Weekend and appointment

Why hello there.

Some quick updates for you:

• Laura visited Ohio this weekend! Very fun to see family and friends for the first time since the announcement. Also confirmed loan of a changing table, bassinet, and crib- bam. Can I just be on vacation forever?
• Shrimps are still making eating and thinking difficult. How am I supposed to be eating a healthy diet and making any sorts of plans for them in this state? Shrimps, think of your own well-being and stop this nonsense. Although I was informed today that the shrimps get "fed first" as opposed to the rest of my body... interesting. 
• Had the second doctor's appointment today; they both have heartbeats (145 and 148 bpm) and still enjoy frolicking for the ultrasound. Doctor did not seem too concerned that Laura is still the EXACT SAME WEIGHT. Gosh. You'd think all that food in Ohio would count for something... 
• While chatting idly with the doctor during the ultrasound, she mistook my comment, "Andrew laughed hysterically when he found out" as, "Andrew left me when he found out". And was very concerned. Awkward but soon remedied. 
• Andrew and Laura are still kind of overwhelmed by everything right now. Work and moving and selling a house and normal things and so forth. Continued prayers and positive thoughts appreciated.

This is going to be hunted down and purchased in the case of boy girl, just fyi.

Week fourteen.

Shrimps:

• Are about the size of a fist, unless you've got giant man hands.
• Thumb sucking may have started at this point.
• Have gained their first piece of furniture- a crib! They'll be sharing until a fight breaks out.
• Have their next appointment next week.

Laura:

• Can't wait until today is over... giant event at work that has been eating me up for weeks.
• Speaking of eating, had a horrible dream last night that Andrew convinced me to use the babies as dumpling filling, and said they'd grow back.
• Going to Ohio this weekend!

Andrew:

• Did not actually tell Laura to use babies for dumpling filling.
  

Short today, but my brain will be busted until this weekend... maybe I'll post from Ohio!

Some Prayer Requests.

Salutations, Vogel shrimp followers-

Things are getting heavy over here- figuratively only, although one of these days I'll start gaining weight- and we'd appreciate your prayers and positive thoughts on the following:

• Work life balance: of which we have none right now, so it seems. Andrew has to get his certification asap, in addition to having a full 40 hours of client work a week (which is crazy- no down time). Laura is still trying to get down doing her job efficiently and not worrying about it off the clock. Not that this will ever be "solved", but we've realized we're gonna have to get better at it soon... looking for motivation, peace, and the ability to see the forest rather than the trees.
• Mortgage lease lease: the new house is a super awesome blessing, to be sure! And breaking our current lease won't be so bad either. But that house in Upland is our biggest cause of ulcers right now, and we really need to move forward. Praying for forward movement, peace, expert advice, and maybe some help getting it market ready!
• Relationships and stress: It's been hard for us to make friends in this area, although those we do have are awesome (hi Roots!), it's difficult for Laura especially. Also with the above two bullet points, we've managed pretty well so far but it's a little scary to think what yelling and stomping we'll be capable of once our patience and energy are sapped by tiny babies. Praying for increased number and depth of friendships, and strength of our relationship too.

Just wanted to get that out there. We love you guys and appreciate your support. Thursday we'll be back to our regularly scheduled funny update!

Week thirteen.

Shrimps:

• Skip this bullet if you have the mind of a middle schooler. Although I guess posting this means we kind of do? Anyway, we were loaned a great book by friends (thanks Berghoeffs!) that has glossy photography and detailed descriptions of babies growing during pregnancy. By happenstance we learned that all babies start out with an organ called an "indifferent penis" which eventually forms into girl parts or boy parts. WHAAAAAT. I will be forever squeamish about this evolution process going on inside my belly.
• Are just getting around to forming bones. 
• Have fingerprints!
• Are beginning to be a little more proportional to their giant heads.

Laura:

• Dare I hope that food is becoming tasty again? Found myself daydreaming about homemade marinara and meatballs the other day. And will soon have to get a restraining order from my pumpkin ice cream and ginger cat cookies.
• Had my first truly memorable pregnant adventure- attempting the "Billy Goat A" trail (read: rock climbing) at the C & O Canal with Uncle Gary and Aunt Lynn. This would have been perfectly fine had the weather held as I have no shame scootching down rocks on my behind, BUT it just so happened to be the day that a tropical depression hit our area (read: monsoon). Never been so wet in my life, but all's well that ends well!
• Is always ITCHY and has unbelievably strong nails. Not that these two things go together.
• Is starting to have fun with theoretically rearranging furniture in the house.

Andrew:

• Went with Laura to measure every possible dimension in the house and created a layout from it. I love this man.
• Has pretty much become the dishwasher since bits of food and soapy water skeeve me out. I love this man. Especially since the new house has no dishwasher.
• Has been married to Laura for three years as of Wednesday! Went to the Arlington Drafthouse and Cinema last night to celebrate.

