Leslie & Jeff
Well, I'm home...Jeff is at work...I should be doing work, but for right now I'm blogging :) Nothing new around here today except I was able to get some sleep after Jeff left for work--a couple of hours at least. It boggles my mind that I can get up to go the bathroom every hour during the night, i.e. when I should be asleep, but when I should be awake I'm able to sleep! Then I got up and made us some pancakes. I say "us" because it makes me feel like someone else is eating them too and, thus, I don't feel so bad for eating so many of them! They were really good though...

Now I'm watching Ellen...she makes giggle, especially when she dances :) Today she's filming her show from Universal Studios in Florida...I wish I was there!! Of course if I went now it would be pretty boring since I wouldn't be able to ride any of the fun rides. Jeff can't wait until we can take Izzy on her first trip to Disney World! I can't wait to take Jeff on his first trip to Disney World! We'll get Jeff and Izzy some ears :) Can't you just see them?!?

After reading the comments (and from emails and various conversations with people who didn't leave comments), I realize that Jeff and I have created mass confusion regarding my due date. So, since I have nothing better to write about and am procrastinating right now, I'll try my best to explain it in print. We went to Dr. K for the first time on August 22nd. Disclosure: If you want no more detailed information than that, stop reading NOW. If you're still reading then I refuse to feel bad about giving you too much information...although most of you know this stuff already. Usually when you're pregnant, the doctor calculates your estimated due date ("EDD") as 40 weeks from the day that you started your last period. I could not tell the doctor when that was because I had taken my pills straight through for the previous 2 months...so I did the best I could at estimating when that would have been. Dr. K then did an ultrasound, which revealed a little kidney bean (just over a centimeter in a half in length) with a heartbeat. The ultrasound calculates the gestational age of the embryo with pretty decent accuracy when done before 10 weeks--something about the rate of cell division and growth, etc. Anywho, the ultrasound put the gestational age of the baby at 8 weeks 5 days, which put me due on March 28th. The doctor took what I said, along with the ultrasound results, and rounded it off to 8 weeks--which put me due April 1st. We had two subsequently ultrasounds, both of which put the baby due either March 27th or March 28th. Now, for various reasons that no one really needs to know, Jeff and I both think that the baby was due on March 27th or 28th. So...according to the date my doc wrote on my chart the first day we saw him, I'm not officially due until tomorrow. However, everything else points to the earlier dates. I hope that clears up the confusion that I know I caused :)

Jeff and I have been trying to mentally prepare ourselves with the later due date in mind...although it was still a little rough when the 27th and 28th (along with the entire weekend) passed without incident. But, my maybe clairvoyant client did say that she thought I would have the baby yesterday or today...there are still over 12 hours left in the day...come on baby...



Footnote to Leslie's entry: For clarification, it was Leslie, not Jeff, that created the confusion with the due date. (Ha!) I simply used the date Leslie told me; which varied between March 27 and April 1. :)
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Another Pregnant Weekend...
Leslie & Jeff
I know some of you have probably been anxiously awaiting news but I'm sorry to report that we have no news...none of the baby variety at least. Sorry if my absence from the blog yesterday gave anyone the wrong idea! We've had a pretty good weekend, baby or no :) Yesterday we ran a lot of errands and did some basement decorating. We got a new rug and some pillows for the sectional, as well as a new floor lamp and wall-hanging. The basement is really starting to look good! Pete LOVES the new rug...he's sleeping on it right now! After we made it home after running around all day, we both took naps on the couch...although my two naps were a little longer than Jeff's one. Hey, it's hard work being this pregnant!


Today we got up and went to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch, which was great! It's always nice to go to the Cheesecake Factory and not have to wait hours for a seat :) I wish I had saved some room for a piece of cheesecake, but I'm afraid I was a little short sighted on that front. After lunch we got the last few things we needed for the baby...so we're all ready now...she can come any time...any time now...

I'm almost finished with my newest project--a crocheted baby blanket for Izzy. I only have a few more rows to add and then have to do the border. I will post a picture of it as soon as I have it finished. I still haven't decided whether I'm going to work tomorrow. Friday was supposed to be my last day, but I'm having a hard time thinking about staying home when I have work to do and I can do it. Jeff wants me to stay home so I avoid all the questions about not having the baby yet. I guess I'll see how I feel in the morning.

Btw, can someone please tell me when the NCAA tournament is going to be over? Jeff can watch any game any time...I'm not a huge basketball fan to begin with, but my interest is even more severely lacking when two teams that I care absolutely nothing about are playing...e.g. Davidson and Kansas. Maybe this baby will come soon enough to save me from more hours of the tourney.

That's all I've got for the day...I'll add a couple pictures just for fun...

Oh, I wanted to thank all of you who have called or e-mailed to see how I'm doing. I really appreciate the thoughts and encouragement!!

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Not Lazy, Just Strong!
Leslie & Jeff
Just a little happy story I'd like to share with everyone. One of the other attorneys here just came in to check on me--she saw Jeff's light was off and was hoping he was out for a "reason." I told her that I now think that my doctor is being generous when he says "not much" is going on "down there" and what he really means is nothing is happening, but he doesn't want to crush my hope. She told me that with her first son, she went to the hospital when her water broke. The nurses told her to get comfortable because she was going to be there for a couple of days--she had not started to efface or dilate AT ALL. Well, a few hours later her son was born :) She said that her cervix was strong and once it got started, it was on! That story gives me hope. If doctors gave out comment cards like restaurants do, I would write something like that on my doctor's card. For example:

Dear Dr. K,

We have been really pleased with your care up to this point. However, we feel that you are perhaps concealing the true nature of my cervix in order to spare our feelings and the tiny shred of hope that we still have that this baby will come "anytime now." Might I suggest an alternative approach. The next time someone comes in with a cervix that doesn't show any signs of progress toward labor, be honest with the patient, but immediately follow up with an anecdotal story similar to the aforementioned. You've been in practice a long time, you must have a few. This approach not only soothes the patient, but also gives her ammunition to use when people constantly ask her about the current state of her cervix, i.e. "No, I'm not dilated yet...BUT my doctor said..." I think this approach will serve both you and your patients well. Oh, you can also tell her that her cervix is just "strong."


