Welcome Home Zoie

Mark and I are officially parents

Zoie Jean Lindberg arrived Monday April 27th, 2009 @ 12:02 pm

a beautiful healthy baby girl

8lb 9oz

21 1/2 inches

perfect in everyway

Pregnant People Everywhere

Since we found out we were expecting, I've noticed so many people I know having babies etc... People just tell me it's my stage in life, but I have been at this stage for a bit now and don't remember nearly this many babies. I decided to make a list of all the people who have had a baby since we found out we were expecting (August 2008) through those who are expecting this year. This is list is limited to people I know personally. My count so far...



43!



I don't think it is just my imagination that there are new babies everywhere.



Update on us...



Despite earlier indicators, our new baby girl has decided she is in no hurry to come into the world. My due date was Tuesday...so now it's just a waiting game. Thankfully her heart rate is fine and she is moving enough so my doctor is content for now to let nature take its course. I just hope this course isn't too long so where she'll want to induce.


I have another "baby belly" picture on my camera, so I'll try to get it off later and post it.



For now, we're just waiting for her to arrive.

Before and After

We've been busy working on our house since last June. I really wanted to get these things done before the baby came. We were successful. Here are a few before and after shots for your enjoyment. To really appreciate it, you need to come visit (hint, hint).

Master Bedroom Before















Master Bedroom After

















Guest Room/Zoie's Room Before















Zoie's Room after

Office Before/After

































Living Room Before/After

Expanding on "For Better or For Worse"

With the recent marriage of my sister and my brother's upcoming wedding, Mark and I have had some time to consider traditional wedding vows. We all know the "to have and to hold from this day forward"

"for better or for worse"
"for richer or for poorer"
"in sickness and in health"

and while I would not want to diminish the significance of these words, there are a few "unsaid vows" that I think every married couple takes...even if they don't know it up there on the alter.

Here are our silent additions to the list

"in tidiness or in disarray"
"for grouchy or for perky"
"in Menards or in the mall"
"with home-cooked or with carryout"
"in remembrance or in forgetfulness"
"for thin or for chubby"
"in dry or wet basements"
"in running or broken down cars"

and my personal favorite
"in calm or in nagging"

and we conclude "to love and to cherish; from this day forward until death do us part. "

I'm sure you all have your own. Marriage is a wonderful blessing and if we remember our commitment to even these silent vows...we can face even the challenges we bring upon ourselves.

Feel free to add any!

Peachy Day

I love peaches. They are by far and away my favorite fruit. Yesterday we were down in Central Illinois visiting friends and family. I was fortunate to have several opportunities to enjoy peaches.


We had these fabulous home-canned peaches at Dustin and Mandy's house for breakfast. They were excellent.

Grandma Lindberg had a peach cobbler for us when we went to visit her.


Grandma Kuntz brought red jello with peaches in it for dessert.


Very peachy!



The weekend was fun overall. It was our last weekend with "official plans." As I'm 37 weeks along tomorrow, we thought it unwise to committ to much else. Doesn't mean we are going to stop doing social things all together, it just means I can't committ (something that is rare for me).

So far all is well on the baby radar. We just keep cooking along.

Am I ready?

Assuming people are asking about being ready for Zoie, the short answer is....Not really. (I have a little less than 5 weeks to go until our due date).

We'd be fine if she decided to make an early appearance, but I really could use a few more weeks to get some stuff done. We're finishing up household projects (I'll before and after pictures soon). I've just about got her room in order. Work stuff is coming to a close. So we are getting there. We did make it through Diana's wedding, so that is a huge relief. Still, there is a lot to do.

Overall I feel pretty good...round...but good. I do look forward to the day when rolling over in bed isn't quite as challenging but I can handle a few more weeks of this just fine. Probably toward the very end I'll be saying "just come out please" but today is not that day.

Here is a picture of Amanda kissing my belly. Ignore the extremely tired and worn out look. This was at the rehersal dinner for Nicholas and Diana (which was very fun by the way). It had just been a long day and I was ready for bed.

The Wedding

I'm just now feeling close to recoperated after Diana and Nicholas' big wedding weekend. It was wonderful and everything went very well. It's just a tiring experience. Here are some random pictures from the event. I have more pictures on another computer but this will give you a taste of it.


