Remedies for hiccups in utero?

Remember that poor Florida teen who had the hiccups for 37 days? I'm beginning to think Grace wants me to start trying all the remedies that poor girl did. Grace gets them ALL the time. My What To Expect book says they are completely normal and are not as painful as in adults. But by now, Grace has got to be thinking this is getting old.

Tis the Season!

Right now is the season for mailing Christmas cards, buying Christmas presents, and making Christmas cookies. Apparently it's my season for nesting. Since we are leaving town Friday, I only really have 3 shopping days left and over 75% of my list undone. No cookies have been made but I did manage to mail 1/2 of my cards.

Grace's nursery is consuming me - it's all I want to do these days. I'll wait to post pics for the final unveiling. Martha Stewart consumed me this weekend as I worked on an initial plaque to hang by her crib.





As we've attended Christmas parties and as I've done the 25% of my shopping, it's been interesting to hear people's comments about my growing belly. The most common one I hear is that I'm small. I'm not sure if they mean I haven't gained 60 pounds yet or if they think Grace will be only 5 pounds at birth. I presented this question to my OB who says it's just because I'm taller and there is more room for baby. Well, yesterday I hit a new milestone. Now people are guessing the gender. The lady checking me out at Dillards said "it's a boy, right?". I had to correct her, but of course this had me worrying the ultrasound technician was wrong - what will a boy think of green gingham and cherries in his nursery???

Here's my "huge" belly at 30.5 weeks:

Grace vs Ginger Round 1

So the battle between the two begins even though Ginger weighs more than Grace by 10 pounds. This match is pretty even though. Ginger is very much a lap dog. Or if I'm laying down, she loves to lay across me with her front legs on one side and back legs on the other. Ginger has still insisted on doing this even though it's not a level surface anymore. Here lately she's found the valley around my upper ribcage. Well, Grace apparently doesn't like it and has been kicking Ginger. I'll feel Grace kick and about that time you see Ginger's body bounce up and down. She holds on though. She's willing to win out the battle. We'll see what Grace has in store for her in the months to come.

Getting the Nursery ready...

We've been busy planning, buying and painting. Steve finished painting Grace's nursery a pale, pale pink. My parents are picking up her crib in San Antonio on their way to Corpus for Thanksgiving. I imagine between Steve and my dad, the crib will be put together in no time.

Steve putting the primer on. The pink is lighter than the tan originally on the wall.




Ginger is curious about all the activity in the once empty room.


A glimpse of the final color

Thanks Friends in Laredo!!

We went to Laredo this past weekend. I had never been and Steve hasn't been in years. He showed me where he grew up, his school, hangouts, etc. Saturday night, Steve's friends from high school gave us a surprise baby shower. Grace is already being spoiled!



Steve, Memo, Carlos, and Raul





The onesie says "Don't Laugh, Daddy Dressed Me"


Steve practicing. Anissa's little girl loved Steve!


The scale isn't going to be friendly at my next appointment after all the tacos, enchiladas, paletas, etc. that I ate....yikes!

Here she is!!

It's A Girl!!!

60% of you were right!! She was absolutely perfect! We went back later and the lady doing the ultrasound let us go in the room with 3D capabilities. We kind of got to see what her little face will look like - she won't have all the soft tissue for about 8 weeks. We'll post the ultrasound pics later today. Oh, and her name is Grace Elizabeth.

20 week appointment

All went well at the 20 week appointment. The heartbeat was 140 bpm. There is an old wive's tale that heart rates greater than 140 signify a girl and less than 140 signify a boy. Mine started out around 165 and has gradually come down. Could this be a boy??

Is Baby Vela a Boy or a Girl???

With the 20 week ultrasound quickly approaching, I can't think of anything else except whether this is a boy or a girl. I was sure I'd have a strong feeling one way or the other, but I really don't. I'd love to get your input. Be sure to vote on the upper right side and I'll post what it is as soon as I get home from the ultrasound :)