Due date change...

So my first appointment with my OB was Thursday. I wasn't sure I would be getting an ultrasound or not, because it was also my yearly exam....but was secretly hoping! I did have one and was surprised to find out I'm only about 6 weeks along. By my calculations, I was pretty sure I was around 8 weeks! Must be my cycle was different during the month of December...

Anyway, my Dr said everything looks great and he wants to see me back on February 26th for another checkup and ultrasound. By then I'll be about 10 weeks and we should be able to see little arms and legs forming!! I was very happy though to be able to see the TINY heart beating in the first ultrasound.

Not human babies...but still babies!

Our guinea pig Betsy, FINALLY gave birth to 4 adorable babies on the 27th, in the early afternoon. She required no help and has been a wonderful mother! The baby above is only an hour or so old...I'm helping it dry off a little more. I checked online and the hair style is Abysinnian and the color is golden agouti. The one below is the same color, but with smooth hair. The third baby is jet black and the fourth is a pretty rust color that I haven't decided is orange or red, according to the standards. It also has 2 white spots on it's head...so cute! And they are already squealing like Betsy...they are very loud sometimes!

Here's Caitlin holding the smooth golden agouti...can you tell she loves them??

And Betsy in her little box with her babies.

Nursery Renovation...the beginning!

This room is quite small, about 7 x 8' or so. It was the lowest priority for updating...but now that we really need the space, it will be completely remodeled before September! There is only one window that is on the back of the house...and this is where the morning sun comes in.

Behind this wall is Cara and Caitlin's closet. Sean wants to use part of the closet for a built-in dresser/closet for the nursery...save on space! Our house was built in 1913-14, so the electrical is old as well as the framing. A couple of the boards in this wall are starting to crumble a bit...time for reframing! The lathe and plaster has been completely removed from this wall...Sean won't do the other walls until we have the supplies to finish it quickly...ie.. insulation and drywall!

The one window, which is very low and the original pine plank floors that were painted who knows how many years ago!

The door is new though...when Brendan used this room as his bedroom, he had folding doors that needed to be replaced.

Cravings...

So the cravings have begun...and the heartburn continues. Today's, or should I say, this evening's craving, is Tostitos Lime chips...how I wish I could go to the store for them, but there's no one here to stay with the kids. Sean's still in CT. Boohoo.... Maybe I'll call Pam and see if she has any! But does my craving trump the necessity of going outside in the freezing cold??
Maybe not....

See the pantry?? It's full, but nothing, and I mean nothing is appealing...guess I'll have to raid the fridge!

That's our youngest cat, Angel, in her favorite spot. She can see everything from up there...and loves to watch me cook!

PROOF!

So here it is! This is the second test I've taken...because the first was taken too early and showed a negative. Any test I've ever taken when I thought I was pregnant(and actually was) within the first 2 weeks of my missed cycle comes out negative. So this time I waited an extra week to take the second...no denying that positive sign!! :) I knew I was pregnant, but having not been to the doctor's yet...this completely confirmed it in my mind.

Today was tough. I was completely drained of all energy within the first 2 hours of being awake. It made it even harder to babysit my neighbor's nieces, even though I only had them until 2. After they went home, I tried to lay down and take a nap with Caitlin on my bed. What a wiggleworm! I just got frustrated and forgot about the whole thing. I'll try again tomorrow. This time she'll go in HER bed and fall asleep first!

It's too cold and I wanted to sleep all day.....

Today was mostly a do-all-you-can-to-stay-warm-day! When I woke up at 8 AM and checked the temps online, it was 4F with a wind chill of -13F!!! I just wanted to crawl back in my warm bed with my new pillow and sleep the day away. But with 3 children...I couldn't do that. The house was looking like a herd of elephants stampeded through and the kitchen sink was overflowing...and that needed to be remedied. But I felt quite drained early on...just because I'm pregnant. So not a whole lot was accomplished...just enough to make the house somewhat presentable.

I ended up avoiding the kitchen until later in the day...it was freezing!! I snuggled on the couch, wrapped in blankets with Caitlin while she watched some cartoons. I worked on my latest knitting project, an adult hat made from my handspun yarn. I decided on a very simple stripe pattern...7 rows of a rusty, sparkly Corriedale wool blend yarn and 2 rows of light fawn alpaca. I'm finishing up the crown of the hat tonight. I haven't decided if I will wear it, give it as a gift or list it on Etsy. When it's complete, I'll post a photo.

I'm so very glad I took up knitting...and have been doing it long enough that I can make really nice things! I enjoy knitting for others and now with a baby on the way, I can't wait to make more little things like thumbless mitts and hats and maybe I'll even venture out and try a sweater! Thank goodness for patterns for no-seam sweaters...I really do despise seaming!

Today was my best friend's youngest daughter's birthday party...she turned 12 on the 13th. It was a full house and very loud, but it was nice. Danielle received some very nice things and a little cash to go shopping on her own. She's a good kid...and she's extremely excited about our new baby on the way. She loves babies and I know she will help me out a lot.

