Progress on the House

Sorry I haven't gotten those ultrasounds scanned yet...tomorrow, Jeff promises!
Meanwhile our house is no longer see-through. They did all the sheetrock (but none of the puttying) and also put most of the hardi-plank on.

Peeking in on our little Genie-us

Yesterday I had another ultrasound (standard policy for new patients at Preferred Women's). I didn't expect it to be so much fun!! First of all, I didn't have to drink 5 gallons of water within one hour and then have my bladder poked. In fact I didn't have to drink anything; and they said they would do an external ultrasound. Unlike my first ultrasound, they had a nifty screen on the wall that allowed me to see everything.
Fig Baby is AMAZING. He was sleeping when we first checked in on him, lying on his side with his back to us. (Good baby...you're on mommy's normal sleeping schedule...not waking up until 10...this appointment was at 9:00, so he was probably still in REM sleep!) We had to poke him a little to wake him up, and then he squirmed like he was grumpy about being waked up and was trying to snuggle back in and get comfortable! Finally, he woke up completely and started moving his hands near his face. He couldn't keep them away from his face, in fact. Rubbing his head, putting them in his mouth, just constantly moving. Then the legs started kicking. Tiny little skinny things. (Hmm...he/she probably has Jeff's skinny calves...the one part of him that won't bulk up, unlike my sturdy, thicker calves!) He stretched all the way out for us, and we could see his little rib cage.
The technician pointed out a lot of the features that I honestly couldn't see clearly myself, so I took a lot of it on faith, but some I could see plainly. The spindly blurr near his face she said were fingers. The two lobes of his brain I could see clearly, and his ear was clear in one pic, but facial features were blurry. It just made my day, though, to peek in on his world. It was like calling up a genie-in-a-bottle without knowing what they're doing...sleeping, taking a bath, whatever. How nice to have a little window in on Baby's Life! And what a life...comfy, warm, weightless...
I read something about the FDA limiting the use of ultrasounds to trained professionals only. This is ostensibly to discourage 3-D "keepsake videos" that expose the baby unnecessarily to a (potentially) harmful energy source. At first this seemed like a good idea to me, but what about crisis pregnancy centers? I think ultrasounds are the most effective tool they possess. I don't see how any mother could choose abortion after seeing her baby on an ultrasound. It's so obvious they're little people, even at 3 months.
Anyway. They gave me several pictures of the ultrasound (these are at 11 weeks, 5 days...almost 3 months, for you normal people. The "weeks" thing always annoyed me slightly. So, when the kid is twenty, are they going to be 1,045 weeks old?). They also "officially" confirmed the due date of Sept. 6th. I'll post the pics when Jeff can scan them in for me. :)

Wonderful Party, Pregnancy Brain

This past weekend was the highlight of this year (besides finding out about Kumquat). I say this reverently, but it was almost like heaven, where everyone you love is in one place enjoying each others' company! When I was little, I loved playing with Elizabeth when we visited Sumter in the summers. I liked it so much that when it was time to leave I told my mom that I wished Elizabeth and I could both die and go to heaven, so we could play with each other all the time! Fellowship with loving family and friends is a little taste of heaven, for sure.
I got to see Karanena, longtime friend from JH that I haven't seen for several years; my lovely sis-in-law Laura, HS best friend Abbie (and cousin-in-law?) and of course the wonderful, positive, caring friend that the whole party was about--Elizabeth. I'm so thankful for the time we had together growing up; Elizabeth helped me not be such a wimp, as we hurdled bushes, ran barefoot around the farm, rode Bucking Broncos and cleaned pigeon poop out of the barn, dressed up in crazy outfits, swung from vines, and ran breakneck speed on narrow mountain paths...I've never met anyone else with as much energy or zest for life as her! Everything's a party or an adventure when she's around. She can see the humor in absolutely everything (even riding to school with our heads smushed up against the back of the station wagon...I ride to school with Africans..) I'm so thankful for her! Abbie did a marvellous job planning her party. Everyone had a great time esp. me :) and playing modified Queen was a stroke of genius!
Now for the Pregnancy Brain part...in our rush to see Ma-Ma at the hospital in the morning, we forgot our camera! We went straight to the party afterward, with no camera. Thankfully I have friends who have more brain cells than I and will (hopefully) send me some pictures...pretty please? :)

Random pics

These don't go together at all, but here are some recent photos. Frodo pictures...he has writer's block in the first one. :) And our house. The first story was all framed in last weekend. Jeff tells me now the second story is as well! They're incredibly fast once they get started. Oh, and in the last picture, it looks like we're building in the middle of the wilderness, but that's just because the lots on either side have not been built on yet. We actually have a pretty small yard, but the trees behind will stay.

