What to do, What to do....

Everything is coming so fast. I know that everything will fall into place. But thanks to the baby shower that was thrown for Nora in N.Y. . And all of the gifts from the family & friends there, I am running out of available closet space. Not only is there Kristi's space but now Nora is on the way. I just don't think that it is very fair. But what to do, what to do. I really am kidding and just in case I did not thank you (and you know who you are) THANK YOU. Thank you for the gifts , support and the love. You know that I'll need it all. (and Nora said thanks too.)

P.S.
Shortly after getting home from N.Y. I was rubbing on Kristi's belly. I got to feel Nora play a whole soccer game by herself (get ready Kelsey) . She kicked and rolled for about a good ten min. , it was really cool.

Belly Comparison Part 2

Here is installment number 2 of the Mom-to-be and Grampa belly comparison. I think I am quickly catching up with Papa! Hopefully we will be able to get one more in March before Nora actually get's here to make it "official".

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

WOW! Can you believe 2006 is almost over? We had a great Christmas in NY with family. George was a bit sad since it ended up being a green Christmas, but the rest of the family didn't seem to mind! Nora is already getting spoiled with the majority of the Marquez household presents from the Lehman's and Houppert's. I didn't mind since George and I did the same...how can you not?!?! HA!!

The Campeau family continues to grow as you can see from the picture of us three pregnant girls. We are all due within a couple months of each other! Poor Gramma will have more great-grandchildren to keep up with!!!

And to finish out the trip to NY, we had our first baby shower. We decided to do it on this trip since I probably won't be home again before Nora is born. Everyone was so generous. We got so much stuff we had to leave some of it at home for mom and dad to bring with them when they come down for Nora's birth. I think we will definitely be ready when the big arrival comes!

Well, we hope everyone had a great Christmas and upcoming New Year!!!

Nora loves Daddy...

at least that is what Daddy likes to believe. I guess I will give it to him after all Nora did give him a couple good kicks to witness last night. After a long day, I crawled into bed and all of a sudden Nora decided to move into action. I told George she was going all sorts of crazy so he was able to put his hand on my belly and when he did she gave a good punch or kick...so good in fact George saw it as well as felt it! I think that made his day! I thought it would be too soon for him to experience that, but I guess Nora was ready to communicate with her Daddy a little!

We also had our baby doc appointment yesterday. All is looking good. We go back in two weeks for the rhogam shot (since I have AB- blood) and the glucose test. After that we start the every two week visits vs. once a month which means we are starting our 3rd trimester shortly. Gasp...where has the time gone?!?!?!

Random Thoughts

I really think Nora is making me a bit of a sap. I have Christmas songs playing both in my car and at work. I was driving home yesterday thinking of this and that and the next thing I know I am tearing up. And for what? Was it simply because I am just this happy and content? Yes, I am still worried over looking for a house...do we even really want to move into the realm of home ownership...are we going to be able to afford all these changes that are going on and still be able to enjoy a dinner out once in a while...am I going to be a good mom...am I going to be able to eat chocolate after Christmas...what am I going to get George for Christmas...oh wait a minute...what was that...was that my little girl giving me a swift kick telling me to get over it all and not to worry about it...I think it was...I giggle at the thought of her in there swimming around, getting comfortable, stretching, listening to all my thoughts. Then I cannot wait to hold her, but I am enjoying this time so much while she is mine alone and yet at the same time totally am looking forward to George's face the first time he gets to feel her throw a punch to my tummy! All those other thoughts go away and I begin to wonder what she is going to look like...curly hair, dark hair, no hair, what will be like George and what will be like me. Then I laugh because I realize all those pregnant moms I have known in the past must have thought some things similar to this yet I never had a clue. In the middle of a meeting, when I feel her move, I think everyone should understand the grin I get and why I want to laugh out loud and tell the world that she must have just done the worlds best somersault. Yet everyone else is just sitting there listening, taking notes, making a to-do list and having no idea what a special moment I just had with my daughter. It is totally crazy and great and makes me completely happy and content...there are no worries in the world at that moment.

The Soccer Player

I can only imagine what it is going to be like in a couple more months when it already feels like Nora is going to walk in the footsteps of her big cousin Kelsey and become a soccer player. Right before bed Nora decides it is time to play around a bit. I believe she is kicking and turning and squirming all around! I think I actually might have felt her kick the other night with my hand. I am not really sure if it was just an illusion and I really only felt it inside...I guess time will tell. Either way it gives me a little chuckle!

