The Fruit of Doug's Labor

THE FINISHED PRODUCT:







































Hello, everyone!

Doug had his (self-prompted) list of things he wanted to accomplish before the baby is born. He has definitely whittled away at the list! He took one of his architecture tests last Thursday. He wants to start studying for another architecture test before the baby is born. One of the projects on his list was our kitchen-remodel. Doug wanted to have this completely finished before the baby arrives...Down to the drawer pulls and door knobs!

We began remodeling our kitchen in late September. With the help of a Home Depot Kitchen professional (our buddy Brandy :-), we were able to make our kitchen much more useful and updated. HD offers this service free of charge, in hopes that you will use their installation services. Fortunately Doug is the handiest of people I know, and loves to save a buck... He measured and remeasured our kitchen to ensure he could do it himself and that all cabinets would fit. I was his apprentice, I suppose!

We now have an updated kitchen with more counter space, more cabinet space, a deeper sink and a more quiet dishwasher (from Sears). Yeah, buddy!

We entirely gutted the kitchen. I removed wallpaper (this is one of my least favorite jobs in the world!). Doug installed the Thomasville cabinets (cream colored with an antiqued-finish) and crown-molding himself. The new laminate countertops were installed by a local installer for a great price. We would've loved to install Silestone countertops, but couldn't bring ourselves to spend $1300 more on countertops when the existing laminate have lasted 20 years in this house. We painted the walls with a Venetian plaster (a buttercream-yellow color called "Grazie"), as the walls were pretty "marred" from past owners and the previous wallpaper application. Doug had to do some handy-dandy electrical work, also, to move some outlets to new locations.

This is the last room in the house which needed such attention. We're glad we're done with it! Thanksgiving Day, after visiting Anna and Kenyon Fletcher and their new baby (Ryan Ashton) in the hospital, was spent amongst power tools and drywall dust in our kitchen. Luckily our stove was still in working order and accesible. The dinner menu at Chez Carey's that night came a la Honeybaked Ham (along with all the fixins'). Good times!

I attached the before and after pictures, for posterity's sake.

Hope you're all having a great week!

With love,
Shelly

Shelly's Belly: 35 weeks

Doug and Shelly: Baby On the Way!




















Shelly's Belly



















On Saturday night, we went to the annual Preston Partnership appreciation dinner at Anthony's in Buckhead (Atlanta, GA). It is a black-tie dinner that Doug's employer hosts every year for employees and clients. Bob Preston (owner of The Preston Partnership firm) rents the entire mansion out for this party. There were 480 people who RSVP'd for this event this year! (Last year there was an ice storm, so the turn-out wasn't nearly as great).

"Anthony's" is an old antebellum mansion which was moved from another location in Georgia to it's current location in Buckhead. You would never know this antebellum mansion is nestled amongst the trendiest of Buckhead restaurants (between Kyma and the Buckhead Diner).

The food at this party is always amazing. It is buffet-style finger food. Even taking just ONE of everything, you end-up with a stacked plate. Just thinking about their mini-crab cakes is making my mouth water! YUM! Bob Preston also hires a great band for the event. The band plays "big band" and other classy tunes.

This is a link to Anthony's Web site: http://www.anthonysfinedining.com/

Being that we don't get "gussied-up" all that often, we try to take a picture before we go each year. This allowed us to take the "belly shot" above, too. There was no mistaking I was pregnant at this year's party! :-) It really was a fun time! Our last fancy hurrah before the baby arrives, I suppose!

Shelly

Sprint / Work Baby-Shower 02/06/2006

CAN YOU UNSCRAMBLE THE "BABY WORDS" IN THE PICTURE? They're tough! I will attach the answers at the bottom of this post.

























The girls from work (Sprint) were kind enough to throw a baby shower for us on Monday, February 6, 2006. It was very nice! Rashonda Collier, Macy Babb, Jennifer Zeiner and Sebrinia Green organized the event (they are shown in the picture and listed from left to right).
















Baby Cakes :-)















All These Gifts!















