Dave's Garage

Dave worked diligently this weekend on putting down the epoxy covering on the 2/3 of the garage. He did the 2-door section for now and he'll do the Camaro stall next weekend probably. It's a three-step process with different drying times, so he started on Friday and finished yesterday, but now we have to wait a couple days before we can move stuff on the floor or pull the cars in. It does look really nice when it's all finished! Now Dave just needs to set up the garage and he can be a true 'home mechanic' to all our cars! I do have to say that he was pretty anal about the whole process...I was laughing at him because he even took the little color chips out to measure so each part of the garage would have the same amount of chips! (see below picture for proof of his measuring) So, next time you come over, you definitely have to give him a hard time about whether the chips are evenly coated or not!

It's a.....

Just kiddin', we didn't find out! Although, I have to tell you that Dave changed the gameplan on me last minute, and really did want to find out what we were having. I think it's the whole fact that he really thought we were having a girl and then he had a dream we had a boy a couple of days ago. So, I think he's doubting his psychic powers. But, he respected my wishes not to find out and we went on with the appointment.

There were three key measurements they did on the baby. They measured the head, abdomen and femur bone. We watched the first two measurements, but we were told to look away when they did the femur bone measurement because the baby had spread open legs (as if to say "Mommy, Daddy, find out what I am"). We got to see the feet, arms, spinal cord, head, stomach and lots of movement. After they finish the ultrasound, they do calculations from the measurements to tell you when they think your due date is and they calculated out my exact due date, so that is PERFECT! Let's just hope Baby decides to come out on time!

Here are pics from the appointment. Daddy even asked for his own picture for work, so he got an extra copy for himself, how cute! The one on the left is the baby looking directly at you, you can see the face real well! The one on the right is a side profile and you can just barely make out little fingers on the top of the picture and we saw the little heart beating! There was another side-profile shot, but it's blurry, so I copied in the best ones!

5 Month Appointment

Just got home from my appointment and I think these days just put me in a good mood! I saw a new doctor this time, from now on I will see a new one each time so I can meet them all. The doctor was VERY nice! Everything checked out great he said, so I'm very happy about that. I gained 3 1/2 pounds in the past month, which is right on track. They started measuring my belly this time and the measurment should be the same as the number of weeks I am along and it was right at 20, so perfect! The baby's heartbeat was 146 this time, I guess they look for a range between 120 and 160, so we're right in the middle. That sound never does get old; it always brings a smile to my face!

Now it's the 24 hour wait for the ultrasound tomorrow afternoon! The technician will show us the baby and tell us the sex (if we want to know it....WHICH WE DON'T) but they don't really tell us much more than that. I guess they send the results to the doctor's office and then the doctor will call and give us all the details on whether things look okay and the measurments etc. Either way, I just think it's going to be amazing to see the little one squirming around inside. This past week the baby has really started to move a lot more!! I still look at the picture of our 8 week ultrasound on the fridge and see the little kidney bean and just know the changes that we'll see tomorrow will be amazing!!

Oh yes and something additional to share...my Dad's new name for me is "tubby" and Dave officially told me the other day that I'm going to be "huge" at the end. Ahh, the men in my life are so supportive! ha ha ha. No really, it's all in fun. I get a kick out of Dave because he really can't get over the "baby bump" I'm growing. I can roll with the punches now, but we'll see when I'm 8 1/2 months pregnant and someone wants to tell me how big I am...watch out for one hormonal woman!

20 weeks - halfway

Just a picture for now, more updates this week after my appointment and the ultrasound!

Chair rail Up!

Dave and I worked all weekend around the house. We finished all the chair rail in the dining room and library and it looks great! It's also great to have the rooms put back in order! Next weekend Dave will be working in the garage and I hope to get my garden going, I hope it's nice out! Enjoy pics of the chair rail.

Miscellaneous...

