36 Weeks

I started this blog when I was 36 weeks with Sipsey. I looked back on it today and was thankful for the record of what was going on at that time and how I was feeling, etc. I need to do a better job of documenting this baby's progress! I am now 36 weeks with this little booger. We have finally decided on his entire name:

Wheeler Arthur Beck

Wheeler is from my mom's side of the family and Arthur is the name of Ben's dad and late brother and grandfather. We are excited to have something decided before the social security lady visits the hospital room this time!

I went to the doctor this morning and I am 1-1.5 cm dilated! I wasn't dilated at all with Sips until 38 weeks and got up to about 2 cm and stayed that way until 40 weeks and 5 days when I was induced. So, hopefully my body will know what to do on its own this time. Or I could stay this way up to 40 weeks. My doctor (whose name is Dr. Hurt btw---yikes!) seems to think we won't need an induction, but we'll know more next week when I go back for another checkup! I do want to remember how active Wheeler is ALL the time. Hands, feet, knees, and elbows poke and glide across my belly constantly. I have the laptop on my belly right now and it is being pushed up and down as I type!

This picture was taken on July 4. I was about 33 weeks then. I have not done a good job taking belly pics. It's BIG and that's all I need to remember!

Our House

Well, I never wanted to do this, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Our house in Birmingham has been on the market since AUGUST. That would be 2010. Almost 1 year. Unfortunately the market is saturated in Bham and especially in our neighborhood. Here is my plea for my blog readers: If you know anyone, ANYONE who needs a house in Birmingham, please give them my name and email address (laurenhbeck [at] yahoo [dot] com). The price is right! We are "motivated sellers" (read: desperate to get rid of it) and asking much, much less than what we bought it for. It is located in Crestwood North, about 4 miles from UAB in an older neighborhood where the houses were built from 1920's until 1960's (ours is 1948). The demographics range from older couples who have lived there all their lives to young and old singles to young couples with no children or young children. Lots of young professionals, UAB grad students, and UAB residents and fellows live there. Everyone walks and speaks and knows their neighbors. We went back to check on things last weekend and no less than five sets of neighbors came over to see how we were doing. We have the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of our next-door and back-door neighbors just because we like them and spent time with them frequently! We will also consider renting if it's someone we know! Better photos exist in my iphoto, but I had to pull these from the listing for time's sake.

3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, and a huge laundry/utility/craft room. Attic with pull-down stairs (we used this constantly. i can almost stand in there. not a creepy, nasty attic) and a walk-in basement for storage (housed all our yard equipment/tools). And SHADE! which helps with the power bill in the summer.

1948 kitchen. We always loved it anyway. At least it's white and not harvest gold!



Brand new half bath that we added in May. Yes, we lived for 5+ years in a one bathroom house. Never bothered us, but the young people looking now sure don't think they can live with just one bathroom. Folks are so needy! :) In almost 7 years of marriage, we have 2 bathrooms for the first time in our rental in Arkansas. We also only have tube tv's so maybe we are the weird ones.


Fun back porch. There is a brick patio down the steps as well. Lots of good times were had in the back yard!



Ben's "man house" with power and A/C (window unit). He even rigged up cable in there too! A parking spot to the right was reserved for the boat. And the driveway is for 2 cars - a rarity in an old neighborhood where many folks must park one car on the street.

If you are in the know, what else can we do to sell this house? Our realtor just suggested an auction. Has anyone been in this situation and had to rent? I really don't feel like being a landlord from another state. We need HELP!