So now that we know that it's a boy, we can do all those things I've been ready to do for a month. You know, stuff like painting the nursery, buying furniture, organizing and cleaning out the closet and drawers, make baby stuff. The question now becomes where to start?

Monday, Sara was very sweet and came over and helped me clean the entire house. When I had such bad morning sickness nothing got cleaned, and now that I'm past that, I still don't have much energy to do much. Seems like I have about 30 mins or so worth then I have to sit about an hour before I can go again. As a result, I have managed the mess instead of eliminating it. Everything gets a good picking up once or twice a week, but nothing really gets cleaned. It wasn't fun and it wasn't pretty, but we got everything cleaned on Monday. Thanks bunches Sara, I could have never done it without you! So check one, house very clean.

Back on Saturday we started painting in Britt's room. I'm doing a cowboy mural on one of the walls. On Saturday, Gary helped by rolling most of the grass and sky and I cut in around plugs and worked on the edges. On Monday, Sara and I even had a little time to paint some. As of right now we have a big oak tree (with no leaves yet), some grass, several happy clouds (Bob Ross would be proud), a barn with silo, and the start of some woods. Kelsey has promised to supply me with pictures of some cows, and I hope to work on it a chunk of the day on Friday as well. So that outta count for about a 1/4 of a check.

We have finally it seems decided on a baby bed. It's a pretty convertible crib, going from bassinet height, to crib height, to toddler bed, and finally to full size bed. I think it's going to be very useful. Of course with Gary these things are always subject to change, and we haven't bought it yet, got to save up a bit more money, but I think that makes 1/2 a check.

Things yet to be started... cleaning out the junk closet. See lots of things are stored in the closet in the nursery. One side has all of my and Gary's winter heavy coats (I haven't convinced myself that I won't need them anymore). Then there is all that yarn in buckets under and over the clothes, then just stuff on the other side of the closet. Oh and did I mention that the baby's dresser is full of all of our fabric for quilting. Yeah, so I still have alot to do as far as organizing goes.

Finally, my biggest quandry so far, is what kind of baby blanket to make for him. I have rarely had trouble deciding what kind of baby blanket to make for someone (in fact only Sis. Kelly's has been a long thought process); however, I seem to have no ideas what so ever for making my own son a blanket. Go figure. I do at least know that I'm making him some booties, as soon as I can find my grandmother's pattern that is. She made one, and I need to make a second one, so that he has a pair.

So much to do, and for some reason, 4 1/2 months doesn't seem like all that much time.

Money has been tight around our household, particular since we found out that we are pregnant and for some strange reason we have to pay to have our baby. I mean who would have ever thought that the OB and the hosptial would have charged so much for such a little (I hope) bundle of joy. So, to that end I have been praying and looking for something that I can do from around the house (Gary doesn't want me working) that will bring in some extra, hopefully steady money. And just maybe, we might have found something.

When I was in college I use to make a pretty good little bit of extra money making and selling scarves in the winter. It started out me working on some and a few people at work wanted one and paid me for my work. So I was working on them on campus and got more orders. The more I made the more I sold. Pretty soon I was displaying them in the English Department and in a couple of local stores. In the summer time I made and sold a few baby blankets and shawls. However, as one might expect there is no market for scarves in Florida, and I still have about 40 made up from the last winter in Alabama. So I got this brillant idea why not check in with Jeremy or Strem and see if they know of any place to sell them, or if they would mind to market them for a portion of the proceeds. What do you know, but Jeremy and his sister happen to know of a place that might be interested. So I'm going to be mailing a few up to him tomorrow, and hopefully this place will be interested. If you don't mind could you keep the matter in your prayers, this would be a great thing for us.

Don't you just love that title. This would be comical in a show, but in real life I'm frustrated and Gary is just plan mad.

Last time we drove to Alabama in the car, on the way home, late at night, coming down I-10 we hit some sort of cat like creature. Gary has speculated everything from bobcat to Florida panther. In any event, it took off the front grill, and shortly there after we started having problems with the car overheating. It wasn't long before Gary couldn't even drive it the mile to work or back home. We figured that the radiator was busted. As a result the last two or maybe even three months, we've made do with just my car.

Well, we finally had convinced the dealership that a radiator was covered under our extended warrenty, so they told us to bring it over and they would check it out. Well, the verdict wasn't radiator at all it was a themostate thing. Apparently it's not working at all, and needs to be replaced so that it can tell the radiator to circulate water when the engine starts getting hot.

