"She looks like Justin"

Justin and I have had a ridiculous number of ultrasounds however I have chosen not to complain but rather to embrace each chance we get to see a glimpse of our baby girl for only a $30 copay. The pictures just get better each time as she develops more and more. The u/s technician put her weight at 4 lbs 6 oz and almost two weeks ahead of schedule at 32 weeks and 5 days. This time we got to see her in 4D which was quite a treat!

Most people who have already seen the picture have been telling me she looks alot like Justin. I think I will wait till she is actually born and in my arms before I start trying to assign her features to the Buskirk or Evans blood line! Hehe.

After the appointment I got another call from the doctor telling me that she is perfectly healthy (phew!) but that we should schedule another u/s in 3 to 4 weeks just to monitor her growth. At the very worst they might have to induce her early to keep her from getting to large to deliver naturally. I will have to chalk this one up to Justin's side of the family as I found out over Christmas that his dad weighed a whopping 10 lbs at birth!!!

9 weeks and counting!!

Squashed

Appropriate considering how squashed my insides feel. Hurry up and get here little one!
By the way, at our last appointment the doctor told me that my fundal height was a little over the norm so we are getting another ultrasound. Really what she is telling me is that I might be having the biggest baby ever known to man. On the bright side we might be able to get Discovery to do an episode on us!

Snow Day

It is hard to believe but last week it actually snowed in Houston Texas!! It snowed so much that it even accumulated on the ground. Nothing to write the National Weather Service about but enough to get every Texan outside playing in it.

Of course it was all gone by the next morning but it was fun while it lasted. It will for sure go down in the list of things to tell Baby Buskirk about when she was in the womb. The last 29 weeks have really been jam packed with big events!

Back to Pink

I am not sure what it is about the color pink but I just keep coming back to it one way or the other. My long time hatred for it might actually have been a life long love affair that I am only now coming to terms with. We finally opted for pink walls in the baby's room. It ended up being a little brighter than I planned but it will definitely work. Once I get around to making the curtains, hanging the decor, etc., I am hoping it will seem a little less bold.

I have to give complete credit to my wonderful husband on this one. He has been scratching off items on his honey-do list left and right:

Baby furniture assembled - check

Refinish dining room cabinet - check

Paint baby's room - check

Make dinner - check

Love my wife through thick and thin - check

...so on and so on..

Bad Blogger Bad

No need for scolding...I know my blogging sins. I have totally dropped the ball lately. It has been a hectic few weeks with the holidays and everything. Oh, who am I kidding, I am 7 months pregnant and can barely find the energy to get up from the couch let alone take pictures, upload them to blog, think of something fun and witty to say, and post. Sorry!

To make it up to you guys I will be posting another two entries shortly!

Photo Op

My sister Erin is an aspiring everything, from card designer, to mother of the year, to most recently professional photographer. Her many talents make me tired! Over the past holiday weekend Justin and I put ourselves up as guinea pigs for her photo madness. In the end, after griping and grumbling, I think the pictures turned out pretty cute. I think she did as good a job as any professional we have ever used, actually probably better than most.

Maybe next time we will prepare a little more than 5 minutes ahead of time and we can have some developed for the nursery! Thanks Erin!

Christmas Came Early

I have not been able to find any facts from actually studies done but I am positive that there is a direct correlation between the increase in person's age and the dollar value of gifts they want. This year Justin and I both had some big ticket items that we had been craving for quite some time and decided to go for it under the disguise of helping the US economy. Oh, and we won't be exchanging any more Christmas gifts until 2020!!

Justin opted for a Tika 270 rifle and new scope...

While I choose a safer option with a new Bernina sewing machine and embroidery module!

So far neither of us have had much time to play with our new toys but I am sure once the baby gets here, and things slow down, that we will be able to find time for our own personal hobbies again (there is definite sarcasm in this statement).

Merry Christmas Baby - I love you!!

Last Ultrasound

Almost two weeks ago Justin and I had our final ultrasound. I blogged about it back then but am just now got around to posting the pic. This is the last photo of baby Buskirk that we will have until she comes into the world.
Only 16 weeks to go!!

Another update...she has official become the equivalent of an eggplant.

Bedding Update - I have lost it!!

