Maternity Photo Shoot (33 weeks)

This weekend my friend Martha Cate traveled from North Carolina to our new home to do a maternity photo shoot. We had so much fun during the shoot, and catching up afterwards, and the pictures are even more than we expected. As you will see, she is unquestionably talented, and it was a wonderful feeling to be photographed by a friend, instead of a stranger. We are already planning to have her come back during the summer to take pics of the baby. :o)

Here are a few of my faves, and you can check out the rest on her blog: http://mcatephotography.wordpress.com/2010/01/17/jenn-maternity. If you are interested in finding out more about her services, click the 'Read about me!' tab at the top of her blog.

Thanks again Martha Cate!! We LOVE the photos.

Coaching my way through the holidays...

We are 3 games into the season and I am loving every minute of it. I feel great and the bus rides to away games are not too uncomfortable. (We'll see if I'm still singing that same tune in a few months! Those bus seats are small!) We've had a scrimmage and 3 games, and are 3 - 1, with our loss by just one point. Our wins have been pretty solid, each time by more than 20 points. My team this year is eager to learn and they seem to genuinely like each other and enjoy being a team. It's easy to keep track of how many games/weeks we have left, because we're due just 2 1/2 weeks after the last game!


In house news, we just got our new dishwasher and thank goodness because I am DONE with handwashing all our dishes - which we have been for over 2 months. We also bought our tree, and it's the first time I've had a live one. I have also realized that the type of tree Pat prefers (white pine) is the rarest of all live Christmas trees - we only had 5 to choose from on a 100+ tree lot - and also the most unique shape - short, fat and fluffy. I need to get some decorations on it soon because right now it just looks like a furry green gumdrop. Then we need to put up the outside house lights - just in time for the house decorating judging/contest that is happening in our community tomorrow night.



Sophie loves the new house - especially laying in the sunshine from the bay window - and continues to follow me from room to room and never let me out of her sight. Wonder if that will continue once she has a baby waking her up from her 10-a-day cat naps? :o) Here she is getting ready to pass out on the back of the couch in my office.

November = BUSY

November has been crazy! We started with our trip to Northern California. Our flight was into San Francisco, and from there we drove Pacific Coast Hwy down to San Luis Obispo. We did a short day trip to check out Hearst Castle in San Simeon - wow! And of course, had to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge (which seems tiny compared to our Chesapeake Bay Bridge).


The weather was in the 70's and sunny most of the days we were there, which is funny b/c our pics all seem to show overcast and cloudy skies. Pat could not believe the size of the waves and how many surfers we saw - they were everywhere! I also finally caved and took my first belly pic (about 5 1/2 months in it).


Next, we went to the Virginia Tech - Maryland game at Univ of MD. Not only was a great time had because the Hokies beat the Terps once again, but we were able to see Michelle, Dougie, John, and A - who we have not seen in forever. Dougie was the only one wearing the right colors though, and the only one of the group who could bask in the victory with us. Thanks Ed for hooking us up with the tickets - those seats were worth every penny!


A week ago, my friend Alison took Pat and I to register at Babies R Us. THANK goodness she was there, or we (me) would have been in there forever trying to decide. We were able to get most everything done in under an hour, and Pat was still patient and smiling - sounds like a successful trip to me.

I have also been busy this month with basketball - yes, I am coaching again, and hopeful I can finish the season before the baby comes. We have finished tryouts and have moved on to regular practices. I have high hopes for the team this year - they seem very motivated and smart, and seem to respect me even though my bball playing/skills leave much to be desired while in my pregnant state. Go Cougars!

Too many choices!

I thought picking a name would be difficult, but I am more stressed trying to pick a theme/pattern for the nursery! I have narrowed it down to a few; Pat likes the purple one and I really like the green one with the trees.


I have found that my favorite part of pregnancy so far is feeling the baby kick inside me. It is amazing each and every time it happens, which is usually about 30 minutes after I eat, right before I go to bed, and right when I get up in the morning. Her kicks are getting stronger and stronger, but still can't be felt from the outside. Hopefully soon!

Last week I traveled to Louisville, KY for the annual Green Industry Conference. Definitely one of those events where there is too much to do, and not nearly enough time to do it. I did get to catch up with some friends, though our convos were short and hurried. I did get to surprise a few folks who did not know we were pregnant - definitely some great looks on those faces (no way to hide this belly now). :o)

Next week I will be in California visiting Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo. We are flying into San Francisco and then driving down Pacific Coast Hwy to SLO. I can't wait to see the spectacular views and to enjoy a little sun and heat (75 degrees) before heading home to chilly Maryland.

It's a....

It has taken me a few days to post our news because I've been busy traveling again, this time to Auburn University. I'm staying with my friends Amy and Scott, and their kitty (who looks amazingly like Sophie) Miss Lelu Dallas. I'm so lucky to have friends to stay with on my trips - so much better than sleeping at a hotel all the time. (Thanks again Amy!)

So....we had our appointment on Monday and found out we are having a GIRL!! I was convinced we were having a boy, but Pat said from day one that we would have a girl. :o) We can't wait to start putting the nursery together - good thing we are almost done with the rest of our house.

The real reason for our appointment was to get a comprehensive check done on the baby's progress, and the doctor said everything looked great. We could see the 4 ventricles of the heart, the kidneys, the spine and ribs, the brain, the legs and arms (which look long!) and anything and everything else. It was amazing to see and comforting to know that things were still moving along in there! And I have really felt her kicking a lot lately, especially after I eat. And this might sound weird, but it's nice having a traveling companion on my trips. :o)

One more week....

...until we can find out the gender! We can't wait.

My trip to Utah went great - and yes, it was chilly. The mountains were beautiful, and the leaves were just starting to turn...little bits of red all through the valleys - almost looked like lava running down the mountain.

While laying on the couch in my hotel Friday night I felt the baby kick for the first time. :o) Just a little flutter, but definitely there. And then Sunday night I felt two really strong kicks. Funny I had to fly all the way to Utah to feel those kicks - this baby must know he/she is traveling all around.

Pat's trip to Seattle was a blast; we are planning to go back together sometime next year. And for the record, the 'Pacific' crab cake couldn't hold a candle to our Maryland crab cakes! The fish market was pretty incredible though.

On the home front, I have finally hung some curtains, put up some pictures, and other little details. The squirrels have been digging in my garden, and even pulled up my radish, spinach and lettuce seedlings. The one good thing about having a garden in the city the last 4 years - no pests!!

October 2009

Now that it's October, we are both very busy with work, and I am happy to finally be over the nausea and vomiting. It's been 2 weeks since I last got sick, and I am hoping I am FINALLY over it! My 32nd birthday was at the end of September, and Pat cooked me dinner in our new home - lobster for an appy and filet for dinner. (I know how lucky I am!)

I just returned from a visit to Michigan State University (more travel for baby and my first flight with a belly - also first time I actually scanned the seat back pocket for a barf bag - didn't need it thank goodness). While at MSU, I stayed with my friends Marcus and Donna Duck and their 7 month old twin boys Jackson and Jordan. I have seen lots of pics of the boys, but they were even cuter in person! I watched Donna give them each a bath (first time for me) and changed Jordan's diaper (a first for me also - and 32 years old - geez). Marcus and Donna also provided me with an amazing amount of knowledge - thanks guys! And Donna - I will be in touch soon with more questions!!!

Later this week I am traveling to BYU - Provo for a few days, and Pat is heading to Seattle. It is supposed to be near freezing at night in Utah, so I will finally have to change out of the comfy flip flops I've had on since May. Later this month, baby will be traveling with me to Auburn, Alabama and Louisville, Kentucky.