Day at Tribble Mill Park

When Jeff found the house we're now buying, he liked the neighborhood but didn't know there was an 800-acre park just down the road. It's clean, well-kept and has foot, bike, and equestrian trails. We've been exploring the area around Ozora Lake--about 6 miles of paved trail. The entire park is family and kid-friendly, even has a large, nice area with swings, slides and monkey bars, so our little Gray Monkey can grow up breathing some fresh air!
We went there today and took a few pictures. It was soooo nice to get outside and into nature--can't even explain it. It was a gorgeous, breezy, slightly overcast day, and it helped both of us unwind and get rid of some stress! I'm going to enjoy living within a quarter mile of this wonderful park! (Oh and if you have husbands interested in fishing, the lakes are stocked, so come see us!)

One of the two lakes
















On the trail















Resting spot along the trail
















Jeff loves climbing trees!
















I pretend to...fake smile :)
















Beavers at work!















There were several beautiful horses there while we were there...wish I could have gotten a better picture.

Dreams, Dreams, Dreams

Since I'm sharing all the strange and different things that are happening to me during my Prego journey, I thought I'd share this: never have I had so many weird dreams. They started before I even knew I was expecting, so I don't think they're due to conscious worry.
I gave birth to a Cat. He was furry like Frodo. Everyone was congratulating me and saying, "Aw, he looks just like Jeff." (The beard, maybe?) I didn't want to hurt my spawn's feelings, so didn't say anything at first, but finally burst out, "Does anyone see a problem with this situation? I was expecting a HUMAN." "Oh, you're right, but that's okay, better luck next time, these things happen" (This dream I have an explanation for. One of the cats enjoys giving midnight concerts. She's an alto. Her meows are deep, long, and drawn out. She keeps this up for an hour sometimes. These are the times Frodo does not get punished for attacking another cat.)
One constantly occurring dream is the Old Ancestral Home of Yore dream. Every time it's a different house, but usually it comes without modern bathrooms. We have to live there. They have unpainted boards, leaky roofs, dirty corners, rat poop and not nearly enough space. Hmmm...now where should we put the nursery? In one of them we had to live in the pump house behind our old house in Sumter, with a whole 5 square feet of space (there may be an easy explanation for that one too, hee hee).

Food Adventures with Raspberry Baby

I am experiencing the weirdest thing. Jeff says he understands me much better the way I am now. I am incredibly, viscerally, enthusiastically, whole-hoggedly enjoying FOOD. I have to have it NOW, and I have to have what I WANT. It's a contradiction that I can feel like throwing up one minute and like eating three or four hamburgers the next, but it's true!
This morning I had the worst nausea yet, and did throw up. I then had breakfast with Jeff like I always do at 5 a.m. and then tried to go back to sleep. Maybe it was the fact that I had three days' worth of grease in my hair, but I just couldn't get comfortable. Decided to take a shower to feel better, and sure enough did, for a few minutes, then back to nausea. I finally got back to sleep, and when I woke up, realized I HAD to have peanut butter crackers. I got dressed and left early for my guitar lesson so I could stop at the convenience store. I scarfed all six crackers within a matter of minutes, and they were incredibly, wonderfully, divinely good!!
After the lesson, I passed a Subway, (remember this is Cheapster talking, who is expert at talking Jeff out of his cravings) and didn't even think twice. I was getting a turkey sub with lots of pickles and tons of banana peppers, and that was the end of it. Can we say "bliss?" Unutterable bliss. I never in my life have enjoyed food quite so much. Finished off my kettle chips and felt incredibly satisfied.
Then...tonight went out to Ihop with Jeff (we're big couponers...just go wherever we have a coupon). I felt this primeval urge to sink my canines into a big hunk of beef and tear it apart, swallowing chunks whole. (This is not me, this is someone else in my body!) I ordered a thick hamburger, finished it off without any conversation (and usually I'm trying to draw Jeffrey out so we can talk; the meal is about the conversation, right? WRONG), and really wanted another one. I had to be content with eating all of my fries and Jeff's hash browns!
Jeff just kept staring at me with this dazed smile on his face. I felt like hugging the waitress and telling her this hamburger was a culinary triumph, that it was the most amazingly perfectly grilled hamburger with the most exquisite choice of condiments. Nobody told me it would be like this. I used to doubt the truth of pregnancy cravings, but they are feral, come from the gut, and will not be ignored!

Progress!

Thanks for following our progress through the Food Pyramid...now, at 7 wks, Lentil is Raspberry Baby.

