Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Post OVMA

We had a good time in Columbus.  It was nice to catch up with Elise, and we had dinner with Michelle, too.  Jenn and I also ran into some other classmates, but you wouldn't recognize any of their names.  Jenn found that sitting for hours at a time did not make her feel better.  She was much more comfortable walking around than sitting in lectures.  After a long day of listening, we'd go back to our room and she'd lay down to relax and her belly would move all over the place as Lincoln woke up from his nap.

We got the invitation to a shower that some friends from church are throwing for Jenn.  It's both cool and humbling at the same time.

It's also getting to the the point where it's hitting us that very shortly there's going to be a little person living in our house.  The pregnancy stage has (had) been cute, but things are starting to get pretty real now.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

The furniture is now in the nursery, and it looks great.  As soon as we have a mattress we can set up the crib, and we'll post a picture when we do that.  At first Betty thought the new furniture was for her, but when we didn't let her on it she became suspicious that something was up... something that was going to change her life.  If she only knew...

Jenn had a visit with the midwife yesterday and it went well.  She has a visit scheduled in 2 weeks, and then she has weekly visits until Lincoln decides he's ready.  Eight weeks to go!!!  It's kind of funny because we're cutting it close with our childbirth class.  We couldn't make it to the weekly, 1-hour classes so we're going to the one-time Saturday class at the end of March.  At least it'll be fresh in our minds!

Today we're going to Columbus for the OVMA meeting.  When we planned this trip months ago Jenn and I joked about how she was going to have a big belly for the trip and that the hotel bed might not be too comfortable... we'll see.  We're meeting up with some friends from vet school, one of whom is pregnant and due in March.  If you remember Jenn's pictures from her trip to England, it's Michelle.  The third American traveller from that trip, Elise, is getting married later this year and Jenn's planning the shower for her.

Funny story about the shower planning.  Elise's mother's name is Marcia, and Marcia and Jenn get along very well.  Marcia's niece is getting married at the end of the summer, and her sister (the bride's mother) has been going on and on about how this niece's bridal shower is just going to be the best bridal shower ever, and how no bridal shower will ever be as good as her daughter's.  Clearly this sister is a bit competitive this wedding season!  Marcia was telling this story to Jenn on the phone the other day and finished the story by saying, "I'm not worried... I've got Jenn!"  So as I understand it, we're going to be making English scones & shortbread and collecting tea sets and having a super-classy tea party.  Jenn made dried cherry & chocolate chip scones last weekend and they were DELICIOUS!  Does your mouth water when I talk about the good stuff Jenn makes?

That's it for me now.  We've got to get ready to go.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

I had a crazy day at the clinic today... 5 admits on a Saturday... HOLY COW!!!  Jenn, on the other hand, made scones (dried cherry & chocolate chip, yum) and a Lemon-Curd Raspberry cheesecake with a homemade shortbread crust (yummmm).  If you ask nicely, she may share the recipe with you.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

On our way to volunteer with the kindergardeners at church last night Jenn said, "I didn't think I'd be this tired.  I've heard pregnant women complain about being tired, and I thought they were using it as an excuse."  But she continues to tick away, and she keeps the kids on their toes.  She told the kids that Lincoln moves around sometimes, and the kids were EXTREMELY into that.  Nathan (one of the kids that makes volunteering a ministry, not a game) has asked her repeatedly (and I do mean repeatedly) "Is Lincoln moving now?... How 'bout now?... How 'bout now?"  He was informed that as soon as Lincoln wakes up and begins moving again, he would be the first to know.


We finished the mural yesterday, or at least it looks that way.  I'll probably find things to touch-up on it over the next month.  Mom finished the curtains, and they look GREAT.  Also, we got a call yesterday that the furniture is on its way.  The nursery will be taking shape big-time over the next week or so.  The only bummer about finishing the nursery is that I'll then have to move on to the bathroom and peel wallpaper... Great.  Lincoln sure is making us get the house in order!

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Lincoln's Nursery


Jenn and I (and Mom) are making good progress in Lincoln's room.  The furniture hasn't yet been delivered, but that's okay because we need to finish the painting first.  The dinosaur mural looks better and better with each coat, and when the crib is in place, Lincoln will have one sweet place to fall asleep.  As I'm writing this, he's reaching out and grabbing Jenn's ribs.  He's not shy about moving around.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Moving along nicely

Jenn is technically in her 8th month.  Lincoln is about 3 lbs. and 10.5 inches long now.  He's getting especially good at kicking up underneath Jenn's ribs, and sometimes he kicks out on both sides.  It's crazy, too, to think about her gaining 3 lbs. of blood volume.  The body is an amazing thing.  (Betty likes leaning up against Lincoln, too.)

Monday, February 4, 2008

Welcome, family and friends


If you're part of our extended family and friends, WELCOME!  Next time you're talking with another family member, ask if they've heard about our blog, and if not, let them know about it.  Visit often.
Jenn's doing well.  Lincoln is having routine Jazzercise sessions.  Bridget & Betty are as crazy and good as ever.  Things are good at the Gates house.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Jenn's Belly


Lots of friends and family have been asking for a picture of Jenn's belly.  They ask if she looks pregnant yet.  Yes. . . yes she does.  Jenn is doing very well since the whole kidney stone incident.  Lincoln's kicking like crazy and seems to be growing very well.  When he's really kicking, we can feel his head, heels and arms.  This will be the place to stay as up-to-date as possible on pictures and stories.

I've caved in. . .

So for the longest time I've avoided starting a blog.  It wasn't on plane with never drinking coffee or getting a tattoo, two things I promised myself long ago I'd never do, and now don't seem that bad to me, but I've gone this long so why start now. . .  Anyway. . .  I figured that with Lincoln coming, it would be good to have a place to post pictures, videos and thoughts and stories for family and friends, so here it is.

Another reason I never wanted to start a blog is because I thought, "Who wants to read what I have to say?  The people I can talk to don't really even want to know all of my opinions."  But then I wrote a column for XEKE.com that got picked up by a guy in Atlanta, and I discovered that not only would folks read my opinions when they were asked, they would, every now and then, be voluntarily passed along to others as worthwhile.  So maybe that'll happen on occasion here.

Who knows how often I'll actually update this.  When Lincoln comes, I'll surely share more with you.

Thanks for stopping by.