Golden Opportunity

Yesterday, James went home with his new mom and dad, Scott and Brittany and his new cat-sister, Pixie!

Scott texted me after an e-mail I sent on Thursday to pretty much everyone I know within driving distance. He and Brittany came out yesterday afternoon, and James was on his best behavior... at first!

He was waiting on us at the door when they got here, and came right up to Brittany for some love when we opened the door. After playing with him for a little while, they decided he would be a good friend for their cat, Pixie.

After a brief goodbye, Scott and Brittany left with James, and I stepped out to the deck to empty his food and water (not wasting any time), and to call my partner, Tarayn with the news. As I was talking to Tarayn, I got a call from Scott, and saw Brittany walking toward the deck... without the cat. Just as they were about to get in the car, James escaped from Brittany's arms scratching her chest in the process. He bolted into the woods a little freaked out at why these strangers were about to take him. After trying to coerce him with food and leafy twigs, we came inside hoping the lack of attention would cause him to want attention. It worked. Not two minutes later, James hopped up on the deck. I was finally able to hold him and he started purring in my arms. We wrapped him up in Brittany's jacket, and Scott and Brittany headed to the car, while I gently carried him to their car. Any time he got tense, I stopped, talked to him and stroked his head and ears until he relaxed again. It took me a while to get out to the car, but he was so cozy in the fleece jacket that the handoff was pretty easy. :-)

I was a little sad to see him go and gave him a little kiss on the head before he made his trip to his new home where he will get to have a friend and live inside and have a family to love on him. Last night, Scott texted me that James is fitting right in and making himself at home. He told me James was rolling around in the living room floor playing with a Beanie Baby fox. I'm so glad he's fitting in and that Scott and Brittany like him! It makes me feel good about my little rescue cat! :-)

Thanks for the company over the last month or two, James! I know you'll have fun in your new home, but Tarayn, Kelli and I will miss you!

My little kitten...

Well, I am officially smitten with a kitten. THIS kitten.

This is James, and I am half-heartedly looking for a new home for this little guy who has recently taken up residence at the model home where I work. Obviously, I can’t keep him because Rez and Adler would have him for an afternoon snack, so I am looking for a loving family for my new little buddy. He wandered up to our model home in James Hill a little over a month ago. He was very skittish at first, and would run off as soon as he heard anyone or made eye contact, but over time he has become very friendly with me and my partners at work.

Since we have been feeding him, he has grown SO MUCH! Every morning when I get to work, I go outside and call his name, and he walks out from the crawl space with bed hair and sleepy eyes, stretches his arms out in front of him, and jumps up to the deck to say hey. His purrs have gotten so loud and he loves to be loved.

We will certainly miss seeing him around our model home, which is why I’m only halfheartedly trying to find him a new home, BUT I know he needs a family who will love on him… especially now that the weather is getting colder. I know he’s wearing a fur coat, but I can’t help but think he’s getting cold out there! :-) We have named him James because of the community in Ross Bridge where he “lives”, and he pretty much will answer to his name… or maybe he just answers to the sound of the cat food bag. :-) Either way, he's sweet.

If you, or someone you know is able to provide a LOVING home for our little friend, please let me know!

P.S. I am not a cat person, as many of you know. So, for me to fall for this kitten is a bit out of character! He's just so darn cute!

Hump Day

No, today is not Wednesday. Actually, it's Monday - but today marks the beginning of our 20th week. We are halfway there if Baby Hardy comes on time!

Today, I bought some sample paint for the nursery and washed my first load of baby clothes. ;-)

He's got moves!

Yesterday, I was sitting in the porch swing waiting on Justin to follow me outside to leave for lunch, and I sneezed. It was such a loud sneeze that I could hear it echoing back from the homes across from me. Immediately afterwards, I felt baby boy Hardy kick for the first time!!!

Realizing he was probably jolted awake by my voilent sneeze, I shouted out loud hoping to startle him again. It worked! I felt another tiny little thump from the inside. He only performed for me twice, but it was exciting to feel him moving inside. I can't wait to feel him again!

Just for my records, I was 19 weeks and 2 days when I felt him for the first time.

Oh, and I can officially tell I'm pregnant now (in my tummy, that is), although when I went to my sales meeting this morning, my co-workers asked me if I was actually pregnant, so maybe it's just me. I should take a picture to share with you. Maybe next post! :-)

Oh BOY!

Well, folks! Baby Hardy is indeed a boy!

We went for our appointment yesterday at 9:45 at 18 weeks. Before my appointment, I drank an entire can of Mountain Dew hoping the caffine would make Baby Hardy more cooperative. As they rubbed the sensor over my belly, we were SHOCKED to see our little one sleeping like a log! The caffine didn't affect him at all! After measuring him and taking a look at all his organs, they made the confirmation that he is a BOY! Fortunately he was sleeping with his legs wide open, so we got a good shot!

Over the past few days, I've really been getting the boy vibe, but Justin was completely convinced that our baby was a girl. He was so sure that he asked the ultrasound tech several times just to make sure. Each time she would mover over to look between the legs. Yep, still a boy! He later said he would have bet someone $1000 that we were having a girl. Good thing he didn't! :-)

This is sweet Baby BOY Hardy's profile shot. You also get a glimpse of his round belly and one of his hands. Can you see it?

This is our undeniable evidence that he is a boy. I mean, is there any doubt??? This shot is from underneath him with his legs spread. The third thing in the middle is, well, you guessed it, his "man parts." Justin is extremely proud. I think he has Justin's legs!

After an emotional moment of the reality that we will be bringing a baby boy into the world, we started getting excited. We went to Jack and Jill in Homewood and bought him a precious baby blue gown. I'll try to take a photo and add it tomorrow.

So, he has no name yet, and we're having a tough time coming to an agreement, but we have already started mentally preparing his nursery. That's what I'm doing tonight. Fun!

I am just so glad to KNOW! We both feel like it's so much more REAL now. Especially since I'm not really showing. I have gained 3 pounds, and Baby Boy Hardy weighs about half a pound. Dr. Przybysz says he looks great! We can't wait to meet him!

New(er) Baby Poll

The response was overwhelming! It looks like we are going to find out Baby Hardy's gender on October 8th! Yay!

There's a new poll to the right. Will baby Hardy be a girl or a boy??? Hurry and vote! The doctor's appointment is only one week away!

Rh Factor

There are few things I've been meaning to write about recently, but I just haven't made the time. I will soon post about my birthday and my fun trip to the beach to see my college friend, Hannah, but first, I wanted to post about one thing we discovered at our last appoitment at the doctor.

In a nutshell, my blood type is O-, meaning my Rh factor is negative. My blood does not contain a certain protein on my red blood cells indicated by the + or - behind the blood type. About 85% of people HAVE this protien. Justin is O+. When a woman who is Rh negative has a child with a blood type that is Rh positive (about 50% chance if the father is positive), then there is a chance that the mothers body could treat the baby as a poison, and produce toxins to fight it off.

Dr. Przybysz told me it usually doesn't have a negative impact on a first pregnancy because it's so rare that the baby's blood and the mother's blood will mix prior to delivery. However, the mother's body remembers and recognizes the protien in subsequent pregnancies and will make it's best effort to fight it off.

Fortunately, medical advances are such that this is no longer a big deal. There are two shots that I will have to get in order to prevent any potential negative reaction to a Rh+ baby. One will be at 28 weeks and one will be within 72 hours of delivery. I will have to have the shots with any other future pregnancies.

If you would like to read more info on this, click here.

So, that's what I've been wanting to talk about! Anyone else have experience with this?