Christmas pics!

Connor points to the "baby in Aunt BB's belly"! I LOVE THIS PHOTO!







A Bun in the Oven

1973 and Little Bridget's arrival

My dad sent me these pictures from 1973 negatives that he saved from the flood in CP. Was just looking at them and amazed that I will soon be the mom in the photos. Love my parents in these pics! Love that they were taken at the same hospital I will be giving birth in as well! Enjoy browsing!

A Visit to the "Big Tree" with Connor!

Been having a ton of fun hanging with Connor and Jeanette these past few days! (Missing Dan while he works hard up in MA with all of the snow that happened! But will see him today with Hugh at Aunt Jeanne's!) Played with some new toys that Connor got, Papa's choo-choo train, Matchbox cars (Connor has one picked out for each family member), eating pizza, and making him laugh! We especially enjoy asking him "who he loves more"...and him answering Papa no matter who we say! Went to the EAB tree last night and saw all of the "geeeen" (aka green) lights and the skaters!

Christmas with Future Forie

Showing Some Belly Love!

Want to get into the Christmas mood????

Click on the middle left of the screen to "Baby Grooves" to hear some music for the season! Have to admit I love the Mariah song....and the Smokey song is a favorite from when I was a child....Dad always had music playing along with that awesome light box flashing to the beat of each tune!

*Some of you may remember Christian's "solo" at the wedding to the song "So Many Times" thats on the song list!

23 Week Belly!

Getting into the Christmas Spirit at 23 Weeks!

Wasn't going to post these...but why not!

<--- 20 Weeks!






17 Weeks

















15 Weeks

















14 Weeks

















12 Weeks
















Watch the Belly Progression!!!

Snow Day!

So Future Forie and "mom to be" are home today on a snow day!!!!! There was nothing on the ground this morning but its starting to come down now! "We" are feeling bad that "dad to be" had to head out to work this morning and hope they do an early dismissal for him!!!!

*Update! Christian gets out at 1pm today...better than nothing I guess! Its coming down now! Thinking about Aunt Natalie and Uncle Jerry in Florida...are they sipping wine, looking out at the beach and thinking of us snow birds!!!I'm jealous....about the sun AND the wine!

Hopefully got the shots.....

Went to the "Madonna Center" today to get another sonogram trying to get all views of the heart. At first the technician said she wouldn't be able to bc the baby was "upside down" and only showing the spine. When she went to look at the baby's heart it was shadowed by bones. So after a little bit of jiggling of the belly and waiting, she started to take some "shots". She said she thinks she got it but I will have to see if my Dr. feels the photos are sufficient enough. They have to get certain shots to confirm that all is "a ok"....but I've been getting good feedback from my Dr and the technicians....its just a formality to get all the shots. If the shots aren't enough for my Dr. I have to go get a fetal cardiogram (I think thats what its called)....So I will probably know in a day or so. Being that I am in my 24th week, they can't really wait to take more pics bc the baby will be less translucent I guess, so it would be hard to "see through" to the heart.

Left there to get some taco bell (my pregnancy comfort food...soooo bad for me.....) and then headed to get a very needed haircut. Have had my natural color for over a year now, and starting to get used to it and like it : ) Not crazy about the greys that love to pop through, but def done with the full blonde...but I know Christian misses it ; )

Wondering if the "Snow Craziness" will hit tonight.....my students are all counting on a snow day for tomorrow!?!

Sonogram on Monday!

