This and That

The reason for this weeks title is just what this week has been about! We didn't really do too much that allowed us to take many pictures, so there is a little of this and a little of that! I have been peeking back into my classroom this week to get some things set for the year. We had a full day of district meetings on Thursday with my last full day of summer break on Friday. It was very difficult not sharing our news during this day but I wanted to wait share the news with my team this coming Monday. Monday and Tuesday are full days of meetings and I will be back with the kidos on Wednesday! Many people are asking if I am ready... My response is that I am ready to get back to a schedule, and I have to start the year in order to end another year!!! The year goes soooo fast and my year will be shorter with being done in March. There is a lot to do between now and then!

Baby Updates:

I am officially 11 weeks this week. I continue to be amazed that I have had no morning sickness. The only thing is that I NEED to eat when I feel hungry, or I begin to feel sick. Tiredness continues with very lazy days and good days. I even mowed the lawn this past week while Adam laid on the couch... hmmmm. This week marks the transition from embryo to a fetus. The babies are about the size of large limes. All organ systems are in place and rapid growth is about to begin. Within the next 9-10 weeks the babies will grow triple-fold. Development into whether they are male or female will be complete in about three weeks. The babies ears are about in place, and they have fingernails!

I have a feeling that the names will continue all throughout the pregnancy. This week my sister asked "How are my nieces doing, Thelma and Louise?"

This first picture of the week is the cutest! It took me awhile to get the pictures off my phone, so it's a little late. Late is better than never... Look at this Beach Baby! This takes us back to the beginning of August in Door County. Our niece, Elle turned one month old the week we were there and as you can see, she already has a lot of style and is ready for the many years to come of hanging out at the Nicolet Bay Beach!

This past Sunday was the Benson Family Reunion (my mom's side). It was an afternoon spent reconnecting with some family that I only see once a year and some great food! Adam put Izzie in this swing thinking she would hate it... but she liked it! Believe it or not, she wanted back in and was content just hanging out (sort of).

Congratulations:

The most important thing of this week is to WELCOME HARPER J. Harper was born on Saturday, August 28th at 4 p.m. He weighed 6 lbs. 7 ozs. and is 19 inches long. Adam and I got to go visit him and give him some snuggles. We are looking forward to watching him grow!!! Congratulations to Cindy and Luke. He is precious!

(I promise he wasn't hanging upside down... just my angle)

We even got to see some eyes!

Sears & Roebuck

Not too many pictures this week, but pictures cannot describe the emotions and surprises that this week brought. We started out the week with our first prenatal doctor appointment on Monday. We were both excited and looking forward to the confirmation that we were indeed expecting a baby. We were excited to have our first ultrasound and hear a strong and healthy heartbeat! Adam was all smiles as we walked into the appointment and I was nervous. There were two ultrasound techs because one was a student and the other was observing the student and wanted to be present to observe and help out as needed. At first there were moments of nothing on the screen and no talking, hence the nerves! They noticed right away that I had an inverted uterus... (about as common as left handed people versus right handed people, 20%) which was news to me. The ultra sound tech was confused for a bit on what she saw on the screen. She mentioned a weird fold or something else on the screen, but didn't want to say to much to let the student do the exam. In the meantime (I didn't catch this...) but the tech was motioning to Adam that there were two babies. She didn't want to interrupt the student (who had never scanned twins). The picture below is at the point were we could see one baby pretty clear and I had no clue about two babies. Exciting (even though the photographer didn't catch a smile on my face...)

After the student thought she was done, the tech wanted to have a look. She pressed harder (I could feel it on my bladder!!!) and instantly on the screen there were two babies!!!!!! She so calmly said "yep, there's two." With the emotions of hearing the heartbeat and the uncertainty of what to expect tears were rolling! Checking for more than two was scary, I'm not going to lie. Whew, they didn't find anymore. They are not marked on this picture, but the babies already have been designated BABY A and BABY B. If you ask Jerry the babies names are SEARS and ROEBUCK. :)

After the ultrasound, we went upstairs to break the news to our doctor! As we were waiting to be called back let me share some of our thoughts...

Double the diapers....

Double the daycare....

You need a bigger car!!!

We can't build a house now...

Yeah... Oh my gosh... Oh my gosh...

I'm going to get huge...

It's going to be a challenging school year...

I need to get another job...

Oh Sh*t...

With everything said and all emotions crossed this past week, we are blessed and cannot be anymore excited! The meeting with the doctor was pretty basic. He could tell that I read (ALOT) and had many questions already. I can have one serving of fish a week as a general rule, up to two caffeinated drinks a day, exercise is great and encouraged, and definitely cannot fly to Florida with Adam in January. Questions answered, and also great for Adam to feel comfortable with me craving a fish fillet from McDonald's (is that even real fish?)!

The next excitement for the day was sharing the news with our family and friends. I am going to admit that there was an adjustment period for us and it took a little time to get used to the idea and share the excitement that everyone else had. It is great knowing we have such good family and friends!

