I couldn't believe this happened, so up goes the video onto YouTube. I could not duplicate this shot if I tried all day long.

We were really just getting some pictures and video of Kate sitting in a tree, but the she counted up to ten, then, very excitedly, back down. Priceless.

Hill Country has posted some more videos from music specials - there is one of me and my friend Dee singing "Take Me There".  We did this last fall; you'll notice that I don't really look that pregnant!  Click here and then on the song name.  Other highlights include "Alive Forever" and "Mighty to Save" from Easter, featuring our friend Rick Trevino.  Enjoy!

P.S.  Only 9 days left!!!!!!

It's true, the nesting thing.  Not a myth.  Add to that the relief from no longer wearing a sling, and here's what I've been up to in the past week:

• Cleaned the back porch.  Even had Kate "scrubbing" the back steps with a brush and soap.  Scrubbed the porch swing for the first time ever.
• Packing the hospital bag.
• Laundry galore - washing everything of Audrey's, even what has been previously washed.  Washing and returning all borrowed maternity clothes, since almost NOTHING fits anymore anyways.  Washing various clothing items that will probably fit me after birth.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  Not even nesting motivates me to use the iron.  Sorry, Paul.
• Organization of baby related medical receipts.
• Cleaning my office.  Those of you who have seen my office realize this is a pretty big deal and must be hormonally motivated.
• Knitting mania.  Finished Amanda's baby present (hopefully she is having that baby RIGHT NOW), Audrey's sweater (link to come soon, haven't taken the picture), and working on Kelly's baby present.
• Shopping.  Buying up all of the stuff we still need for Audrey.  And stockpiling yarn.
• Even got Paul in on the nesting - "we" cleaned out our cars and set up the new car seat and bases.  Once again, those who have seen my car realize that cleaning it must also be hormonally motivated.  And by "we" I mean that I occasionally pulled out trash within my limited reach, and mostly drew fancy doodles on the driveway with Kate's chalk, while Paul sweated up a storm doing the rest.  What a guy. 
• And of course, we finished the taxes.  Not completely to Paul's satisfaction; he has found a few extra bucks that we can legally squeeze out of the government, so he will probably amend the return in the next few days.  I personally don't really care, I'm just glad it is done.

So what, you ask, could POSSIBLY be left to do?  Here's what the nesting fairy keeps shouting in my ear:

• Hang Audrey's name on the wall in her room.  (Paul)
• Clean the carpets in the house, they are disgusting.  Ideally we'd just replace them, but what is the point?  (Paul)
• De-pile my bedroom dresser.  I am not sure how it collects so much stuff.
• Sterilize all of the bottles and pacis and various thingies that can be sterilized.
• Make ridiculously detailed instructions for the grandparents on How To Take Care Of The Kate.  They will, of course, patiently smile, nod, and read it through for my benefit, all the while restraining themselves from rolling their eyes at me.  As soon as I am out of sight they will go about handling Kate in their own way and she will be just fine.  It's like they have done this parenting thing before or something.  It must be their great love for me that causes them to humor me so.  And yet I can't help myself, I'm so neurotic, if I don't make a list I will feel like I've just abandoned her.  Motherly guilt is a strange and powerful thing.
• I'm sure the nesting fairy will come up with other bizarre things for me to do as soon as anything of real consequence is done.

So now, for your springtime enjoyment, a glimpse of MY Easter basket:

A new 27-second (well, almost) stock pitch video for Exelixis (EXEL). Don't forget to vote "Love It!" if you like it. The contest winner takes away $5000!

Happy Easter, everyone!  We put up some pictures on Flickr.  Just go to the main page and you can view what we put up today.  http://www.flickr.com/photos/selzhanik/  Or go to the 2007 Mar - Apr set.

We went to church last night, and this morning we slept in and had a big breakfast.  Since it was freakishly cold outside, we did a little egg hunt in the living room.  Kate was so cute and excited!  And then later she "played" Guitar Hero with Daddy.  It's been a fun and relaxing day.  The best part is knowing that Jesus is risen!