Very pregnantly yours (but due "anytime") , Leslie

I know this is an early post, and it might subject you to a mundane boring post later in the evening, but here are the pictures that I didn't post last night. First, my beautiful flowers that were sent to me by the best husband in the whole world.



And now for my very uncharacteristically clean office. You may notice the presence of some piles, but fear not, for each one is labeled with a sticky note. I anticipate that most, if not all, will be in the same places when I return. For those of you who may have forgotten...today is my last day in the office! From now on I work from the couch, baby! Or, I could just have a baby and take a couple of weeks off...that would be cool too...

And lastly, my baby has the hiccups. Tata!
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Every Day is Christmas When You're Pregnant!
Leslie & Jeff
Today wasn't easy, I'm not gonna lie...but, I'm also not going to complain about it anymore! So, on we go. Jeff surprised me this afternoon with a sugar cookie from Paradise Cafe and a pretty bouquet of flowers! I'm the luckiest girl in the world! I took pictures of said flowers, but unfortunately my phone is upstairs and I can't stomach the thought of walking up the stairs again. Thus, I will update this post or just add a picture after I have been upstairs for another reason.

Today, for the 4th time this week, I cleaned and organized my office before I left just in case I don't make it in tomorrow...although, who am I kidding? This girl doesn't want to go anywhere! Well, missy, you're gonna have to. You see, my feet are getting increasingly swollen at the end of each passing day. Today, Liza told me that they don't so much look like hairless Hobbit feet, but more like paddles :) And then Jeff was amazed when I was walking around barefoot in the kitchen that he could actually see the swollen tops of my feet move forward and then back (imagine a wave hitting the beach) with each step. It's really something.

Back to the office. So next week is spring break around here and a lot of people are preparing to be gone for the week (most don't know that tomorrow is my last day). What this means for me is...more presents!! One of the attorneys in the office brought us two adorable outfits and one of the paralegals that I work with a lot brought us two really cute sleepers. The best part though is that she also brought me an outfit to lounge around in! It was so thoughtful of her! And they're all bright and springy, which is nice to look forward to. So, without further ado, here is a brief baby-less fashion show!





My new outfit!




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And We Wait...
Leslie & Jeff
No matter how hard I try, I can’t convince that baby to appear. We have tried every old wive’s tale, excluding castor oil (I apologize to immediate family if that was too much information), but she just isn’t ready to appear. We know everyone anxiously waits her arrival. We even get special requests for delivery on certain dates. Trust me, if we could pick the date, we would. Nobody wants this baby more than us. Leslie and I are so excited that we are having trouble sleeping at night. It’s like the feeling you get as a kid on Christmas morning. However, we are resided to the indisputable fact that nothing but mother-nature will make this baby come into this world. If I knew the date, I would also buy a lottery ticket as clearly I would be clairvoyant. For now, just sit back and be patient with us…..as difficult as that may seem. :)
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A Day of Conditioning
Leslie & Jeff
Today has been filled with continuous Braxton Hicks contractions. They started this morning in the car on the way to work and are still going. They're usually 5-8 minutes apart and last 1-2 minutes. Although they seem to be getting a little more intense, they're not real contractions. They feel like my whole belly clinches up like a fist. No pain. I don't think Izzy likes them either...at the end of every contraction she wiggles all over in there and stretches her little legs and bony feet out into my sides. I think it must be like being inside a boa constrictor. And that's as far as I'm going to take that analogy :)

We had an early lunch today because we went and met Mom and her class at the Government Center cafeteria! The class was fresh off a tour of Conseco Fieldhouse and, after lunch, took a tour of the Statehouse. They stopped at Mound State Park in Anderson on the way home. It was such a nice day today--the weather couldn't have been better. I especially enjoyed the mini-pizzas and chocolate chip cookies that were provided for lunch :) I sure wish I could have given Mom a reason to skip the trip back to Fort Wayne, but alas, it must be nice in there.

Other than lunch with Mom, our day was pretty uneventful. Jeff went to get his hair did after work and Lisa did an awesome job as usual. I stayed and talked for a few minutes and then I decided that I should take a walk down Mass Avenue and see if I could "walk it out." It didn't work, BUT I did stop at Three Dog Bakery and got the dogs some adorable treats, which they thoroughly enjoyed. I like to think that they especially liked the Pupcakes, which looked just like cupcakes, complete with colored icing on top! Honestly it was hard not to try them on the way home!

Ooh, I didn't mention it before, but this was my third day of wearing the flats. They're the only flats that I have ever purchased! (That weren't tennis shoes, of course) They're still my normal size, except they're "wides." Hehe. Unfortunately, my feet have progressed in swelling to the point that they look like Hobbit feet--without the hair. They have no shape or contour and you can really feel the fluid under the skin on top. Kind of like those gel inserts that you put in your shoes. Exciting, huh?


Well, I apologize for the boring post tonight, but there is just nothing happening here. Donna requested some more pictures, but we can't think of anything to post pictures of :( Wouldn't it be nice if the next pictures were of baby Izzy? And were very soon? Ah, we can keep hoping...fingers crossed everyone...tomorrow is one of the proposed estimated due dates...
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Leslie & Jeff
First things first: We went to our 39th week check-up today. I gained yet another 2 lbs. Surprise. Nothing new is going on and no progress is being made. If I make it to my appointment next Tuesday then I'll go have a non-stress test to make sure the baby is still doing well in the slow cooker. If I make it to my 41st week then we'll start talking about induction. That's it for the weekly pregnancy progress report...i.e. no progress to report.

Now a break from our regularly scheduled whining about still being pregnant. Tonight I've decided to do a running commentary on American Idol for your viewing pleasure :)

Ramiele: Seriously, why is this girl still in the competition?? I mean, she really has a beautiful voice, when she hits a recognizable pitch that is, and she's pretty...but ugh. That was rough. This should be her last week. Randy is dead-on.

