Baby Picture!

Good morning, all!
We went to the sonogram last night, and it was great - we actually make out the face of the little guy! We only saw the face for maybe a minute or so because the baby is getting so big that only part of it shows on the screen at a time! (We used to be able to see the whole baby on the screen, or at least half!) But, we were able to see the baby making little suckling motions with his or her mouth, and then we saw the mouth and chin quivering a little bit - which was just completely precious! I love this sono picture that the doctor was able to get - that's our baby :) :)

We are also picking up our LaZBoy recliner today - which Carol and Bob (Ian's parents) were so nice to get for us as a baby gift! So generous of them, and really appreciated - we will truly enjoy that recliner when we are spending many hours rocking that baby :)

I also have my school baby shower this afternoon after school - so there is just a lot of baby stuff happening around me! It's fun and I love it :) I also mentioned to Ian that I really love being pregnant.... One of his responses was, "I think that's your way of saying we're probably going to have more kids, right?" :) But we both agree, this pregnancy has been a blessed one, for sure!

Have a great Friday, everyone! Last weekend in May - I can't believe how fast it went by!
Love
Laura

Their numbers are switching!

Happy 35 weeks, Baby Bally!!! :) 5 more weeks to go - Today is also the day where the weeks and the days line up - so 35 weeks pregnant, 35 days until the due date! Tomorrow, for the first time, the days until the due date will be LESS than the weeks pregnant (Remember when I started at 9 weeks and had a million days to go?) ;) Anyhow, we're getting close!!!

Today is another sonogram with the doctor - I am very excited about going, and a little relieved! I just want to make sure that everything is in the right place - the cord, the head, all that good stuff :) Plus, we get to see the baby again! What fun! :) Hopefully we'll get a good picture of the little tyke, but if not - we'll see the real thing in just over a month!!!! wow....

Lamaze was good last night - hard to believe we only have one more class left - my favorite part of the class is the 'relaxation' part, where Ian tries different massages on my back to see what I like the best :) I found yesterday that rolling pin going up and down the sides of my back actually feels REALLY good - I wonder if it would feel just as good if I wasn't pregnant? Anyhow, it was interesting!

So, Happy 35 weeks Baby Bally! You have a busy week this week, Lamaze yesterday, sonogram today, and the school baby shower tomorrow! Not to mention hanging around with your mom while she's teaching and packing up the room :)

Love you all!!!
Laura

Weds update

Good morning, all :)

I'm so glad it's Wednesday, already! Once again - these 4 day weeks just have a habit of flying by - I love it!

I woke up earlier today so that I could go into the room and pack a little bit - Our last official day is June 9th, and I sure would like to be done!! Like I told my mom, I'm not getting any less pregnant!! :) Plus, I have way more energy in the morning than I do in the afternoon - these kids wear me out!

Tonight is Ian and my third Lamaze class - I think we're watching videos that show us all about epidurals - -- yikes! I don't know if I can take those... but we'll see how it goes...

It's just so funny when I wake up in the morning and part of my stomach is SO hard, and then there's some give in another part - the baby definitely knows where it likes to settle in for the night! :)

Have a great day, everyone,
Love you!
Laura

Tuesday should be the new Monday!

Good morning, everyone :)

Tuesday already! How nice to start the work week off one day in - I think we need these three day weekends more often!!

Ian worked his little tail off and he and his Dad were able to get all the farming done this weekend, which is good!

I had some serious nesting going on Sunday - so I tackled a bunch of boxes that have been stacked in our living room since we moved in! I bought some nice snake-proof plastic boxes for storage, and reorganized and stored those boxes downstairs. It looks so much nicer now! Definitely one of those tasks that we just kept putting off for no good reason....

Carol also took me to get my first pedicure on Saturday - which was a true treat!! :) I love that even though I can't really reach my toes anymore, they can still look pretty :) hehe

I was thinking over the weekend that these days are really ticking by! I suppose you all will know when the time comes when the blog stops being updated daily :)

Being pregnant is still going really well so far - I love it actually! I'm sleeping better (maybe I have it figured out?), my stomach looks more and more like there's a beach ball in it, the only bad thing - my hands are starting to feel arthritic! I read this is common during pregnancy, but it sure is not fun - they hurt!!!

Anyhow - off to school for the day - 9 more days with kids! The a few days of meetings and then off to get ready for baby!!

