Our Little Lady

Early Thursday morning, December 17th we became a family of 3. Ella Marie was 8 lbs 3 oz. (And now is only two ounces from birth weight - I look at her now and think, "more than that was in me?!) She is absolutely amazing.

Jon got sick early Friday morning, and had to go home so Ella and I wouldn't get sick too. We were so exhausted and pathetic when he left. The nurses we impressed with him doing what was best for us even though it was difficult (and commented on the tears in his eyes when he left), and kept asking me how he was doing at home. Thanks, Harold and Jeanne for spending the day with me. He felt better Saturday morning, and was allowed to come back (we think it may have been food poisoning). He is wearing a mask just to be safe. (Jon's a little embarrassed about being bare chested in this video. It is too cute not to share, and she loves the warmth, so he can deal with it.) Make sure your sound is turned on.

During our last sonogram, Ella's mouth and tongue were in constant motion. It is no surprise that we see a lot of that little tongue here on the outside. She does save it mostly to tell us when she is hungary, so it is useful. I could watch her all day.

We had our first check-up with her pediatrician (whom I love - never had a doctor I've thought much more than, "this will do" before. She was a perfect child the whole time. From the start she was awake and alert and good humored. This was about a 3 hour stretch, and she was only 6 days old, so this beat all expectations I had for her. I wish I could believe all outings will go so smoothly in the future. The best part of the visit was the news that she gained 4 ounces in two days (Jon thinks it's all gone to her chin - she's got chicken legs, but a hefty chin) so we don't have to wake her up every 3 hours to feed her. We're still pretty well on the schedule, but it is nice to go to bed with a little hope of sleeping for a few hours in a row. Also, since my milk has come in and she is such a good sucker, we can introduce an occasional bottle. Hallelujah! Jon may be able to feed her once during the night. What a great Christmas present for me from her doctor. I still want to wait a little while to be sure we're on the right track, but again, hope is a big thing for this tired mama.

It's About Time

Some reasons I know it is time for the baby to be here:

1) I just took my last Pepcid AC - it has served me well. I have been sleeping soundly without many heartburn issues for a few weeks now. I don't want to buy a new bottle because I know I won't use but a couple of them.

2) I've started ruining my maternity clothes. Two days in a row I've gotten oil on, first my favorite pants and now a shirt that I happen to really like. I won't have anything to wear if this continues. (I'm in the process of laundering, so maybe this one won't really count. Fingers crossed.)

We decided with our doctor today, that if we don't have the baby by Thursday, we will induce. It has not been an easy decision. I do not want to choose my baby's birthday; I do not want to labor entirely at the hospital; I do not want to force something to happen, that I know can happen naturally. I feel like I am cheating. What it comes down to: the baby is getting bigger and my placenta is starting to calcify. Reasons that will make delivery more difficult on me and the baby. The doctor says baby will do better this week than next. He doesn't say it has to be done this week - he recommends, but isn't insisting. It doesn't make sense to wait till she starts to show signs of distress. I am very torn, because I believe that in most cases, Mama and baby do what needs to be done, and things turn out fine (although likely more painfully.) I feel like I'm giving in to fear of delivering an enormous baby, and have a lack of faith. Personally, I feel pretty good, and wouldn't mind being pregnant for another 2 weeks, but I am having a lot of anxiety about her health and this decision. This is why I don't like being over-due - I'm starting to worry. I just really hope we're making the right decision. (Prayers for baby coming on her own before then!)

One Reason Jon is a Keeper. . .

. . .he doesn't just put the stuffed animals somewhere I'll see them, but he poses them too. He knows how to make me smile. (He refuses to cut my toenails, but he does just about everything else.)

A Whole Lot of Baby

Due in 13 days!

Growing Tomatoes (and a Baby)

We've had a couple very good crops this summer. Tomatoes were late to ripen, but we have had more than enough. I've made several batches of soup that use diced tomatoes, lots of salsa (much of which we canned), and many BLT's (which every time I eat one, I can't believe how much I love them; man, I love BLT's) and other dishes that involve delicious homegrown tomatoes. This, in addition to the 12 quarts of pickles made earlier this summer, make me feel proud and connected.

I've also been growing a bunch of baby. There are days when she reminds me constantly that she is in there. On these days, I feel like I have, well, a baby with me saying "hi" (in the ribs, in the bladder, and thankfully most often on the right side of by belly). I can imagine feeling lonely once I have to go back to work without any company.