Jason Castro: Prelude to his performance--I just don't get this guy either...I've been around my share of dreadlocks in Bloomington and they just stink! I used to go to the gas station every morning before law school and get a "Polar Pop". One morning I was in line with my $.63 in hand and almost had to leave the line because something smelled so bad. After a minute I realized that it was the nasty dreadlocks of the guy in front. Oh so bad. For those of you who watch South Park, I hate hippies. Anyway, as for his performance...same as every week. I don't get it. I always watch him and think, whatever, and then he gets good reviews from the judges. Randy--he doesn't have the voice to do a "vocal performance." Paula--stop being so damn nice, this is the Top 10 now. Agree with Simon...time to fight it out with Ramiele to see who goes home next...

Sayesha: Wow, how does she do the baby crying sound? I should have recorded it and played it over and over...maybe it would entice baby Izzy out to claim her spot. I like this girl...she has a great voice. I don't feel like she's picked a song that really suited her yet and tonight was no exception. Still, you have to appreciate her voice...and her afro-poof, which as Sylvia can attest to, I love!

Commercial Break: Did everyone hear that Carly may be pregnant? I hope she is now that every news channel in America was commenting on how she looked like she had "picked up weight in her face." People, come on!! That's all you've got? Seriously, I heard an entire dialogue this morning to the effect of, "people typically lose weight during American Idol but she looks like she's put on weight." That's it. Unequivocal evidence that she's pregnant. She might as well have had a pink line across her forehead.

Chikezie: I like him. Doesn't he just seem like a guy you want to hang out with? And how cute are his parents?!? Just like always, he has a great voice but this wasn't my favorite performance of his. Just boring. Not my favorite but it should definitely keep him well in front of Ramiele and Jason "smelly" Castro. Paula loves everyone tonight...she's been on her happy pills...

Brooke White: Ugh. The female version of Jason Castro. Hippy. I shouldn't even comment on her because I've likely got nothing good to say. How about when you start in the wrong key? While you're playing the piano...wow...time to go home. Buh bye. Are the judges really going to ignore, or even applaud, the fact that she started wrong and had to start over?!?!

Commercial Break: Have I mentioned how much we love getting comments?? Well we do! It's so much fun to see that people actually read our blog and then comment on it! So keep on with the comments, it makes us happy :)

Michael Johns: Ooh! Queen! I like it! Usually I think that he is a little too contrived, but I like this! Reminds me of when he sang Bohemian Rapsody during his auditions. A Queen medley? I still like it!

Carly Smithson: OMG! Her mom looks just like Xena: Warrior Princess! I knew there was a reason I liked this girl! I like this song too...I just like her...chubby cheeks or not, I think she's going to be a star! I don't even care what the judges say :)

David Archuleta: Um, what is this song? I don't even know what to say. Is it just me or does this sound just like something you would hear coming out of speakers hidden in landscaping at Disney? Wow! Simon just read my mind! Or I read his...that's kind of scary...

Kristy Lee Cook: Ugh, I'm beginning to think this blog wasn't such a good idea. I think Kristy has an absolutely beautiful voice, but God Bless the USA? Really? Oh honey. Oh well. And this is just another reason that I'm not a judge on American Idol. I'm too dense...I just didn't get it...but she has a beautiful voice.

David Cook: My favorite :) I'm interested in seeing where this so-called Billie Jean goes...wow, this boy's got some lungs on him, doesn't he? I'd never think this would work, but he worked it!

I hope you found this "recess" from pregnancy talk as pleasant as I did...now everyone cross everything you have for a baby soon! :) We're having lunch with mom and her kids at the Government Center tomorrow...sure would be convenient if she was already down here...

Nighty night!
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Another Happy Birthday!
Leslie & Jeff

Happy Birthday Jason! I tried everything I could think of to have the baby on your birthday but she apparently doesn't want to share :) And, like I told you, my doctor already has one woman in labor today and would prefer if I just held off until tomorrow. Hope you have a great birthday! Wish we were there to celebrate with you!
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So now we wait...
Leslie & Jeff
Depending on the due date you use, I'm either 39 weeks tomorrow or will be 40 weeks on Thursday. I've been going by the later date, as I thought it would be easier on my psyche. Rationally I know that it doesn't really matter which date I prefer--she's not going to come out until she's good and ready. But still...I'm the kind of person who likes to be able to count down. I like to know how many miles on the interstate I have left to drive. I used to make paper chains to count down the days until Christmas. I like my paper calendar because I can *see* the days stretch out before me...and then I can cross them off, or turn the page to the next week. Of course I realize this isn't how it works with babies, and it's driving me slightly batty.


This weekend I stayed very busy and, while stiff, I felt really good. I guess I had that "burst" of energy that I have been reading about for the past couple of months (and recently told my mom that I didn't think I would ever have). I've just felt good. I've also felt a little funny, in ways that I can't really explain...it was enough to make me think (and say out loud) that I thought my body was getting ready to have a baby in a few days. Not tomorrow, mind you, but a few days. Well, today I woke up feeling like someone had hit me across the eyes with a 2x4. So much for my burst of energy. I was tired, stiff, sore, and had an awful headache. You know, when I got up the first time at 12:23 this morning, I had a headache and took some Tylenol. Then I took some more when I got up at 6:30. I just assumed it would be gone by the time I got up for work. Nope, still there. The worst part, however, was feeling completely normal again...like nothing was happening. I've been discouraged and just generally down all day. I'm just ready to have my baby, that's all.