Went back to the Dr. for another Sonogram on Monday. Mom Forie came with us to see her future "grandbaby"!! We got to see little forie again and check out all of his/her fun features! Nosey-toesies, belly, spine! Heard the heartbeat too : ) This is called the Level II Sonogram, where they measure everything. We had to go back this time bc the baby was not cooperating last time and the technician couldn't see all of the body parts. Turns out, I have to go back tomorrow too bc we still didn't get all of the photos needed. But she says everything looks good, its just a technicality. Its so crazy bc the baby starts to kick and move while she is pressing the belly....the technician said that the baby can't feel the pressure from her sonogram "machine" but when she moves the "wand" around, the fluid in the sac moves, causing the baby to move. So, going tomorrow afternoon to peek at the baby again : )

Did I mention that we got our stroller delivered the other day!!! Its funky and fun and we can't wait to use it!!! Now we have to just start organizing the apt and figure out where all of the "stuff" is going to go....its only the beginning of "stuff", thats for sure!

Also, had a wonderful weekend.....got some christmas shopping done, decorated the tree (our last christmas as "two!), and had dinner with the Forie's, Santoro's and Aunt Meg : ) Ate lots of yummy stuff and hung out. Jill gave Christian and I a little outfit and funky sneakers for Future Forie! Cannot wait to start folding clothes and putting them in the nursery. Sat with everyone and listened to them guess baby names too! Won't say whether or not they actually said the name....but they were trying to figure it out! Really still haven't picked a girl name yet either. Been hearing alot of "you are having a boy bc....or you are having a girl bc...." from people at work...but you never know. I'm around boys all day at work, so I am more inclined to think I'm having a boy. A girl would be a nice break from all of that...but either way, its all good : ) Christian and I keep looking at the sonogram pics and seeing who's features the baby has!

Well...going to eat some more...the baby is moving around and I think its feeding time....AGAIN! May even top off the night with some ice cream...AGAIN!! Can't wait to see everyone next week!

Hiking with the baby!

Just got home from a 5.7 mile hike with my class and got an awesome, and safe, work out! The baby must be in shock bc I have been so lazy these past months...feels good to get out and move around : )

Take a peek at Future Forie!

Can you see Future Forie???!!!! Notice the beautiful head, arm and fingers, and belly! The round circle under the arm is the umbilical cord! Went to my "Level II Sonogram" today with Christian and Grandma Santoro! We sat for 30+ minutes and watched little Forie float around and get measured. We saw arms, legs, feet, the spine, the heartbeating, toes, the jaw, the brain....everything! It was totally amazing! Grandma Santoro got to hear the heartbeat too : ) She tried to convince us to find out the sex, and may have even bribed the technician, but it is still a surprise! I was set that I was having a boy (don't know why though, probably bc I can only find a boy name right now!) but am now totally confused and unsure. It doesn't matter though, bc this baby is going to be precious no matter what. Just picturing being in the hospital and holding the baby with Christian, family, and friends around was amazing today. Felt alot of kicking and movement during the test....the little one probably didn't like all of the poking going on! Have to go back in two weeks for a check-up and another sonogram to find certain areas that were hidden today. The technician says everything looks great : ) Hope you can see the baby in the picture.....maybe you can peek and see if its a boy or girl!?!

Feeling Giddy!

Had a nice long weekend off with family and friends. Spent some time with my cousins and Aunt Roberta on Thanksgiving. My Uncle Keith, and godfather, passed away last week after a 7 month battle with cancer. It was good to be together and have some time to reflect. My heart goes out to them all during this difficult time.

Had breakfast with my Favorite Forie family on Thanksgiving morning. Heard that Jill got a funky onesie for "Future Forie" and am excited to see it : ) Headed over to my Aunt Jeanne's and saw most of them for the first time since my announcement. The belly was feeling kinda big and stretched, probably from the eating that had already begun! It was great to see everyone and chat about baby things. Also saw Mr.Connor over Thanksgiving and was so excited to see how big he got! Love when he says, "Open This"in a gentle, will someone help me kind of way! Always love seeing Jeanette and Dan and already can't wait until Christmas to hang again.

