:) :) :) Cheese Please :) :) :)

Much thanks to everyone for their amazing baby photographer suggestions! We really appreciate everyone's help. After contacting each and every one of them, and comparing our options, we finally decided to work with Julie Kittredge from the northwest burbs. Since all of the photographers said it was very important to capture photos of the baby within 10 days of giving birth, before any sort of baby acne creeps up, we have tentatively booked a two-hour newborn session with Julie on Friday, June 15th. She is flexible and has promised to change the date depending on what happens! Julie plans on coming to our home, so we don't have to worry about getting Chickie all dolled up and out the door, and will take pictures of Chickie, Chris, and I - in different combinations - throughout the nursery and living room. Julie really sold us on the warmth of her emails, and her beautiful website and blog. Definitely check her out if you're in need of a great photographer: http://www.juliekittredge.com/

EGGcited to Meet Our Little Eggplant :)

Chicken Fry is EGGactly 25 weeks done today! When I read my bump.com newsletter this morning, I was shocked to realize that once I reach 28 weeks on March 16th, Chickie and I will be co-graduates of the second trimester club. It's really reassuring to know that Chickie is starting to go through a major growth spurt these days, especially since quick glances in the mirror definitely confirm that my tummy is starting to go through a major growth spurt, as well! Since September, I have been sizing Chickie up in terms of ounces. Well, February is finally here, and along with last night's long overdue snowstorm, the pounds are starting to surface. According to thebump, Chicken Fry is weighing in anywhere from 1.5 to 2.2 pounds, and measuring the length of an eggplant. We are EGGstatic, to say the least!   

We HEART Chickie

Our appointment went well! Chickie's heartbeat came in at 155bpm (still well above 140 so we'll have to wait and see if that means anything). The doctor said the heartbeat was VERY strong and VERY clear ... just what we were hoping for. My next appointment is scheduled for Monday, March 19th. They plan on screening for gestational diabetes, and gave me an orange drink, which I will have to have to refrigerate and consume EXACTLY one hour before my appointment. I'll have to clearly label it in our fridge so that no one accidentally mistakes it for any old energy drink :)

Growing Grapefruit!

Also last Friday, we hit the 24 week mark, which puts us somewhere in the early stages of month six. Chicken Fry is growing rapidly these days. He/she's already the size of grapefruit and is getting closer and closer to being ready to survive (and thrive!) in the outside world. I have my 24 week check-up in about a half an hour. There's no ultrasound at this one, but I'll still get to hear Chickie's heartbeat, which I've so been looking forward to since my 20 week appointment ;) My mom is coming along with me, and I'm excited that she will be able to hear it, as well. I'm curious to hear how fast the heartbeat is this time. There's an old wives tale that says that if your baby's heartbeat remains above 140 bpm, it is likely that you are having a little girl. Back in January, Chickie's heartbeat was 154 bpm, so we'll see what it is today! Even if it's fast, that definitely doesn't guarantee anything. I've been doing my research, and plenty of women end up having little boys with fast heartbeats. At this point I have absolutely no idea - not even the slightest inkling - as to whether or not Chickie is a boy or a girl ... I will definitely be surprised come June, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Chickie's Nursery (Part 5)

The carpet's in! Good bye Christmas, hello beautiful beige! Chicken Fry's nursery is no longer green and red ... hooray! Much thanks to Luna for doing a wonderful job installing the new carpet we ordered, Foxfire Suede. It's super soft ... come check it out for yourself sometime! Now that the foundation of the nursery is officially in place, we can finally start looking into furniture and all things cute to spruce up the room with.

Chickie's Nursery (Part 4)

As part of my birthday gift this year, my best friend Lauren surprised me with a little something extra for Chicken Fry ... this "TOO CUTE FOR WORDS" wall decal for Chickie's nursery! The decal says ...

"SOMETIMES THE SMALL THINGS

TAKE UP THE MOST ROOM IN YOUR HEART"

~Winnie the Pooh~

We plan on displaying this beautiful Winnie the Pooh quote on the wall above Chickie's crib. Let the decorating begin!