10 Weeks

The babies (I still can't get used to saying that!) are about the size of prunes this week. All of the vital organs have formed and the embryonic tail has disappeared completely (whew). Their fingers are fully separated and the toes have formed. The bones are now forming and buds for teeth are forming as well. Their brains are hard at work developing over 250,000 neurons every minute!

I continue to feel great! Tired, but great. As you can see in the picture, I definitely have a beginning of a bump. It's not quite baby bump (unless you know I am expecting) but I definitely cannot suck it in anymore. I went shopping this past weekend and bought some back-to-school clothes...all maternity (the basics). I will continue to try and wear my regular clothes for as long as I can, but most jeans and work pants from last year are getting uncomfortable. Maternity clothes may not always be flattering and it was hard for me to be open minded about "filling them out" and what they will look like now versus even a month from now, but they are comfortable!

The last part of this week, I got a second wind and cleaned out my closet to fit Adam into our room. He then had the chance to clean out his closet in the baby room to MAKE ROOM FOR BABIES! We have come to the understanding that it will be done in phases. The next phase is a closet organizer and painting. Notice the few baby items that are starting to make it look like a baby closet... Thanks Laura and Jerry!!!

This week I am coaching a volleyball clinic Monday - Thursday for an hour and a half each day, and I am back to work with meetings all day Thursday. I am excited to get the year rolling, but hesitant to give up my daily naps, being able to eat when I need to, and time spent with Izzie. Adam continues to be busy training in nine brand new employees in the three stores!

Can I take another nap?!?!

Yesterday Adam and I returned from our annual camping trip to Door County. I felt great about going since I had just finished out the last of my classes for the summer and am done teaching summer school! Adam and I look forward to this trip every year. This trip is something that Adam and his family have been doing for the past 30 years!!! This was my fouth year and the last year where we will be able to relax and have the trip be about US! The majority of the time is spent at the beach (every nice day...), biking, shopping, by camp fires and eating. This year particularly, I spent more time napping... and eating. Elle made the trip and proved that she will be a great camper in the years to come. Next year will be busier for Missy and Dave, but fun at the same time. I enjoyed having the week for cuddles and snuggles! I didn't get any pictures of her though, except for on my phone when she was dressed for the beach. I will have to work on how to get them onto the blog...

We found this sign on our side of the camper when we showed up... I guess I am under construction for a little one!

Next year will be very different with a 5 month old!

The Annual Trip to Wilson's for Ice Cream

7 a.m. Tee Time... No thanks. The boys golfing.
We met them later for Breakfast.

The Boys at the Beach

As much as we look forward to this trip, it is nice to return to the comforts of home. Getting everything unpacked, put away and laundry done can be another job in itself. This year my mom helped take care of Izzie and then my sister helped with the rest of the time. Leaving her while we go on trips is always hard, but she knowing is probably being more spoiled than she is at home makes it better. Elly and Price really enjoyed having her is Superior (so they say) and Izzie came home in a great mood ready to play and relax in her own home. One thing she has been doing lately is hunting a ground squirrel we have in the yard... she traps him up the drain spout and sits by it for hours until I make her leave so he can come out! It never fails that she knows he's in there. Maybe Adam needs to do the real hunting...

It seems that Adam can never truely escape work unless he is on vacation. Door County is one of his vacations. It also helps that his phone does not get reception while camping. Coming home, Adam had a larger job in front of him that we did not want to be dealing with. We got 6 1/2 inches of rain in one night, so we came home to a wet basement due to a leaky window. Before even putting our camping stuff away, Adam was moving stuff and pulling apart the floor and wall to stop mold from forming. And we thought the baby room was the next project... nope. Oh well, what do you do. I am thinking we are not the only people with this problem... what can you do when you get that much rain in such a short amount of time!

There used to be wood flooring and a fridge occupying this space...

Tomorrow is a big and exciting day for Adam and I. We are going to our first doctor appointment to hopefully be able to hear the heartbeat. We will also do an ultra-sound to make sure we are only having ONE baby! It's too early to find out the gender of the baby, but I don't think we are going to anyway. Maybe I will have the pictures uploaded by next week. Some questions I have for this appointment are:

1. Can I eat fish? (Adam preferred to wait to ask Dr. Walker, but I want a fish fillet from Mcdonald's!!!) I have read that it is safe, but Adam is questioning my research....

2. How late into the pregnancy can I fly?

With finishing summer school, finishing classes, and camping it has been a long past couple days. I am looking forward to getting into my classroom and making the transition into the school year while enjoying the last two weeks off!

Make Room for Baby!

This week has been quite uneventful. I started the second session of teaching summer school and continue to work on finishing my graduate courses for this summer. I am working ahead so I can enjoy the ENTIRE month of August off. Adam has been busy covering all stores so his emplyees can take their vacations and attend training sessions.

