3's a charm!

Third Trimester. 2/3rds's of the way there. Three month's left.
However you say it- we are finally on the home stretch! But, we aren't at the finish line yet.

Thus far most of my hormones have come out through sappy tears falling over the most pathetic commercials. I can't watch 2 seconds of the new Animal Protection 'somethin' or other' organization with Sarah McLachlan singing in the background- it kills me! The tears still fall at the drop of a hat, but the mood swings have arrived! They exhaust me as much as one of my 'waddle' walks around the mall. Yes, I said it- waddle. With 90% of the weight I have gained sitting front and center- my poor back and hips never had a chance.

As far as punches and kicks are concerned, I think our child will either be a world renown tap dancer at the age of two, or the next Jet Li at three. The baby also seems to be nocturnal - I'm sure all my running around during the day allows him to literally bump around for the ride and in the evenings when my feet are up, it gives him the opportunity to show off. Of course, like his daddy, he's shy. I've tried so hard to move fast enough to get Joel's hand where the punching bag seems to be at the time, but of course, the baby freezes as soon as he has Joel's attention.

For the memory book- Joel did feel Whitaker jump this week (wk. 28).
My favorite is when the baby stretches and holds and I can almost feel his little hands or feet.

The apartment is slowly coming together- I did get the majority of the pictures hung in record time. We still have some corners with bins that need to placed in storage (aka- mom and dad's basement!) As soon as I get those corners clear they will be filled with baby necessities. No square inch of this apartment will be left bare when all is said and done - in 'Clean House' style, of course!

Joel and I are thrilled that Joel's Uncle is making a bassinet for the baby in the shape of a boat. The U.S.S. Whitaker - I can't wait!!! Our little man will fit right in with the rest of sail boat babies here in Annapolis. Here is a picture of the progress. Check it out!

The most exciting news for the month of June was that my brother-in-law became a citizen of the United States after 15 years and 15 days of setting foot on U.S. soil. It's been a much anticipated event and very long journey for him and we, as a family, are rejoicing! Here are some snapshots...

My brother-in-law has been the bell of the ball over the past few weeks among his co-workers, and it couldn't be more deserved! I guess he has come home from work looking like Uncle Sam- strutting a top hat and decked out with all the USA gear one could want. It makes you realize the true definition of what it means to be 'Proud to be an American.'

P.S. Aren't they a gorgeous family!!!

Joel and I wish a very Happy Fourth of July! And remember, if your summer vacation plans bring you to the D.C. area, promise to give us a call!

We're here!

We made it. barely.
Monday might as well been the hottest day in June Baltimore has ever experienced. It was ridiculous! It didn't take long for the movers to pile our stuff into our new itty bitty home. I have to say that the fact that Joel and I were overwhelmed was an under statement. It has taken me all week and lots of trips to the goodwill and dumpster for me to see the floor again. Finally the place looks more like a home and less like a crammed cluttered closet. It hasn't been easy to save space for Whitaker. Thank goodness he'll be tiny when we bring him home..his "things" on the other hand will be another story.

We made sure to take 'before' pictures and I can't wait to post the 'after' pictures. It's gonna take me another week to arrange and rearrange until it's perfect :)

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend!
Jacqueline

over due

Hello!

This update is long overdue! I passed my deadline of attempting to write an entry every 4 weeks, long ago. So Sorry!

To catch everyone up:

We did find an apartment and will be moving in on Monday. It's itty bitty, but with the cost of living so high- we will just have to make IKEA our new best friend and learn to be SUPER organized. The apartment is actually in the same complex as the temp. apartment we are in now. Go figure we end up where we started off. Oh well. Between the cost of gas and attempting to have only one car, staying put allows Joel to be only 7 miles from work as well as get rides 2 and from the job site with several of his co-workers who live in the same complex when needed. I am so excited to get my STUFF back! It's going to be Christmas in June opening all the boxes.

I am doing well and the baby is growing. After a surge in weight gain that put me in panic mode of becoming a 2 ton whale- oreos have been replaced with apples and potato chips with cottage cheese. The doctor consoled me to say that my body was simply preparing itself for the baby's next growth spurt. Since then the scale has slowed way down to the healthy average. Thankfully it seems that ever lb. gained seems to settle front and center- so each week the belly just keeps popping out. Here's proof of the explosion! I know I don't look huge, but thanks to Liz Lange and Target, I've been able to find maternity clothes that don't look or feel the part. P.S. For those who haven't heard, Joel and I have decided on a name! Whitaker Lee Samples. I can't wait to start the monogramming!

The summer heat has already started to take it's toll. I think Joel is worried that by the end of the summer I will have a buzz cut. Thankfully the Lord provided a new best friend at a local hair cuttery to help elevate my insentient need to keep cutting my hair. My wardrobe now simply consists of cotton dresses and my bathing suit. The pool opened on Memorial day and you better believe it, I was the first there to grab a lounge chair! I'm looking forward to bopping in the pool to cure everything from heat stroke to back aches.

Ilse, Kwilai and I just got back from a lengthy road trip to South Carolina's low country for a wedding. Ilse and Kwilai were both in the wedding, stealing the show- of course! The trip reminded me just how much I needed to brush up on my little people skills, mainly patience. Ilse is great with Kwilai and by the end of the week groans turned into laughter over the many times Kwilai pulled apart, teared apart, or some how disassembled the hotel room. Kwilai's growing like a weed, getting taller and taller every day! She is 'talking' more and loving to mimic any simple words you say.

Joel's job is going well. We are thankful for everyday that he even has one. A couple weeks after moving up to Baltimore there was large lay off at his old office due to the lack of work in the Atlanta area. We also heard of some buddies of Joel who are in the Site Development/Heavy Construction industry get laid off from their jobs as well. With each discouraging phone call, the Lord has given us a new perspective on many of our moans and groans of the area we are living in and our current circumstances. Being thankful for the small stuff is an understatement to the Lord's way of giving us a dose of hard reality mixed with grace.

Well that's about it! There are some other things brewing that are keeping both Joel and I very busy, but I'll save that for the next entry.

Love from Maryland,
Joel, Jacqueline and Baby Whitaker