A debate for you:

I had decided a few years back that cloth diapers seemed like the environmental way to go. Now that the reality of diapers is upon us, we'll be dealing with two messy bottoms at once, and daycare is most certainly going to happen for some time during the week, it seems less certain. Read this article with some of this facts and figures. I feel like it'd still be worth it when they're home... a few less disposables in the landfill. Comment with your thoughts, just know that in the end we most likely will do what we want to regardless of what you say:-).

House Update Update

You all are effective pray-ers and good thought senders... we are signing on the house this month!!! Get a full photo tour here. 

This does of course mean that a moving party will be scheduled soon, probably the weekend of November 9th. Break out your large vehicles and old clothes, people! We will feed and house you, and I will allow moving volunteers to touch my belly (if you want) without slapping your hand away!

Week twelve.

Shrimps:

• Are more lemon-sized than lime. Or, last week was true key west limes and this week is the type of lime found in groceries that is actually a hybridization of a lemon but looks and tastes kind of like a true lime but is bigger.
• Basically are perfect little human beings at this point- they have all their organs and appendages in order and hopefully on the right side of their skin (apparently some organs develop outside first SUPER WEIRD).
• Can officially be bugged by me if I squish my stomach. Guess that means I should start the awkward process of unbuttoning/safety pinning my pants together. I wonder what else will bug them... 

Laura:

• Lost her cookies. Maybe it's masochistic, but there was a feeling of gratification after three months of nausea to finally hurl. Also a good indication to never get up at 6:15am again.
• Has a giant uterus at this point that is squeezing out of the pelvic area. Bonus: less trips to the bathroom. Disadvantage: places shrimps closer to other organs so less stomach space, breathing space, and once they start dancing more- kicked organs. Hooray!
• Apparently is supposed to be in maternity clothes at this point? I have occasionally done the pants thing... but am making do with my own clothes pretty well so far. You know that giant belly bloat you have after eating way too much at a buffet, or even more so after having eaten far too much of a gas-inducing food (brussel sprouts, Andrew?)? That is what I feel like I have so far. Although I definitely cannot suck in my stomach to save my life.
• Went to my first baby store- a Carter's that opened near by. I successfully left with nothing!

Andrew:

• Has been sick lately, poor thing. But has been nicely keeping it to himself.
• "Paternity leave" was actually a phrase uttered by his boss after hearing the news... not that he'd get much if any, but I'm hoping there will be a little leeway?
• Is okay with my idea for a color scheme of "carrot" aka orange and green. I think it's because dinosaurs are also often green and orange. We still may or may not have a nursery, but it'd be nice for things to kind of coordinate. 
• Feels it would be best if we had a boy and a girl, or two boys. If we had two girls, he would be outnumbered 6:1 (if fixed cats count).

Other news:

• We are now first in line for the house!!!!!! Assuming our credit and other various stuff checks out, we will have a house HOORAY.
• FYI I do have a secret pinterest board of baby things, if you'd like to join in just let me know! This is the kind of stuff that gets posted:

House Update

Original, 1700's section to far right.

So Andrew and I visited the park house (see first mention in Week Eleven post) today:

• 4 miles from Brookside, 5 from nearest train station (for Andrew)
• Original part of the house built in the 1700's 
• Located at the entrance of Paint Branch Park
• Nice big yard
• 2 bedroom, 1 bath, with loft and basement

LOOK AT THIS KITCHEN. Not that we can use the fireplace...

The positives:

• Just the right "upward expansion size" for us... allows room for kids and Andrew's work easily but not too much to furnish.
• SO MUCH FREAKING character
• An old home without as much of the old home stress: since we would be renters Parks takes care of all the big projects before we get there.
• The price is right- would be about the same as rent as our current apartment.

Beautiful entry hall with original floor and room for bookshelves.

The negatives/unknowns:

• We are second in line- if the first person qualifies and decides to take the house, they get it.
• If we get it, money will be really tight for a bit- they want folks to move in next month, if there's no flexibility there we will be carrying two leases and a mortgage simultaneously.
• We will be in charge of maintenance, such as mowing the gigantic lawn and taking care of the old house problems we noticed during the visit- bugs, humidity, etc.
• Not sure at this time what the utility bills would be like.

One half of the lawn... ignore my expression as I was feeling sick.

I think I'm leaning more toward the house than Andrew, but we've agreed if the first person passes we'd take it. I just don't know the likelihood of that happening. We did talk to the maintenance guy working there today and he said another house would be coming up for rent soon that was nicer but probably more expensive. Would appreciate prayers and positive thoughts directed our way!

Loft that could serve as Andrew's office.