As the news continues to sink in, I am feeling that I need to get the spare bedroom ready for the nursery. We need to find other places to put the "office", paint, and the daunting task is cleaning out my closet (the closet the master bedroom) to make room for Adam. Then Adam can move his stuff from the spare bedroom to make room for Baby! When all this is done, we can start thinking about painting, a closet organizer, and filling the room with baby furniture.

The room currently. Lots of work to do. Did I say earlier that I will have the month of August off? Let me rephrase that... Work on Baby Room!

I have started the lovely belly pictures. I am a bit shy right now because it isn't even really a baby belly yet, but just a bloated belly. But here it is...

7 Weeks

I continue to feel good. I may have jinxed myself briefly. One night I told Adam that I didn't even feel pregnant anymore. It's been awhile since I took the test, I have been feeling good, and nothing is really changing! The next morning I had a headache, had a bad night's sleep, and probably felt the worst yet. I have to admitt that being done with summer school at noon each day has allowed a much needed afternoon nap the last couple weeks. I also broke down and ordered a "pregnancy pillow". Adam is not looking forward to this taking up room in the bed (good thing we have a King) but since I am a stomach sleeper, it will hopefully help me get a good night of sleep!

This week we celebrated Adam's 31st Birthday. He didn't want me to get him anything because of the changes happening and "the best gift he could have is being a dad." Nizzer splurged on some treats (she may have had an alterior motive), he got a drying rack (OK - I needed a new one), and he got a North Face long sleeved 1/4 zip shirt. The celebration will continue in Door County for the rest of the family!!!

We are having fun reading about the development of the baby! Thanks Missy for the books (must be a teacher thing)! The baby is going through an incredible growth spurt this week. He/she should be close to the size of a pea or a blueberry. Adam is making sure I get my fruits and vegtables, and no caffine (Ugh - Adam's rule )because the brain is rapidly developing and the heart is now divided into the left and right chambers. Baby still has a tail (weird) and is forming arm and leg buds. It DOES NOT resemble a cute and cuddly baby yet!

We can't wait for the doctor's appointment when we return from The County of Door. I have a list of questions! They involve seafood, exercise, and caffine to make Adam rest a bit easier.

We will try to update each week on Sundays. That is the day that my weeks turn over and a nice way to recap the week!

News to Share!!!

This is our most recent "Family" picture taken in the winter of 2009. Our family will grow from three members (yes, we count Izzie) to four!

When Adam came home from work, he found this on the counter. He didn't quite know how to react, so he fell over on the kitchen floor (kidding of course). As for me, I was shocked believe it or not! Of all months, I thought there would be no way for it to happen this month. I went to bootcamp one Saturday morning, held a baby shower one of my best friends, went to a baby shower, and welcomed Elle to the world all in the same weekend. My whole entire body was sore from bootcamp, so I didn't notice anything different with my body besides that I was miserable! Since, my body has recovered and I am feeling really good (knock on wood). Bootcamp might be on hold though!

After sharing the news with Adam, we decided to share it together with Izzie. Let me say that she is the QUEEN of the house and her world is going to change come next spring!

We shared the news with Adam's family this past weekend. It wasn't too difficult, as Jerry always offers me a beer! I know we couldn't hide our news for too long! Adam got me a diet coke and made the announcement that I was drinking soda for a reason. I don't know who jumped off the couch faster... Laura or Jerome. Not too long later, Dave, Missy, and Elle came home and we were talking about adjusting dogs to babies. Adam dropped into the conversation that "we will just have to wait until March to see how Izzie deals with a new baby!" There was a silence for what felt like forever and then I think Missy finally made the connection ;) .

I wasn't able to spring it upon my mom because of the fact she has been wanting another grandchild for a long time and I think she knew my cycles better than I did... is that weird??? So she found out right away, and she helps me get my doctor appointments. Yes, I am able to make my own appointments, but when my mom knows the doctor's schedules and can "bend the rules to squeeze me in," I have to take full advantage! My brother and sister were at Rock Fest for the entire weekend. I should have had a headliner band make the announcement, but I guess a low key grill out will get the job done.

We have just began sharing the news, but are already getting the questions! To help answer a few:

1. When are you due? I am roughly due March 20th (My Spring Break). I see the doctor on August 16th for my first prenatal visit and to hear the heartbeat. Because twins run in my family, and I had been on a fertility medication they will check right away for multiples. PLEASE just one, MAYBE two!!!!!!

2. Are you going to find out the gender? We are undecided on this one. We go back and forth. Right now we are thinking probably not!

3. Do you have names picked out? It's kind of early, but yes, we have had names picked out for awhile (some choices for each gender) and we will NOT be sharing them with anyone!

As family and friends are slowly finding out, it is making it more real! Since our news, Adam and I have had two other couples share their news and both are due in February/March as well! I am excited to share sober nights, food binges, and complaining sessions with fellow mommies-to-be. We probably should take the time to thank/warn Missy and Dave right now though, because they are the go-to for questions at this point!