Quick Update

At our last midwife appointment, Friday the 10th, the baby was still head down (has been for the past 5 weeks...yeah!), weighed about 7 pounds. We had some good conversation with her about hospital procedures, what to expect, etc. We're going in every week now and have more questions every time.

We are on week three of our Bradley Method birthing class and getting excited. We'll be covering stages of labor and techniques for helping it progress this week and have some homework to do. We've been practicing relaxation and I've been doing squats, pelvic rocks, tailor sitting and Kegels, all the exercise they say help get the pelvic floor muscles and hips ready for birthing. We'll be meeting twice weekly for the next few weeks (once with 4 other couples in the group class, and once with just the instructor for advanced planning if we don't make it to May 19th with the class schedule) and getting our birth plan together this week.

What we'd like:
Natural water birth at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital with midwife and no complications.
What we'll get:
No telling...

We recently watched "The Business of Being Born" as recommended by our class and really learned a lot.

Migration of Organs

The last month has been a fun one! Moving into the third tri-mester of pregnancy, my body is experiencing some strange changes. I thought I'd share a picture with you to give a glimpse inside of how my body is shifting right now to make room for baby "lulu". The backpain, the twinge of pain I feel sometimes when I move around from stretching ligaments, the frequent bathroom breaks, the shortness of breath, the smaller meals and the changing shape can all be partly explained by just how much my insides have to shift to make way for the baby. Honestly, this picture doesn't make the baby look to comfortable either!

Though I'm only in my 27th week, I think the general changes are pretty accurate. I'm really working on getting some pictures of me, but it's harder than you might think. I just need to breakdown and get out the camera one night, choose a fitting shirt, and stand in front of the wall. I'll look for some "in action" photos too, from recent social events.

As for other experiences we've been enjoying lately, the baby's movements are easily felt and seen at this point. Just this morning I watched the "popcorn belly" in amusement. I think it was the first time I noticed the baby's hiccups too (at least that's what I think it was). I'm still wondering what parts are moving when I see a bump or a sweep across my belly. Sooner than later we might be able to tell if it is a bum, limb or noggin. We'll keep you posted and maybe even try to get a video posted in the near future.

Long Awaited Italy Pics

Many of you know I spent 10 days last fall visiting my sister-in-law, nieces and the beautiful country of Italy. I wanted to share a few pics from the trip. Hopefully these will be things you can experience first-hand sometime in your lives. Italy is definitely a place I will need to visit again!

Villa Angelica (the name covers it!)

Lasize-a costal town on the east side of Lake Garda

Just one of many Gelateria's we enjoyed, and a nice view down the street

The marina at Lasize

The gorgeous blue waters of lake Garda, and a view across to the mountains on the west side of the lake

On a ferry ride we saw this!

Lasize and the eastern mountains from the ferry

Limone, the town where the Marathon began (I didn't run, but was on the support team)

Ruins of lemon orchards, for which Limone get it's name.

Anybody for some gelato and cappucino?

Walking through Limone's walled pathways, with peeks out over the lake. I was on child-chasing duty.

Vicki and the newest niece, Kera Grace.

My turn to hold her...too cute to let go!

Me and Nali, enjoying the ferry ride.

The runners (Vicki in dark blue, center, Jos in light blue to her right and Jess with the medal, left of center) and their training support (two gals on ends)

Yet another dessert to savor! Nali liked my selection.

Common view while walking through they cities.

Future residence?

I'd take the castle too!

What a family/person eats in a month: Around the world

You may or may not have seen the post I did last December on what families around the world buy as groceries for one month. As I was looking over those pictures again, I read a comment about how much of a contrast monthly meals for those in the service compares to these families. I thought I'd post this picture of the MRE to represent how many people eat when they are serving our country. This is far below the standard you can see in the picture of the American family, and in many other cultures as well. Thank you, men and women, for what you sacrifice to protect and serve America.

The Double-Bind Supreme: Loving Relationships

A friend recently shared this quote with me and I was touched. Enjoy!

Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.

--From The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis

Baby's First Photo Shoot

Cuddled warm, from the rear

Right lower arm and hand

Profile shot

Head down at cervix, open space is my full bladder

Left and right feet

Head cross section, notice measurements

Heart cross section

Heart, you can see all the chambers

Spine and scull

Umbilical cord, showing blood flow routing around the baby's bladder.

Gingerbread Village

To celebrate the Christmas season a bunch of our friends from church got together to make gingerbread houses last weekend. It was a blast! We had more candy on the table that you could imagine, and in total made 14 creations. Here are some pictures of the whole village. Matt and Jack worked on the castle, but because of the tediousness, asked for help decorating it. I was glad to help with that. My house is the one down and right from the castle, and it's a church. I was pretty proud of my work: red shingles, stained glass windows in front and back (not pictured), rolled out gumdrops made to look like window panes, window boxes and a stone pathway. Enjoy!