Weird

I have pictures to post, but I forgot to download them before I left for Italy. So next week a real picture of my belly will be posted. For those of you who may have been fooled by the last post, that is Jer's belly, my arms are not that hairy.

I have been thinking lately about all the weirdness in my life. And I thought I would share...

Weird...

...how my stomach is seeming to get bigger every day. In fact when I post the next picture I am going to take another picture to see how in one week it has grown. It is weird to think that 3 weeks ago, I really wasn't showing all that much, and now I get people congratulating me right and left.

...how my belly just kinda sticks out. Don't get me wrong, I am really stoked that I am growing straight out and not sideways, it just looks weird.

...to see me normal in the face, neck, legs, and from the back, but to have a chest (wait, is that cleavage I see?) and a pot belly is strange to see (probably TMI but for someone who is barely an A to be filling out a B is quite amazing and every day I am baffled. And to think I may progress even further into a C before this is all over just seems crazy).

...how I read on pregnancy websites that a skin condition known as Keratosis Pilaris (aka chicken bumps) is supposed to be worse when you are pregnant. I have had this on the back of my arms for as long as I can remember. I was dreading it getting worse with pregnancy, however, for the first time in my life the back of my arms are smooth and soft as a baby's behind.

...how I can do nothing too strenuous all day long, but at the end of the day I feel like I have ran a marathon.

...how many times one person can go to the bathroom in a day. We are going through toilet paper like you wouldn't believe. I already knew this would be an issue for me, because I think I was born with the bladder control of an 80 year old. But really...at least once an hour during the day...and at least 3 times a night...really?!

...how people can say they love being pregnant...I don't see it. I had an ephiphany the other day that being pregnant is like going through all stages of life from birth to geezer-hood, simultaneously, all in 9 months. You are like an emotional child, a hormone-raging pubescent teenager, and an old person with achey joints, back aches, and bladder problems all at the same time. How do people love this?!

...how I didn't think I would be one of "those people" who are always touching their stomachs. I don't know what it is, but I find myself sneaking a feel all the time. Why? I can't explain it. Maybe because it feels so out of place...maybe it is part of the maternal instinct starting to kick in...who knows.

I think we are ready for our big kid pants now

So...as of March 8, 2010, Jer and I have been married for 7 (seven!) years. Siete Anos. In celebration of our 7 year anniversary and as one last hoorah as a kid free couple, we went to Cancun for a few days.

So what did we do in Cancun....absolutely nothing. Yep, that's right nothing and it was perfect. We are tired and we just wanted to relax. We slept everyday until we woke up, sat by the pool until we were weary of the sun, laid in bed and watched crappy movies (Beastmaster anyone?) on mexican television until we were hungry, went to dinner, and then went to bed. The weather was nice...high 70's...perfect for tanning (or reddening, which is what Jer does best).

We did manage to take a couple (literally) of pictures...so here is one for you.

And another...

(yes I am having a good time...I am just not going to show my lovely brace face)

And hey...why not one more...So thinking about 7 years, I think we have been through quite a bit. In our sevens years we have....

• Both graduated from college...Jer twice!


• Lived in 6 different apartments


• I have travelled the world and have been to Sweden, England, Ireland, Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Brazil, Australia, The Netherlands, Denmark to name a few.


• Jer's became a kick-A dentist


• I have been lucky enough to be employed over the last 7 years and able to support us while Jer was becoming the above mentioned kick-A dentist.


• We have managed to own the best dog in the world for the last 6 years (and managed to keep him alive).


• I think the fact that we lived happily in New Jersey is an accomplishment in and of itself...that place it CRAZY! (and we still miss it from time to time).

So we have done alot, but I think now we are ready to really grow up. With a kid on the way (grown up task numero uno) we figured we are tired of living this apartment life so....we bought a house (grown up task numero dos)!

Here it is...

I know right?! It looks big...and it kinda is. But hey your money goes a lot further in Texas. It is actually alot bigger than we need at the moment, but we didn't want to invest in something we will have to move out of in 5 years. We can grow into this house (we better get busy!). It is everything we ever wanted in a house, brand new (that's why you get an illustration) in a culdesac, nice and quiet neighborhood, close to Jer's work (about 10-15 minutes), lots of kids running around.

