17 Weeks, 2 Days

This was probably the best appointment...all measurements were normal, the brain, skull, and spinal cord structures were all forming as normal...HOORAY!!! She's starting to look more like a human here...that's right...I said HER...we're having a girl! (Once again our baby was uncooperative and would keep putting her hands in front of her face...is this a sign for things to come?)

measurement note: 7 in. crown to rump

14 Weeks, 2 Days

At this point we could see the skeletal structure...unfortunately the 3D part of the ultrasound was not working, the baby would absolutely not cooperate & wouldn't hold still during the Nuchal Translucency screening. The Dr thought the measurement was in the high-normal range so had me do a blood test. The agony of the wait was all consuming...it was a huge relief to hear the results came back normal.

8 Weeks, 3 Days

Our first 3D ultrasound and visit with the Perinatologist. He let us know that everything at this point looked well, but that it was really too early to tell much of anything. You can see the little arm & leg buds, the umbilical cord, and the yolk sac.

6 Weeks, 4 Days

Our first ultrasound...we were incredibly stressed, but especially me. The tech said the baby's heartbeat was a little low and that it looked like I may have a fibroid on my uterus...I later found out she was in no way qualified to even say a word to me...just added another dose of stress right before Christmas!

Spring Cleaning

my side


mike's side

What else would a perfectly normal person do on their weekend than neurotically clean and organize their closet? My mother should be proud. . .and maybe a little concerned.

A neurotic can neither enjoy his illusions nor give them up.

-Mason Cooley

A Welcome Change

bed


fireplace

Finally, after living in our new home for almost a year, we've made it to our bedroom. We went with a monochromatic theme with romantic touches. It's just so nice to put a fresh coat of paint up to make it your own. It's difficult to tell in the pictures, but the stripes on the wall are actually pearlescent. We just need a rug and a few more decor items and we'll move onto the next project!!

Catherine & Abby (Girls night out at Gilley's)

Christmas Vacation 2004

We had a brilliant Christmas Vacation this year in London, England (12/22-12/30). We stayed in a quaint hotel in Bayswater (near Notting Hill and Hyde Park) which was actually three Victorian townhouses. We each had our own twin bed, Mike and Abby's in the basement! We were all a little amused by the archaic plumbing.

On Christmas eve Debbie, Corey, Mike, and I were able to see By The Bog of Cats starring Holly Hunter at the Wyndham Theatre in Picadilly Circus. It was a sad story, but I think we all really enjoyed the experience of both they play and the surroundings (the theatre was built in 1899).

We used the underground (tube) for most of our travels and took two day trips to the countryside. The first on Christmas day to Salisbury where we were able to attend a Christmas service at Salisbury Cathedral, then had a traditional English Christmas meal. We also stopped by Stonehenge and Bath, only briefly as most places were closed for the holiday and the sun begins to set around 4pm. We shared Christmas dinner at a Chinese Restaurant (how "A Christmas Story" is that!) that actually charged us extra for eating there on Christmas.

On Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, we took another trip where we drove through Greenwich (meridian), then onto Canterbury. In Canterbury we went to the Cathedral which was absolutely breathtaking. The Crypts where the archbishops, etc. are buried lined the border of the interior of the church. After lunch Mike, Deb, and Dan went on a walking tour with our overzealous tour guide while Abby and Corey went on a shopping break. We stopped at Leed's Castle which was pretty amazing, then stopped at the White Cliff's of Dover on the way back.

There was just so much history, architecture, culture, and sites to see it was almost overwhelming at times. The lifestyle there is just so different than how we function...it was a pleasure to see how other people live their lives. It certainly made us appreciate all that we have, to be able to get into our car and go wherever we want, whenever we want. As Dan would say, to not have to back into the toilet because there's no room to turn around once your in. It was a great end to a very prosperous year for us, we will remember it always. . .thank you Dan & Debbie for making it possible for us. Happy New Year Everyone!

Corey at Sir John Soane's Museum

Mike, Corey, Dan, & Deb at the Tower of London

Corey at Westminster Abbey

Me on Bow Lane in London (original Roman road)

Dan & Deb in the Bloody Tower

how about that armor?

our Yeomen Warder (Beefeater) guide at the Tower of London

Me with Paddington Bear

Dan and Deb on the Millenium Wheel (London Eye)

Corey and Me in front of Canterbury Cathedral

Mike and Dan at the White Cliffs of Dover

a door just perfect for me! (Leed's Castle)