Moose for Kristel

After nine days in Alaska, we have seen eight moose. This isn't a big deal to me, since I grew up seeing them, but Shannon is way excited. So, we've decided to keep count of how many moose we see in five months. Kristel has been wanting to see a picture of Shannon with a moose, but I doubt that will happen (since they scare easily and are dangerous if you get too close), so hopefully these will do!


This guy was waiting for Shannon when he got back from his run yesterday.


And these two came waltzing by our dining room windows while we were eating dinner last night. The one on the right is the momma moose, and the one on the left is the baby boy moose. He was born this summer and is 3-4 months old.

Where We've Been

Alright, so it's been awhile since I posted a real post. Hopefully now that things are settled down I'll be better about posting more regularly, but until then, I'll update everyone on what's been going on with us over the last month or so.

The first big news is that we've moved. About 3 weeks ago we had our last days at work, and then we had a huge yard sale in which we sold almost everything we owned. We sold all of our furniture and lamps and decorative things, and packed up our clothes and sentimental things, said goodbye to our friends, and drove to Asheville to see my dad and stepmom for a couple of days. After visiting with them and dropping some boxes off to let them store for us for 9 months, we drove to Alabama to spend 8 or 9 days with Shannon's family. We went to the Auburn vs. LA Tech football game and my record held: if I'm at an Auburn game, Auburn wins. We just spent our time in Birmingham seeing family and Shannon's friends, playing games, and relaxing. It was a great time.

Last Wednesday we flew up to Alaska, where we will be until February. We're living with my mom and brother, and looking for jobs. Our plan is to work, spend some time with my family, and get some serious relaxing and recouping from 4 years of school done before the baby is born. About 6 weeks after the baby is born, we plan on moving to Alabama for a couple of months to spend some time with Shannon's family. Then it will be off to training for a couple of months, and then finally we'll head overseas.

Speaking of the baby, about three weeks ago we found out that it's a GIRL! The ultrasound doctor was not 100% sure about this, but she said she was pretty sure. At any rate, we're very excited, and if it turns out to be a boy, the only part that we'll be disappointed about is having to return the cute girl clothes that we've bought.

Well, I think that should give everyone an update on what we're up to and why I haven't posted. Now that we're kind of settled, I hope to post regularly. The past month has been insane, as I think you can all see now, but we are going to have a pretty chill 16 weeks until Lane is born, so I will be posting about Shannon's first winter in Alaska and all the adventures we're sure to have here. Oh once-loyal-readers, please come back!

22 and 24 weeks

24 weeks (yesterday). The bump is growing!


22 weeks

So...sorry I've been a bit behind on the posting! We have been traveling and on the road, and I haven't been able to use my own computer to access the internet and upload photos. Now I am at the mercy of the public library if I want to use my computer, so if there is a shortage of pictures, that's why.

20 Weeks

My pants are finally starting to get tight!

Well, it's happened: I'm halfway there. It's a little crazy to think that we've known now for 3 1/2 months that our family of two will soon become three. It's also crazy to think of everything else that has happened in the last 3 1/2 months: we graduated, went to Hawaii, Virginia, and Texas, and I went to Alaska. This summer has reminded me slightly of the summer before we got married, although this one has been a bit more slow: we haven't been to Venezuela or Florida this summer!

Everything seems to be going ok with Baby Scarbrough. I still haven't felt him/her move yet, but hopefully I will by my next ultrasound next Friday. We still don't know if it's a girl or a boy: hopefully we will by next Friday! But I have had a bit more energy (I don't need a nap every day, only on days I have to be at work before the sun rises). I'm still quite hungry a lot of the time, which is annoying, but I'm trying to keep fruit and homemade bread/muffins in the house: the fruit for the nutrition, and the bread simply to fill the empty space in my stomach. I'm not in maternity clothes yet (obviously), but I can see the need for some new pants in the next month or so: my before-"loose" jeans are now fairly tight.

Anyways, that's all that's up as far as Baby Scarbrough goes. I'm going to write another post later this week about what else is up with us.

16 Weeks, 18 Weeks, and More Pregnancy Stuff

So, sorry it's been awhile since I updated. I keep having great intentions of updating more frequently, but I have just been so tired. Working 30 hours a week and trying to keep food in the house and the apartment clean is proving to be about as much as I can handle these days.

