Chillin'

Another reason to celebrate!

Anyone who knows us well, probably has heard Evan talk about the big licensing exam that he took in October. He studied so much...even at the hospital when Seth was born. It was tough to make time to study, but I guess it paid off! We got the results today in the mail: EVAN PASSED HIS PE EXAM!

He is now Evan J. Hammersmith, PE.

Praise the Lord!

Today is Grandma's Birthday!

We wanted to wish Grandma Elaine a great big Happy Birthday! We hope you have a great day and can't wait to see you this weekend!

3 Months!

Yep, Seth is 3 months old already. Evan took a couple minutes to get some snapshots of him being extra cute. Well, at least we think so.

First Visit with Santa

Every year, Evan's aunt and uncle put on an amazing Children's Christmas Party. It is filled with cardboard-constructed buildings full of games and activities for Christmas. And of course, a visit from Santa. This year Evan & I worked at the registration table instead of working a game. We had 103 children come through to participate. After we were done with our duties, we walked Seth around and decided to get his first picture on Santa's lap (before he's old enough to be petrified of him like his mommy was when she was little).

Thanksgiving 2007

It's been a busy holiday weekend seeing both sides of our family and having 3 holiday gatherings. I think I'm actually tired of desserts, is that even normal? Seth has been a super little traveler and has been passed around so much, yet he manages to keep smiling. We love him so much and are truly thankful for a healthy, growing, happy boy.

We want to wish Grandma Elaine & Grandpa George a Happy 40th Anniversary today. We love you and look forward to our next visit.

All smiles

This last week Seth has started to smile more frequently. Sometimes he almost laughs which makes me laugh. Such a sweetie.

But we're also all smiles after surviving this weekend after realizing that Seth is allergic to milk-based formula. Now he only gets 1-2oz. of formula per feeding on average, the rest is me. Initially we used soy-based formula which worked fine. Then I was sent 2 sample cans of Enfamil milk-based formula, which I thought I'd try. After 5 days, suddenly Seth's body reacted. Started with partial swelling of hands and fingers on Sat. afternoon, by 9am Sunday, he had red blotches under his chin, all over his arms, and a blotch on one thigh. Even the tops of his ears were red and slightly puffy. Scary for a first-time mom. Originally I thought he was bit by a bug because only one hand was puffy and I saw 2 little red dots near his wrist. But by Sunday morning's discovery I figured it had to be the formula. We immediately stopped using it and got more soy-based. The redness almost immediately faded and by this morning you can't even tell it happened. Guess these are the things that you only find out by trying them.

Posing for the camera

Yesterday I thought I'd check to see if the hat and sweater made by Great Grandma Hammersmith fit Seth yet. It did! It fit perfectly. We thought he looked too cute not to capture it with the camera. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to Grandpa James today!

Happy Halloween!

Seth was pretty sleepy tonight, but here he is in his jack-o-lantern hat and his "I Love Mommy" onesie.

Today Seth went for his 2 Month check-up and immunizations. It went well. The pediatrician said he was perfect and beautiful. He screamed more during the general exam than he did during the shots. He stopped screaming as soon as the shots were over. He was so brave! :)

And of course, the moment we've all been waiting for: his weight. His weight was 9lbs. 9oz. YAY! He gained 3lbs. since his weight check on Sept. 24.

I will post a photo of him in his Halloween garb...whatever that ends up being.

And yes, today is my birthday. So I appropriately dressed Seth in his "I Love Mommy" onesie. Not sure if he was really loving me during his shots though. ha.

8 weeks!

Not my best photo, but Seth was cooperating.

Tomorrow Seth will be 8 weeks old. Since we are taking a trip to see Grandma for the day, I'm posting today. We thought it would be a good idea that daddy get a good night's rest before his big PE exam on Friday. So, we're spending the night at Grandma's tomorrow night. Please pray that Evan's test would go well. He is not feeling confident at this point. It would be nice for him to pass it and not have to worry about it anymore.

Last week I think Seth was going through a growth spurt of some kind. He wanted fed every 2 hours. This was nearly impossible for me to keep up with (as far as nursing goes) so on Saturday I started to supplement with formula. If I can only get 2oz. pumped, I add 2oz. of formula to it. Luckily all the nursing triggered my body to make more, so I only had to give him formula here and there. This seemed to keep him content a little longer and although most of the night he seemed to be most happy sleeping on my chest, he slept for 5 hours straight a couple of times. Nice! Now we're waiting for the first poop. He hasn't gone since Sunday, so it should be a big deal when it happens. I was concerned at first, but then I read that a change in his diet could trigger a change in the number of bowel movements initially and that his regular pattern will return. He has gone 4 days before, so I'm not totally freaking out yet.