Anyway, it is kind of fitting that we already bought her first pair of sneakers. Granted it will probably be this time next year before she is big enough to wear them. Oh well...I couldn't resist since they are just like mommy's except they are pink!

Belly Comparison

A couple folks have inquired as to what I look like now. Well, the doc says I am on track with gaining baby weight, but I think Nora is like her mom and likes her space! Anyway, while my parents we here we took this picture to compare my baby belly to my dad's (not so much baby belly...hee hee). He started doing this when my sister was pregnant with her first baby and it has continued since. To make it official I will have to take another one when they come back down in March right before Nora is born, but just in case we have this one!

Happy Thanksgiving

And we have a ton to be thankful for this year. George and I celebrated our first anniversary on Nov. 11 and then we had a sonogram on Nov. 21. This was the big one that the doctor measures everything and is able to see if everything looks good. What great news right before Thanksgiving to find out Little Bit is healthy and right on track for the March 30 due date. And it was so special to be able to share this first hand with my Mom and Dad since they happened to be in town so they joined us for the sonogram. Let's just say there were many tears and most can probably image from who!!!

So have I kept you in the dark long enough...do you want the news you came to the website for??? We now have a name for Little Bit. Barring any April Fools jokes, Little Bit will be officially known as Nora Elizabeth from now on. Yes, we are expecting a little girl. I think if you asked either one of us last year if we'd be finding out what our baby was this year we would have laughed for an hour. Today, however, we couldn't be more excited, happy, thankful (the list could go on and on)! Of course George keeps having anxiety attacks about how little girls have their dads wrapped around their fingers and he knows he won't be able to fight this! And I agree!!!! He will be such a sucker for anything she asks for. Simply put...I cannot wait!

A Flutter Here A Flutter There

I cannot wait until I feel Little Bit move around more often. Every now and again I feel that little flutter in my tummy. Of course I always seem to miss it because I don't know what it is until afterwards and then I keep waiting for him/her to do a swim by once again but it never seems to happen when I am waiting for it. Just like right now. I have been thinking that I haven't felt that feeling for a while. I was checking work emails and have my cereal sitting next to me waiting to be eaten. All of a sudden I think to myself..."geez, that was an odd rumble in my tummy, guess I am more hungry then I thought." It isn't until after I think that, I realize it wasn't a rumble at all but one of the infamous swim bys! :-)

Good Check Up

We had our baby doc appointment last night. All seems good. Basically, it was just a heart beat check...still staying strong around 155. And Little Bit won the most coopertive award of the day and stayed in one spot long enough to get a good reading unlike the other babies yesterday. We're so proud.

Our next appointment we get to do another sonogram. I am very excited to see Little Bit again and how much he/she has changed from the first picture! We also might get to find out if it is a boy or girl. George is still sure he wants to find out and I think I am swaying that way...my lack of patience is finally winning this battle...ha! It will also be fun since my parents will be in town and I will get to pick on my dad about knowing or not knowing since he doesn't want to find out!

And just a little story to let you know what a good fit our doctor is for us...well...those who know me well know my fetish for fun socks...I cannot stand those plain white things people put on their feet...we must have color, designs, FUN!!!! Well, in celebration for Halloween, George noticed our doctor has witches on her feet and she was very proud of her socks! I knew we picked good!!!! Little Bit is in good hands (or shall I say feet)!

Names

Wow...who would have ever "thunk" this would be such a hard thing to do? When you are growing up you always think of a name you wish you had or one you always liked and swore you would name your kid if the opportunity arose...then why is it so hard to make a decision. I have it easier than most, George has already laid claim to the name if it is a boy so the girl name is all mine. Ya sure he has to like it some, but overall I get the girl! Sounds like fun, but geez, this is something the kid has to live with forever. What kind of nicknames can you make? What does the initials spell? Does it sound right when you put it all together? Does it rhyme with anything? Will it sound good to yell when you are cheering for them...or when they are in trouble? All the silly things you think of when trying to come up with the perfect name!

Hello to everyone

Here is my first posting as the father to be. Glad to read everyones comments out there.It is kind of cool to read things from people who have been down this road. I hope that everyone is enjoying the ride. You know that there is no telling what will be next. Well everyone take care and till next time laters.

