008. We have almost made it through the first trimester. We have had our first ultrasound and saw the perfect baby and heard the healthy heart beat.

Most friends and family know now as well as most of our co-workers.

We have already gotten, thanks to MeMa and PaPa Mole, a cherry convertible crib, chest of drawers and dresser/changing table for the nursery.

Thanks to my friends Michelle Edgemon and Karen Sipos I will have to buy very little maternity clothes as they have shared theirs with me.