the quilt. the end.

Yes, poor quality pictures, but I was balancing from above to get a panoramic view. It looks way better in person anyway. And the N's are not backwards when viewed from the front. =) You should be receiving it before the week is over!

Update on Operation Gestation

Basically, I rock at gestating. OK, the doctor didn't use those exact words, but that's the message I took away from today's appointment. :)

I've tried to avoid turning Cousin Central into my personal pregnancy Web site, but here's my "welcome to the 3rd trimester!" update. (Please excuse the crappy post-shower photo. I thought it would be a bit anti-climactic to post without photographic evidence of my growing midsection.)

Timeline: Week 28. Just a bit under three months to go. Wow!
Health Update: Babyman's heartbeat is strong (150 bpm). He's still quite the mover and kicker. My health is terrific, according to the doctor. I passed my glucose screening test today, woot.
Best Parts of Pregnancy: I love feeling him move, even when he occasionally kicks me in the ribs or bladder. I'm getting really excited to meet Babyman. I can't wait to see what he looks like and to discover his personality.
Worst Part of Pregnancy: Decreasing mobility. I get out of breath doing the dumbest stuff. Rolling over at night is an adventure, especially if I end up on my back by accident.
Most Surprising Part of Pregnancy: I'm continually surprised by how Mother Nature takes over. I've realized just how little control I have over my physical and mental state, which is simultaneously amazing and terrifying. Kind of like parenthood, heh.
Nursery: Painted yellow, courtesy of Mom and Andy. Crib is assembled. Lindsey's artistic masterpieces are waiting to be hung. Glider/rocker has been ordered. Still waiting for the bedding, which has been backordered twice. I can't wait to post a picture when it's finished!
Names: We have one serious contender. Every time we discuss another name, I keep coming back to this one. I think Andy considers it a real possibility. :)

big plans for you

Andy, I'm starting your quilt this weekend (YAY!!!) It'll take me a month or so, but will be fantastic. And very manly. ;)

I'm chopping the shirts this afternoon.

Crate and Barrel love

Crate and Barrel just released a bunch of new stuff for fall. I love the color palette they've chosen!

Parker mini bowls. Cute and functional!


Jelli cutting boards. How often do you find a PURPLE cutting board?


Mesh bulletin board. How lovely and streamlined would this be in a home office?

Baby Washburn is ...

A BOY! A BOY! A BOY!

This is my favorite ultrasound picture because it was the last one the tech took, and it looks like he's saying "Geez people, enough already! You have 15 pictures of me already!"

Seeing him was incredible. As soon as the picture flashed on the screen, I felt like a mom instead of just an incubator (heh). The look on Andy's face was priceless ... pure joy, happiness, and wonder.

He looks perfectly healthy and we're still on track for a Turkey Day arrival (give or take a day or two). The ultrasound tech said he's the most active fetus she's seen in awhile. Despite many attempts, she couldn't get a completely accurate head measurement because the little guy wouldn't stop wiggling. If that's an omen, we're in trouble!

Most of you know that I was hesitant to find out the sex ahead of time. Andy, on the other hand, was dying to know. Eventually, I came around, and I'm so glad I did. Being able to say, "We have a son!" is more exciting than I ever imagined.

This is an awfully gushy post for me. It's hard to articulate exactly how I'm feeling, other than to say I'm overflowing with love and gratitude. I've spent many hours fretting about my mothering abilities, but for now, I'm going to kick back with Andy and enjoy getting to know this new family member (who is fluttering and somersaulting as I type).

In case you were wondering what the photos look like taken from traffic cameras, here I am.

Scrubs, Season 2 Premiere starts July 1

Hey there Nebraska contingent:

I'm sad I didn't get a chance to visit with you guys this summer when the rest of the family rolled through the state, but I figured I would try to remedy the situation by posting on this blog, which is long overdue.

My intern year of residency is now over. This would bring me more relief but for the fact that R2 year begins in two days. I'll be starting out on the cardiology ward/coronary care unit. I have done 2 similar rotations in the past, but now I'll be the senior resident on call every fourth night, admitting all the heart attack and heart failure patients, not to mention all the patients whose pacemakers and defibrillators are going haywire. Plus, I, along with the ICU resident, will be running all the codes in the University Hospital on people who are trying to die on us. Can I get a "holy crap"? We can always call the fellow or attending, but they will be taking call from home and are not physically on the premises. Also as my new role as resident, I will have to be supervising my brand new intern on procedures like central lines.