I thought this was neat...from an e-newsletter I subscribe to:

"Now almost half an inch long — roughly the size of a raspberry — your baby has elbow joints and distinct, slightly webbed fingers and toes. In his oversized head, both hemispheres of his brain are developing. His teeth and the inside of his mouth are forming, and his ears continue to develop. Eyelid folds partially cover his tiny peepers and the tip of that nose you'll be tweaking someday is emerging. His skin is paper-thin, and his veins are clearly visible. Your little one also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. His liver is busy producing red blood cells, and a loop of your baby's growing intestines is bulging into his umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from his tiny body. Your baby still appears to have a small tail (actually, it's an extension of his tailbone), but it will disappear in the next few weeks.
You can't feel his gyrations yet, but your little jumping bean is moving in fits and starts around his watery home."

Still feeling pretty good up until today. Woke up feeling blah and it hasn't left all day. Maybe it's that I have had next to nothing to do today (besides straightening up, cooking, doing laundry) so I'm noticing how I feel more. I do feel pretty cooped up. Dreary outside, tiptoeing around b/c poor Tim stayed up all night, and watching the cats sleep. I'm going out tonight with Jeff to (whoopee) pick up some prenatal vitamins. :)

I think I'll feel better when I actually have a bump to show for all this icky feeling and can get one of these t-shirts.

Big House for a Rice Baby

Actually now I think he is a lentil baby. :)
We went by the Carrington model again and took a few more pictures...and window measurements so I can start working on curtains (nothing like privacy when you move in!) I especially like the coat room, which will become the cat room! And I have a PANTRY...ah.
Here are the pictures:

Music room--small but cozy. It's the first room on the left as you enter, so it would be perfect for teaching at home if I ever decide to do that.
















Dining room. We're going to paint the two walls red. The entire house is very white as you can see...the only paint choices we get with the house are shades of white, so we're going to add a little color ourselves here and there.

















Pantry and coat closet.




































Living room, complete with "altars." Note the side altars for small statues of Buddha and the large square altar for a TV. :D I don't know why, but every single house we looked at had these. We'll use them for books or maybe a vase of flowers....or art...



















Kitchen, though ours is lighter in color: light countertops, lighter cabinets, but darker floor (chocolate brown)


















Guest room downstairs. Y'all come see us!! We intend to use our guest room as much as we can.

















Guest bathroom. Sorry, no tub! I thought this was a drawback, but then my sis-in-law Kimberly told me she would never take a bath in someone else's tub. So, I guess it's staying as is.






















Master bedroom. I love the sitting nook! I had the idea of sectioning it off with sheer curtains, so it's like a private reading nook. We'll need some chairs or a bench there. Maybe I'll follow Elizabeth's lead and do some consignment shopping.


















Master bath (unfinished here) The tub is a pretty good size, but alas Jeffrey still does not fit. It's his dream to have a nice big tub where his legs aren't cramped! (Hmm...maybe we can get a baptismal for cheap somewhere)
















So that's the tour. It looks like they've started building. We went by the other day and they had leveled out the mountain on the lot and marked where drains and buried cable would go. They told us they could easily make the April 30th deadline. We're excited and feel so blessed to have found a nice community with some trees (if you've been in the Atlanta area, you realize how rare this is!) and very close to a state park. We feel so blessed that God led us to this community and can't wait to move in!

A Scare

This pregnancy thing is stressful!! Today I had an awful scare I hope I never have again. I was having sharp pain on my left side, so I went in today to have it checked out. My doctor said it could possibly be an ectopic pregnancy (basically the only option is to abort...the baby is growing in the wrong place). She wanted to rule that out as soon as possible, so she told me I need to go in for an ultrasound. They started to schedule me for that same afternoon. Still not that alarmed by the situation, I told them that wouldn't work because that I would miss teaching my afternoon lessons. They said it didn't matter, that I needed to get it done RIGHT AWAY, and went ahead and called it in for 2:30 at Emory Medical. That "right away" really scared me. The next three hours of waiting to go to my appointment were some of the worst of my life. I kept trying to think about what was true; that God was still in control and that there was no use worrying when I didn't know all the facts.

To my great relief, the technician said that everything was normal, that a ruptured cyst was the cause of the pain, that it was even somewhat normal (normal?? since when is a cyst normal) and would not affect anything. She was even--to her surprise--able to get a ultrasound picture of our Rice Baby. He's just the size of a cooked grain of rice, and she said he was exactly on the average for size at 6 weeks. So instead of coming home with awful news, I came home with a picture of our developing baby! I can't even describe the feeling of looking at that ultrasound as she showed me our "blip" on the screen. It suddenly seemed very real that I will have the privilege of bringing a little person into the world and being the single most important person in his little life.

