Baby Bender

I'm sure most, if not all, of you have heard our news by now! Our family is growing! :) Baby Bender is set to make an appearance on or around 11/22/2012...also known as Thanksgiving Day this year! Here is the first picture we got a few weeks ago. I was just passed 8 weeks pregnant. It's amazing that you can already see little arm buds and leg buds...

And here are a couple of pictures from today's appointment. I am 13 weeks and 4 days pregnant. You can see how much little Baby B has changed in just a few short weeks! S/he has arms and legs and fingers, a cute little button nose, and was loving waving at the camera today! :) When the first images came on the screen, it looked like baby had the hiccups. Shortly after that, it was naptime...and this baby sleeps like daddy! There was nothing moving but the little heart just ticking away! Hopefully s/he sleeps like that still in 6 months!! :) Here are the pics from today...the first one is the profile and the second is the little munchkin waving hi!

I feeling pretty good now, and think I'm passed the yucky first trimester stuff! Lucky for me, I didn't throw up alot...just felt like I was going to 24/7. Glad that's over! Now it's just the occasional nausea and I'm still super sleepy all afternoon! I've taken up napping like it's an Olympic sport. It's great! :) Other than baby stuff, life has been pretty normal. Jon's busy at work, but it's a good busy. They love him, and he enjoys what he's doing. He's also taken up golfing. And, like everything else he tries...he's really good at it! Even his instructor is surprised at how well he's doing this early in his efforts. He's played a few rounds on the course, and enjoys hitting buckets of balls on the driving range. I go when I can. It's nice to be out in the fresh air, and it's fun to watch him play. As for me...just working alot. I'm in the NICU 3 times a week and then I also work part time at an eye surgery center once a week. It's fun and different, and I work with a great group of people (atboth places, really!). I'll be working there through August. That's when school starts. I decided to go ahead and do the Master in Nursing program at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. I got accepted 2 days before I found out I was pregnant!! Figured that there's no time like the present, and it won't get any easier with a toddler or toddlers... Pray for me!!! Baby is due 2 weeks before 1st semester finals! I have to fly out a few times, but the majority of the work and clinical hours are done here at my hospital with one of our neonatologists that has agreed to let me follow him around like a little lost puppy dog! I'll keep you posted on how it's all coming together. I guess that's all for now. Things are good at the Bender house. Busy, but fabulous! :) Hope you're all well and managing to stay cool as it's heating up! As usual...lots of love from CA! ~Sarah (and Jon, and Baby B!)

Happy New Year!

Hope you all started 2012 happy and healthy! Things around here are going great. Jon and I have been on a house search for months, and we finally found one! We should be closing any day, and can't wait to move in!! It's on 1 acre, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a 2400 square foot shop for Jon to play in! :) There is plenty of room for visitors, so come on over!! Work is going well for both of us. Jon hired a guy a few months ago, and its working out really well. He's smart and has been in the oil business a long time, so he's learning quickly! Jon's enjoyed the extra help, and I've enjoyed see my husband more! My job is still amazing! I am not lying when I say I would do it as a volunteer!! I absolutely love it, and work with the best group of people!! And, because I love it so much, I've decided to take it to the next level...I applied to Vanderbilt University to get my Masters degree in Nursing and become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner! I don't expect to hear if I've been accepted until at least March, but I'll keep you all posted! I'm excited and nervous, and so thankful for a VERY supportive husband and colleagues. 2012 is off to a busy but great start! Hope you're all well! Keep in touch, and come visit! Lots of love from CA!