Digital Scrapbooking

Jeff gave me digital scrapbooking software for Christmas. I've been busily downloading every free embelishment I can find online and created this page. I was a little frustrated at not being able to immediately create every effect that popped into mind, there seems to be a learning curve but I was satisfied with the final product. I ordered this page as a sample so I can see what it looks like in print before doing more. At this point it didn't take less time than doing a physical layout but I love the portability.

A wardrobe fit for a princess

From the pictures you might guess that we are expecting a girl, my little "beanette". She is going to be one well dressed little lady. I am incredibly thankful for sisters and hand me downs! Without Carla my maternity wardrobe and my baby collection would be sadly lacking. No chance of that, this little one isn't going to know what to do when one day she has to wear an outfit twice before out growing it. I might have to put a sunday dress on her to go to the grocery store just so she gets to wear them all...or maybe not.

I've been feeling her kick more and more and while I was sorting the clothes I just couldn't wait until the day I get to hold this little baby I'm already in love with. It is such a relief to have these feelings after all the anxiety of the first trimester.

Sheats Family Christmas

The Sheats family got together to celebrate Christmas on Sunday. Here are a few highlights from the day.Grandad reading the Christmas story from Luke 2.

Caleb built this birdhouse and was so proud that he brought it along to show us all. He showed us all how the birds get inside and explained that they are going to live there! Dad received a farside comic book from Linda. I think he enjoyed it.
Mom and Dad gave Aliza a kitchen of her own and Laura and Linda stocked her up on food for it. It took a team effort by Jeff and Jeremy to put it together while Aliza excitedly waited. She declared that it was going in her bedroom and that she would play all night! I wonder if anyone in her household slept last night!

My little bean gave me a gift that I had been eager for. It kicked hard enough that I felt it! It is so exciting to be able to feel my baby. We had a sonogram on Friday, pictures will be coming as soon as I get them scanned. We could see all the little fingers and toes. Bean was waving and kicking. When we wanted to see the gender though our baby just yawned and curled up into a little ball. We had the technician write down her guess for us (85% sure) and we will open it at Christmas.

Not Me - The First Trimester

There are certain things I was sure I would never do or become while pregnant. Here is a little snapshot of what I "haven't" done during the first trimester.

I don't wake up nauseous every morning and certainly don't take comfort in a cold tile floor with a bathmat as a pillow. I haven't quit packing my husband's lunch and never get to work late. When I do arrive at work I wouldn't think of laying on the couch for half an hour...or an hour...or more, that would be unprofessional. I've never gone out for fastfood after finishing the lunch I packed. I haven't given up high heels and surely that wasn't me searching walmart in my sweats and no make-up for the elusive cough syrup deemed safe for pregnancy. I haven't become emotional and don't cry when I see babies on TV. My house isn't messy, the flowerbeds don't have weeds, the laundry doesn't overflow the hamper, and the refrigerator doesn't get empty...I wouldn't consider neglecting those things in favor of a nap. This can't be me. Perhaps one day I'll join the ranks of women who tell the not so nauseous mommy-to-be "I just loved being pregnant!" Then again...maybe not!

P.S. My wonderful, considerate husband DID surprise me by cleaning the ceiling fans that didn't have a year's worth of dust on them and that I wasn't obsessing over!

It feels good to feel good!

Hooray for feeling good! Yesterday I was able to come home from work, make dinner, clean up dinner, do some productive homework, and entertain guests without any of it being an ordeal! I was bouncing around the house saying "I feel good, I feel good!" It totally boosted my self confidence to serve dinner to my husband and get through an evening without being curled up and immobile at any point. It gives me such hope for the rest of this pregnancy. Not to say the nausea didn't come back this morning but I'm still on a high from feeling good for an evening! I'm able to believe that one day feeling good will be the norm again.

8 Weeks Down...31 To Go!

Jeff and I are very excited about the coming addition to our family. May 17th seems a long way to go! Bean, as we affectionately refer to our baby, is 5/8 of an inch long and about the size of a kidney bean this week. I 'm afraid to say it out loud but it seems that morning sickness is a thing of the past. I've had more energy in the last couple days (besides having a cold) than I have in the last few weeks. It is a nice feeling! This picture is for those who keep telling me 8 weeks is too early to be showing but I do indeed seem to be developing a baby bump. :)

Pickled Peppers

Jeff loves sweet peppers on his sandwiches. Since our pepper plant produced so well I decided that I would can a few for him to enjoy later. It was a nice idea. The first challenge was getting the skin off the peppers. I blistered the peppers like the directions said and then the skin was just supposed to come off. It didn't work that easily. There were tears when Jeff came into the kitchen to see what was going on and I informed him I was doing it for him. He told me I could quit but by then I was determined. So I ended up with two tiny jars of pickled peppers. I hope they are edible, if not they are kind of pretty maybe I'll just set them on a shelf to look at. From now on I will leave pickled peppers to Peter Piper!