Jacob's Bedding: So, since I haven't posted any pictures of Jacob's room - I thought I would post a picture of the bedding we picked out since Target and Babies R Us doesn't carry it so we couldn't register for it.

Are you Martha or Maxine?

Martha's Way: Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

Maxine's Way: Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the cone, for Pete's sake! You are probably lying on the couch with your feet up eating it, anyway!

Martha's Way: To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.
Maxine's Way: Buy Hungry Jack mashed potato mix , keep it in the pantry for up to a year.

Martha's Way: When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won't be any white mess on the outside of the cake.
Maxine's Way: Go to the bakery! They'll even decorate it for you.

Martha's Way: If you accidentally over salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato and it will absorb the excess salt for an instant 'fix-me-up.'
Maxine's Way: If you over salt a dish while you are cooking, that's too bad. Please recite with me the real woman's motto: 'I made it and you will eat it and I don't care how bad it tastes!'

Martha's Way: Wrap celery in aluminum foil when putting in the refrigerator and it will keep for weeks.
Maxine's Way: Celery? Never heard of it!

Martha's Way: Brush some beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.
Maxine's Way: The Mrs. Smith frozen pie directions do not include brushing egg whites over the crust so I don't.

Martha's Way: Cure for headaches: take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.
Maxine's Way: Take a lime, mix it with tequila, chill and drink!

Martha's Way: If you have a problem opening jars, try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.
Maxine's Way: Go ask that very cute neighbor if he can open it for you.

Martha's Way: Don't throw out all that leftover wine. Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.
Maxine's Way: Leftover wine??????????? HELLO !!!!!!!

Thanksgiving Weekend Adventure

A lot has been happening in the Shaw home lately. Christmas is around the corner and the house is decorated! I impressed myself - I thought it would take me all week, but we don't have too much room for stuff so I got motivated yesterday and got it done (I'm starting to take after my super motivated husband - yikes!)

Update on how Mommy is doing: I'm doing ok. I can say that it is getting harder and harder. I haven't slept through the night since Tuesday night and I am feeling that. I wake up itching or with a headache or just wake up and can't get comfortable. I am swelling and my right hand keeps going numb because of it and I think my left hand is starting to think about joining in on the fun. I go to the doctor Wednesday and I looking forward hearing Jacob's heartbeat. I must say, when I feel my worst (like when I had to lay down this morning because my head hurt so badly) he moves the most, so that is fun and reassuring.

Update on how Daddy is doing: He is doing good. He is learning how to sleep when I toss and turn all night - definitely a skill to be learned! He is getting more and more excited. He is anxious for Jacob to get bigger so that he can feel him move more.

Our adventure this weekend . . .

Part 1: We painted Jacob's room! It looks so good. I love the paint color! We got some of his furniture out and tried to arrange it. We still have to arrange the room, get the couch out and put together the crib, but it looks so different already. We did have a slight adventure when a quart of the paint split and got on the carpet. My super wonderful husband cleaned it up quickly and with the help of our little carpet cleaner it just about all came up.

Part 2: The picture kind of gives away the punch line (no pun intended there). So my dog has starting barking very loud and mean at anything and everything outside. My neighbor was out in his yard and Garnet starting barking again. We were upstairs painting so I went in the sun room to open the window and yell at him to be quiet. Those windows stick and sometimes are hard to open. I was pushing with my left hand, but still couldn't get it open. I couldn't hit it with my right hand because it was really hurting me sooooo I used my elbow - stupid, stupid, stupid. You guessed it - my elbow went through the window. I have a nice v shaped cut and a broken window now. I cried - maybe from pain, maybe from frustration, maybe from embarrassment - I don't know. So, while I was holding a paper towel on my cut trying to stop the bleeding and Adam was cleaning up the split paint (yes, part 1 & part 2 of our adventures happened within about 5 min of each other), Micah ran up to Walgreens to get butterfly bandages for me. We got the paint and the cut cleaned up and finished up for the day without any more adventures.

I'll try and post some pictures of the window and Jacob's room tomorrow. So many adventures in just one weekend. Hopefully next weekend will be a bit slower, but you never know!

Jacob's Update

26 weeks (this one is a little late)
Your baby may weigh about two pounds now and is 14 inches in length.
To support the fetus's growing body, the spine is getting stronger and more supple. Though no longer than the span of the average adult hand, it is now made up of 150 joints, 33 rings, and some 1,000 ligaments.
Air sacs in the lungs form now.
Lungs begin to secrete a greasy substance called surfactant. Without surfactant the fetal lungs would stick together and couldn't expand after the baby is born.
Although they've been sealed shut for the last few months, your baby's eyes are opening and beginning to blink this week. Depending on ethnicity, some babies will be born with blue or gray-blue eyes (which may change color in the first 6 months of life) and some will be born with brown or dark eyes.
Retinas begin to form.
Brain wave activity for hearing and sight begins to be detectable.
Fetal brain scans show response to touch. If you shine a light on your abdomen, your baby will turn his head, which according to researchers, means his optic nerve is working. (that is just way cool!)

27 weeks
Your little one's brain continues its rapid growth. Don't forget to share music, conversation, and even books with your baby! (oh my, I'm so behind! Adam might be concerned if he comes home to find me on the couch reading to my belly!)
Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. Your baby's hearing continues to develop, he may start to recognize your voice as well as your partner's. (how fun! Adam talks to my belly a lot.)
Lungs continue to grow and prepare for functioning outside of the womb. Each day in the womb greatly increases survival rates!
He also continues to take small breaths and although he's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when he's born.
Eyelids are now open more. Your baby can distinguish between light and dark.
Retinas have formed.
Average size is now 14.4 inches and 1.9 pound.

