A few pictures, new video...and doctor's update

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday afternoon...and, really, there isn't much of an update. I'd say no news is good news in my case! My OB did try a quick ultrasound for a gender peek - but, again, no cooperation from this baby! After I asked, he agreed to have me go in for one or two more in-depth ultrasounds, so there will still be a chance for the baby to reveal him/herself! Other than that, everything looks good. At my 20-week ultrasound, the tech mentioned that the amniontic fluid might be a bit low, but it really isn't, according to the final report my OB got. The fluid is still within normal ranges, so that was good news for me to hear! So...22 weeks we are!! About 16 more to go... saying that makes it sound like a long time! I hope it passes quickly.

The best part of the day was spending it with my friend Rachael! She came along to keep Megan happy, although, I think we both use it as an excuse to visit! She's so busy with her kids, and I'm trying to behave and stay off my feet at home... we just don't have time anymore to chat. It's a nice break for both of us. Thank you, Rach!

I posted a *new video* of Megan saying some animal sounds. This was the 2nd video I got... even in this one, she needed a bit of coaching. The first video she was too busy trying to grab the camera...

And, a few pictures:

I said Megan won't keep hats on her head. I was mistaken - or, at least this hat seems ok to her. She found it among some clothes and it hasn't been far from her since! She makes me laugh when she catches herself in the mirror with it on... batting her eyelashes at herself and grinning. What a girl! :-)


Getting ready to leave for church on Sunday morning. Megan was not in a smiley mood...but, I wanted a picture of the outfit (minus Mickey Mouse! lol). I think she looks ready for school!


Always helping!! Megan loves to play with my big tupperware bowl. On Sunday, she decided it should be the laundry basket! She picked up all the dirty clothes and put them in the bowl. This morning, I caught her taking them out of the bowl and putting them back into the basket.


Megan's favorite blanket (made by Aunt Michelle). I washed it the other day, and it hadn't made it back to the crib. She found it in her room and has been dragging it around like Linus!


Just playing in the toy basket

Hope you all have a great week!

Just some pictures for you to enjoy...

Megan and daddy watching Leave it to Beaver:



A new hat:


Megan will not keep hats on her head, but she kept this bucket on for quite awhile. Walking around and giggling at herself.


Yesterday was soo nice. We went outside to play for a bit after lunchtime:

Sharing a leaf with Razor:


Just being cute:


Back to the house with daddy:

Can't turn my back for a second!

Megan gets a bit more adventurous each day! She was on the end table one morning after I came out of the bathroom. Hm! Not sure if she climbed up onto it or (most likely) climbed over the arm of the couch. She always looks so pleased with herself after a new -- thankfully, not too dangerous, yet -- accomplishment!

Megan has had a slight reaction to her shots from last week. A little rash on her face (I think from the MMR) and a few dots on her body. I was afraid those might be chicken pox, but, there were only about 4...and, they seem to be gone today. I'm still closely checking for new spots just in case!! The site of the chicken pox shot was definitely red for a couple of days, but that looked better yesterday. I panicked a little, because I'd always heard that a pregnant woman shouldn't be around someone with chicken pox. I was assured by Megan's pediatrician and my OB that as long as I'd already had chicken pox, it was ok. So, now I'm just hoping that the rash on her face doesn't last too long. It doesn't seem to bother her.

Hope you are all doing well. It's rainy here today, but nice and warm. I have all the windows open -- it's almost like summer again! I love fresh air!

And it's a....

HE/SHE!

Yep, sorry to disappoint you all, but baby kept his/her legs tightly closed the entire ultrasound! We had a wonderful tech who spent at least half of the time trying everything she could to get the baby to move its legs. No success. She even remeasured body parts just to fill time hoping the baby would move. Nope. He/she just wouldn't cooperate. I was a little disappointed, but, I was half-expecting that outcome. There may be a chance of another ultrasound in the future...we can look again if there is.

But, on a good note -- baby looks great! Everything measured exactly 20 weeks...right on schedule. Baby was moving its hands, arms, feet, mouth...everything but its legs!

Here are 2 pictures. The first is of the face/head (baby is laying sideways), looking straight at us. And the other is of a foot. We weren't able to get a profile shot...baby was not in the right position for that, either.

It's been a loong day! Getting ready to put Megan to bed, and then I'm going too!

Farewell, Ol' Faithful...

Our faithful Ford Escort has seen her final days with us. Almost 200,000 miles and a second child on the way, has made us start looking for a different vehicle. She has been such a good car for us (I'm pregnant, I just might cry!)...she's 11 - almost 12 - years old, and we've had her for almost 8 years. She's taken us over hill and dale, but, it's time to let her rest.

