A Pleasant Surprise Reaction From Sanjay

Unfortunately Sanjay has to travel to London for work and will miss one of our childbirthing classes on infant care. We were both bummed because we really look forward to the classes every week. I knew Sanjay felt bad about missing so I signed him up for a 'daddy bootcamp' class this Saturday. Sanjay and I always communicate about these things and I usually would not just sign him up for something without his permission, but there was a deadline and I couldn't get a hold of him. I wasn't sure how he would react. Would he be mad I signed him up without his permission? Would he be happy I thought of him? Would he feel overwhelmed? Embarrassed? I printed out the confirmation page and set in on his computer chair. I carefully listened to his reaction as I was watering the plants. To my pleasant surprise I heard him say "Oh yea, I want to do this!". PHEWWW! I had a small tear in my eye because that made me so happy that he didn't think twice about giving up a Saturday morning (for three hours) to learn daddy techniques; and be so enthuasiastic about it. I love you baby! I love both my babies!

Where Did The Time Go? Now We Are In Single Digits

I can't believe we only have 97 more days to go!!!! We were 26 weeks on Tuesday, May 27th.

Busy weekend

I can't believe how much I popped out. Peanut really wants to make his appearance in this world. I have really grown rapidly the past couple of weeks. I have been having a great appetite too! We actually saw my whole belly move the other day. I think Peanut was exercising. It was so cool! I wonder if we will be able to see a hand or foot?

We had a very busy and fun weekend after our stress full week last week. Saturday we went to Jess and Anne's for a cookout. Sunday was our niece's First birthday party. Rylie was so cute playing with her toys and tasting cake for the first time. Unfortunately our pictures didn't turn out that good, but we took some good ones with Kelly's camera. Monday we spent the day at Sanjay's parents with Sanjay's brother Reeve and sister in law Maria for a cookout. We also had a special guest from Zambia, Africa stay with us for a couple of days. It was our pleasure to have our friend Father Oscar with us. He is pictured with Sanjay above. The other pictures are of my 25th week belly. I am trying to make a heart shape around 'Peanut" in one of them.

Grammers

Sanjay and I were busy bee's trying to get ready for our three day garage sale and open house. It was a daunting task as closets needs to be cleaned and the house needed to be spotless. We put our house on the market a couple of weeks ago and invited several Realtors to look at it. For now, we are selling it by owner, but are contemplating using a realtor in the area.
My Grandma came over to help with the garage sale. She was such a big help and I really enjoyed spending time with her. Sanjay's parents came over Friday afternoon and spent the night. They were a huge help too! We celebrated because it was the first time I ate a steak during the pregnancy. I am trying to get as much iron as possible.

The Girls

Here is a picture of some of my dearest friends! We try to get together for dinner once a month. This picture was taken last Monday at Bar Centro near the Westside Market. These friends are so very special to me in different ways. I have many stories with all of them. We all met at Mount Union College except Jessica who I've known since the fifth grade. I'm so proud of all of my friends as they have grown into such beautiful, sound, intelligent, estalished, caring women.

Glucose & Iron Test

Sanjay has come with me to every doctor's appointment so far and I am so thankful for that. Yesterday we had a glucose test and iron test. I drank a sugary orange drink, that was actually pretty good, and waited an hour then they took my blood to test for gestational diabetes. They also checked my iron levels. I called to find the results of the tests and thank God my sugar levels are within normal range (below 140). My iron is low, which is pretty normal, but my doctor suggested an iron pill. I am going to try very hard to eat more leafy green veggies and lean red meat everyday. We made another ultrasound appointment to see if the placenta has moved up (hopefully it has) for next month. I can't wait to see my little guy again. I am measuring right at 25 which is right where I'm supposed to be at 25 weeks. I have gained a total of 9 pounds so far and am feeling pretty good these days.
Sanjay and I are really enjoying or prenatal classes and learning a lot. Tonight Sanjay had to wear a 30 pound backpack on his chest to feel what it is like carrying the extra weight. He was pretty funny while attempting to tie his shoe.

New Babies!

I was waiting to write this post until I received pictures, but I thought I would post anyway without them. Two of our friends recently brought beautiful babies into the world!