Those who attended were: Loraine Roberts, Amy Squiers, Marty Slone, Anthony Zeller, Macy Babb, Rashonda Collier, Sebrinia Green, Jennifer Zeiner, Al Taylor, Kathy Preston, Greg Ballard, and Kim Johnson.

We played a shower game, unscrambling the "baby words" in the picture, above. Jennifer made her world-famous cheeseball and meatballs. Rashonda made some very yummy chicken salad sandwiches and a very good pink punch (with raspberry gingerale and raspberry sherbert). The punch was complete with a pink floating "Dazzle Duck," which lit-up the pink punch! There were other very good food items at the shower, too, including ham, cake and fruit! We received many VERY USEFUL gifts at the shower. This being our last shower, I think we're COMPLETELY EQUIPPED to have a baby now!

Thanks to the girls for organizing the shower! It was fun, and we appreciate everyone's gifts and baby advice!

Shelly

ANSWERS to Word Game picture, above:
1. BASSINET
2. CAESAREAN (I just noticed the N in caesarean wasn't included in the picture above...)
3. BLANKET
4. BREASTFEEDING
5. BOTTLE
6. CARRIAGE
7. DIAPER
8. ROCKING CHAIR
9. BABY SWING
10. COLIC
11. BURP
12. NEWBORN

Shower at the Duncans' House

Doug and Shelly outside the Duncans' front door



















Mark Hoffman Eagerly Awaiting a Piece of Kelly Martin's Fancy Cake!




















Spencer Duncan Helps Unwrap Gifts




















Doug Holding "Churchy Bear" Made by Amy Hoffman















Shower Attendees
















Shower Attendees















We had a great time with friends on Superbowl Sunday, February 5th, 2006. Our small group at church offered to throw a baby shower for us. As it was on Superbowl Sunday, the shower was later "extended" into our small group Superbowl party. It was held at Jeremy, Marsha and Spencer Duncan's house early in the afternoon on Superbowl Sunday. We are SO THANKFUL to have such great friends! We were spoiled, as you can see by the attached pictures!

Kelly Martin made a beautiful cake (green frosting, to go along with our green nursery). Kelly is the best frosting / flower-maker! She did a beautiful job. Anna Fletcher made some yummy punch (also green! Made of sherbert, Mountain Dew and pineapple juice). Amy Hoffman made finger-food sandwiches of prosciutto, tomato and pesto (hmm, now that I think about it, also green!). Amy Schoper brought some fruit. Marsha decorated with her Grandmother's wooden cradle, by filling it with flowers and using it as the centerpiece. Our small group also enlisted David Beckers' skills with photography. David is a professional / freelance photographer who also attends North Atlanta Church of Christ. The pictures on this blog were not taken by David, however. Everything was VERY nice!

Spencer Duncan was our official "baby shower mascot":-) The Duncans' gift included books, which Spencer wanted to be read upon opening :-) The Hoffman's gifts included BEAUTIFUL hand-made bibs, burp cloths and a "quiet" toy for church (see picture). Amy is SO TALENTED and ever-the-crafty lady! Hopefully our kid doesn't spit-up on the burp cloths... they're too pretty? We received many useful gifts, including the "stink-containment" system (aka Diaper Champ) from Brandon & Kim Shaw. I KNOW we'll be thanking them over and over again for this! ;-) We also received our manliest baby shower gift yet... "Big Dan" Griffith gave us a Home Depot giftcard. How fitting! (Do they sell pink HD aprons?)

Shower attendees included: Wes and Oksana Waugh; Brandon, Amy and Noah Schoper; Jeremy, Marsha and Spencer Duncan; Kenyon, Anna and Ryan Ashton Fletcher; Greg and Kelly Martin, Amy and Mark Hoffman, Jay Collins, Laura Shelley, Sean and Bridget Kiss, Anne Champion, Sarah Pinson, Ruth Aston, Holly Prokash, Betty Long, David Beckers and Dan Griffith. Thanks to each of you for coming. You made our day!

We're ready to finally meet our little one! I think our house is ready, beyond getting it up-to-par "cleanliness" wise. (You know how neurotic pregnant ladies can be!) I washed and organized the baby's clothes and blankets earlier this week, in preparation, too.