It is officially...I am the most indecisive person in the world. I always knew I wasn't good at making big decisions but it seems that pregnancy has moved me to a whole new level. I can no longer make simple decisions as to what to have for lunch or even what clothes to wear to work. It is actually becoming some what of a bother.

After several days of staring at my chosen bedding laid out in the baby's room I decided that I no longer liked it. I decided the pallet of red and pink did not allow for me to add many other colors and I felt trapped!! After panicking for a few days I returned it and began the search again. This time I think I have found the perfect one...or so I hope. It was a little more expensive but in my mind it is a small price to pay for the happiness of our first born. I also think it fits our style quite a bit better.
What do you think? I feel it is still girly while incorporating a lot of different colors - think of all the possibilities I now have for wall colors...stay tuned for that debacle. Do you all think I am crazy?

Red or Pink

I debated with myself for a long time over what color to go with in the baby's room: red or pink? I am not a very girlie girl so pink almost seemed too much for me and the only red options I could find were ladybugs. I was going to go with the red but was never able to decide on a bedding set that I liked. However this weekend, with the help of my sister (and Lucy and Grace), I decided on a middle ground with a blend of the two. Check it out:


It is a pretty and simple pattern with a mix of red and pink cherry blossoms with hints of green and brown in the details. I bought the bedding only and plan on accessorizing with some of my own touches. I haven't decided on a wall color just yet but maybe by the end of the week I will have a project lined up for Justin. I do like the chair rail look that they used in this mock up but we will just have to wait and see.

The furniture came in this past Friday! Justin and I put it together this weekend and it would have only taken use about 20 minutes to assembly if I just would have read the instructions correctly the first go round. Thanks goodness for having the mommy mush brain excuse.

Last Ultrasound

We have been so blessed up to the point with pictures of baby Buskirk. It seemed like every appointment I went in for they were doing another ultrasound...either for a legitimate reason or just to appease me for a long delay in the waiting room. Regardless, I had become accustomed to seeing her once a month. This past Saturday Justin and I went in to meet with the technician one last time to get some pics she missed on the last go round. It was very exciting, and a little sad, since I have a feeling that will be the last time we see her before she makes her grand entrance in less than 4 months!

Also, if Saturday's appointment was any idication of what is to come with parenthood then Justin and I better prepare ourselves; she was wiggling and and moving constantly. The tech barely had a chance to get the pics she needed. To be quite honest I can't blame it all on the baby...I had a super sweet, super sugary, cinnamon roll for breakfast. Apparently she is going to take after both her parents with an intense afflicition for sweets.

Battle of the Natural Disasters

We thought hurricane Ike was bad...

...Hemingford got hit with a major blizzard yesterday! From what Dean and Sonya tell us it was pretty wild. Visibility was about 10 ft at the peak of the storm and they got over a foot of snow. Thankfully everyone was able to stay safe and keep warm. The only upside to blizzards (for those who are not living through them) is the beautiful pictures they produce. It is like a winter wonderland...hard to imagine when I am still wearing shorts and flip flops.

That reminds me, I need to register for a baby snow suit!

Thanks Shelley for sharing the great pics.

No Longer Just Fruit Salad

This month (weeks 21-24) we have moved up from basic fruit salad ingredients to something much more substantial all on its own...the papaya. Baby Buskirk should be over a pound in weight now and she has grown to almost 12 inches long. She is doing some major growing and my belly is the visible proof. It feels as though everyday I can see a little change. Also, I am experiencing my first side effect of pregnancy - swelling ankles and hands. I have had to retire the Aggie ring for now since it just gets too uncomfortable but I am still squeezing into my wedding ring even though I have a back up ready and waiting (thanks Honey!).

Only 4 months to go!!

Mommy wagon...I think not!

Justin finally convinced me to bite the bullet and buy a new vehicle. I am not sure what has happened in my old age but I have become ridiculously frugal and the thought of actually having a car payment was making me queasy. However we decided that for the safety (and style) of our rapidly approaching baby to just go for it. We went back and forth for a while on what to get but ended up purchasing a 2008 Tahoe. What in the world was I waiting for?!?! I absolutely love it and fear that I will never be able to turn back to the time before the SUV. However I do feel slightly silly driving around this mammoth of a vehicle with no one in it but myself...for the time being.

