the post that begs to be made / a very pregnant holidays / weeks 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39 / still haven't had the baby yet

yes, so i've had a lot of time to think about what to title this post and it's changed several times...sorry about that.

so here we are, two days before the due date, and other things have changed as well...



(sorry for the photo quality, taken with the phone in a hurry...)

first and foremost, i've started looking scary-crazy-big. like my stomach has a life of its own, which, well, it does. sometimes i feel completely normal and like i did nine months ago and then i'll pass by a mirror and think "what the heck?!" it's crazy. i never imagined i could get this big.

(this one was taken on the 5th)



as for the baby, he's huge, too. i don't know exactly how big, but he feels big. he stretches inside me and it feels like his foot is going to shoot though my side. we keep telling him that there's more room out here, but he's not listening. he's doing great, though, everything progressing completely as normal. he has (if it's not obvious) dropped, he is super low, and i'm pretty sure he's getting more and more ready every day.

and speaking of getting more and more ready, we're losing our minds. as much as people try and tell you the final days are hard, the anticipation is excruciating. i've been having irregular/occasional contractions for about a week and a half now, and i keep waiting for them to get down to real business, but no luck.

as for the past couple of months, new years was great and quiet—we drank sparkling apple cider and watched one more year of dick clark...christmas was wonderful and crazy-busy and our first (and only?) here in portland...





we had our two/kind of three/four if you count the dog family christmas morning before anyone got here for christmas and once again loved every minute of the day (and made homemade hot chocolate and marshmallows—awesome)...










we spent the first couple of weeks of december in atlanta (before i couldn't travel anymore), and we loved, loved, loved seeing some family, and we were able to spend thanksgiving in texas, which we're so thankful for, to have too few days with that family every year.





(my cousin's wife and i—she's due in april...)

our pictures have been slim, but there they are nonetheless...

okay, more soon, promise...and be praying that we have this baby soon soon soon!!! we're super excited and can't wait any longer!!!

31 weeks!

We have a new baby-ready camera (more on that later), so Daniel acted like a true professional photographer tonight and I thought I'd show you the succession of images (and they're dark because I don't let us turn on the flash :) ever. natural light!) ...



Also, I feel like I look huge. I don't realize I'm that big at all....I think for some reason my stomach looks unusually enormous here. Or what if not...



And! We've never shown you what's going on inside, so here's what Baby Center says our baby looks like inside my belly at 31 weeks!



If you'll notice in that drawing, the legs are to one side of the mother—that's definitely what he's doing inside of me. Most of the time, his legs are kind of angled at my left shoulder, while his little bottom is on the right side of my belly...There's always this hard mass (his tush) to one side or the other of my belly button, and a lot of times he stretches out his legs or something and there's this lump that rises there.



Also, at night, depending on what side of my stomach I'm laying on, I'll wake up and feel my stomach or something, and his bottom will have shifted to the side that I'm laying on (so that if I'm on my left side, his back and such is down toward the bed)



Hopefully this all makes sense...anyway, it's what I end up wondering a lot—where exactly a baby is inside that basketball-sized stomach.



So nine weeks to go!!!

Weeks 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30

Well, if you've never kept a blog, I'll let you in on a little secret—It's just not that easy. It's really hard, in fact. And thus, we haven't blogged in almost two months. Hmmmmmm...

So, just so you know the pregnancy is going well. Here's a few things to update, as I remember them, so they're sort of accurate, I'm sure.

Week 24 (around September 29)
There was nothing really to report week 24, everything was really normal and uneventful. But! We did get a picture this week, so there was that.



Week 25 (around October 6th)
We had a doctor's appointment this week, and everything went really normal, once again. We do feel so grateful, that being said, that we haven't had anything abnormal happen at doctor's appointments...I did start feeling a bit icky and sick this week, and was super busy, so I just tried to lay low and sleep as much as possible. My doctor, though, when I told her, just blinked at me—she wasn't concerned at all. So I figured I wouldn't be either.

