24 Weeks Pregnant: Already a Soccer Mom

My uterus is now the size of a soccer ball and that’s what it looks like I’m smuggling under my shirt these days! I’m more fatigued than usual but have trouble sleeping through the night due to joint pain, especially in my hips. I no longer have trouble with ANY of the foods or drinks I couldn’t stomach in my first trimester.
The baby has passed the one pound mark and is almost a foot long. She looks like a miniature newborn and the development of her face is more or less complete. She looks almost exactly as she will at birth. Her eyes are still shut, but eyelashes are well developed, hair continues to grow on her scalp, eyebrows are visible, and her taste buds may be working. Her unique hand- and footprints are forming, too.
The baby’s pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily. She has developed seven million eggs in her ovaries, but by birth she will have only one million eggs. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily. (The lungs are the last organ to fully develop before birth.)
Fetal researchers say babies move about 50 times an hour even while sleeping. Every day now I’m feeling occasional kicks, twists, turns, swishes, rolls, and even hiccups. Lately, Will has been able to feel a couple of big kicks and some hiccups. The baby is aware of my movements now, too. She can hear more and more now, and can even be startled by loud, sudden noises.

20 Weeks Pregnant

At week 18 we caught a sideways look in the mirror and my belly has popped. There’s no chance of it being mistaken for a “pooch” now!

The baby’s movements are now consciously directed and it is sitting cross legged, reclining, sucking its thumb, and turning somersaults. During week 19 I could say with certainty that I was feeling periodic kicks. There were no “butterflies in the stomach” feelings like we read about, just a firm bump.

The baby’s sense of hearing is developing and its ears are standing out from the sides of its head. We have begun talking and singing to the baby and hope to make it a habit.

The baby’s brain is designating specialized areas for its five senses; the retinas are light sensitive; buds are appearing for both permanent and baby teeth; and scalp hair and toenails are beginning to grow. The baby is also swallowing more now, which is good practice for its digestive system.

At our 20 week appointment we had our second ultrasound and learned the sex of the baby…it’s our secret until Thanksgiving though! The ultrasound technician had their work cut out for them because the baby was moving around like crazy. I think eating Japanese food for lunch did the trick.

The baby is approximately 14 ounces and 10 inches long. The doctors said the baby appears perfectly healthy by all accounts and our due date seems right on track. I am doing great as well and the nausea only comes occasionally now; there are more good days than bad. I have gained four pounds so far and the “norm” from this point forward is to gain about one pound per week.

17 Weeks Pregnant

Today we had our latest OB appointment. I've gained 1.5 pounds so far in the pregnancy, but as you can see, I'm definitely "showing!" Over the last few weeks I've pulled together a whole new maternity wardrobe from consignment shops, Mom Neve, and a JCPenney's sale.
Since October started, only traces of nausea remain and I've begun working some small jobs. The doctor says since I'm still feeling a little yucky, I'll likely feel that way until the end (40 weeks).
At 17 weeks pregnant, my heart is now pumping 40% more blood than normal. The baby is 5-6" long; its major organs are functioning, and its bones are hardening. Finger nails have developed and the baby's fingers and toes are separated. The baby can make facial expressions and is moving some, but only involuntarily as it doesn't yet have control over its muscles. As a first time Mom, I should feel the baby moving by 22 weeks.

Preparation..Preparation..Preparation

"Practice makes perfect" is what we all have heard at least once in our lives. Over the past month Andrea and I have been in "preparation" mode, anxiously awaiting the next exciting chapter of our lives when Baby Neve comes to town in March. So how do first-time parents prepare? Accumulate knowledge from books, gain advice from those who recently have had children, and, the most critical, further develop the lines of communication between one another to allow our relationship to grow stronger daily.

Andrea really deserves a tremendous amount of credit on these fronts as she has put this preparation time to great use by reading alot of great information on pregnancy, baby's first year, and several other items that she has relayed to me. Her focus is amazing and truly shows me how blessed I am to have such an exceptional woman as my wife. The time and effort she is placing into this entire process really shows me and everyone else that she will not just be a good mother...she will be a GREAT mother.

This past month has also really helped us hone our communication skills so we can operate on the same wavelength and stay in unison on several topics. It is like the quarterback (Andrea) who constantly practices throwing to a receiver (Will) so that they develop great timing and chemistry. Then when they are thrust into a game situation they are not easily rattled because they have been practicing nonstop and thus are able to score a touchdown like clockwork (I just finished watching Monday Night Football so pardon all the football analogies). It requires patience and flexibility to develop strong communication skills between members of the opposite sex however we are willing and care and love each other so we find the way.