First of all, I was motivated to write this blog because of a horrible parenting dream I had two nights ago. I had a dream that I forgot to change the Baby's diaper for a full week after we were home. I was SO MAD at myself that I forgot to do such a simple task. But, once I realized my mistake, I went about correcting the situation and Baby was very understanding. I was so disturbed by the dream that I sat awake at 3a.m. and thought about the fact that I needed to come up with a schedule of what to do with the baby. Obviously I won't ever make the mistake in my dream, but it definitely got me thinking! Are these dreams normal??

Secondly, I must show a picture of our recently purchased plush mattress. Being pregnant, I have to sleep on my side now and let me tell you, it's not a friendly position for my hips to sleep that way ALL NIGHT! Plus, I recently noticed that there were deep craters our old mattress, where Dave and I slept each night, which probably wasn't exactly the greatest support for me. So, last weekend Dave and I went out and purchased a new mattress for the bed, which was delivered Tuesday and it is HEAVENLY!! The one thing I get a kick out of is how high it sits on our bed frame. I think we're living like King and Queen now! Once I'm about 7 or 8 months pregnant, I think I'm going to need a step ladder to get up on this monster of a bed!

In other news, Dave is STILL sick! Last night I made him get a listing of doctors covered under his insurance plan so he could make an appointment ASAP! He came home last night telling me he could hear liquid in his head when he shook it - that's a lovely thought! Then, he scares the crap out of me in the middle of the night when he jumps out of bed at 2a.m. and all I could think of was something was wrong with his brain! Turns out it was a charlie-horse, but let me tell you he scared me to death! So, after more pestering this morning, he finally did go see a doctor and it's a sinus infection!! I swear the man thinks he never needs a doctor. I keep telling him that's why we pay for medical insurance....MEN!

19 Weeks - "Pre" Mother's Day

Baby Update:

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. The hair on his scalp is sprouting. If your baby is a girl, she already has 6 million eggs in her ovaries. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. He may be able to hear you as you talk. Research shows that he's learning to distinguish your voice from others, and he'll soon show a preference for it. Let Dad get into the act, too — encourage him to talk to your baby.

Oh and Dave was able to feel the baby yesterday! I was sitting on the couch before I left for Wisconsin and I felt the baby...I had him come touch my belly and he felt a movement right after he put his hand there...after that the baby was done, but at least he felt one move. He kept moving my belly to make the baby move again. Baby was being stubborn and said "you felt me once, now leave me alone for now". :)

What a busy Mother's Day Weekend for us. We met an old H.S. friend of mine for lunch and spent the rest of Saturday with the Hickman Mom to celebrate Mother's Day. Sunday I went to my Grandma's in WI to celebrate with my Mom. Dave has been sick for almost a week with a pretty bad cold, so I let him stay back and sleep while I was gone. Dave called yesterday my "Pre" Mother's Day. How exciting to think that this time next year I'll truly be a Mommy to a little one. I think I should put my requests in to Dave now for breakfast in bed and the works of pampering! ha ha ha

This coming weekend is the halfway point - 20 weeks. Yipee!! Next week we have our 5 month appointment and ultrasound to go to, so very exciting. Now is when I start worrying about whether I've gained too much over the last 4 weeks! For the ultrasound, we're still pretty sure we aren't going to find out the sex, but again, it might depend on the mood that day. I also think we're going to shop for furniture after the ultrasound. I figured we'd be in a very excited mood after seeing the baby again for the first time since my 8 week appointment, and a good way to celebrate would be to look at furniture!! After all, the baby's room is all cleared out now, we definitely need to start painting and filling it up with furniture!!

18 Weeks

Dave's Surprise 30th!

I threw Dave a surprise 30th birthday today and it turned out great! He had no clue and had a GREAT time celebrating with everyone! In his own words, "it's a day he'll never forget!" Thanks to everyone who helped me pull this off!!

Baby at 17 weeks

Your baby weighs about 5 ounces now, and he's around 5 inches long — about the size of a large onion. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.