Spent the rest of the weekend drinking peppermint hot chocolate and shopping for baby things with Christian : ) I'll admit that we went to Buy Buy Baby two days straight and did hours of browsing. It was alot of fun and we finally started registering for the "nitty gritty" things. Its so hard to imagine what we will need, but we had a few lists in hand to keep us focused. Actually glad we are getting neutral colors so when "Baby #2" comes, we can use it all no matter what the sex is. Went home after each trip and redid alot online. Have to have Jeanette and Lauren look it over and give me the "needs and don't needs" of what I picked out. Excited to get the furniture into the room so we can start putting things in drawers and organizing. Got a few things from Anna that are adorable, so I want to start my "ooooo-ing" while folding clothes! We are also psyched bc we found a great deal on the stroller that we wanted. It will be both the infant and toddler stroller, so that is a big help.

Have had alot of kicking and bumps the past few days! Was able to see my belly bump last night from the outside. Christian has felt a lot more bumps but still hasn't seen the belly move. Can't wait for our big sonogram tomorrow. Haven't seen the baby in a while so it is going to look soooo different! Will definitely write and fill you in : )

Daddy-to-be feels a kick!

Last night was quite exciting in the Forie house! I have been telling Christian about the bumps and movement that I feel in my "belly"...and usually by the time he goes to feel, the little one has settled into a comfortable position. Last night, however, while watching tv in bed...Christian felt a big BUMP from my tummy!! I was so happy that he finally got a chance to experience our little one : ) It really is an amazing miracle and we are so psyched to feel more movement and bumps in coming weeks! Today is the last day of week 20!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That means that I AM HALF WAY THERE!!!!!! What, you can't believe it??? Well, neither can I!! Time flies and I'm glad...because I cannot wait to meet our little new addition. Monday is my Level II Sonogram but we will not be finding out the sex.....we talked about it over the weekend and have decided, again, to stick with our original plan....even though we want to know!!! I think the surprise will be alot of fun in April : )

Did some more "shopping" this weekend to pick out things that need to go on a registry. Will probably be deleting a million things because god only knows what we have picked out. Its so overwhelming!! My mom and I picked my location for the shower, so that is very exciting....can't wait for March to see everyone with my big round belly!!!

Well, off to eat dinner...hopefully "Future Forie" will be kicking after I eat....he/she likes when I eat lots of ice cream...or at least, that's what I'm telling myself as I eat bowl #5! (kidding!)

a large heirloom tomato????

who would've thought that I could carry that?! I don't even know what it is ; ) Ending week 19 and heading into 20 weeks!!!!! Still feel little bumps and movement. By the time I go to show Christian, its hard to find or catch. He is going to be an amazing dad....love him so much and can't wait to see him in action <3

Nursery Furniture!

Woohoo! We purchased Future Forie's nursery furniture yesterday at Buy Buy Baby! Originally we were going to get white, but then realized that it may be too "girlie"...and being that we won't know the sex, we figured the Espresso color was more neutral and timeless : ) This crib converts to a toddler bed then into a full sized bed with head and footboard. (We didn't get the hutch or the armoire...just the crib,dresser and "changing table".) Now we have to start planning the design of the baby room. We already have it painted a light sage color...so I think that my sea turtle idea will go perfectly! Started finding some pics for Gramps Santoro to start looking at so we can start planning a mural. Not alot of sea turtle bedding out there, so will have to keep our eyes open!

Dr. Visit!

Had a dr visit yesterday for the "usual" checkup....got weighed in (exciting ; ) , checked blood pressure, talked about flu shots, chatted.....everything looks good! We also got to hear the heartbeat! As soon as Dr.Hanauer put the Fetal Doppler to my belly we heard the "ba-boomp, ba-boomp!" Doesn't matter how many times you hear that...its amazing! She said that usually it takes a while to find the sound and hear it, but ours was right away! We all agreed that this baby is a good "follower of directions"...a teacher's dream ; ) With all the hustle and bustle of the work week and life, it was nice to stop and realize what amazing things are going on right now.
I then headed over to "Grandma Forie's" and saw her and "Aunt Jill"! Showed off the belly, as it gets nice and round! It was great to see them and I can't wait until I can swing by to say hello with a little one in "tow"! This baby is going to have alot of love surrounding him/her! We chatted about Baby Shower stuff (March 7,2009!) and had some yummy Panera bread and tea : )
Signed up for our Birthing class and Breastfeeding class (is that too much information!) at Winthrop for Feb and March. Have my 20 week check up in two weeks....that's when we can find out the sex of the baby...but sorry folks, we are waiting till the end for the big surprise! at least thats what we are planning on unless we change our minds ; )

