IT'S A GIRL!!

I said that the next blog update would have pictures of the baby and happy family...7 months ago. Ok, I know I'm a little late, but better late then never. Everyone who thought we were having a boy, well you were wrong as was I...it was a girl to everyone's surprise.

Abigail Elizabeth Dryden

An hour old

Just chillin at the beach- 1 month
 

Feet in the Atlantic

Halloween Skeleton - 3 months

Abby's first Christmas Tree - 4 months

Merry Christmas - 5 months
 

Love naked time - 6 months

Peek-a-boo

Cool like my mommy!

Happy Valentines Day - 7 months

Mmmmmmmm....food

Happy Abby!

I'm one with my jumperoo! - 7 months

Last In-Utero Update

As most of you know, my due date was July 21st and the baby decided not to come and has yet to come. I am currently 3 days past my due date and Baby D seems to be very comfortable in it's current living accomodations while I am becoming uncomfortable.

40 Weeks

I just had my latest doctors appointment, with another BPP (Biophysical Profile). The baby is still doing great and the tech took a 3D picture of the face (bottom picture).


38 Weeks

40 Weeks

Baby D appears to have Lee's chubby cheeks in both these pictures and my lips. Last week the tech got a picture of the baby licking it's umbilical cord....ew GROSS!

39 Weeks

I know you all love the pictures, but you probably want to hear what the doctor had to say and when this baby might be coming. The doctor checked me again today and I've progressed a little. Last week I was 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated. This week I am 70% effaced and still 1 cm dilated and the head is starting to come down. Basically I have a "crappy" cervix.  Since I am past due, he wants to see me again on Thursday in hopes that I have dilated more and do another Non Stress test on me just to make sure everything is ok. We asked about what the next step is depending on whether I have progressed or not.

1) If I have progressed, then he will admit me to the hospital Thursday night and start me on Cervidil to help ripen my cervix more. Then he would start me on Pitocin Friday morning assuming the Cervidil has not jump started labor.

2) If I have NOT progresssed then we would wait until Monday and start everything on Monday. He doesn't want to put cervidil in an unrippened uterus.

So I could have this baby as early as the end of the week or I could not have it until next week. I'm trying to do everything to help move the baby. I've walked until I'm blue in the face and that doesn't seem to really help since I've been walking my whole pregnancy. The baby just thinks that's normal. I've tried some spicy food and it gets the baby moving, but also gives me major heartburn (gotta love the TUMS). Castor oil is on the list, but I don't think I'm going to do it cause it is disgusting and I will be in the bathroom for hours afterwards. So, I think I'll try spicy food one more time or jumping jacks and then just hope for the best.

The next blog update on here will be baby pictures and the happy family! Thanks for everyones support, comments, and eviction notices!

We love you all!


The Countdown Continues....

We are at 38 weeks and I've been seeing the doctor every week. Last Tuesday I went in for an ultrasound and a BPP (Biophysical Profile) of the baby. The BPP measures the baby's head circumference, the abdomen, a weight estimate (+/- a pound), checks amnitotic fluid and a couple of other things. The tech said the baby is estimated at 6 lbs. 11 oz., but that's just an estimate. She said that everything else looked good. She did show us that the baby does have some hair.

We go back in for the next appointment this Tuesday and I will have another ultrasound and BPP done. The doctor will also check to see if I've started dilating. He still thinks that the baby is going come before the 21st, so we'll see. The baby is really down in there and facing my back, so the baby is ready to come out. I know a lot of people are hoping it comes this week on people's birthdays or anniversaries. I have been having Braxton Hicks, some more intense than others, but that's about it. As soon as anything changes, the alert will be sent out.

Here are some pictures from the past two weeks. I had already started dropping at 36 weeks, but you can really tell between week 36 and week 37 that the baby dropped.

36 Weeks

37 Weeks

While we are anxiously waiting for Baby D to make it's appearance, we finished the nursery, put the carseat in the car, packed the hospital bag, washed the baby clothes and put together the swing/bouncer and jumperoo. Below are pictures of the finished nursery, the only thing we don't have is the glider which we should be getting in a few weeks.

I know everyone is as excited as we are and hopefully Baby D will decide to make it arrival soon!