Tomorrow we have a doctor's appointment, and for the first time, I dread going. I know what he's going to say and I'm already not happy about it. First, I will have gained 2-3 lbs. He'll tell me that my weight is up and circle it on my chart. Then he'll say to watch the sweets and watch my salt. At this late date I don't know why it really even matters anymore. Next he'll do an exmination, after which he'll say, "everything looks good." Not, mind you, "Wow, you're dialated this week!" or "You're completely effaced!" or my favorite fantasy "Don't you realize you're in labor? You need to go to the hospital immediately to have your baby!" So, even though I'm trying to prepare myself for the fact that I will have made no progress, I know I'm going to be disappointed. And then I get to go to the office and tell everyone who asks that there's no progress. If you work with me and you see me tomorrow and I don't immediately provide you with a status update report, please don't ask, it means that I have nothing to report.


Lest this sound like a big pity party for Leslie, I will point out that I am pregnant with a healthy active baby who, even now, is pushing her left foot into my side as if she's trying to break free. I'm grateful for this, I'm just getting really impatient. So is Jeff. The worst part about this is that we're both impatient and becoming irritable with each other. I know everyone says to enjoy this time together, but the truth is that we're ready for this time to be over. We're ready to meet our baby girl. But, alas, all we can do is wait...


I'll post an update tomorrow letting everyone know what the doctor doesn't say...
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Happy Birthday!
Leslie & Jeff
Yesterday was Liza's birthday!! She reported that she celebrated by successfully doing nothing all day :) Today we have a big rainbow cake in the kitchen that I will enjoy on multiple occasions in her honor!



Sorry to all of you who thought this post had something to do with another highly anticipated birthday...

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We're So Proud!
Leslie & Jeff

The following is an article published in the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal that honors six women for their contribution to the community. We're so proud to say that Jeff's sister, Kathy Ferrell, is one of the women honored! Congratulations Kathy! We're so proud of you!!

Article published Mar 22, 2008
Gilbert: 'I believe' in these six women
By LINDA GILBERT

The e-mail from a principal in response to a simple note of thanks said, "I believe in you." The words blessed my life, yet they convicted me because I cannot remember speaking those words — giving that blessing — to anyone. What a travesty! So today, permit me to say "I believe in you" to six women.

Ronni Shaw: I believe in you. I believe in your ability to expand a literacy initiative to impact thousands of lives in Rutherford County. I believe in your ability to develop a Family Literacy Center with satellite sites that will be the model for the nation — a center in which multi-generational programs will be offered, in which university pre-service teachers will have meaningful interaction with young children, in which the wisdom of senior citizens will increase the success of youth — a center in which the power of poverty will be overcome by the power of knowledge.

Ruth Ventrice: I believe in you. I believe in your ability to change the lives of young children and their families. I believe in your ability to build a network of parents who will support each other, will model developmentally appropriate practices, and will build physically safe and emotionally sound home environments across Rutherford County — a network in which open communication, trust, gentleness, and love reign ... and children thrive.

Kathy Ferrell: I believe in you. I believe in your ability to create hope for citizens whom we choose not to see, but whom you choose to serve. I believe in your ability to awaken the potential of this community to create a safety net for the disenfranchised among us — those who need to acquire employment skills, to complete educational requirements, to enter the job market — a safety net that will compel the blessed among us to minister to the broken among us, enabling success for all.

Lisa Terry and Leslie Akins: I believe in you. I believe in your ability to focus this county's diverse medical agencies and professionals on the wellness of children and the workplace. I believe that your perfect combination of unequaled energy, perseverance, and leadership will open our eyes to the truth that children and adults cannot do their best when their health is at risk — and will help each of us see how we can act on that truth in our own circles of influence.

Mary Schneider: I believe in you. I believe in your ability to help adolescents set goals to reach limitless possibilities. I believe in your stamina, your persistence, your unassuming manner, and your professional expertise that will allow you to grow the addiction prevention and intervention services in this county until there are places where children and youth can find immediate, effective help for their needs — and the beauty of life can once again be grasped.

Ronni Shaw, Ruth Ventrice, Kathy Ferrell, Lisa Terry, Leslie Akins, and Mary Schneider. Six women who deserve to hear "I believe in you" as they change the lives of children and adults in Rutherford County. Six women who remind us that each person we meet may have untapped knowledge, strengths, and talents that can change the world if only we will say to them, "I believe in you."
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Happy Easter!
Leslie & Jeff
Isabella's First Piece of Original Art!

Uncle Ashles came up for a visit yesterday afternoon, and we had so much fun! He brought us a beautiful canvas painting that we hung above Izzy's crib (see above)--We LOVE it! Thanks Ashles!

We've had a very busy baby-less weekend. We really were hoping that she would make her appearance on Good, or as Liza says, Awesome Friday, but that just didn't happen. Apparently she's just not ready. Saturday morning Jeff and I went out and cleaned and vacuumed the furniture that we used to have in the basement, and in the afternoon a nice young couple came and bought it--yeah for Craigslist and money for savings!! Unfortunately we also had a little incident that has marred our weekend. The couple was supposed to come around 2 pm to see the furniture so Jeff got in the shower (I was coincidentally getting ready to go to a shower) at around 1:15. Imagine my surprise when a cute young couple pulled up in front of the house at 1:25, right after Jeff got out of the shower! Not a problem, but we had an extra 12 legs and about 200 lbs of dog running around the house at the time! Jeff got dressed and we tried to wrestle the dogs into the bedroom so the couple wouldn't be accosted. Unfortunately said dogs had already seen nice young couple outside and really wanted to accost them. In a nice way, of course. Jeff tried in vain to airlift Nemo into the bedroom, and in doing so felt his back *pop*. He hasn't been able to walk normally since. After the couple left, we immediately got him situated on the couch with the remote control and LOTS of Ibuprofen. I then left (late, as always) for the baby shower.