Week 26 (around October 13th)
This week I got my first stranger-didn't-tell-her-I-was-pregnant-first comment, so that was exciting! And, actually, the story is amazing. Like you couldn't make this stuff up. So I actually coordinated a wedding that was on the 16th, and our Pastor, Reed, was officiating. Daniel, Reed and I were at lunch that Monday or so, and Reed asked if we would accompany him to this suit store that is a walk away to offer some opinion (okay, really just me offer opinion...) So, we headed over there and were eagerly greeted by an obviously commission-paid employee who was very kind and helpful (overly helpful, I think she tried to sell Reed everything in the store.) She happened, however, to speak a bit of broken English. She might have been from Eastern Europe or something, I'm not sure. And, let me make it clear that she was completely intelligible and—I'm sure—understood English completely. She mostly just conjugated things wrongly and put s's where they didn't need to be, etc. It may have been a bit more severe than that, but not much. But this impairment meant that she was a bit confused about the relationship between the three of us. She picked up on the fact that there were two married men and one married woman (and Reed doesn't look significantly older than we do by any means...you're welcome, Reed :)...) and that there was something about a wedding involved, but she couldn't really wrap her head around the fact that it was none of us that were getting married, and that Reed was officiating and I knew about colors for the wedding, etc. etc. She was just obviously very confused about the situation. So. we had been in the store about 10 minutes when Reed, me and Daniel (in that order) sat down in a few chairs waiting on her to take care of some things. And she turned and was making small talk with us and then looked at me and said "so when are you due?" I told her January, and she smiled and nodded and probably jumped up and down excitedly or something (she was eager to make a sale) and then, staring directly at me, she said, exactly: "And do you know who the father is?" Seriously. I just stared at her smiling gripping my stomach while I tried to think of what to possibly say next before I just said "yeah, it's a boy" She smiled and nodded some more and then Reed, trying to clarify said, "yes, they're (pointing between Daniel and I) having their first." I'm still not sure she got it...

Week 27 (around October 20th)
This week I had my first shower! My mother in law was in town, so she and my sweet sister in law wanted to throw a shower to be able to celebrate. It was wonderful and we got all sorts of goodies, including lots of adorable clothes and a few toys and teethers and our stroller!!!! yay!!! and then the rest of the week, Debbie and I did tons and tons of shopping and in addition to getting me some things to wear for the rest of my pregnancy, ended up finding a crib, dresser/changing table and glider! So all of the major nursery stuff...which really freed me up to start thinking hard about the nursery and details and planing. More will come on that soon, I promise (there's still stuff on order that's coming in, so don't feel like I depriving you of even just basic pictures.)

Week 28 (around October 27th)
This week I had another doctor's appointment, and has a glucose screening test, which was supposed to gauge my risk for gestational diabetes. It meant I had to down this sugary-sweet drink (i really didn't think it tasted that badly, but i had been warned, so maybe i was expecting worse). By far the worst part was that I had to drink it all within a completely unreasonable amount of time, and then rush off to the doctors, because I had to be having my blood drawn at an exact time—down to the minute. Then I had to have lots of blood drawn and a shot in my "backside," so this was a very adventurous visit. Also this week I think I really started noticing an increase in my emotions. I think I cried at least once every day this week. And most of the time it was good tears, but it was always completely random. Like it'd be driving or in the shower and just imagining holding our child and start weeping. Very emotional. But too I feel like it's a really good thing, because I feel like I'm starting to process how very real this is. And how close. Plus! This week we finally got another picture! I've definitely grown!!!



Week 29 (around November 3rd)
This week I had yet another comment from a stranger. And the thing is...here's the thing. It's just getting weird. Because for several months up until this point, I really felt like so many strangers were staring at my stomach. and eventually i realized they were thinking, "is she pregnant? she could be...but that could be just a gut, so i don't know..." and so i felt like everyone—people I'd pass on the street or the bagger at the grocery store—would take a few seconds to start looking at me in the eyes. but i just got used to it and nothing ever got said. and then something just switched. and people started not even really having to look at my stomach for more than a nano second (so little time that i didn't even notice) before they'd just say something. and it'd completely catch me off guard because i'd think "but how do they know?! they didn't even see my stomach..." anyway, for lunch on my birthday we went to this pizza-by-the-slice place downtown that i love and when i ordered a piece of pepperoni the guy behind the counter said "you want some ice cream and pickles on top of that?" i just stared at him, i think. i didn't get it at all for a while...and then i did, and it was funny.