Rice Baby...you can see the arrow (though it's pretty faint). He's shaped like a bean. Amazing that this tiny little person already has a beating heart and vocal chords! Wonder if he's singing in there....

Baby Development Ticker

This is cool but I'm not sure how to get it in the margin of my blog...I'll work on it.

Now for something...totally different

Jeff says I can't keep a secret. If you're having a surprise party for your friends, don't tell me about it. I'll give it away somehow without even meaning to.

So I am under no delusion about my ability to keep this one. Maybe you can guess. Maybe you already realize it's something that will make my mother-in-law very happy. Maybe you realize that this is something that will get us a welfare check from my dad. That I am, at heart, just a groupie and had to join in with my two sis-in-laws.

Yes....it's true...the little stripe test doesn't lie...we're going to be parents!!! The last name will be Gray, the first either Smokey or Dull. (ha) The due date is Sept. 6. My third trimester will be spent in my own home, and I don't have to help move!

God has already protected our unborn little one....I was taking antibiotics the week we conceived, but the type I was taking is fine for an unborn baby. We would appreciate your prayers for a safe and healthy pregnancy. For my part, this is totally unexpected and un-looked for, though Jeff tells me he has been thinking about kids a lot the past few months. I feel completely unready but I'm praying for grace! And, yes, I'm very excited and a little giddy!

Decorating n' stuff

I've been thinking alot about how to decorate our new house, and since I have nothing else to do this week...no teaching...I noodled around the internet. Here are the best sites I found for home ideas. Of course, all the friends reading this blog have impeccable homes and a great sense of style, but a few more ideas don't hurt--right?

Great videos; also check the other tabs for decorating on a budget
http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/AllVideos.aspx

Great ideas and articles.
http://www.doityourself.com/

Good ol' Martha Stewart. Amazingly, she's still 30 years old--ha! And full of great cleaning ideas to make you feel guilty. :)
http://www.marthastewart.com/

Many pictures of beautiful sample rooms.
http://www.bhg.com

I love this book...bought it recently and found the q's and workbook format very helpful. It helps you figure out your personal tastes and needs. I used it on a friend and it was almost like magic...she suddenly knew beyond a doubt what direction to go with her decorating style!



Change Your Home Change Your Life











And finally...some fun quizzes to find your decorating style! I listed my results below.

Color Quiz
Your color personality is Green

The Decor Doctor
Your Decorating Personality is Eclectic

House Beautiful Quiz
Anything-Goes Eclectic

Lifestyle Quiz
Your lifestyle: Town & Country

Frodo the Magnificent

This post dedicated to Frodo...our Humane Shelter cat we got two years ago, who is the size of a small dog. We figured out from his appearance and his size (mostly his size) that he is partly Maine Coon. (They keep growing until they're 3 years old! Oh no!) He also has a lot of Maine Coon mannerisms, like standing on his back feet like a bear and picking things up with his paws, and making clicking noises instead of meowing (he only meows when he's really upset; otherwise a quiet kitty). He's a smart kitty but also very stubborn...many times when he was a kitten I seriously thought about opening the door and letting him go!! But he has calmed down in his older age and is now a fun, intelligent playmate. If Jeff and I are ever sick, he makes a fantastic sick-buddy. He wants to be wherever we are.
In the last year he's been through a lot of trauma, i.e. a car trip to Atlanta (cried the whole way, and hid his head under my arm), meeting other cats for the first time (five at once!), and a new home. And yep, he's going to have new surroundings to get used to soon. Presenting Frodolicious....

From tiny, sick kitten with a low bodyweight

















To Monster Cat!
















Hangin' out (in our old house in Gville)
















Flower Kitty
















Sleeping--his favorite pasttime
















Keeping sickie Jeff company

Blog meme

Elizabeth sent me a get-to-know-you meme. Here goes:

My Childhood Ambition: To live surrounded by beauty

My Fondest Memory: childhood: Spending summers at Gma's in the country. I used to pack my suitcase four weeks ahead of time and count down the days. Adult: College days in Apt. #4 at BJ...we had the best parties and bum-around times together. (Laura, you remember!)

My Favourite Retreat: a quiet spot in the woods surrounded by the fragrance of pine needles and wildflowers

My Wildest Dream: Be a paid accompanist for a living, sing solo in my choral group, own a bed and breakfast in the country with a flower garden and a few chickens, do interior decorating for fun, renovate old houses

My Proudest Moment: My wedding...once I got over the stress...I was so proud to be Jeffrey's wife!