The verdict ended up being that this isn't included in our warrenty, and Gary got very, very angry. He paid $2-3,000 for the extended warrenty, and they won't fix a part that is connected to the engine. The price to fix it $450. So we called around and might have found a place to fix it for $100. Still high considering that Auto Zone sells the part for $12.99, but better. So we got ready to tow it over today, and what else does the dealership pull out? Well, since the part isn't covered by the warrenty to check out the car and discover that is now no longer free of charge. They wanted $60 to tell us that their engine that is supposed insured doesn't work right and that they won't fix it. Let's just say that Gary was a VERY unhappy camper.

This in my humble opinion is why car dealerships are worth less than dirt... crummy, mean people.

Above his little mouth is closed, below he's yawning and it's open. BTW, his name will be Elisha Britt, and we'll call him Britt.

Last Friday night, we had the joy to head over to the Millers for a sing. We got started a little late, cause Gary and I were late in getting there. But we sang about an hour and a half or two then had a food break, and then sang another 45 minutes or so before cleaning up and heading home.
The above pictures I took while we were singing before food, and the pictures below were taken by Kyle and Justin. They were a little crazy after eating.

I'm finally able to post a couple of blogs. First of all last Thursday the most amazing thing happened. Our stroller came in. I'm so pysched! Mother and Daddy wanted to get us a good travel system stroller for the baby. So we looked at several and finally had them narrowed down to a Graco and an Eddie Bauer. Gary made the final call because the Eddie Bauer was "prettier" since we couldn't really tell a difference and they were basically the same price. So it came in on Thursday, and I was too excited to let it sit in a box until our shower, so I made Gary pull it out and put it together. I wish I had the camera for that. It was priceless. I can't wait to watch him put a crib together, if the stroller was this much fun.

I hate going to the dentist, it's the one doctor's visit that I really dread for the year. Justin said that I wouldn't write about hating to visit the dentist, so of course that means I have to.

As long as I can remember I went to Dr. Nix at home for the dentist, he was cool and played QB for Auburn. A few years back Dr. Bedsole took over his practice when he retired, and I guess he was ok too. But the truth is the dentist is infinately less fun when you have to pay their outragous fees and no longer get a free toy or two from their toy chest.

I've had so many other things to do, and the dentist being less desirable was not on my list of immediate concerns like find an athma doctor, find a real doctor, oh I'm pregnant find an OB, you get the picture. However, since becoming pregnant my gums bleed basically every time I brush, and have even started bleeding when I eat. Sorry, tmi for some of you.

So after working for several months to get me on our dental insurance, off I went to the Dentist on Monday. Where I discovered that I have the beginnings of 5 cavities and some pregnancy teeth issues. I was shocked, I have never had a cavity. I know what Mother would say, that's what I get for skipping a dentist appointment, and slacking on my teeth since I got pregnant.

So today I had to go back for an industrial cleaning. See I've known for sometime that extra calculus builds up on my teeth for some reason and that it covers plaque and stuff. Apparently if I don't go every 6 months like you are suppose to the stuff gets hard enough that it has to be cleaned off. So today they got to saw/drill/buff/whatever my teeth to get all of that off and let me tell you with bleeding gums that's seriously no fun. I get to go back in 8 weeks for them to check on things again, but I have learned my lesson, dentist every 6 months.

Baby Nate Ferrel had his pre-op today, and will be having his MRI tomorrow. Remember to keep them in prayers as they will be at the hospital a chunk of the day.

I'm adding our pastor Elder Buddy Abernathy to the list. He has had some problems from the medication that he is on, and has struggled alot now that they are getting him off of it. If you would remember him and Sis. Tina and the family at this time.

Parker Allen continues to improve a little at a time. They are getting him out more, and hope that he will be able to speak again soon. He is alert and recognizes people now, and can communicate some with his hand and his eyes. Much improved over time.

All of those who are expecting babies (Sis. Kelly Spezzano, Sis. Liz York, Joan Ellen, Us).

So we should celebrate! maybe leap for joy or dance or sing happy songs... or I suppose you could just go read her new post.

So I think for sure now that I've felt the baby move.

Friday night was the first that I thought I felt something. We were just sitting at Borrowed Dad's after church and visiting, and I felt something funny, like a flutter or a twitch or something. I didn't say anything to Gary at the time, cause I wasn't sure, and I knew it was too early for him to feel it. Then Sunday afternoon when we were laying down I felt it again, but stronger. Then last night we were in bed, and it felt like the baby was rolling, and then like a kick or two. It was really neat, I'm pretty sure last night was the baby, though I'm not sure that Fri. and Sun. were. The OB said that some women start feeling them as early as the beginning of 14 weeks, but that they won't be consistant until about 18 - 20 weeks when they are bigger.

I'm really excited, it was so cool. If only I didn't have to wait a whole month to find out what we are having. The suspense is killing me.