Mark and I talking with Brian & Amber

My Mom and Dad

The happy couple cutting cake

The Bridal Party

More Wedding Bells

Some of you may have heard the exciting family news this weekend...

My brother Brian is getting married...to Amber Rocke from Roanoke.

Amber and Braden, her son, have been such a blessing to us already and we look forward to many years of memories.

Here is a picture of the happy family the Saturday night before the big announcement when the whole Vercler family went up to Medieval Times.

Baby Belly

As requested, here is a recent picture of my ever growing abdomen. We are about 7 1/2 weeks from D-Day. Diana's wedding is next week...so once I make it through that, I'll deal with more of the "baby stuff"

We're getting very excited and her room is pretty close to ready. I have a few more things to clean etc...but we'll get there.

Lots of love

Security at the Bridal Boutique

With Diana's wedding swiftly approaching (just 4 weeks away), we were all getting very anxious for the bridesmaid dresses to arrive. We bought them from a store up in the suburbs about 40 minutes from my house. I knew my dress was going to need serious altering and I had some one specific who I wanted to do it, who lives down in El Paso. My sister had 2 bridal showers in the Gridley area on Saturday, so we made an appointment in between to get fitted for the alterations.

One of the bridesmaids lives out in D.C., Amanda is down in Gridley, and I didn't want to make too many trips so I volunteered to go pick up these 3 dresses so we could get things started. I arrived on Friday afternoon to pick them up. What the shop didn't tell us is that to pick up dresses for other people you either have to be
A. The Bride
B. Have permission from the others to do so.

I asked what "permission" entailed. The shop ladies said that the bridesmaids needed to call into the shop and just let them know that I would be picking them up. Now it's in the middle of the afternoon. Amanda is in school and Emily (the one from D.C.) is at work. But never fear, a little family scheming is always in order.

I told the ladies I thought I could get a hold of Amanda and Emily to have them call in. I then proceeded to call Mom- asked her to be Amanda....then called Diana- asked her to be Emily and express their desire to have me pick up the dresses.

To make the act even better, I went back in and asked to look at my dress while we waited for them to call. Sure enough within minutes "Amanda" and "Emily" both called. The shop ladies asked neither of them for any identifying information to confirm they were who they said they were. It was all I could do not to laugh when they gave me a thumbs up with each call.

Anyone with any tenacity could have duped their system. Now I really did have permission to pick up the dresses...but if I wanted to steal/destroy/hold hostage the dresses I easily could have.

They then proceeded to share some stories of people who actually did steal/destroy etc... other's dresses. Crazy bridal world if you ask me.

All is well...I have the dresses and we're one step closer to the wedding.

Wouldn't you love this story to be about you

Comcast Cable Guy Weight Breaks Pole
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-tue-problem-box-27jan27,0,3124066.story

I found this story absolutely hilarious. It's sad because if Comcast had just done the right thing by fixing the pole in the first place, this guy wouldn't have to be so embarrassed. I don't know if you have ever worked with Comcast but their service is typically very bad.

Often when I make service calls I do their whole automated system and at some point in the process it hangs up on me. Got to love that.

One time I had a guy suggest I use their online chat to set-up my modem and router. That would be pretty challenging since I need to the modem and router hooked up to have an Internet connection.

Oh well, this incident happened not far from our house (next town over). It's good for a laugh :).

Much less depressing that reading about our crazy governor. I seriously believe the man is mentally gone.

I don't have to do my taxes

This is because Mark does them.... :)

I always did my own taxes (prior to getting married) and it was one of my least favorite chores of the year. Some years I was motivated and did them them really early. Other years...I waited until late.

Mark (as an accounting student) I believe truly enjoys doing the taxes. Now with the house and such it is more complicated than in years past. He's excited about this. Strange I know.

I'm thankful that until death do us part...I won't have to do my taxes. Plus I have the best accountant ever!

Lots going on

Sorry it has been so long. We've had a very busy (and very blessed) holiday season. We've spent lots of time with family and friends. Mark has been battling a head cold since just before the New year but he's making it.

Today my Amanda is having her tonsils taken out. She really needs this done as they were basically so large they were touching in the back of her throat. Hopefully all goes well.

I'll post more about our holiday w/pictures soon.

Sharing my waistline

I commented to my sister that I no longer have a waist line...

She said "Yes you do, you're just sharing it."

