31 weeks and 35 days to go!

it's official...

...i can no longer see my toes.

:-)

Haiti Thoughts - Part III

this post probably won't come out like i want it to - typical me. but i've been waiting for what seems like too long to conclude my Haiti series (at least for now) - this one subtitled "the Struggle." 

click here for Part I and Part II. 

there is a part of me that will forever be altered by living in a third world country. and i'm pretty positive that unless a person is completely resistant to heart change, there is not much else to do but BE changed simply by showing up and drinking in the truth. 

this part of me that has changed I saw reflected in my colleague (see Parts I & II) as struggle. And "struggle" is the only way that I can describe it. today I was emailing my best friend and the struggle popped up again. earlier this week i got mad at my husband, when really i was mad at the unfairness of this heart struggle. 

let me explain. 

as we were discussing her recent trip to Haiti, my colleague was wrestling with how to reconcile her comfortable life here with what she saw there. and really, there is no escape to the struggle except through it. the hard way to go. to let yourself feel what you feel - even if it makes you feel guilty. or insecure. or like your world just may not be right again. 

i spent my whole freshman year of college (after Haiti) hating life - hating people who were so ignorantly uncaring and unwilling to look at the real issues in life, instead dwelling in American shallowness. my biggest reverse culture shock was coming back to a place that i knew but being so different inside - how did i reconcile who i was, what was going on in my heart presently, and who i was to become? (TCK anyone??)

finally, i came to the realization (and trust me, it took a long time) that real life issues and real pain was relative. first world pain is just as difficult as third world pain, albeit different and often less visible. and i couldn't blame people for their "ignorance" when they hadn't experienced what I had. that just wasn't right. it wasn't fair. 

but what lingers from that much larger scale struggle early on crops up again and again, especially when i have lots of thinking time. and i'm sure what goes on in my head, what bothers me the most, is different from others who have experienced similar perspective-changers. however, i doubt it really "goes away" for anyone, no matter how much they work through it. it's like living in the tension between two different worlds, forever. 

for example, the email i was writing to my friend today: what in the world do i do with my life? part of me wants to purse some kind of creative venture. i absolutely adore creative beauty. and it inspires creating on my part - just like my Creator intended it, I think. and as soon as i really contemplate a commitment to something like that, i think, "but really, the passion to create poverty awareness and eradication is so much stronger." 

but what do i do about that? am i meant to do anything (career wise) with that? or just share my experiences as i go? i'm sure i am not to just ignore it - living in a place that truly isn't me - trying to forget the struggle. i want to live simply (but dear me, these ponderings are as far from simple as i get!) and i have other ambitions like masters' degrees and language learning and spiritual direction and... motherhood. 

it's especially hard to dream about what to do when i'm stuck in bed for 3 months, almost 32 weeks pregnant, living on a tighter budget than we'd like and wondering if i'll ever do anything meaningful and fulfilling in my years on earth. (sounds dramatic, but it's true.) 

i flip flop back and forth between being okay with living here, being here and enjoying life as i know it and knowing the every. day. struggle. some go through just to get by. i know their names - and they know mine. i admit that i've chosen where i am and what i am doing - and i don't believe that i've chosen poorly, against "God's will" or against the innate desires of my heart. 

but this struggle remains. while it manifests itself in guilt somedays and anger other days - ultimately i want to channel those emotions and my perspective into something positive. meaningful. maybe even life-changing.

but what? 

