Twins?

Introducing.........

BABY CROZIER!!!!!!

We had our ultrasound yesterday and were thrilled to discover that we are having a..................

BABY!!!!

Sorry. That's truly all we know and there is no going back to find out the gender now as it falls off the report once parents request it be kept a surprise. I did ask our ultrasound technician if she was able to tell what we're having had we changed our minds and wanted to know. She was a bit vague, indicating baby didn't quite cooperate which also makes me wonder if baby is a girl since she is questioning. But then Graham thought it was a boy as he thought he "saw something" when she first put the probe on my belly. I was watching the whole time and saw nothing Regardless, we were thrilled to see our little one and to learn that all looks healthy and well!

Graham and I were both struck by how much this baby's facial profile resembled that in Isla's ultrasound pictures (gosh, it's like they're related!) So much so in fact that we asked the technician if babies always have the slightly upturned little noses at this gestation. She confirmed that a lot do but definitely not all. It looks as though this baby has my nose! I know Isla's neck is in sort of a weird position in the picture I have but check the similar nose/mouth shape (this baby on top, Isla below): 

Maybe I'm crazy and all baby's profiles look like this? I'm choosing to enjoy the idea of a little look-a-like though!

Twins?

Introducing.........

BABY CROZIER!!!!!!

We had our ultrasound yesterday and were thrilled to discover that we are having a..................

BABY!!!!

Sorry. That's truly all we know and there is no going back to find out the gender now as it falls off the report once parents request it be kept a surprise. I did ask our ultrasound technician if she was able to tell what we're having had we changed our minds and wanted to know. She was a bit vague, indicating baby didn't quite cooperate which also makes me wonder if baby is a girl since she is questioning. But then Graham thought it was a boy as he thought he "saw something" when she first put the probe on my belly. I was watching the whole time and saw nothing Regardless, we were thrilled to see our little one and to learn that all looks healthy and well!

Graham and I were both struck by how much this baby's facial profile resembled that in Isla's ultrasound pictures (gosh, it's like they're related!) So much so in fact that we asked the technician if babies always have the slightly upturned little noses at this gestation. She confirmed that a lot do but definitely not all. It looks as though this baby has my nose! I know Isla's neck is in sort of a weird position in the picture I have but check the similar nose/mouth shape (this baby on top, Isla below): 

Maybe I'm crazy and all baby's profiles look like this? I'm choosing to enjoy the idea of a little look-a-like though!

Do-do-da-dooooooo!!!!

That's me tooting my horn. Or blowing my trumpet. Or something like that. We received some good news yesterday!! I don't recall how much of this I've posted on the blogosphere but we've been at a fork in the road for a few months now and have spent a lot of time waiting, praying, hoping. As I'm sure you are ALL aware, Graham is in grad school, enrolled in the Clinical Nurse Specialist track (I'm dumbing this down a lot so my apologies to all you CNSs out there but basically he would work a lot with hospital policy and as a nurse educator, making sure all practices were evidence-based and up-to-date). He chose this path for a number of reasons, one very important one being that his employer would contribute a small (but significant!) amount of money to cover his tuition. The Monday to Friday schedule was also quite appealing as was the ability to specialize in one specific area. 

Over the past year, he has realized that his passion and career desire is actually to be a nurse practitioner. He is so wonderful with patients and their families and has received an overwhelming number of compliments from them in the course of his 5+ years at his job. He has realized that this interaction with people is what invigorates him (trust me, it can also drain him!) and reminds him that he is making a difference in the world. He also will have a much wider degree of opportunity as an ARNP (nurse practitioner), including the potential of traveling abroad to third world countries with me as a medical/nutrition duo, something we have always dreamed about since we started dating.

All this to say, he began the long and somewhat confusing process of attempting to switch tracks, in hopes that there would be room for him in the nurse practitioner part of his current program. We were quite doubtful at times as he's had a few setbacks but we remained hopeful and continued to pray that God would lead us in His direction.