People ask how I feel, and I always say something along the lines of, "really good." To be honest, if I think about it, I feel not so well a lot of the time, but I'm so happy that it doesn't really seem to matter. Being a shy-ish person, I am really enjoying the automatic icebreaker I am carrying with me. Mothers seem to gravitate toward a mother to be. Going to Jon's concerts and cross country races are much less lonely. And I'm big enough now that people to tip-toe around wondering if I've just gained weight. I've had some very strange conversations (one high-school boy -that I hardly knew - was hinting around wanting to touch my belly) and have been amused at the offensive things people feel at liberty to say:

My Principal: "You are due in October, right?"

Me: "No, December"

Principal: "Man, you are going to look good." said as he held his hands far out in front of his stomach.

I feel like this is the calm before the storm (which I am looking forward to the "storm"). I am enjoying this part of my life.

Before and After

(I reloaded the before pictures.)

Here are a few quick pictures of before and after. Most of the major renovation is done. It will never end I am sure, but most of the big items are taken care of.

The back.

Side/AC

The Front.

Deck

The last big project for us to complete before we are done with the outside of the house is to create a deck that is up to code. This has been an interesting process and the deck changed many times during construction. A huge thank you to all that helped, especially to my dad Harold and to emily's dad Bill! This wouldn't have happend without you.

Cool Beans

Three great reasons we are "cool" right now. The first is the weather. Currently 65 right now and cooling off. At 1pm Emily mentioned that she was cold. I love this weather. Secondly, because last Monday I turned on the new A/C below is a photo of what are attic has become. Although the system is not complete yet, it is up and running with high efficiency and a heat pump outside. Lastly, the siding is finally starting to go up and looks good. finally starting to see what it might look like.

The Southeast corner of the building.

Here is the front with the hole for the new window. We had 6 people help lift the rather large window in. We love our neighbors!

Here is what our attic has become. It is so nice to have A/C and not sleep in the living room with the window unit A/C.

The "beans" are finally here and we picked out first bunch. Tomatoes are setting on, corn is pollinating and the cucumber plants are taking over the garden.

She

Last night, as I was finishing folding the laundry and waiting for my dear husband to join me on the couch (and let's be honest, so I could snuggle into him and fall asleep as usual) I was getting a little impatient (it was 11:00.) I went in to the office to try to drag him away from whatever he was doing. I found him at the computer looking up baby names and meanings and making a list. This was extremely precious to me especially because most of our conversations about baby names involve me suggesting something and him either saying maaaaybe or no.

We found out yesterday that we will be having a girl. (7 out of 9 of you were right!) I've repeated this to Jon about fifty times since then. I just need to hear myself say it to help in sink in (for me). We are both very excited although I am fairly certain if they had said "boy" we would have been equally thrilled. I've had several months to get used to the idea of having a baby, and now that I can refer to her as "she" rather than "it", things seem to be more real. I know Jon will be an incredible father. He's always been gung-ho to hold babies and I feel like I'm getting closer to forming a picture of what it will be like to watch him hold our baby. . . girl. We are having a girl.

Chipmunks Not Welcome

Jon gets up at 6:30 to go run with his cross country team. Most days, I get up soon after, eat breakfast (because I'm just so darn hungry), go far a walk - maybe jog a bit of it depending on how ambitious I'm feeling, and then spend an hour or so weeding. The garden is well shaded before 9:00 and besides getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, it is fairly comfortable. I don't know that I love gardening. I want to love it, but this space is rather large and I have concerns and frustrations that make me wonder if it is worth all the time.

Our pepper plants that we started indoors that just seem stunted; I think they're picking up speed, but I wonder if I babied them too much indoors.

About half our corn didn't come up, so I don't know if it will actually get any of it pollinated. Fingers crossed. I've never done corn before, and am excited at the prospect of roasting our own ears. Wiebe Corn, maybe we can set up a roadside stand one of these days. . .

Other new things are beets (which didn't come up last year) and carrots (only five plants have made it). We also planted potatoes that seem to be healthy. I love the anticipation and mystery of root vegetables.

Our peas are taking off - I've never been much of a snap pea eater, so I just don't know what to do with them, but they are fun to nibble on while I pass by. (Any ideas?)