Tomorrow is my last day of "intern week." It has been awesome. Julie and I drove out to Moab, Utah June 23-24 to celebrate my birthday and her graduation. We hiked at the Arches National Park (and saw the Delicate Arch, which is on Utah's license plate). Then we flew to Dallas, Texas to go to our cousin Brett's wedding. It was 105 degrees during their outside wedding, but fortunately this only lasted about 10 minutes. Most of our other free time we spent at the pool. I also actually got to read a novel, "Unaccustomed Earth" by Jhumpa Lahiri, which is actually a compilation of short stories. Tomorrow I am going with some of my co-residents to Water World...I am excited because it has been a long time since I've been to a water park.

Well, I hope your summers are going great and that everything is going well with the pregnancy!

Tech Nerd Inquiry

So Denver branch, what kind of laptops do you have? If I remember right, Julie, did I see you totally whip out an apple when you came through town? If it's one with a camera, anywhere you've got web access, we can do a video chat with the lovely Nebraska branch.

Just let me kwno the details and I can get you ladies all set up for a regular thingy.

When Do I Get to See Your Loveliness?

Hey Jules! When do I get to see your beautiful face??? You are coming through in a couple weeks right? I can't wait to see you and catch up!!

Sunday in the garden

WARNING: Hayley and Lindsey, you will find this boring and should probably skip this post. ;)

I say this every year, but I was a bit behind on my spring gardening adventures so I spent a lovely Sunday catching up. I planted:
- 3 tomato plants - Early Girl (supposed to be ready in just 50 days!), an heirloom variety, and yellow cherry
- Basil - one established plant, plus seeds in a deck container
- Flowers - 12 marigolds, 6 wave petunias, 4 lantana, plus seeds of morning glory, zinnias, and alyssum.

Then I mulched four of the small beds, which required a trip to Menard's first. I'm still not done, though. The rosebushes in front need pruning, and the "big garden" in back is a weed pit right now. Plus, I'd like to add a few more deck containers. I'm hoping I can finish those projects during some weeknight.

I am TIRED! As much as I enjoy gardening, I think I have more beds than I can realistically handle -- especially since we spend so many weekends at the lake. I enjoy tending my small beds because they're filled with good dirt and are easy to fill and maintain. The big bed is a gardener's nightmare, though, because it's filled with this awful, heavy clay soil that covers the outlying areas of Lincoln. It's a gift (ha) from the previous owner, and it's still a semi-disaster after six years of mulching, composting, and adding topsoil. My rookie mistake was trying to make the best of it. In hindsight, I should've paid for dirt removal and started from scratch.

Oh well. I'm hoping it's not my problem next year. I've threatened to take a soil sample test kit to open houses so we don't buy another home that's plagued with crappy clay soil. ;)

An opportunity for growth ... or something

The nice thing about our pregnancy being mostly a secret is that we haven't been bombarded with well-intended (yet annoying) unsolicited advice yet.

This ignorance-is-bliss period is soon coming to an end, however. That became oh-so-clear today when I told my great-aunt Nancy that I was pregnant. One of the first questions out of her mouth was whether I would continue working. I said that I planned to, and her response was, "Oh, these days nobody wants to take care of their kids!" [Insert uncomfortable laugh.]

W.T.F. If I considered the source and took this at face value, I could roll my eyes and move on with my day. Aunt Nancy is not known for having great tact. To say that she's fairly ignorant about the world in general is a gross understatement. (Just ask Hayley about what happened when she told Aunt Nancy about her Costa Rica trip.)

It wouldn't bother me much, except that I know there are other people in my life (whose opinions I actually care about) who feel the same way. At least two of my friends are fully on the stay-at-home-mom track, which I think is great. They've always wanted to be SAHMs and will probably do a fabulous job. However, both of them make remarks to justify their choices, like, "Well, I just don’t want anybody else raising my kids." The great irony is that one is a teacher, and the other was a nanny until she gave birth 5 days ago. Do they really think they're "raising" other people's kids?

If you operate under the whole "it takes a village to raise a child" mentality, yes, nannies, teachers, babysitters, and nice little church ladies definitely play a role in raising children. But surely we can all agree that parents have the greatest influence on their children, regardless of their employment status. Right?

I know really need to get over feeling slighted by those comments because Lord knows I'll hear plenty more for the next 20 years of my life. I guess I'm a little sensitive because it makes me feel like the people closest to me already think I'm unfit to be a mother. Does leaving Baby Washburn in someone else's care make me a little nervous, and even a little bit sad? Yes, it does. But I still believe that having two breadwinners is a better situation for our family, and you better believe that anyone caring for Baby W. will be carefully evaluated.

Venting makes me feel better already. I need to either a) grow a thicker skin, or b) become very comfortable telling people to STFU. ;)

Enjoy this

This is what I imagine Hayley or Julie were like as kids. The kid in red cracks me up.

