Well Hello World!!!!

As most of you are now aware (ahem), I had the baby...

hehe!

I know I haven't done a post since little J was born on June 14th but I've been a tad busy. I really wasn't going to do much blogging after he was born but just this week I've had 4 different people ask about the blog! Who knew that people were actually reading this stuff? I feel like Perez Hilton, only sane, civil and straight.

ANYWHOOO...

I love, love, love being a mommy! The first few weeks were a challenge (to say the least). While the delivery and birth were amazingly good, the days following were difficult. We thought J had colic but it turned out that, although I was nursing, my milk hadn't come in! Once we rectified that situation, he settled right down.

Many of you have seen him, if not in person, at least in photos. He's a little dream come true. What I lack in sleep, I make up for in cuddles. J turned 4 months old today and the time has just flown by! He's so big now that I don't believe that 17 weeks ago he was still inside my belly.

He's got a huge personality and you would be hard pressed to not see him with a smile on his face. He loves to go out to eat and to the mall (you know he's mine!). He's been to Tahoe and Carmel but he loves being home with his mommy, at least that's what I think (wink).

I'm so in love and every day he surprises me with something new. For all of you mommies who told me I would love him more than anything, to which I replied "please don't oversell it", I'm here to tell you that you were right. Life is amazing with my little man.

I will try to update the blog more often but check facebook because I'm always updating that! Check back for halloween stuff too! Until then, please enjoy this little bit o' jamison.

Baby B(ee)

Well our due date has officially come and gone and my little baby bee is still comfy. Tim says he must be his father's son because he's running late and probably just wants to make sure his hair looks good for his big debut! No contractions, no braxton hicks, no nuthin! We went to the hospital today and after a non stress test (ironic name) we were eventually sent home, thank goodness. I would much rather let nature take it's course and do at least some laboring at home. This photo is from last wednesday, the 3rd, that was the due date and after we had a dr. appt. we went down to the capitol to meet a bunch of other firefighters to make a stand on prop 1A. Unfortunately, I started to feel crappy and so we left early and Tim missed the chance to meet the Governator. Oh well, maybe next time, he still looked sharp as ever though! We have another NST on tuesday at the doc's office, provided Jamison holds out that long and then we have an induction scheduled on the eleventh if he gets really stubborn!

We also took this other pix the week that the baby was due and i don't have any cute quips or antecdotes but here it is, Jamie and mommy visiting the firestation

Thank You Easter Bunny!

It's springtime and everything is blooming, including my belly! In honor of Easter, we thought we'd take a new preggy photo to show how the thing we are most grateful for is growing! My little Easter Egg is at about 32" and the little guy is moving like a chick ready to hatch. We feel especially blessed this Easter with our growing family and all of the love and support that continue to surround us. We also take this time to reflect on the day itself. It's amazing the sacrifice that took place so many years ago so that we could be forgiven for our sins. I'm thankful to live in a time and place that affords me to have such a blessed and fruitful life and try not to ever take it for granted. God Bless all of you, and we'll continue to keep you posted on the baby front!

Making room for baby

we got home and tim still had a few days off so he worked really hard and turned our "office/junk room" and turned it into a proper office that doubles as my esthitician room! He patched the walls, painted, changed out the vent and the outlets, painted some more, put together 8 hours and 20 boxes worth of furniture and then let me bring in all of the knick knacks! I never thought this room could have so many functions and still look so good. He really has alot of vision! Now, it's on to the baby's room and mr. renaissance man has ideas for that too!

The turkey's ready!

I took this photo the day before we left on our weekend getaway and while we were in napa, i had the belly button pop! It really freaked me out that my innie turned into an outtie! I don't know why I was surprised, I had sufficient warning that this was going to happen from many friends. Still, when my belly button has looked the same for the last 33 years and now it's...well...different, kinda gives you the hibbie jibbies! At any rate, the getaway was really needed, now it's back to work getting the rooms ready for Jamison's big arrival! "Thwack", that's me crackin the whip!