On another note, I actually felt yucky for much of the day...but not nauseous. Right now, I'm hungry, but NOTHING is appealing but water. Maybe a little is knowing Sean will be gone to Connecticut for a week starting tomorrow afternoon. I'm not worried, I just really miss him when he's gone for more than a day. :( It's not the same just talking on the phone...we love to watch a movie or read in the evenings, just being together after the kids are in bed...that's OUR time...and I relish it!

I don't want to babble on, so I'll go finish up that hat and then fall asleep soundly! The photos above are just a few of the ones I'd like to frame for the nursery if Mini Who is a girl. Enjoy...they were taken either here or at my MIL's over the past 2 summers.

Maternity Clothes Shopping...already.....

This is my belly at 6 weeks pregnant! I'm wearing one of my new tank tops. I hope to wear this same one in each weekly belly photo, so you can really see the difference!

Today I went out shopping with Pam...she was in search of gifts for her youngest daughter, who's 12th birthday was this past Tuesday and I was in search of a few more little gifts for my oldest, who's 10th birthday is the 25th.

We went to A.C. Moore, Target, T.J.Maxx and Kohl's...and not only did I find the rest of Cara's gifts, I found wonderful deals on maternity clothes!! With this being the 4th baby, my belly is showing much sooner!! I have had to at least buy a couple pairs of pants already.

At Target, I did find a really nice pair of dark indigo jeans for $7.48, reg. $29.99.
2 stretchy tank tops for $2.24 each, reg. $8.99.
A pretty, gray flowy top(not maternity) for $4.24, reg.$16.99.
And 3 maternity tops on sale for $3.74-$4.98, reg. $14.99-$19.99.

At T.J.Maxx, I found a super cute regular summer dress...that's super stretchy on sale for $3.00, reg. $24.99.

And finally, at Kohl's...2 short-sleeve maternity tops on sale at 90% off reg price!! One was just over $3 and the other was $2.80.

I think I did really, really well and I'm looking forward to wearing every piece. A good friend has more maternity clothes to pass on to me too, so I will have a nice wardrobe over the next 8 months!

Baby Things

Vintage booties from Angeline, my best friend's oldest daughter. The ties need to be replaced, but other than that, they are in beautiful condition and are beautifully knit!

I found this ADORABLE 3-6m size set at the Thrifty Shopper for $.99!!! It should be just about the right size for Christmas time.

A handspun, handknit hat made by me...a week ago. I had a small amount of this yarn and decided it would be perfect for a baby-size hat! I think I even have enough yarn for baby mitts.

Aren't these precious?? These are from Baby GAP...but I purchased them from the Thrifty Shopper (Rescue Mission) for $.39 each! They each have a name too. The horse is Hazel, the Monkey is Maddie, the turtle is Racer, the ladybug is Lady and sadly, the duck came with no tag...wish I knew what it was!

I found this beautiful book by Anne Geddes at the Salvation Army for $2.99. I love her photographs...so precious!

A New Journey Has Begun!!

This will be a new experience for me...blogging about one of my pregnancies! I look forward to sharing these next 8 months with you...all the ups and downs.

For those who don't know me, I am a 31 yo homemaker with 3 children ages, almost 10, almost 8 and 4. I've been married to Sean for just over 11 years and we live in very cold and snowy Central NY.
I found out I was pregnant with baby #4 just after the first of the year. Many emotions came with this news...total bliss at being pregnant again...I LOVE being pregnant. Worry because of our not-so-stable financial situation. Stress at being responsible for 4 little people. Wonder at the new life growing within that God has chosen to bless Sean and I with. Will this one look a lot like any of it's sister's or brother? Or will he or she have a look of his or her own? And joy that my other 3 children will have a new brother or sister to love and grow up with.

I have told our church family and by accident, Sean's parent's found out before we wanted to tell them. Oh well! My dad and his side of the family have known for about a week.
I still need to tell my mom and brother and aunt, who I don't see or talk to often. I think they will all be very happy for us.

I've been told by a few that I have that 'glow' already...which I'm sure will continue throughout the entire pregnancy. My favorite thing about being pregnant is being able to feel the baby move around and kick...even when it's uncomfortable! And I talk to my babies in utero a lot....I'm sure I've done it while grocery shopping! LOL

Sean was quite freaked out when I told him...he didn't want any more children...at least not for quite a while. But he's quickly warming up to the idea! :) I love him so much for that...I was a little scared to tell him because I just didn't know what his reaction would be. But he took it like a man and is going with the flow now!

He's already started gutting that tiny room upstairs(those who have been in our house know which one)...that will be the nursery. I plan to paint it a light yellow and if it's a girl, I will be framing flower photos that I've taken over the last couple years and hang those up on the walls. (I'll post a few here to show you.) If it's a boy...I don't know yet...have to do a little more thinking. I just don't want a typical nursery for this baby. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

I really look forward to comments...please feel free to leave them!