Have a great day, everyone!
Love
Laura

Happy Friday! :)

I wonder how many posts have that title to them? Probably at least 20 - but it's always so fitting for these Fridays!

I thought it was interesting that the baby is now 5 lbs - I read that's about as heavy as a bag of sugar from the grocery store. That's a lot of weight to carry around in my belly!!

It's always such a nice feeling when I feel the baby move around for the first time each day - It's just hard to believe there's only 6 more weeks and then he or she will be crying and snuggling with us! :) I'm amazed that the ticker above says the kidneys are finished - and other websites basically share that the main job of the baby is now simply to put on weight and fat - amazing! Also, babies born at this time are usually fine - no health problems related to early birth - so that's good!!

Well, off to school - and then a 3 day weekend! (Although Ian is farming the whole time... :( )
Happy Memorial Day weekend, everyone!
And Mom and John - have safe travels to Italy!!! :)
Love
Laura

Happy 34 weeks!

Wow... 34 weeks! 6 to go!!! I so remember being 6 weeks pregnant with 34 weeks to go - and now we're getting so much closer! I was bummed this morning to see that the top 'ticker' wasn't working, I like those updates - but on the side, the baby flipped over! Getting ready to come and join us in the real world, I suppose :)

Our 2nd lamaze class was interesting - we took a tour of the labor/delivery units and the maternity ward, and then just learned more about what it's going to be like - and of course practiced some breathing and relaxation :) The breathing is good because I can actually use the pattern that I use when I run- so it's good and familiar to me :)

Usually, in the Spring/early summer I am SO ready for school to get out - I get a little burned out, tired, and I just count down the weeks... Well, now I am SOOOO ready for school to get out - but I'm not really burned out yet, which is good! I just want school to get out so that I can get ready for this baby!!! 2 more full weeks of school and then 4 until the baby's due date!

I'm heading over to the pediatrician's office today - There are two doctor's there that I want to meet, and they keep shuffling me between people on the phone, so I'm going to go there in person so they can see my shining face and actually help me :) So hopefully that will go well! Luckily, it's only about 8 minutes away from our house - which is great!

Well, I can't believe another Thursday is here - it seems like I was just home in the suburbs!
Happy 34 weeks little Bally - we get to see you before we know it!
Love
Laura

New Developments...

Good morning all :)

This isn't going to be the most exciting post ever - but I thought I would share some things that are going on with pregnant Laura :)

First thing - I'm sleeping better (yay!) but when I go to turn over, it is actually WORK now to get that belly switched to the other side - it is getting HEAVY!!! And sometimes it even hurts.... boo. Maybe that's why I'm sleeping better? Because my body doesn't even want to move! :)

Second thing - I can no longer eat my 'pregnant sized' breakfast - maybe a clue that my stomach is shrinking? Interesting though (at least to me!) I used to have a bowl of yogurt with peaches in it, and then a bowl of cereal... otherwise I would be starving at about 11:00 - now I just can't quite finish the full bowl of cereal! I know the baby wants this food - since it's putting on about 1/2 pound a week now! But it will have to come at another time :)

Tonight's our 2nd lamaze class - I hope that we learn some interesting things! We have one lamaze class a week until the end of school - and speaking of the end of school - I need to pack up my entire art room, and so my principal informed me I have until the last day of school - then he said he's just doing me a favor because he doesn't want me to need to be packing two days before my due date :)

Anyhow - those are some tidbits in the life of Laura :)

Hope everyone has a great day!
Love
Laura

Names, Names, Names!

Good morning, everyone!
Last night, in the midst of all of our baby stuff, we pulled out the baby name list and started going through our favorites again (And pulled out the baby name books from Elvis and Carol!). I think we agree on our 'first choice' for a girl's first and middle name, but I believe we are both still a little torn on a boy's name... We have about 6 weeks and a couple of days to decide - so hopefully we'll have a better idea when the time comes!

My newest fear is that when I'm sleeping, I'm afraid that every time I flip over I'm somehow tangling up the baby in the umbilical cord :( I know, it's a little crazy - but I'm afraid! But the baby was REALLY active yesterday - just moving all over the place - so I know that he or she is doing okay in there :)

Hope everyone has a great day today - I think it's going to get warm and stay warm for us! (high 70s, low 80s) for about a week - so that will be nice! (Except my room gets warm at school...)
But, warm weather is always a plus :)
Love you all
Laura

What a great weekend!