Week 30 (last week)
We made it to week 30!!!! I can't believe it—only 10 weeks to go! I remember being like 9 weeks or 12 weeks and thinking about 30 weeks and how stinking far along it was and what in the world would it be like....and it's like this. crazy. it's seriously flown by. So, like i said in the beginning, it's going well. i'm definitely feeling a good deal more uncomfortable...it's harder to sleep and i'm surrounded by like 30 pillows to support my back...my stomach...my legs...my arms, etc. etc. no major swelling or anything, yet though (fingers crossed!) so that's nice. But I'm getting more tired again (like 1st trimester) while at the same time feeling a lot of desire to do the nursery and get things ready, especially since all the holidays are just around the corner and then we'll have a baby here! crazy!!!

SO that's it! the last several weeks, all wrapped up! and guess what?! tomorrow marks week 31, so i promise i'll get a shower so that we can get a picture, and have a post all ready for you!

Vacation!

Not too long ago, even though it seems like ages ago, we went on a little family vacation! Our family of two and a half (actually exactly a half technically speaking) drove down to Crater Lake, spent a couple nights there, then headed even more South to San Fransisco. It was Kirsten's first ever trip to California which was really exciting! We saw lots of cool stuff. I'll post the highlights here and then feel free to check out our flickr page to see all the pictures.




If you have never been to Crater Lake, GO!!! Seriously, stop reading this post, open expedia.com and book a flight, rent a car and GO! There are no words to describe how beautiful it is. The water is 500 times more amazingly blue than even these pictures show. Seriously. You need to go.





Also, on a side note, the water is also freezing.



We drove an hour out of our way for this Chick-Fil-A. It could have been 4 hours. Still would have been worth it.

We did lots of fun stuff in San Fran, including go to a Giants game, which I can do with no moral objections now that Barry Bonds no longer plays there.



I got this app call AutoStitch that makes panoramic pictures out of multiple shots on my phone. It's pretty awesome!





This is a picture of Kirsten holding up a paused video of the Full House intro where they are having a picnic in a park in the exact spot where Kirsten is sitting. It's a magical photo. Except of course you can't see the video... oh well.













It was a SUPER fun pre-baby getaway! There are tons more pictures on Flickr for those of you that really like us. For the rest of you...why are you reading this blog??

ps. GO TO CRATER LAKE!

23 Weeks

I don't know why 23 is the magic number, but it is. 23 is the week that I start gracing you with weekly updates about the pregnancy...so without further ado!



--I think I'm really going to regret this outfit choice, but I really wanted to show you "details" without showing you a bare belly...and Daniel and I cannot figure out how to take a good picture of me. That will be a work in progress...

--I have plenty of energy and am feeling great. But my shoulders are starting to hurt (from the extra weight? sleeping positions? I'm not sure) and I have a prenatal massage gift certificate beckoning me if I can just find the time...

--I'm feeling the baby "kick" lots these days, though they're certainly not all kicks. And we're at the point now that we can watch him through my stomach if he's really moving and I'm really still. It definitely seems alien-ish.

--I oftentimes completely forget that I'm pregnant. And then I'll start thinking that I'm super hungry or don't feel good or something's just going on with my stomach. And then I'll remember that I have a living human being inside me. This all happens when I'm looking at nursery ideas or baby gear, mind you, so I don't know what's going on in my brain.

--The future nursery is a disaster, with papers and stuff everywhere, so there's no progress there. But we've got a few clothes—many of which were gifts already, and one very guilty pleasure shopping trip for me (old navy was having a sale!)

--We're trying to learn and read up on delivery techniques and breastfeeding and start preparing ourselves for all of that...and the entire pregnancy is just sweeping by, with less than four months left!