- Andy

Beauty Treats: What to buy that is cheap, but doesn't look it!

I've decided in this time of poor economy it is important to budget. Most people think budgeting equals skimping, but here are some beauty buys that are cheap and get the job done! These products are essential for a beautifully toned and polished look inside and out. And the best part...they are all under $10!

From the left:

Coconut Milk Serum- adds gloss to your hair after styling. Found at Walmart and Walgreens for under $6.

Coconut Milk mousse- perfect for wavy or curly hair. Light weight and smells amazing! A perfect match with the serum listed above.

St. Ives Moisturizing Body Scrub/Polish in Oatmeal and Shea Butter. This product is perfect to use in the shower after scrubbing. It has a sugary texture that doesn't leave your skin feeling scratched and soar. The sugar base leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Aveeno Moisturizing Lotion for Medium Skin Tones- This lotion is a great moisturizer and built-in sunless tanner. It doesn't have the gross after smell that most tanners leave on the skin. It goes on thin so it never leaves a streaky mess or dyes your fingers. A glow will develop by the third day of use.

Suave Smoothers Shampoo/Conditioner in Cowabunga Coconut- This two-in product is perfect to use after a workout at the gym or in between washes. It doesn't strip the hair of it's natural oils or leave your hair feeling greasy. The coconut scent allows for daydreaming of beaches too!

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Leave-in Condition- This leave in conditioner helps freshen hair and add softness without adding grease or oils. It goes on light and has a great scent. This can be used after hair has been washed or while dry.

Crest Whitening Rinse- This mouthwash leaves teeth feeling fresh and clean. The taste isn't weird and doesn't leave an aftertaste. It also helps give your teeth more shine without messing with other teeth whiteners.

Bath & Body Works Lavender and Vanilla body wash- The travel size of this body wash is great for traveling. I bought mine on a super sale for only $0.50! The spearmint flavor is great too.

Bath & Body Works Peppermint lip balm- Adds shine and moisture with a great peppermint flavor. This product helps to add pink to the lips, although it goes on clear. It isn't sticky and doesn't leave an awkward lip gloss line on the lips 30 minutes later.

OPI Nail Polishes- As far as polishes go, OPI is number one! The colors are vibrant and the quality is top notch. Chipping with this polish doesn't occur until at least a week later. The colors shown below are: Don't Sacra-Tease Me, Heart Throb, and Need Sunglasses? The first and the last are great for spring and summer, and the middle is versatile. Every girl needs a neutral pink shade to add class and sheen to the nails!

I hope you enjoy your shopping and experimentation with these products, ladies!

JOB!!!!!

I haven't seen the official offer yet, but the compounding pharmacy I liked best has chosen me! As long as the paper work looks ok, I plan to sign stuff next week and plan my move. The current time line would have us driving there June 14-15 (Sun-Mon) with a stop in Nebraska that night. Yay!!

An announcement

The Anderson-Washburn family is growing!

Two days before our Mexican getaway, we found out that I'm pregnant! I'm due Nov. 27.

We told the parents and siblings tonight after Easter dinner. Lindsey didn't believe it at first, and it took awhile for Dad to register the news, too. By the end of the evening, though, he was babbling about how wonderful it was. LOL. Mom was about as emotional as I expected (not very, ha!), but was showing her excitement in other ways. I think Cole is hoping that Baby Washburn's debut will wait until the 29th so they can share a birthday.

I was really nervous to tell everyone since we've been deflecting all baby-related inquiries for years. However, Hayley was picking up on my nervousness and I decided that I better come out with the news before she busted us!

For the next 32 weeks or so, expect lots of updates about the latest addition to our family. We're very excited and also a bit nervous. I've decided that I have at least two or three irrational fears per week, some of which are rather entertaining.

So, what's new with all of you? :)

My Summer Plans!

Hello all! I apologize for my absence from the blog other than random comments to the posts being done by everyone else. I've been working hard to get my ducks in a row for this summer. This all rested on my internship status. I was offered a position in OR in Scottsbluff and a position at the Nebraska Medical Center in the Organ Transplant Unit. Hmmm, which one should I take?

Ha! That's easy, I accepted the position in Omaha. At my interview I was very impressed with the unit's mentality and staff. The staff were all passionate about their work and enjoyed being there. After sharing personal patient stories I was hooked. I feel very honored to be joining their team for my summer internship! It begins on June 8 and I believe goes to the beginning of August.

I plan on living in Lincoln with my grandpa most of the time this summer. This will hopefully bring more bonding, Food Network, and grilling; however, he does have about as active of a social life as I do! This will also mean that I will be able to hang out at the lake with Ashley and Andy, swim and lay out at Aunt Nancy's pool, and be near enough to home to frequent Oscar, mom, and dad.