Good morning, everyone! :)
Ian and I went home for the last time before Baby Bally arrives - and it was an awesome weekend!! :)

First, we are driving up to my mom's house on Saturday morning - and when I walk in - there was a surprise baby shower for us!! :) It was such a fun and wonderful surprise, and everything was so beautiful and yummy!! Thanks to Mom, Mary and Linda for planning it - it was perfect! Ian and I are also just very grateful because there were so many people from different areas of our lives that came together - and they were all just so generous - it was amazing! What a great way to start the day on Saturday :) Plus now, we have almost all of our 'gear' - and our house is FULL of baby stuff!! But honestly, people were just so generous - and the shower was just perfect! So thank you!

The second part of our weekend was also awesome - as my Dad bought us all tickets to the Cubs/Astros game on Sunday - So fun! It was a little chilly, and although the Cubs rallied in the end, they didn't quite pull it off... but, spending the day with family at the ball park was something that I absolutely LOVED. It was great being able to chill (sometimes literally!!) all together and just enjoy the Cubbies - my dad is such a generous person - so thank you Dad for everything!!! :)

I think my family is pretty much ready for this baby - I know Ian and I become more ready everyday - My dad will make an awesome Grandpa - Mom will make a terrific Granny - Linda will be a great Nana - and Bob and Carol will make a terrific Grandpa and Grandma Bally - not to mention all of our brothers and sisters who will just be perfect as aunts and uncles! :)

Anyhow - awesome weekend - thank you family!!! You are the best :)
Love
Laura

Last Trip Home :)

Happy Friday, everyone!
First of all, and I know this is crazy to talk about tv like this - but I cannot believe the Grey's Anatomy season finale - Even if you missed it last night, and haven't watched the show in a while - I seriously recommend going to abc.com and watching it - it was really good.... so that's all I'll say about that :)

Anyhow! The doctor's appointment went really well yesterday - my belly is measuring the right size, which I suppose is good! And the doctor wants us in for one more sonogram in a few weeks - so that will be fun! Also, I asked him about my 'squishing baby syndrome' and he said I have nothing to worry about :)

I'm excited to go back to the suburbs this weekend! I think it will be my last time back to visit my family until Ian and I are parents!! :)

I still just can't believe that I am growing our son or daughter in my belly - it's just such a miracle! And so hard to believe at the same time!!!

Have a great Friday everyone :)
Love
Laura

Lucky 7 :)

It's Thursday - so Happy 33 weeks Baby Bally :) I can't believe that the ticker says you are about 4.75 lbs now - and 18 inches long!! Wow... is there really that much room in there for you? So 7 more weeks until the due date --- at our lamaze class last night, the teacher informed us that we could go 2 weeks early or 2 weeks late - I really hope that the baby decides to be early like his or her Dad and not late like Mom! Although, I'm sure I would deserve that :)

Lamaze yesterday was pretty good - we got to see some of the birth videos - which actually weren't as bad as I thought they would be! It gave Ian and I hope that we can get through this naturally - and he's super supportive and a great husband to have alongside - so we'll see!

Today I'm going to my last 2-week doctor's appointment - then, starting in two weeks from today I'll go every week until the baby is born... wow!!! I remember thinking none of this would ever get here (May, lamaze, 1 and 2 week dr. appts) and they are here!!!

Have a great day everyone - just think, 6 more birthday celebrations for Cletus until the baby is actually around it's due date! Then the real celebrations can begin! (We do have Mary, Ben, and Emily's birthday to celebrate before then though - so LOTS of people to celebrate in June!!)

Love
Laura

Where's Baby?

Every morning it seems like the baby is in a slightly different position - I can tell by these hard spots that form..... My stomach is probably the tightest it's every been (for real, crazy how life is... and just tight because it's so full of baby!) so I can feel where maybe the baby has nestled in for the night and gotten comfortable - Sometimes, Ian and I wonder... is that a leg? an arm? What is that? And then the questions go more like - Who are you in there?? What are you like?? Needless to say, we're getting pretty excited! :)

Tonight's our first lamaze class - so while I'm excited - it's 3 hours long!! That's a long class! Hopefully we'll learn some good things though - especially since i don't want to have an epidural! :)

Today's countdown says 50 days to go! And we're about halfway through what could be my last whole month pregnant (Since the baby's due date is July 2nd, if he or she comes a few days early, that would cut into June)
I know I'm stretching it, but crazy things happen when my brain thinks about baby things about 60 % of the time!

