One Year Pictures

Aidan's one year pictures are online! We are in trouble!!
To see them, click here. The password is pennington. Enjoy!!

Piper Halloween Party

Pumpkin Patch 2008

From October 12...
We had so much fun at the Powell Pumpkin Patch. It was way far away - down by Louisburg - but it was a beautiful fall afternoon and we had so much fun picking out pumpkins for each of us (even Aggie!)
Funny story, we got there and realized we had no cash, no checkbook, only debit cards. I got out of the car to ask if they accepted debit cards and the lady working just laughed and said "We don't have electricity out here!" I let her know we'd just driven 45 minutes and were very excited to visit, and she said "Just give me your address, I'll give you my address, and we'll catch up. Pick out whatever you'd like and take it home." Do you know anyone who would do that for a complete stranger? What a blessing! We are going to make this trip an annual tradition!

Our Texas Trip

Here are the pictures from Aidan's first trip to Texas last month. I can't tell you how special it was for us to introduce him to his great grandparents for the first time. They are among the most important people in our lives, and seeing them hold Aidan was amazing.



Much love to our Texas relatives who visited with us - Grandmother and Granddaddy, Aunt Carol & Uncle Neal, Aunt Sherryl & Uncle Max, cousins Heather & Scott, and their son Corey.

Nursery Pictures

At long last, here are the pictures of our nursery. We are so proud of how it turned out, and owe many thanks to Grammy and Granddaddy Ludwig for all of their help with painting, electrical, hanging things, etc. We hope you love it!

38 Week Update

It has been 8 weeks since my last pictures - oops! Time has flown!



I don't even know where to start!

My gestational diabetes is well under control and I was released from the perinatologist after only two visits. Dr. Heit is very happy with my progress and as of today, I'm two pounds above my pre-pregnancy weight.

The only side effect I've been having is my feet swelling at night. Aaron's nicknames for me are "Michelin Man" and "Cankles." LOL! Luckily once I go to bed, the next morning I am back to normal. Then the whole process starts over again and I'm puffed up by mid-afternoon. My Crocs are even too tight! I have switched to the Crocs flip-flops (in pink and orange, my favorite colors) and they are great.

We're at the OB's office twice a week right now - Tuesdays are for checkups with Dr. Heit and non-stress tests; Fridays are for non-stress tests. Basically, I have a heart monitor placed on my belly for 20 minutes while they measure heart rate and activity levels. Sometimes Nugget cooperates and moves and shakes the whole time...other times, the nurse breaks out the COWBELL (yes, you read that right...I am waiting for Christopher Walken to appear at any moment) and basically tries to disturb the baby as much as possible to make him/her move. It's fun to hear the heartbeat for that long and we've been passing our tests with flying colors each time.

Nugget's favorite activities include hiccups about 4 times a day, and pushing his or her little butt up as far into my ribs as possible! It's too funny - out of the blue I'll have this mound rise up out of my belly for a few minutes, then sink back down.

Today we had an ultrasound to determine Nugget's size. Since moms with gestational diabetes can make really.big.babies, they've been keeping a close eye on us. It was so awesome to see Nugget's little face - definitely looking like a BABY now and not a weird alien life form:



The top picture is a profile with hand up by the mouth. The bottom picture is head-on - hopefully you can see those sweet chubby cheeks!! The ultrasound indicated that Nugget currently weighs 7 pounds, 6 ounces and the head is about 12" in circumference. Sounds big, huh!? Well, that size is the 54th percentile, so s/he is a totally average-sized baby. More than likely, we're looking at about 8.5 pounds at birth.

Speaking of, if I haven't gone into labor by the 17th (which at this point is probably what will happen - I'm 50% effaced but not dilated at all), we'll check into the hospital Monday evening the 16th and I'll be induced Tuesday morning the 17th at 7am. I'll keep you posted!

All in all, I can't tell you what a great experience this has been. We've really been blessed with an easy pregnancy and it's much more fun than I thought it would be! Coming soon are nursery pictures (Uncle Mike, thanks for your patience!)

Lots of love from all of the APs!

Shower Pictures

Here are pictures from the shower Heather and her mom Janis threw for us a few weeks ago. It was so wonderful spending time with family and dear friends! Many thanks to everyone who came from near and far. We love you!!

Kindermusik Shower Pictures

I'm way behind on these - here are pictures from the shower my friend Angela threw me and my Kindermusik families attended. We had such a great time.
My favorite gift by far was the photo album filled with cards and pictures made by my students. Definitely ask me to see it next time you come over!!

30 Week Update

Sorry this has taken so long to post! We are on the downhill slope...10 weeks to go!

It has been one of the harder months emotionally, as I found out a few weeks ago I have gestational diabetes. This can affect the size of the baby and I've been put on a strict diet, along with the requirement to test my blood between 4-7 times daily. Having GD has nothing to do with any eating habits or behaviors I had before - it just has to do with the way my hormones are reacting to the pregnancy. Still, I had a hard time adjusting to the fact that something was "wrong." Since then, I've seen a dietitian, diabetic nurse, my OB twice, and a perinatologist, and they are all thrilled with how well I'm doing on the diet and with my levels. I feel great - honestly, the way I'm eating right now is the way everyone should eat on a regular basis. In the grand scheme of things, I am very lucky to be having such an easy pregnancy.

This month, I gained three pounds but lost it right back due to the new (read: NO ICE CREAM) diet. I'm measuring at 30cm and right now am still scheduled for a mid-June arrival! At 36 weeks, I'll have another ultrasound to measure the size of the baby and make sure s/he is not getting too big. At that point, they'll be able to update my due date if needed.