There it is, in all its home-made glory.  It's a contest, so vote if you like it!

35 1/2 weeks.  Which means that if Audrey comes on the 27th as planned, that is only 3 weeks and 2 days away.  It is time to get the ducks in a row.  I have liberated my arm from the sling COMPLETELY (the orthopedist will tell me tomorrow if that was a good idea or not).  It doesn't hurt that much.  It sure improves my mood!  I just have to be really careful not to lift anything more than a couple of pounds or do things with my arm at certain angles.  I figure that the pain is a good indicator whether or not I should be doing something in particular.

Now that I am off of so many medications, Audrey is back to her normal perky self.  And by that I mean her judo-jabbing, rib-kicking, hiccuping, somersaulting self.  Motherly guilt has me wondering what kind of damage I did to her with all of that medicine.  But I don't really know what else I could have done, I have to breathe, right?  And the OB will tell me tomorrow how she is really doing.  Our ultrasound is bound to be soon, but it is not this week.

Here's a picture of my gargantuan belly:

Isn't that so attractive?  Shamu called me for a date the other day.  And no, that is not a trendy, one-sleeved maternity top, it's me in the sling.  What I find completely fascinating is that belly size-wise, I am about the same as with Kate at this point.  But I am a good *25* pounds lighter.  Yes, 25!  I don't have water retention in my legs and face and fingers and earlobes and every part of my body.  You know, if I had been retaining water like that, then when I fell, I might have just bounced!  Anyways, the "normal" sized ankles and feet have been a real perk this time.  THANK GOD.  He knew I needed a perk in the last trimester, what with all of this other stuff to deal with.

Today Katelyn and I went with some friends to take some pictures in the bluebonnets.  You can see them all at http://www.flickr.com/gp/40127326@N00/JrU0U7

Here's a highlight:

And the apology part...I ranted a bit in a post the other day because I was frustrated about my current situation (busted/coughing/in pain/hormonal).  It was a bit on the rude side so I just deleted it (I think - it's hard for me to tell sometimes.  So blog-challenged!)  Sorry to all who were exposed.  Must.  Focus.  On.  Positive.  And there is plenty to be positive about.  (See photo above for example.)  God is good ALL THE TIME!

WHAT A WEEK!!!!  Anyone who is reading this probably already knows, but I am finally back to typing after more than a week off because I broke my stupid elbow.  Yes.  Clumsy 33-weeks-pregnant woman slipped on some Sonic Apple Slush (do you think I can sue?) in my kitchen and fell on the right elbow and broke the dadgum thing.  It's not a bad break, or else I would not be functional at all (can't take painkillers for reasons of allergy and pregnancy).  It is a fracture of the radius near the joint.  I will not be getting a cast, thank the Lord!  Still it is very hard to be all the things I need to be with only one arm.  If I am a very good girl it will heal completely by the time Audrey is born.  Then to top it all off I got a wicked bronchial infection that is being very slow to clear up.  I have put Paul through the wringer this past week and he has been wonderful.  He is at the HEB right now and will be home to cook dinner soon, then help with laundry and cleaning up.  Super dad!  This was one of the hardest weeks of my life and probably his as well.  Pregnancy hormones + broken elbow + severe bronchitis - painkillers x two weeks of dirty dishes = miserable Mommy!

Potty training is going very very very well.  We have certainly thrown enough curveballs Katelyn's way, but she is overall doing quite well with it.  She has occasional setbacks, mostly it seems out of frustration with Mommy, who is not very much fun right now.  Some of my friends thought I was insane to keep going with the potty training after the illness/injury happened, but let me tell you, it is a WHOLE lot easier to get a pull-up on a wiggly toddler than a diaper using only your non-dominant hand.  Diapering is a two-handed business for sure.  I did abandon the traditional training pants for convenience's sake - I simply can't clean up the messes right now or manage that much laundry.

Well, I can only type or write or anything for a little while before it is time to ice the arm and put it back in the sling.  So long...