Have a great day everyone! :)
Love
Laura

When Google fails - call real people

So my source for most things unknown is Google - as I'm sure it is for most of you reading this! I've been "Google"ing lots of things about babies, what the hospital is going to be like, what each week of development is, etc... Of course I google things that aren't related to babies either, but those are far less :) Well, if you went into my google searchbar from last night, you would find that the last thing I googled was "Am I smushing my baby when I sit down?" (It's okay to laugh a little if you want)

I tried to research that because yesterday I really did feel like that's what I was doing! It was so bizarre - and so uncomfortable! I mean, I was just sitting at my computer! And the baby was moving around alot, but it just a little cramped in there - Like I was thinking, how on earth in there enough room in there??

So, I called my mom - who told me to be careful and to trust my mother's intuition, and that it was slighly possible I was cramping the baby so just to be careful.... After that, I was STILL really worried so I called my sister - who said, "Laura, no one ever hears about people smushing their babies by sitting in a chair - so you're fine!" Looking back, it's a little silly I needed to hear that sentence to feel better - but it worked :)

Now I will just be very careful when I'm sitting - as to not smush the baby - but if you have any advice or find anything out on the topic - please let me know!! I still have 7 1/2 more weeks of this!!!

Love you all :)
Laura

Happy Mother's Day :)

Good morning, all :)
Ian and I had a great weekend this past weekend - He started off surprising me on Friday with a gift that I love! It's a very cool evergreen - but it's been grafted so that the trunk is always going to be much longer, and then top rounds out - kind of like a lollipop shape? Anyhow, I love it! And I can see it from upstairs, by my computer, and in a couple of different places, so it's just a nice gift to remember the Mother's Day that I was pregnant with baby :) He also gave me a pretty funny card signed Ian and Baby - so I'll be sure to bring that one up next weekend!

Besides getting the surprise Friday, we drove up to the suburbs this weekend to visit family and friends. Busy, for sure! But a great weekend! We went to Dad and Linda's, out to dinner with John, over to visit Cory and Tyler (and their two kids) and then hung out with Mom, Mary and John for Mother's Day on Sunday - just a great weekend overall :)

4 more weeks of school now, I think! Crazy how I still have some things I need to get finished with my classes - and some classes only have 4 sessions left!

This week we have our first lamaze class on Wednesday, and then I have a doctor's appt Thursday - so that'll keep me pretty busy with baby stuff!!

Hope everyone has a great week! Send positive thoughts to John - he's in his last two days of finals today! (And they sound stressful!)

Love
Laura

Happy 32 weeks :)

Hey everyone!
We're back online - it's amazing how much I depend on my internet!! When it goes down at home or at school, I practically don't know what to do with myself!! :)

So Happy 32 weeks Baby Bally!! 8 more to go - wow!!! It is definitely starting to get cramped down there with the baby getting bigger and all! It's even hard to bend forward a little towards the table when I'm eating! And then of course, I'm getting more full during meals because Baby is taking up so much room! But then I'm hungry a few hours later!

It was interesting - this morning, I woke up and there was a hard spot in my stomach where the baby had nestled in for the night - just very bizarre as I can tell where this baby hangs out! I can't believe that it's about 4 pounds and 17 inches - if you look up 17 inches that is quite a lot of baby!!!

I just hope that he or she is growing alright in there and getting nice and healthy for this world :)

Last night, Ian was walking into the room and just said, "I just can't believe we're going to be parents!! What did we do?" hehe... I totally understand those thoughts though - It is just crazy that in 8 weeks (or a little less, or a little more) we will have a new addition to our family! I remember telling my family when I was just 6 weeks in - and now there's 8 to go!

And we got our first baby present from the registry from Aunt Barb and Uncle Barry! What fun!! It's a cute painting/wall hanging that matches the rest of the sheets and baby decorations that we got - called Bunny Meadow :) But that was so fun to receive in the mail and to open with Ian - It will be fun to set the babies room up too - so thanks!! :)

Have a great Friday everyone! One of my crazy Kindergarten classes is on a field trip today - yay! So I'll have a little break in my day at least :)

Love you!
Laura

Ugh

Last night was one of those where I wasn't sleeping well.... and on top of that, I now have some sort of cold! Yuck!!

