39 Weeks...

What a wonderfully lazy weekend! Each weekend that goes by, Chris and I take advantage of late mornings and relaxing days, hoping that it might be one of our last days just the two of us. Friday night we helped Annie and Doug move into their beautiful new home. Yesterday we went and watched the KSU game with our friends after a lovely surprise of four frozen meals for when our little one comes from the Heines! Cordeon blue, deep dish tacos, and meatloaf! Complete with directions so Chris can take care of me! Today, Chris spent the day taping and painting trim and doors, scrubbing down the fireplace and spray-painting the inside...fine-tuning the beauty of our home! I tried my hand at "nesting" and scrubbed down the fridge, cleaned out my closet, organized our pictures and tried not to think about how much I wished my legs weren't tree trunks. Overall, another beautiful weekend of putzing and enjoying our home and life together...

P.S. LOVED the snow...

Counting down...

No pics this time...Just an update after one final sonagram today...The doctor thought last week that our little girl was measuring a little on the small end and asked us to come back in for a sonagram as a part of our weekly appointments. And, man, does she look good! :) The technician approximated that she weighs about 6 pounds, 8 ounces and we're still on track for March 8th if not a little after as she is a little short for her due date. But she was "practicing" her breathing and her heartbeat was strong...so the wait continues. Although we're still 3 weeks out even from our due date, it feels like the day should have already been here and passed. The baby's room is completely ready for our little one; pictures should be coming soon...Walls painted, crib set up, clothes washed, diapers stocked, pillows poofed...just waiting for the main addition. My sister reminded me today to count these weeks as a blessing as the last weeks it will be just the two of us. Hard to remember when patience isn't exactly Chris and my number one strength...And, I'm so very thankful for my job. What a wonderful place to spend my days while I wait for a little one of my own. My principal doesn't even mind that I broke out the leopard print slippers to trek around the classroom in as my feet don't exactly fit in my shoes very well any more. And Jazzercise is more of a token hour out of routine than a real workout, but again, I lift my weights, bounce my heels, and call it a good hour of exercise! Hey! Lugging this extra weight around all day counts for something doesn't it??!! Chris is putting up with these pregnancy hormones pretty well too; the other day the sight of a thirsty koala bear and featherless cockatoo from the Australian wildfires sent me into sobs...a good excuse really to just cry when I felt like it, but he bit the bullet and comforted me anyway...What a hubby! He'll be an amazing daddy.

36 Weeks Down...4 to go!

Today is one of those days I just don't have the energy to go through with my weekly plan for meals and grocery store trip...So I've decided to blog instead! :) I keep reading about the "nesting" phase that comes right before the baby...so if that's true...well - I have awhile to go! Chris is certainly making up for me though! He finished remodeling the bathroom! WOW! I am pretty upset with myself for not taking more "before" pictures, but the after is awesome! He completely ripped out the vanity, toilet, stripped wallpaper, repaired holes, put up bead-board and trim on the bottom, retiled the floor and then painted with texture the top half. It looks awesome! The best picture I have is from when Doug (Annie's newlywed hubby) came over to help him replace the toilet and hook up the plumbing...They've bonded pretty quickly...



In other news, last weekend was amazing! Thursday my work threw a baby shower for me and I was so humbled by everyone's generosity! Little Girl French is set! She has a new stroller, jumpster, blankets, high chair, and much more! Then, Friday, my class threw a book shower for me! Each one of my students brought a favorite book from "when they were little" and gave it to my baby for me to read to her! I now have quite the library! The Runaway Bunny, The Polar Express, Red Fish Blue Fish, Guess How Much I Love You, and Watch Out for Ducklings were some of my favorites. Then, Saturday, our dear friends the Heines threw a couples shower for us at their home with the Buchanans and Cunninghams. What fun! A bunch of the couples even chipped in together to buy us a play yard! We will always think of the blessing of friendship in our lives when we use it for years to come...

Long time friends, Mike and Lauryn Rametta

Long time friends, Dennis and Ange Burd

Kyle and Ceciley French investigating the candy bar mess...

The beer bottle race...

Annie and Doug investigating the possible candy bar mess...

Dreaming of our little one to come...
Jason and Jessica posted more pictures on their blog (off to the right side) and explained the games if you're interested...

Then, the superbowl...Jonah and Andrea came in town for our shower so we took advantage and had some fun with 3D Glasses...Chris and Jonah had to make a quick dash to Wal-Mart as soon as we heard they were broadcasting some of the half-time show in 3D...I think we had more fun with the glasses than enjoying the futuristic moment...