Halloween is next week. Not sure what Seth will be. What I am sure of is that he will not be in a good mood. He is getting his first round of immunizations on the 31st. Lucky him. That will be my most unpleasant birthday gift...watching my son get shots. So his demeanor that night will determine if Mom and Dad take him out for a birthday meal. We've considered wrapping him in aluminum foil and taking him to Chipotle for free burritos. Guess we'll wait and see...

Just catching some R&R...it's a rough life!

I've been tagged

My "woomie" Sarah from the days in Orlando tagged me.

Job's I've held:
1) Receptionist (answering phones & filing) at my grandparents Jeep and marine dealership (no longer in business)
2) Natural Wonders sales assoc.
3) Graphic designer
4) Stay-at-home Mom

Places I've lived:
1) Malvern, OH
2) Cincinnati, OH
3) Orlando, FL
4) Lakewood, OH

Food I love:
1) Pizza
2) Ice Cream
3) Pumpkin Pie
4) cookies (almost any kind)

Places I would rather be:
1) Malvern, OH, visiting my nieces and nephew
2) Outer Banks, NC
3) anywhere with friends
4) Italy

Movies I love:
1) Tommy Boy
2) Billy Madison
3) Napoleon Dynamite
4) The Sound of Music

TV shows I watch:
1) How I Met Your Mother
2) Two and a Half Men
3) The Office
4) Ellen

GO TRIBE!

We here at the Hammersmith household are cheering for our Cleveland Indians!

A mess only a mother would...love?

Yesterday I had the worst diaper change experience yet. Seth had totally filled a diaper with poop. So much so that it had spilled out the front and started to soak through his sleeper (which has feet, mind you). So, I get him on the changing table and try to carefully remove the sleeper without getting his legs and feet into the pool of golden goo. He likes to bring his legs and feet in close when his diaper is off, so it was quite the struggle! As I get Seth wiped up and reach for the new diaper, he decides to pee. It happened so fast, and it was aimed right for his ear! His head was turned and the urine started to fill his ear. I quickly turned his head to empty his ear and the urine stopped. Whew. I begin to position Seth to get the diaper on when he decides to finish peeing. At this point, placed on a plastic mat, I just let him finish. Now I had him lying in a pool of urine.

It was bath day anyway, so I decided now was the time. I cleaned up the urine, stain treated the sleeper (the yellow goo is brutal), and gave Seth a bath.

Five minutes after the bath, Evan walks in from work. I could have used his extra hands a little earlier!

Not my brightest motherhood moment.

Too cute!

This photo was so cute I had to post it. This is my 3-year-old niece, Adrianna. She is in preschool a couple days a week. Last week was the school Picture Day. She let my sister do her hair in curls and when she was all ready, she knew she looked good.

Two days later she fell down some concrete stairs at their house and got a black and blue eyelid and a scraped-up cheek. She's had broken arms etc. She's not afraid of anything...which gets her into trouble at her body's expense. Anyway, you'd never know it by this photo!

One month old!

Yesterday Seth was one month old, it was also Evan's 28th birthday.

We went for a 3.5 mile walk through the Metroparks on Saturday. It was a beautiful day to walk, hopefully we can go again when the leaves are changing.


A photo of Seth on his 1 Month birthday. I think he is practicing for his senior picture pose. It's also hard proof that he does in fact open his eyes. Most people see him when he's sleeping, now you know he does wake up occasionally.

Somehow we forgot to get a photo of Seth and his daddy together with the raspberry pie (Evan's must-have birthday treat).

Here's a shout out to Grandpa George who is far away in Florida. Seth says hi!

The weigh-in

Today was Seth's weigh-in to see if he had gained any weight since his last appointment on Sept. 14. He weighed 6lbs. 9oz. which was his birth weight. So, he gained 10 oz. in 10 days. Yay!!

Our pediatrician was out sick today, so the nurse just weighed him and we left. I assume I am to continue what we've been doing so that he continues to pack on the pounds.

Update

Friday was Seth's first pediatrician appointment. The good news is that he grew almost 2 inches in length and is nice and strong...he can lift his head pretty well! Everything is great except his weight. He has not gained any weight since his home check-up on Sept. 6. He is still 5lbs. 15oz. (10oz. below his birth weight). The Dr. said that she likes to see babies be back at their birth weight by this appointment. She said for me not to worry (ha!) because this is fairly common with preterm babies.

So, the new plan is to give him 1-2oz. of pumped milk at each feeding in addition to what he gets on his own. This has been challenging. It's not only more time-consuming, I'm finding out that I don't produce much milk. One ounce is about all the extra I can give.

We went up for prayer this morning at church and I realized once again there is nothing more I can do. I have to rely on Jesus to give Seth what he needs, and to help me supply more as well.

