Sad News

We lost one of our closest family friends, Pete Farris, on Tuesday night to cancer. Devin and I are glad we were able to be there with David and Judy to say goodbye but so sad to see him go. I am so sad that Allison will not get to have Pete in her life, but he has already made such an impact on the person she will become. She will have Pete's son Dave, one of Devin's closest friends from childhood until now, in her day to day life. Pete also played a significant role in the person that Devin is and, like Devin's own father, was a positive example of what being a great father is all about.

I know that the next step that comes after this life will be adventure and those that are already there will welcome such a great soul. We miss him so much.

Oh the Places You'll Go

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

~Dr. Seuss

I have been thinking about all of the things that I have done both in my personal and professional life while I have been pregnant with Alli. I wonder how much of what I have been doing will effect the person she will be and the places she will go.

On the work front: While I have been pregnant I have stamped and signed my first drawings as a registered engineer. I've designed a foundation for a building on Elmadorf AFB that will house and maintain F15 and F22 guns, a building to house an emergency generator at ML&P in the case of a power failure, designed the structure for the remodel of an existing building into a new power plant at Pt. Lay, and many other small projects and retrofits around Alaska. I have also traveled to Sitka and Soldotna to provide code reviews on the State Trooper facilities.

I work at such a wonderful company. They have been understanding when I've been out for appointments, been excited when I've shared news and pictures, and they threw me a baby shower last Wednesday. There were just as many men there as women...which was probably the first experience with a baby shower for most of them. It was a ton of fun and I receive some very thoughtful gifts for baby.

On the home front: I ran my first marathon when I was 5 weeks pregnant with Alli, which took place during a two week trip to England and Scotland with Brandy. I've been lucky to have spent lots of time with family and friends while I have been pregnant. We got the news that Alli will have another cousin just a month after she will be born, and then the follow up that the new cousin will be a girl (Kari's Baby Bella). Right now Kirstin, Larisa, Jason, Spencer, Megan, Brooke, Devin, and the three dogs (Darwin, Crosby, and Galileo) are all down at the Mestas Cabin for the weekend. Devin and I painted Alli's new room which has led to the complete remodel of the downstairs of our home. It WILL be done before the baby is here. :)

So many wonderful experiences before she has even been born. We are constantly amazed by the rolling and squiggling of our little girl. I can't wait to see the places she will go, and the person she will be.

The baby belly... I want Alli to be able to see what we looked like while she was growing in my belly. So here it is...yipes!

12 more Weeks!

Time really does fly! I can't believe there are only 12 weeks to go before Alli will be joining us. I feel like I have so much that I need to do before she gets here.

We had our latest checkup on Monday morning, another sonogram on Tuesday, and a long glucose screening test (to test for gestational diabetes) on Wednesday. To summarize the results of all of that testing...we are both fine, and I do not have gestational diabetes. :) Alli is in the 61% for size, and I feel like I see her growth everyday as my feet are getting father and farther out of my view!

They were able to get a couple of the 3-D shots of her at the sonogram, but I don't have them digitally, so they aren't going to make it onto the blog. She already has Devin's nose, and chubby cheeks!

Alli's bedroom is painted!

We are done painting the baby's room! We have been slowly working on it for the past couple of months, but we buckled down and worked this weekend to get it done! Now e just have to get new carpet put in and get the crib and other necessities in there and it will be done. :) I will post more pics when it is all decorated. I threw in a couple of teddy bears for fun.

Another happy moment last week... Alli had the hiccups for the first time on Wednesday. I was at work and she was definitely a distraction for a little while. I will miss her squiggling around once she is born!

16 weeks and counting

We had our 5 month check up on Feb 10th, and everything is looking good. Alli has a strong heartbeat and is turned with her head at the top of my uterus (which is pretty typical for this stage in pregnancy).

She is a squiggler! I pretty much feel her moving around every time I eat, and at night when I go to bed. The other night Galileo was laying with his head on my belly and she kicked him. He jumped up, looked at me, looked at my belly, and then got off the bed. Apparently he was not to happy about something in my belly kicking him in the head. :)

I am feeling pretty good these days. I have the occasional headache or bout of extreme tiredness, but all things considered, I think I am pretty lucky and having a good pregnancy. I just can't wait to meet this baby girl!

5 Months Prego

I thought it was about time that I include some pregnant pictures of me. I also thought it was extremely cute this morning when Galileo decided that my Boppy looked like a comfortable place the hunker down while I was in the shower. He is so cute!

Leo on the Boppy

Leo and Devin Sleeping In

Our Whole Little Family...Leo wasn't really cooperating!

I feel Huge! I can't imagine what I am going to feel like in 4 months!

I'm thinking that painting behind me is crooked....

My little Nudger

For those that have read the twilight series... you get the title of this blog.

After much, much waiting, I finally felt my baby move last night while I was laying in bed. Funny how I haven't felt her move at all, and last night I could feel her squiggling around for about a half an hour. What an amazing (and strange) feeling. I put my left hand on my belly and the first thing she did was kick my hand. I can't wait until Devin can feel her too!