Happy New Year!

What a long trip! We were stuck in California for 3 extra days thanks to the big snow storm here in NYC. Fortunately, we knew our flight was canceled the day before we were supposed to leave, so we just hung out at J's mom's house for the extra days. It turned out to be a good thing, because she had just thrown me my baby shower the day before we were supposed to leave, and we got so much loot that we needed to pack up and ship home, as well as get packed.

So, we had a very nice trip, despite the travel delays, as well as the fact that it rained for the first 5 days we were there (I thought it never rained in sunny California!). But we had some good time with J's family and lots of good food. We also found several cute baby stores and bought some cute little outfits, to add to all the stuff we got at our shower.

We finally made it back home yesterday with no problems on our flight, but had to stand in the taxi line at JFK for 45 minutes, and then with the traffic into the city, it took us another hour and a half to get home. We were very happy to be back. Tonight we aren't doing anything at all - just ordering Chinese food and watching a movie. We went for a walk today in Central Park, and saw all the melting snowmen that had been built after the storm. It is getting warm now though, so the snow won't last long. It's a little sad that we didn't get to see the beautiful snow when it first came down, but overall we were glad to miss the storm.

So here we are, finally on the brink of 2011. 2010 was a very eventful year, full of ups and downs. In fact, it was pretty much our lowest low and our highest high (so far). I am very happy to say goodbye to 2010, and can't wait to see all that 2011 has in store for us. I wish all of you a very happy New Year, especially those of you who are still fighting to complete your families. I hope this will be the best year for all of us!

Let the holidays begin!

I am finished with my semester and just submitted my grades this morning. Hooray! I can't believe how fast the semester flew by. And I would have been done with my grades even sooner, but had to take two days off to do all my Christmas shopping. I thought it would be a madhouse out and about shopping in Manhattan, but it turns out that mid-week shopping when it is 25 degrees out really isn't all that crowded. So except for the freezing cold, that made my life easier. I did get really tired out yesterday, with the walking and climbing stairs - I'm realizing that I get short of breath really easily.

I've been feeling Mr. Bean a lot! He seems really active and it's so fun to feel him. J still hasn't been able to feel him because I mostly feel him from the inside, plus he doesn't have the patience to leave his hand on my belly for that long. I think he is feeling a little left out and I can't wait for him to be able to feel the movement.

We are leaving for California tomorrow for Christmas. I'm looking forward to some warmer weather - I don't mind not having a chance at a White Christmas. We are staying with J's mom, and she is even having a baby shower for me the day after Christmas. I feel a little weird about having a shower so early, but she is so excited for her first grandbaby, and really wants to do this for me. I hope it won't jinx anything. I have never had a shower for me of any sort (didn't do one for our wedding even), so this should be interesting. J is only going to say hello at the very beginning and then go off to play golf with his step-dad (he is not a golfer at all - has never played before and really doesn't seem like the golfing "type", but he is excited). I did get him an adorable little onsie from Mr. Bean, with a matching t-shirt for him, in a cool design by a local artist that I know he will love. So I'm going to give him that as his shower gift.

So I probably won't check back in until after Christmas. For all of those who celebrate, I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Drum roll please....

Just got back from the scan. Everything looks great - perfect and in the right spot. And much to our surprise (I'm not sure why), it's a BOY! J. seemed shocked at first - I think he was disappointed for me, because he really thinks that I want a girl, but I'm just as happy as can be. I'm happy to give him a little boy, and I know he will be a sweet, sensitive little boy, just like his dad.

So things are still sinking in, but it is starting to all become more real. I'm feeling very miserable as this cold is progressing, but hopefully it will pass soon.

So, a big sigh of relief that everything looks good!

Getting sick

I'm in the beginning stages of a cold. I can feel it coming on - achy head, sniffly nose, sore throat. I hope it doesn't get too bad. I managed to stay healthy all semester, avoiding all the germs my students pass around. And I had my flu shot, so hopefully that's not what this is. I'm doing some research to see what cold remedies I can safely take, but would welcome any suggestions. This is kind of bad timing, in that we have a houseguest coming tomorrow and will be running around the city all weekend. But also decent timing in that I am off of work today and tomorrow. It is exam period and I don't have to go to campus until next week, and even then only have Monday and Tuesday - it's almost over!

Tomorrow is our 20 week anatomy scan, so I'll try to check back in then!