Please pray that he shows a weight gain at his next appointment on Sept. 24.

Two weeks already!

A little picture capturing our life. This was taken last night after a nice walk through the neighborhood. You'd think that it's Evan getting up with him throughout the night. ha. Evan & I are both sleep-deprived. No one can escape the noise when you live in an apartment.

Today marks two weeks since Seth's arrival. It has been challenging, but we're making progress. Thanks to everyone who commented, emailed me, and called me to give encouragement. It certainly helped!!

Tomorrow is his first check-up. I'm hoping he's gained some weight. A week ago he was 5 lbs. 15 oz. So, hopefully he's above 6 lbs. tomorrow.

He sleeps great all afternoon, and will even sleep in his bassinet for some of it. At night, this isn't the case. He wants held. He definitely is wanting held more often than not. It's difficult for me to get much done. I've also resorted to using a pacifier a few times to get him to fall asleep between feedings. He sucks on it at first, but after that it's like it's just a comfort thing. It works, though. He falls asleep once it's in. Sometimes he'll spit it out while sleeping and of course, I don't put it back in. Mostly, I must remember that he is actually just under 38 weeks old. I can't expect him to be on track with most newborns. He is catching up though, I think.

Thoughts…

Well, here we are 11 days after Seth's arrival. It has been tough, honestly. I'm a terrific worrier, and taking care of a newborn feeds right into that.

1. Nursing. I didn't think it would be so difficult. Seth fights it mostly. I'm concentrating on making sure the latch is good, but when he is pushing me away, it only adds to my frustration. He'd love to just have his fingers in his mouth all day. He was down to 5 lbs. 15 oz. on Thursday when the home nurse came, which is still in the safe range. Again, I worry he isn't gaining because he either fights the feeding or has an improper latch. The home nurse showed me how to get him to latch, and of course it worked perfectly in her presence. It hasn't been that easy since then. He is wetting and pooping his diapers, so that's an encouragement.

2. Sleep. I knew I'd have to get up at night. The last two nights though have been almost completely without sleep. As soon as we lay Seth in his bassinet and we get into bed, he starts to fuss. Usually it's not because it's time to eat, he sometimes wants held. I always offer food in case he didn't get enough, but he'll push away and continue to fuss. Often he will fall asleep if I lay him on my chest as I try to sleep too. I don't think you're supposed to do this, but it's quiet for an hour or so, until I try to lay him back in his bassinet. He slept in the car seat one night, whatever works. Frustrating. Is he awake because he's hungry (see point 1)?

3. Pacifier. Apparently he's not supposed to use this until about 1 month of age. I've used it already between feedings to help him to settle. He loves it, which probably hurts the nursing issue. So today I'm trying to not use it.

So, I'm pretty frustrated, worried, and exhausted. He's adorable and I love him to pieces, but I feel like I'm doing everything wrong. Friday is our first pediatrician appointment. Hopefully he has gained some weight. I plan on talking to the lactation nurses there too. I'm hopeful things will get better, at least that's my prayer.

********************
UPDATE: Last night I tried pumping for a couple minutes to get the milk flow started before putting Seth on. This worked great! He latched on much faster and stayed that way until he was done. AND we got more sleep!! He still only stays in the bassinet for about an hour before I put him on my chest. Once he's laying on me, he's out like a light until the next feeding. This feels like progress!

Meet our son!

Yep, he came early! I'm still in shock, but he's adorable. The stats:

Seth Evan Hammersmith was born Thursday, August 30 at 7:24 pm
6 lbs. 9 oz.
18.5 inches long

We're adjusting to home and trying to get the hang of nursing and sleeping.

Of course, some photos, enjoy!

A peek at our son

Today was my ultrasound to see how big our son has gotten since the 31-week ultrasound. Well, he's still ahead of the game in his head and belly measurements. Everything else is totally fine. He's fine, just not going to be a small baby.

At 31 weeks they estimated that he was 4 lbs. 14 oz. Today at 35 weeks they estimated that he is 6 lbs. 4 oz. This was actually a relief to me. I had myself totally petrified that he'd be 8lbs already. whew. If he comes a couple weeks early, he might actually be a reasonable size for me to push out. It's just that darn head of his...

Anyway, below is a 3D photo of him. He was actually sucking on a finger or his hand quite a bit when she was trying to get these shots. You can't tell from this photo. Evan says he must have been biting his nails like his daddy. ha.

Enjoy!

A peek at the nursery

Well, the nursery is basically ready to go. We have all the essentials, we just need the child to go in it. :o)

Below are some photos, enjoy!

A brief update

This week marks the 34th in this pregnancy. How do I feel? Um, 34 weeks pregnant.

