Ten Fingers and Ten Toes

We decided to start trying in January. I, like most women, was convinced that it would not happen first try. I had never done this before and didn't think I could get it right the first time! Well, as my husband put it, "I guess all our parts really work!" WE ARE HAVING A BABY! I knew I was pregnant right away! I started to get random dizzy spells. My pee smelt funny to me. My nose was the best sniffer ever! My husband says they should put pregnant women at the border to sniff out the drugs! I had sharp pains in my armpits (part of the breast tissue...) You name it and I had all the first signs of pregnancy. Finally, on Super Bowl Sunday, the test came back positive. We carried that thing with us all over the apartment that night. We just kept staring at it wondering if it was real! 

 Above is our seven and a half week ultrasound. We saw the little heart beating and confirmation there was only ONE baby! Nic had been teasing me that there were two in there! Our due date according to the wheel is Oct. 19, and the ultrasound machine says Oct. 17. At this point, I was still running and going to the gym. However, the "tired" stage quickly hit and I fell asleep on the couch at 7:30pm every night! We were also packing and getting ready to move! All I can says is, praise the Lord I did not get morning sickness! I had my upset tummy days but nothing that I couldn't handle. I figured out if I ate every two hours I was fine. This scared me to weigh in at our 12 week appointment!

Above is moving in day! I was pooped and since I am all of five feet tall at nine weeks pregnant I look almost five months! 

Here we are at ten weeks gaining back some energy!

 11 weeks and feelin' good! Yes these are all maternity tops. I thought it was suppose to be a secret for the first trimester but there was no secret about this baby! 

  

 12 weeks and back to the gym for this girl! However, I would like to know the real answer to how high I can get my heart rate at the gym. Some say 130, while others say 140, and then you have some who say just stay at your same routine and go 75% of what you used to. So folks, what is the answer?!?! Let me tell you, for a girl who used to run 4 miles about 3-4 times a week before pregnancy, keeping my heart rate at 130 does not break a sweat and feels like a brisk walk! BORING! 

We had our 12 1/2 week appointment this last Monday. THERE REALLY IS A LITTLE HUMAN IN ME! It didn't look like a mouse anymore! Below, the little guy/girl is waving at us! 

 The baby was sleeping most of the appointment. All the measurements were perfect and my blood work came back normal as well. PHEW! I had been wondering what it sounded like to the baby when my tummy would grumble. I thought maybe it would sound like a lion to the poor thing. My husband then says, "Uh, Stef do you think the baby even knows what a lion is?" I had a good laugh! My tummy did growl during the ultrasound and baby jumped with it's whole body! 

Here we are sleeping away! Baby sleeps just like I do with our hands on our head! 

 Above is the onsie I had made to tell our family! My dad quickly called dibs and here it proudly hangs framed in his office! He might just be a little excited! I am now at 13 weeks but haven't taken my weekly photo. 

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.... If you are friends with me on facebook DO NOT say anything baby related on there. As my husband says, it is not facebook official yet. I am not sure when we will say anything on there but I think it is weird for people I don't really talk to from high school or college or whatnot to know I am pregnant. You know the people you knew but didn't ever hang out with. Why do they need to know this stuff? It is just a little creepy! The protective mama bear is coming out already I suppose! 

 until next time...

Yes, we are alive

On March 15, 2012, we closed on our first home!!! We rounded the troops (those willing and able to help) and moved on St. Patty's day! Yes, I sure did have green beer and pizza for after moving. I didn't want dings in my walls and furniture! HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED US! We wouldn't have done it as smoothly and efficiently without your help! We had one casualty, a bookshelf. Therefore, everything was a success! The morning was awful! I awakened to snow... YUP SURE DID! Then rain when loading was going on. Finally, the sky opened when we got to Ferndale! 

24' Budget truck in all it's glory!

Did I mention you couldn't help us move if you didn't wear your Romeo's?

Love at first site!

 If you do not have a front loader washer and dryer, START SAVING FOR THEM! They are the most amazing appliances EVER! I can fit multiple pairs of my husbands pants in these things (he is over 6'). My mother says you could fit a human in them... and I am in love with them! 

 It had been a very rainy March, so landscaping was not done prior to moving in. Once the ground dried up, top soil came! I got out of the shower one morning to hear scrapping. I thought maybe they were building on the lot next door. We don't have blinds yet, so I crept to the front window wrapped in a towel to find a nice man putting dirt in my front yard! I quickly ran to get dressed and ready to meet this nice man, Chad. 

The next day he put in some shrubs. A few days later, the hydroseed went in. It looks like webbed neon green film. It has continued to rain and make puddles, so will have to wait and see if the grass makes it or not! 

As most people know, I love the city. However, when I grew up in NY the city of Chester deemed our street a cow path. We had the corn fields on our street. Our neighbors had horses, goats, and chickens. I love driving to work and seeing the mountains with vast fields surrounding me! It is peaceful until the wind blows the wrong direction and you smell cow doo doo. We continue to unpack and figure out where things should be hung. We have decided on blinds and will order them tonight. All is well here, we are loving our new home! 

until next time...

Hrmm where did they go?

