Baby's Room

For those wanting to track the progress on the Baby's room, you can now follow it on a new page created just for it, look for the tab at the top of the site.

Newest set of ultrasounds

     This past Monday we had another round of ultrasounds taken and are sharing them out here with everyone. The baby is growing fine and everything appears to be going as normal during the pregnancy. Julie is also doing well and is definitly showing now. The next ultrasound will be on Monday, January the 10th. If you have any questions, feel free to comment them or email them to me and I'd be happy to answer any.

We are registered

Ok you all asked for it and here they are our registry links. We have registered at Babies 'R' Us and Target.


Target:
http://www.target.com/registry/baby/014151900000702

Babys 'R Us:
http://www.toysrus.com/registry/link/index.jsp?overrideStore=TRUS&registryNumber=46179010

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! to all our followers, keep checking back in over the next couple days we'll be posting links to our registration sites.

Time to meet Michael Alexander Gardieff

Just got home from a long day out, we had the doctor's appointment, went to dinner and started registering. Baby is structurally fine and is developing well. During the Ultrasound it was very clear that it is definitly a boy. Here are the Ultrasound pictures from today's appointment. Official name will be Michael Alexander Gardieff.

Our House

Last night was our first night sleeping in the new house we rented here in Clermont. While it needs some TLC I think we found a wonderful place to live, thanks to Julie's hunting skills. There are photos online on Facebook or I can e-mail them to you if you would like to see them. It's only five minutes away from our old apartment. We are still moving though, even with all the furniture all in now, there's still lots of little things and boxes to haul over. Planning on a house warming party sometime in November and I will of course list it out here and send out invites to it. Just a couple more weeks till we can find out if w ae having  boy and girl, then we will be registering and placing all registry informaton on-line here

Ultrasound it is

It's been much anticipated and the day is finally here. Today was Julie's second doctor's appointment for the baby. Visit started off pretty routine, Julie got a little routine physical and final verdict is mother-to-be is doing just fine. The second part of the visit was the first ultrasound, it was very easy to see the baby on the ultrasound and we got to hear the heartbeat. The baby is about 4cm in size and based on everything, the due date is locked in at March 21, 2010 as originally planned. Putting the baby at 11 weeks along, with another ultrasound will take place at week 20 (Where the sex will actually be determined). Julie's next appointment is at the end of September, nothing fancy happening at that appointment just a routine check-up. Now the part that everyone i'm sure is anxious for and that is the actual pictures from the ultrasound. I know they are not as great quality as seeing the original image, but atleast this way everyone can share in seeing them. Also if your not already a subscriber to the newsletter, you may want to look into it, cause in this newsletter is an exclusive look at the fourth picture. Remember if you are a subscriber, make sure its not getting sent to your spam folder.

Short Epcot trip

     Julie was originally planned to go on an away football trip this evening with her cheerleaders. Due to some paperwork issues they were unable to actually go on the trip or hold a practice today. Giving Julie the afternoon free with which we decided to wander over to Epcot for awhile and just walk around.
     We started out with a quick walk with a destination in mind of the Lotus Blossom Cafe in China (you can read about our meal at http://agardieff.blogspot.com/). We casually took our time and then it was off on a journey around the world. Our first stop a wander through China's large gift shop. Then came the walk around the world, a quick walk through Italy and off to Japan. In Japan they recently opened a new exhibit in the gallery titled: Spirited Beasts. Which is a look at Anime and the actual Japanese myths that inspired them. It has some neat little figurines to look at, but, if your not an Anime fan you'll find yourself in and out in a matter of a couple minutes. After Japan, we just kinda strolled around (debating Napoleon's in france...didn't happen still, too full) and a wander through the shops in United Kingdom.
     Having walked World Showcase it was time for us to make our way out of the park. Having to of course go through Mouse Gear and a browse at Pin Central. Wanting to say we atleast did something at Epcot, it was decided to do the big golf ball itself Spaceship Earth. Wait...also have to go through Art of Disney and look at all the stuff we'd like to buy and then realize we can never afford half of it. Finally, we ride Spaceship Earth and make sure we have a nice silly face for the on-ride photo and a randomly selected ending in which we pick things that describe neither of us. In a quick walkthrough (to tired to write more) that was our couple hours trip to Epcot.

Greetings from China

Reception Ceremony Videos

It took a little extra to get this weeks wedding video out here. Here it is the "Reception" video presented in two parts.

Wedding Ceremony Video

As promised this week I am pleased to announce the ability to view the "ceremony" slideshow I created for our wedding. This one was actually uploaded a different way and hopefully will be a little better quality. I'm also looking at reposting the "getting ready" slideshow to the new way to keep some consistancy. I hope you enjoy and as always, I look forward to any feedback or suggestions.

Wedding Videos

Roughly a year ago I started a pet project of turning our wedding photos that were taken into a video slideshow and for one reason or another they have never come together on DVD as I had originally intended for them to be. So for those who have not had the privledge of seeing these slideshows, I've decided to release them on here 1 a week for 4 weeks. I am very glad to have this blog and the ability to be able to get them on here and share them with everyone.

A Look Back

While we are between posts, waiting for Julie's next doctor's appointment, I thought it be fun to put together a little slideshow of us from the past, just to pass sometime and give everyone something to look at.

I'd love to hear back from you, if you liked it or didn't like it and whether or not you'd like to see more of stuff like this on here in the future.