Sleeping is becoming a chore, or better said, getting comfortable with my 4 pillows each night is a chore. In between trips to the bathroom, my night consists of readjusting to find a comfortable position where my hips or back don't begin to ache. Fun, right? Let's see, putting socks and shoes on to go for a walk is comical. I'm getting real close to needing Evan's help with this.

Yesterday was another check-up at the doctor. Nothing new, still measuring big. How big? At 34 weeks I'm measuring 38. Any bets on whether this baby gets here before his due date?

And, to spare personal details over the internet, let's just say I'm pretty sure a pre-labor event has taken place...which tells me things are progressing. At this point, I'm hoping he holds off until after Sept. 8, which is the last social event I need to attend for the summer. I signed up for a breastfeeding preparation class on the 15th, we'll see if I can go. Might have to take him with me! ha.

Upcoming check-ups: Monday is the next ultrasound to take another look at his size. Sept. 4 is big doctor appt. where they are doing an actual exam to test for Strep B and also check dilation and effacement. Exciting!

That's the latest here.

My First Baby Shower

Saturday was my first baby shower, thrown by my aunts and my sister. It was a good time and great to see all my aunts, cousins, and other relatives and family friends who I don't see very much. I also had 7 friends from work and church make the hour-long drive to North Canton, which was so sweet of them! I feel very blessed and loved.

Well, we are off to a great start preparing for our baby. We received a few of the big ticket items: stroller/car seat system, pack n' play, bedding set. We also received some adorable outfits for the little guy as well as the essentials: blankets, bathing supplies, baby bag, monitor and safety gate.

Now it's organizing time for me. I must get all the outfits washed and put away, thank you notes written, etc.

Thought I'd include a photo of one of the outfits the baby received and a shot of the bedding for the nursery. When I have the nursery all set up, I'll post a photo.

32 weeks & Childbirth Preparation

Yesterday was my 32-week check up. No new news. I'm still measuring big, but we all know it's because I have a big baby. I asked the doctor how accurate the ultrasound estimate is: she said it can be 20% off in either direction. It gets more inaccurate the further along I am in my pregnancy. So, I'm just hoping that he's going to be a deliverable weight later next month. Next ultrasound is in 4 weeks.

Speaking of delivery, Evan & I had our first of 6 childbirth preparation classes on Monday. We saw a few videos which we handled with no problem. The guy next to me on the other hand, whose name was Rocky, couldn't bear to watch. ha. Anyway, the main points were the importance of relaxation and the importance of letting my body do what it knows to do. We did some breathing exercises and Evan even got a back rub when we had to show our coaches the rubs we enjoy. Of course, he liked that!

We have 5 more sessions, 1 of which is the tour of the birthing facility at the hospital. I'm fortunate that the hospital I'm delivering at has a brand new facility, so I know it will be very nice.

Well, my first baby shower is this weekend. Though I'm not a fan of being the center of attention, it will be fun to finally get started preparing for the baby's arrival. I still need to make room for all the things we'll be receiving, but I'm excited. We still need to buy the crib mattress, but otherwise the nursery will be on it's way to being complete.

It's been crazy hot and humid here, almost unbearable. Thank goodness for air conditioning! Though, I haven't been able to go on walks in the evening due to the heat. Hopefully it will cool off soon?

Our little guy...or should I say big guy?

Today was my ultrasound to make sure everything is ok with our little one. I was measuring a little big at my last appointment (as you may remember) so I was anxious to see what's going on.

Our guy is healthy in every way. Everything looked good: his heart, bones, brain, bloodflow to all the important areas, etc. All the measurements were normal...and then she measured his belly. Her question to me was if I passed my glucose test. I said "yes" and knew the reason she was asking was because he is a big boy.

Then she asked if I've been eating a lot of carbs. To which I replied "yes". I can't seem to avoid those darn carbs (anything containing sugar or flour). She suggested less carbs, more protein. yippee.

So I was brave enough to ask: "So, how much does he currently weigh?" Keep in mind, his daddy weighed 9lbs. 9oz. when he was born (yikes!) and I'm hoping my 7lbs. 4 oz. would even it out. Anyway, the technician replied: He weighs 4lbs. 14 oz. That's right, at 31 weeks my boy weighs nearly 5lbs already. Yikes (again)! He's about 2 weeks ahead of where he should be.

So, I'm going back for another ultrasound in 5 weeks to make sure he's not getting too big for me to deliver. I'm getting the feeling that he's going to be making his appearance earlier than his Sept. 29 due date.

Well, here's a couple shots of our munchkin: his foot and his face (his eyes are open!) Enjoy!

Another ultrasound coming soon!

Yesterday was my 30 week check-up. For once I didn't gain any weight! Granted, it had only been 2 weeks since my last visit, but since my gaining seemed so rapid before, it was a welcome change.

