Baby Hulshof

When I was pregnant with Owen, I was completely hoping for a boy. I just couldn't imagine myself having a daughter. The night before my ultrasound for him, I dreamt I was having a girl and went into it feeling like I was fine either way. This time I was really hoping for a girl. I think it's the big age span and wanting to experience having a daughter. I had the same dream last night and then went to the ultrasound feeling like another boy would be great. I went in with the tech and she looked around FOREVER to get measurements. I am actually sore from all of the poking and prodding she did but she still couldn't get a good look at the face. And given our copays I told her to do whatever she needed to do so I wouldn't have to come back :) While we were chatting I told her we really wanted to know the gender and she said that she knew what it was as soon as she started. Immediately I was thinking that it had to be a boy as that is a bit easier to spot. After about 45 minutes, she brought Owen and Bryan in and they got to watch as she finished up the measurements. Owen LOVED getting to see the baby move around on the screen. So of course he asked what it was and when she said girl I was really shocked. Owen was a bit disappointed because he thinks that girl hair is too hard to fix. Ah, the logic of a four year old. Later that night he said it was good we were having a girl so that we would have two boys and two girls in our family and so that he could be a brother to a little sister just like his cousin Cameron.

So now I guess we can start actually doing some planning. I think we've decided to get rid of our study so that the kid rooms will be further apart and so that we can keep a guest room. I have the best friends in the world who are giving me so much girly stuff that I think we'll be set for a while!

On a side note, I failed my glucose tolerance test and have to go back tomorrow morning for the 3 hour test. I am not at all suprised to have gestational diabetes again but last time I was two more months along before I found out. So I'm hoping that it's not severe enough yet for insulin and that I can better manage it this time around since I won't be traveling.

Visit to the Pear

We had a quiet weekend around here. We were all supposed to go down to Pearland but Owen wasn't up to it so I made a solo trip. Lisa, Jill and I went to an Arbonne party and then to a wine tasting at Dawn's house. It was a great time despite the fact that I couldn't partake in the drinks and drove all the way back around midnight. Below is a picture from the wine tasting. Can you tell that Lisa, Jill and I all tried out the bronzer? Jill especially is looking quite brown :)

This morning Owen and I went to brunch with my best friend from high school and her family. Her parents have moved to the Woodlands and her sister and family just moved down here from Long Island. It was so nice to see all of them again and such a trip to relive all of our HS memories with Jeff and Diane, her parents. They had a pool and somehow Owen ended up in it in his underwear. Only two more weeks until the pools open and he can't wait!!!

Tommorrow is the big ultrasound so hopefully we'll know if we're expecting a boy or a girl!!

It's almost summertime

Every summer I am such a wuss about the heat. We've had really nice weather here lately but the last two days its been around 90. So Owen and I got out the beach ball sprinkler from his cousins and ran around in it. I was a sight to behold in my maternity bathing suit running through the sprinkler.

Here's Owen's description, "I have a water ball that's not very big. (I'm trying to fool them). It's as big as a snail. It spits out water and we run through the water. And we played in it today. My mommy has a baby in her belly. I don't care if its a boy or a girl. What should we name it? I want to name it Ewok."

Farewell to Tuck and Puff

About a year ago, Bryan had a BRILLIANT idea that Owen needed turtles. So we researched it and found out that chain pet stores don't carry them, that they harbor salmonella, they can live up to 50 years, and grow really large. So despite all of that information, they headed out to the pet store to get two turtles. Puff got his name because he was the big one and Tuck is the turtle's name on Wonderpets. So ever since we've moved they have been relegated to the corner of the playroom and get little to no attention (not that they mind). But Bryan started complaining on just about a daily basis about what a pain they were. I'm guessing that it was really tough to fill up the automatic feeder less than once a week and clean out the tank when you remembered to do it :) So last week, Bryan and Owen took the turtles to the pond down the street and released our turtles to live out their days with all of the many turtles in the pond. At least that's what I'm hoping happens because I have visions of walking up to the pond one day and frantically having to kick a turtle carcass into the water before Owen sees it. And please don't tell the park rangers up here because I'm sure there has to be something wrong with releasing domesticated turtles into the wild but it's the best Bryan could come up with while under the extreme duress of having to care of those two guys.

More Fleming time

Woo hoo, we hadn't seem them in TOO long and we got two visits in two weeks! Amy was allegedly doing home improvements and Jeff was responible for the kids all weekend. But his boss asked him to go to a Rocket's game so he trucked the kids down here for a sleep over. They had such a good time and despite some tears from Owen the night before because he was super grumpy they got along great. The weather was beautiful so headed to the park, had pizza for dinner and just like every responsible parent does, popsicles in the tub for dessert.

Owen the Chef

Today we went to Caroline's birthday party at the Young Chef's Academy. The kids made pizza and cupcakes and Owen had a gret time. Below is a pic of Owen and some REALLY large woman helping him measure the flour for the pizza.


And then Owen decorating his cupcake with a whole lot of icing!

The life of a single Mom :)

Bryan's started a new project at work so it looks like Owen and I will be on our own for a couple of days each week while he's in Louisiana. Thank goodness the worst of the morning sickness is over because otherwise it would be killing me. The weather has been BEAUTIFUL here lately so we've spent a lot of time outside and at the park.

My mom has my camera so no new pics from last week. Friday we went to College Station to celebrate Emma's 4th birthday with her family. It was so great to see them and I think it made Owen and I just miss them more!!! We woke up late that morning and Owen usually is not at all a morning person (takes after me, I mean Bryan). But when I got out of the shower he was in the family room saying "I'm just so excited!!!" I wondered what it would be like since they haven't seen each other in a few months but they were right back to being buddies.

We spent most of the weekend outside which Owen loves. Bryan and I co-hosted a shower for our good friends Gary and Maren who are expecting their first baby in a few months. I mentioned to Maren that I love her name and she informed me that so many people have told her that and never used it for a kid so now it definitely has to go on my list. We got to see lots of friends which is always a blast but were too lame to go out afterwards :) Lita and Owen spent the evening together. Funny story about them, when she babysits in the morning she brings donuts and in the afternoon she brings him a malt. So she showed up with a happy meal and a malt and Owen wanted to know if she brought him any donuts.

The big ultrasound is on the 27th so hopefully afterwards I'll have news to send out about the sex. I'm fine either way but the consensus from everyone, including myself, is a girl. I was right with Owen but I think I just got lucky and really wanted a boy!

Below is a picture of Owen and Emma from his 3rd birthday party at our old house in Pearland.

Awesome Blog

I've been reading this blog for a few months and I'm completely addicted :) It's written by a guy named Nate whose wife has Cystic Fibrosis. She gave birth to a baby girl around 3 months ago and she just had a double lung transplant this week.

What strikes me the most about the blog is that they're a young couple like so many of us, starting their family like so many of us, but the love he shows for his wife and daughter remind me of the love we have for our families but don't express it quite so openly.

http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/