Quintessential Boy

I know it has been a while since my last post, were you chomping at the bit? I know, it's better than TMZ...anyway, here are some updates:

First is a photo of our little bean. The doctor pointed on the ultrasound to a very specific body part and asked "what do you think that is?" to which I replied "I think it's a boy!" and he answered "well, if it's a girl, she's sure funny looking!" so, for those of you on the late train, it seems I am destined (at least for now) to have the most estrogen in my family, and, to tell the truth, that suits me just fine!!! This, of course, is not a photo of his, you know. Rather, it's a side view of him just chillin.

This week we have gotten two of the cutest, most special gifts, I had to put them up on the blog. The first was sent with Luke and Renda (who are here visiting) by Tim's mom. She loves country and wanted to be the first to give our boy these:

look at the tread on those bad boys! He's going to be the hippest little cowpoke in the...the...well at least in the living room.

And this was given to us by the wonderful czech couple who does our home improvement for us, they didn't even know we were having a boy but they knew we'd love it, and they were right!

Mommy and daddy are both doing well aside from the fact that we are soooo not ready to have another human move in yet! More posts to come!

Getting ready for baby b: a day of ups and downs

Today we spent yet more time getting ready for the baby's arrival. The two major things done today were the painting of the kitchen and hall and, on a much more somber note, taking our 10 year old "kitten" figero to the spca to be put down. It was very emotional for me. Dad took me while Tim stayed home (he was too torn up to go) so that softened the blow. When I got home, Tim and I talked about how we felt. It was hard because Tim got kitten for me for Valentines day the year we got married so he was really our first baby. We think he had feline schizophrenia though, he was a little bastard, may he rest in peace. Ok, now that's out of my system, i can continue with the crux of the story...Tim finished painting and asked me to help clean up. Everything was going swimmingly until he asked me to hold the garbage bag while he took the roller off of the holder and this is what happened next...

please notice the DISGUSTED look on my face. What's classic is tim absolutley hates these pants and, although you can't see it in the photo, i have a beatles shirt on (tim also hates the beatles...i know right?) We both laughed and laughed and i told him, "of course it had to be this outfit, huh?". It was a good outlet for the day!

The 50 Yard Line

This coming Wednesday, I will be officially 20 weeks...halfway through this pregnancy thing! It feels like it's gone so fast and now I feel like I'm really behind on things (even though Tim assures me that I'm definitely not). I went to buy onsies today and he made me put them back, in his defense though, they did have firetrucks on them and they said "hero". I told him that if we found out we were having a girl I would just return them. He said "the baby has to earn that title anyway". We find out what we're having on the 22nd of this month and every day seems to go by slower than the last. It's not like I want a total girl motif or a total boy one but it's difficult to not buy at least some things that are gender specific! Anyway, as for me, I feel loopy and, frankly, a bit stupid lately (case in point, I just misspelled stupid as stoopid, luckily I caught it before spell check or I would have been mortified!). I'm getting all of the classic symptoms, general fatigue, dizziness and lower back pain are the most irritating. But it's all totally worth it! I want to thank everyone who continues to give me awesome "hand me downs", gifts, books and words of encouragement, you all ROCK! Advice is always welcome, as opposed to the comment I received last week: "by the time that baby is ready to come, you'll look like you ate yourself!"...what?

A Christmas Belly Story

Tim and I attended his Firefighter Union Winter Ball this week and with it came my first encounters with inappropriate pregnancy comments:

(disclaimer: none of these comments were made maliciously and I'm sure I'll say something similar in the future)

1. "Don't worry, I gained 80 pounds"

2. "You look like Buddah"

3. "Are you sure there's only one in there?"

and my favorite...

4. "You're only 15 weeks? You're going to be HUGE!"

People are nuts...that being said, everyone was actually really great and congratulatoy and they seemed genuinely excited for us, even the ones who made the above comments, hehe. It's nice having a pseudo-extended family of crazy firemen and they're girls. By the way, drunk firefighters LOVE to touch pregnant bellies, who knew? By the end of the night I felt like a crystal ball, but I have to say I'm not one of those people who hates others touching her belly. In fact, I like that my baby is getting so many good vibes from good people, it's a blessing!