Furniture

I have decided to go ahead and tackle another large baby obstacle...furnishing her room. I am having a difficult time since I don't really like any of the options that they have at Babys-R-Us. I have found one that I like through JCPenny's but you have to just order it online with faith; There is no inspecting or viewing before purchase. I am probably going to just get a crib and changing table since I already have a dresser I plan on using. Let me know what you think.
Also, the color is a real debate. They have three choices that are all pretty similar. You can see more details and a pic of the changer at www.jcpenny.com. The furniture is by Simmons and this particular collection is called Olympia.

Registry Help!!

Justin and I went to register at Babys-R-Us this past Saturday and all I have to say is that pregnant women are crazy (excluding myself). It might have been our fault for going on a Saturday but the place was a mad house. There were over anxious women running around being followed by their nervous husband. At least in our household we are both completely clueless. I mean do I really need a baby grooming kit?!? I always thought I was just supposed to use saliva. Justin and I managed to add a few big ticket items before we sprinted for the door. We decided that it might be best for me to get some other female opinions before we make the next trip. Bring on the advice ladies!! I want to know what I have to have (stroller, bouncer, etc) versus those things I can cross off the list (bug net, etc.).

Soccer Player

Baby girl Buskirk made herself more known to me this past weekend when she decided to have her "kicking out" party Sunday morning. I woke up to what felt like butterflies in my belly - like she was just fluttering around in there. It is a really strange feeling when it happens for the first time and you realize that it is not just gas! Every since Sunday she seems to be getting more active. I feel her multiple times throughout the day and each time I smile and rub my belly. I am sure my coworkers think I have lost my mind. Justin tries every night to feel her move, and I think a time or two he might have, but nothing that he can be sure of yet. I have no doubt that in a few weeks there will be no question in his mind. So far she has been most active right after dinner when we watch TV. Tonight is "The Office" so hopefully I will feel her rolling around in there from laughter! Like mother like daughter - I love that show!

For my niece Lucy...Baby Buskirk is officially a banana!

The Buskirk Family is 1 Year Old Today

Justin and I became a family one year ago today. It has truly been a year of honeymooning. Some days it seems like it was just yesterday and then others it is like we have been married to each other our entire lives. He has proved to be a wonderful husband and I know he will be the best daddy in the world. This mythical knight in shining armor has got nothing on my man! Enough doting for now. As for celebrating, Justin and I decided to keep a low profile on our first anniversary. We spent the day watching our baby on the sonogram (20 week ultrasound), shopping for a new mommy car, and dining at Taste of Texas. It was delicious and most likely one of the last romantic dinners we will have before the baby is born. It was nice to just sit and spend time together away from the house, chores, and everything in life.
I can't wait for the countless anniversary to come. I love you honey!

The 20 Week Ultrasound

As I had promised in some earlier post here are the most recent pics of baby Buskirk from our 20 week ultrasound.

She is weighing in at 14 1/2 ounces which puts her current weight in at just under 1 lb. Remarkably I have already gained 7 lbs which doesn't make much sense considering. Maybe there are some more hiding in there. Just kidding. The doctor said everything is looking great and she is growing on pace with all the charts and scales. We can hardly grasp the idea that she is going to be here in just a few months. My panic officially set in yesterday when my anxious sister asked when I was going to start painting the room - I have so much too do and just 4 1/2 months to do it!! I can already feel the walls of my neat, tidy, organized world pushing in...I can't wait!!!

Adventures in Fargo, North Dakota

Justin and I recently attended his cousin Travis' wedding in Fargo North Dakota. We had to get out all our winter clothes, dust off the moth balls, and get ready for a rainy and cold long weekend. I am not kidding when I say it rained non-stop the entire time we were there. There is not a doubt in my mind when I say I would take a hurricane every 10-15 years over snowy rain any day. It was a hectic weekend for Justin's extended family with all the wedding activities (we can completely relate) but it was a great time just hanging out with Dean and Sonya and relaxing at the hotel. It was a beautiful wedding and made me a little reminiscent of our own. Maybe I can convince Justin to give me a vow renewal every 10 years or so. Hehe.
Oh, as you can tell in the picture, this was the first big adventure out since I have been showing. It is amazing the number of people who want to rub on my belly and wish us luck. I always read about this phenomena in the baby books but now I know it is actually legit. Crazy!

