THURSDAY, JANUARY 4TH
Well, it's another glorious year in the Askew-Cece world! We're really looking forward to this little person who's coming in June and all the fun changes it'll bring to our lives. Ok, maybe they won't all be fun but it sure will be an exciting and crazy interesting time!!!!
I was sick for Christmas Day but we had a GREAT New Year's Eve. Kiki and Zack came over (Zack switched days at work with someone to hang with us - awwwwww!) and we spent the night playing Trivial Pursuit Totally 80's and poker past midnight which was a great distraction from that awful football game (but I won't get into that ;->).
Our next OB appt is the 12th (I'll be 19 weeks already!!!) and we'll be scheduling our 20wk ultrasound then. I'm still sticking to not finding out the gender of the baby (sorry honey :^) ) so we have to be sure to tell the doctor so there are no slip ups :).
Happy 15th Bday (belated) to Kay!! And Happy, uhm, not 15th to Pooka :)!!!!
All the very best to all of yous in the coming year. Can't wait to share all our adventures as we get closer and closer to parenthood!!!!!
Tons of Love,
Jenn (& Johnny)
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24TH
We had our 'halfway there' ultrasound on Monday the 21st. Of course the technician didn't tell us anything so we'll wait to hear from the doctor. Hopefully, we won't hear from her until my next appointment on Feb 12th. From what we could tell on our own, everything looked good :^) We saw the baby's head and body and heartbeat, arms, face, and legs :^) We still don't know the gender, so we'll be taking bets any time now from everyone! Click here to see the latest ultrasound pix of the baby :^).
On Saturday we had our first poker night with K&C, Deb, and Mom & Steph. Kevin and Carol had to leave early just after he went all in against John because someone hit his truck where it was parked (ended up being not too bad). The game came down to sister vs sister and I won (sowwy Pook)!!! Believe me, it was PURE LUCK. I can't wait till we have the next one. Hopefully Zack and Rob can make it so John can have some more testosterone around instead of all these chatty women who don't want to hurt each other's feelings :^)!
We are a little disappointed though because there won't be a rematch in the Super Bowl! But now we can all rot for the Bears - and they'll need it!!! I still don't like Rex Grossman but maybe I'll cut Lovie 'Rex-lover' Smith some slack (yeah right!). So everyone wear your orange and blue and root for the Bears on Feb 4th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND
Ok everybody, we're counting on ALL of you to send all your positive voodoo to Miami on Sunday!! It's time to bring that Super Bowl trophy home to Chicago again! Yeah, the NFC Conference win is AWESOME but... come on.. don't you all REALLY want to see DA BEARS win again?!?!?! Ok, so that means Rex Grossman will be the man for a while but I think that's a small price to pay for the ultimate victory :^)
So what can you do to help bring it home for ChiTown? Grab whatever orange and blue you have in your closet (if you have to raid the Halloween bins in the basement, that will totally do! and yes, socks, hats, and gloves count too), tune in to CBS by 5PM (6PM EST), and at 25 after, start screaming your heads off and cheer for the Bears till the end!!!
Like I said, we're counting on all of you! So if the unspeakable happens, remember, I know where you live :^)!!
No, seriously.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12TH
Ok, here's all I have to say about the Super Bowl...
Whatever! How do you trip over your own feet?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Ugh!
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JAKE!!!!!!!!
What a snow we've had!!! After two years of BARELY any snow we got a BUNCH this week! YIPPEE!!!! :^) The first snow was pretty light so I did what I could with helping John shovel but there was no way I could help with the big one we got later. I think John's so excited he got to use his snowblower again even though it meant he had to be outside in the cold :^)
We had our 24 week dr's appointment on the 12th and everything is moving along great. The ultrasound was good and the baby seems to be doing really well. S/he is starting to move around a lot more this week and that's pretty weird :^) I have to tell you thought, even with the baby not actually here and just being pregnant, this child has SO changed me already. I just feel so much more mellow and easy going. Those little things that used to get under my skin just don't anymore. And John... well, like my sister said the other day, he just seems to be smiling so much more now :^) And honestly, John's a pretty happy guy but he seems a lot happier and in a really different way since this little one surprised us!
