Having so much fun!

Josh and I are having a great time seeing our friends and family in Chicago. Last night we visited our cousins Matt & Vanda and their new baby Nissa and Asher who is a wonderful big brother to his new sister. It was great to see them and also nice to talk to them about what works and what doesn't with their new baby. We learned the football hold - no fail helped Nissa to stop crying every time! You put the babyface down over your arm (between their legs and arms) and rest the baby's chest on your palm and hold. You can rock them, but Nissa liked just being in that position. Also the shushing...when babies cry you shush in their ear repeatedly until they stop crying. I think it sounds like the white noise in the belly before they are born. Thanks Matt & Vanda for all of the great tips! I'm sure that we will need them! :)

I'm almost 16 weeks now...feeling great...leaving for Michigan on Friday!

Back in the US! Finally!

Okay! Josh and I rolled into Chicago around 3pm on the 13th of December...boy was I happy to be on the ground. I basically was sick the entire flight...throwing up whatever terrible airplane food I had...what a fun time! :) I felt better after that though! I'm not sure if it was the headache that I had or the terrible smell of the bathroom that sent me over the edge. :) Anyway. Totally great to be home. I don't think I'll throw up while I'm here. Ha!

Chicago was great. I haven't seen some of the people I've worked with since we left 8 months ago - so my visit was a surprise to everyone! It was fun. I even crashed the FedEx Kinko's Bowling Christmas Party. We visited our neighbors from our old place and had a wonderful Tapas dinner. Unfortunately the snow was so much that evening that we got stuck on their couch for the night, instead of our cozy hotel room.

We're happy to be chillin with Josh's parents and family this week and then on up to Michigan for time with my family.

Lots of love and holiday wishes to you all!

New baby pictures!

Wow! Check it out! This one really looks like a baby now! If you look closely you can see the brain & the spine! So exciting. The doctor sounded really positive and this was the best ultrasound that I've ever had! It was an internal exam and I think the pictures can come out better. More to come...we're going to find out the sex of the baby soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Let me start out with a few things I am thankful for...

Josh and I being together here in Abu Dhabi - we are lucky because there are a lot of single people working on his project that have no one to come home to! Also, it's a safe and beautiful place!

How easy it was to get pregnant! I really thought it would take longer than it did! And most of all a healthy baby that's growing everyday in there! Today in my latest ultrasound I saw it's heart beating! It was so cool!

My wonderful family & friends...you never know how much you'll miss them when you go this far away. The phone calls & email have made it so much easier for Josh and I!

I am also thankful for Shelly, one of the people here who slaved over a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner for a lucky 8 of us that were feeling a bit lonely without our families! It was a really nice way to spend a Thanksgiving away from home...

So many things to be thankful for...I can't even list them all...Happy Thanksgiving!

I saw the baby!!!

Sorry that I haven't written in a while!! Here's what's been happening!

I had my first ultrasound last week along with lots of other tests at the Corniche Hospital. This is the hospital where Josh and I plan to deliver the baby. I was a bit freaked out at first because it is a local hospital and I felt a bit out of place. I always pictured that my visit would be a bit more private. I was ushered into a room filled with other preggo women and in front of all of them you had to get weighed and your blood pressure taken. I think it was the first time I'd ever had to do that in a public setting - well I guess weight watchers! :) Anyway...I met with a midwife that was wonderful and she made me feel right at ease. Unfortunately I am hypothyroid so I have to meet with a doctor throughout my pregnancy and not the midwife. The doctor I saw set me up for the ultrasound the same day! I went in a drank lots of water and then my name was called...I thought...this is it! I finally get to see it!! She squirted the jelly on and placed the wand on my tummy and oh my GOD there it was!! She said, "There is your baby!" Then the heartbeat...then the tears! It was one of the most happy moments in my life.

Enjoying a Break!

Well, I am certainly enjoying a break from work! I'm sure that the baby is too! I went to the beach yesterday (we I guess we did) and drank my fair share of the fresh orange juice that they make. It is sooooo good. Like think of the best orange juice you've ever had then multiply it by ten! Delicious! Maybe it's one of my "crave" items. I can't seem to live without fruit! I guess that's a good thing. I have fruit all of the time! And vegetables...and salads...yum...I guess this pregnancy thing really does turn your cravings around! I did want potato chips and flaming hot cheetos in the beginning...but now it's just like I said...not as appetizing as strawberries, well and some ice cream! Yes, ice cream...oh well...I try to substitute it with cool whip! :)

Today I am going to the Corniche Hospital ~ this is where thirteen thousand babies are born in Abu Dhabi every year! It is the best place and I 've talked to lots of Moms who also agree. I'm going to start a file today and also set up my first ultrasound.

The first time I hear the heartbeat will be so cool!

First Day of November - Last Day of Work!

Well, it's the first day of November...only 45 days until we're back state side! It's the last day of work for me. Josh and I decided that it would be a good idea for me and the baby to stop working around the chemicals here at the copy shop. I'm pretty excited because I don't really like how the owners run FedEx Kinko's here...it doesn't even feel like I'm really working for the same company as in the US. There are significant differences. Anyway...it's my last day! I'm excited to have some free time to take some art classes, keep active, hang out at the pool and prepare for a new baby! It will be really nice to have time to help Josh out too, he's been so crazy busy at his job.