Gotta love teaching....

so one of my students asked me today, "So Mrs.Forie, when do the mood swings kick in?" (I swear I was in a good mood this morning...I don't know what he could be insinuating ; )
I told him that they may have started already....and that I'm pregnant, thats my excuse....what's his?! Hehehehehehehe....I'm sure more fun comments will come along from the kids....I think they've asked when the "package is arriving"....and started "guessing" as to how babies get here....mind you, they are in HS ; )
It'll be fun sharing it with them...they are being cute about it ; )

OUR NEW BLOG and how to post comments!

Hey Everyone! Thanks for visiting our "NEW" blog site...this one is a little less complicated and cluttered. When you leave a comment, just sign your name in the comment box and post as "ANONYMOUS" so you don't have to log in. Thank you so much for checking in and sharing this experience with us....we love you all <3

Our First "Parent To Be" Experience..and I'm 18 weeks !!!

Happy Veterans Day to all of our Veteran family members! Today Christian and I had off from school (gotta love teaching!)...so we headed to our first Day Care Tour! The place is right by my work/hs on Community Drive in Manhasset. It was so much fun seeing all of the little ones around and doing activities. First we saw a "stroller for four" with four infants being taken for a walk...waving to us and smiling. We visited the toddler rooms and saw all of the fun things that the kids do. Made me think of Connor sitting at his daycare eating snack and playing with his friends....what a cutie ; ) One thing that made me laugh was that one kid had a banana in his "cubbie" that had his name written right on it in black ink! Creative! I can't wait to write on bananas for my lil one!!! It's the little things that make me giggle and get excited! Headed home and, of course, NAPPED! Saw Grandma and Gramps Santoro and looked at a place for the shower "to be"! Had fun sitting with them and chatting about all of the fun things to come : ) They still say they are in for babysitting each Monday so......they better be enjoying their three days off a week now! Does Santoro Daycare provide snack and music time??!!! Have a Dr. appt on Thursday and will prob get to hear the heartbeat! YEAH!!! Have my 20 week check up at the beginning of Dec. Can't wait to see everyone at Thanksgiving!!! Today starts my 19th week!

PS....I definitely just felt some kind of mini-kick before around 9:55 pm!!!!!!!!! I had just said to Christian, "I think I'm supposed to be feeling things soon....." THEN....BOP! There it was!

A Walk Around My School!

Christian and I got up nice and early this morning and headed to my school, Great Neck South High School, for Blazing Trails for Autism. It was a 4 mile hike around the campus on a beautiful day : ) Not sure we did the FULL four miles (we got a little lost!)....but it was a good workout. Get pretty winded lately and I hear its from increased blood flow, so think I should make sure that I am getting some kind of exercise to keep me in some kind of shape. Wish putting the spoon full of ice cream up and down was enough, but probaby not! Saw a former student, who attended my wedding, and showed off the belly. He knew Christian and I before we were even dating so it was fun to share the baby news. Came home and of course took a nap.
Visiting a daycare place on Tuesday, have to sign up for birthing classes tomorrow, and probably ordering furniture soon : ) All fun stuff! Keep feeling "bubbles" so I think it may be the little one...they are only once in awhile, but I think its def the baby : )

A turnip!!!

Original post from 11/3/08...

I am 17 weeks today!

How the baby's growing:
Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.
PS...did I feel something today....or was it just weird bubbles??? I will probably drive myself insane wondering for the next few weeks bc I read that movements can be felt starting at 16 weeks!