Other highlights of the summer are: I get registered in Health Fitness through the YMCA which will allow me to teach spinning and yoga wherever life my take me, and my old best friend, Steph, gets married. Sadly, I'm more excited about my dress than the actual event but that is a whole other story.

I look forward to having more free time this summer which will also allow me to get to Denver. Next semester will be even more amazing because I will be close and will have a little more free time since it's my last semester!!! My plans for post-graduation are in the making, but I can't disclose yet where I may be.

The expiriment begins

Alright doctors, nurses and teachers -- I'm doing the old fish oil and Omega-3 experiment.

Family has had heart trouble all my life. My grandfather was the first successful heart bypass surgery in Nebraska in 1967 and has had 4 heart surgeries, my dad has had quintuple bypass and a pair of angioplasties, lost another grandparent to heart attack.

I'm at 237 now (57 HDL, 164 LDL, 80 Try) and already eat as healthy as possible. Wanted to put off fish oil at least until I was 30 as per doctors recommendation.

I can get a full blood work test done once a month on campus for $15. I plan to go every other month and see how I do with 1,000 mg of fish oil twice daily. Don't plan to change much else. Already exercise a couple times a week, eat damn healthy and am in the normal weight for my height.

I'll keep you posted.

Quilt

Andy, I'm not close to starting your quilt (too many trips to Denver and no sewing machine where I am now), but I have visions.

Do you have any design guidelines?

--> size
--> style
--> color schemes
--> quilt lines/pattern (the sewing that connects the front and back)
--> other thematic elements

If you give me full design rights (I only glanced at the shirts when I was home briefly a few weeks ago), I would go full-size quilt, improvisational/modern style, lots of red and incorporated with a few small patterned areas, subtle "N"s and music elements quilted in. Oh, and it'll be manly.

Give it a think. As I said, it won't be until June or so that I officially take out the cutting mat. But once I get started, it'll be full-swing excitement until it's done... and more fun if I'm not checking in all the time for preferences later on.

Job Potentials

It's been awhile since we've blogged... bad us!

Anyhow, I was in Denver over spring break to pharmacy job hunt. I had one casual interview scheduled, and it went fantastic! It's a compounding pharmacy that is looking for a new grad to train and mold and such. So they're flying me back in a week to spend three days in the pharmacy. I'm hoping day #3 ends with a good offer!

Meanwhile, yesterday I got an email back from another pharmacy that I sent my resume to a couple weeks ago. They would like to interview me as well, though it's not for sure it'll work while I'm already in town next week - may have to be a phone interview.

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited. I really want to get a job secured so I can go apartment shopping and find a fantastic new car and officially move out of rural Wisconsin. (I'm going to miss the cheese.)

Yep - that's it. All good so far. =)

My life update

Looking through the last few months' posts, I realized that I haven't shared much personal stuff aside from my adventures in running.

We're house-hunting again. It's exciting and nerve-wracking, of course. This time, we understand the real estate game and aren't intimidated by the process. There's a downside, however. When we bought our current house, we knew we'd live there five to seven years and move on. This time, the decision feels a lot more permanent. It'll be our house for 10, 15, maybe 20 years. It's where little Washburns will puke, play, experience the magic of Christmas morning, and eventually throw their first kegger while we're on some romantic vacation to get away from them.

That's pressure, folks.

We're also facing a philosophical decision that we didn't consider the first time around: old house, or new house? Lincoln has some wonderful older neighborhoods that were established between 1920 and 1945. I have this romantic notion of living in a tree-filled, friendly neighborhood in a cute house that's oozing with charm and character. Unfortunately, we're also rather fond of sidewalks, attached two-stall garages and closet space, all of which are hard to come by in the historic areas. We also have to consider that once kidlets come along, we won't have as much (okay, any) free time for remodeling.

With those factors in mind, it seems like buying a newer house would be the more prudent choice. But I swear to God, I feel sick when I think of moving anywhere that's similar to our current neighborhood, which is very 1990s cookie-cutter and suburban. I hope we can find a happy medium.

I would love to tell you folks that home buying is a rational process, but it's not. I am a pragmatist above all else, but I catch myself slipping into emotional reasoning when houses are involved. Thankfully Andy isn't as susceptible to these whims. :)

I'll keep you posted on what happens. We've looked at only 10 or 15 houses, so I expect this process to drag out awhile. I'll post pictures if we find a really excellent prospect.

*Note about the picture: We looked at this house last fall and it's still on the market. It was in immaculate condition, had the cutest living room you've ever seen and a kick-ass covered patio/entertaining area in the backyard. Unfortunately, it had a few too many other deal-breakers. I'm still broken-hearted. :(