I feel good...no morning sickness! I can't believe it! I'm almost 9 weeks! I think that means I may have escaped that part!

I hope everyone had a fun Halloween, I missed an amazing party with EJDJ - but I heard that my Dad got some good video of the night. I'm looking forward to seeing that! Eric proposing to Sammi had to have been the highlight of the night! Congrats you two!! :)

Happy Halloweeeennn!!

Hello fans of the Munson Baby Blog! Happy Halloween! It's so very Halloweenish here in Abu Dhabi. I'm being so very sarcastic. It's definitely hard to get used to not seeing pumpkins and ghouls running around. Boring! I'm really going to miss giving out candy to the kids and seeing their cute costumes. Anyway, I'm wearing my orange and black today...no one gets why, but I'm wearing it like a champ! Spreading my Halloween cheer!

Hey...something funny today...someone told me that I have a pregnanacy glow....NEAT!

Love you all!

Kanye West in Dubai!

Whoo! I am not feeling as tired anymore so going to the Desert Rhythm Festival in Dubai was so much fun! Kanye West was the headliner - he was amazing! What a high energy show. I loved seeing Ziggy Marley as well. This was the closest chance I would ever get to see Bob. What an incredible resemblance - pretty cool. He even sang some of his dad's stuff.

Don't tell Josh, but I hope our baby likes rap music! Ha! :)

First blood tests...

All of my blood tests came back today and they were all good! I'm so happy! I found out that I my blood type is A negative, which I didn't know or couldn't remember from before. Very happy that all is good. In two weeks I will call to get my first ultrasound or sonogram...I'm not sure which...

Yay! More to come....

Josh and Deanna go to Paris - Baby too!

Josh and I boarded our plane to Paris on Ocotober 6th. I was super excited as I always am to fly to a place that I've never been. Paris too! How romantic! Josh and I were meeting his parents, Bobbi & Arnold along with Josh's brother Matt, his wife Jen & their cutie 1 year old Lola. The flight was about 7 hours...

We took a taxi to our apartment shortly after arrival and Josh and I were talking about how we would tell everyone that I was expecting. My idea was to take out the book "What to Expect When You are Expecting" and start reading it in front of everyone and see if they notice. We agreed...this is what we will do...good. As we were passing all of this wonderfully french stuff in our taxi we started to talk about what would happen if they asked me if I wanted a drink...I just said I would say no because I don't feel very good after the flight. Okay agreed.

We arrive at the apartment...Matt, Jen, Bobbi & Arnold are such troopers and waiting up for us...they're jet lag was much worse than ours I bet. First things first, Josh, Dee would you like some wine? I said no, I don't really like wine...good...no one asked any questions. Jen and Matt went to bed and then we went out to dinner with Bobbi & Arnold at a place called Le Nemrod. I thought the name was strangely similar to nimrod, so that was a bit humorous. Anyway...we were chatting away and Josh's Mom says," So Dee what's new at home?" Josh says," Yeeeaaaaahhh Deanna, what IS new at home." I say, "OHhhhhh, what's new at hoooomme?" Well, I guess our plan just went out the door! Ha! Josh obviously wanted me to spill the beans immediately - cute. We told them. Arnold is like,"I knew it!" They were both really excited and wanted to call, Becca - Josh's sister- immediately! We tried to call almost all night...she never would pick up...finally about midnight she did. She was crying and excited, I think a little sad that she couldn't be there with us too. She's a teacher, so vacations only happen in the summer for her so she couldn't come. All in all I did get to use the book to surprise Matt & Jen. I said,"Jen, I'm reading this new book...what do you think of it?" I show her the book - her eyes get all big - excitement ensues. Matt says something classic,"I knew it! Dee NEVER turns down a drink!!!"

We're having a baby!!

Josh and I were very excited on October 4th when we first found out that I was pregnant!
I took two tests and I could barely get my pants up and they were positive! I guess it's time...I think that it was the most fun being able to tell family and friends. My Mom was first...we were flying to Paris the next day to see Josh's parents and I knew I had to tell mine first! So she's chatting with Josh on the phone forever and Josh is like, "Well, I'll let you talk to Deanna." My Mom keeps talking to him, I'm sitting there laughing because I know she wants to know this but she keeps talking to Josh and has no idea that I NEED to talk to her...so then Josh says, "Well I'll let you talk to Deanna, now." She KEEPS talking to him...funny Mom! Eventually Josh was able to wrangle my Mom into a conversation with me...one she would never forget...She says,"I bet you are excited to go to Paris!" I say, "Yes I am excited to go to Paris, but I am even more excited to tell you that you are going to be a Grandmother!" Mom says nothing...like nothing for like what felt like eternity...then I heard her gasp like she was crying so hard, then she says,"Oh, honey!" She was happy...we were happy...it was awesome! The only thing that would have made it better would have been to be there with her!
Then I called my dad, no answer...onto my brother Eric...I knew he would be floored! I told him he was going to be an uncle! He says,"Seriously?...Seriously?....That's awesome!" Then he says, "My life is going to change!" I said, "Your life?!" It was funny. He asked me if I called Sammi yet...she was next!
Well, all in all everyone that I talked to was very happy! So were we.
We're having a baby!