Books Sheri Completed in 2009

Unaccustomed Earth: Stories, by Jhumpa Lahiri
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling
The Year of Fog, by Michelle Richmond
The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
Peony in Love, by Lisa See
Atonement, Ian McEwan
Paradise, Toni Morrison
Cry, the Beloved Country, Alan Paton
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, by Junot Diaz

Abbey Says So

I asked Abbey what we should name the new baby and she told me "Girl".
Abbey asked me "Did the baby come?"
Abbey asked me "Can I hold the baby as soon as she comes?"
Abbey told me "I'm going to catch the baby when it comes out!"

About Sheri

Eric and I have been married 10 years. Our daughter, Abbey, is 3. We are expecting another daughter in September. We live outside of Missoula, MT where Eric is an application engineer and I am an operations manager. View my complete profile

First Look: Tile Backsplash

It isn't completed yet, but here's a first look at the tile work Eric did behind my kitchen sink. He's done an amazing job and I love the extra detail!

Big Girl Room!

Abbey is now out of the crib and in a big girl bed!
We also bought a matching dresser.

Quick Trip to Glacier

To celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary (August 7th) Eric and I decided to take a quick trip to Glacier National Park.

Lake McDonald

While I wasn't up for hiking, we drove the Going-to-the-Sun Road and stopped along the way to take pictures. It was hazy, but the views were still amazing!

St. Mary's Lake

While in Utah Abbey picked up making funny faces when she gets her picture taken. It was hard for us to get her to be serious when taking her picture.

In our hotel room.

(Notice the little scab under her lower lip--she slipped and fell a couple of days ago while playing outside at Monica's.)

It was a fun, quick adventure!

33 Weeks!

Things to know about this time in my pregnancy:

• Hit that 'magical' number on the scale that brought me to tears. Literally! (Nurse asked if I was OK. Abbey gave me hugs "to feel you better".)
• New, and 'improved' stretch marks. Why couldn't I just keep the old ones?
• Swollen ankles AND wrists and hands--only had swollen ankles with Abbey. Goodbye shoes. Goodbye wedding ring. Goodbye watch.
• Number of shirts that still fit? Three. Maybe. But I'm so close to giving birth, why buy more?
• Had 2 (TWO!) people tell me in one day: "You look like you're about to pop!"
• I've also heard: "You look uncomfortable." And, "You look like you're in pain."
• But, I also had Abbey ask, right before my Dr's appointment: "Is the baby coming today?" I love that little girl!
• Baby's heart rate is normal and she's moving and active like she should be.
• Haven't settled on a name. Thought I had. Told people we had. Now can't decide. Might just need to see baby girl first.

Wish me luck for the next 7 weeks! (If I can make it that long!)

27 Weeks and a Picture

Happy Birthday Abbey!

Three years ago this little cutie was born. When I got out the camera today she wanted to take a picture making the different faces she knows.

Happy!

Sad :(

Surprised!

I love this little girl. The last three years have been amazing and I can't imagine not having her in my life!

More Abbey Down the Driveway

Here's another 30 seconds of the 5 minutes of video I took of Abbey going up and down our driveway on her "car".

Abbey Down the Driveway

Baby Names!

This baby just doesn't want to pick a name! I don't remember being so unsure about names when I was pregnant with Abbey. Here have been the names I've thought of so far--with some additions:

Bailey (coworker's 1st choice)
Lily (family's 1st choice)
Gabby (just kidding)
Libby (Eric said it sounds patriotic; people might assume she's named after the town in MT)
Ora (Bev said Ora Klein sounds like mouth wash)
Sadie (Eric vetoed so that's off the table completely)
Ava
Riley (new as of today)

HELP! Any other suggestions? Abbey votes we name her Girl, but I don't see that as working.