Well, physically I'm feeling great, but pregnancy does seem to last forever! I'm still hovering around the 19 to 20 lb weight-gain area. I do think by limiting my weight gain (to what the doctors suggest) along with continuing exercise, I have had a great pregnancy. Tomorrow's doctor's appointment will confirm the size of the baby along with the due date, hopefully! It is getting harder to use the abdominal muscles for ANYTHING! I'm still walking a 4 MPH (1+) "treadmill" mile on an incline every weekday. Getting a little more "worn-out" these days, though!

This Thursday Doug will be taking an architecture exam in hopes of crossing another exam off the list before the baby is born. There are nine exams he must pass to become a certified Architect. This exam will be the 8th he has taken (of 9). Please keep him in your prayers! Beyond the exam, we really don't have anything else left on the "to do" list, which is a great thing. Let the waiting and "thumb-twiddling" begin!

I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day!

With love,
Shelly

We're Awaiting Her Arrival!

Tying the Bumper Pads on the Crib Slats















Doug Putting the Crib Together

Fatal Things To Say If Your Wife Is Pregnant

Doug has been truly supportive through this pregnancy. He's even had some "sympathy" symptoms. Unfortunately, not all men are that understanding... Here are some fatal things to say if your wife is pregnant, from www.BabyCenter.com.

• Sure you'll get your figure back ... we'll just search 1985 where you left it.
• How come you're so much fatter than the other chicks in Lamaze?
• Hey, when you're finished puking in there, are you gonna start breakfast.
• You're blocking the TV!
• I finished the Oreos.
• Not to imply anything, but I don't think the baby in you weighs forty pounds.
• Looking at her, you'd never guess that Pamela Anderson had a baby!!
• I sure hope your thighs aren't gonna stay that flabby forever!
• Can't you do sit ups or something?
• Well, couldn't they induce labor ? The 25th is the Super Bowl.
• Your about five pounds away from a surprise visit from that Richard Simmons fella.
• For a minute there, I thought I woke up next to Jabba the Hutt.
• Are your ankles supposed to look like that?
• Get your *own* ice cream.
• Geez, you're awfully puffy looking today.
• Retaining water? Yeah, like the Hoover Dam...
• Do I have to go to this Dr's visit???
• I can get up just fine why can't you?
• Man! That rose tattoo on your hip is the size of Madagascar!

Here's another one. This is a real news story from the San Francisco Chronicle 9/15/05...

"A 27-year-old pregnant San Mateo County woman is in jail, accused of stabbing her boyfriend with a kitchen knife after the couple argued about her nutritional choices, authorities said. The 18-year-old boyfriend, whom police have not identified, is being treated at a hospital for wounds to his right lung and liver, said San Mateo County Deputy District Attorney Christine Ford. He is expected to recover and be released from the hospital in the next few days, she said. 'There was an argument over her nutritional habits and how they impinged on the health of the pregnancy,' Ford said.

Can you picture it? "Honey, put down the HoHo's and why don't you have a V-8?" Yikes!!!!

Hope everyone is doing well!

Shelly

You Know You're Pregnant When...

Okay, some of these might be "too much information" for many looking on...

I thought it was a cute list! I didn't come up with it, but I can certainly agree with most of these comments!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE PREGNANT WHEN...