We are scheduled to close the 26th of April. I spent the last week playing games with the mortgage companies trying to get the best deal I could. It was stressful and annoying, but I think I got a pretty good deal.

And now on to baby updates, because that is what some people really care about.

Not too much of a change to report. I am about 24 weeks at this point. The coolest thing that is happening right now is feeling baby Kratos moving around. I started feeling him shortly before I went to Australia. They were not really strong movements, but yet I could feel them. While I was in Australia I could start feeling them a little bit more, so one day when he was moving around I rested my hand on my stomach to see if I could feel it on the outside. It took a little while, but I felt it...I think I audibly gasped. So when I got home from Australia, of course the first thing I wanted was for Jer to be able to feel it too. That again took a little bit, but he got to feel his kid kicking and has been able to feel it a few times now. He likes it, I think it helps to make it more real for him as well.

Oh and here is a belly pic...enjoy.

Come On...

So, I will check out our blog once in a while to (1) to see if Ames has posted anything new, and (2) MOST IMPORTANTLY to see if you guys liked my cool ultrasound picture. I get really excited to see new comments on my picture, but all the comments are about Ames' slacking. What about the cool picture? Come on....it is cool, right?!

The Real Baby Kratos

I finally read the posting of the updated info on Ames and the pregnancy. I came to the part of why she didn't post an updated photo of Baby Kratos, and I think I know why...so, here's an updated picture of my little God of War Baby...Baby Kratos.

I am already a very proud father!!!

Baby Kratos

So we were lucky last week. For several reasons and yes I will explain.

1) Baby H has been referred to by a few names depending on who you ask.

1. Baby Kratos (Jer). Kratos? Really? For those of you who are not completely obsessed with the video game God of War...which is most likely all of you except for my husband...here is the one and only Kratos...




2. and...Christopher Rayborn H (my work colleagues...long story but basically if my child is born on June 22nd, I agreed to name my first born after a work colleague. This is when I thought my due date was in July so I agreed thinking there was no chance, but since my date is June 28th I am a bit worried this could be a reality...needless to say, I will cross my legs and wait until 12:01 am on the 23rd if I have to).

2) There was a certain gender I was preferring over the other. If you know me well (or maybe even not that well), you know exactly what I did not want. Yes, I will explain myself further.

But first let me give you this....

My 20 week old belly. (full body shots to come post work trip to Australia and post vacation to Cancun, this girl needs a tan!)

So if you haven't guessed already...It is a boy!!!

Could not have gotten better news! And since my unborn child has been referred to as boy for the last 3 months...now I don't have to correct Jer and tell him to start referring to our child as "Kratess" and for my colleagues as "Christi Rayborn H".

So the pictures from the ultrasound were not very good at all and you can't really see anything so I am not posting them. Luckily, while the ultrasound tech was doing all of her different scans and measurements we were able to see a definitive shot of the reproductive organs.

What made it so difficult to get a good shot later for my picture purposes is that Baby Kratos (yes Jer already has me calling him that) was more interested in grabbing his feet, looking in the opposite direction, waving his hands in front of his face...and by the looks of it, trying to do a back flip. He did not want to give us a good profile shot. And he certainly did not want to let us see his manhood (or should I say his fetal-manhood) again. He just wanted to play. Funny, when we went to pick out our dog, he acted kind of the same way...just wanted to play. (It may be like comparing apples to oranges, but if this kid is even half as well behaved as our dog, I will be a very VERY happy woman...if you have met Ozzy, you know what I am talking about and will agree and also won't be surprised that I am comparing my child to the dog!).

So about this certain gender that I really did not want thing...I will admit it. I did not want a girl. Especially not for my first kid. I am a girl and therefore know how girls are and DO NOT want to deal with them...and I think I am a pretty easy going girl too! Too emotional and too much drama. I was actually nervous all day on Thursday leading up to the ultrasound that they were going to tell me it was a girl and that I would be so very disappointed. Maybe someday my opinion will change...maybe. But until it does, I am very happy with my little boy and would be very happy to have only little boys. Jer on the other hand, would not mind a girl...he came from a family of all boys so never got to experience having a sister...BUT he knows he needs little boys to run around with so he is happy and would be happy with all boys too.