Wow! We've been together for 7 YEARS!!!! How awesome a time it's been. To be at this point in my life with a guy like John is just about as perfect as you can get. It's so amazing that two people who would never have met but for some cosmic alignment of the stars and planets, etc could be so right for each other.. Could be such a perfet match. I never cease to be amazed by how well we balance each other out. Yeah, it's SO not all fun and games and there are things we will always need to just accept about each other and battles we'll need to pick but isn't that what makes life life? Isn't that what helps us grow as individuals and understand that love doesn't mean liking all things about all people but finding that common bond and those areas where we are connected? Isn't that what makes life interesting and absolutely fascinating?! I think we have brought so much to each other that we were missing that we're going to be much better parents to this precious little one than we would have been otherwise. Sorry for all the rambling but when I start thinking about this great guy that I married I just can't seem to stop gushing :) I think I'll go give him a hug right now for being the best thing that God could have brought into my life :) Can you tell that I'm totally head over heels in love with this guy????
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THURSDAY, MARCH 1ST
180 days down, only 100!! left to go!!!!! Wanna see what I look like now? Click here for the pic (from yesterday at 26w4d)! I think I just look fat(ter) but John says I look like a momma :^) What a wonderful hubby I have :^)
We had our second Poker party last weekend. I finished third :^) and John finished fifth (I think) of 8. It came down to heads up between Steph and Zack and we had to call it on account of time. Zack, you know I love you, but I’m totally taking the ‘technical’ win from you cuz you are such a con artist! Following your ‘rules,’ you won cuz you won the 2 of the last 3 hands but by chip count, Steph totally should have won. So, I’m making an executive decision and calling it a push :^) So there! Too bad we didn’t do a last chip count so you two could slug it out as a warm up for the next game so I guess you two will just have to throw down at the next game :^) That is of course unless I win again :^) :^) :^)
Speaking of my Pooka, Steph’s going in for another heart surgery on March 6th, this time to close a hole she’s had since birth. Please be sure to send her tons of happy thoughts and warm wishes for not only a speedy recovery but also so that she doesn’t loose her mind while she’s at home for 6 weeks recouping!
Hopefully John & I will actually get our acts together and start a registry going for the baby… Thanks to all my new Mom buddies how’ve given me a lot of advice on what we do and (more importantly) don’t need for this little one. Your help has been invaluable!
Happy bdays and anniversaries to all our special March ones! Tons of love and kisses (even from John!!!) :^)
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TUESDAY, MARCH 13TH
Steph's surgery went excellently!!! The hole is closed and her valve problem is nowhere near as bad as previously thought (though it will still need to be monitored). Her heart muscle is very strong and very efficient :) So we really couldn't have asked for better news! She's at home recouping and enjoying naps with Cricket :)
Thanks to all of you for all your good wishes and concern for my sissy :) You did a GREAT job!!!
XOXO
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MONDAY, APRIL 9TH
It was another great Easter in Chicago with the Leeney family :) Everyone made it except for Alan and the Perezes (who were GREATLY missed!!) We had YUMMY food (GREAT goin' Momma!) and so much funny conversation.
Steph goes to her heart doc on the 12th for her 1-month post-opt check up. Keep your fingers crossed that all will check out well!!
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SUNDAY, APRIL 22ND
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICK (and belated to Matthew)!!!! Woohoo 13!!
Yesterday we went to our second (and last) childbirth class. We opted not to go through a whole Lamaze class but instead took a Prepared Chilbirth one that touched on everything from labor and delivery through to newborn care. It was awesome! Scary!!! but also relieving since we really know what to expect each stage of the way. One thing that's really great it not only how SECURE the Birthing Centre is at the hospital but that we'll be able to stay in the same room during our whole stay from labor and delivery to recovery and post-partum. As someone who's NEVER even been admitted into the hospital before much less stayed overnight, that is a huge relief!