Announcing our new arrival:

A '99 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Ain't she a beaut? I think it's fun because Ben keeps calling her "your jeep"...meaning, Steph's jeep! :-) *Big smile* I'll take it!

Ben surprised me by taking today off to go to my ultrasound today! I'm so excited that he can be there!! Worked out perfectly, too -- so we were able to pick up our new car this morning, and break her in. My ultrasound isn't until this afternoon...followed by a regular appointment...followed by Walmart (for diapers, of course!)...and, maybe even supper! So, if we DO have the chance to find out the baby's gender -- you'll all have to be patient. It may be awhile until we're home. We'll let everyone know as soon as we're able!

Have a great day!!

Successful Opening Day...

Today was the first day of bow season here in NY. Ben got a nice-sized doe bright and early -- around 7:30 am -- even without the help of his daughter's brilliant grunt-calling abilities! (I'm still pretty ignorant on the technicalities of hunting; the grunt call is probably supposed to call in bucks?? Who knows?!) Anyway... Ben was very happy to get a deer on the first day. He still has a buck tag to fill during bow season...so, maybe he can still use Megan after all?

Here are 2 pictures (*those of you who are squeamish, may not want to look*):

Megan's 1st Hayride! (And, another doctor's appointment)

Our church hayride was great! It was the first year we held the hayride at a different location than in past years. We all went to our friends' Ray and Sabrina's -- 6 Spurs Farm. Attendance was in the 90's! Many children and parents from Vacation Bible Time and Sunday School were able to come...and, several of the people who accepted Christ at the evangelistic meetings were also able to be there. The weather was gorgeous!

For the first time, I was so disappointed that I didn't actually get to ride the haywagon. Neither Ben nor I thought a 40-minute bumpy ride would be wise. Megan enjoyed herself, though! Her favorite part of the ride was seeing the cows (um, she said "kitty!") in the pasture. After the hayride, she most enjoyed playing in the hay in the barn and eating Aunt Becky's jello.

Here are several pictures of the day. Many thanks to Aunt Emy for at least half of them!


(Megan and her friends, Katie and Rachael)




(Food! There were at least 4 lines that looked like this! So many people!)


(One of the 3 wagons)

(Off we go!)

(My treasure!)


(Thanks, Emily!!)


This morning was Megan's 15-month well-baby visit. She weighs 18 pounds and is 27 1/2 inches tall/long. Those are the best measurements the nurse could get. Megan was NOT happy to be there! She was screaming and trying to crawl off the weighing table. It was interesting to say the least. (For those wondering how much of a weight/height difference from her 12-month visit: 17 1/2 pounds and 27 1/2 inches...oh dear! I hope the height was a bit wrong because of her screaming/wiggling today. I know Ben and I are on the shorter side, but Megan better not stop growing height-wise yet!! lol!) Megan also had 2 shots...but, she seemed more upset about being held down on the table rather than the shots themselves. As soon as I picked her up, she was fine.

So, that's the start of our week!! Hope all of you are doing well!

From waterspout...

...to antlers!


Megan was sitting on my lap after her nap yesterday, and I was playing with her hair. I thought there might be just enough hair that I could get pigtails! I've tried before, but Megan still has very little hair on the side of her head. So, I got out all of the necessary tools -- including graham crackers to divert her attention -- and, SUCCESS!


The ribbons never made it to church last night. Actually, the pigtails barely did, either! She yanked the ribbons out pretty quickly!

Follow the yellow brick road...

In the latest goodie bags of clothes Megan received from our friend, I saw this dress and fell in love! I tried to get a good picture of it...but, Megan just doesn't stand still! All I could think of was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz...I even put on red shoes that are a size too big! You can see what Megan thought of that in the last two pictures! lol! For the record, I did not make Megan wear big red shoes to church...she wore her black shoes (that fit!) on Sunday!

Pregnancy moment to share: I had to do our banking. Finished that chore and after getting Megan all buckled in, I started to panic because I couldn't find my keys!! I was sure I'd thrown them on the seat while buckling Megan...but, now didn't see them anywhere! I was digging through my purse, looking under the seats...debating how long to wait until I called Ben. Ay yi yi! Took me several minutes to realize *blushing* I'd already started the car!! lolol!

I wanted to mention this on Saturday, but I forgot! We're having evangelistic meetings this week at our church. If any of you are able to come for the rest of the week (one night or all!), they start at 7 PM. I missed last night's service, but Sunday's messages were very challenging, and I'm looking forward to hearing more. We'd love to have you come! Also, Sunday afternoon is our annual church hayride and picnic! That's always a fun time, too!