The Dr. measured my belly as usual and I asked if I get to have another ultrasound (just anxious to see the little guy again). She said that I could go ahead and schedule another ultrasound because I'm measuring a little big. Apparently I'm measuring 33 weeks when I'm only 30 weeks. She didn't seem at all concerned, so I guess I shouldn't be either.

After doing a little research on the internet, I'm finding that not only are those measurements somewhat inaccurate, there are so many factors that can play into it. The baby could have been positioned funny yesterday, I could have a little extra amniotic fluid, etc.

So anyway, I'm still doing great (blood pressure is still excellent) and have scheduled another ultrasound for July 30. Hopefully I will be able to post some really cool 3D images!!

Another check-up

Well, today was my 28-week check up. Again, my weight has taken another significant jump. The doctor and myself can't quite figure it out. My blood pressure is excellent, I'm not completely swollen, my belly measurements are normal, and my glucose test was normal. So, I'm just going to keep trying to cut out extras where I can and hope for the best. I'm sure the multiple helpings of homemade ice cream this past weekend at my parents' house didn't help the cause, but it just tasted so darn good!

My appointments will be every 2 weeks from now until 36 weeks. I also am to start doing "kick counts". This involves counting the baby's movements within an hour. Once I've counted six movements, I can stop. This shouldn't be a problem as it seems he is growing more active each day. It's interesting to watch my belly contort as he gets comfy. I'm getting more anxious to meet this little guy!

In other happenings, we are going camping for one night this weekend in Columbus with our church group. This should be interesting. I wasn't born a camper, but I try to be a good sport. This time, I'm pregnant and use the restroom quite a bit. So, finding my way in the dark to the facilities could be fun. We're taking our double-high inflatable mattress with plenty of pillows (which are important these days) to make my one night of "roughing-it" somewhat tolerable. The forecast is saying mid to upper 70s which makes me happy. This 94 degree weather does not work well for me.

OK, that's my news for now. Glad you liked the coconut poofs, Kris. We wouldn't steer you wrong!

Below is a photo taken at the beginning of my 27th week of pregnancy.

I passed!

Well, after not hearing from my doctor's office all last week, I thought I better call to see if the results of my glucose screening had come in. I was hopeful that no news was good news. Sure enough, my results we normal! No 3-hour glucose test necessary (3 blood draws would put me over the edge).

Feels good to be normal! Oh, I thought everyone might enjoy the beginning of the clip from Tommy Boy when Tommy passes his test with a D+. I thought of this immediately when I passed my glucose test.

Interesting start to the week

We're off to a great start this morning. At about 5:45 am I looked out the window to see we had been vandalized overnight. The side of our white garage had been spraypainted with graffiti. I'm guessing it was a few satanic symbols with the motto of some wannabe gang members. Who knows. Oh, and 1 of our landscaping lights was also stolen. Last summer 3 lights were stolen in one night. Guess these kids weren't as brave this summer and only took 1.

Anyway, the police officer was at our house by 6:05am and he took photos and even measured a footprint I saw in our garden (smashing a lettuce plant).

The guy that lives across the street had an old white van parked in his driveway. It got the same graffiti as our garage. Also, Saturday night, the elderly people across the street got eggs and a can of Coke thrown on their house. Apparently our relatively quiet section of the street has become a new target. Hopefully the police will see that they need to patrol our area every hour during the night.

Maybe I'll try to snap a photo of the damage tonight, but I have other things I need to do. We'll see.

Hope everyone else's Monday is off to a better start than ours!!

Tipping the scales

Well, yesterday was my 24-week check up at the doctor. I knew I had gained another 7lbs. (was hoping for 4) and the scales confirmed it. I have now gained a total of 22 lbs. Evan says I weigh as much as him now (thanks Evan!). I am frustrated because I have been drinking water, eating salads and fruit, going on walks, choosing low-sodium and low-sugar options of foods. I let myself have treats, of course, and the dr. said that I definitely should. I'm pregnant after all!
So, she gave me a diet plan if I want to try to be even more careful. I'm thinking it may be all about portion control. Hopefully my 28-week weight won't be as much.

I also have to get the glucose screening done. I plan on doing this on Saturday to get it over with. I don't like getting blood drawn, so the quicker the better. This tests for gestational diabetes and involves drinking a very sweet orange drink before getting your blood drawn. Should take an hour they said. Fun! Let's pray that everything is fine, because I don't want to have to go back for the more extensive blood work or have to go on a strict diet.

