There are certain phone calls one never expects to receive and unfortunately this last Friday I got one of them. Sometime Friday morning three guys decided to kick in our front door and steal some of our stuff.
This is our front door now... the only reason I feel semi-safe now...


It was like they knew what was important to me because they took some stuff with a lot of sentimental value. Three watches that I had given to John as gifts. One of which I had to hunt down and work hard to get him. The cuff links I gave him as a wedding present. A pair of Nike Shox I worked hard to save the money to buy him since 'they are the best shoes in the world and everyone should own a pair' so says their original owner. John's class ring that his Pa insisted he get and now that he has graduated, loved very much and wore everday... but Friday. They took my six-year old laptop. It isn't the fact that my laptop is gone, the but the documents, the family photoes, wedding photos, recipes and the general things you grow accustomed to having at your fingertips and take for granted you won't lose.... gone. The took around $1500 and a DVD player along with the feelings of safety and comfort we had in this house that we now have to work hard to get back.
My first thought on Friday when John told me the bad news was 'am I going to feel comfortable raising my first baby in this house?' How am I ever going to feel safe or okay if John is gone or working out or coming home late? My privacy has been invaded, I feel completely vulnerable. I know that it is just stuff, but it is the sentiment behind all these things. I know that these feeling will go away, but to me, that doesn't seem like something that will happen soon. It is the first house I bought with my husband, it is where we are going to start a family and now it is where those three guys decided to break into and steal things.

I can definitely say that my baby has personality. Today at the doctor 'it' kept running away from the doppler stick. It made the doctor laugh. And I know there isn't that much room for it to swim around in, but *my* child decided to do its own thing regardless of what other people wanted. That sounds a tad bit familiar. The heartbeat was in the 150s. The old wivestale says that it is a girl since the heartbeat is *consistently* over 140. I wish this was a 100% way to tell the gender of the baby. Only three more weeks til I find out the gender (I realize I am quite obsessed with this, but if you know me, you understand). Then I will be able to atest to the validity of this test. Until then, John and I just know that we become more excited with each passing day.

Well, it is about time I got this thing actually started. I want to share the exciting events that are going on in mine and John's life with friends and family who aren't close... and those who are!
I am finally in my 17th week, which isn't the way I am supposed to tell how far along I am, according to my books, but I feel farther along this way. I have finished my 16th week and I am in my 17th week... just to be specific. But here I am!!

"It" is the size of an avocado and we will get to hear the heartbeat again this coming Tuesday, the 14th. Last time it was around 150 to 160 and the more I talk to people, that doesn't really tell me anything about the gender. It says it is healthy though, which is great! I am still counting down the days til May 4th when we find out if it is a boy or girl... blue or pink. We can't wait!!
This weekend John wanted to get started on the nursery. At first he just wanted me to get the rest of my stuff out of it so if he wanted to start the demo one day he could, but after I emptied it, I guess he decided Saturday was the day to start. He took it from this....


To this....




For those of you who might not know what you are looking at in these pics, John and I ripped out the built-in cabinets and the closet which was too small to fit a hanger in. Three out of the four walls no longer have texture on them. We didn't have to sand it off since the people who did it just put the texture on top of nasty paneling... so we ripped that off the walls. It is going to look great and it well on its way. Now all we need to know is the sex and we can start painting the appropriate color... well, there are a few other things to do before, but you get the idea!