• You no longer sleep through the night
• You crave things you never thought you would eat
• You never thought 9 months lasted so long.
• When you think of socks (or just about anything else) as a challenge!
• You need a nap after shaving your legs
• Peeing in a cup at the doctor's office is no longer a "simple task"
• You get more excited at the idea of a nap than going out with family or friends.
• The idea of a clean, tidy, and in-order home is something you constantly dream of and even pray for...achieving this task is tantamount to winning the lottery in happiness.
• You catch your reflection in the mirror while attempting to put on socks or (gulp) panty hose and end up laughing so hard you pee yourself.
• You sneeze and pee (the very thing you made fun of your mother, sister, or aunt for!)
• You suddenly notice all those spider webs in the ceiling corners that you swear must have just appeared since you got pregnant.
• You've gone from talking about how silly it would be to park in the "expectant mother's" parking space at the grocery store (I mean, pregnant women aren't crippled!) to grumbling when you go to a store that doesn't have the "obviously needed" luxury.
• The Baby Story on TLC has gone from a sweet show about the miracle of birth to a documentary of what "not to do" in the delivery room (yell, make faces, complain, etc). As well as proof that natural child birth is something only insane people try these days!
• You haven't seen your feet for 3 to 4 months.
• Tying your shoes is a chore!
• You leave little piles of dirt on the floor after sweeping.
• You walk in circles because you can't remember what you’re trying to do in the first place!
• You roll out of bed like a Weeble....
• You hold your breath to put on your socks, then apologize to your wee occupant for squishing her.
• You can't sleep for more than maybe 3 hours in a row.
• You wonder if menopause feels sorta the same..hot flashes, mood swings, etc.
• Tums becomes your favorite dessert after lunch and dinner.
• You can rest your cup of Baskin Robbins ice cream on your new belly shelf.
• You get a pedicure not because you want to, but because if you didn't you could kill someone with your toe nails.
• Walking up the stairs starts to feel similar to running a marathon.
• You have enough gas to supplement the cost of fuel.
• Your dog looks at you when you get out of the shower with a look of wonder on their face (what happened to mom!?!?!)
• You have to explain to your husband that installing a car seat/crib/high chair sounds like a full days project because you will need to rest for an hour between each step
• You can pitch a fit in your closet that "Nothing fits!" and it is actually true!
• By the time you flush, get your clothes situated, and wash your hands, you have to pee again!
• You hear your belly rumble right underneath your boobs.
• Ice cream with oreos seems like a perfectly reasonable lunch (and snack and dinner).
• You come home with dirt all over the front of your shirt b/c so many people (including strangers) like to touch your belly.
• All of your dishes are now put away on the highest shelf (for floor cabinets) and lowest (for wall) because you can't bend over for one and your belly bounces off the counter for the other.
• Your dog knows better than to even attempt to wiggle onto your lap, no matter how pint-sized the pooch.
• When the baby gets real active it actually makes your boobs move too!
• You cry...for no reason other than just to cry at the drop of a hat.
• The most common expression on your husband's face is one of sheer bewilderment.
• You look like a Dr. Seuss character in your pajamas but have the svelte moves of Jabba the Hut.

See ya!

Shelly

Are We There Yet?

The attached picture gives new meaning to the term "labor pains". These are baby porcupines!!! Look at their little hands and feet!!!! :-)

So, lately this overwhelming feeling of "can this be over already" has taken hold with me. Feels like I've been pregnant for a year now! I've been looking on www.BabyCenter.com at other pregnant women's postings, and most seem to have the same feelings by this point. What is scary is that a regular pregnancy isn't 9 months, it is 10 MONTHS. So I'm sure I'll get the comments when I'm 9 and 3/4 months pregnant (in early March)... You're HOW far along? We'll wait and see!

We had our 33+ week appointment yesterday. Very interesting experience. The doctor (who I had not met yet... Seems to be a different doctor each time we go) was a young, VERY OBVIOUSLY GAY male. He came complete with large hoop earrings and a ponytail. He was very quick with us (good thing we didn't have too many questions). Doug seemed to think his demeanor and appearance weren't very professional, with which I would have to agree. Keep the hoop earrings at home, buddy!

I don't see how this belly can get any bigger without popping! No stretch marks so far, but I have a feeling that will be changing in the VERY NEAR future. I've gained 18 lbs so far. Right on track with what the doctors would like, I suppose. They want me to gain 30 lbs total, which I hear is pretty average (they say between 25-35 depending on your original weight). It is seriously crazy to think that someone could NATURALLY gain 1 lb per week for two months, but that is what doctors suggest in the last two months of pregnancy. Weird how your body changes to let these things happen... You would think that you would be eating mass-quantities of everything in sight, but that doesn't seem to be the case with me. I think that God must work it out so that a pregnant woman's metabolism just falls off the face of the earth...