Before I went to the shower, I had to stop at my favorite place in recent months--Babies R Us. It's also Jeff's and my dad's favorite place...ha :) Anywho, it is my custom to wait until the morning of a baby shower to shop for a gift, so off I went. I got the first gift relatively easily, but I also wanted to get Stephanie (mom-to-be) an outfit for her little one, so off I went into the sea of "oooh, that's soooo cute!" I found the cutest litttle denim sundress and onesie that I really wanted to get. Unfortunately, I didn't think they had the right size. After about 10 minutes I remembered that Stephanie is having a boy. Oops. I've apparently gotten so used to looking at baby girl clothes that I forgot that they come in different varieties. Anywho, future embarassment avoided, I found a cute little boy jumper, gift bag, tissue paper, and card, and off to the shower I went! The shower was very nice, and Stephanie's friends and family are great. They're all so excited about little Layne Walters! One of Steph's friends brought her 3-week old baby who was absolutely adorable! Side note, this was her 5th baby and she didn't even look like she'd had one--it gave me hope for the future of my body :) Back to the baby...I wish I had taken a picture of the baby (her name was Isabelle)--she had a full head of brown hair! It didn't look like baby hair at all! It made me giggle--I have never seen a baby with hair like that except I had a dream a few weeks ago that our baby had hair just like that! So cute! :)

After the shower I zoomed home to meet Ash. He got to the house just a few minutes before I did and Jeff gave him the grand tour--he's never seen the house before! He presented us with our beautiful painting and we headed off to Cancun Mexican Restaurant for dinner. One yummy chimichanga and a bazillion chips later we headed back home. Ash stayed and hung out with us until late--we had so much fun! Jeff had to return to his supine position on the couch but Ash and I put the basinette attachment on the Pack and Play. An illustration:

Ash and I found that this thing "assembled" very much like Mom and Dad's pop-up camper :) Lot's of canvas and snaps. While we were eventually triumphant, it wasn't easy. After Ash left, I got ready for bed (it was past my bedtime) and Jeff ran (well, drove, I told you he hurt his back) to the drugstore for a heating pad. He came back with a heating pad and an Easter Basket full of candy for ME!! It was so sweet :) He made me feel so special and even got me a Happy Easter card! I'm a lucky girl...


I woke up this morning instantly aware that I was still pregnant. No Easter baby I'm afraid. I also made the executive decision rather quickly that since the next week or two are likely to be very busy and stressful, that I should stay in bed as long as possible to get some rest. I only lasted until about 9:45, but that was good enough. My body is stiff and a little sore in weird places, but I actually feel pretty good. I think I may actually be having that "burst of energy" that I keep reading about online. Jeff and I went to the grocery store and then grilled hamburgers out on the grill. We had a great lunch! During the lunch prep we talked about the fact that this may be our last weekend together "just us". It's hard to believe, but we're both ready :) Since lunch I've painted my nails (so glad I got that manicure on Friday that didn't "take"), taken a shower, cleaned the kitchen, and opened the breast pump. It was just a matter of time before I broke the seal on the box--once you open it you can't take it back. It's been driving me crazy for weeks that I couldn't look inside the box of something I bought!! After talking to the mom's yesterday who said I'd want to take it to the hospital with me and know how to use it, I had the validation I needed :) It wasn't that exciting, really, but now's it's open and I'm committed to at least trying it.

Not surprisingly, Jeff has been glued to the tv the past week watching basketball. Big congrats to Mom and Dad's alma mater Western Kentucky University for making it to the Sweet 16! Go Hilltoppers! I've been crocheting (not knitting as Jeff wrote) a baby blanket. I finished a cross-stitch for her room a couple of weeks ago and needed something else to work on. Those of you who know me well know that I thoroughly enjoy things that keep my hands busy while I'm free to think about other things. I'm not good at thinking up patterns, but I'm really good at following them. My mom will tell you that I'm not very good at finishing projects (except baby blankets and afghans for my friends), but it's the process I enjoy, not necessarily having a finished product. I reason that if I get a few weeks of enjoyment from the cost of a cross-stitch kit or some yarn, it was well worth it. Anywho, because it was a project for my baby, I had no problem finishing this cross-stitch. I'm going to add her birth date (hopefully soon!) and weight (hopefully small to normal!) and then frame it for her room.


I just got an email from Mom saying that if I wasn't going to post a picture of Ash's painting on my blog that I needed to email her one...well, Ms. Impatient, I'm working on it! :) Oh, and thanks for the new outfit for Izzy that I opened yesterday :)



That's it for today! Hope that you all hear from us soon :)

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11 Days to Go!
Leslie & Jeff
Does everyone see that? 11 days...I wish Izzy could have a little periscope or telescope (perhaps out of my belly button, which is weird-looking anyway) so she could see that...of course I'm not sure she could "read" it, but still. I'd like her to stay focused and on target...
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They say your feet "grow" 1/2 during pregnancy...
Leslie & Jeff
I gave it my best shot...I really did, but today marked the last day of wearing 3-inch heels to work. It was okay when my feet and ankles ballooned up only in the evenings, but for the past 2 days it has become more and more uncomfortable to get my shoes on in the morning. That I see as a problem. The final gasp for the one pair of shoes that I still wear regularly was this morning, when I squeezed my sausage feet into them and the only way my right foot would "fit" was if the last 3 toes were curled under. Come on. Really? I actually thought to myself, and told Jeff, that I thought the tightness of the shoes would make the swelling go down...like compression hose are supposed to help, right? Right. So, we bickered as he ran around the house looking for my missing tennis shoes, which is fine because I refused to wear them to Federal Court with my maternity suit and black tights. Part of me would be tempted to put that ensemble on and take a picture to post so you could all see it, laugh at it, and agree with me that I made the correct choice :) But alas, I changed into my comfy pants, t-shirt, and slippers in one swift continuous motion as soon as I could so you'll just have to imagine the aforementioned ensemble, laugh, and agree with me :)
On a good note, at around lunchtime today baby Izzy has twirled herself back so she's facing the right, which is my preferred orientation for her. Jeff and I were sitting at lunch and all of the sudden, there was her little foot jabbing out of my right side! Hello little foot! I've missed you! For some reason, as I've mentioned, I just can't feel her well when she's facing to the left. When she cooperates with me (hehe) and faces to the right, I can pretty much feel her all of the time, which I find very reassuring.
Right along with the reorientation came a vigorous round of "conditioning" that has yet to stop. I'm just fake contracting all over this couch! Come on everyone, fingers still crossed?
Jeff and I left work around 5 pm today so that we could find me some new larger, flatter shoes. Thanks to a trip to Kohl's, we found a pair of black flats in an 8.5 wide...which is only fitting. Yeah for jeans and tennis shoes day tomorrow (oh yeah and it's Friday...and the full moon...yeah, I know I'm totally jinxing this, but I have no remaining self-control). Speaking of self-control, it's 8:30 pm, time for me to go to the bathroom. :)
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A day in the life
Leslie & Jeff
I was chastised by Leslie for being too serious in my last post, so I shall lighten the mood and share a day in our life at 38 weeks and counting....