Ding Dong - Avon Calling

If you get the newsletter you already know that Julie is now a Avon Representative. I wanted to post the link to her website, where if your not able to order from her locally you'll be able to online and have it count for her. If you need Avon or just want to help start her into her new side-career the website is http://jgardieff.avonrepresentative.com/. If you have any questions about her Avon, there is the ability to contact her on the website so she'll know its Avon related. Thank you all in advance for your support into her new adventure.

Don't forget to check back soon for a new blog update and if your not a member of the newsletter get signed up if you don't want to miss the latest news and get some exclusive updates and photos.

Also if you are a newsletter member remember to adjust your spam filters and allow agardieff@gmail.com or check your spam folder for your newsletter if you haven't received it. If your having troubles receiving please let me know so I can work on fixing it with you.

The doctor is in

This morning was our first visit to the ob/gyn. I wish I had some great, exciting, or jaw dropping news for you. Unfortunatly, at this point theres not much to show and tell. We went in having done most of the paper work last night cutting down our wait and time in the waiting area down to a minimum. Then into the exam room, we met with a medical assistant that took the medical history and gave us a little goody bag with some pre-natal vitamin samples, some cds for the computer, phamplets, and a journal for Julie to track her pregnancy. Also I think I had a little too much fun playing with the exam table and being nosy around the room. After that was done we met with the actual doctor, she was very nice and pleasant. She confirmed the pregnancy and we are still going with the due date of March 21, 2011. Then she went over a little more medical background, some do's and dont's, question and answers, gave Julie a little physical once over and that was that. On the way home we filled Julie's pre-natal vitamin prescription and now she just needs to visit a lab to get some blood tests done before we go back. So, for now that is all that is happening. Next doctors appointment is the end of August, and were told at that one we'll actually get some pictures and stuff to actually share with everyone. We stopped on the way home and used a ten dollar Kohl's certificate we got in the mail and bought some unisex bibs, out of the urge to get something for the little one, so they are added into what I like to refer to as the "Baby bin" where we are slowly going to start our accumaltion of all things baby. Until the next appointment, probably once a week I will update here and let everyone know how Julie's feeling and any new symptoms, all that good stuff. So once again, sorry there isn't more but theres still 8 months ahead of us and the closer we get the more will be happening.

Julie's Birthday

Here ye here ye today by royal proclamation of ... well, I guess myself.
Today, July 18th is my wife and mom to be, Julie's birthday.

Last night we just happened to be up at Midnight, from me getting off work late and Julie returning from a friends party, so, I gave her the gifts I bought her. She received a new alarm clock (to replace hers that seemed would never die and had the most annoying alarm tone, but after it did start to falter it felt like a good time for an upgrade), a 1-inch hair straightner (she mentioned a few weeks ago that she wanted a thinner one than she had), and the book What to Expect When Your Expecting (without which this blog would not exist because I wouldn't of learned about the website). We stayed up for a bit debating middle names for Michael/Michelle and after my being excited about 'Chibibi' she abruptly said goodnight and well that was pretty much the end of that idea. She slept-in this morning and took a nice nap recently, while I tried to push my way through this book I'm reading called 'Wizard's First Rule' which seems for every page I read another magically appears at the end and never feels like I make any progress.

Tonight we will be going out to celebrate her birthday at a restaurant I discovered on http://www.opentable.com called Fiorella's at the Westin Imagine Orlando hotel on Universal Blvd. down near I-Drive. It got decent reviews and with Julie you can never go wrong with Italian. If you want to see where we are dining its here at http://www.fiorellasorlando.com . I'll definitly be either editing this blog later tonight with a review or adding it into tomorrows doctor appointment entry.

For a review of our dining at Fiorella's tonight you can find a brief summary at my other non baby blog site http://agardieff.livejournal.com/

We take our first steps down the unknown path

For today starts an epic adventure, one with twists and turns around everycorner. An adventure that will take many months and years, which will truly lead to become The Great Gardieff Adventure.

Tomorrow we take our first steps into the unknown. Julie and I will be attending the first doctor's visit to confirm the pregnancy and do all the initial tedious and tiresome paperwork involved with all things medical. We are both nervous and excited. Excited about our new roles as parents and guides to our unborn and also nervous to hear how things are progressing. Although the metaphorical cat has been let out of the bag to a privilidged select few, pending good news tomorrow morning and a greenlight from the doc, word will spread like wildfire of the news of the next Gardieff heir to be born into the kingdom of Clermont. Although we take these first few steps into the unknown cautiously, we are not blind, for we have many friends and family to guide us along the path.

So...Ok, maybe your not fully up to speed on what's happening here. My name is Alex and my wife Julie discovered the other day by the good 'ol home pregnancy test that we are expecting. To answer many, yes it was planned, but we couldn't of thought it be this quick and fast to happen. Naturally we aired on the side of caution tried a couple more tests all positive, so, yep real deal. Next thing you know we got a doctors appointment set, and absorbing ourselves into online reference materials. Besides the tests not much can be seen, Julie has taken to frequent extended naps out of tiredness. So far she has had no signs of morning sickness or many of the other common symptoms. Right now based on the phone call with the doctor the estimated due date is March, 21 2011. But, tomorrow based on the how far along she actually is we will probably get a better idea of the actual date range. It's been decided that Julie would like to name our boy/girl after her father who passed away a few years ago, Michael or Michelle will be entering into the world. Which is good cause either of those names is easily found on Disney World personalized merchandise which is a big factor, got to have a name to buy souvenirs for. Incase you didn't know we both come from huge theme park following backgrounds, so before you know it he/she will be singing "its a small world" before anything else.

Well, that is a generalized summary of what has taken place these last couple days, I'll update this blog tomorrow when we know more.