The baby is measuring right on par with the # of weeks we are pregnant. As of today, the baby should weigh more than 4 lbs. Very strange to think about this little (okay not so little!) being inside of me, swimming away...

HEARTBURN IS STILL KILLER, but Zantac is a MIRACLE PILL! We LOVE Zantac!

I'm back to the exercising, FINALLY. I took about a month off, during the holidays. I'm back to walking briskly on the treadmill (on an incline, also) to get the muscles back in shape. I am hoping that by doing so my body will be more well-prepared for labor. We're three days for three, so I hope to keep the ball rolling! I consider myself fortunate to even be able to do this, as most of the women on www.BabyCenter.com seem to not be able to exercise. They say they get nauseous when doing anything strenous, feel the urge to pee when they exercise, or are on bedrest, etc. I guess I'm very lucky! Not pushing it... Just trying to keep the "bodies" movin'!

Doug saved some lives last night! He gave blood at our local Red Cross. They keep hounding him to give blood, and he finally gave in. He is A+ blood type and also CMV negative. CMV (cyto-megla virus?) is a virus which most people unknowingly have. Oddly enough, Doug and I are both CMV negative, which means the blood we give can be used on newborn babies, who cannot tolerate the CMV virus (in regular blood that is CMV+). They told Doug that his blood can help up to three people. He's such a good bleeder! The unfortunate part is that we wait for over an hour before they even take us back to give blood. Not sure what their deal is... We're in it for the free Nutter Butter cookies!!!

Tonight is our final class we're taking before the baby is born. We're going to attend an "Infant CPR and Safety" class, to be given by Kaiser Permanente. We're elated that we won't have to go to any more classes. From here on out, I'll just get to "nest" and get freakishly-obsessed with cleaning the house before the baby is born! ;-)

Thanks for stopping by to see how we're doing. We hope you are doing well and enjoying the New Year!

With love,
Shelly

DEEE-TROIT.... BASKET BALL.....

THE "Atlanta Hawk"!














Nestor Velez, Jane Mauritz and myself









GO PISTONS!









Rashonda Collier, Sebrinia Green and Macy Babb Philosophizing









Jane Mauritz, my pregnant self, the rest of the work crew









My Manager John McDonald on the left, and the rest of the crew....










Okay, so this post is very late, but it's here!

Last week on Wednesday my team from work went to see the Detroit Pistons vs. the Atlanta Hawks at Phillips Arena. We had an amazing suite, seats outside the suite and four additional seats very close to center court! Our team was treated right!

The score ended-up at 117 to 89, Pistons STOMPING the Atlanta Hawks.

It was interesting to watch the crowd cheer for "RASHEEEEEEEEEEDDDD" Wallace. The man is a tank! While they were practicing pre-game, Rasheed had one end of the court all to himself, while all other Pistons shared the hoop at the other end of the court. He is built like a brick wall! (Of course then you have his complete opposite - Tayshaun Prince - who looks gangly and like a little kid! Both are GREAT players, though!)

The Pistons seemed to have quite a following in Atlanta. That is what I have found to be very strange here in Atlanta, with any sporting event. Atlanta is such a "transitional" town, that you find more people often root for the "away" team than the home team. Very strange. Makes it interesting, though!

Quite a few "stars" came out to watch the game. The actor John Singleton was there, actor Emmanuel Lewis, one of the rappers from the musical group "112" (?) and others who currently slip my mind.

Go Pistons!

Shelly

Aunt Freda's Shower 12/11/2006

The Beautiful Diaper Bag Aunt Vickie Made!









Rebecca, Kristin and Shelly










Opening Baby Gifts










More Pink!










Mary Carey, Grandma Burn and Lynn Biskner Look On...










Lynn Biskner, Alyson White (also pregnant) and Shelly










As I've said before in previous entries, we are extremely blessed to have a family who have gone above and beyond for this baby! We feel very fortunate. Aunt Freda (Wright), Grandma Burnis (Griffith) and my cousin Rachel (Tannis) wanted to host a shower in our honor in early December. The shower was held on December 11th at Rachel's house in Macomb, MI. Rachel and her husband Paul have an absolutely beautiful house, fit for entertaining!

