Change

I haven't posted for a long while...mostly due to our changing scenery. Tom has been working out of town in the North Bay Area for eight months now. During that time, we have seen him only about every 2-3 weeks or so. In order to keep my sanity - and probably his also - we have spent a lot of time recently up in Lincoln with my parents so that we could see each other on weekends. (A two hour drive is a lot easier than 8). Since Tom's parents will be returning to Pasadena in early June, we are planning to go and stay with my folks for the summer, have a baby, save some much needed money, and regroup as a family. It all sounds like a smart plan. Not the ideal sure, but upon our last return back to Pasadena...I have been really sad. Not that I don't wish everyday to be close to my darling husband and have a mama close by to help out with a new baby, but because I have truly come to love this place. I love the city, I love our ward, I love this house, I dearly love each of our amazingly wonderful friends that have brightened our stay here, helped us make unforgettable memories and made this place our HOME. Lincoln is teaming with family, cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers...even old friends from high school. But starting over, especially in a temporary area will probably make it hard for us to make good connections with new friends. I know I should be optimisitic and have a little faith that it will be fine... But moving stinks. No doubt about that. I'm gonna miss you, Lili.

BLUE!!! (updated version)

(for those of you who cannot figure this photo out, its a view from the bum up...the white lines to the right are pelvic 'bones' and tip of spine...the fuzzy top of the pic is a leg...and above the words "It's a BOY!" is a distinct 'boy' part, the other leg is not fully visible in this pic but part of a hand is peeking at the bottom of the photo...and I know, if it's not your own ultrasound, you would never figure it out.)

Attention please! Here ye, here ye! Big news! It's a Gilstrap BOY!!

Boy! A boy! A boy!

Girls are drama anyway, right?...Owen can't wait to have his little skate crew...The beginnings of a baseball team...Skateboards...Firetrucks...Hotwheels...Manly men...and I still get to be the princess. (Guess those adorable little dresses will have to stay at the store for now...)

We are so THRILLED with the surprise of this news - everyone (including us) was so sure we would be saying girl. Little Wyatt, we can't wait to meet you!

(this is a 4D image of Wyatt...you can see his little face in the middle area of the pic...kind of a profile view.)

Peek-A-Boo...I See You!

It's real! There's a baby in there. And I was right on! July 31st is the day we are counting down to. That's a head with eyes and nose and hands on each side, a tummy and even a little foot pushing up toward the camera! And seriously, what a little wiggle worm. This kid was all OVER the place, which made it hard to get a very good heartbeat consistantly - but I heard it! Strong little bitty! So we're so excited, everything is going great and I am feeling so much better lately. Yea baby!!

My Own Piece of Mind

Okay, I'm really OCD about this. But this is what I have decided: That stupid nurse was wrong. If she says 6 weeks, she's off - because I have been counting weeks on a calendar for about an hour. Tom was in Santa Rosa for nearly two weeks during the month of October, it HAD to be after that. That would be only 5 weeks this past Wednesday. I think things are fine. 'Cause I swear the sick I feel isn't lying...it's only getting worse.

Baby G Update

So Tuesday I went in for my first Dr. appointment and came back more frustrated than ecstatic. The nurse did a vaginal ultrasound and flip flopped her estimate between 5 and 6 weeks along, until she settled on 6. Her attitude changed from welcoming and friendly at first meet to reserved and distant upon doing the ultrasound. She said the u/s showed a gestational sac and yolk sac, but no fetal pole which she says she should be seeing. She ordered up a bunch of blood work and I went in again Thursday for follow up blood work on HCG hormone level counts, but I still have no idea what the outcome is. I was scheduled to attend a new patient orientation class (you know, for all the low-class poor girls who get knocked up so easily) and they pulled me from the group, since my pregnancy wasn't viably confirmed yet. I've been a freakin' researching fool the last couple of days, and my hope is quickly fading. Trying to remain hopeful, but the limbo of the next week or two is nearly going to make me crazy. The morning sickness just hit on Tuesday...that has to say something right? I just want to think that that lady guessed wrong and it's still early. Because she could be! I have NO idea when this thing happened - all I know is that for the past couple of weeks we have been nothing but excited with the prospect of a new bitty around here and how dare she replace that with these nasty feelings of woe.

Welcome to the Jungle

(Halloween Back Peddling...)

I'm so lame for not sharing this with you all sooner, but Axl Rose totally lives with us!! Look! It's him! ...Okay, so it's just Owen. But doesn't he rock the 80's hairband G n' R look? This was a last minute decision the day before Halloween after O decided that his bank robber face mask and sweatshirt were far too HOT for the 80+ degree weather we were having. So we set out to the thrift store on a mission. Thank goodnes for Wal-Mart though, I tell ya. When we got home he dressed up as we put all of the treasures together to see if it was good. Next thing I knew he was struttin' his walk, flippin' his do and saying things like, "If anyone needs me, I'll be in my trailor", in between singing his made up words to Sweet Child O' Mine. I could be mistaken, but I think I've created a monster.

Two Pink Lines

Love is a many splendid thing. Heartburn is not so much - though I will gladly pay the price. Estimated arrival time is Summer 2009. Details to follow as they become available...