6 months

We are in Redlands for the holidays and enjoying the sunshine! All is well.

I am looking froward to fitting into my clothes again. I love clothes but don't want to buy a ton of prego clothes, which leaves me with little options of what to wear. I am doing okay with a belt on my low rise jeans and a long shirt. I love that the style of poofy shirts is in right now and can fit on a pregnant lady without looking ridiculous.

Here is the 6 month belly!
(Taken in the orange groves of outer Redlands- because who finds orange groves INSIDE Redlands anymore)

Charlie Bowser

Having a dog is a good window into what is will be like to have a baby.

My theory is that you should start with a house plant, if one of those live, try a fish, then maybe a hamster or some small animal. If you can handle that, a dog is the next big step into taking care of a being other than yourself. Another recommendation is taking care of other peoples' kids. You can see a lot about how to rear a child that way. Then, you might be ready for the challenge of having a child of your own. And that, as I hear, is nothing that anyone is ever ready for. You just kind of do it, somehow.

After years of waiting, we finally got a dog. We found him from an add in the paper that a family put in. They had to find a home for him b/c they were moving, so we adopted him at 1.5 years old. He is a pure bread basset hound. So full of personality that it makes you wonder how he doesn't talk to you! Make no mistake, he can jump into the back of an SUV, run like mad, and stand on his hind legs for 5 maybe 5 minutes. He's no lazy bones.

He is very well behaved. We are being pack leaders (Ceasar Milan would be proud). He is so needy though! We are thinking about getting a friend for him so he isn't so bored when we leave and so I can have him happy when I only pay attention to Jack-a-boy.

Dogs rock. Check out the flying basset.

It's a boy! 5 Months

There is a pic of his weenis on the 20 week check up. The little white dot points to it. His hand is on the other side of the white dot. He is going in for a grab:) Below that is his leg. This is a shot from above.

He is healthy and so big! His feet are bigger than half his thigh! We saw his liver, his heart, his spine. It's so amazing at what you can see in there.

He'll be named Jack after my grandfather. We need a little help with the middle name as Steve's middle name will not work (Jack Daniel McGhee = instant alcoholism).

Alternative middle names:
David (My paternal grandfather's name)
Henry (My paternal grandfather's middle name, and it sounds like John Henry, the strongest man in tall tales)
Curtis- I thought it sounded good.
any other ideas? Let us know! Jack ________ McGhee

His good sized McGhee head at 20 weeks

Progress- 4 months

With a lack in publishing these past months, I am going to attempt to play catch up and provide some pictures of my progressing tummy and information about what's it's like ot have an alien growing inside of you for 9 months.

I feel like I am cheating b/c before I know it, another month has past and my belly seems to impress no one! These expanding hips and tight fitting jeans don't lie. I do have a belly. Though, I should be flattered by the kindness of people not saying "Wow! I can't believe you look like a cow!" So, good on ya, nice people.

Here is the November belly- 4 months, almost 5.

This is at our house, a week before Thanksgiving. Nothing outlandish is really happening with my belly. Here are some wierdities:

-I am tired daily. It takes a lot of energy to produce a life form!

-I can catch a cold from someone across the room or anticipate if anyone will. I am on an average of one cold a month.

-I felt some movement and do so before I go to bed each night, that is, if it isn't gas, which is really hard to tell the difference. I did feel a total change of position like the guy was getting comfortable in there.

-Body change is hard. I feel huge and weirdly shaped. So I exercise. Then I feel out of shape b/c I suck air b/c I have so much blood in my system for the little guy. What if I strain myself and hurt him? So, I just do what I can so I can fit into some clothes. It's so weird.