In other 'exciting' news, thanks to Mom and Steph, the room is FINALLY finished being painted (yes, it took just about a year from when I first started painting to actually get the second coat up!) and after a couple more days of airing out, we'll be able to start getting the room looking less like a computer room and more like Little One's room :) It's hard to believe how LITTLE time we actually have left to get things ready! Time seemed to go so slowly and now the bigger I get, the faster time seems to go! YIKES!!!!!
Finally, Stephie continues to recover well from her surgery (thanks to all of you who constantly ask about my sis!!!) and will be going back to work this week. A couple of concerns came up when she went in for her one month check up but all in all everything really seems to be proceeding along well. Thank goodness!!!!!!
Happy Spring and lots of love to you ALL!!!!
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THURSDAY, MAY 3RD
Just a really quick update so I can head off to beddie-bye: Click here to see the latest Pregger Jenn pic from today. I am getting SO huge all of a sudden. I did REALLY well with the weight gain until these last 3 weeks or so :^( Oh well, what can you do. I guess I'll just stick to the wonderful countdown of when I get my body back to myself!!! Woohoo!!!! I just about 5 more weeks I'll actually be able to get out of a chair or off the couch or even *gasp* SLEEP ON MY BACK again!!!!! YIPPEE!!! Oh yeah, and the little bambino will be here, too ;->
Thanks to everyone who's made guesses on what our little one will be!! If you still need to do it, click here to Guess Baby Cece.
Hugs and Kisses!!
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SUNDAY, MAY 6TH
Well... It's a BOY!!!!
We had our fabulous baby shower yesterday (THANKS FOREVER Stephie, Mom, Carol, and Kiki) and finally decided to open the envelope from the ultrasound tech with the baby's gender. Yeah, ok, I'm a little disappointed that I'm not having a girl but I can get over it. The stinkiest part is that John got his way... AGAIN! He's so rotten!
I locked the Guess Baby Cece game since we know the gender now and it wouldn't be fair to all the people that have already guessed. So, sorry to all the girl guessers :( But you boy guessers are still in the running for bragging rights! Hopefully Uncle Kevin won't win (10lbs!!!!!!)!
On one final note, MAJOR CONGRATS to Chrissy and her hubby John! Their baby girl Celeste was born on April 26th. YEA KENNISONS!!!
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FRIDAY, MAY 25TH
HAPPY BDAY JESS (I made it just under the wire!!) and ROBIN!! Hope you had AWESOME days!!!!!
Well, 38 weeks is coming to an end. The baby is moving really well and things are progressing, slowly but still moving in the right direction. We're hoping this little one cooperates and stays put till at LEAST the due date (then Daddy's busy period at work will be over) but I guess we don't really have any control over exactly when this kiddo decides to join us - rats! But, all that said, we're all doing great, just getting ready for our little one's arrival.
Happy Bday on the 26th to MFC Raquel and Happy 5th Anniversary to my cuzin Heather & hubby Carlos!!!! Love you all bunches!!
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FRIDAY, JUNE 1ST
OMG, can you believe this kid is almost here??? Where did the time go?!?!?!
Zack graduated on May 24th. I did really well, ok, except when the music was playing as the graduates walked in and I finally caught sight of him. I have to admit I got a bit vaclemped :^) Of course, it was nothing like the crying twins I was sitting next to (aka Kiki and Mom)! I just can't believe my little Zachariah is almost 18!! What happened to the baby the you could lay on your lap length-wise and he still wouldn't reach your knees or your body... :^( Oy, my little boy is gonna grow up just as fast, isn't he :^( I'll just have to find a way to make time go slower! Yeah, that's the ticket!!