Ultrasound Pictures: Baby Girl Klein #2

Update: Abbey

Not to be forgotten, here is a quick update on our Little Miss Abbey:

• Abbey is potty trained! Thanks to the hard work of Monica and Abbey's conscientious personality she quickly took to sitting on the potty and gave up diapers a lot faster then I thought she would. Eric and I have been very lucky and have had very few accidents. Most mornings Abbey wakes up dry and tells us when it's time to 'go'. Baby #2 will probably take YEARS to potty train.
• Abbey is a talker and continues to learn new words and say silly things that make us laugh. In the car the other day Abbey was talking non-stop and asking me a million questions. I didn't realize I'd spaced the conversation when I heard Abbey's little voice say from the backseat: "Mommy, you're not talking to me."
• As the weather has improved Abbey has been able to spend more time outside. In the evenings she frequently asks Eric to take her to the park or to go outside to "water her rocks". Abbey loves to play with the hose, run up and down the hill in our front yard, and dig in the dirt.
• She continues to enjoy going to Monica's in the afternoons. When she shows up the girls are always excited to see her and they give each other big hugs like it's been weeks since they've seen each other. While it's hard to leave Abbey, I'm so happy that she has a place to go where she feels comfortable and enjoys the other kids.
• Bath time continues to be a struggle. Abbey yells bloody murder when I wash her hair. I'm surprised every time we finish bath time that my neighbors haven't called the police for child abuse. I feel like I've tried EVERYTHING. Today I found bath visors online and will try them next. Wish me luck!
• Abbey is starting to better understand about the baby. Kind of. She will tell me, "I saw the baby in your belly on the TV at the doctors." Or tell me, "There is a baby in your belly." But then a couple of days ago she asked, "Did the baby come yet?" I'm excited to see her with the baby. She told us, "If the baby cries I will put her in my bed with me." (Not really safe, but very cute.)

Sorry, no updated pictures. Can't find the camera!

24 Weeks (Almost)

Monday (05/25) will mark 24 weeks. Six months!

Baby is just over a pound and almost a foot long. The top of my uterus has risen above my belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball. Lucky me!

While my energy level has improved, I'm still pretty tired and could easily sleep 12 hours a night (minus the 2 trips to the bathroom). Because I work a very sedentary job I start to ache by the end of the evening and I need to get up and move around. Which wouldn't be so difficult if it weren't for the fact that by the end of the evening it feels like I've put a 40 lb belt around the top of my belly. This makes the pregnant waddle more obvious as I have to walk very slowly out to my car.

As baby is getting bigger I'm able to feel her moving more often. It's always a fun event when she reminds me she's there and growing by giving me a nice swift kick in the bladder!

I was going to post pictures but I can't find our camera. This tells you a little bit about how things have been around here. Perhaps next update.

Another possible baby name: Ava

20 Weeks!

I've made it half way! Baby now weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now and is also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana.

The most exciting news: we found out we're having another girl. Now comes the fun part: figuring out what to name Baby Girl Klein. Here are some names we (OK, just me) have thought of so far: Lilly, Bailey and Saddie. Any suggestions?

While I'm very rarely nauseous now and have finally stopped dry-heaving (cross your fingers) I have moved into the 'uncomfortable' stage. I have fewer options of pants that fit comfortably and sleeping comfortably is difficult.

Because my hips are now often out of alignment I find myself dealing with sciatic nerve pain that wakes me up at night or causes me to almost fall down when I take a step. Ouch! (I had to go to physical therapy after having Abbey for this very problem and so I know a couple of things I can do to help, but they only work for so long.) Lucky for me it will get worse before it gets better.

Thank goodness my new recliner came is so I'll have a place to sleep once I'm too uncomfortable for the bed!

Berry Hunt

One of Abbey's favorite TV shows right now is Dora the Explorer. In one episode Dora and her best friend, Boots the Monkey, go on a 'berry hunt' looking for blueberries. One day after watching this episode Abbey told me "I love blueberries!" (a direct quote from Dora).


Eric and I decided that if Abbey was so convinced she loved blueberries we should let her try them. So at the grocery store I told her: "We're going on a berry hunt" and we looked all over the store for blueberries. Then on the drive home Abbey and I sang the little song Dora and Boots sing in the episode. Abbey was very excited to try blueberries.

Dora: Goin' on a berry hunt

Boots: Goin' on a berry hunt

Dora: Goin' to find a juicy one!

Boots: Goin' to find a juicy one!

