A Mother's Day Gift...

I received an early Mother's Day gift from Baby...

This evening, Ray and I were in the car on the way home from dinner. We were chit chatting about nothing in particular. Then, I was interrupted, mid-sentence, by a tiny little 'thump' from the inside. I was shocked and thrilled. Ray looked at me with a bit of confusion and concern. My face was beaming when I told him what I felt....THE BABY!!! Tonight, the evening before my first Mother's Day, at 18 weeks and 2 days, I felt for the first time the tiny life thriving within my belly. How amazing!! I can't wait to feel it again, and how exciting it will be when the kicks and bumps are strong enough for Ray to feel!

Some of you might be shocked to see how big my belly is getting already!! Here are some pics we took last weekend, but I must admit, its grown a bit in the past week.

GOODNIGHT NOLA

We arrived back in NOLA late Sunday night to find a package sitting on our front steps. And inside was something very special, our first book to read to Baby Jarvis!! I’m sure many of you remember reading Goodnight Moon when you were a child. And I’m sure many of you have read it to your children. Well, some dear friends of ours, Nicole and Chris Hill, sent us a copy of Goodnight Nola. It is adorable! Goodnight Nola is a variation on Goodnight Moon, talking about and illustrating all of the things that make ‘The Big Easy’ so special! What an amazing keepsake! As many of you know, Ray and I plan on moving away from New Orleans late next spring after his graduation. So, I am looking forward to reading this special book to our little one and telling him/her all about where their life started.

CRAVINGS...

Everyone is quite amazed that I haven’t begun getting crazy cravings. Oh, I’m sure the cravings will come. It seems inevitable. Before we know it, I’ll be sending Ray on midnight runs all over town.

I did find on a trip to the grocery store this past weekend that the produce section had quite the hold on me. Whole Foods had just sprinkled the produce. I was drawn to the gorgeous colors of the fruits and veggies and the smells were AMAZING. So I stocked up on carrots, apples, grapefruit, corn, and strawberries. I’ve been indulging in these ever since. Nothing beats organic, locally grown produce!

Of course most people don’t consider these as ‘cravings’. Pregnancy Cravings are supposed to be somewhat odd…egg sandwiches with pickles, peanut butter on oranges, maybe even dirt. Or maybe an indulgent you wouldn’t normally allow yourself…cupcakes, M&Ms, strawberry shortcake, thin mints (I must admit I’ve eaten 2 1/2 boxes over the past 3 weeks, but that’s not out of the ordinary for me during ‘girl scout season’).

If I really think about it, maybe I have had a few minor cravings that I can blame on the growing baby and raging hormones…last Wednesday, all I could think about was movie theater popcorn, smothered in butter. So, I drug my hubby to the movie and enjoyed a LARGE bucket or greasy popcorn…HEAVEN. On another afternoon, someone walked into my office with a peppermint in her mouth. I soon as I heard the clacking of the mint against her teeth, I lost all focus and could only think of one thing…LEMON DROPS!! I’ve yet to find a bag of lemon drops here in New Orleans, so this little craving is still festering inside me.

I’d love to hear what other mothers craved during pregnancy. So, if you remember a random something yummy (or not so yummy) that you craved while you were preggers, leave it in the Comments section. Husbands, you may remember your wife’s crazy cravings better than she does…you’re welcome to leave a comment too!

BABY'S FIRST EASTER...

We spent Easter weekend in Shreveport. With my parents out of town and my sister working in the Labor & Delivery Unit all weekend, we spent most of the weekend resting, relaxing, and, of course, babysitting Braylin!! We kept Braylin all day Friday, and, boy, was it fun!! We learned a few things…

A) It really is possible to sit and stare at a baby for hours on end, even while he or she is sleeping. Looking at that beautiful porcelain face makes it impossible to doubt our God.
B) Burping a baby is an acquired skill. Ray is already a master at this. I, on the other hand, need a bit of practice.
C) Doggies and Babies get along just fine. As long as you allow lots and lots of sniffing.

Baby Jarvis had a nice surprise Easter Sunday morning. My mom and dad left a little treat from the Easter Bunny for their little unborn grandchild. A Chick Basket full of fun little goodies…a itty-bitty baby blanket, a BooBoo Baby Ice Pak, Baby Einstein and more!! No doubt about it, between Baby’s parents and all four grandparents, this child is going to be spoiled!

BABY GET READY...YOU'RE GONNA BE RIDIN' IN STYLE

So Ray and I made the first of many BIG purchases. We went looking for baby furniture and came home with a travel system!! We had already narrowed down our options and we had just about decided that we would go with a Peg Perego, Pliko P3. When we walked in Baby & Me in Mandeville and saw that the entire Perego collection was on SALE, I figured it was fate. So, we ran the card, signed the receipt, crammed 2 HUGE boxes in the trunk of my car, and headed on back to NOLA.

We (meaning Ray) spent the evening assembling the system. And it was at this point that Buster realized that life in our house will no longer be the same. He spent a good 20 minutes staring at the monstrosity. Then, Buster did everything in his power to get Ray and I to play with him, rather than our new contraption. Once the wheels were in place and the sun shield attached, we decided to test it out. We gave Buster a little ride around the house.

We LOVE it!! Can hardly wait to have little Baby Jarvis placed safely inside!!

13 WEEKS & 3 DAYS

Baby and I are just moving right along. We were recently thrilled to receive 2 very special care packages in the mail.

Gammie (my mom) sent Ray and I an adorable picture frame to house our first ultrasound photo in…Love At First Sight.

Aunt Em, Uncle Jeff, and Cousin Jack sent a box full of surprises for the whole family…including a swaddling blanket, books, a maternity tee that I can hardly wait to wear (‘Due in October’), and the coolest item, the Discovery Channel special, ‘In The Womb.’ Ray and I couldn't resist. We immediately popped it in the dvd player. For those of you that have never seen it, WATCH IT ASAP. I keep reading about the size and stage of my baby, but to watch it develop was beyond awesome!!

Thanks for the goodies!!!

BABY DADDY ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING A DENTIST...

Well, late last night, we received some WONDERFUL news!!

In order for Ray to become a licensed dentist, he must pass a board exam, which is broken into 6 sections. The first section is written. Ray took this portion last summer and passed!

The remaining 5 sections include one more written exam, clinic time with real patients and work in a simulation lab. Although most students opt to take all 5 final parts their 4th year, the students are given the option to take parts 2 & 3 (endodontics and fixed prosthodontics) their 3rd year. So, Ray, being our little clinical overachiever, decided to give it a go. He and seven other 3rd year students joined 50+ seniors on a sunny Saturday morning in taking 2 of the 6 most important tests of their lives.

We were told it would take roughly 10 days to get the results. Ray, me, and all 4 parents anxiously waited for the scores to be posted or a letter to arrive. Last night it happened…Ray got a phone call, the scores were up. We pulled up the site and searched frantically on the list for Ray’s secret “candidate number”….click and hold your breath….PASS!!!! HE PASSED!!! HE PASSED!!!

I never doubted that he could do it. I knew he was going to pass, but what a relief to know that its behind him. That’s 2 less things he will have to stress about next year, leaving more time for him to spend with Baby!! I’m so proud of Daddy Ray. 3 tests down, 3 to go!