30 - yeah yeah yeah!

here we are! in matters of weeks, we're 3/4 of the way! 30 week little girl in my belly. :-) she makes us smile.



















we're doing fairly well... although this week has been up and down with running out of both nausea and heartburn medicine. it's amazing how yucky i still feel without it. early next week i'll find out the results of the 3rd glucose test and the 2-week labor test.

i've also deemed it the "bedrest week 5 slump". i'm not as motivated as i want to be - even with little things! - and the things that were entertaining me for the last 4 weeks aren't doing the trick as much. jeremy starts his two-week module (intensive) at seminary, so there are some long days ahead for me. but, i'm happy that he is still able to attend class and study despite our lack of income. that's a bright spot in our lives.

mid-slump i was blessed and super excited and happy to have my friend Alison visit me from China! well, actually she came from Iowa on her summer break. she is teaching English in Qufu, China and had fun stories to tell, not to mention this bedresting Mama put her to work. No, actually, she put herself to work and made lots of yummy food for us and helped me with a few projects (and also enjoyed Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and Scrabble like the nerdy girls we are). it was great to be able to see her before she goes back for another year in Qufu. far, far away.

she also brought these cuties!! real chinese slippers for the Pea. (thanks Alison!!)













that's all for today folks - 42 more days left. that means 6 weeks until up-and-up time. here's some love to my boys - both of which keep me good company. :-) (and happy graduation to my sister Jenn! she's officially a nurse! so proud.)

twenty plus nine

picture update!

here is Baby Girl's newest photos. (like i said in the last post, she's getting much harder to see because of her growth (!) so the ultrasounds pictures aren't as clear.)



















the first is a picture of her face and the second is a profile picture - the bubble near her mouth/nose is actually an arm. :-)

here we are, acting silly, for the 29 week photo!



















49 days of bedrest left. pray with us that she continues to stay in there and thrive!

In other news...

Other random happenings include:

1) Getting a car seat! (Target)

2) Getting a crib!! (IKEA)

3) Purchasing our first set of cloth diapers (colors: pink, blue, light yellow and orange.) they are so cute! (bum genius)















4) Having my parents come and getting organized! They were amazing - but I was surprised just how many projects I've been unable to accomplish. I mean, obviously, I can't do anything, but it was just nice to have a sparkling house and get started on the nursery furniture and organization. Thanks M&D! You're super. :-)

5) Nursery pics will come as it comes along. Not much to post as of yet.

6) Baby update: she weighs 3 lbs today - which was totally a surprise, but so great. :-) That's about 10 days ahead of schedule, but all babes grow differently here and there in the last trimester. She was a little harder to see during the ultrasound and the sonographer said that was because she's getting chubbier (more muscle too, etc.). When the Dr. measured me, she said, "Where are you hiding this baby?" I laughed. I'm still pretty small for 7 mos prego.

7) And I get to drink yet ANOTHER orange goodness next week! But thankfully it's only the one hour test - which means that I can eat breakfast before. If I pass it, they'll not worry about the gestational diabetes, but if it's still elevated (even slightly) they'll just treat me as a gestational diabetic and require blood sugar monitoring and modified diet. Not the end of the world for the next few weeks, but it'd sure be nice if it came back within the normal range.

And on to the weekend!!! I'm going to get crafty and show you some of my bedrest ingenuity. :-)

Happy weekend all.

Love, Lisa

P.S. Will post more pics tomorrow!!

drama.

seriously. do i need any more drama in my life? the answer (in case you don't know me super well) is NO! i like to tease and joke and laugh, but that is pretty much the extent of my wanting attention. drama attention is NOT my cup of tea.

so i was scared of failing my glucose test today - not the actual results, but throwing up before i could get through the 3-hour test. the little orange bottle of drama. eeeh!

whelp, not only did i fail, I (stupidly) decided to go alone since it was going to take all morning anyway. i packed my purse full of things to do, took my nausea medicine and set off with water bottle in hand (thanks Shannon!).

i amazingly got through that nasty bottle and felt fine FOR 45 MINUTES. and then, in about 30 seconds i almost fainted and the orange goodness (badness) came up so fast, I didn't even have time to react. so now i had a wet skirt (yes, please, visualize how embarrassing this looks!!) and the test was over.

so i ate some crackers and 15 minutes later the whole almost fainting/getting sick thing happened AGAIN!! so they wouldn't let me drive home and i had to call a lady from work to pick me up and ...