Things are really starting to come together...we've started on the nursery (pics soon) and organizing all of the wonderful gifts we've received. With each passing day, I am more and more thankful for an amazing husband, four incredible parents, wonderful siblings and extended family, and cherished friends and piano/Kindermusik families. I am blessed that you are here to share in this miracle with me!!!

26 week update

This is overdue, so I'm sorry! We are 26 weeks along as of today, and less than 100 days left to go. It's been fun over the last 6 weeks to start feeling the Nugget kick and punch, especially when we are hungry or getting ready for bed. I gained just a couple of pounds last month but still nothing significant and Dr. Heit is very pleased with our progress. At our last appointment, I was measuring at 24cm, just perfect for our timeline.

My appetite has started returning, and of course I'm not hungry for anything healthy. (Last night my supper consisted of barbecue chips with cream cheese (Aaron's favorite snack) and a cup of chocolate pudding. Nice!)

We registered at Babies R Us this month. Aaron loved being in control of the scanning gun and had so much fun picking things out for the Nugget. Among his favorites are the sportscar walker and giddy-up horsey jumperoo. He was very thorough in his research for the safest stroller as well as our high chair, which hooks onto one of our kitchen chairs instead of being a huge free-standing one. Many thanks to Miss Heather, who came along with us and made her best recommendations.

It's just about time for us to start painting and decorating the baby's room. Hooray! Tick tock tick tock, we don't have much time to waste:)

Pictures - at 20 weeks

Here we are, already at the halfway point! In a way, it seems like it's gone really quickly - in another way, it seems like the Nugget will never get here.

This month has given me much more energy! Hallelujah! I still don't have much of an appetite - or any fun cravings to share - but I'm thankful for that. Lord knows I don't need to gain any unnecessary weight. Speaking of, the no-weight-loss-streak is over...I gained one pound this month, LOL! :)

The Nugget is continuing to grow and I am really looking forward to feeling baby movements soon. (The punching that I mentioned yesterday might not be so much fun, but it will still be a blessing!)

Aaron continues to be the most adorable and doting father-to-be. I couldn't ask for a better partner in all of this!

Our love to all of you:)

It's a....

...baby!

(You didn't think we'd break down and find out, did you?)

It was so exciting today seeing the baby in person. Nugget is very active and in great shape. Nugget currently weighs 12 ounces and its head circumference is 13cm. We are in the 58th percentile for growth, and Dr. Heit is very happy with where we are.

If the pictures just look like blobs to you, the top one is a profile shot, the middle one is a frontal view (Nugget is a ham who really likes to look straight into the camera!), and the bottom one is a tiny little foot.
You can click on the picture and it will come up in a larger format.

Nugget evidently has a future career in boxing. Every time we focused on its upper body, Nugget would start PUNCHING at the placenta! Bam Bam Bam Bam Bam...one shot after another. Looks like we have stubborn Ludwig and Pennington genes through and through!

Sixteen Week Update

Here we are, already at 16 weeks! We saw the doctor last week and everything is great. The heart rate was 150 (several of you have been asking, in hopes that you can figure out the sex of the baby!) and Aaron verified with the doctor that there is indeed ONLY. ONE. HEARTBEAT. We hate to disappoint those of you who have been predicting twins or triplets, but it doesn't look like it's happening this time! No weight gain this month, so I'm still 10 pounds lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight.

The Nugget decided to pop out a little bit yesterday and today - I'm so excited! I have been ready to *look* pregnant for a while and am thrilled that it's starting to happen.


Fun this month has been getting rid of the morning (all day, all night) sickness, starting to have more energy, and seeing Aaron talk to the baby often. He is going to be such an amazing dad.

Not so fun stuff this month has been waking up 6-8 times a night - either for bathroom visits or to get a snack, and acne that I haven't had since I was in junior high! LOL! I really can't complain though. This has been a very easy pregnancy so far and we have been so blessed that God has entrusted us with this tiny miracle.

My mom and I went fabric shopping this weekend for bedding. We have a few accessories already (of course Grayson's rocking chair, see previous post, is a focal point), and we're keeping the design a secret...but I do have to say the nursery is going to be gorgeous!! I may cave and give a few sneak peeks here and there:)

That's it for now. I still need to post holiday pictures! Love to all of you:)

Pictures - at ten weeks

Here I am at ten weeks. Still no bump:) I lost ten pounds right at the beginning because I was so sick, and haven't gained anything back yet. I'm not craving much but Aaron is always in the mood for fried chicken!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Tonight we finally took the time to decorate our home for the holidays. I love getting out decorations and ornaments - it's like rediscovering old friends. It was so fun finding things like the "black babies" Chase was so proud to sell as a fundraiser years ago, the stocking that I sewed for Aaron our first Christmas together (and sewed THROUGH my finger with my mom's sewing machine), the stocking I knit for myself two years ago (my nightmarish first attempt at using double-pointed needles), the handpainted-from-the-inside ornaments in velvet boxes that Pasha and Lubov give me each year, the pottery barn star bowl from Heather, all of the jewelry boxes Mom gives Jen, Lenyse, and I every year, the kissing ball that always gives me an extra excuse to give Aaron a smooch as we pass in the hallway...and the list goes on and on.

I hope you enjoy this collection of our holiday memories!

Pictures - at six weeks

I am behind on posting my pictures - Aaron took this one of me the day I got home from Chicago and told him we were expecting! I'll post a new picture each month so you can see my "outward progress." LOL


As you can see, no baby bump yet!

And here is a picture of the proud papa - I think he was still in shock! :)

Have a great day!