We are also blessed to have friends and relatives that have little ones right now who are sharing with us the good, bad, and ugly of their first year baby experiences. Therein lies the irony of preparation in that you think you know only to realize you pretty much don't know anything until it is there. The key is that every new parent finds a way..some easier and possibly better than others. I know Andrea and I will find our way and the journey will have an incredible amount of good, some bad, and very little ugly in it.

Preparation..Preparation..Preparation

"Practice makes perfect" is what we all have heard at least once in our lives. Over the past month Andrea and I have been in "preparation" mode, anxiously awaiting the next exciting chapter of our lives when Baby Neve comes to town in March. So how do first-time parents prepare? Accumulate knowledge from books, gain advice from those who recently have had children, and, the most critical, further develop the lines of communication between one another to allow our relationship to grow stronger daily.

Andrea really deserves a tremendous amount of credit on these fronts as she has put this preparation time to great use by reading alot of great information on pregnancy, baby's first year, and several other items that she has relayed to me. Her focus is amazing and truly shows me how blessed I am to have such an exceptional woman as my wife. The time and effort she is placing into this entire process really shows me and everyone else that she will not just be a good mother...she will be a GREAT mother.

This past month has also really helped us hone our communication skills so we can operate on the same wavelength and stay in unison on several topics. It is like the quarterback (Andrea) who constantly practices throwing to a receiver (Will) so that they develop great timing and chemistry. Then when they are thrust into a game situation they are not easily rattled because they have been practicing nonstop and thus are able to score a touchdown like clockwork (I just finished watching Monday Night Football so pardon all the football analogies). It requires patience and flexibility to develop strong communication skills between members of the opposite sex however we are willing and care and love each other so we find the way.

We are also blessed to have friends and relatives that have little ones right now who are sharing with us the good, bad, and ugly of their first year baby experiences. Therein lies the irony of preparation in that you think you know only to realize you pretty much don't know anything until it is there. The key is that every new parent finds a way..some easier and possibly better than others. I know Andrea and I will find our way and the journey will have an incredible amount of good, some bad, and very little ugly in it.

Meditteranean Cruise: Our Impressions

As you may be aware Andrea and I were blessed enough to save our pennies and enjoy our last weeklong vacation as a couple before our wonderful bundle of joy arrives in March. We wanted it to be relaxing, unique, and memorable and we both agree that it was those things and much more. The flights over and back were challenging since neither of us fare well in terms of rest on airplanes and we seemed to be running from one end of the terminal to the other to catch our flights (which ended up being delayed each time we ran) however once we arrived in Venice all the jet lag quickly subsided as we got to witness a place that seemed as though it was part of a different planet. To say Venice is beautiful is to say that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are a decent looking couple. We arrived on a Sunday and the streets were rather empty which allowed us to relax and see things at our leisure. Then we headed onto our Royal Carribean cruise ship known as Splendour of the Seas and it was defintely a beast of a ship (the largest in the port by far). We got to our cabin (which was very nice) and then got to spend time enjoying all the amenities of a cruise ship (access to tons of food, great lounging areas, and nice entertainment).

Our first port was Athens, Greece and, while not our favorite port, it definitely possessed history and the biggest thrill was being able to stand in a place that was at one time the pillar of civilization. Tourism officials didn't allow anybody to get too close to the ruins, however standing on the Acropolis you could close your eyes and allow your mind's eye to see what the Romans must have seen. The rest of Athens was fairly pedestrian however we enjoyed the historical aspects of the city.

Next we went to our favorite port which, surprisingly, was Kusadasi, Turkey. Turkey has a very rich history dating back almost 10,000 years, however due to several social and political factors (Middle East anyone?) the Turks are still in the early process of discovering everything. Our guide presented a very engaging portrait of the historical ruins of Ephesus which we thoroughly enjoyed. It was even more enjoyable due to the fact that you could actually explore the ruins coupled with an intriguing reenactment show that demonstrated what life was like for the port city during Roman times. Turkey's religious tolerance was fascinating given that their neighbors don't necessarily share that viewpoint. To illustrate that fact we stopped near a museum and up on a hill there was a Jewish temple, Christian church, and Muslim mosque within three feet of one another.

Our next two stops were two beautiful and relatively large Greek Islands (according to our cruise director there are roughly 500 Greek Islands of varying sizes in the Meditteranean). First we had a short 5 hour stop in Crete where we enjoyed our "beach day" and relaxed on a clothing optional beach (no we didn't take our clothes off however there were people that did whom we both wished hadn't but that's another story).

