Schools

So, we bought our house last summer, just cuz we liked it. Now, that it's looking like we'll stay here for awhile, I've noticed how close ALL of the schools are. One of the grade schools is 1 block away, the middle school is 3 blocks away, and the high school is 6 blocks away. We're actually 3 houses from being in the school zone for the grade school. Plus this grade school has the early childhood center attached to it. So maybe it was fate or something. We were just looking for a house to maybe rent, when we saw a open house. We did not like that house, but around the corner was this house. We loved it! It was only the second house we'd actually looked at. We've been impressed with it too, it was a quick decision, but worth it.

Waiting for Friday

Friday will be our first sonogram. I'm excited to hear the heartbeat and see the baby. And we'll see if there's only one baby or twins. I would love to have twins, and it's a possibility, but we'll just see.

Awesome website for cool baby clothes: http://www.punkbabyclothes.net/index.html

2nd Trimester

Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. (Much more convenient.)


I can't believe I'm already starting my 2nd trimester! I can't wait until we start buying baby things. Yesterday, we stopped by a garage sale of a lady whose baby store went out of business. She had all thess awesome never used baby things. Bad thing was, that we couldn't really buy anything 'cuz we don't know if we're having a boy or a girl. I can't wait until we find out.... impatiently waiting.

Vaccines

So, my kid is totally going to have all of their vaccines. No, I don't think they cause autism. There is no proof that vaccines are related to autism, I don't care what Jenny McCarthy says (don't get me started on her nonsense). Thimerosal was phased out of all childhood vaccinations by 2001, so the mercury levels are so minimal. There are so many studies that prove that vaccines are not linked to autism. Just do a quick Google search. Why do parents believe a D list celebrity over professionals with Ph Ds?? (Did you see the ridiculous interview on Larry King with Jenny McCarthy vs. doctors-I wanted to punch her.) But, they're in it for the money, you say--- maybe, but every doctor can't be, but a celebrity, ha. I say I'll take my chances of having a child with autism versus having them die of a disease that has been PROVEN to be preventable. I'd like to think that I have been educated enough to make an informed decision about this issue...so bring on the shots.

Okay, I'll climb off my soap box now.

Glad they're not my kids

After working with preschoolers, grade school students, middle schoolers, and high schoolers for almost a year now, I've learned a lot about what I will and will not do with my own children. If I can help it, my kid will:

1) not talk back to adults
2) know their colors, numbers, and alphabet by preschool
3) not cuss- especially in preschool!
4) not run away from adults when asked to do something- treat adults with respect
5) not grab at everything they see
6) not pout everytime an adult asks them to do something
7) know how to write their name by kindergarten
8) know how to correctly articulate r, s, sh, ch, k, g, etc.---I will work with my kids a lot if they don't follow the developmental norms for speech
9) behave themselves appropriately in appropriate situations (stores, church, school, etc.)
10) cover their mouth when they cough and use a tissue when needed

Now, I realize I may not have complete control over any of these happening how I would want, but if I have my way there are so many things I see my preschoolers doing that I would never allow my own children to do. You should probably get back with me if a couple years and see if any of this has worked out, or if my kids turn out to be monsters. :)

Waiting for summer

Today, I had one of my most interesting parent meetings for a kid being diagnosed as autistic. Work has been stressful this year, but going well. I wanted to have a calm May, but from now 'til the end of the year I have at least two meetings a week! I'll be happy when the summer gets here, it'll be my first summer since high school, where I'll be free to do what I want. I plan to get a lot of things ready for the baby. I haven't told work that I'm pregnant yet- besides another teacher that I'm close to (we share a room in Lindsborg). I plan to wait until the end of year meeting with all the speech pathologists. I don't plan to tell any of my students this year-even the high schoolers. I'll just show up in August, at the beginning of my third trimester, and they'll have to figure it out. I'm nervous to tell the sped director and principals, but I'll get through it.

Landon and I found a great rockstar outfit to bring the baby home from the hospital in. Instead of those knit hats that all hospitals seem to give a newborn, our child will be a little rebel. Check out the picture-that's what our kid will wear. :)

Week 12

As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of baby's systems are fully formed.

Babies R Us and Parade of Homes

Today, Landon and I took a trip to Wichita to Babies R Us for the first time. I am going to love that store. They had so many things I want to get for our baby. I've made a list of all the essentials that we'll buy for the first 6 months, and then wait to see what we get from baby showers. Some of the things we're gonna buy ourselves are a crib, car seat, stroller, and diaper bag. We didn't buy anything today, but I'm sure we will soon.

We also spent the day looking at model homes for the Wichita Spring Parade of Homes. Some were amazing, others boring. We're not gonna move anytime soon, but I like getting decorating ideas and ideas for when we buy our next house. Our price range is to around $300,000 max, for this area. McPherson actually has houses that are worth about $30 more per square foot than Wichita. So a house in Wichita worth $200, 000 is probably about $300,000 in McPherson. We had to look at some of the million dollar plus houses, of course, just to see what they looked like. One that was 1.7 million even had a elevator (pictured above on an acre of land in a gated golf course community). We had a lot of fun, and gained some awesome ideas, especially for the basement bar, but were both exhausted by the time we were done. We were up this morning at 6am to go to some garage sales in town, then to Wichita where we looked at houses from 12 to 6pm. What a day. :)

Rockabye baby

Our baby is gonna be a Rockstar!! I've already found some amazing rock baby clothes and accessories. One of the coolest is Rockabye Baby. These are lullaby renditions of rock songs. The Metallica one is the best, but they also have Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Tool, etc. Check it out if you like rock music: http://www.rockabyebabymusic.com/

Week 11- How big is Baby Stout

Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through. But, fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

Easter/Landon's birthday/Announcement

Here are pictures of our family's reactions to the pregnancy announcement.

Names

We've talked about and decided on baby names before we were married. Here are our choices:

Boy:
Remington Talon
Garrison Taiden

Girl:
Kilexa Cambry
Mileena Rayne

I'm Pregnant!!!!

Landon and I just announced to our families and everyone that we are expecting a baby due November 1st, 2009. We're so excited!! We have been married for almost 2 years, and planned to have a baby born this coming fall. Landon's birthday is on Easter day this year, so we planned to have our family at our house for Easter/Landon's 24th birthday party. He opened all the presents, then at the end opened the one from me. He pulls out pacifiers and baby booties, and we just waited to see the reactions of our family. Everyone was very happy and unsuspecting. This is the first grandchild for both sides of the family, so it will be very spoiled.
I'll be updating this blog regularly for all baby news, so stay tuned. :)

Since we've kept it a secret for a month, here is a short timeline:

March 1st- found out I'm pregnant
March 3-4-found a doctor and scheduled a pregnancy test.
March 13th- 2nd doctor appointment- met Dr. Gorman.
April 10th- 3rd doctor appt.- physical and tried to hear heartbeat. The doctor couldn't find it, but scheduled an ultrasound for May 1st.
April 11th- Announced we're pregnant!