A special shout out goes out to Ms. Amanda "Lambchop" Jackson! As some of you know Ms. Amanda and I (Lee) have a little back and forth game going on. Basically a game of one upsmanship or tag if you will. She started it all with a little picture of my face on a Little Bo Peep doll emailed our to family and posted on Facebook. I returned the favor with a sheep calendar (her face being all of the sheep), a plastic nativity sheep with her face in place of the sheep's, and a southern dictionary. She's also had a subscription to Sheep Magazine, her car saran wrapped, and a special shout out during her high school graduation. Amanda knows all to well that with one simple sentence she can end of all her agony and embarrassment. Well after several times of me "tagging" her, Amanda finally got me back. One weekend while visiting she "planted" a small flock of sheep in our front yard, and recently I received a "Cauliflower Sheep" in the mail. So I guess the ball is in my court......

Only 8 more weeks!

Ok, so I kept hearing it from everybody..."where are the baby bump pics?" Well after telling everyone that I would do it this week or that week, I finally sat down took a recent picture and decided to update the blog.

We have gotten somethings done since last time. Lee put together the crib, we went through childbirth class, so now we have a better understand for when Baby D comes, have started collecting baby gifts from friends and family and sleeping has been getting tougher. It likes to kick me in the ribs a lot and in the same place and of course it wants to move around while i'm trying to sleep. Oh well, guess there's no time like now to prepare for lack of sleep.

HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!

I have also included baby bump pics from 25 weeks to the current 32 weeks.

25 Weeks

27 Weeks

29 Weeks

32 Weeks

We also had the pleasure of seeing the guys from Mythbusters Adam and Jamie at UNCC. I was a question and answer session, but we did get to see some outtakes that you don't see on tv.

If anyone was wondering, you can light your own farts on fire!!

All Things Dryden (Mostly Baby)

I'm not gonna lie, we don't live exciting lives outside of the baby ;)

Before we get to the part in which you all really want to know about (the baby), we will update you on the rest of the household.

Lee FINALLY made the decision this past spring to attempt gardening. So this past summer he got into square foot gardening, and planted lots of vegetables. He got lucky, and we were treated to green beans, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, and lettuce.

As most of you know, he transferred out of Cherokee, NC and was reassigned to the main office in the Cost department. He has been busy working both in the main office and on a jobsite. You are probably wondering why he is working on a jobsite cause you thought he was in the main office. There is a project on the UNC Charlotte campus that is in trouble and he was temporarily assigned to the project to help get it finished as quickly as possible. So, he's been working long hours there for the next couple of weeks and then he will back in the main office. He was also up in NJ/NY twice in January for training on a new software system for the main office that they will be rolling out at the beginning of April. So I get to see him when I see him. Luckily he still makes time to go with me to doctors appointments.

The animals are being themselves, except Kingsley is extra special. He runs into fences in VA when chasing squirrels, he has become afraid of rabbits at night, burps after he eats, barks at the dog in the fireplace (a reflection of himself) and is afraid of gourd snowmen.

As for me, the morning sickness stopped right at week 14 which was fantastic. I wasn't sure if I would ever feel good again. The one new thing we found out is that I have pregnancy induced lactose intolerance. So, that means soymilk, lactose free yogurt and lactaid pills when eating out. I've been enjoying seeing the baby bump grow.

I just started showing at 17 weeks since I'm tall and the picture is of me at 19 weeks. I've also been enjoying company at the house with my cousin Amanda coming up from GA and helping us paint the baby's room and then after she left my former boss Darrell and student Sarah came down from PA and visited with me before their conference. We've got more visitors over the next coming months, so if you want to come to Hotel Dryden please feel free to call our reception desk and we will be more than happy to make reservations for you!

Ok, now onto what you really want to know about. I know you all want to know if we found out what we are having since I'm 19 weeks and they could have told us. We have stuck with our guns and we did not find out...IT'S STILL A SURPRISE!!! We did however pick a paint color and painted the room yellow. That is based off of the bedding we found which has teddy bears and stars on it. So as you can see the baby already has it's first teddy bear :)

We went in for our 18 week check up on last Tuesday and I actually had a few tears come out of my eyes for the first time. The baby was asleep when the tech started, but she woke it up and then wouldn't cooperate, but settled down and got everything. The tech checked the baby from top to bottom (we closed our eyes when she had to go down south). We saw everything from the baby's brain all the way down to it's little feet. It's got a strong heartbeat and all four valves were working. It's got 10 fingers and we think 10 toes, along with two arms in which one was waving at us.

