So, Joe and I had agreed on a name for baby Clarke, but recently Joe decided he didn’t like it anymore. Therefore, we are back to square one with about 7 weeks left before her due date. Seven weeks seems like plenty of time to decide on a name, right? Joe now has one name in particular that he likes, but I don’t know if I am all for it. It’s a dilemma…

Joe and I started the baby’s room! We ventured out to Home Depot, picked the colors, and came back and got to work. We also got paint for the downstairs bathroom, so that will be a project for another day.

I am happy with the new colors. The yellow that it was painted before was just not doing it for me.

                       Before                                   Joe really likes painting and Kingsley thinks he is helping

                 Love the mask!                                                                New colors

So many people keep commenting on how small I am for how far along I am. Though I am not worried about our little one it is just interesting the comments people make

Though in the eyes of one of the preschoolers I know my “belly is SO big.” And that particular little girl was so excited to hear I was having a baby it made topic of conversation at their dinner table Wednesday night and she wants to some see me after the baby, too cute! (She is in Drew’s (one of the little guys I work with) preschool class).

On Size and Shape

“I’m so small for eight months — I’m concerned the baby’s not growing enough.”

Women never change. If we’re not eyeing the figure of the woman filling out the little bikini next to us at the beach (those can’t be real!) or sneaking a peek at the woman in the next dressing room (where’s her cellulite?), we’re comparing pregnant bellies (hers is bigger and hers is higher!). But don’t worry. Instead, start minding your own middle.

The fact is, you can’t tell a baby by its cover. Whether a woman appears to carry small or large depends less on the bulk of her baby and more on her own bulk, shape, and bone structure. It can also have something to do with muscle tone: A woman with very tight muscles may not pop as soon or as much as a woman with slacker muscles, particularly one who’s already had a baby or two. How her fetus is positioned may also affect how big or small an expectant mother looks. And, of course, there’s weight gain: A bigger maternal weight gain doesn’t necessarily yield a bigger baby, just a bigger mom.

The only assessments of a fetus’s size that are worth paying attention to are medical ones. In evaluating how your baby’s doing at each prenatal visit, your practitioner will measure the height of your fundus (top of the uterus) and palpate your abdomen to locate the fetus’s body parts and estimate its size and position. Other tests, including ultrasound, may also be used to approximate size.

In other words, it’s what’s inside that counts — and apparently, what’s inside your petite belly is a baby who’s plenty big enough. Keep that in mind next time you sneak a peek at the belly-next-door.

OK, so today was officially the best day ever. First, I didn’t have to drive to work, I worked from home. Second, I missed some of the worst Cleveland traffic yet this year. Booyah. Third, I passed a hard Microsoft Test on the first try. Fourth I finally completed all 7 exams so I am now an MCSE. Fifth I went to Chipotle and got a FREE double steak burrito because I had to wait for the steak. Champion. W00t to the 4th power. Praise be to the Lord!!!

Luke took these glasses from the Lost and Found (they had been there for months) and we think everyone needs to try them on. There may be a dedicated website, in conjunction with Luke and Hannah, to these awesome glasses in the near future in which we have random people try them on and take their picture. It could be really funny! You put them on the they just do something strange to ya…

We got a new table for our kitchen at Ikea. It fits perfectly into the space we have. A great perk is that I don’t have to see Kingley’s crate every time I come downstairs. Thanks Aunt Anita!!!

…and I made the sweet wall art for the kitchen. It looks good, or at least we think so

So I’ve been really into pranks since it’s the only thing that makes me laugh when I am sick as junk. I found this one to be particularly satisfying.

Our adventure to Pittsburg began Saturday afternoon as Joe and I backed our bags and prepared to bring Kingsley along. Yes, we took Kingsley to Pittsburg, and he did SO well! He was a great little puppy. He is definitely growing up and becoming more responsible, phasing out of he mischievous puppy days.

We arrived at Joe’s Grandpa’s house and were happy to see several family members we haven’t seen since our wedding. It was great to spend time with that side of the family, catching up and enjoying the holiday season. Saturday was eventful, everyone met Kingsley (and LOVED him), we ate lots, played a game of Yankee Swap (Joe and I contributed some books with a really sweet Harry Potter bookmark, a Christmas snow globe, and glass angel figurine, all of which we gathered from around the house), and relaxed. Sunday we went to Ikea! SO FUN! It really is a shame there is not one closer, but also a good thing because I would probably spend way too much time there. Aunt Anita surprised us by purchasing all the things we had gathered at Ikea. Joe and I got a nice little kitchen table which fits so nicely in the corner of our kitchen, as well as some odds and ends. After our trip to Ikea we got back tired and hungry. After dinner Aunt Michele, who had arrived while we were shopping at Ikea, so graciously gave us a plethora of items. She had packed over 20 bags of things in her Yukon, traveled 6 hours to Joe’s Grandpa’s house, and prepared to disperse the items to various family members, Aunt Mich is a very giving person!

Our trip was a lot of fun, hopefully we will be able to go back soon.

                                               Oh Uncle Mike

                                                         Ikea!

                                       Yukon load and Aunt Mich

          Joe modeling with his “new” remote control cars from Uncle Mike

(I was not told how large the truck was until I already said Joe could bring it home)

             Sleepy Kingsley                          …and this one just makes me laugh