I just want to take a minute and day a HUGE thank you to all you guys.. Your shower gifts were just SOOO generous and really meant a lot to us!!! I'm really sorry I haven't sent out my thank yous yet. I've got some pretty bad numbness and carpel tunnel in my right hand as it's gotten puffy in these final stages of baby-growing. It's really hard to hold a pen so I might be typing them out. Either way, I promise to send the notes out with the birth announcements when our little guys gets here. Thank you thank you thank you for thinking of us and out precious and thank you THANK YOU for your apparently undying patience with me :^) We absolutely love you ALL!!!!!!
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13TH
Our little guy is here!!!! And we just couldn't be happier! He's just the sweetest, most beautious little boy you've ever seen and we can't wait for you all to meet him. Right now, he looks JUST like his daddy but he does have some chubbiness in his cheeks that (if it lasts) is more me :^) Click here to see a couple of his first photos :)
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SATURDAY, JUNE 23RD
Hey Everybody!
It's been 10 days since the last update and my how life has changed! I still can't believe some times that no one has come yet saying 'Ok, time to take him back now.' We actually still get to keep him :^) I just love this little boy of mine so very very much and my heart just melts whenever I look into his eyes or (ten times more) when he looks back into mine or when his Daddy falls asleep with James on his stomach... *Sigh* If only life could be this good all the time...
The only downside to being a mom so far is the hormonal imbalance. Yep, I've been having trouble from time to time with anxiety and fits of crying. I would never have made it through our first night home if Mom hadn't been here with us and she and John MADE me go to bed and let Mom take care of James overnight. She and Steph stayed over last night and (after about a half hour of my resisting and crying) let us sleep through the night again. I guess after 9 months together all the time it's completely overwhelming to have my baby boy across the room, much less next to me but in someone else's arms. I can feel the anxiety build up and I just can't keep from breaking down. THANKFULLY, these attacks have slowly decreased during these last two weeks but can sneak up on me sometimes. I'm really lucky to have such a wonderful husband and awesome Mom and sister who are completely understanding, even when the anxiety makes me extremely short with them sometimes :^) I'm just so incredibly in love with my son and want to be the absolute bestest mommy there could ever be for him!!
In other, not very happy news... John's mom has been diagnosed with breast cancer. As of what we know right now, she will be having the left breast removed, we're just waiting to see when the surgery is going to be. She'll be seeing the doctor on Monday, so please keep her in your prayers for a very successful surgery and speedy recovery. And very sadly... my Aunt Carol's father passed away Friday the 22nd. Please please keep her and her brother in your prayers as well... It's been a very difficult few weeks for them and they could use all the extra love and support they could get right now...
So much love to ALL of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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MONDAY, JULY 9TH
Happy 1st Birthday to Miss Evelyn!!! Your cuzin Jamie send tons of hugs and kisses :^) I can't believe a whole year has already gone by since you were born. Geez, I can't even believe it's already been almost a month since James got here!!!! I can't wait for the cuzins to meet in person :^)
Since the last update we had our first outing to Mom's house for her birthday. It was...an interesting experience. I think we'll wait a little longer before we attempt another outing somewhere :^) It was probably a LOT harder on me than James in the end but I still think we'll hold off on any more visting for a LONG while!!!
We also had a very quiet Fourth of July. We were gonna do our usual full out bbq but instead only had Mom & Steph, Zack (who already got the day off work) and Kiki, and Carol & Kevin. It was so weird because it never really felt like a holiday even though it was. I guess it was just strange not having everyone there. But I have to admit, Aunt Bobbie was right in urging me to rethink a huge gathering. Even though only a handful of people were there and all (except Kevin) had already met James, it was still a bit overwhelming to say the least! But I'm glad John and I had at least those few people there. Maybe we'll be ready for a big Labor Day bbq instead?!
Ma Rose's surgery went really well. She did have to go back into sugery a couple hours after the first one because there was blood leaking under the skin at the shoulder and that was just as successful as the main procedure. By all accounts, she's doing fabulously well. Thank ALL of you for your thoughts and prayers; they did the trick!!!!! Hopefully James will be able to meet his Grandma Rose before the end of the year.
HAPPY BELATED BDAYS TO Mom A, Big Billy, and Justine!!