Then, yesterday, Chris was a sweetheart and arranged a "babymoon" day for us with a trip back to the town we fell in love...Manhattan, Kansas. We spent all day reminiscing our favorite spots and moments...Started off in Aggieville with Pita Pit, Coldstone, Varney's, The Dusy Bookshelf, ACME Gift, PAST the tatoo shop although Chris begged me (as usual) for permission to get a tatoo...need I even share my adament answer? Funny thing is, our first outing together after Chris took me to campus to hand in a literature paper was to this tatoo shop to watch our friend, Jeff McBride, get his Lambda Chi Alpha tatoo on his ankle...SO romantic... Then, people watching through Aggieville, caught some of the basketball game at the Union, then drove out to Lookout Point at Tuttle, then to Campus for hand-holding walks through the buildings, Hale Library, the Stacks, finally dinner at Coco Bolos...

We really wanted a picture of us in front of this sign but couldn't find anyone to take one for us...Oddly enough, this truly was one of the first streets we drove down together when Chris drove me to campus to turn in a paper the day after we met...Love at first sight...

Self-portrait...Notice Anderson Hall in the background...

When we first started dating, Chris was so love-struck he tended to drive down one-way streets quite a bit...the wrong way. So we documented the confusion...He still doesn't quite get the whole "one" way concept...

...Get it?? I thought I was pretty clever for thinking up this one...Talk about a belly picture!! This is why I've been strategically taking pictures from shoulders up...Can I really make it 4 more weeks!!??

We ended the day with a bonfire with Jonah and Andrea at Tuttle Creek. SO fun!!

...It was a little chilly for Andrea and me...


So perfect!
This week we have another childbirth class, doctor's appointment and I visit with my long term sub to explain the plans for my maternity leave. Lord only knows when this little girl is coming...

Getting Closer...

Last weekend we got to spend time with the Frenches - Chris and Gary even put the crib together! It was kinda fun thinking that their visit might be the last one before they have a granddaughter to come meet...




...What would we have done without Pippy's help??

Today marks 33 weeks! Yesterday Chris and I attended a childbirth class from 8:30 to 5...WOW! Actually, it's been a "baby week"! Thursday we toured our hospital, Friday we went to our Doctor's appointment and then the all day class yesterday! We walked away so excited! It's been information overload, but honestly, it starts to make it even more real! Right now he's in the garage assembling the nursery dresser, piece by piece, we're putting our little girl's room together!






...Although she is definitely taking after her father (and maybe a little bit her mother so I'm told...) in pure, beautiful, stubborness, we got to see just a few pictures of our little one last weekend...She wasn't too willing to be the center of attention though; she kept her hands up in front of her face almost the whole time. That's okay, though. She'll be making her debut soon enough...

Oh the Holidays...

What an amazing Winter break! Between continuing to unpack, several days in Great Bend including a fantastic Christmas Eve dinner, painting 5 rooms in the house, remodeling a bathroom, celebrating New Years Eve, the lovely Mr. and Mrs. Jonah and Andrea Nelson staying with us for six nights, seeing A Tuna Christmas at the Crown Center Theater, and hours of a hot pad and propping up my feet...it almost felt like a break being back at school today! Many times I found myself just thanking the Lord for such an amazing family, comfortable home and such an awesome husband...and Pippy dog! Speaking of dogs, if anyone is willing to put up with a good cry, Marley and Me is definitely worth seeing! Such a great story! Being back at school is really fun too! I had in my mind that once I counted down to the holidays, it was downhill from here to the blessed arrival of our little girl! Only 8 1/2 weeks to go! Chris even treated me to a pregnancy massage as my Christmas present...SO thoughtful! I felt like a pregnant pile of noodles afterward!

And now for a photodiary of our break...


-Chris about to get his tile on...




-My super brave wet-saw wielding husband


-My manly husband



-The work in progress...


-The Taylor (slash French, slash Nelson, slash Stelle) Fam


-Part of our Great Bend trip included reminiscing Chris's days of community service as an EAGLE SCOUT! I'll tell ya...He never ceases to amaze me! :)


-And he's a little proud of himself too... :)

Doug and Annie's Wedding Pictures

http://www.portraitsbylucinda.com/slideshows/stellewedding/

Thank you, Lucinda, for your amazing work!