Dora: We're not scared

Boots: We're not scared

Dora: What a beautiful day!

Boots: What a beautiful day!

Fun in the...

Snow?! Abbey is definitely our little snow bunny. The snow has melted here in Lolo but Abbey still asks to wear her boots each day. The other day she told Eric she wanted snow. When he told her he couldn't just get her snow she told him: "I'll ask Mom for snow!"Friday we drove 30 miles to Lolo Pass and let Abbey play in the snow. She loved it! The problem was the snow was very deep and Abbey had to crawl so she wouldn't sink in too deep. Unfortunately the snow also wasn't very good for sledding, but Abbey loved it anyway and didn't complain when snow got in her boots.
Here she is in the back of the 4-Runner. She begged us to let her stay back here. We had to bribe her to get her back into the car seat so we could drive home. [For some reason this is the face she's started making when I tell her to smile at the camera.]

14.5 Weeks

14.5 Weeks mean:

I'm out of the first trimester and, according to my doctor, the chance of miscarriage is very very slim! From head to bottom, baby measures 3 1/2 inches and weighs 1 1/2 ounces. BTW baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his/her thumb [and since this IS my child, it's pretty much a given s/he is sucking his/her thumb]. In April I will have my first ultrasound, and YES, we will make every attempt to find out what we're having.

While I'm happy to report the nausea has subsided I still haven't gotten my energy back. One of the great ironies of my pregnancy: utter and complete exhaustion made worse by insomnia! I saw the doctor yesterday and, lucky me, he said this probably won't subside.

Speaking of the doctor's office: I hate the scale there! It has me 4 lbs heavier then my home scale and they're telling me I've gained 5 lbs since my last visit (4 weeks ago) when I calculate I've only gained 8 lbs the entire 14.5 weeks!

But in good news: we heard the baby's heartbeat again yesterday and everything sounds good!

Eric Gets Glasses!

That's right: Eric is joining the ranks of the 4-eyes! I know he will not let me take his picture with them on for blogging purposes so you will have to trust me when I tell you he is still the very attractive man I married almost 10 years ago--just has less hair--and now glasses.

Kitchen Update: For My Dad

Sorry, no pictures.

Eric put groat on the existing tile (see pictures of tiles below in previous post) and now is contemplating buying a wet-saw to help the progress of laying tile in the rest of the kitchen. The floor is beautiful and once it is closer to completion I will post more pictures. It is a very slow process for one man but he's doing a great job! Everything else is the same since my last update.

13 Weeks

13 weeks means:

I'm in the last week of my 1st trimester and I've been very busy creating fingerprints! Baby is now almost 3 inches long and weighs nearly an ounce.

Me? I've gained 7 lbs. While I've experienced some 'depression' over the weight gain and the inability to wear my favorite jeans, I also remember by 13 weeks pregnant with Abbey I was already exclusively in maternity clothes. Weighing less to begin with has been a help.

Week 12 marked the first time I've thrown up since 1994 (yep, you read that right), insomnia continues and my nightly trips to the bathroom are up to about three. The good new? While I still dry heave in the mornings, the majority of the nausea is gone.

For clarification to my last post, I will NOT be posting pictures of my stretch marks. I might talk about them, but I'll avoid the pictures at all cost!

Do I? Or do I not?

So I've been thinking it might be fun to start posting a weekly update on my pregnancy. You know, a kind of "this is what it looks like from my point of view". But......for those of you that know me well, also know that I don't do a very good job of painting a beautiful picture out of all situations...especially when it isn't all pretty. I'm not saying pregnancy isn't a miraculous, amazing, exciting, miracle--because it is. But it has its moments.

So I ask you, my dear blog readers, do I post a weekly update (stretch marks and all) or do I not--and leave the ignorant in bliss? (J/K about the 'ignorant' part of course.)

Kitchen Floor

They aren't the best pictures, but I'll post more as the kitchen floor is closer to completion.

As Promised...A Picture!

Two weeks ago Abbey had her 'first' haircut. It wasn't technically the first time she's had her haircut, but it was the first official cut to give her a new hairdo.