It has begun!!

The second trimester has begun to wreck havoc on my body. For those of you that don't see me very often I have a small (at least what I consider to still be small) baby belly forming. It is still sort of hard to imagine that there is a baby growing in there but I am sure it will become more of a reality very quickly. From this point the growth of my belly is supposed to be pretty steady until late in the third trimester. I will continue to add new pics as the months pass, or at least until I decide it has become too horrific for the normal person to view.

I will be a corporation in no time!

With baby on the brain my new craft project is now appliqued onesies. So far I have made quite a few but this past weekend was the first time I shared them with the world. Actually it was with my long time friend Jill. She recently had her first baby... a precious little girl named Lucy. We went out for a "Welcome to the World" visit this past Sunday at their house in New Waverly. It was a great visit as always and a wonderful excuse to give away some of the onesies. Now if I could just convince more of my freinds to get knocked up I would be in business.

Baby girl Buskirk is definately going to be styling...as if I am going to have time to make these once she arrives. Hehe.

Drum roll please...

It is official...we are having a little girl!! We were really quite surprised at first considering we thought for sure it was a boy. All the folk lore we heard ("No morning sickness? It must be a boy!", etc., etc.) had caused us to almost unconsciously start preparing for years of T-ball practice and buzz hair cuts. However as soon as the mental adjusting was done we happily headed full speed ahead into the pink haze of frilly dresses and stuffed animals. Baby girl Buskirk has even received her very first baby doll. We can't wait to start decorating the room and stocking up on baby supplies. Justin may think I am crazy but I have already purchased my first box of diapers (I see no harm in being fully prepared).

The doctor told us at the last appointment that baby girl Buskirk looks great and everything is progressing well. She appeared to be very active on the ultrasound so hopefully I will start feeling her move soon. I can't wait! We have another ultrasound scheduled for the weekend of our 1st anniversary (can anyone believe it has already been a year) where they are going to give us a more detailed view of the face and organs. I will make sure to post the pics after that one. For now this will have to do...

...she is now the size of your average pomegranate!!

Y-IKE!!! The aftermath

IKE has come and gone and now all that remains are the repairs and cleanup that is still underway throughout the area. Justin and I lucked out with minimal damage to the house and yard. From the pictures of the front tree you can see which direction the wind gusts were coming in (notice the lopsided look from all the missing branches on the left side). We are also missing quite a few shingles and still waiting on an adjuster to come out and take a look.

Unfortunately our neighborhood entrance did not fare as well. The Oaks at Southdown should be from this point on referred to as The Oaks Down at Southdown. It seems that almost all the common area trees are down or severally damaged. They were one of my favorite parts of the neighborhood.

It was a crazy night, and a long week that followed, that I am sure we won't forget for quite some time.

It's a Lemon!!!

So we got the results back from our last ultrasound and the doctor told us everything looks great! Finally I can put the worry wort in me to the back of the line and bring fun mama to the front. From the sonogram you can actually tell that it is a real baby. It is fun to watch how the baby changes and grows from one pic to the next. In two weeks we have our next appointment where they do the big ultrasound. We should get alot more pictures then. I can't wait!
Oh, by the way, Baby Buskirk is now the size of a lemon!!

Wedding Quilt

Last night I decided that the wait had been long enough and uploaded some pictures of my newest quilt. In all my wedding planning I stumbled across the idea of doing a signature quilt. The idea behind this type of quilt is that friends and loved ones have an oppotunity to write a short message of well wishes, or just simply their signature, that will all be included to create one memory quilt for us to have as a wedding token. Essentially we created a guest book on fabric that we will have forever remind us of the wonderful day and all those who shared in it with us.

For the top of the quilt I decided to do a double wedding ring pattern with the color palette of the wedding. The back of the quilt is where all the signature blocks were used. As you can see each guest got their own square to right something special to us...some are pretty funny, some are pretty sincere, and others are just doddles from the kids. The variety from one block to the next is part of the reason I liked the idea so much.

To add one additional touch I embroidered a larger block with our names and the date of our wedding so that years from now when this get passed down to other generations they will always be able to remember where it came from.

Special thanks to Sonya and Shelley for helping with the preparation and design. You girls are the best! I am already looking forward to the next one.

