Return of the Blogger

So I know I have not been a very good little blogger lately- shame on me. Unfortunately, there really has not been anything going on in our lives! Nothing to report about the baby since my last appointment- not until I go back to the doctor on September 20th.

Brad started classes last Monday so I guess there is that. He is taking 3 classes and an internship that he gets 5 credit hours for, so he is all set to graduate in December. Of course, he is in a wedding on the day of graduation so he won't actually be walking at graduation, but still. He is going to try and see if he can walk in the May graduation- then our little baby will be there to see his/her daddy graduate!

Work is the same as always for me. I am having so much fun with Brynn right now, she is at such a fun age. She turns 2 next Thursday so I have to try and decide what to get for her birthday- any suggestions? I was thinking of maybe taking her someplace fun rather than buying her a present- that girl has more toys than a toy store and doesn't know what to do with half of them! I was thinking of maybe taking her to Chuck E Cheese, but I haven't been there in YEARS and don't really know if there's very much for a 2 year old to do. Guess I'll have to do some research.

Happy Birthday to Evan McDonnell.... what fun to be three! He has so much to learn and experience in the next year!

Many thoughts and prayers going out to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, especially the Lattier family.

Martin Belly Bean at 11 weeks, 2 days. 

Second Appointment

Brad and I had our second doctor's appointment today, supposedly to hear the heartbeat. Imagine my panic when Dr. London couldn't find the heartbeat with the doppler. But I tried to calm myself as we prepared for another vaginal ultrasound to see the heartbeat. And then there it was, our little angel with his/her heart beating so strong and everything was right in the world again. It is just such a miracle. It has only been 5 weeks since we last saw the baby and it has changed so much- it actually looks like a BABY now! It has a head and arms and little legs, too! So we started our panicing a little and then were rewarded with another glimpse of heaven. Now I only have to wait 7 more weeks to see it again... and maybe at that point it will reveal to us if it's a BOY or a GIRL. Only time will tell.

Quote of the Day

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."

Lao Tzu

6th Century BC

This truly his home for me right now as I begin to feel impatient and anxious for the things to come. I have to learn to be grateful for that I have at this moment without looking forward to what tomorrow may bring. I may have to wait a few more weeks before my pregnancy is visible from the outside, but our baby is going through such important developments right now... and who am I to rush a miracle?

Family

I love my 'inherited' family.

I was born in Massachusetts and when we moved to Florida, we left our extended family behind- aunts, uncles and cousins. My grandparents had all passed away either before I was born or when I was very young. Growing up in Florida, I had one relative that lived semi-near to us and she passed away 4 years ago. So I never really knew what it was like to have a large extended family, though it never bothered me. I didn't know any better.

Enter Brad.

Brad might have one of the largest extended families in the history of civilization. It took me many months of quizzing myself in Brad's presence to get everyone down and I still make some mistakes. But I love each and every one of them for who they are and what they represent.

We had the annual Pucciarelli (Brad's grandmother's family) Reunion this past weekend down in Tampa. We always have such a wonderful time and this weekend was no different. We see some of the cousins during football season but this is the only time in the year that we see some of the others so it is always fun to catch up. It was the first time we've seen any of them since finding out we were pregnant so that made it even more special.

From the first time I met the Pucciarelli clan I felt instantly welcomed, from the great aunts and uncles to the second and third cousins. These people are what family is all about. There are stories from the past, lots of laughter, food and comraderie and I am so lucky to be able to call them my family, too.

Busy, busy!

Oh, so much has been going on that I don't even know where to begin!

Brad sent an email to the law firm he worked at before law school started and one of the partners (who specializes in real estate, which Brad wants to do) has asked Brad to come in and meet with him. So Brad is going on September 2nd. We are not sure if this is an actual interview, because Brad asked for firms who are looking to hire, but we are praying oh so hard that it works out favorably. They know Brad and what a dedicated man he is, and that he is such a hard worker, so we are just praying that things work out. Brad doesn't want to get his hopes up but it would be so nice if they offered him a job. We could start looking for a house and be able to get so much done before the baby is born. So please add Brad to your prayers!

Florida Coastal School of Law has an externship program, which basically arranges internships for the students that count as class credit. Brad had applied for a summer externship but turned down the one he was offered so he could take a class with a professor who was leaving school. He applied for a fall externship then, and found out he got placed with the City of Jacksonville Office of the General Counsel. It is really exciting and will be such a rewarding experience for him! I know he is excited and will learn so much. He has worked so hard in the last two years and he is really being rewarded for it.

Nothing much is new on the baby front. We go in next week to hear the heartbeat and I think after that things will begin to feel much more real. Hopefully we'll start having some outward signs of the pregnancy soon, more than the bloat I have had for the past few weeks! I was 10 weeks as of yesterday so things should start changing in the next few weeks! I think we have pretty much decided to find out the sex of the baby. After thinking about what Katie McDonnell said about knowing who is inside if you, it really got me thinking and it seems like the right thing for us to do. So we'll definitely keep you all posted on that front!

Thank you for your continued prayers for Brad, I know he is very appreciative.