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THURSDAY, JULY 26TH
Hey there everyone! A lot's happened since the last update:
On James's one month bday, we ventured outside for our first walk around the block! It was my first time outside, not just out of the house, in a month and I was so excited! The little guy got some sun and and some fresh air and a nice little nap so it was a complete success!!! It was such a success that I actually took him out all by myself a couple days later for a much longer walk around the neighborhood (maybe a little TOO long for his patience) and am just trying to work up my courage, I mean waiting for another good weather day ;->, to take him out again.
A week later, he for his one month check up (at 5 weeks) and he's already up to 9lbs 13oz!!! Of course, that was on the 18th so I'm sure he's 10 lbs by now. Mom and I were SHOCKED but according to the chart the Dr showed me, he's right average to where he should be. He was low- average when he was born at 7lbs 2oz and now he's right in the middle of the pack so I guess I won't freak out too much :) Oh yeah, he also grew 1-1/2 inches and is now 22. My growing boy :^)
The 21st was a great big day on both sides of the family. James met just about all his Leeney family at Aunt Bobbie's 80th birthday party in Hammond. He was SUCH a good boy and everyone just loved him :) In Boston, Cindy & Mark (and the kids) were married! From what we hear, it was a fantabulous event and we're very happy for them. Cindy had Matthew's last name changed to Mark's on (coincidentally) James's bday so they are now officially the Ferrazzani family through and through :^) Congratulations you guys!
We finally had an almost perfect bath experience on the 24th!!! Yea!!!! In fact, John gave James his nightime feeding afterwards and James slept from about 9pm to 4AM!!!!!!! We couldn't believe it!!!! Hopefully next bath (probably tonight) will be even more successful :^)!!!!
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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23RD
We've had a horrible loss in my family. My Uncle Kevin was killed in a truck accident at 2:30am on Monday, August 20th... He was 49 years old.
Please keep my family in your prayers, especially his wife, my Aunt Carol, and his mom, Grandaunt Bobbie.
I'll post more later...
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18TH
Happy 5th Anniversary to Us :) First things first: Happy belated Bdays to all the September people (Happy Belated Marky!) who I missed by not updating at all last month. Needless to say, the website just didn't seem all that important for a while...
Things here are going good. James went to the doc yesterday for his 4-month well baby appointment. He's now 14 lbs 1 oz (almost double his birth weight of 7/2) and 26 inches long (inthe 97th percentile in length!!!). He has the MOST wonderful laugh ever and his smile could melt even the hardest heart :) We're just so beyond thrilled that we getto be this little boy's parents :) Being a stay at home mom (yes, I quit the Renaissance on 9/12 - YIPPEE!!!) is much harder than even I thought it would be but we're making our way through. No matter how hard it is on the toughest day, for me it's so much better than being away from my cutie for 11+ hours a day!).
I'm completely in love with my boys!!! My life couldn't be happier right now if I tried. Well... maybe one thing would make it happier... I would never be able to get through some of these days without having my Johnny and my Jamie with me. What a wonderful 5 years I've had being Mrs. Cece - even through the tough times. And now that we have our son, this life is even better.
HAPPY ALMOST BDAY BILLY!!!!
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND
HAPPY FIRST BDAY, AARON!!! Ok, it was yesterday but all the same :^) Couldn't let another day go by without wishing my newest godson a haapy day!
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2ND
Wednesday was John's bday --- happy 4 days after your birthday, sweetie! Mom, Steph, Jamie, and I took him to Chili's (James enjoyed a meal of SQUASH! Yum yum!) then headed back home for cake and presents.
We're still working on our winter trip to Beantown and hope to have it figured out by the end of next week. The beginning of the week is busy with appointmets: Tuesday evening we're meeting with an insurance agent after John gets home from work, then Wednesday is Jamie's SIX MONTH well-baby appointment!! Can you believe that much time has gone by already????? Oh we just can't wait for everyone who hasn't met him yet to meet our little guy. We're still planing on a mid-January visit and we'll keep you all updated on our progress.
