Quickening

EXCITING NEWS!! I felt the baby move for the first time this morning . . . I probably only noticed because I was lying perfectly still in bed. It was one solid thud, low and off to the right of my stomach. Since then, I've felt a few other flutters that may be the baby (sometimes it's hard to tell this early because it can just feel like your stomach gurgling).

We hope this is the first of many healthy, strong kicks and stretches.

Side Note: I'm 16 weeks pregnant right now - translation: 40% of the way there, 4 out of 9 months down. And I have another OB appointment tonight (routine), but . . . only 4 weeks until sonogram time!!

Bonus: adorable picture of Grace taken by Grandma Peggy just a few days ago

First comes Love, then come Marriage -

Congratulations to Tony's cousin Chris and his new fiancé Erin! We wish them all the best for all the years to come.

“Love one another and you will be happy. It's as simple and as difficult as that."
~Michael Leunig

The Great Stretch begins!

This is the first of a series that is not for the faint of heart, so be warned.

Mom & Belly at 13 weeks (1/3 of the way there).. .. ..
"Where's that pregnancy glow they talk about? All I see are some serious veins!"

What a weekend!

So, as sad as it is - this past weekend was the very last official River weekend :(. From here on out, there are football games, band functions and increasingly cold weather, so the Smith family spent a great weekend together and closed up shop until next spring.
As an added bonus we got a taste of hurricane on Sunday afternoon. Here are some pictures from the long boat ride we took and from the 'Ike Experience' --

Picture of mom and Grace cruising on "Papa's speedy boat . . . ba dum dum dum"
Picture of Nana and Grace - two good lookin' girls in pink!

Mom and Grace on the front porch just as the winds started to kick up - check out Grace's hair!
Look at the whitecaps on the River . . . and those manly muscles trying to take the dock out

Pulling the last piece of dock out of the water

Uncle E and Uncle Dyle running ahead of the cars, clearing away debris as we try and 'escape' the hurricane!

PS - The Edwards house on Beechmeadow is STILL without power! We've been living as nomads for three days now . . . anyone looking to adopt a delightful family??

Tony got ANOTHER New Job!

So, as of a few hours ago, it's official - Tony has gotten a different new job! As most of you know, he started with ORP Realty in June as an 'apprentice' property manager. While his time there was very educational, it turned out not to be quite the great opportunity we had hoped for.

Then when the news came that we were expecting again, that brought to the forefront the need for some serious late-night discussions about our family's financial and vocational future. Not so long thereafter, Tony started to look for a job opportunity that would be for fulfilling for him while also allowing me to stay home fulltime with our babies.

To make a very long story short, the Lord was looking out for us and in His perfect timing, brought forth an opportunity that Tony had investigated many months ago. After an encouraging interview, a small amount of negotiating and a great deal of thoughtful consideration, Tony is VERY excited to announce that he will be starting at Ohio National Financial in about two weeks. He will be a 'Commercial Mortgage Analyst' with one of the state's top rated employers. He will be working as part of a team that collects and analyzes all sorts of complicated data and then decides whether or not to loan baz-illions of dollars to corporations all over the nation. Eventually the job could require minimal travel (Grace and I am not excited about this part), but for now he will be working out of a beautiful office on Pfieffer Road (in the Montgomery/Blue Ash area).

SO, congrats to the hubby on landing what looks to be a great position with great possibilities for the future!

OB Appointment #2 of 29,039

I had my second OB appointment this past Tuesday - and although nothing exciting really happens during the first months of check-ups, I thought it only fair that Baby #2 get some airtime too.

In order of Occurence
1. The nurse makes you stand on the scale (in the hallway none the less), nods and jots down an exact measurement of how many bowls of Fruity Pebbles and bags of popcorn you've eaten since last time you endured this torture
2. She then escorts you to a bathroom where you must pee in an unbelievably small, plastic dixie cup which you then pass through a secret, vault-like door in the wall to the scientists on the other side waiting to do who knows what with your precious pregnancy urine.
3. Next, you navigate your way to the exam room (this time, no nudity required thank goodness). The same nurse takes your blood pressure and again nods and scribbles something down.
4. This is the BEST part: finally you lay back, hike up your shirt and enduring freezing jello being smeared on your belly to be able to hear the strong, fast heartbeat of your next miracle. (Seriously, I almost cried. What a shock huh?). Nurse says it sounds great and the doctor will be right in.
5. Doctor comes in, smooshes your belly so vigorously you think he might crush your unborn grape! Says, "Everything is good. We'll see you in a month."

And one $30 copay later, you're on your way out the door!

Labor Day Weekend

We had a great weekend at the River House. Here are some pictures . . . (you all better really enjoy them because it took me forever to get them on this stinkin' blog)

After 'Aunt Didi' put Grace's hair in her first-ever pigtails, they went for a golfcart ride!

It was Grace's turn to do the dishes Sunday after dinner. She did a great job - licking every single plate totally clean.

Daddy and Grace venturing into deeper waters!

Mommy and Grace splashin' in the shallows in front of Aunt Amy's house - Grace couldn't decide if she like the river sand or not.

Nana and Grace enjoying a refreshing beverage on Uncle Steve's boat