Our tomatoes are looking good and the cucumbers are exploding as they did last year. We can definitely count on a good cucumber crop -maybe enough to make pickles.

I made applesauce with apples from our tree. The birds and squirrels were starting to battle over them, so we had to pick. I think I could do another round of picking though. And, there are still peaches and pears on our trees. I am hopeful that our inflatable snake has deterred the squirrel carnage (to the fruit that is) that happened there last year.

Windows

Here is the next step in this process. We will continue wrapping the house and installing windows until we make our way around the whole house. So far we have finished 4 walls, and when rain or other activities don't interfere I can get at least one wall done in a day. The biggest problem is that all the window openings are different sizes and some don't even have headers. I have to cut a lot and build out the edge of the window on each one.

Here is the Southwest side of the"basement." Notice the new gutters. They magically appeared one day when we were away. No note, no call, no bill (so far). We are hoping they forget about us.

Here is the Southeast side of the "Basement."

This is the inside of the "basement." Too many windows, so I framed one back into the siding.

Here is a window from the inside.


Lots to do.

More House

Today was a very busy day. I thought I would try and replace one of the windows today. This process did not go as planned, but it all seems to work out somehow. I just now finished with one of the walls on the South part of the house and realized I need to document this for before and after pictures. This involved cleaning the wall, taking out a window and door, rebuilding the studs in the doorway to create a window opening, covering the wall with foam board, cutting and putting in fillers about the foam board and wrapping the wall. Maybe I will be able to install a window tomorrow. I think I have a good plan of action and was thrilled with how it is all turning out.

Here is the wall after it has been leveled off and the foam board is up.

Here it is with the house wrap on. The window opening to the right used to be a door.

Here is the wall as it once was.

Needless to say, it is great to be back in KC and be with Emily after being in for the past week to conduct the orchestra at Bethel Music Camp. Today was Mom and Dads anniversary. They were great to be around and it was great to be there too. Good luck with the moles!

Jon

WieBoy or WieGirl?

In about 5 weeks, we're going to find out (I hope) what the gender of our baby is. Until then, we're left wondering. I'm curisous what you think. Have fun; take your guess in the poll to the right.

The next weekend

Words to follow...

Let it Begin!

The "Second annual Memorial Day Help-Jon-and-Emily-Fix-Ugly-House" has come and gone, successfully accomplishing less than we planned. We are always excited when people come to KC to see us, but need to work them less so they will come more often.

Harold, Jeanne, Jenni and Dave all came to help out and the goal was to take off the old roof and put on a new one. After discovering 3 old roofs on the house and pulling those off, we managed to put on the new felt, replace the facia, add the drip edge (most of it) and visit Home Depot or Lowes about 30 times.

It is always wonderful to have help. Thank you so much!

Here Dave is removing one of the many layers.

Almost there (with the back)

Back in time

A clean Slate

Haul it up.

Roll it out.

Smear it on.

And watch the rain roll in.

Much more to come...

Meet the new protector of our garden and fruit trees. This inflatable snake was a gift from my father-in-law. It is meant to deter birds (and hopefully small rodents). So far, I've successfully startled myself and have not yet seen any squirrels or birds hanging out near it. I have funny/depressing visions of a ground squirrel running by our window with the snake in its mouth, taking it to the same place it/they took all our tomatoes last year.

Snow!

Blizzard of the Century! Or so I was told by a coach I work with. Not really the case, but a lot of snow. We had choir rehearsal and I was told that Buhler, KS got 18 inches. No clue if it is true. We seem to have around 4 inches and it was enough to do some damage. All the hard work on the garden structure could be wasted. We'll see what can be salvaged when this all clears up. Either way, I love to run in the snow and am looking forward to tomorrow morning!

Here is the garden structure and the door that I recently worked on.

Who knows what we can salvage. I framed in the door and it really seemed to help hold that end up pretty well.

It is so very nice to have Emily back! A lot of coaching and house work was completed this week and below are some pictures of completed projects.

Here is the kitchen with the walls and ceiling painted.


Here is an old screen door that I refinished and built into the existing garden "cage" (for lack of a better word). Hopefully this will help keep the critters out this year.


Emily and I have been working to clear out the left-overs from last year's failed garden to prepare for this year's bounty (hopefully). I wish I would have taken a before picture, because the transformation is pronounced.