I failed. miserably.

hoping there are other options out there for testing for gestational diabetes bc I don't think i can do that again. BLECH.

as for good news: only 51 days until I'm up!!

the end. :-)

28 and 2/3 of the way!

:-) can you believe it? We're in the third trimester!!



















I had my glucose screening this week and just barely failed. :-( Which means ... I have to do a 3 hour screen (on an empty stomach, mind you) and drink more of that nasty stuff. Last screen I could eat breakfast and then drink the glucola. My mantra was, "I'm not going to throw up, I'm not going to throw up," as I took each gulp. And I didn't. But I'm not sure I can not get sick on an empty stomach. BUMMER! But, gotta do it. We'll see how it goes. :-)

2-week labor screening test came back negative! (that means 95% - or more) chance that I won't go into labor in the next two weeks. This is good!!

56 days until I can get up and up.















Jeremy is in Ohio, living in the country, letting Jackson run in the big backyard, seeing family and friends and listening to the frogs/crickets chirp. I'm SO jealous. :-) Wanting to hit all of the garage sales that were this weekend, finding treasures and little girl things. Drinking frosty glassed A&W rootbeer in the old Ford - so old it has no seatbelts. Eating straight from the garden - blackberries and raspberries right off the bush. Mmmm. Not to mention, the big birthday tomorrow.

Happy birthday, love!!! I'm so glad you got to go and can't wait to see you home again. :-)

And Baby, happy number 3.















("sweetie pea" banner my mom helped me finish this weekend)

oh, the little things...

:-) my sister made these for Sweetie Pea! her first booties and hat.















aren't they sweet??

27 PLUS!

here we are, on Saturday. she was kicking Momma like CRAZY - so fun, as long as it's side-kickin'!! i was feeling knees or elbows or feet in my side (still can't figure out what limb it is for sure) but we know it's her. super fun.



















this week starts my third week of bedrest ... from what I've heard, if we make it to 36 weeks they'll let me up. October 2nd, baby! let's go!

so, some friends came over last week and i got them to help me make a flip calendar to count down the days. as my friend Dawn said, "one day at a time." yes, ma'am. exactly. yesterday it was 9 weeks - 63 days. counting down!! enjoying every day that passes. and next week is third trimester. can you believe it? WOW. amazing.













so looking forward fall. i missed spring (although I'm not sad that I have to be inside when it's 97 degrees outside and huumid!) but we're hoping and praying that by the fall I'll be up and she'll be here and we'll be healthy.

i had some PT this week to work on exercises that i can do in bed that won't put strain on my abdomen ... and the specialist put me on Ibuprofen to *hopefully* relax my body to ward off any pre-term labor symptoms.

things I've decided to do while in bed:

- learn some German from Rosetta Stone
- catch up on my email
- listen to all of the Harry Potter books (before the new movie comes out in November)
- write thank yous
- continue to blog
- think about my calling
- try to follow a Bible reading calendar
- do my exercises
- beat Jeremy at the Wii (yeah right. haha)
- try not to eat too many cookies or Kit Kats or ice cream bars. more peaches and apples and plums and yogurts. mmm.
- pray.
- be crafty

have anymore good suggestions for me??

-the end-

pretties.

jeremy took some pictures for me. these pretties are growing! unfortunately, they are outside and i am not. :-) but so glad to be able to enjoy something!

she's 26, i'm 26!

she should weigh around 2 lbs this week! awesome. :-) getting SO big. (and still so little.) my tummy can feel it - stretching tummy is the strangest feeling. not super comfortable, but she's growing, so that's good!

here we are! under 100 days to go - 98 to be exact.



















she is 24-1/2 weeks and 1lb 9 oz in this picture. check out her ribs! this was the first time i could see them. her mouth is open and her nose is still so sweet. :-)

















and I can't forget my sweet furry boy. he got a haircut last week. (too bad my other furry boy won't cut his...)

bedrest week 1

so it's Friday. glorious day. they say it's as hot as you-know-what outside and i believe it. i'm content to not sweat and instead look at the leafy goodness outside my window waving in the breeze. it's also so good because it's the hubby's day off. and so is tomorrow. and so is Sunday.