Well, the baby sure got a lot of exercise so far this weekend. Dave and I put together a list of things to get done and we didn't stop moving until dinner time! I mowed our lawn for the first time, it was growing nicely from all the rain. We moved the rest of the furniture out of the Baby's room so we can shop for a crib etc. whenever we're ready. We painted the chair rail for the Dining Room to finally finish off that room. And Dave, like a little kid, happily put together his new rolling toolbox (I couldn't resist giving him his birthday gift early) and got his tools in order in the garage.

Dave's parents came over last night to take us to dinner for his birthday, we tried out Domo 77 in Aurora which just opened up a few weeks ago. It was great food! Dave had like 6 plates of sushi! After dinner Dave got his gifts and then he decided he wanted some Bakers Square pie for dessert. When we got back to the house around 9:45 from all that, I immediately went to my usual comfortable place on the couch and fell asleep until Dave woke me up to go up to bed!

We'll see what's in store for today, since it will be just as nice! I'm hoping to take the camaro out today since we just started insurance on it Friday!

4 Month Appointment

Not too much to report from the appointment. I happily weighed in only 2 lbs. more than my last appointment. Everything else on my end checked out okay. The baby's heartbeat took a bit longer to find this time, which did make me anxious, but as soon as the nurse found it, I was a smiling woman - 145bpm this time. I asked why it was a bit lower than before, and I guess there is just a range they look for and depending on if the baby is sleeping or active, can make the beats go up/down. Either way, what an awesome sound to hear!

The doctor asked me if I felt the baby move yet and when I told him I thought I felt something yesterday, he said it's usually closer to 18 weeks on the first pregnancy. But, I say fooey because I think it definitely was Baby saying hi to me! (that's my story and I'm sticking to it) After all, if Baby is a girl, she's already practicing her volleyball moves and if Baby is a boy, he's practicing his reaction time with driving his car down the dragstrip. Of course, Dave is bound and determined our daughter can drive a hotrod too... Anyway, it's only a matter of time when there is no doubt about what I'll be feeling!

Baby Moving?

Okay, so I'm in the middle of my work day right now, but honestly...I'm in the best mood! It's a beautiful day outside and I went shopping for maternity clothes at lunch and got a few cute things and to top it off...I think I just felt Baby move! They say it happens between 16-18 weeks and I don't know if it's the baby I felt, but there were interesting little waves going through my belly it felt like...I don't want to assume it was the baby, but it's fun to think that it very well could've been!! I know it's too early for Dave to feel and soon enough I'm sure my tummy will look crazy with the baby moving so much. Some of you probably think I'm a silly pregnant woman, but I am just so excited, I had to share the news...

Oh, and shopping for maternity clothes has to be one of the funnest things on my list right now. I'm finally getting to the point where I'm showing and I love buying clothes that show off my belly! I was so paranoid before and now I'm proud of the growing figure! Okay, as you can tell, I'm definitely in a good mood and just babbling. My next doctor's appointment is tomorrow, so another good day - to get to hear the heartbeat again and the all important weigh-in!! yikes...

16 Weeks

Baby's Progress: At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails

Baby's Progress at 15 Weeks

Dave and I get updates every week to see how the baby is growing, I think these are amazing! So, here is where Baby is at 15 weeks...(note that we aren't sure if the baby is a boy, they alternate the sex every week, when describing the baby.

At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help the air sacs in his lungs develop. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you were to shine a flashlight at your tummy, he'd most likely move away from the beam.

14 Week picture

Here's an updated photo of me at 14 weeks. I'm wearing the favorite tank top I found in the Old Navy maternity section, that says "Coming this Fall". I love it! I bought it with some spots on it, but hopefully I can get those out, because I love it! Dave teases me that I'll be getting spots like these on my shirts all the time when my belly is so big I won't be able to get close to my plate when I eat - oh, I love my supportive husband! :) I am still wearing my old jeans, but I've resorted to the rubber-band trick, where I use a rubber-band pony-tail holder to close the button at the top. For now it will work, hopefully once I get a bit bigger the regular maternity jeans will fit me.