Little Bit's Brother and Sisters

Yes, Little Bit is going to be entering this world with 2 sisters and 1 brother. I can only imagine how they are going to welcome Little Bit. With open paws...I doubt it. Our oldest is Phoenix (the orange one)...most likely she will just hide from the new one. She can't be bothered with such things...if it can't pet her its not worth spending time with. Salem (our only boy) will hiss at our new addition like he is the big man on campus and then run like hell because overall he is the biggest scaredy cat! I can also see him being the most jealous since the baby will take away from our time together laying on the couch! And then there is Leia (brown striped) who will most likely check to see if we brought her any food, lick a couple of times, give a little love nibble and then just walk away. Overall, it will be a very interesting transition...and people wonder why we think we are going to need a bigger place!

I love it...

this blog that is. I love reading all the comments, keep them coming!

We had a Baby Doctor appointment yesterday. All is well. They just checked the heartbeat. Although I do have to say Little Bit pulled a bit of a Kristi. Everytime the doc found the heartbeat, Little Bit would move or kick so she would have to start all over again. I, of course, found this quite funny and had a hard time stopping laughing! It's the little things. So for all you "old wives tales" folks, the heart rate is around 155 (her best guess was 150-160 since the baby was not cooperating so well) so is Little Bit a boy or girl?

The Story of Little Bit

Why Little Bit you ask? I am not really sure how it came to mind other than one day I just looked at George and said if we are having a baby let's call him/her Little Bit. I had other friends who had babies before me and after seeing their initial sonogram referred the the baby as "Peanut" or "Nugget" so I guess I was wanting something of my own. Me, being kind of corny and a somewhat sappy (I am sure this shocks some), decided the baby was a little bit of George and a little bit of me so what better nickname than Little Bit. So that is the story of Little Bit Marquez.

Secretly, it could also have something to do with the movie the Outsiders...there was a character named Two Bit and I started calling our youngest (not smallest) kitty that since she was so fat...but that is a story for another time!

Boy or Girl

Okay...here is the dilemna. George is set on knowing as soon as possible what Little Bit is; however, I am not so sure I want to know until Little Bit's official arrival. I am more on the fence than George. I mean it is going to be a surprise if we find out in 9 weeks or 29 weeks...right?!?! I figure when the time comes I will just know what I want to do. George could find out and I could wait, but seriously I don't think would be as easy as he thinks. There is slipping, him telling people, them slipping, etc. Overall, I feel this one has to be a joint decision and when the time comes we will know what to do! Until then...

A Long Weekend

Nothing new with the baby...I guess he/she is still growing and seems to have an affinity for sweets. Bad Little Bit! :-) We've spent this weekend cleaning and rearranging upstairs. I think it only proves to me we don't have the room we need. Argh. Least we have been throwing a bunch of stuff out...wow...how does one collect so much? And why is it so hard to throw away that tshirt with 29 holes that you got in 2000 and forgot you had when you "find" it again. I think George and I should switch roles and throw away each other's stuff we haven't seen to avoid that issue. Wow...that would have been a drama waiting to happen. HA! Hope everyone is having a nice Labor Day weekend!

Little Bit's First Pics

WOW...it is all really real. We have been on the fence as to how far along we thought we were. Today we officially confirmed Little Bit is 9 weeks 4 days old today. His/her arrival is due on March 30, 2007. That seems so far away, but I am sure it will be here in no time! Hearing the heart beat (didn't realize it was 176 beats/min) and seeing it pulse on the screen was too amazing. Of course George cried like a little girl...I am sure no one is totally surprised by this. Anyway...this was the coolest ever...we are both so excited words cannot describe it!

Nothing New

Nothing is new with Little Bit or Momma. Still waiting for next weeks appointment. This weekend George started reading up a little on what is going on/where we are/what the baby is doing...I think he was surprised at some of the information. I think it helps bring him into the circle...now he has an idea how Little Bit is developing and that makes it a little exciting for him. Up until then it was just how do I keep "her" from having her next meltdown! Ha. Now we have been making lists of what needs to get done...of course that is making all this even more overwhelming. One day at a time...all is how it is supposed to be and all will be fine.

The News

Hello, this is my first post and first official announcement that Little Bit Marquez is on its way. Yes, believe it or not, George and I are having a munchkin. Everything is very new so I am a bit hesitant in making the official announcement, but I just couldn't wait any longer. In a week and a half we get to go back to the doctor to hear the baby's heartbeat. I think that is when it will all become real for us. As for me, I have been very lucky. Only a bit tired, but none of that morning crud...knock on wood! I hope I stay so lucky...keep your fingers and toes crossed!