(shout out to my good, good man: he's been amazing this week. i love him so much.)

and almost end of bedrest - week 1. lots of things to be thankful for. not to mention - she's a week older! so many good people all ready wanting, offering, willing to help. to bring food on his long days, to check in to let the Jackson boy outside for a potty break, to put dishes in the dishwasher and clothes in the closet and sweep hairs and dust off the floor. and there are those who can offer encouragement - like Skyping for a couple hours to take my mind off things.

and she's still inside me. and she is still kicking me. and i'm so glad it's not winter - because just as it is getting dark outside, it's my bedtime (yes, i like to sleep!). it's not 4:30pm and dark, it's 9:00pm and dark. thank you God, that it's not winter. the trees are full and pretty outside my window too.

and you know what else? i feel okay. this has been the best part to think about. i cannot reiterate or explain HOW HARD it is to feel deathly sick and be confined to bed because of it and not. be. able. to. do. anything.

except get sick. and cry. and get sick again.

i really can do a lot with my time. the comparison is like night and day. and i can focus on doing this for her. not surviving that for me.

***

will i feel like this is 5 weeks? doubtfully. will i ache to miss his 30th birthday in ohio when i've been looking forward to going for months? most definitely. will i keep going? yes, yes, and yes.

Jesus, have mercy.

bedrest.

prognosis: bedrest. fulltime. no work.



not exactly what we wanted to hear.



especially because my honey's 30th is in 3 weeks and we had big plans for celebrating it. however, i am pretty well confined to my top floor because that is where our bathroom is. so bed 24/7. until my perinatalogist appt on Monday, that is. she may be able to suggest some medicine or a procedure, etc. to keep little Sweetie Pea in there. she needs at least 2-1/2 more months to be good and developed. please pray. not only for her and me, but for Jeremy too. it's stressful to try to do everything...

sigh, she's still in there (and kicking my cervix too!!!) and we're hoping she'll stay there for 10 more weeks.

Jesus, have mercy.

25! 25! 25!

Hello again! I did not fulfill my promise of news on Wednesday because we got a different kind of news: partial bedrest. So little Baby's pictures are still waiting to be scanned. *sorry!*

Instead, though, I do have good news. She is doing GREAT and weighs about 1-1/2 pounds! And the bigger she gets, the more of my weight I can credit her with. :-)

Unfortunately, there's potential pre-term labor pending (no contractions ... just gettin' a little bit shorter than they'd like) so it was partial bed rest this week. Tomorrow we go to see how things are and if it's worse ... I'll have to do fulltime bed rest. Not exactly my idea of a fun time. And not exactly Jeremy's ideal of spending all of his time - taking care of me and cooking and the house. Plus, not being able to work again would just be a big bummer. I want to work and we need that income, etc. But, God knows what we need.

And, we're praying that everything is in good order tomorrow and I can get back to my newest normal routine.

Here's us at 25 weeks!!



















Happy Sunday.

Twenty FOUR.

16 weeks left to go!!! I'm so happy. :-)



















Sorry all you get is the no-makeup-looking-tired pictures, but that's all for my Saturdays. I'm still trying to de-ga-je my non-maternity clothes, but I'm not sure how long that will last! (Next Saturday is Molly's wedding, so I'll wait to take a pic when I have makeup on. Just for you. :-) hehe.)

Sweetie Pea is kicking more and has begun kicking my bladder this week. Not a huge issue unless I'm sitting in the car and have to GO! :-) Uncomfortable nonetheless. Jeremy got to feel her dancing and shakin' one morning - that was special. We just can't stop smiling when we both get to feel her together.