Happy Halloween and more...

Original post from 11/2/08...


Added my first "belly pic" to the photo page! Its not a side view but wanted to show the silly "costume" that future forie wore this past Friday! She/He was a little pumpkin! Christian and I went to our,hopefully, final trip to the baby stores to pick furniture for the room. This week's goal is to call a bunch of daycare places and hopefully tour some facilities. A few teachers at work have given me ideas for places around my school, so we are going to start there. Went maternity clothes shopping this past week and got "teary eyed" in the dressing room. Can't believe I am carry around a little life with me....its so amazing. Been watching the Santoro DVD collection that my parents made (My dad transferred all of our old vhs tapes to dvd...dating back to 1978!). Besides cringing at watching me sing and hog the camera every chance I get, its been so much fun watching all of my family and cousins from 'way back when". Of course started crying remembering all of those times, and picturing all of our (the cousins) kids hanging out together at family functions and holidays. Its a warm thought.....makes me happy : ) Plus, I can't believe how much Connor looks like Jeanette with the eyebrow movements! Cannot wait to see everyone around the holidays....guess I'll be nice and round like a To-Furky then!

An avocado!

Original post from 10/27/08...

16 weeks...How our baby's growing: ps...the website uses the pronouns "he or she"....its not a hint ; )

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

Furniture Shopping : )

Original post from 10/25

Here's a picture from my Bear Mountain hike!!!

Just a quick entry today...went to Buy Buy Baby and Babies R Us to "browse" around at some furniture and baby stuff....seems simple....but not! Got some ideas and picked out some furniture we liked as possibilities. Whenever we enter the stroller area, however, the stress kicks in. So many pregnant woman walking around in a daze (you can tell they are the first timers like us!) Headed over to Borders to get a book on all of the baby accessories out there and their ratings...will cross check them with the info we got from Mama McCarthy and Mama Gilbert! Overwhelming, but all wonderful and exciting things...still in awe that we are actually shopping for baby things! Spoke to Gramps Santoro to warn him that we are beginning to think about murals for the baby's room, so he better clear his calendar!!!! Now off to nap........

First Journal Post!!!

Hello everyone! Christian here! I know Bridget put a lot of work into her first blog but I was getting frustrated with the layout and all of the ads so I brought us over here to this site. Here we go!

Original post from 10/20/08 below...

So here I am at the end of 15 weeks!!!! Just set up the journal and thinking that I would give a brief update about Future Forie and "the parents to be"! We have had a few sonograms by now and had the chance to hear the beautiful heartbeat of our little one. We saw fingers, hands, feet, the outline of the body and face....just amazing details already! The morning sickness, or all day sickness, has subsided...along with the overwhelming need to nap each night for an hour or more. Thankfully I am feeling a little less tired, but still winded! I did, however, complete a hike to the top of Bear Mountain last week....so I am pretty proud of that. My students don't know I am pregnant yet, and I'm wondering if they notice me at all.. being that I have a belly and stand in front of them ALL DAY! Been enjoying eating and cuddling with the Dad-to-be...and we've already had a "handshake agreement" on a boys name....if that's the name we even need! As of now we are not finding out the sex...but we will see if we can hold out! Got alot of wonderful advice and info from Mom Jeanette McCarthy and Mom Lauren Gilbert, and can't wait for our little one to hang out with Gavin and Connor! A close friend of mine, Anne Marie, is two weeks behind me and due in April too...so Little Forie will have many playmates! Excited to introduce the baby to all of our wonderful family and friends and watch Grandparents Santoro and Forie light up in April! Received an amazing medal and prayer from Aunt Natalie and Uncle Jerry today of St. Gerard Majella, the patron of expectant mothers. Christian and I are feeling very blessed!

See the big picture

How our baby's growing:
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.") They say you may start to feel movement between 16-22 weeks!