My Biggest Challenge: Grad school recital with a 30-pg. concerto to learn plus other pieces

My Alarm Clock is: not for my use, Jeff uses it to get up at 4:30, but I usually don't even hear it. I don't teach until 2 most days

My Perfect Day: Devos with a completely open heart toward God, go hiking, do a little shopping, sew something, or write some music, paint something--hmm, that probaby wouldn't fit in one day.

My First Job was: cleaning house for Aunt Mae; after that, working in the dining common in college

My Most Decadent Indulgence: my $600 guitar was an indulgence...but a useful one. I also love coffee with those International Delight flavored creamers. I just finished a bottle of Pumpkin Spice.

My Inspiration: old things, nature, shiny things, and saving money (Jeff told me to add the last one...okay, so he thinks I'm cheap. Well MAYBE I AM)

My New Years Resolution: To invest myself more in others, be more positive, more thankful, get better at guitar and become a better teacher

My Ideal Companion: My accepting, loving, funny Jeffrey who always thinks I'm adorable no matter how much of a dork I'm being, and my cuddly cat who also sleeps beside me at night

My Favourite Colour: kind of a orangy fall red

The Last Book I Read: Ted Hughes' "Poetry in the Making"

How many Books did I read in 2006: I actually keep track--18

My Ideal Home would be: all hardwood floors, lots of interesting nooks and angles, wraparound porch, lots of windows, and out in the country surrounded by trees and nature

I am Expert at: blundering, toe tricks, playing piano

My Funniest Joke: I love this one, it's all-purpose; just say "your mom...." and repeat the phrase you've just heard. For example: "Wow, this steak is so thick and juicy!" "Your mom is thick and juicy"

My Favourite Animal: Frodo, my soft furry cat. If you made something out of his fur it would be like cashmere, it's that soft. He's a great lap cat and does some cool tricks, like "cat goalie" and "find the treat under the rug"

My Favourite Breakfast: Eggs, sausage and pancakes...don't get it that often though

My Favourite Snack: salt and vinegar chips, or any chips or crackers. (I love salt; will probably have health problems later in life)

My Favourite NEW TV Show: Haven't watched TV in years. Don't really miss it.

My Couch: I don't have a couch....we gave our old one to the friends who bought our house. But my ideal couch is comfortable, light brown, and classic

Your Greatest Fear: Embarrassing myself in public

Your favourite Entertainer: Jeff. He can do any accent known to man, and also any 70's or "soul" moves known to man. Yes, it is scary seeing a 300-lb. male doing this!

Your Favourite Meat & Veggie: I love steak and corn

Worst Person in the World: People who are cruel to children

Okay, I tag Jeff, Erin, Chuck, and Dayton!

Christmas in Sumter

We had a great time with family, many which I haven't seen for a long time.

Grandma Dinkins holding up a gift















Mom and Dad--Dad was sick with a bad cold but came down for a while.
















Jeff with Mom
















Laurance and Jeff




















Mom and little Matthew--Ruth's youngest--in the parlor
















Laurance and I playing a duet.
















Elizabeth and little Matthew. He is such a ham!
















Aunt Frances and Laura, Ruth's oldest. She has the most beautiful red hair and is tall for her age!














Ruth, Aunt Frances, and mom getting food ready for the party.
















Laura and her beloved Aunt Elizabeth!















Kimberly, the cute mom-to-be, and Laurance

Walk to Bethlehem

Two weeks before Christmas Jeff and I had the privilege to be in the church play. This is the second (or third?) year our church has done the "Walk To Bethlehem." They had full sets in three of the rooms plus a tent set up outside. There were real sheep and donkeys in Bethlehem, and some doves and chickens in the Jerusalem marketplace--they really went all out to make it look realistic. It was a great way to get people in from the community...we had hundreds of people come through! Jeff and I were Anna and Simeon having a conversation about the coming Messiah. Jeff was a great coach and helped me work on "older" mannerisms and voice. The makeup and hair dye helped a lot. We ended up doing our dialogue so many times for the groups coming through that it became easy! By the end of the week we had backaches from stooping over so long. It ran three days in all. It was a lot of fun!

Most of the pics didn't turn out b/c it was so dark...petting the nice dove....they sat there without moving so they looked stuffed.
















Me with my sewing basket and my bench. Stephanie was making me laugh. We got to go offstage after our thing, so we had a stash of candy and coke to help make the season bright.... :)










Wish I had a good picture of Jeff...none of them turned out well! I'm upstaging him but you can still see half of his face :)