Bobbie

So I mentioned last week that we've had a lot going on, and before I get to the rest of the good stuff, let me mention what truly is the most important thing...

So almost exactly a month ago my wonderful, beautiful grandmother passed away and even though it sounds trite, really, truly, went to sit at the feet of Jesus.

if you remember bobbie's birthday post from a couple of years ago, you know how just a bit about amazing i think she was. and it's still so very crazy to me that she's gone—she had had breast cancer that had metastasized into her liver and went from very, alive and active to gone within a matter of weeks. but in so many respects that was for the best—she really never did get old (ornery, fussy, cranky, etc.), and she didn't have to have a really, really prolonged sickness and death, but at the same time people got to sit with her and say goodbye to her and hold her hand while she passed away. i think it will take years for me to really feel like she's gone—lots of thanksgivings and time passing to feel like she's not still there and available.

to the fantastic advice of my aunt, i swiped bobbie's famous recipe file while i was in texas for the funeral—and plan on compiling a book of the recipes to be able to share—as well as several amazing picture of my dad when he was little, and me when i was born—including this especially now very, very treasured picture of me, bobbie and papa.



i am oh so sad that bobbie won't meet our son while she's alive, and am so thankful for all her friends and people with her in the last days who kept telling me how much she did want to be around when he came.

but of course, far above all things is how very, very, very glad i am that bobbie had a relationship with Jesus here on earth and now gets to spend eternity with Him.

return to blogland

well...where did two months go? i honestly have no idea. but i know if i dwell on it too long, i will stop writing and never post. so i'm just going to move past it...we're back and blogging and everyone will be happy about it :)

SO SO SO much has happened in the last two months, so we'll start with the most exciting thing and go from there...

many of you already know that we're having a.... BOY!!!!

we're SUPER SUPER excited, and so happy we can start dreaming about and connecting with a boy!!!



so, we found out in a pretty unique way, we had the ultrasound tech write down the gender of the baby on a piece of paper and put that into an envelope. then we headed straight to a baker who had instructions...if the paper said girl, the cake was to be vanilla, and if the paper said boy, the cake was to be chocolate. then, either way, the cake was to be frosted in chocolate. then we had people over and cut into the cake!!!! it was SO fun and SO SO SO exciting and we were SO very happy to share the moment with some of the people we love most, instead of alone in a dark room!!

SO, without further ado, here's our albeit pretty embarassing video...i don't think i usually talk like that. and we had skyped in our parents, so that's what i'm doing at the end—making sure they found out the baby was a boy...



our sweet, wonderful friend karen was our official photographer and got tons of great pictures! click here to see them all!











and, of course!! the baby himself! we got SUCH wonderful ultrasound pictures, we can't believe it!!! we are just completely smitten with our baby boy, and can't get over how perfect he looks in utero!



(this one's 3D, which is why it's so amazing...his face on the left, sleeping with his little hand up by his face on the right...)





(mahhh!!! look at him!)





(in these, you can see a leg folded up by his stomach..and then that long bone by his face is that arm/hand up by his face again)



(his face from the very front, looking straight on...you can most clearly see his forehead, nose and lips...)



(an arm and hand with five perfect fingers...we were able to count all his digits)



(an his other hand...read on the right where the ultrasound tech wrote "thumbs up!"—she was really excited about that! but i have a feeling we already have a problem with thumb sucking—i've read they learn to suck their thumbs in the womb)



(and a perfect little foot!)


and me? i'm feeling great, probably the best of the entire pregnancy thus far. this picture's actually from just after 16 weeks, but i'm pretty sure that dress accentuates it and that's still just about how i look...



on wednesday i'm 22 weeks along, and so will be finishing up the 5th month here pretty soon...everything's going by SO quickly! i'm gaining what feels like tons of weight but fortunately i think it's all in my stomach. but i already feel like i have a watermelon in my tummy and have no idea how it's going to get bigger!!! and i'm feeling him move tons these days, and daniel can feel him often—which has been SO awesome and really the funnest thing ever!