Here is a recent picture of Mark and I on our trip to South Bend. My work had its annual holiday party. We had a wonderful time in South Bend over the weekend. Mark also got some much needed rest.

If you are ever in South Bend and need a hotel, I'd highly recommend the Inn at St. Mary's. The service, the rooms, the BREAKFAST, everything is fabulous.

It snowed the entire time we were there, just like it does in South Bend :).

SHE is beautiful

Mark and I went to the doctor this week for an ultrasound. We are pleased to see that our little girl, Zoie Jean is doing very well. The tech said everything looks healthly and normal. We feel so blessed to be part of this miracle.

Here is a picture from ultrasound.

Thanksgiving in Georgia

Mark and I made the long 16-hour journey south for this Thanksgiving holiday. Since we haven't seen most of his family since we moved in May...it was a long anticipated trip. The weather is great (even though I heard it was nice in IL as well) and it's great to see everyone. It's a little weird driving around. It's familiar but it is no longer home. Funny how that transition happens.

Joel has already humored me many times with his perspective on the world. They were very concerned that since everyone was in bed when we arrived last night we would not know where to go to sleep. It may be a few months since we've been to this house but the general layout is still pretty familiar...so no worries Joel.

Rachel is quite fascinated with my baby belly and rubs it regularly. She has put her vote in for a girl...but Joel wants a boy. Mark said "Well we'll find out who wished harder"

I did not bring my cord to download pictures so that will have to wait until I return.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Wedding bells

It is with great pleasure I introduce you to the future Mr. & Mrs. Warnecke.

My sister is engaged to Nicholas (pictured below). The wedding is set for March 7th so we have a lot of planning to do. We picked out bridesmaid dresses Saturday. Fortunately one of Diana's favorites came in a maternity style. I will be 7 1/2 months pregnant at the time of the nuptials. At least I'll look pregnant...not just fat. It will be just very pregnant.

Just thought I'd share the good news!

Congrats Nicholas and Diana!

Shot in the arm

In the interest of protecting the health of my baby, I got a flu shot. I'm not so sure that was a great idea.



First mistake I made was to allow them to do it in the right arm. The asked my preference and I said I didn't care. Since she was on the right side that's just what they did.



It was sore for a couple of days and then got better.



The soreness is back now. I went to the doctor this morning and she thinks that I probably aggravated the soreness over the weekend. The only thing I can attribute it to is moving my arm in funny directions to try on bridesmaid dresses (this experience will be worth another post).



It's not infected so that is good.


The bad thing is I can't take any anti-inflamatory pills because I'm pregnant. Instead I'm icing 4 times per day for 20 minutes at a shot. I went ahead and turned the heat up a bit because I'm shivering now.



Hopefully this gets better soon. I'll be more careful with the arm for a while.

Envying the Chickens

I never thought that a white feathered bird would elicit feelings of green envy from me. Mark made the comment after we found out I was pregnant "wouldn't it be easier if you could just lay an egg."

After a nauseating evening yesterday and clothes shopping today, I think he may have been right.

First off, all the maternity clothes I've seen are not very cute and selection is extremely limited. I love clothes shopping and new outfits...so I find this challenging. I find enough tops that look cute enough...it is the pants/skirts area I'm having trouble.

They have plenty of jeans and some khaki type stuff (lots of capris which does me no good in the winter) but nicer pants and skirts...no such luck.

I also have a conference in two weeks. I'm not really quite round enough for maternity clothes but my normal dress clothes just aren't going to zip.

I bought some bigger pants today that should get me by.

I just found the experience to be frustrating and I have a feeling it will only worsen.

Wouldn't it be nice just to lay an egg?

Baby Lindberg Update

All is still well with baby Lindberg. I had another doctor appointment today. My tests were all normal and the heart beat is strong.

My doctor questioned me a bit because I haven't gained any weight yet (don't worry this will come). I reminded her when you throw up a lot...weight gain doesn't typically happen (I was polite when I said this). Now that I'm in the second trimester and not feeling nearly so icky, I should be able to gain as appropriate.

My mom says I shouldn't worry about it and just eat right. Dr. Huff always says "The baby is a little parasite...he/she will eat first."

Our next appointment is just after Thanksgiving. It is then we'll have an ultrasound and hopefully be able to tell if it is a girl baby or a boy baby. I really don't have a preference.

We just pray God will continue to keep our baby (and mama) healthy.