House Work

Dave and I are trying to get back into the house project mode to get some things done before the baby and nice weather get here, when we won't be motivated to do all these projects. Here are updated pics of our dining room, where we painted the bottom half of the wall. We plan to do a white chair rail in the center of the two colors. We also started to wallpaper our Library on the bottom half of the wall. Dave's mom was kind enough to come show us how to wallpaper. I felt bad, Dave had no help from me, due to the paste on the wallpaper having some sort of chemical that I probably shouldn't be touching. I will probably buy some gloves to help him finish the rest of the room, what a GREAT sport to do what he did!!

3 Month Appointment

Dave and I had our 3 month appointment today for Baby. The appointment was actually less eventful than I expected, but I guess they can't all be as exciting as the first ultrasound and actually seeing the little one inside me! We did get to hear the heartbeat this time though, as I thought. I was ready to go into this special room with a machine and basically, it was this little portable device that the nurse had that was able to detect the heartbeat. It only took her a few tries on my tummy to find the heartbeat and you could definitely tell it was a rapid little pace at 148 beats per minute!! I was trying to be so still for the nurse to count and I had tears welling up in my eyes - it was just an amazing sound! Thankfully we'll get to hear that sound at every appointment in the future!!! I guess next appointment they'll start measuring my belly, which can help them tell how much Baby is growing. Also, I am able to schedule the 20 week ultrasound now where we can find out the sex (IF WE CHOOSE TO...ahem, Rachel) and get to see all the organs and stuff I guess.

They also weighed me at this appointment and quite frankly, I don't like their scale! ha ha. I'm going to blame the extra pound or two on the Wendy's burger I had right before the appointment since I was starving - and you really never know how long you have to wait to get into the doctor's office - it's never at the actual appointment time! That's all for now - I wish I had another ultrasound pic to load up, but not this time. I'm sure we'll take another belly shot this weekend or next - hopefully in front of a better background where you can fully appreciate the growth of my mid-section.

12 Weeks Along

As promised, here is an updated picture of me and the new belly at 12 weeks this weekend (don't mind the lovely hairdo). I weighed myself at the gym Friday night and I've gained 2 pounds since my appointment at 8 weeks. I'm not sure if that's entirely pregnancy weight or all the eating out while on vacation. But, I have to get used to the scale moving upwards now. From now on, it's supposed to be a 1 pound per week gain! Oh lord, here we go....

Here are also pictures of the first toy that Baby received from our friend Sara and the donated maternity clothes from 4 good friends of mine (I even got a shipment all the way from Oregon!). I think now all I need to buy are pants!!

Two Month Ultrasound Pic!

As promised, here is a picture of 'Baby Hickman' at 2 months...hopefully we'll have an updated picture after next week's appointment!

Baby Hickman on the way!

Yes, that's right, Dave and I have a 'Baby Hickman' on the way! Dave and I wanted to try to call each and every friend to tell them in person, but honestly between me falling asleep by 8:30 most nights and being fairly busy at work for both of us, it's just not a task we can complete and I'm just too anxious to get the word out there to let this go any longer! I am 11 1/2 weeks pregnant now (Due Oct 7, 2007)! We had our first appointment at the end of February where we got an ultrasound and were able to see and faintly hear the little heartbeat! The baby also moved during the ultrasound, so Dave's sure the baby was waving 'hi' to us. We now have the ultrasound picture on the fridge where we can see our future son/daughter every day!! We have another appointment next week, where we'll get to hear the heartbeat on this doppler machine where it's a lot louder, so that will be awesome! We started taking side profile pictures of me to show progress (I will post those on the blog at some point) Looks like I'll finally have something to update the blog about on a regular basis, you don't know how hard this was for me to keep this for this long!!

We just got back from Arizona late last night, so I'll probably update the blog tonight or tomorrow with pictures and details. Dave is out of town in training until tomorrow night, so I'll have plenty of time to give all the details!