Interesting Holidays

Well...this holiday season has already been incredibly eventful! After putting our house on the market Labor Day weekend, we sold our home within a month and have been working these past few months to close and find our new home! And...we did! The week of Thanksgiving was so busy, all we could do was laugh...if we had time! Annie got married on Friday (pictures to come thanks to www.portraitsbylucinda.com) so every other day that week was spent moving, packing boxes, cleaning, unpacking boxes, hanging blinds, finding boxes...etc. We are so very blessed and so thankful for our beautiful new home! Chris has been busy busy between travels with work and painting, but we have an end in sight! Now that I'm in my last trimester, we're really looking forward to being able to have a clean, organized, freshly painted home to bring our little girl home to! I just cheer him on while propping my swollen feet up on the couch. He's pretty good at taking care of me...Less than 3 months to go!



While Annie was busy preparing her bridal beauty, Chris and I tried to take Christmas card pictures...



Andrea's pretty excited to be an aunt!



Chris is already wrapped around our little girl's pinkie...



The Gordon uncles and my dad



The beautiful newlyweds, Jonah and Andrea Nelson



Annie and Doug Stelle making their exit from the party and entrance into married life...



He's excited! :)

Happy Birthday, Gary!

Surprise!! Chris and I snuck back to Great Bend this weekend to surprise Gary for his 60th birthday! I must say....Sheryl did a beautiful job arranging this for the past year!


Father and Son


Father and Son...working hard!


5 years of kisses, countless roadtrips from Manhattan to Great Bend, Great Bend to Manhattan, Manhattan to Kansas City, Kansas City to .... the ends of the earth together, hundreds of nights of falling asleep on the couch in front of a movie, thousands of dollars spent on Mexican food, beautiful mornings with Pippy cuddling in bed trying to imitate what she would sound like if she could talk, 2 1/2 years of marriage...still in love...

My Famous Husband

My very important traveling business man spent an evening in New York City, New York and on his adventures happened to stumble across this place...



Guess there's no excuse for him not doing laundry anymore..

It's been awhile!

Well, I was actually just relaxing on the couch here with my hand on my own tummy, marveling at how very strong our little girl is getting! In the last two weeks, her kicks, punches, and overall activity has become quite noticeable! Even Chris has been able to feel her workouts as she tests her own strength! We had our second sonagram on Friday, and what a joy it was! The technician pointed out all her lovely and healthy features as she waved her little fingers and hands up above her head and tried to suck her own little toesies. We could even see her lips opening and closing as she tried to find something to suck on, but isn't quite yet that coordinated. Her ribcage was even moving up and down as she "practiced" breathing! I'll tell ya, it must be all that teaching she hears all day long from me, because the technician says that not all babies "practice" breathing until much later on....she's advanced! She also projected her to be about 1 lb and 3 oz as of Friday which puts her at about the size of a large mango! I tell my fifth graders the updates as to her projected length and weight each week, and they love it! I told them that she is probably about 11 inches all stretched out and they all took out their rulers to compare. Great teaching moment!

And, yes, I have definitely fallen behind on the tummy pics. I've definitely decided, however, that once they are published, they will no longer be bare belly. After about 20 weeks (3 weeks ago), my belly button made such an appearance and my pre-pregnant clothes got packed away...you will be seeing clothing over this baby bump. The only pic we have right now is from Clue night at the Buchanans thanks to our dear friends the Heines. We were trying so hard and came SO close to knowing "who-dun-it"....but our sneaky friends were watching our moves too carefully...or maybe we were watching theirs...




At the moment, Chris is off galavanting in New York City on a business trip...he's so important! I took this opportunity for a girls' night on Monday at the Melting Pot! Don't worry, that's a VIRGIN strawberry dacquiri by my plate. They had a ladies night special that automatically included a cheese fondue, chocolate fondue and 2 drinks...so I splurged! While the cat is away...the mice will play!



Last bit of news before I scoot back to my cozy couch with my Pippy dog to cuddle...Annie moved up her wedding date! I am so very excited for her and my new brother-in-law to complete the family! November 28 can't come soon enough for the love birds to tie the knot. They are bucking the norm and have decided on a beautiful intimate wedding in my parents' home the day after Thanksgiving! Our uncle is even the one marrying them! I am so looking forward to this unique and beautiful experience celebrating their true love! Cheesy...yes....does this big sis love her little sis? You bet.