Parenting Practice

This morning during breakfast, Remi went digging in his dirt. Upon his return to the house Travis actually stood in the doorway and tried to tell Remi to clean his paws before he could come in. This may shock you, but Remi evaded Travis' reach and acted like he didn't understand a word Travis said. Lets hope either Travis improves his technique or our daughter listens better than Remi.

Work in Progress

I plan on working on the layout of my blog this week so please excuse the mess while it is under construction = )

Our Furniture has Arrived!

We got the call yesterday afternoon from Baby Furniture & Accessories that our crib and dresser had come in! They are now safely stored in our garage until we are able to remove the massive desk and hutch that are currently residing in our baby's nursery. Hopefully we can have a furniture moving party this weekend and enlist the help of a few strong men...ok, we aren't picky...weak able-bodied men would work. Just not pregnant women = )

Our little girl's wardrobe has officially doubled in size! I can't wait to post a picture of some of her new gifts!

And tonight is Travis' last softball game of the season. I think the boys are excited to be done but I'll miss my time in the bleachers with the ladies!

Weekend Recap

Whew, this was one exhausting weekend! Every summer Travis' firm has a Matanza (Pig Roast). Travis is on the pig roasting crew - ie. four guys from the firm spend the night checking the temperature of the pit every 30 minutes. Don't worry, there is some beer involved and a traditional 3am run to the Waffle House for nourishment and caffeine! The Matanza event basically lasts from 6pm Friday until 9pm Saturday (although this pregnant lady definitely came home for a full night's sleep). The food was delicious and the desserts were plentiful!

Sunday was reserved for REGISTERING! Travis and I made it to Target, Babies R Us, and completed our Restoration Hardware Baby & Child registry online. Travis was a trooper and made it thru all three registries, although we basically just hit up big items. I'll be going back with a couple of friends who have little ones already so that they can pass on their sage advice as we scan away on necessities! We even have a game plan in place now for painting the nursery...I can't wait to get started!!!

Baby Belly - 20 Weeks

Baby is now the size of a Cantaloupe! She gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid. Time to start thinking about what I'd like our future daughter to eat as I prepare my own lunch = ) We are going to have one little girl addicted to cereal, fruit, and eggs on toast!

Baby Pool

The following email was sent out to the entire Sutin Firm yesterday by one of the partners in Trav's group...Hilarious = )

Subject - Guess the Weight

Many of you know that our own Travis Remington Steele and his wife Beth are having a baby later this year. Come closest to guessing the birth weight of the baby and win a big cash prize. Here's how:

1. Give me $5
2. Pick a birth weight from the chart on my door and put your initials in the box corresponding to that weight.
3. Repeat

*Rules:
Only one person may pick a weight.
Only weights on the chart may be picked.
If the actual birth weight is not on the chart, or is on the chart but not picked, Beth gets everything (see below).
Half the pot goes to the winner, the other half goes to Beth (she does not have to share with Travis). But see above.

*If when you give me your $5, you correctly guess my weight (clothed, that day, but with only one boot on), you can have 2 picks for $5. One guess per $5. I will not stand, turn, or otherwise display myself in connection with your guess.

Beth's notes:
Travis' middle name is not Remington.
Three people immediately guessed Andrew's correct weight and he removed that exception!
10 lbs 2 oz is apparently a highly coveted guess...ouch!

Profile

I have a picture of a much better profile shot but I guess it didn't get downloaded on our DVD. This one will have to do for now = )

Extended Leg

She's already more flexible than I am! And check out that perfect little foot...Travis said she's already a size 8!

148 Beats Per Minute

Two Feet

SUGAR AND SPICE.....

....and everything nice.... that's what little GIRLS are made of!

And that's what this baby is!

Video and details to come tomorrow, but off now to celebrate our SWEET BABY GIRL!

Happy G-Day!!!

For G-Day Eve we rec'd the green Hugga-Bebe above from Joyce & Steve! Super cute, super soft and it allows our little one (once we hit 4 mths) to experience comfort and security while playing in activity centers, jumpers, walkers, and park swings. I absolutely cannot wait to put the Hugga-Bebe to use! (And I think Aly will enjoy the spelling b/c she calls our little one Bebe)

We have camera, DVD, insurance card, and my outfit of course all ready to go for this afternoon. Bring on the ultrasound! Everyone send out a little prayer that baby cooperates front and center = )

G-Day Eve

Just one day away from the big reveal! We have a date to go buy a DVD today so that we can record the ultrasound (hopefully the little mango is accommodating). Joyce and Steve are already in town and my Mom gets in tomorrow around noon! We also have a celebratory game plan in place...if we find out we're having a girl we are going to go celebrate at Sandiago's (restaurant at the base of the tram in the Sandia Mountains - delicious fish tacos for me) and if we find out we're having a boy we are going to Independence Grill (a new find where I can get my fill of fantastic sweet potato fries). Celebrations are now focused around food instead of a delicious margarita, haha!

My new book came in - Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood - and although I'm only about 25 pages in I am loving it. All I've been reading are pregnancy books so its nice to finally have a book that goes over what we'll need, what we'll want, and what is not necessary! Don't worry future Moms...I'll be passing this one on = ) And Steve came into town bearing a very Grampa Steve kind of gift - Rockabye Baby, Lullaby Renditions of the Eagles. Now our baby will be jamming out to some classics and some classical! We'll have some peaceful, easy sleeping to Hotel California, Desperado, all of the best of the Eagles!

Only in ABQ this past weekend

We went to a bar for dinner and the table next to us was a full on Harley Biker crew decked out from head to toe (yes, we're talking long beards...the works) drinking Zinfandel and eating salads. Quite the paradox = )

We went to see Funny People and the ABQ crowd gave the biggest laugh of the movie to Ray Romano's cameo...everyone in NM DOES love Raymond!

Baby Belly - 19 Weeks

Baby is now the size of a Mango! This week's 'how big is baby' information isn't quite as cute as usual, but I did learn something new so I think I'll go ahead and post it = ) Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil, and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense). I have definitely seen the vernix on 'A Baby Story' so I now know what the white stuff they rub off the newborn baby is!

This week's pregnancy checklist item: research public and private cord blood banking. Time to do some research.

Thanks for the spell check Dad!