6:00 am: Bathroom for Leslie
6:45 am: Bathroom for Leslie
7:30 am: Protest from Leslie as I suggest it is time to rise and shine
7:45 am: Leslie requests that we cuddle for five minutes and then she will get up. Truth is she doesnt care about cuddling, she cares about staying in bed.
7:50 am: Bathroom for Leslie
8:30 am: Leave house for work. Giggle to myself that my wife is 38 weeks pregnant, but damn it, she is going to wear heels.
8:35 am: Listen to Leslie eat her morning bagel while asking me if I think she will go into labor today (guys, ever wonder why women ask us when they will go into labor? Apparently, pregnancy of one's wife is suppose to generate an instant knowledge in medicine.)
8:50 am: Arrive at work and bathroom for Leslie
9:15 am: Leslie sends email announcing number of hits to blog....she is very excited.
9:45 am: Bathroom for Leslie
10:15 am: Leslie begins inquiring as whether it is time for lunch. Apparently our child, not Leslie, has a heck of an appetite and shouldnt be denied.
10:30 am: Bathroom for Leslie
11:00 am: Leslie declares that she is starving and if we dont go to eat soon, she is going to die(ever notice how pregnant women exaggerate sometimes) :)
11:15 am: Bathroom for Leslie
11:45 am: Lunchtime. On way to lunch, Leslie declares that "clearly, I am never going into labor"
12:45 pm: Bathroom for Leslie
1:15 pm: Leslie declares that she needs some form a sugar and goes on a hunt around the office. I swear that pregnant women develop a sixth sense during pregnancy that can track chocolate!
1:45 pm: Bathroom for Leslie.
1:47 pm: Bathroom for Leslie. Apparently our child thinks it is a game to push on mommy's bladder.
2:30 pm: Exhaustion for Leslie. I think the exhaustion may be a combination of pregnancy and coming down off of sugar high!
2:45 pm: Bathroom for Leslie.
3:15 pm: Leslie declares that her braxton hicks contractions are increasing. She believes it is connected to some type of herbal tea that she is drinking. Apparently it is supposed to induce labor, yet Isabella isnt here yet. Hmmm...............
3:45 pm: Bathroom for Leslie
4:15 pm: Leslie emails me and asks what I am doing. Rather than a question, this is actually a subtle request that we consider leaving in an hour or so.
4:45 pm: Bathroom for Leslie
5:30 pm: Bathroom for Leslie.
5:35 pm: After declaring it is hot in the office, Leslie informs me it is time to leave
6:00 pm: Arrive home and bathroom for Leslie
6:05 pm: Time for dinner. Leslie is famished by this time so everything sounds good. She can't decide.
6:07 pm: Bathroom for Leslie
6:15 pm: Dinner selection is made.
6:45 pm: Eat dinner.
6:47 pm: Bathroom for Leslie
6:50 pm: Leslie makes comment that she is never going to have the baby......throws her arms up in air in frustration.
6:55 pm: Leslie sits down and begins knitting. She is dead set on finishing a blanket for the baby before the big day. Makes comment that blanket may never be used because she is never going into labor.
7:15 pm: Bathroom for Leslie
7:18 pm: Leslie resumes knitting
8:45 pm: Bathroom for Leslie
9:00 pm: Leslie's mom calls to discuss days events (I think it is because she is hoping that one time she will call and we will tell her the big day has arrived) :)
9:22 pm: Leslie declares she is tired and it is time for bed.
9:45 pm: After going to the bathroom and struggling to put on her pajamas, she goes to bed
9:47 pm: I giggle to myself as I watch Leslie try to get comfortable. I can't help it, it is adorable.
9:56 pm: Bathroom for Leslie
10:00 pm: Leslie returns to bed....almost curses our child because of the bladder prank described above.
10:02 pm: Leslie contorts her body in way that leaves me 20 inches of bed space. I dont complain though, I cant imagine how uncomfortable she must be at this point
10:05 pm: I admire my wife's creative pillow fort she has built to provide comfort. If I didnt know better I would assume it is a nest.
10:30 pm: Leslie begins to snore. Poor thing, her nose is so clogged because of the pregnancy, she has to breathe through her mouth.
10:35 pm: I fall asleep.
10:36pm-6:00 am: Leslie makes multiple trips to bathroom which sometimes includes a trip to the kitchen for a cookie.
6:00 am: It all starts over!

Guys, you have to love pregnant women they are endearing!
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Baby Facing Left
Leslie & Jeff
So yesterday and today Izzy has turned so that she's facing my left side. That's fine with me...I like to think that she's moving around in circles, like a corkscrew if you will...just working her way towards the light :) Don't think about that statement too hard, I don't think it's an image you want in your head...in fact, we should just move on. So she's facing left. It's weird when she faces left, I can't really feel her as much--almost like she has more room to maneuver. When she faces the right, I can feel all her little bony parts sticking out all the time. Right now I can feel what seems like a foot and her little butt on the right side :) Oh, I didn't mention that I can feel her head pushing into my bladder, but that's nothing new! Other than that, no real activity. I find solace in the fact that my mom didn't have any activity until she was actually in labor. Thus, I have renewed hope that every day could be the day.

