Big Boy Bed

Gavin was pretty excited for this Big Boy Bed...  so excited that he wouldn't go to sleep in it.  Ended up putting him back in his crib for the night.  :)

Alayna

Yesterday I received a call from our doctor asking us to come in and review the ultrasound with him.  The phone call was a little unsettling because it basically meant one thing:  Our doctor was concerned with something he saw in the ultrasound and needed to tell us in person.  For over 30 hours, I wondered what it would be.  I looked over the ultrasound printouts and thought of every possible outcome I could think of.  Some of those outcomes were a bit scary.

Today Matt and I sat in a little examination room and our doctor came in and asked how I was feeling.  "Fine."  Then he asked how the baby was.  "Well, we hope she's ok..."  Then he said, "Let's talk about her."  He went on to tell us that she will have a cleft palate.  How severe it is, he wasn't sure.  Another ultrasound done by specialists will be required and information from that ultrasound and the feedback of the specialists will help us know what we can expect in the future.  Our doctor said that our baby girl wouldn't be able to nurse at all.  She will have to be fed either through a tube going through her nose or bottles with really long nipples.  She will most likely need to be swept away after birth to undergo some procedures/tests in the NICU.  Surgeries will need to be done - most likely within the first year of life.

It was a bit overwhelming.  Tears have been shed.  But considering all the other possibilities I had thought of - heart problems, spina bifida, missing appendages, cancerous cysts, etc. - it's something that can be fixed with the proper medical help.  1 in 700 babies are born with this birth defect.

Matt and I have always liked the name Alayna.  It has been the number one girl name on our list since pre-Gavin days.  However, before today, I wasn't too sure if that's the name we should go with.  I thought maybe we should wait to see what she looks like when she's born and then consider a few other names we like.  But after today, We are 100% sold on the name.  It's of Irish origin and means:
Beautiful. Dear One.

In my 19th week!

After 2 months of sickness, the baby bump has arrived!

Feeling a lot better, but still popping 3 Zofran a day.  (I heart Zofran.)

Station Park

We recently discovered Station Park (an outside mall) in Farmington.  They have a dancing water fountain that was quite entertaining.  It danced to Adele's song, "Rolling in the Deep."

Gavin's Special Announcement

Trainiac-Maniac

This kid is a Trainiac-Maniac - which basically means he's overly-zealous about trains.  ;)  Aunt Joni lent him this Thomas and Friends Track Master train set.  It kept him up 'til way past his bed time and then instead of sleeping in, his first words at 7:30 in the morning were, "My train track!"  This lasted for about a week until mommy took it apart one night and hid it in the closet Aunt Joni needed it back.

Lazy Boy

As I [may] have mentioned in previous posts, Gavin was NOT an easy baby.  Often enough, he had to be rocked constantly in order to fall asleep and then rocked some more in order to stay asleep.  Matt swore that if/when we had another baby, a soft, comfy recliner/rocker would need to be purchased.  So... here is our first purchase "for the baby."  Matt is pretty much in love with this chair.  He sits in it all the time.  I'm beginning to think he really just bought it for himself...

Cashew Chicken Sandwiches

Mix Together:

2 c. cooked chicken, shredded or cut up (may use canned, drained)
1 c. mayo
1 t. Ranch dressing mix powder
1c. finely chopped celery

Put on croissants and sprinkle with cashews.  Can mix in 1 c. cashews, but will need to use within a short time.