We can already tell that it's taking after it's parents because like us it's likes to stick it's tongue out!

I have a feeling this baby is going to have quite the personality. It's already sucking it's thumb as well.

I have started to feel the 1/2 pound baby move. It likes to jab me usually in the evening and about 4 times in the same spot before it stops. Now, I think it's movement and not gas. Hopefully as it continues to grow Lee will start to feel it move too. To give you all an idea of about the size of the baby, this week it is approximately the size of a Mango. Next week, it will be about the size of a cantaloupe.

We are going to start working on the registry, pick a shower date and think about baby names...suggestions are welcome. As times goes on we get more and more excited and can't wait for July to get here.

Closing out 2010, Starting up 2011

Hey there, well we have been really bad about updating our blog and letting everybody know what has been going on down here in North Carolina. So one of our resolutions for 2011 is to be MUCH better about it. So....here we go.

Closing out 2010

We had several highlights in 2010, several of them you have already been updated on (our new home and the addition of Kingsley). One of the biggest highlights is that we have celebrated our first year of marriage! We spent our anniversary apple picking and spending some very much needed quality time together. We also survived our first holloween in our new home. Now you may be questioning why we used the word "survived." We weren't sure what to expect in our new neighborhood since there are a lot of kids around. Well we were hit with about 150 kids, several adults, and 1 grandmother in 3 hours. We had JUST enough candy, but learned a valuable lesson for next year.

If I put my ear to it, I can hear the ocean!


Incognito

Didn't seem like a lot of apples at the time

I swear my bone is in here...

We started off November with Lee's Uncle Bob and best friend Troy coming down for a long weekend to help Lee build a double work bench and storage area in our garage. Now you might not think this is "update worthy" for our blog, however what started out as a garage project ended up with a surprise twist! Friday evening while cleaning up, the four of us were greated by an SUV honking at the end of our driveway. Upon closer inspection, Lee's Aunt and Grandparents from Colorado made the 1700 mile, 4 day drive cross country to "inspect" the project. Unfortunately, the weekend was bitter sweet. Lee, Bob, and Troy were able to finish the project on time and under budget, however Lee's grandfather ended up in the hospital for nearly a week due to pneumonia. Fortunately, he was able to recover and they all made the long drive back to Colorado safe and sound.

The rest of November and December were quiet after our surprise guests had left. We finished off 2010 with peace and quiet.

Fishing rod rack and tackle cabinet - (mad props to Bob!)

New work benches, cabinets, and storage

What a motley crew

Now for 2011....

We started off 2011 with Lee's 29th birthday. Becky's 29th birthday is right around the corner on the 21st as well. We were greeted by our first major snow storm of 2011 this weekend. As we update our blog, we have 5" of snow, with freezing rain falling down. Kingsley LOVES the snow, now that he has figured out that snowballs are kind of like tennis balls, except that they fall apart more often.

THROW THE BALL!!!!!!!!

I can't find it


Nap time after playing in the snow

Our crystal ball doesn't show much for 2011 thus far. There are several trips in the works, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Maryland, the Outer Banks, and possibly even Colorado.....who knows.

Other news...

Lee's job in Cherokee, NC is pretty stressful. He has put nearly 15,000 miles on his Jeep since June, and has been dealing with LOTS of snow and ice for weeks. He is doing alright though, taking each day as they come and we are managing the distance as best we can. For those of you that don't know what he is doing up there, he is working on a $125+ million dollar expansion and renovation of the Harrah's Cherokee Casino on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. He is currently assigned to two projects up there and is in charge of two exterior walls, roofs, and landscaping worth approximately $10-$15 million dollars. He is also managing the 3D modeling coordination process. Needless to say, he is busy.

Becky has been busy as well. She is single handedly been running the house during the week, and keeping up with both Kingsley and Oliver. She has also been continuing her search for employement. Unfortunately, the market being what it is in North and South Carolina, not much has presented itself.

The weekends usually go one of two ways for us. Either we are traveling, spending time with friends and family, or chillaxin (that's right, I made up a word) at home spending quality time with each other. Kingsley and Oliver are doing just fine. Kingsley still hasn't gotten over his car sickness issue, but we are hopeful that with more car trips he will eventually kick it.

Well that pretty much wraps up the end of 2010 and the start of 2011. We swear we will be updating our blog more!

Becky & Lee