Update at 22 weeks

Hi everyone!

Good news on the new-home-front. We have signed the final paperwork to make the offer to buy our little Country Club house. A price was decided and we have been pre-approved for the mortgage. The house inspection was yesterday and Brent's dad actually drove to Grosse Pointe for the inspection in our place. (Thank you so much, Greg!) The house is in great condition - only a couple minor repairs to be done immediately and a couple other minor things just to monitor. We signed the final paperwork today to complete the deal and soon we should hear the final closing date - we are shooting for July 11th. I hesitate to say, but I think we are steps away from owning our first home!

Brent and I have been having fun talking about home improvements. We've really only seen the house twice and we're looking forward to actually being there and starting to make it our own. The first project will be the baby's room. The room right now has a pretty awful shade of purple carpet. We'll put new carpet in and paint the walls. We have picked out a color - "Friendly Yellow". It's really a lovely color - very creamy with a hint of yellow. It's friendly, just like its name!

22 weeks along now - I can't believe it. Baby is 20 weeks old!

• Baby now weighs about 12 1/2 ounces and is 7 2/3 inches long.
• Eyelids and eyebrows are well developed.
• Baby's organs continue to develop. (Develop away, little kidneys in there, develop away.)

I was talking with Brent the other day about when I worked in the NICU and took care of premature babies. Some were born as early as 24 weeks. I can picture these babies so well in my mind. It's strange because our baby is close to 24 weeks, so I can realistically imagine what he/she looks like....how small, fragile, and perfectly baby.

Brent's last day of school was today! Bittersweet for him to leave Rivers Edge - he has been there for three years now and it was the first classroom of his own as a teacher. At the same time, he's very excited for our new start and for the new adventure he will have in his new position at Reach Academy up north. I'm very jealous this time of year - Brent sleeps in and Laura goes to work. It's really the pits! I should have been a teacher.....

Baby Hartsell is really moving lately. Brent felt a good kick last night! It was really the first good kick he's felt and it was a great moment. Baby seems to move a lot while I'm at work - it must be all the thinking I'm doing or something. It's an amazing feeling to feel the baby move. I love it, love it, love it. Amazing!

Well, time to wrap up the night. Congratulations sent out to my Mom and Dad - their 31st wedding anniversary was today! Wishing them many happy more.

Love you guys ~ Laura