Awesome Weekend -- 33 Weeks

This past weekend was excellent for so many reasons. On Saturday, Sean and I went to the Olives Ole festival just outside Elmendorf. The event is held at the Sandy Oaks Olive Orchard. The grounds of the orchard as beautiful. There is an emphasis on Mediterranean food. The food prices were nominal for a festival. The food was anything but traditional festival food. Sean and I shared awesome Kofta and a Greek salad. Along the way to Elmendorf we stumbled upon the most exquisite wildflower field you could imagine. When you stepped out of the car the fragrance was enchanting! We just had to take some photos.


Sunday we attended the first baby shower in our honor. It was a couples shower hosted by my mom (Lissi), Nikki (my sister-in-law), and Linda (my mother-in-law). The shower was at my in-law's home. It was such an awesome event. Sean and I enjoyed visiting with family and friends (some we hadn't seen in a very long time). We were so grateful to receive so many beautiful and practical gifts for Catherine.




I cannot believe that there are only 7 weeks until our expected delivery date. It seems like only yesterday Sean and I were eager to share the news of our newly discovered pregnancy with friends and family. I can only imagine how quickly time will pass once Catherine arrives.

As I have mentioned earlier, my mom is making Catherine's crib bedding. Well the first piece is complete--the bed skirt. I put it on the crib as soon as I received it. She is working on the bumper pad and light blanket. Anyone who really knows my mom will understand when I say that she is a maniac for projects like this.

We are really looking forward to Easter weekend. I am eager because I have taken Monday off from work, but mainly to celebrate Easter with family at my uncle's lake house on Medina lake.

I have included some photos since I haven't posted any in a while.

Just Had to Share

This will be a short post but I had to brag on my awesome husband for a moment! In recent weeks I have certainly noticed that the pregnancy edema has certainly kicked in. I am down to about 2 pairs of shoes that fit comfortably. And as of this week my wedding ring and engagement ring are pretty constricting. Yesterday about midday I got a text message from Sean that said "Feetsie Weetsies! :)". Then when I got home Sean met me outside and commented on how swollen my feet were. Which by the way were HUGE! I walked into the house and found 3 pairs of comfy sandals waiting for me! I was so excited. Not to mention that he did an exceptional job picking out sandals! I tried each pair on and they were GLORIOUS! So today I am sitting at my desk aware that my feet are swelling but not uncomfortable in the slightest way! FANTASTIC!

31 Weeks - Only 9 more weeks to go

I can't believe it has been nearly a month since my last post. As you can imagine plenty has progressed.

Earlier this month Sean and I went to Cozumel (see pics below). The story behind this trip began with planning our honeymoon. We never took a honeymoon following out wedding. We had a trip booked to visit Norway in July 2009 but due to work related circumstances for both Sean and me we had to cancel. Our plan at the time was that we would reschedule for summer 2010. Even after we found out that Catherine would be joining us we were committed to making the trip. Although the more we thought about the potential for a July 2010 trip to Norway with Catherine in tow we realized this may be a bit overwhelming for new parents. Ultimately, and much to out dismay, we decided that Norway 2010 wouldn't be a reality. We had a large airline credit for United Airlines as a result. Trouble was that travel had to be scheduled prior to March 27. Needless to say we decided to bump the trip up and take an impromptu trip to Cozumel.

We left on Monday, March 1 and returned Friday, March 5. I wasn't sure what to expect flying while pregnant. I did notice that I was a bit apprehensive when we hit turbulance. I also noticed that Catherine reacted to the changes in pressure (or at least I suspect). On take off and landing Catherine was doing summersaults and climbing up my ribs. I hope it wasn't a traumatic experience...then again I am sure that it wasn't nearly as traumatizing as the entire birth process. We did some snorkeling and sightseeing but most importantly plenty of relaxation on the beach. On March 4 we celebrated Sean's 29th birthday. The weather was amazing with highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid 60s. I even wore a bikini with a pretty large baby bump. So now I have a nice tan belly.

While Sean and I were gone my parents were house/cat sitting. For those of you who know my mom she is a true "jack of all trades." Unbeknown st to us my parents were busting their tails at our house with odd and end jobs. For example the re grouted our kitchen counter tops. Then with the help of my in-laws they assembled Catherine's crib in her room. Sean and I were so surprised to come home to a nearly completed nursery.

That Saturday, March 6 we had a few people over for burgers as a belated birthday celebration for Sean. By the end of the day I was exhausted...but being in the company of family and friend made it well worth it.

Yesterday Sean and I attended our first baby class. It was a baby care class that was really beneficial. Our facilitator was really funny which made the class pass pretty quickly. We were able to practice bathing and basic newborn care with a doll. Of the two of us, Sean was the one sponge bathing and diapering our doll. He was great! Some of the information was common sense, like don't shake your baby. In large part the material covered was very informative. In April we begin our child birth classes and a breast feeding class--hopefully that will be equally interesting.

