Man blogging! I need to learn to keep up with things!

A few Aerni baby updates…

I feel baby kick lots now – all throughout the day. Ryan has felt him several times too – and even seen the movements from outside my tummy. He got a real kick out of that!

1) Our nursery is coming along really well! Ryan and his dad put together the crib & dresser so we have furniture. We just need to get our rocking chair in there and we are in business. Darn Jill forgot to take photos of the men putting together the items and I was not very happy about that ‘slip of memory’. Argh! However I have included a couple views of the new things – we love them! I do still need to do some wall decorations and final touches but we are moving right along.

2) Classes! We took our breastfeeding class and are finishing up our Prepared Childbirth (Lamaze) and Baby Cares classes. We both find the baby cares class really awesome – we learned to take baby’s temp, give him a bath, all about circumcision, swaddling the baby, white noise, and so much more. We are in the last class BryanLGH is offering – next year they are putting some information in their Lamaze class and then some when the mom’s actually have the baby. So we were grateful we signed up before they squished all the information down. Lamaze is tougher for Ryan to sit through – more about the mom and how childbirth will go. But he is a great supporter every week – and the class clown. He actually made a joke the first week about how much “practice” he got in before we got pregnant in front of the entire class!!! Talk about Jill’s face turning red as can be. Ahhhhh!

3) Baby Aerni update: Doctor thinks think’s everything is going well. We had a temporary scare when I failed my first glucose test, but after the three hour version (which totally sucked!) baby and I were in the clear. I am growing at the right pace and gaining weight like I should be – but a lady never tells how much she weighs! As the third trimester started, I have some interesting symptoms cropping up that I am not terribly happy about. But I guess that’s what I signed up for!

4) Mookie Update: Mookie seems to sense the changes are coming closer. She loves to cuddle my tummy now and lay as near to me as possible. She sniffs me more often than usual too – a little weird. She hangs out in the nursery whenever Ryan & I are working in there, wanting to be close to both mom & dad and her new baby brother. She has been a good doggie the last months and will always be my little princess.

Baby is at 30 weeks as I write this so we are nearing the finals – can’t wait to introduce little one to the world!

Merry Christmas
Love Ryan, Jill, Mookie & Baby.

Baby Showers

Oh my goodness the things that have happened!

Let’s start with a little information about my baby showers. I had two wonderful showers in November and felt very spoiled. I am sure baby felt that way too!

1st was a shower thrown by Keysha & Alivia Aerni in Papillion with both Aerni & Urban women in attendance. It was so much fun! We had margarita flavored punch (non-alcoholic so I could try), delicious dessert and fun gossip. I had a great helper with opening all my gifts – let me tell you that Alivia is a gift opening champion. I could hardly keep up! We also played the classic “melted candy bar in diaper game” and I did okay, but I am sure by this time next year I will be able to recognize lots of kinds of number 2’s. Yick! I got lots of great advice from everyone who attended and it was a pleasure to visit with all. I did miss some family who couldn’t join us but I hope to see them around the holidays or when baby arrives and catch up!

2nd was a shower thrown by Donna, Jennifer & Jessica Helt with Helt & Boyle women in attendance plus a few others who I was truly THRILLED to see & visit with. I can’t describe to you how much fun it was. The ladies decorated an entire hall in my honor, including candies, matching tableware and diaper/blanket cakes! Then they surprised me with TWO flavors of cake provided by my very favorite baker in Lincoln – EnJoy. You must have eaten her cakes to know how yummy they taste. The other big surprise was CHICK-FIL-A!!! They had nuggets at the party and I might have eaten about 3 meals worth. SO GOOD! We played some really funny games too – ask Jennifer about her answers to the questions! Baby & I were again spoiled at this shower with gifts & truly wonderful advice from the other ladies. I feel so very loved and appreciate all that happened.

Here are two photos, one from each shower.
First I am at Keysha’s posing with some gifts.
Second I am with Jessica cutting one of the EnJoy cakes.

Barney's Room

Ryan & Mike (his dad) painted Barney's room this weekend and I totally love it!

They painted all day Sunday so Barney could have a room just like I wanted him to have. I am sharing some of the photos with everyone - to check out all their hard work.

I couldn't have asked for a better room, and love both my hubby & father-in-law for all they did. I fed them breakfast & lunch (homemade chicken soup & french onion) plus ice cream but I think they earned much more.

The first photo is Ryan & I priming the room, next is him & dad-in-law, hard at work. Finally a picture of the final product!

Love Ryan & Jill

Barney Francine Aerni

All about the baby - from Jill

Greetings from the mommy, daddy & ‘sister’ to be. Ryan & I decided to start this little ‘blog’ so that those who are interested in the development of little Barney Aerni can have a place to see what is going on in our little world.

This first post is a long one, so we can catch you up to where we are today! Jill is 21 weeks along, and so far – mostly good. We are all adjusting to things nicely – Mookie loves to cuddle on my stomach. I think she senses her little brother is growing in there, and she is telling him she promises to play nice when he comes out. Ryan also has started laying his hand on my tummy – often at nighttime, to check on his little one. It makes us all feel a little closer to our special baby boy.

Some highlights:

1st heard Barney’s heartbeat: 170 beats per minute
* Insider story – Jill didn’t hear it! All I heard was static but didn’t want to be the girl who was confused about her own baby heartbeat, so I pretended I knew what was going on.

Heard Barney’s heartbeat again: 155 beats per minute
* Update to insider story: This time Jill heard it plain as day – felt much better!

Ultrasound at 16/18 weeks: Saw little Barney!
* Insider Story: Jill was terrified that something was going to be wrong with her little one. I refused to look at the ultrasound screen until the tech made me turn around – and there was my baby! Soon after she told us we were proud parents of a boy – and I could see visions of sports & hunting dancing in Ryan’s eyes immediately. Sad news… the tech pushed back the delivery date by 2 weeks, so I had to start backwards at 16 again. Whew!

Doctor Checkup: October 15th, 2009
* Insider Story: Folks, we have a mover! I thought I felt little Barney moving – the sensation some refer to as ‘bubbles’… but couldn’t decide for sure. But while the nurse was checking for Barney’s heartbeat, he must have been trying to nap… because he was upset! He started punching or kicking – and both the Nurse & I felt it right away. Then Ryan hopped up and got to feel Barney too! An extremely exciting day for all of us.

Painting Away: October 17th, 2009
Barney’s room is officially started! Ryan & Jill actually worked well together on a project – shocking to anyone who knows us! We painted our little ones room with a coat of blue primer – and it looks just wonderful. We can’t wait to get the final colors done soon, so we can share a photo with everyone.

MISC:

Francine – This is the nickname Alivia has given to our little one. She does know we are ‘growing’ a boy – but she is a smart cookie! Francine is the "best friend" of one of her favorite cartoon characters. So she named our little one after the best, and we love it. She recently asked if the baby would come from “the baby crack” – which she got from the scar her mom has from having her. Funny girl!

Well, now you are caught up with the life of Barney! Ryan & I will keep everyone in the loop as much as possible on our new little blog. We hope this will help all feel more connected to all that is happening with our growing family. Love you all!