Back from PA

Evan and I spent around 6 days last week in Pennsylvania as our vacation. A brief recap:

We started in Philadelphia, where the very first stop was at Geno's for a cheesesteak. This was Evan's main priority and he thought it was really good. The line to order at Geno's is always long, 24 hours a day. When we arrived around 1:30pm, the line was probably 50 people or so. It moves pretty quickly. Evan had researched how to order the sandwiches as to not look like a tourist. Apparently they can be like the Soup Nazi if you don't know what you want. We had to eat our sandwiches in the car due to lack of outdoor seating, which wasn't ideal. We made it work.

The next day was spent walking around the historical sites in Philadelphia, mainly Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Center, etc. Evan had never been there and it had changed a bit since I was there in elementary school.

Next we headed to Reading, PA for some shopping. This was a complete disappointment. Apparently a bunch of the outlets had closed up. Evan and I both remember it being a shopping destination, but the outlets it did have were a let down.

Off to Hershey the next day. I had never been there. You can't take a tour of the real factory, so you have to take this Disney-like ride through a simulated factory to learn how they make the chocolate. The gift shop had all the varieties of Hershey products including many of the varieties of Hershey kisses since it's the 100th anniversary of the Kiss. The best part was that after dinner, we stepped outside and the air smelled like chocolate. It was great, like someone was baking a giant chocolate cake.

Then we headed to Gettysburg for a day. We did a walking tour of the cemetery where we learned about the famous battle and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Though the walking tour was fine, Evan was most excited about taking the ghost tour that evening. Gettysburg is said to be the most haunted place in America. I guess if thousands of soldiers died in one little town, you could expect that. So we went and Evan took pictures like crazy hoping for something cool to appear. Others in our group were capturing "orbs" in their photos, according to the tour guide. Evan captured nothing. He was disappointed and even tried manipulating the camera settings. ha.

Last on our PA tour was to see Fallingwater, one of the famous homes designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright (pictured above). I had wanted to see this for a long time. It really is amazing, whether you're a designer or not. It's located in an absolutely beautiful setting out in the middle of nowhere. Very cool. Besides the house itself, the highlight for me at this stop was seeing a bear cub walking through the woods maybe 20 feet from our car. Unbelievable! I never have seen a bear in the wild before. It was cute. We snapped a quick picture after fumbling for the camera, but he had started to trot away, so it wasn't super clear.

After that it was back to Ohio. All in all the trip was good. Nothing too exciting, but it was a nice break from work...where I'll be the entire rest of the summer. I held up pretty well, considering all the walking and the hot temperatures. I've discovered that the heat and sitting for long periods will make my ankles swell. I try to drink as much water as I can, but I think it's just the beginning of my summer of swelling. I guess it's a small price I'll pay while carrying the little one.

Tagged again!

OK, to show what a good sport I am and because it seems like a good thing to do while I'm at work today burning DVDs from a photoshoot, I'm going to answer some more questions about myself. My friend Jen, who I got to know back when I lived in Orlando and was interning at Campus Crusade for Christ, tagged me.

Wow, Jen, I just was thinking about when I flew down for your wedding. A bunch of you all chipped in to buy my ticket and I almost didn't make it back home in time for class (in Cincinnati) due to bad weather and flights being cancelled in Atlanta. I think it was January, wasn't it?

Anyway, on with the questions:

4 jobs I've had:
1. Receptionist at my grandparent's Jeep and marine dealership
2. Natural Wonders (does this store even exist anymore?) sales associate
3. Production artist, designing grocery ads for a national retailer
4. Graphic Designer, my current job, at AGC

4 places I've lived:
1. Malvern, OH
2. Cincinnati, OH
3. Orlando, FL
4. Cleveland, OH

4 movies I watch over and over:
1. Tommy Boy
2. Billy Madison
3. Napoleon Dynamite
4. Sound of Music

4 favorite foods:
1. ice cream
2. pizza
3. dark chocolate
4. coconut

4 favorite tv shows:
1. How I Met Your Mother
2. House
3. Law & Order
4. King of Queens

4 places I'd rather be right now:
1. At home (I'm at work right now)
2. At the beach (oh wait, I need a maternity bathing suit)
3. Buying a maternity bathing suit (so I can go to the beach!)
4. Taking a walk through the park

4 things I wonder about:
1. Will I be a good mommy?
2. Will we be ok financially if I don't want to go back to work at all?
3. If I do my current job part-time, will it work out?
4. Why do I worry when I know God takes care of me every time?

I've Been Tagged?

I guess there are games in the blogosphere where you get "tagged" by someone and have to answer the questions they ask. Evan's cousin, Liz, tagged me and asked me to list 5 things about myself that people may not know. By the way, these questions are always tough for me!!

1. I very much dislike being the center of attention or being put on the spot.

2. I was born on Halloween (Oct. 31). Some people are born the 29th or 30th and say they are born on Halloween. This irritates me. The 31st is the only day of Halloween. It would be like being born on Dec. 23 and saying you were born on Christmas. dumb.