Next stop was Corfu, Greece which is known for its lush greenery and mountains. It ranked a close second behind Turkey as our favorite spot. The scenery was amazing and I thoroughly tipped our bus driver who was able to navigate us through extremely narrow cobblestone streets (I don't know how a Yugo could get through those streets let alone a Greyhound-style bus). The best way to picture Corfu is to close your eyes and picture that you are in a Lord of the Rings movie. It really has a mythic quality to it and you definitely feel as though you have stepped back in time at various spots.

Overall we enjoyed the ports and the cruise ship. The greatest takeaway from our trip is that it relaxed us, gave us great memories, and allowed us to experience something special together. Now we turn our focus onto preparing for parenthood. Both of us realize that will be our greatest adventure and we both are willing and excited about the journey ahead.

One Year Wedding Anniversary

Today marks our one year wedding anniversary and what a year it has been. Andrea and I are both very blessed to have spent a year learning and growing in our shared life and are excited about the year to come. Our Greek Isles trip is forthcoming so today we have been able to enjoy a "Lazy Sunday" with each other, getting to reflect on the past year and the exciting events ahead in our life. Since this is considered our "paper" anniversary I gave Andrea a framed message that said:
"Our 1st Anniversary is the perfect time to tell you what you mean to me. How I depend on you to love me for who I am and believe in me for what I hope to be. How I feel loved each time you smile or touch my hand and, when I need someone to listen, I know you'll understand. So Andrea I celebrate this special year of loving you, grateful that we have the happiness life gives to just a few. Happy 1st Anniversary Love Forever, Will August 27, 2006"
I know most men are probably hurling their lunch with all that mush however Andrea thought it was perfect and really that's the most important thing; you and your partner are equals and working to strike the perfect chords for each other makes life's melody better than you could have ever hoped it could be.

Andrea Neve, Wedding Planner = A Success Story

Another month has come and gone with some special events taking shape in our life.
First and foremost was Andrea's successful foray into the world of wedding coordination and planning. As you know Andrea has been building a steady book of clients for her business Events by Andrea and this weekend she completed the planning and coordination of the first of many weddings she will be involved in.

It was a rousing success with a fabulous reception at Cheekwood Gardens and then setting up a wonderful suite for the couple at Nashville's only five star hotel, the Hermitage Hotel.

I continue to be impressed with my wonderful wife and how devoted she has been to building up her own business. She inspires me daily with her work ethic and ability to manage all the various aspects that go into owning and running your own business. I have no doubt that she will be one of the top planners in the Nashville area in a very short time.

So what is the result of her hard work?

Well a trip to the Greek Isles in September of course! We have jointly gone in to book a European cruise to celebrate our first anniversary. The trip will start in Venice, Italy and then will stop in idyllic destinations such as Athens, Greece, Ephesus, Turkey, Crete, and Corfu, Greece. We are both excited about this much-needed 7 day luxury and are blessed to have the means and time available to enjoy this together. We have exciting upcoming events and we are blessed to share each of them with you.

Dear Dad

It's Father's Day Weekend and Andrea and I are finally relaxing for a nice weekend together. Andrea's work has been hectic however she loves what she does and excels at it (what more could one ask for?). She is trying to juggle the planning & coordination of two weddings while also working part-time for a event management company called XMI. I am continually impressed with her dedication and capabilities.

To our fathers,

We want to thank each of you for all you have done.It is my most sincere hope that one day we have a family. I pray that God instills in me the patience, capability, work ethic, and, above all else, love to not just be a "good dad" but a great father down the road. I make a commitment to be the best father I can be and leave a positive legacy in the world.

I still remember when I gave my dad a cup that said “World’s Greatest Dad” on it and when I stop by his home I see he still drinks from it to this day. I hope there will be a day when our child gives me a cup as well.

The Birthday Month

Birthdays are funny.
When you are young they are great and you can’t wait to be one year older. When you are older that excitement quickly fades and is replaced with disdain for the fact that you have aged one more year. Thankfully we were thrilled to witness the excitement and enthusiasm of our nephew Isaac's first birthday in Minneapolis on May 14th. May is a big birthday month for Andrea’s family as Andrea, her brother and sister-in-law all have birthdays this month (Andrea’s b-day is May 28th).

It seems we have been on a traveling tour this month as we went to visit my mother in Chattanooga, then Andrea went to San Antonio to coordinate the ABVP conference, and finally we enjoyed Isaac’s birthday in Minneapolis coupled with a brief visit with family in Chicago. We are a little jetlagged from all the traveling however we both are so happy to know that we have gotten to enjoy great memories with our family and look forward to living and enjoying more as we press on to our next birthday one year from now.

Dear Mom(s),
We love you both so much and cannot properly describe the positive impact you have made in shaping who we are. You are the best and we hope each of you has a great Mother's Day.