Hoping and praying that she keeps thriving and growing. :-) We are looking forward to October. Our next appt is Wednesday! Sweetie Pea pictures to come!

a day in the life of a dog.

a day in the life. when we go to the park.













i sniff the grass and run the way and i mark, mark, mark.













my favorite part is the watery edge where i swim and fetch and get soaked. (see my smile?)













i ask for the fetch because i've learned how to swim.




















dad gladly throws it as far as he can. (but not really)



















i swim and i swim to get that piece.














past the sailboats in the wind.













and bring it back to do it again. (and again and again.)













dad tries to tell me to give it to him. but usually i run past and drop it on the sand.













mommy claps and dad says, "good boy". in the nerdy way that only they can.













i lick my nose.













stick out my tongue...


...and we do it over and over again, until it's time to go home.

THE END.

we're 23!!

yay! another Saturday comes. i think my belly is getting bigger. (fyi - the belt came off right after the picture. my stomach just can't stand to look cute! so sad.)




















and here is the front shot as requested by E. :-) (you really can't see much from the front!)



















Love,
Lisa and Sweetie Pea

Thoughts from Haiti - Part II

Conversations with friends, in class, and in my head also rocked my world.

You mean, like, are you serious? Real Christians enjoy alcohol and still consider themselves Christians?

You mean life under a dictator was all-around better than it is now?

You mean the US government really screwed some things up in their dealings with Haiti?

You mean, democracy isn't a one-size-fits-all government model?

The guys think that I was the one who told about the drugs? (I wasn't. I didn't have a clue.)

Being the minority sucks sometimes.

After what I've seen ... how can I live life like I did before?
The list goes on. I won't bore you with a comprehensive list, but merely to say, that when I say that my world was turned upside-down at 17, it really was. No wonder I was so confused for 3 years. It took 3 years to finally come to terms with who I was, who I was becoming, and how to relate to people again - with this new perspective.

When I talked to my colleague, she was still obviously reeling from what she had seen and learned. Sometimes we have to live in that struggle for an uncomfortable and uncertain amount of time in order to come out on the other side. And even still, the "other side" includes struggle and discomfort.

Thoughts from Haiti - Part I

I should've wrote this post when I was fresh in my thoughts. I have this desire to articulate coherently (not a bad desire, mind you), but sometimes I think too much, don't write anything down, and then forget what I was thinking. Does that ever happen to you?

I was talking to a colleague about her trip to Haiti a few weeks ago - she was there for only 4 days, but I could tell that it was a life-perspective changer for her. These conversations invigorate me - challenge me - and remind me just how much I've learned. And then sometimes neglect to live.

Before this conversation, I was thinking. It feels wrong to say, but I feel like my life started after I moved to Haiti to live with my parents and lil' sister (who is beautiful and engaged and not so little anymore!).

Like I said, it feels wrong to say out loud, but I can't get away from it. I feel like I was living in a mist, in a half-life, in such a short sighted perspective. The environment, the things that mattered ... have so little to do with how I see life now. There was no opportunity (at least for me) to break outside of comfortable and see with different eyes.

Until Haiti.

It was before we actually went that I was stung with a hard truth.

Cisca, a Dutch friend, gently explained to me that maybe America wasn't what I'd been taught and sang about in patriotic songs and programs.
It wasn't.

And maybe everyone in the world doesn't want to come live in the US.
They don't.

And maybe, just maybe, America isn't the "greatest" country in the world.
It isn't.

Truly, this rocked my world. And it was only the beginning of world-rocking that would ensue.