27 Weeks and Valentine's Day

Yesterday marked not only my 27th week of pregnancy but also Valentine's Day! It was Sean and my first Valentine's Day as husband and wife. It couldn't have been observed in a more romantic and special way. Our Valentine's Day was more like 4 days. It began on Thursday by Sean giving me the most beautiful potted cymbidium orchid. Then on Friday I made Valentine's day dinner of lobster tail and shrimp and we had a romantic candlelit dinner at home. Then on Saturday we exchanged gifts. I received wonderful interior/exterior handcrafted art from Haiti made from recycled oil drums. It was such a thoughtful gift from Sean not to mention the proceeds of which go to the artisans in Haiti when they need it most. Although my gift to Sean hadn't arrived yet I showed him what was en route. I gave him a quilted hammock and wooden hammock stand. He was elated! Sunday was probably the best part of Valentine's Day for me, when we decided to exchange cards to one another. I spent most of the morning wiping tears away from my eyes. Sean's card was so beautifully written. I will preserve this card FOREVER because it means sooooooooo much to me.
Later that afternoon we went to lunch with grandad Ray for his 77th birthday. It was an eventful weekend without much stress--those are the best!

26 Weeks

Today I begin my 26th week. To recap some neat events: Week 25 marked the first week that I felt Catherine moving several times a day -- on a daily and consistent basis. Her movements have graduated from unidentifiable flutters to obvious kicks and punches. I think my favorite is when I feel simultaneous little punches in the lower left of my abdomen and little kicks in the upper right quadrant of my abdomen(near my ribs). I have yet to experience any painful movement but I am sure that will come.

I have notice that it has become more difficult to get comfortable whether sitting on the couch, in the car, or at my desk at work. It is more irritating that painful. Fortunately it has passes rather quickly.

I have been curious as to whether my belly button was going to pop out. I have read in several books and on many websites that it is a common occurrence. I was skeptical that this would happen to me as I have a really deep belly button. I figure that it may just become flush with the rest of belly. Over the past week I noticed that after eating I get a gnawing sensation in my navel. Today we were taking some belly photos when I looked down and saw that the top of my belly button was sticking out further than it was last week! I am eager to see what happen to my belly button. Well more about the belly button saga some other time.

Sean and I are slowly preparing Catherine's room. We don't have much painting to do. We are just painting trim. The crib is being purchased in the next couple of weeks. I wasn't satisfied with the options for crib bedding on the market so I asked my mom if she would be willing to sew the crib bedding. She agreed. With my mom's help I found some great fabrics with the cutest designs. Not to mention that the cost of supplies is much less than the cost of store purchased bedding. Best of all is the fact that every night my daughter will sleep in bedding that her grandma made specifically for her--that means the world to me.

Yesterday I received a letter from my grandfather (Morfar). He wrote the letter to give a brief family history. It was such wonderfully thoughtful thing he had done. He included photos of my great grandmother and my great great-grandfather, along with silhouettes (what folks did before photos) of my great great great great grandfather and grandmother. I will be sure to share the history he provided with Catherine and any other children we have. Probably the most interesting story was about my great great grandfather. He was 12 pounds at birth and after birth his mother was unable to produce milk to feed him. Fortunately for him he was born on a horse farm and in the absence of mother's milk he was raised on horse's milk--earning him the nickname "Horse-man." In the photo my grandfather sent my great great grandfather was 4 years old and was very tall. I grew a little apprehensive after reading that he was 12 pounds at birth. I was 9 lbs 1 oz at birth and Sean was a little over 8 lbs...needless to say that Catherine may be one BIG girl and that will make for one painful delivery.

Baby Kicks

Sean and I were talking the other day and I asked him if Catherine would begin moving and grooving soon. During my ultrasounds it has been obvious that she is moving around in there but I wasn't feeling anything but flutters and bubble like feelings in my stomach. I wanted something that was an apparent kick or nudge. Sean being the voice of reason that he is, said that it would soon come.

I was home sick on Thursday and Friday of this week. I am getting over what appears to have been a head cold. There are several people I know that recovering from a similar bug. Between extreme congestion and being uncomfortable in pregnancy the act of sleeping soundly through the night has been a feat.

While home on Thursday I was laying on my side on the couch watching some television when I felt it ! A KICK! It didn't send me barreling over in pain but it was a little more apparent than those before. At the time I doubted myself and didn't think it truly was a kick. Then Friday during the day there were several kicks and there wasn't a way of doubting or denying that Catherine was moving!

Sean came home Friday evening and I told him that I felt Catherine kick earlier in the day. Sean placed his hands on my belly and held them there for only about 5 minutes before he felt her kick. He was incredibly moved. Then just to let her daddy know that she was okay and loved him she let out a few more.

20 Weeks 1 Day

Here are the photos from this evening. I was surprised to see just how much my belly has grown! Or maybe it was compounded by the dinner I had just eaten. :-)

Some interesting facts about my 20 week old baby:

• She is no longer measured "Crown to rump"b (6 1/2 inches) but rather "Head to heel" (10 inches)
• She should weigh approximately 10 1/2 ounces
•