Easter Greetings

Easter Weekend has come and gone with a fantastic church service that left Andrea and I both renewed and refocused to achieve our goals and enjoy the lives that God has given us. We finally have gotten Andrea's event planning business site up Events By Andrea and are pleased by the reaction and early results that have come from it.

Thanks to our resourceful CPA and some steady saving we both got to purchase our big "toys" for 2006. The first was a wonderful 50" plasma TV (it's like going from VHS to watching DVD) that we both can enjoy.

The second was Andrea's new car. Given that "Leo" (she names all her cars) was on its deathbed she heavily researched and took me on several test drives until she decided on a shiny silver 2005 Mazda 3i which she has now named "Alexis".

We will not have much time to enjoy our new toys as three of our next four weekends are going to be in Chattanooga, then San Antonio for business, and finally to Chicago and Minneapolis to visit family.

Until next month peace and love!

Viva Las Vegas

Andrea and I just got back from a whirlwind trip in Vegas and we are physically exhausted yet mentally renewed. We managed to catch two amazing shows, see the Grand Canyon in all its majesty, and knock down 17 resorts with each being roughly the size of the Grand Canyon (not bad for 3 days). Vegas is something to definitely experience with highlights being the amazing shows and the atmosphere and experiencing of the Vegas Strip.

You see all walks of life in Vegas and quickly realize why it has the “Sin City” moniker as people are constantly trying to give you brochures for a “$49 special” (I’ll leave it up to your imagination as to what the special is). We stayed at the Luxor which has an Eqyptian theme and it was very clean. The room was a bit stuffy however it had a good view and the buffet was great. Since neither of us gamble all the casinos looked roughly the same (I only played a few slots where you could win cars).

The biggest highlight for us was being able to watch Cirque de Soleil show "Ka" at the MGM Grand. Touted as having the highest production values of any live show it definitely showcased it with a rotating stage and amazing performers. Every trip has to have a lowlight I suppose and that came to us in the form of a rude and obnoxious time-share saleslady. Nevertheless we endured her lack of class and got two free tickets to another quality show “Mama Mia.”

Friday we caught a bus and got to briefly see Hoover Dam and then the Grand Canyon.
The Grand Canyon is simply amazing. you have the means go see it as you cannot truly appreciate it in a postcard or a picture. Saturday we got to see all the other resorts on the Vegas Strip. These places are deceptively huge with casinos, rides, and shopping in each one, all having themes that are interesting and engaging. Favorites for us were the Venetian, Wynn, MGM Grand, and Caesar's Palace. We happened to see baseball legend Pete Rose signing autographs at Caesar's Palace which we found ironic given that he was banished from baseball for alleged betting and he is in Vegas of all places. Overall we enjoyed the trip and were happy to take away some fun memories and great times.

Super Bowl Sunday & New Career Monday

We are getting ready for an enjoyable evening watching the Seahawks face off against the Steelers in Super Bowl XL with some friends. Currently we have 5 people attending and have done our due diligence to have enough food and snacks to feed roughly 55. Right now we are both trying to ensure we have our F.I.T.T. professionally (Is it Fulfilling/Inspiring and do we have the Talent/Temperament for it?) . Andrea has taken a huge step in that adventure with her official last day at TNA this past Thursday February 2nd. To commemorate the occasion I told her I was going to take her out to dinner. Little did she know that I had gotten all her girlfriends together for a "girl's dinner party" at a local spot named Mama Mia's. Andrea was shocked and thrilled to see everyone and surprised that the king of not being able to keep a secret pulled one over on her. I was so pleased that she got to spend some special "girl time" and know how much everyone supports her new venture into the world of wedding planning. For now we are going to sign off and enjoy Super Bowl Sunday and then Andrea will jump into a new career this Monday and I will be there every step of the way.

2005 Year in Review: The Beginning of our Journey

How do we even being to describe 2005? It was the beginning, the end, and the beginning again.
It was the end of individual lives and the beginning of a shared one for us with our marriage. It started in February with a proposal in Chicago on a stage in front of 300 people and culminated in a celebration in late August with our most intimate family and friends.
It was the end of just one family and the beginning of two families. We got to enjoy the treasure of a new life in baby Isaac and share special time reflecting on those whom we have lost. We both endured professional hardships that molded us into stronger individuals and further united our shared life.
It ended as it began...the two of us together at home on December 31st taking time to sit in peace and let it soak in. We looked at one another and knew that we ended a year stronger, better, and with a thought that we began 2005 with..the thought that we are not alone, we are blessed we found each other and that 2006 is the start of another beginning for us again.