Brian and Pari, our friends from our marriage group, welcomed little Josiah into the world on April 17th. We were so glad we were able to see them in the hospital. We also get to see them every week and it is just amazing at how much he changes and grows. He looks different every week.

My friend Alissa from High School and Bryan had a little girl named Maya on Mother's Day, May 11th. Maya is one week old today and is smiling already. Both baby and mom are doing very well!

Both Pari and Alissa have been very helpful and have given us great advice during our pregnancy. Thanks to you both!!

Peanut Received a Surprise in the Mail

Sanjay and I were so excited to get a surprise package in the mail today addressed to Peanut Parker. The address was from Mount Union College. We opened it and inside was a cuddly little bear wearing MUC clothing and an adorable MUC zip up sweatshirt for Peanut. We are so excited but we don't know who to thank. Whoever thought of this is very thoughtful, clever, and knows us well. If anyone knows who was so gracious to have sent this to us, can you please let us know? We would love to thank him/her.

Happy Mothers Day

Happy Mothers Day to all of the mom's out there! This is the first year that I realy realy get how wonderful mom's are; all of the sacrifices, prayers and hopes, sleepless nights, countless worries, years and years of teaching and role-modeling, acting as a nurse, taxi driver, counselor, friend, parent, cook, housekeeper, are just a few aspects of being a mother that I appreciate my mom for. Sanjay and I had a wonderful Mother's Day! We went to my mom's house to have a cookout with Kelly, Eric, Rylie and Sanjay's parents. It was so nice to get everyone together. Sanjay made me a very sweet card and is going to take me to get a maternity outfit. Wahoo! we are 23 weeks in this picture!

What's Up With Nicole's Jobs?

This week has been bitter sweet. Two of my co-workers/friends that I was filling in for came back to work this week. It was really nice to see them, but I am also sad that I won't be with the kids anymore. For those of you that don't know I have worn a few different hats at an organization called LEAP (Linking Employment Abilities and Potential). LEAP has many programs that work with individuals who have a disability. LEAP's mission statement is consumer-directed to ensure a society of equal opportunity for all persons, regardless of the disability. I started off job coaching a student at NASA, then I was filling in for Erika at Lincoln West High School as she completed her student teaching, then again when she was on maternity leave and also for Becky at Max Hayes High School as she completed her student teaching. It was refreshing to see their face glowing to be back. Working at LEAP has been such a wonderful experience for me. What a blessing! Everyone I worked with is so caring, empathetic, determined and just all around good people. I was filling in as a Program Coordinator which entailed working in the schools with High School students who have disabilities and teaching them job skills and daily living skills. I loved it and am really going to miss the students. This summer, I will job coach the same student I coached last summer, so my co-workers won't get rid of me just yet. These duties will include setting goals with the consumer and supervising him on his job while being sensitive to and accommodating his disability. We are currently trying to secure a placement for him.

I am still also working part time with FAC (Family Adoption Consultants) as an adoption social worker, assessing and preparing families through the journey of international adoptions. Right now the plan is to keep this job when the baby is born.

Movement!

I started feeling movement at around 20 weeks, but Peanut has really been moving a lot lately. I absolutely love this feeling. It makes me feel like he is healthy and perhaps reacting to a noise, or something going on. Sanjay was able to feel movement for the first time on Sunday April 27th right before he had to leave for Dallas. It was precious! Sanjay was talking to Peanut telling him he is going to miss him and mommy and just as he stopped talking Peanut made the biggest movement to date. Sanjay looked at me with a slightly puzzled face and wanted to make sure I felt it too. He was amazed!

This was a great weekend. Our friends Jess and Anne had us over for dinner and we had a great time. They made spaghetti, homemade bread, salad, chocolate covered strawberries and cookies for dessert. It was so nice. We celebrated Sanjay's mom's birthday at their house and we just spent the rest of the weekend together enjoying eachother.

I am really enjoying being preggers lately! Besides the obvious joys such as hearing the heartbeat, seeing our little guy during the ultrasound, reading about his growth, feeling movement, seeing Sanjay's excitement through the different stages, going to Babies R Us for the first time, and the anticipation of meeting little Peanut, there are also cool things about being pregnant; not having my little monthly friend, getting new clothes (thanks Jess), having a tight stomach again for the first time since High School (Hee-Hee), and having a motivation to eat healthy.