Thanks, Laur! ;)

This is NOT a photo of Chickie's Nursery, but I wanted to give you an idea of how the decal will look on the wall!

Goodnight Moon

My husband sure knows the key to my heart ... hours of beauty sleep on our comfy couch ;) This year for my bday he surprised me with a freaking fabulous baby body pillow! His only mistake ... letting me try it out BEFORE I started dinner :) Me and my new bff can't wait to get reacquainted.

Goodnight everyone ... Sleep tight!

Grateful (Part 10 of Many)

Chris' mom is very artistic. She is known for her cute little envelope balloon people. I love this year's birthday card with the newest addition of little Chicken Fry balloon baby ;)

Thanks a million for all the cute baby book stickers! I know what I'll be doing in between all the fun diaper changes and feedings this summer ;)

Grateful (Part 9 of Many)

MUCH THANKS for some MUCH NEEDED, MUCH LOVED early bday gifts from this bday girl. My wonderful mom, aunt, and best friend pretty much bought out the entire maternity line at Kohl's and Target. I don't think I'll need another top until it reaches 70° plus, or until I pack on another 20lbs, whichever comes first! Either way this bump will be sporting the best of the best ;) Thanks you all!

Pomegranate Pooh Bear

Today Chicken Fry is 23 weeks and counting. One more week and I get to hear the most wonderful heartbeat ever again! I love visits to the doctor; it's so nice to have that extra reassurance that everything is a-okay inside. Our next appointment is Monday, February 20th - President's Day. No ultrasound at this one, but still a goodie. I've started to worry a little more here and there, because all last week Chicken Fry was super perky - kicking around like crazy - and this week our little future soccer player's been a lot less Beckham and a little more Pooh Bear hibernating just in time for tonight's expected snowfall. I do feel small kicks here and there, and I'm sure babies go through phases when they are still this tiny, but it will definitely ease my mind to hear that heartbeat once again.

Chickie's Nursery (Part 3)

Last weekend we got a lot more work done in Chickie's nursery. Chris - along with some of his friends and my dad - finished painting the two doors in the room. The french doors are completely in, and we are finally totally finished painting the room. Saturday morning, a Luna representative came over to the place and helped us pick out new carpet for Chickie's nursery so that we can eliminate the whole Christmas theme we currently have goin' on in there. The carpet we settled on is called Foxfire Suede ... it's a pretty neutral color ... very VERY soft! The softness is what sold it to us. Just by feeling the sample square, we could definitely picture a certain cutie pie having tons of fun rolling and crawling around in there. The carpet is also "green" making it completely safe for infants. That was also a definite plus. This is the first carpet we've ever purchased, and little did we know that they only cost a small fortune?! Chicken Fry won't even be here for another six months and he's/she's already digging into our checkbooks (must be a girl) ;) ... The carpet is scheduled to be installed on the 17th, and we can't wait to see how it looks!

Here are some pictures of our work in progress ...

The Kitchen Looking into the Nursery

Cooking Countdown!

4 months!

Perky Papaya!

22 weeks down! - that's a whole 9 weeks into our second trimester, and I'm still feeling pretty good overall. I made it to the gym twice this week (maybe three times if I get off at the right exit after work today ... we'll see what the day brings!), and even though doing 45 minutes on the elliptical takes a lot more out of me than running 6 miles around the track ever used to, I definitely love that surge of energy I get after completing a workout.

Chicken Fry is taking after Mommy and getting a little workout these days, too. I've been feeling some tiny kicks pretty much daily now, which is definitely a good thing. I love knowing Chickie is awake and kickin' along with us. The kicks are still so light that Chris hasn't been able to feel them yet, but whenever I sense a lot of action all at once, I'll usually warn Chris so that he can have his fair try.

Today Chicken Fry is measuring somewhere between 10 and 12 inches long - the size of a ripe papaya! He/She's still coming in at under a pound, but we're looking forward to crossing that milestone in the near future ...

Happy Friday! February is finally here!