My son kicked me!
By Adam Shaw

I finally know my son is really in there!! I mean, I know he's there, but last night I finally felt a hard kick. It was such a cool feeling. I can't wait till I can actually see him move in there. I can't wait to be a dad!!

Jacob is 6.25 months (25 weeks)

The structures of the spine begin to form -- joints, ligaments and rings. These will protect the all important spinal cord which serves as the information transmitter for your child's body.

Blood vessels of the lungs develop.

Your baby's nostrils begin to open. There is a study out of Belfast that suggests babies at this stage have the capability of scent preferences!

The nerves around the mouth and lip area are showing more sensitivity now. When baby is rooting for food later on, these will be valuable!

His swallowing reflexes are developing.

Dexterity is improving. Your baby can make a fist and would clasp objects placed in palm.

Your child has now obtained an approximate length of 13.6 inches and weighs 1.46 pound.

My lonely, chubby finger...

So I'm swelling. My hands are swelling and my feet are swelling. No ankle swelling yet. I haven't been able to wear my diamond and today was the first day I couldn't wear my wedding band. It is so sad. My hands are so swollen that they hurt when I make a fist or try to write. Yes, I'm drinking water. I was a "sweller" before the baby so I can't say that I am surprised. Today I did discover that I can wear my sapphire ring (that I normally wear on my right hand) very comfortably on my left hand and that made my morning! I hope to get just a plain band (a size a little bigger than my sapphire ring in case I swell more - my sapphire ring will hold it on until I out-swell that and can't wear it anymore), but we will see. I tried to convince Adam to buy me a "pregnancy" version of my wedding band, but he didn't jump at the idea. I don't know why. =)

Adam has been kicked!

Last night, I was sitting on the couch and Jacob starting kicking really hard. He kicked a couple of times and I was enjoying it and quietly called Adam over to feel. Now, I have to be quiet and still when I have Adam try and feel him kick, because he gets shy if I move or talk. Adam put his hand on my belly and waited no more than 2 min and then it happened - Jacob kicked! Adam said, "was that him?!?" Adam's face lit up when he realized it was his son kicking him. I want it to happen again just to watch Adam's face. He was just too excited. After that one kick, Jacob was done and didn't want to kick that hard again. Hopefully very soon there will be more kicks for Adam to feel. Adam has been waiting so patiently to be able to share in this part. I can't wait for it to happen again and again!

I'm just too excited!

So I'm so excited about what we picked out for Jacob that I just had to share what his stroller, car seat and pack 'n play look like. Isn't it just too cute?!? I love it!

To see his furniture you will just have to come and visit. We should have it up and the room painted by early December. I can't wait! He is going to be here faster than we know it. I am so anxious for Christmas, not because it will be Christmas, but that means that the next big event will be meeting Jacob!

Jacob is 6 months old!

Bring on the bulk! Baby gains about 6 ounces this week. The weight is in muscle, bone mass and organs.

His body begins to fill out with his appearance increasingly becoming more like a newborn.

Taste buds begin to form. If mom drinks something strange or bitter, baby may be observed showing his distaste.

Little creases have appeared on his palms. The muscular coordination of his hands has improved as he sucks his thumb.

Over the next seven days the sweat glands will be forming in the skin.

His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

This week your baby is officially considered viable. (Finally!)

Baby weighs 1.3 pound and is 11.8 inches long -- almost the length of a ruler!

We are registered!

Saturday Adam and I registered. It was so much fun - well Target was overwhelming and Babies R Us was more fun.

Target: we started there and tried to register for as much as possible there. The prices are better and it is more convenient for people. I found myself very overwhelmed by picking out everything. How many pacifiers do I need? What if he doesn't like the bottles I picked out? Oh my, I need towels and wash cloths - how many? Burp cloths - how many is too many? Is there really a thing as too many burp cloths? I like the soft kind - which one is that? Oh my, I was very overwhelmed. Adam did good for the most part. He got a little tired at the end and was not looking forward to an entire store of baby stuff next.

Babies R Us: this was much easier. It was more fun for Adam because we picked out the bath and stroller and things like that. We tried to register for all of our big stuff there (although, we did register for the high chair and swing at Target because I liked it better there). By the time we got there, I was just scanning things - blankets, bottles, all sorts of stuff. I think we got everything. Did you know you had to buy a mattress for the crib? They can be really expensive! We chose the cheapest one because (1) Jacob will never know the difference and (2) we picked out some expensive things so we were trying to find a balance. It is so hard to know what we will need. My fear is that he will not have any clothes or I'll use all my burp cloths in one day or what if I need something and don't have it? It was a lot harder than I thought it would be, but so much fun. We did order our furniture (even though that is what we are asking for for Christmas - we needed to make sure it will be in in time) so that was fun to know that we will be able to get that shortly.

All in all, I think it was a success. Adam enjoyed it (victory!) and I think we got everything we need. Who knows! Thankfully Walgreens is just around the corner for the emergency runs!

REALLY funny video! Anyone who has EVER gone into a nail salon or even walked by it can probably relate. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsWrY77o77o