3. I love ice cream.

4. I don't like coffee or coffee-flavored things. Some coffees smell good, but that's it.

5. I enjoy making pottery. We just bought a wheel, so now we can make more cool things (in all my spare time).

We're Having a BOY!

Today was my ultrasound. Evidence was pretty clear that we're having a boy! He is around 11 ounces and developmentally right where he should be. We saw the four chambers of his heart, kidneys, brain, spine, as well as hands and feet. Apparently he wanted some privacy this morning, because he wouldn't move his arms away from his face for very long.

Evan & I decided against the quad test, which tests for down syndrome as well as some other abnormalities. Though the ultrasound is never guaranteed, the Dr. said that the chances of down syndrome dropped by 50% today by what he could see alone. Since we aren't having the blood test done, we'll take that as a good sign that everything is fine. The Dr. said that the nose is now a great indicator of chances for down syndrome. Our baby has a long nose (go figure!) which is a great sign that things are ok.

Now I know everyone is going to start asking about names. We haven't decided yet, and even when we do, I'm not sure we're telling. We have to leave SOME element of surprise, don't we? :o)

Below are a couple snapshots. The first highlights that he is indeed a boy. The second is a 3D image of the baby's face. These aren't quite as clear as the first set, but overall, I think you can distinguish the features.

A potpourri of updates

Since it's been two weeks since my last post, I thought I better get something on here. Like Kris, I didn't want to end up on Sarah Cool's "rarely updated friends" list. :o)

Let's see, not too much has happened since Easter. A few things of possible interest:

1. April 13-15: Evan went to Indianapolis for the STE fraternity conclave. He's still involved and enjoys seeing his brothers. I stayed home and made friends with the couch. I did manage to gather a few friends from church for dinner out and a chick flick at our house.

2. April 14: Decided to get my hair cut. It went from near shoulder length to chin length. I think I make this move just about every Spring. I like my hair shorter. Someone at work said I got the "mom" cut. I'd like to believe that my hair is more stylish than what the comment implied. I think she just meant that it seems all new moms get their hair cut. Who knows.

2. April 18: Went for a check-up to see how me and the little cherub are doing. I gained 2.5 lbs. in the past 5 weeks (which I was pleased with) and my blood pressure was fine too. We listened to the baby's heartbeat again. Last time it took a minute to find it. This time we heard it immediately. It was loud and clear and sounded good. I was relieved to hear it. Since I don't feel sick anymore, I worried that everything was ok in there. Hearing the heartbeat gave me a little peace of mind. I scheduled my next ultrasound for May 7. We should be able to find out what we're having at this appt!

3. This past weekend was beautiful here. Evan & I had a wedding to attend in Norwalk on Saturday. Sunday was church and getting some things done outside. Also, on Saturday, Evan finished painting the nursery and assembled the crib. It's amazing that putting one piece of furniture in the room can make this all seem so real. It's fun to see Evan excited about the baby. You all know him, he's not a real "softy" should we say? He will be fun to watch as a father.

Well, that brings us up-to-date. It's back to work today.
Below, a snapshot of the haircut (just for you, Sarah!).

Gotta love Cleveland: Easter 2007

Welcome to Easter 2007 in Lakewood. I can't really say Cleveland because not all areas of Cleveland got this much snow. Normally the west side doesn't get hit this bad, but thanks to lake effect snow, we got hammered.

This picture was taken Easter morning. Evan's truck hadn't moved since Friday night so you can tell how much snow fell between Friday night and Sunday morning. Unbelievable.

I love Cleveland (hope you're picking up on my sarcasm).

Finally, an upgrade!

After being made fun of several times for my "huge", out-of-date cell phone, I'm getting a new one! I mean, really, my parents have brand new cell phones and don't know how to work them and here I am stuck with a circa 2000-2001 model. Go figure. Above are photos of my old phone and my new one.

But what's also earth-shattering is that Evan is getting a cell phone too! He hates them and has resisted up until now. Basically I told him he had to have one now that we have a little one on the way. Just didn't want to take the chance of me going into labor and not being able to reach him. Also, I always lended mine to him if he was traveling. Now I don't have to share, even though I rarely use mine.

And finally, have a Happy Easter!

Can we say STRESS?

Evan & I think this shirt is great. It's from his favorite movie, Revenge of the Nerds. Booger wears it in the movie.

Yeah, stress just comes with the territory in the design world. Demanding clients, eager account executives, and stressed out designers. That's been my story lately. I welcome the overtime money, but the lack of sleep and crazy stress that is forced on me at work makes it almost not worth the extra cash.

