All About Bean

By now most of you know that I am pregnant. I haven't posted much about Bean because I wanted to share his ultrasound photos as well. Today I was finally able to scan them into the computer for ya all to see.

So why do I refer to my baby as Bean?? Well, when Dam and I saw our first ultrasound the words that popped out of my mouth was, "It looks like a little kidney bean." From there Dam referred to our baby as Bean.

Early in the pregnancy Dam and I had an idea that we were going to have a boy. Almost every ultrasound Bean would be laying on his back with his arms in the air and legs wide open. Even at 13 weeks ultrasound techs were predicting boy. Well, on the 27 of March Dam and I were given the confirmation that we are having a boy. Yeah boy!!!! I had been hoping for a boy because my side of the family is in short supply of males (I have one nephew and four nieces). Dam's family was happy for us as well, but they had been hoping for a girl (out of the ten grandchildren born to the Valencic clan only two have been girls).

Spring is here

Spring has finally arrived!!! I know that today is considered the first official day of spring, but there are more things than just the calendar that indicate it: 1. there are different flowers popping up all over my yard, 2. the weather is great--I've gotten tired of temperature outside ranging around 30 degrees, 3. Eliot wants to go out more, which could be a hinderance except that she is pretty good at staying in the yard and coming in when I call her, and 4. I feel great--during the end of winter I become a slug and don't want to do anything. Now I can't wait to get outside to work on the yard or create a new piece of art.

Now I REALLY hate squirrels!!!

Dam and I arrived home from St. Thomas late Saturday night. Upon arrival I looked through the kitchen and noticed little mice droppings on the kitchen counter. So what do Dam and I come to the conclusion? Mice have moved into our home while we were gone, which would explain why the motion sensor for our house alarm kept going off while we were away. That night we were so tired from travel and all the other stresses that is happening right now we decided to go to bed and deal with the problem in the morning. Sunday morning arrived too quickly--I did not sleep too well since Eliot kept waking me up through the night. While I ate breakfast Dam went to Lowes to pick up mouse traps. We set the traps with peanut butter, placed them around the house and left to drive the 2 1/2 hours to Dam's parents' house to pick up the dogs (they were kind enough to babysit them while we were gone).

Dam and I drove home anticipating dead mice in the house, and what did we find??? Empty mouse traps!!! WITH THE PEANUT BUTTER MISSING!!!!! Needless to say I immediately thought rats, very large rats. The kind that my father encountered when he was working as a logger--big enough that when they get their leg caught in a trap tied to a table they're able to drag the table across the room, but I was wrong. Once in the house the dogs soon discovered a new smell under the couch and it was driving them nuts. Their actions caught Dam's and my attention, so Dam moved the couch and a squirrel goes flying down to the basement. Yes, you read that correctly, a squirrel.

The ensuing squirrel hunt consisted of Dam, our neighbor Randy, the dogs and me searching the basement with bags and flashlights. Did we find the squirrel?? No. Finally I called animal control who advised us to open the basement door and wait. I hate waiting.

In the end Dam and I went to bed not knowing if the squirrel left the basement. We set more peanut butter traps today to see if the squirrel would eat them (if still in the house). So far none of the traps have been touched and the alarm didn't mysteriously go off either on its own. Hopefully that is the end of the squirrel, but knowing my luck eventually that squirrel will find another way into our house because who can resist free peanut butter?

Where is Meredith???

I've been meaning to post, but the last few weeks have been a little more than busy. Currently I am in St. Thomas. (YEAH!!!) I am so glad to be out of the snow and cold!!!!! Dam and I arrived on Saturday after my parents. My sister and brother-in-law showed up Monday (they were delayed due to the blizzard in Columbus). Dam has discovered snorkeling and is hooked on it. He has decided that he wants to get a teaching job at the local university so that he can go snorkeling every day.

Sunday, while walking on the beach, Dam found a piece of coral with a perfect circle in it. After we get home I'm going to find a way to put the piece of coral on a necklace for him.

We all went sailing today--over to St. John to explore the different beaches. One of the most colorful fish that we saw was the Queen Angelfish. Some of the Queen Angelfish that we saw were almost a foot long. The highlight of the sailing trip was swimming with sea turtles and stingrays. I've never seen a stingray in real life, except in zoos, so swimming with one was a real treat.

Right now I am so sunburned that lobsters look pail in comparison. I still have not learned that when you start to feel warm it is time to cover up! Now my feet are swollen, it hurts to change my clothes and ironically I have a sun burn where my snorkel mask sat on my face. Hopefully this will clear up by Monday when I have to go back to work.