Human Pin Cushion

Week 27: time for the glucose testing where you drink the super-sweet (think 1/4 Sunkist, 3/4 corn syrup) drink, then get blood drawn for sugar testing. Never being able to do things the easy way, I couldn't just pass the first test where you get a dixie cup size drink and single blood draw. I had to go for the "Super-Slurpie" size, all-morning-and-part-of-the-afternoon-in-the-lab-where-they-draw-blood-so-many-times-you-feel-like-an-old-pin-cushion test! (At this point, you should get a sense for how much I enjoyed my Saturday.)

If there is a bright side, I'm telling Ken that this qualifies for me planning a "date" and if he wants to do something better next time, he will have to do the planning.

Step 2: Buy Daughter First Toy

Here are words neither of us ever thought we'd say, we are now the proud owners of a 4-door family friendly car, a 2007 Toyota RAV 4. Our years of sports coupes and my dreams of a little Audi TT have been put on hold for this tiny kicking bundle that is our daughter. . .it must be love!

(In case you are wondering, the house in the background is not ours. . .it is the house across the street from my parents house where the picture was taken.)

Step 1: Paint Nursery

Ken and I have finally faced the reality (sort of) that we will have a new family member joining us soon, so we (okay, Ken did it while I was on a business trip) took our first step and painted the nursery. Please note: This is a simulated picture - there is no paint on the roller Ken is displaying (or on his shirt, jeans, running down his head...) I was told by the doctor to stay away from the fumes (I wasn't complaining about that at all), but we wanted a picture for the scrapbook. Anyway, while it looks white in the picture, it is actually a shade of light lavender (aka Harbor Mist). Next week, we will take another big step and order her furniture. . .

Also, had my 24 week check last Monday and all is well. Apparently, we are both growing at the right rate to make our Dr happy. You would think Ken could be supportive enough to at least put on a few sympathy pounds!

Lavender Lace or Harbor Mist

Picking out a nursery color... I have to give credit to the guys that name all of the colors of paint out there. It is easy to add a single drop of purple dye to a gallon of white paint and say "here's a new one," but to look at that same color and come up with "Lavender Lace" takes a special talent. It is even more impressive when the second drop of dye is added and the color suddenly becomes "Purple Essence." Well, after weeks of looking, hundreds of color cards, half a dozen sample splotches painted on the walls (it looks like Barney exploded in the room - who knew he was actually so many shades of purple), and a mild high from the fumes, we finally decided on "Harbor Mist." Now all that's left is the entire original task of actually painting the room...

So. . .what did you do this winter?

The weather in Ohio is finally nice enough to go outside without huge sweaters and parkas, so Ken and I have been going out for walks in the evenings. The fun part is the inquisitive stares from the neighbors at my growing belly, since none knew we were expecting. It is fun to watch them ask around the topic, being careful to avoid directly asking in case they are wrong. Our next door neighbor was very entertaining when he made a point to come over to ask "So. . . what did you do this winter?" followed by "Anything new?" followed by "Any plans for this spring & summer?" Okay, being evasive may have been a little cruel, but I finally broke down and told him, and he said he didn't want to ask directly in case I had just been hitting the beer and cheeseburgers a bit too hard this winter.