For your viewing pleasure, I've decided to post some pictures of me at various stages of the pregnancy. Please make sure to only focus on the growing size of my belly and not at the increasing size of various other body parts, like another chin, bigger cheeks, etc. :) Just for a reference point, we think I got pregnant right around July 5, 2007.
This was taken at IU during the weekend of September 29th, when Geoff and Mark came to see me and my belly. Those were my first pair of maternity jeans--they won't even go on one leg now...and look at that belly! I thought I was showing! Ha! Looks like I had a beer or two too many or shoulda skipped that third burrito...

This picture was taken at my dad's request on Thanksgiving. Again, look at that belly...it's huge, isn't it? Haha...if I only knew...

This picture was taken Christmas day--after we had opened all the presents under the tree :) Look at that tree! Okay, this is where to need to remember to focus on the expanding belly...nothing else...you can notice that Jeff looks cute though :)


I wouldn't normally post this picture, but I couldn't find any pictures on my computer from the wedding, but this was taken the day after...so only a few days after the Christmas pic on December 30th.
This is the most recent picture and was taken on February 16th. Please note that, unlike now, I am still able to cross my legs and my belly is not actually resting on my lap. Hope you enjoyed the pictures! Fingers still crossed for a Good Friday/Full Moon baby :)
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38 Weeks...Still in There!
Leslie & Jeff
Today marked the beginning of our 38th week of pregnancy. As I scramble around work trying to make sure things are taken care of before I "leave," it's really hard to believe it's that time already. Since I started at the firm, I've been working on a multi-million dollar (hopefully) securities fraud case. I'm meeting with the partner on the case tomorrow all day to get things organized for my absence. It's really hard for me to imagine just walking away from the case that I've worked on consistently for ten months, knowing that I'm leaving the partner with a lot of work and preparation in the upcoming couple of months. Plus, I officially announced that, baby or no, next Friday will be my last day until the beginning of June. I'm honestly at the point now where I need to be wrapping things up to ensure that I don't leave any loose ends, and knowing when my last official day at the office is helps that...plus I'm just tired. :)

On other news, Jeff and I had an unexpected trip to the doctor today. Usually my weekly appointments take place on Friday, but today after I got out of the shower I was nervous that my water had broken or I was leaking amniotic fluid. I won't go into detail because, really, who needs or wants to know those kinds of details? Anywho, so I call the doctor to ask him (really just to get his reassurance, as I didn't think that anything was really happening) and he said to hurry up and come in so he could "check me" before he went into surgery at 10 am. Well, that would be all well and good, but I had a couple of hearings that I needed to go to at 9...so I called Liza at work and she agreed to handle them for me even though she had never done them before!! (Yeah Liza! You rock!) So off we went to the doctor's office. By this time nothing was happening and I was pretty sure that it was nothing. Needless to say, after my always pleasant examination, it was nothing. So now we don't go to the doctor until next Tuesday. Of course, everyone is supposed to be hoping/praying that Izzy decides to make her appearance during the full moon this Friday night, which would mean that I just went to my last prenatal doctor's appointment :) Keep those fingers crossed people!

Ooh, I'm afraid it's time to watch American Idol! I'm cheering for David Cook and Carly Smithson :) Oh, and everyone, if you can find the time, please leave a comment for my husband about his post yesterday--he worked very hard on it and needs some positive feedback! :) xoxo
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Daddy's turn
Leslie & Jeff
“All of us might wish at times that we lived in a more tranquil world, but we don't. And if our times are difficult and perplexing, so are they challenging and filled with opportunity.”


As Leslie and I flip through the channels, we are bombarded with an endless cycle of National Enquirer deserving “news”. Did Barack Obama ever attend a service during which Jeremiah Wright callously challenged the greatness of America? Is Hillary Clinton orchestrating an attack on Barack Obama that preys on society’s ingrained racial fears? Did John McCain actually cast a vote that was favorable for a lobbyist who was also his lover? In between these “important” questions, news reports flash that another soldier is dead in Iraq, a suicide bomber has attacked a Jewish synagogue, Elliot Spitzer cheated on his wife, and my personal favorite, a woman lived on a toilet for two years because she didn’t want to come out of the closet, I mean bathroom. If the news is too much, we discovered that you can also turn to network television and watch a “reality” show in which a woman tells her husband that she is cheating on him. Her come to jesus moment wasn’t because she felt guilty, it was so she could win money.

And so goes our country and world. Standing at the precipice of fatherhood, it concerns me that the reality that is the world in which we live seems to be crumbling into chaos. How can I be a successful father and raise a child to thrive in today’s environment? How can my beautiful soon-to-be-born daughter (her mother would prefer sooner than later) be thrown into this wild world? How can I protect her? These are the questions that I now face and ponder as fatherhood approaches.

Which brings me to the Bobby Kennedy quote: “All of us might wish at times that we lived in a more tranquil world, but we don't. And if our times are difficult and perplexing, so are they challenging and filled with opportunity.” I realized last night that Isabella’s pallet is clean. She has no expectations, she is not cynical. I have been given the honor of introducing Isabella to the endless opportunities she will have in life to truly make a difference. Isabella, the world awaits you. (and your momma really, really awaits you as your foot in her rib is getting a little old)

I wonder if Leslie regrets letting me loose on the blog as this is probably a little too esoteric.
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Swollen Feet
Leslie & Jeff


Today I feel really pregnant...and I'm tired of being really pregnant. Yesterday Mom and Dad came down in the afternoon to help out a little more around the house and also to see Ash's winter percussion ensemble at State Finals. Mom and I cleaned the house while the guys put a new outlet down in the basement and put the rail up on the stairway so my top-heavy self won't fall over. After a couple of hours working around the house, we all cleaned up and went to Ben Davis High School to see Northview's percussion ensemble perform. Unfortunately the competition was in the school gym and Ash's group performed second to last...which meant that we had to sit on the hard bleachers for over an hour. By the time Ash's group finished performing, I was stiff and my hands and feet were swollen. I did, however, get to see a lot of people that I used to teach marching band with, which is always nice. And, Ash's group was great! I haven't heard yet how they finished, but I will post when I hear.