Where have I been?

Were you beginning to wonder where I've been? My blog has been more then neglected over the past month. The biggest news?

I'm pregnant!

I found out January 11th and for those of you that know our history leading up to the birth of Abbey know that I was surprised how quickly it happened and nervous about the possibility of a miscarriage. Now almost 12 weeks along, I'm excited and confident about the future.

I will post again soon...but the morning sickness and fatigue have meant that most of my free time is spent on the couch trying not to get sick and taking cat naps between Abbey's million different requests.

Abbey Says So

Abbey and I have both been feeling a little under the weather the past several days. This morning at breakfast I didn't realize I was sniffling until Abbey said:

"Mom, there's nothing to be sad about."

What a thoughtful little girl (who is obviously listening to what we're telling her even if it doesn't seem like she is)!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Yesterday was my dad's birthday and since he is in Peru and we can't really send him things easily, I decided I would try to get Abbey to sing him Happy Birthday. We've been sick here the past several days and the following was the best I could do. I love you Dad!

One Reason I LOVE Abbey

[There are a ton of reasons to love my beautiful little girl, but below is my current favorite.]

Tonight as a family we were watching a movie and eating popcorn [OK, more like Eric and I were watching a movie and Abbey was playing]. For no reason Abbey climbed up onto my lap, moved my bangs off my forehead and told me...

"You are prettery [pretty]."

Talk about melting my heart! That more then makes up for the 18 hours of labor, sleepless nights, temper tantrums and all the diaper blowouts. [Let's just hope it will one day make up for the teenage years!]

Quick Kitchen Update

Hasn't Eric done a great job! He's still got some work to do on the molding between the cabinets and the ceiling as well as the tile back splash, but it looks GREAT so far! I'm so impressed.

I love the new location of my dishwasher, it makes doing dishes so much easier! Once we get all the tools cleaned up I'll post more pictures.

2008 In Review

Below is a highlight of our year, month by month.

January

Abbey loves to dance and is learning new words.

At work I get a new shift and have to be at work at 4:30 in the morning.

February

At the end of February, Grandma and Grandpa Zimmerman come to visit. Abbey enjoys reading with Grandma.

Abbey learns two word phrases and the word pizza!

March

At the beginning of March, we visit Spokane WA with Scott and Bev. We visit the 'cat zoo' and go downtown to the river.

I turn 32.

April

I don't have any pictures or video from this month [might have something to do with my 4:30AM shift at work!] but the three of us begin our night time ritual of reading books together .

Abbey enjoys music and The Beatles song, "Drive My Car", is her favorite song.

May

Eric takes Abbey camping to Swan Lake. They also visit Glacier National Park and hike to Avalanche Lake.

I am promoted to Customer Care Manager.

June

Abbey turns 2! [See my blog from this month for a look back and Abbey and her fun little personality traits.]

July

We travel to Utah where we spend time with both sides of the family and have lots of fun: Eric takes Abbey to Hogal Zoo; I take her to 7 Peaks.

August

This is Abbey's last month at Tiny Bubbles Daycare.

Abbey begins to learn her ABCs using the Waterford Early Reading Program DVDs.

Eric and I celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary.

Eric replaces our dishwasher.

September

Abbey continues to enjoy dancing on the couch and is quickly learning more words and now speaks in sentances.

Eric's office moves and his comute is now about 5 minutes.

Eric replaces the furnace in our house.

I start The Runner's World 8-Week Beginning Runner's Training Program.

October

We travel to Utah again to see Grandma and Grandpa Zimmerman before they leave on their mission to Peru. Abbey enjoys time with her cousins.


Abbey is Elmo for Halloween

Eric turns 31.

I twist my ankle the day after I complete The Runner's World 8-Week Beginning Runner's Program [and can't jog comfortably again until December].


November

We enjoy a nice Thanksgiving in Lolo, just the three of us.

Eric starts our kitchen remodel.

I participate in National Blog Posting month and post a blog a day for 30 days.

December

The three of us enjoy a nice quite Christmas together and spend lots of time outside in the snow.

For even more highlights of the year, refer back to my blog posts from throughout the year.