I got up to go to the couch, and Ian woke up (oops) and said, "well, I'm getting up in 10 minutes anyway"... It was 4:50 - that boy gets up early! Anyhow, I waiting until he got out of bed and then basically took over... Of course my best sleep was from 6:30-7:30am - I'm supposed to get up at 6:45! Anyhow - yucky night's sleep.

A couple of good news items...I found out yesterday that my school is going to have a baby shower for me! So that's pretty exciting :) And very nice of them!

The Peoria District newsletter is putting out an article today featuring yours truly and talking about the grants I wrote and the clubs I sponsor - so I'll attach the link here tomorrow :)

Today is a half day with meetings in the afternoon for us - so at least I can kind of chill after 12 o'clock!!

Have a great day everyone-
Love
Laura

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day :)

To all the teachers in my life - this day is for you! (And me :)) Hope everyone has a good Tuesday planned regardless - I just LOVE that leaves are on the trees now (new leaves, but still!) It's wonderful!

Some good news in the Peoria realm - but to recap: I was pink-slipped, two neighboring schools closed (meaning those teachers get first 'dibs' on the job out there), but, no one applied for my job! Yay! Now I just need to wait a little longer, and then I can apply for my job again! I found out yesterday - so definitely good news!

Ian and I have decided that we definitely need to get crackin' on some names - specifically those middle names, and even really narrowing down the first names! Middle names are a bit tricky though, we're finding....

Other than that - I've been feeling lots of kicks from the baby , so that's good! Although I can't quite figure out when the baby is sleeping and when he or she is awake - I guess the babe is just doing whatever he or she wants in there! :)

Hope everyone has a good day - I'm looking forward to seeing family this weekend!
Love
Laura

Hopefully a beautiful week!

Good morning, everyone! :)
It was a beautiful weekend here - Ian and I did LOTS of planting this weekend, which was fun! Planting is definitely a little different with a big baby bump - but Ian was a great guy and put some planters on the table that I could put flowers in, and then I was just careful besides that :) But our yard is getting to look more like 'something' - so that's nice!!

We also bought a Lazy Boy rocker/recliner this weekend - they take 6-8 weeks to come in, and I'm going to be gone the next two weekends out of town, so I figured we better get something in order for when the baby comes!! (Which the due date is now in 59 days - wow!! less than two months!)

Since my current craving is very much the red ICEE from gas stations, Ian and I took a walk down our big hill and then back up yesterday - One of the neighbors said I looked more like I was 8 months pregnant (!!) and then another neighbor about halfway down wondered if I wanted a ride back up the hill :) I made it the whole way - but I was definitely puffing at the end!!

These next two weeks are actually going to go by pretty quickly - I'm going to be up in the suburbs for John's Birthday this weekend, and then our lamaze class starts the next week - pretty exciting!
We are only hoping for no rain this week - Ian and Bob need to get the corn planted in the fields, and it's getting late!!! (and it's still so wet!)

Have a great day everyone - enjoy this beautiful weather!
love
laura

Official update :)

Hey everyone!
Just wanted to share with you all that I'm officially 7 months today :) And I was officially EXHAUSTED at the end of the day yesterday - fell asleep at 8, I think! (And yes, I will enjoy the sleep while I can get it!)
Enjoy this beautiful weekend, everyone!
Love
Laura

Happy May!!

Good morning all!
The first day of May! How exciting!! :) This just MIGHT be the last full month that I am not a mom! Depending on if the baby comes three or more days early and is then born in June - (Due July 2nd). I know, I know! I'm totally stretching it here - but still! :)

Last night the art auction was a total success - the kids had a great time, and the donors were awesome! We raised just under $7500 - the students made a big 24"x30" collage of Starry Night - which was an all class collaboration, and it sold for $2000! There was an auctioneer there kind of prodding for higher prices, but still! Pretty cool :)

After the auction, Ian and I went to Kohls, then we can home, and I was exhausted - I haven't been that tired in a while!! Basically watching kids from 8:45am-7:45pm - whew! Needless to say, I got the BEST night sleep last night - I think I only woke up once!

One week until my brother, John's, birthday! I must be one of the queens of countdowns - I just love them :)

Love you all! Happy Friday and then Happy Weekend!