Well, yesterday Graham attended an orientation for next year (when he'll be doing his clinical rotations) and found out he can make the switch!!!!!! I was elated!! I'm pretty sure Graham was excited too but it just wasn't very evident as he's only on day 10 of Spring quarter and is absolutely up to his ears in reading and complicated assignments. He's taking an advanced clinical assessment class this quarter that in his words is "gonna kick my butt." I know he'll do well as he's always been a little smarty pants but it'll take a lot of readjusting as I think he's going to have to spend every waking and free hour reading the mother-of-a-textbook cuddled here beside me.

There are still a lot of uncertainties and unanswered questions (like whether he'll still be able to graduate "on time" -- June 2012-- and where the tuition money will come from since his employer does not pay for nurse practitioners) but we are so very thankful that the Lord continues to guide and provide. 

Heightist

It has come to my attention that the Gap is heightist. You know heightist. Sort of like being sexist or racist but rather being prejudiced about a woman's height. And so I called them out on it yesterday. You see, after a month-long ordeal of unsuccessful maternity pants shopping, I finally gave in and ordered 2 pairs from the Gap.com, sight unseen, as my lower half was desperate to be clothed. I just couldn't find any size long jeans in stores. Remember how I said in a prior post "Thank goodness for free shipping if they don't work!" Well, I almost ate my words.

The jeans arrived in the mail on Saturday and so I tried them on. One pair fit like a glove (hooray!) and the other made me look like a ragamuffin housewife in her worst pair of chore jeans. Needless to say, the 2nd pair needed to go back. I was printing off what I thought was my "free" return shipping label when I saw the fine print that $6 would be deducted from my account. WHAT?! This was most unfortunate.

So I called customer service to clarify. The kind lady on the line informed me that if I were doing an exchange, return shipping would be free but since I wanted to do an actual return, I'd have to pay the postage. And no, the pants could not be returned store. Of course this frustrated me a wee bit. She finished answering my questions and then sweetly asked if there was anything else she could do for me. I hesitated for only a moment and then decided to tell her exactly what I was thinking.

"Well, not unless you have the power to waive the shipping. You see, I find it a bit frustrating that everyone else can shop in-store and make their returns in-store but then I get penalized because I'm tall. I have to order pants without even trying them on since you don't carry longs in store and then I have to PAY to return them when they don't fit (and undoubtedly there are a lot of miss-fits as jeans are nearly impossible to shop for even when NOT pregnant). It just seems a bit unfair that I have to do this just because I'm tall."

Folks, I'm happy to report that the shipping fee was waived instantly!!!!

Green Thumb

I'm not sure if it's the lovely weather we've been having here in Seattle (NOT!) or what, but I have been in a garden-researching frenzy!! Maybe this happens to me every Spring--I can never remember--but this season in particular I am feeling the urge to grow something and this time, grow it successfully. Growing up, I was in active participant in my parents' quite large vegetable garden. I had a pretty green thumb, if I do say so myself, and I earned a good chunk of my spending money by entering my produce in the county fair.

My townhouse gardening experience has turned out to be drastically different, making me question my gardening abilities entirely. Where once I could grow carrots, lettuce, potatoes, beans, corn, dahlias and strawberries almost effortlessly, I am now faced with the sheer limitations that result when all one has is horrible soil filled with rhododendrons (which is what my home owners association chose as our landscape). So I've resorted to container gardening which is a whole new ball game in and of itself apparently. I thought it would be so easy but four summers of more or less of failed crops has convinced me otherwise.

Needless to say, I've tried to grow some rather "odd" items in my containers: carrots, bell pepper, eggplant, cucumber, rhubarb, lettuce and mixed greens, tomatoes, herbs and blueberries. I think in grand total, we've maybe enjoyed 2 salads and one eggplant dish as a result of my efforts in all four years combined--a pretty sorry record if I do say so myself.