Update...

For those of you asking for blog updates, sorry for the delay. It has been a bit busy at the Beard house. Tim had his marathon last Sunday and his family came out to watch. He did great, as usual! We had Christmas early with his fam and the baby and I got some great presents. Tim’s mom got me some way cute preggo jeans and some other maternity clothes and his brother and sis-in-law got us this amazing heart beat monitor with headphones and a belly cast set, I can’t wait to use them! They also got me a wife beater that says “kickin 24-7”…fitting. We got some very cute blankets that his sister sent too. One has fire engines on it. Everyone seems to be of the opinion that Baby B is a boy. He “feels” like a boy so I’ll be shocked if it’s a girl. Speaking of girls, Tim’s eight month old niece was here too and she is the most precious little thing on the planet! She did such a great job cheering at the marathon and Tim fell in love with her immediately (as everyone does). He wants a boy but he’d be great with a girl too! We have our next ultrasound on the 22nd of this month and I’m hoping we can find out the sex. I’m chomping at the bit to start the nursery. Here is a photo of me at 15 weeks, rest assured that all that belly is now baby (not gas like before). To my horror, my worst fears are being realized and I’m gaining weight in my face terribly. I know, every woman goes through this but it’s weird to watch yourself change at such a rapid rate! I feel much better now, though, and aside from some anemia, things are going swimmingly! Here is a link to http://www.babycenter.com/ http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-15-weeks_1104.bc?intcmp=timeline it shows what the baby looks like and how it's developing week by week, really interesting! Thanks to all of you who continue to check in on me and Gummy Beard and we’ll update again soon!

Baby's Closeup

Well our little peanut had "its" first trimester testing today. At first there was really no movement and the tech was making me nervous (ps she had ZERO bedside manner). Finally she told me to empty out part of my bladder because I had been directed to drink a ton of water prior to my appt. Note: When you have to pee like Seabiscuit there are a few things that irritate-
1. Warm Ultrasound Gel
2. An Overzealous Technician who pushes that handle thing like it's supposed to be in my stomach, not on it
3. Being told to empty "part" of your bladder but to keep some in there...argh!
Okay, back to the ultrasound...I partially peed and when we checked gummy bear(d) again he was so happy! He could FINALLY move around and he was acting like it was Studio 54 in there! The tech said, "Wow, you had a huge bladder, it looks like the urine actually backed up into you kidneys". Really, thanks for that. After all of that nonsense, the Dr. came in and told us that everything looks great and that the baby is developing right on schedule, of course! Some of the pictures look like the baby is a clown and some look like he's either an alien or he's wearing a mexican wrestling mask so we decided you'd all appreciate the closeup.

First Belly Photo (technically)

This was taken at our first ob/gyn appt. last week. The reason it's only technically a "belly photo" is because after it was taken, the Dr. informed me that my belly was more water retention, bloating and gas than baby...nice. Also, I have low rise "skinny jeans" on that I couldn't button so they looked like I had no junk in my trunk. I only wore them because they are super stretchy but definitely don't look like skinny's at all on me. I think that I look like Hank Hill from the cartoon King of the Hill (my fave). He has a beer gut and uses a "gluteal orthodic" because he has no ass. MmmmHmmm, Yep.

From Auntie Renda & Uncle Luke

Just when you think that Renda couldn't get any nicer, or cuter, she always manages to come up with something awesome. She's way younger than me but I want to be her when I grow up, hehe. We recieved these in the mail last week and I was so moved. Take a look! If you can't tell what they are, the first is an ultrasound frame (to which I have included baby b) and the second is a silver spoon with the words "Baby Beard, A Gift From God". Could they be any sweeter? Soon they'll be here with precious baby Makena for Tim's marathon and for Christmas, YAY!

Gummy Bear

We were telling our friends that the Dr. said the baby was the size of a gummy bear. They asked us if we'd seen the gummy bear song on youtube so I brought it up today...this is an ode to baby b!

Graduation!