The house was decorated beautifully for the shower. Rachel even had a miniature Christmas tree on the serving table with light pink "boa" garland. It was adorable! The food was fit for a king, with yummy miniature quiches, very cute pink cookies shaped like baby "feet", miniature brownies, mashed potatoes and lots of other DELICIOUS food to start the holiday season off right :0)

Rachel, although four years younger than me, is FAR more experienced at being a Mom than I am! (And she is a great Mom, at that). Rachel's son Troy attended the shower (he's almost a year old), to represent the male population. He is such a little sweetheart... Crawling to bring me Kleenex when I was having a pregnant / emotional moment when opening someone's gift.

Those who came to the shower, who made it a very special day were: Aunt Freda, Grandma Burnis (Griffith), Janice (Brannon) Rachel (Tannis), Rebecca (Wright), Dolly Griffith, Sherry Tomczyk, Kristen Larabee, Jenny O'Brien, Mary Carey, Tracy Carey, Jackie Schuler (all the way from Pittsburgh, PA!), Alyson White and Lynn Biskner.

We received many useful items at the shower for the baby. This was my first introduction to SO MUCH PINK! The baby had better like this color or ELSE... :-) Many of the baby's "first' outfits came from this shower.

I packed a diaper bag for the hospital the other day, and a few of the outfits received from this shower will be taken along to the hospital for the baby to wear. It's SO strange to think that a little "being" will be taking up residence in our room upstairs and that we'll be coming home PERMANENTLY with a baby.

Speaking of having a baby "PERMANENTLY," this is a funny story. My friend who recently had a baby told me she cried when returning home. While driving into their sub-division, she found herself saying "We ACTUALLY get to KEEP HIM???" I thought that was cute.

HANDMADE ITEMS from the shower at Rachel's!
Aunt Vickie (Griffith) also sent along a gift of a hand-made diaper bag with many useful items enclosed. The bag is absolutely beautiful. A picture is attached. We'll be stylish, heading out-on-the-town with this diaper bag!

Aunt Janice (Brannon) crocheted a few cute hats for the baby, in various sizes. They're ADORABLE!

My friend Lynn Biskner made a flannel-type blanket (with a strawberry print on it), and quite a few burp-cloths to match. I KNOW these will be coming in handy!

Thanks again to everyone who came to the shower. You made our day!

With love,
Shelly

A Room With a View (of a Macau)

The big strange bird
























The wall facing the front of our house























The bunny mobile










The door to baby's room













The glider and crib













The glider and crib













The new dresser










Picture of Baby's Room













Okay, more pictures... This past weekend we got the nursery together. We shouldn't need to do anything to the room before the baby arrives, so this is a relief! I believe the nesting instinct has kicked-in. Either that, or I am realizing how little time we have to do SO MANY things!

Today is our 8th wedding anniversary. We're such geezers! I can't believe that eight years have gone by! They truly have been the best eight years of my life. I am so blessed to have a husband as understanding, patient and as COOL as Doug. (His brother may have a different perspective on that last attribute :-). We look forward to entering another exciting and new chapter with a little one in-tow.

Okay, about the pictures. I must explain the big, scary bird. Doug has this crazy stuffed animal / bird / Macau that he got as a souvenir when visiting Disney World in his younger years. This bird has somehow stayed with him through his travels and moves. Doug hung the bird in the "green" room, to be displayed to all, before the room was deemed the "nursery." This seemed fine and comical at that point, because the room had a tropical-look and feel to it (until I forgot to tell visitors it was a joke, and not the result of my decorating taste...). Unfortunately the bird still hangs in the room and seems to stare me down each time I walk in the room. The bird has since taken up residence permanently in this room. I seem to get shot-down each time I ask if we can take the bird out of the room. Sadly enough I think our daughter may have nightmares about big Macaus with red tails...

Hope your week is going well so far!

Happy Anniversary to my Duggers!

Love,
Shelly