I am going to try to be better at updating though. I'm starting with pregnancy photos because I know that's what our families want to see the most, and hopefully this weekend I'll get to posting about our trip to Texas last week for Marci's wedding, our 2nd anniversary, and Shannon's 35th birthday.

We went to the doctor yesterday for my 18-week ultrasound, and all looks good with the baby! Baby Scarbrough is healthy, but wouldn't show us if it's a girl or a boy. Baby was sitting on its feet, head up, and facing my spine. No way were we getting any gender shots! However, we do have to go back in three weeks so the technician can get some shots of the heart chambers, because while the heartbeat is strong, she couldn't actually see the heart to make sure it's developing properly. So we'll get another shot in 3 weeks to find out if it's a girl or a boy!

She also told me that I have an anterior placenta, which basically means there's an extra layer of padding between the baby and my stomach, so I probably won't feel the baby move as early as many people. Instead of feeling the baby for the first time at 18-20 weeks, it will probably be sometime after that before I start feeling Baby Scarbrough's kicks for the first time.


Two weeks ago, when I was 16 weeks pregnant.

I was worried that the doctor would be upset with me for not gaining any weight since my 12-week appointment, but I was happily surprised when the scales showed I had gained four pounds. I don't really know where it all went...I can still wear all of my regular clothes. My belly is a teensy bit bigger, but I only really notice it when I'm lying on my back. Anyhow, the baby was measuring between 16 and 17 weeks in size, but I think it's just a small baby. I'm pretty sure I'm actually 18 weeks along and baby is just small because we don't eat a lot of junk food around here!


Three days ago, when I was 18 weeks pregnant.

So that's about all that's up with Baby Scarbrough! I'm feeling just fine, other than being tired. I keep waiting for that 2nd trimester "burst of energy" to come, but I don't think it's going to. Oh well, at least I'm not sick! All in all, it's been a pretty easy pregnancy so far, and I have nothing to complain about. So until I find the time and energy to update again, pray that baby will show us the goods on August 28th!

Carolina Mudcats

A couple of weeks ago, our friend Steve got about 25 free tickets to the Carolina Mudcats vs. the Jacksonville Suns baseball game. Seeing how the tickets were free, and I'd never been to a baseball game before, we decided to go.


The ticket to my first-ever baseball game!

Our friend Brian treated us all to an upgrade to box seats, so we ended up right behind home plate...excellent seats! Later, Brian even caught a foul ball.


Our view of the field.


Randy, Shannon, and Brian.


Me and Shannon with Muddy, the Mudcats' mascot. We got Brian's baseball signed for him.

All in all, I would say that my first baseball experience was a fun one. The Mudcats won, and I got to see two home runs. Shannon got a $1 hot dog, and we got to have a good time with friends we don't see very often. Next up: getting to a Durham Bulls game...I hear they're better than the Mudcats!

14 Weeks

So, I really don't like the whole "belly picture" thing. I think it's weird. But, I know that there are at least a few people out there who read our blog (when I actually bother to update, that is), and would appreciate pictures to see how large my belly is getting. I hate to disappoint this first time around, but I figured that I have to start somewhere, and since I think a lot of moms-to-be have started showing a bit by 14 weeks, I figured I should start the pictures when others do. So, here is my 14-week "belly" picture:


Ta-da! Yeah...no belly yet!

I'll try to do a good job of putting up pictures every two or so weeks. So far I have had nothing to complain about. There was about a month where I didn't feel so hot and things just smelled nasty, but I've been feeling fine for 2-3 weeks now. I'm just tired all the time. Today I actually felt like getting out of bed, and I determined it was because I slept nine hours on Saturday night, took a three-hour nap on Sunday, and then slept 9 nine more hours last night. I feel like a big bum. Hopefully that "2nd trimester burst-of-energy" will come soon.

I also have intentions of posting pictures from our trip to Hawaii...I've even re-sized some of the pictures already, I just haven't posted them yet. Maybe today I'll get started on that. I also have new recipes for the recipe blog. Let's just say that I've been trying to enjoy not being insanely busy for the first time in about six months, and it all started last week. Hopefully it's a trend that will continue for at least a few months!