Final Peach Post...Until Next Year

As some of you already know, or might have suspected since I haven't posted on the status lately, our one and only peach did not make it. One day we came home and it had been destroyed by what I believe to have been a mockingbird. It was probably 2 days away from being ripe enough to eat which just makes the pain that much worse! Next year we are hoping for a larger crop!

By day two of the trauma the peach had been completely picked clean. I would've thought that birds in the suburbs get enough to eat from feeders and backyard bar-b-q's that they do not have to steal (hehe).

Better luck next year!

Gruene River Reunion

This past weekend we headed to Gruene for a little fun and relaxation on the Guadalupe River. It was the first family reunion we have had with the Barber side of the family and from the amount of fun we had I hope we are able to all get together for years and years to come. We spent the whole weekend floating in the river, canoeing, and playing games. It was great to see everybody and catch up on things. For the record I think my husband, regardless of his lack of love for the water, has officially become a river rat. I couldn't keep him on dry land. This is the whole clan. It is amazing how much we have all grown up and how big our family is getting...and remember, next year there will be one more added to the mix.

Deep Thoughts

Justin and I can't wait to be parents!! We feel that we are totally prepared and have been for ages. On the other hand we are realist and understand that there is some naivety in the previous statement. That is why I have decided to open this particular post up for specific comment. We are asking that you share with us your deepest thoughts on parenting and how to remain sane while doing it. Please leave your comments. Thanks.

The Plan

At this point I have come up with a new direction, or game plan, for our blog...at least for the next 7 months or so. I am going to use "Becoming the Buskirks" as a diary of sorts for all the trials and life changes that were are headed for with this pregnancy. I will be making lots of updates and changes to the blog so please come back often and check out the news and see how things are progressing. We love you all and can't wait to share this special time in our lives.

Keeping Secrets

It might have been the hardest thing we have ever done but Justin and I successfully kept our secret for over 5 weeks...we are having a baby! Our little bundle of joy is scheduled to come into the world on March 3rd, 2009.

The doctor said everything looks great! Baby Buskirk is 21.8 mm long (roughly the size of a grape) and 9 weeks old.

We are so excited and nervous and anxious. There is so much to do and so little time...215 days to go!

My Very Own, Real Life, Cowboy!!

For the wedding Justin had to get decked out in full cowboy gear: western jacket, bollo tie, cowboy hat, and horse...just kidding about the horse. He was so handsome! The only drawback was that most people didn't recognize him; Literally his grandpa walked right by him.
Chad and Lexi tied the knot in Alliance Nebraska at the Sunken Gardens in Central Park. It was a lovely spot with all the flowers in full bloom. There were white arbors on either side of the garden where some guests stood to watch the ceremony.

After the ceremony we headed back to Hemingford for the reception at the fairgrounds. The hall, which I helped to decorate, was full of family and friends.They even had a live band which gave us plenty of chances to wear in Justin's new boots. We closed the party down around 2:00 in the morning. It was a great evening which I am sure we will all remember for quite a while.

Congrats to Chad and Lexi - We wish you guys a lifetime of happiness!!

Life on the Farm...

Justin and I just got back from an entire week in Nebraska. It was a wonderful time as usual however this one was a little more hectic than the others. We were there to attend the wedding festivities of Chad, Justin's brother, and his fiance Lexi. We spent the week decorating, celebrating the last days of singledom, rehearsing, and then undecorating. It was alot of work but we were so glad to get to be there for their special day. And don't let all this wedding talk confuse you...we did have a few chances to just relax. We spent time doodling with chalk, playing bocce ball, and even shooting off fireworks. On our last day there, July 4th, we took part in a family reunion where I finally got to met Justin's aunt Brenda and his great uncle Al who came in all the way from Iowa. To finish out the day, and our time in Nebraska, we celebrated with Smores outside. As always it was a great time and we are looking forward to the next one.

Oh...and I got our wedding signature quilt all stitched. Now all I have to do is the binding and my quilt number 2 will be done. I will update with pictures when it is done.

What Great Color!

Check out these pics of all the early summer blooms. The new yard has already gone through so many cycles that I am not sure we will be able to keep up with tending to it...or getting pics of it.

Also, it appears the peach has survived and is actually growing for a change. I guess it is true that crossing you fingers really does work.