As I sit here all alone at the salon, (waiting for my last client) I started to ponder the same thought I've been having the past couple of weeks. Where did they go? I had a good bunch of clients that I diligently got their email addresses before leaving the old salon. They said they would come. They told me just to send an email as to where I went. The wife of one of clients told me I couldn't leave and that if I didn't go to another salon I would need to cut his hair at home. But what happened to him? It makes me sad. I've grown to see these people every other month for 3 years. I know about their husbands, wives, children, grandchildren, divorces, etc. And then POOF they're gone. I want to know how they are doing! Where life has taken them?! How are the grand-kids!? What new travels are they taking? So many questions that I am just left to sit here pondering. I hope they are all well and happy. I sure hope they have a new stylist too because if not they really need haircuts! Maybe I will hear from them and maybe I won't.

until next time...

It caught me

I was at work two weeks ago and my co-worker sounded like a frog. Then she began to sniffle. I made mental note and took an emergenC packet at lunch. The following week my other co-worker has sniffles and a sore throat! Oh it gets better. My husband also wakes up with this sore throat sniffles crud! The girls at work are over the illness but not before I became the next victim! Nic still isn't feeling too hot. I have used the neti-pot (see below) in the past.  

Never, in a million years, did I think my husband would give this thing a try! Yes, this has been bonding time in the Truscott household the past few evenings! I bet you all wish you could be a fly on our wall! We are starting to feel better and it is more of an annoyance not being able to breath than anything else. I didn't know people got colds in February. I thought that was a fall thing.... guess I was wrong! 

until next time...

Growing roots

I've come to realize that as a child our imaginations are vast and expectations of the future are slightly inaccurate. I am 26 yrs old and if you had asked me when I was in elementary or junior high where I saw myself at 26... this would not be it. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my life and where I am at. I just had expected that all I have now would have been lived out at 24 years old. No, I wasn't too far off but sometimes the unknown can sure feel like a long time. The last two years drove me crazy. We couldn't move forward and we weren't moving backward we were just STUCK. We weren't sure where Nic's job would take us so we couldn't start growing roots anywhere and we lived in this world of what ifs and wonder. We did not think a job in Bellingham would arise and were prepared to move south where there are more jobs. And then the unthinkable, Nic started his new job as a Habitat Restoration Engineer at an office in Bellingham! The ball began rolling in November when he knew he had gotten the job. We started looking at houses on Redfin every night  when the urge hit us. We wanted to be responsible and make sure this would be a good fit for Nic. I realized when he came home everyday with these drawings of trees and rivers and bridges (they have a real name I don't know what it is) excited to share them, that this was the position he had been waiting for! February is when we interviewed a few Realtors and picked a duo, Nate and Rob. February 13th is a great day every year for me! February 13, 2010 Nic proposed. February 13, 2011 we were in Vegas. February 13, 2012 our first house offer was accepted!!! Yes, Whatcom County is really our home! 

We are set to close on March 15th. They are finishing up the last little bit of construction and before we know it move in day will be here! 

until next time...

Creepy yet True

I, like many, write a blog for myself (first) and for others to keep up with our life (second). The people who publicly follow me are all family or friends. However, you don't have to follow someone to be able to read their blog. I don't know who reads this little blog and doesn't follow. I know a few family members do and from the stats page there are others from all over the world. I thought about making my blog private a while back and only allowing people I sent personal invites able to read my blog. I changed my mind and thought, nah, maybe something I've wrote has helped someone else out there that read this little blog for fun. Now, the words "private blog" have come to mind again. I was reading a blog of whom I have never met. I know her husband from junior high and high school and found her blog on facebook. I have been reading it for 2 years as she is inspiring. It is also fun to see their girls grow up. However, she was recently informed by a stranger in the U.K. that someone had stolen posts off her blog and impersonated her on a facebook page and a mommy group. This person was trying to be someone they were not and posting it in multiple places on the internet and interacting with other people too! She even was taking pictures from the blog to make it even more real.I am saddened for her and have this icky icky feeling. I grew up with this technology and knew there were hackers and people who make viruses. However, I never thought people would steal other people's lives and pretend to be that person!?! I talk about my life and share a little about my husband. As we continue to grow, and big life changes will come that I wish to talk freely about, I think it is only fair to protect him and myself. I quickly realized there are many people who have become victim to this impersonation thing and I am not going to join them. Please leave me a comment with your email address if you would like to continue following. 


until next time...

Refuge

Refuge is a monthly, mid-week, event of extended worship, prayer and communion.

We have a big prayer campaign going for the month of February. Therefore, this past Wednesday Refuge was packed! It was awesome and so moving to hear everyone sing together. At one point, we were asked to write on a giant white piece of paper taped to the wall what we are thankful for. First, was to be the relationship we have with God and then after that you were free to write with your crayon whatever came to you. I am an honorary aunt to three special children. Everett will be 9 yrs old this week. He attended refuge with us and when he went up to the wall and started writing of course Tami and I wanted to sneak a peak! We didn't but Tami's friend came over and said I just want you to know that your sons heart is in the right place. First he wrote Dad and then Mom. That just melted our hearts. After refuge, we were in the lobby and I had Abigail. She is all of 3 months old. I found it cute that the people who came up to me to see the baby were older gentlemen! Two separate men came up and asked about her and rubbed her back. It was adorable! The second guy asked which service we attended and was bummed that it wasn't the Sunday at 9am. He works in the nursery on Sunday and wanted to have her in there! How cute! I am so proud of those kids! You always wonder as a parent if you are doing a good enough job.... Tami you certainly are!

until next time...