Icky update - the home stretch

hey friends, it's me. the sicky prego girl. who still has 17 more weeks to feel yucky. but shall i say, 17 weeks before they meet their little sweetie pea? yes, i much prefer the positive. she is dancing around like a little girl should. :-) however, when you sit up all night puking up nothing and are left with a massive pressure headache and both you and hubby are reminiscing about first trimester hyperemesis and possible going back to the hospital ... positive is a little further from your reach.

however, please note, I am writing this today. in the afternoon. NOT puking on the keyboard. i had a rough, rough day yesterday, had to leave work early, hardly was able to eat or drink anything ... and then spent the night by the toilet (well, it felt like it... i did sleep some) feeling like i had a rock in my esophagus. okay, okay, you get the point. thank you Jesus, I have been able to eat some, drink some and stop throwing up.

this is good. just hope that going back to work is in the future. near. like soon.

i called the dr and they said that I needed to go to the ER for fluids if I can't keep anything down. but as for now, I'm avoiding my millionth IV stick for now. *breathe in* *breath out*

thank you to the pray-ers in my life - I still need endurance for the home stretch. but, i am on it. amen and amen.

Twenty two.

:-)



















the momma and her baby belly.













the daddy and his the-USA-didn't-win-vs-Ghana sad face.

more to come!

oh my.

do you think i could find a pattern to make these myself? ($33 is a bit much for our little budget)













HOW DARLING ARE THESE?! Click the pic to see Gracious May's website...

Ew.

I met a lady at church on Sunday whose pregnancies were worse than mine has been. She was sicker than me (which is hard for me to imagine!) - thus, my "wow, i'm sick" was placed in a different light. Not that I'm having a pity party every day, but I'm not gonna lie. It's still been rough.

Especially the past week. I've gone only a few days without throwing up my breakfast (at least) and just. feel. rotten. I don't know if it's extra hormones pumping our little pumpkin up to 1lb or just being ornery, but it's been hard. So, if you pray, please pray for patience for me to get through this little bout of yucky again.

Thanks. :-)

21 and keepin' on.

hey kids! here is me and Sweetie Pea at 21 weeks. keep growin' girl!

a couple pretty garage sale finds. (the suitcase is AMAZING! in absolutely perfect condition. i'm keeping my fabric stash in it...)



















and some pretty vintage scarfs. at 50 cents each, how could i pass them up!?

I've read...

... that you have to introduce and prepare your other children for arrival of a new baby. Well, Jackson is the only thing that comes close to our "other child" so I have involved him in the process.

And the winner is....!!!

























Sa vre (it's true!) We have a daughter growing. Can't wait to meet her!! (And neither can Jackson!) :-)

20 week ultrasound

Here Baby is!! Look at that sweet little nose. :-)

not sure about the whole touching the belly thing.

I ran across 10 comebacks for "When People Annoyingly Touch Your Belly". I liked about 8 of them. Enjoy. :-)
1. Careful, you’ll wake the baby!

2. If you think that’s something, you should feel my butt.

3. Be careful. It kicks.

4. I had a big lunch.

5. My husband did it.

6. Hey, I’m not Buddha.

7. That'll be ten bucks.

8. Can I rub your belly now?

Officially Half Way.

Amen, glory Hallelujah. :-) I am happy! 20 weeks and now *officially* on the count down. (I realize though, 40 is still a long way off, BUT STILL!) Around 10 oz. and 6-1/2 inches. Baby is getting big!

This Wednesday we find out what Baby is!! Boy or Girl? Girl or Boy? I am so super excited. If Baby decides not to cooperate this time, I am afraid that I will be sorely disappointed. I don't think I'll cry ... but I am very ready to buy cute little clothes. And plan the decor. And pick a name. And call Baby "him" or "her". Please pray that Baby is still doing well.

Jeremy and I *might* have felt Baby yesterday during the world cup game (USA vs. England). Is it a sign? Haha, an indication of a future soccer player? Jeremy might hope so. :-) But we don't know. Our child will be who he or she is. Anyway, it kind of felt like this pulsing sensation in one spot on my belly. But it wasn't my PULSE because it wasn't constant. And it kept going here and there in the same spot for quite awhile (not gas?) Maybe. I'm still not completely convinced. I'm excited to know for sure!!



