Today Jeff and I got up and had breakfast at a local deli down the street. I had pancakes and eggs...yumm...but I don't think I'll need to eat again until dinner! After breakfast, we went to Lowe's to get some blinds for the big window in our living room and then to the grocery store to stock up for the week. Izzy is very busy today. Yesterday she had herself turned around facing the left and wasn't very active. Today she's flipped back around to the right and I can feel her little bony parts stretching and pushing...I've given up trying to identify them, but they feel like little feet! Jeff has been busy since we've been home, fixing the tile in the kitchen, stripping the paint on the trim around the big window, and putting the blinds up. What am I doing you ask? Nothing. My worn out self is sitting on the new couch in the basement with my swollen feet soaking in a home foot spa watching tv. I feel slightly guilty about not doing anything to help Jeff, but I know that if I'm going to make it through the week of work I need to rest.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the checkout woman at the grocery store asked me how much longer I had to go and I told her 3 weeks...she then looked at me incredulously and made some comment about how she didn't think I would go that long. I smiled politely but I wanted to jump over the counter and strangle her. I mean really, I know she meant well, but do people really think it helps me, a woman who is clearly big and miserable, to point out how big and miserable I look? I would LOVE to have this baby early, but I "officially" have three weeks left, and I'm sure not counting on having her early. So please, the next time you see a very pregnant, miserable woman waddling around in public, say something nice like how good she looks or how excited she must be...DO NOT point out how she looks like she was due 2 months ago or repeatedly tell her how miserable she must be...
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Ahh...Massage
Leslie & Jeff
For Christmas, Jeff found someone who would come to our house and give me prenatal massages. Yvette, our wonderfully talented massage therapist came out this morning and gave both me and Jeff a massage. He's getting his right now...I think he's drooling on the massage table...in fact, I told him not to. Speaking of drooling, I'm having some kind of drooling issue lately. Every time I wake up during the middle of the night I'm laying in a pool of drool! We'll just take that as a sign that labor is near :) Anyway, I took one picture of Jeff getting massaged...if he wasn't mostly naked under a sheet with a near-stranger in the room he probably would have forcefully prevented me from taking it...

When I look at other blogs, I really like to look at the pictures, so I'm going to post lot's of pictures for our friends and family to enjoy! Recently, Jeff and my dad worked really hard and completely redid the bathroom. They put up crown molding, new baseboards, prepped/painted the walls and trim, and put up new blinds. We also had new tile installed at the same time the new carpet was installed in the basement (after the flood of '08).


















Last weekend was Jeff's 33rd birthday, so we celebrated by doing nothing :) But, he did get a new tool chest for his birthday! It only took us about 8 combined hours to put it together...







Oh! I almost forgot to put a picture of our new sectional in the basement! It's soooo nice...there will now be plenty of room for everyone to sit and sleep (it has a pull-out mattress) when we have visitors :)

We even have a place for Isabella to hang out in the basement!


And finally, just because he's cute, a picture of Pickle :)

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Weekly Doctor's Appointment
Leslie & Jeff
No Change. Yup, that's what he said. Not that I really expected there to be any change, but one can always hope...especially with all of the "conditioning" I've been doing lately! I won't lie, I was pretty disappointed by the time we got to work. Add to that the comments that I get all day, the ones that all pregnant women know and can repeat I'm sure, and I was ready to get home this afternoon! Jeff and I left around 4, came home, and each took a position on our new sectional and took a nap. It was nice!

Since I don't really have any exciting news to share, I took some more pictures of the nursery to post for your viewing pleasure!




Thanks to Jeff's parents and Kathy and Jason for the perfect rocking chair! My Nanny crocheted the afghan for me that is hanging on the back. I can't wait to snuggle up with Isabella in the chair!





Isabella's Wardrobe! Not bad for someone not even born yet! :)

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37 Weeks...The End of the Beginning
Leslie & Jeff

Motivated perhaps by the desire to have others share in the "joy" of my last, seemingly unending weeks of pregnancy, Jeff suggested that I start a blog for our friends and family. Seeing as how I've spent an inordinate amount of time lately Googling "[insert number] weeks pregnant blog" looking for others to commiserate with, this sounded like a great idea to me! So here we are...our first blog.

It has been a very busy 37 weeks for us and it seems almost impossible that my time being pregnant is coming to an end. Of course, it would be absolutely impossible for me to continue being pregnant for another 37 weeks! :) In the last few months, we have worked tirelessly on the house, completely remodeling the guest bedroom and turning it into the most adorable nursery, remodeling the bathroom, recarpeting the basement (thanks to the incident with the sump pump...), and, according to Jeff, collecting all of the pink and purple baby clothes in Indiana. Oh yeah, and we've been attending to our day jobs as well!

As I sit here writing this, I'm having continuous Braxton Hicks contractions. Jeff likes to call them "fake" contractions. In reality, they're "practice" contractions...thus, I consider myself (and my uterus) to be in conditioning. Heavy conditioning. We have a doctor's appointment in the morning but have completely given up on getting any "hope" of an impending labor from our doctor. Last week he said, and I quote, "Getting bigger!" That's it. Thanks doc, that's the one thing I didn't need you to tell me! Now, if I had been pregnant in a vacuum rather than pregnant with nearly all of my friends of childbearing age, I might not think anything of my doctor's vagueness. But alas, for months I've been hearing status updates from my pregnant-no-more friends after they go to their doctors such as, "I'm 50% effaced," or "the baby weighs ____ lbs." Nope not us...we hear "getting bigger!"

So, on we go...living week to week...waiting for our weekly pregnancy updates from babycenter.com. Thanks everyone for checking out our blog! We'll try to update it often in the next few weeks, complete with pictures of the home renovations, nursery, and eventually baby! We'll probably throw in some pictures of us and the four-leggers occasionally as well :)
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