Example, I was told yesterday morning that a 24-page annual report was due to the client today. Annual reports require a significant amount of time organizing all the text, placing photos, and of course making the report look nice and well-designed. I had about 8 hours to complete the task. Sounds like plenty of time right? No. Not when your phone is ringing with clients wanting to discuss projects, emails demanding responses, pressmen calling me for press checks, etc. So, I came in at 6:30am this morning to finish the project that I started yesterday afternoon and got it sent out to the client by 2pm. Now I'm completely exhausted.

After a 10-hour day, I think I'm going to take it easy tonight.

Introducing…

Well, here is the first look at Baby Hammersmith. Everything is just fine and as it should be at this stage. The baby waved at us today as we were looking around. The arms were up and the legs were crossed. Very cool.

Houston, we have a heartbeat!

Yesterday was my check-up at the doctor and we listened for a heartbeat. I was prepared to not hear anything due to it being so early, but Evan & I got to hear our baby's heartbeat loud and clear! It was so neat and kinda scary at the same time. There's another human inside of me!

Today is the ultrasound. If I get a clear picture of our little peanut, I will post it.

Monday-Friday

Welcome to the place I spend 40+ hours a week. That's right, this is a peek at my office. I had to bring my camera to work today for work purposes, so I thought I'd share this. I just recently got upgraded to this space, and I must admit I really like it. My previous location was more out in the open and people were always walking by, etc. This office is more closed in and feels more like, well, an office.

Other than needing some artwork on the walls, it's pretty colorful. I keep the 2007 calendar I designed for Evan's aunt's chocolatier/catering business (remember the chocolate at our wedding?) on the wall. It often makes me hungry, but as you'll notice, I keep water and an apple in reach.

Well, that's all for this Friday. Hope you all have a great (and warm!) weekend. Ciao!

Chinese New Year & Birth Chart

OK, so it starts. Everyone chipping in their two cents on my pregnancy:

I tell our elderly neighbor lady across the street that I am expecting, and the first words out of her mouth: Don't find out what you're having! Well, sorry, I'm leaning towards finding out. It's just how I'm wired, I'm a planner. It would be a cool surprise, but then we come home to a closet full of yellow and green clothing and accessories. Not to say I need all pink or all blue, just not ALL neutral. Our baby, our choices. That's the beauty. She had three kids to be surprised about, she doesn't need to be surprised about mine too.

Then, one of the first things my sister tells me is that I need to look up the Chinese Birth Chart. My reply is of course: what?? Anyway, she swears that it has been right for her all 3 times. So, I Google it. It predicts that I'm having a boy. Now I get to wait several more weeks to see if that's true.

What I have learned is that 2007 is not only the year of the Pig, it is the Year of the Golden Pig. According to Chinese Folklore, this is an event that occurs once in every 600 years and will ensure that a baby born on this year will experience a prosperous and wealthy life! Bonus!!

UPDATE: The ultrasound office just called and pushed my appointment to next Wednesday (14th)! Bummer!!

How have I been feeling?

This question seems to be the #1 question asked by family and friends as they've learned of my big news. So, I have an answer for you:

Due to my all-day, every day nausea, I'm snacking on something just about every waking hour. Now, I'm not throwing up (as of yet) and I'm so very thankful for that!! But my steady diet of granola bars, granny smith apples, and pretzels to keep my stomach at ease is getting old. I'm completely fine as long as I'm sleeping or eating. ha! what a life, right?

Other than my stomach, I'm feeling pretty great. I get tired a little earlier in the evening and take a nap on weekends whenever possible. I still try to make it to the gym on a couple weeknights for something low-intensity, but lately I've opted out due to the "morning" sickness issue. Some nights I'm just not up to doing anything but going home and chilling on the couch. I am very much looking forward to a somewhat back-to-normal routine! I want spring to get here so I can go on walks outside in the evening and get fresh air and move around.

I'm having my first ultrasound on Friday, March 9. They are going to see how I'm progressing and confirm how far along I am. I'm very excited to see what's going on in there! I guess I still have a hard time believing this is all for real. Well, the nausea reminds me frequently. I have my next check-up on March 13, I think we'll get to listen for a heartbeat but I'm not sure.

Thank you all for checking in on me. I feel very loved.

Happy Valentine's Day: Official Announcement

Happy Valentine's Day! (There's so much snow here it's not even right.)


Anyway, on to the official announcement:

It is with great joy that I announce that Evan and I are expecting our first child!! I've known for a few weeks, but waited to get the doctor's confirmation this morning before sharing. I am 7.5 weeks along on this 40-week journey. I'm not out of the woods yet as far as miscarriage goes, so hopefully the next month is uneventful in that way. They say I'm due on September 29, Evan's birthday is the 30th. So, he might have to begin sharing it with his son or daughter.

Again, Happy Valentine's Day from myself, Evan, and Baby Hammer!