Randoms: those jeans still fit (happy!). For everything else, I have a Be Band to hold up my unbottoned pants - esp because my stomach still hurts every day, it's just really uncomfortable to try to button pants over a belly that is just a little bit too big. I bought my only pair of shorts at Target last week - I am SUPER happy with this purchase - hopefully my only other maternity purchase. I'm trying to wear everything else until I absolutely can't. Hopefully that will be until October 30!! :-) And, I really need to eat healthier. Fruit please?!

Check back Wednesday for the big reveal!!

oh, the crafty things.

i've done a bit of sewing lately in my sweltering (sweat shop?) craft room (a.k.a. our bedroom). but wasn't it worth it? here is a glimpse of a few things I've made.

first, purse kleenex holders. (for all you non-runny nosed or i-don't-cry people, this is irrelevant, but for allergy sufferers, rejoice!)













then, a six-pocket bag I've been puzzling over and planning for months.













i really like it! except it was supposed to be (in my head at least) diaper bag size. um, it's not. even. close. it's only about 12 inches wide ... so off to make another when I'm inspired to try again. but i learned good things to remember! (like remembering to line up all of the seams. OOPS!) :-)













that's all for this edition! come back soon. :-) (and thanks for reading)

almost half way!

hey. :-) here is me and Baby, 19 weeks.



















the Mister and I went to April's wedding yesterday. he doesn't like them so much. i do. :-) especially the dress and the cake. yes, siree.













(me & the bride)

i had a funny experience - the first time anyone (stranger) has commented on my belly. probably because my dress showed it off a little more - then i ate like a horse at the wedding. and it was 95 degrees outside and i was sucking down water.

the conversation went like this:

MAN: "so, I've gotten in trouble saying this before, but you ARE pregnant, aren't you?"

(*his adult daughter was grimacing and covering her face before he even said it.*)

ME, laughing: "you're in luck this time because I am. I don't really mind ... I'm actually excited that I'm showing!"

<>

I am going back to work part time tomorrow at my former (and current) employee, Integrity Management (Docs Who Care) and hoping that my stomach will behave and I will feel okay.

Some of my pregnancy details, in no certain order:

*Cravings have not been super frequent but included many fried potatoes (with lots of ketchup!) Chinese orange chicken and ice cream cones. And I really like eating meat. And Doritos. And pickles.

*I have been waking up almost every 2-3 hours to use the potty. This is supposed to happen in the 1st and 3rd trimesters, but who knows? Baby must be sitting on my bladder!

*I can't sleep on one side too long, and I have to adjust my tummy (even though it's not very big!). I mostly always feel a little bit sick laying down.

*Jeremy always comments about my "prego belly". It makes me laugh.

*I'm still working on getting my leg strength and muscles back into a bit more shape. Long walks at the dog park and leisurely bike rides around the neighborhood are helping.

*I try not to talk about "my pregnancy" too much in conversation with friends. Unfortunately, it ends up coming up a lot.

*I woke up early on Saturday and decided to scout out some garage sales for vintage treasures and anything baby-neutral I could find. I found some vintage-y stuff (will post!) but it was either VERY girly stuff or VERY boy stuff. Nothing in between. I was so tempted to buy the 50-cent pink onesies, but I refrained. Please, applaud. There is nothing like waiting and wanting to know what he/she is!! 9 days until we know. :-)

*We both worry if the baby is okay. I haven't felt movement yet - only laid on the couch imagining that the tickles in my tummy are the baby. But every time we go to the doctor and have an ultrasound, the heart is beating and Baby is moving. And I still feel sick to my stomach pretty much every day - not that that means everything is okay, but it does mean that I'm still pregnant! Hormones. Gotta love 'em. (Or not.)

*We are happy that half-way is almost here. Woo hoo!