So this year, I'm taking advice from my cousin (in-law) Kari and choosing varieties that grow well in the Pacific NW (not just random seed packets that look enticing) and I'm going to keep it simple. My plan at present is to grow arugula, mixed greens and lettuce from seed, sage, basil and thyme from starts, and cilantro and maybe a couple other herbs from seed. I also am getting a little "crazy" and am going to attempt a couple of hanging upside down tomato plants as well as some upside down strawberries (all from starts) to save space (I've run out of pots!!!) I'm going to allow these to be my "experiment" this season as I feel I always have to try at least one new thing. I already have a potted rhubarb plant that came back with full force this year but my blueberry plants were not so lucky. I'll give 'em another week before officially pronouncing them dead. Boo hoo. I got those bushes and Graham got our flat screen tv (see old post here).

I'm hoping this will be "my year" and that we'll enjoy some delicious summer salads, homemade herb dressings, fresh tomato sauce and fresh strawberries!! I feel my thumb getting greener.

18 Weeks

(photo taken 3/30/11)

That means I am almost halfway done!! *panic* This is going by so quickly!!

This week, I have been spending money like we actually have some. I have been on a desperate search for maternity jeans since my pairs from my 1st pregnancy fit completely different this time around. Even my husband agrees. I asked him about one pair of my pants "Do they look horrible?" and his reply was "They're not too horrible." Perfect. Totally the look I'm going for! Anyway, so I've spent the week searching high and low for any store that carries maternity clothes (having them in-store seems to be a thing of the past!!) and any store that carries pants in long. I finally gave up and ordered 2 pairs from gap.com, sight unseen. Thank goodness for free shipping if they don't work! I've needed a few other pieces to fill in some gaps in my maternity wardrobe and since Graham's been working, I decided it was just easiest to buy the whole store, come home and model everything and then let him choose what I should keep. It feels like I've spent a TON of $$$$ but 3/4 of my purchases have gone back to the store.

The baby is really moving around a lot now. It's not enough yet for Graham to be able to feel it from the outside but we've got a busy little one in there! I'm loving the movement as it is helping it all feel more "real." I'm finding the second time around to be so different since I've more or less "been there, done that."

When I was pregnant with Isla, I found I was super worried that I'd deliver prematurely (given my profession, it sometimes feels like that is the "norm" since it is mostly all I see) so I was totally prepared for an early birth--up to a few months early even! This time around, I'm not as worried about early delivery as I am about congenital abnormalities. I didn't even think to worry about those the first time around but this time I'm super anxious to have our ultrasound to make sure all the apparent body parts are at least as they should be (though I think I will still worry until I'm able to see this little one and hold him/her for myself().

We had a MOPS clothing/baby gear swap this week. I picked out one baby girl item, size 3 months. I looked at the boy stuff too but it just didn't feel right.

I've had a sore throat in the mornings when I wake up. Thankfully it fades midday and then it returns along with a hoarse voice at night.

I'm sleeping pretty well but think my mental alarm clock has been set for 6 or 6:30 AM as I can't seem to sleep any later. This has actually always been my norm though. It wasn't until having Isla that I was able to fall back asleep after a 6AM waking.

Yesterday

Yesterday was "Daddy Day" (i.e. I had to work and Graham was off). The happenings of the day warmed my heart and I came home ever-thankful for my thoughtful, creative husband who also happens to be a pretty awesome Dad. He called me at just after 9 AM as he was heading out the door. What? It is only on extraordinarily rare occasions that Isla and I have even finished breakfast by 9 AM on the average day, let alone be dressed and ready to head out on an adventure at that time. Apparently I am married to super Dad!

I checked my phone at lunch and saw that he'd texted me a picture of their morning together which included finding perfect rainy day entertainment at the indoor kids play toys at Bellevue Square. Why can't I ever think of these things? Apparently Isla loved the slide. They also made a brief stop at the library.

When I arrived home shortly after 5 PM, I was greeted at the door by my sweet girl who ran to give me a hug. I slept in clean sheets last night (courtesy of my husband!) and enjoyed a lovely family dinner together via candlelight, accompanied by wine glassed filled with strawberry lemonade. I noticed that my pan of jello had diminished significantly and later learned that Isla got her first taste of jigglers (the things that happen when mommy is away...) :) Isla and I are lucky girls to have such a great guy!

Oh and Graham captured the following video which (only partially) illustrates the rather hilarious way Isla gets on her potty (in the past, she was never able to back onto it like she did in the end of this video).