Today was our 8 week ultrasound and our last day at the fertility clinic! I was actually a bit nervous today and I couldn't believe that in the two weeks since we last took a peek in there, the baby has become, well, a baby! It has arms and legs, and a head (of course) and a spinal chord, all very attractive too, I might add. This little one has it's fathers unabashed good looks but is shy like him too. It kept turning around every time we wanted to look at it. Maybe it didn't like the prodding (I know I don't). Anyway, you can see where the head and body and appendenges are and there's one of the heart rate too. Enjoy!

Puppy Love

Karyn came in on her birthday and she brought ME a present, crazy girl. Have you ever seen a cuter pup? Well, besides Scooter (and Vespa aka Scooter Jr.). At this rate, Karyn will have the baby surrounded by stuffed pups nine months from now. As for me, I've felt better, I've been really nauseaus but no puking. It's insane...I gag and dry heave regularly but no vomit...Whatever! Tim has been working tons of overtime so at least I have all these cute little furry friends to keep me company!

A Sweet Surprise

This morning we had the surprise arrival of this adorable arrangement! Tim thought I sent them to him and I thought he sent them to me...Nope! My friend (and former partner in crime), Lorrie Langlois, from JR Roberts sent it to us! She is such a sweetie. I'm having a yucky day so this was a real pick-me-upper! Thanks Miss Lorr...MUAH!

Baby B's First Photos

For those of you hoping for twins (like EVERYONE), we only have one lil guy (or girl) in there, and I use the word only very loosley. The first photo is the heartbeat, 119 bpm, about as fast as mine most of the time. The second is measurement. To tell you the truth, I'm thrilled. Yes, it would have been fun to be the mom of twins, but it would have presented many challenges too. I feel so blessed that The Lord has given us this gift and the fact that two embryos were implanted and one "took" makes me even more thankful because it could have turned out very differently. The statistics were not in our favor so to actually see a little heartbeat on the screen was surreal to say the least. On a less serious note, when we gave the news to dad (Garth) today, his response was "Only one?" He's bought enough diapers for quads. Then he proceded to ask "is there, is there, ya know...a weenie?" To which I responded "It's only the size of a grain of rice" and to which Tim added "and so is it's penis". So the gender war is on. I have great hand-me-downs if it's a girl and Tim has a name and big plans if it's a boy. Of course I guess a boy can wear Baby Juicy Couture until he's old enough to tell me "NO!". hehe.

Cheeky...

So my dear friend and neighbor Kace was galavanting around "The Fountains" in Roseville (the new chi chi place to shop...LUV IT) and whilst at Sur Le Table, she found me these little numbers. She's so clever. Ironically, I haven't really had much of a sweet tooth the last few weeks, coincidence? hmmmm...Too bad I can't have any cocktails with which to use these napkins. Maybe a virgin Vodka Tonic with Lime...yeah, I know that's just tonic. Duh.

On an unrelated note, Tim is sure that we are having two, possibley three boys because my hair is ridiculously dry. He's seen "Baby Mama" too many times...if you have too, then you'll appreciate these little tidbits that I've quoted: "Who is going to be selfish and request and epidural? Woo-Ooh! Right here" and, the ever popular "I'm not trying to be dramatic, but I would rather shoot myself in the face than eat that". I used that one last night when Tim made heat and eat polenta....G-Ross! To his credit though, he's an amazing cook, that was a fluke.

So...This Is Pregnancy

This is pretty much how you can find me most of the time. For those of you who know me, I love to lounge around but this is RIDICULOUS, even for me! I feel like I have mono. Tim snapped this (without permission) last week. It pretty well exemplifies my life right now. Rather than nap between things I have to get done, I try to get things done between naps! Tim's great. He just makes sure I'm eating enough (no problem there, I'm gaining a ton of weight already) and that I'm not stressing out (easier said than done). I'm a bit neurotic so Tim probably relishes the time I'm unconcious! Sidenote: Please notice the chew hole in the pillowcase, this is one of many made by the cat...poor guy has no clue that he's got one paw out the door. I have no doubt he could eat a small child.