Apple of my eye - Week 17

This week is our 17th week, and after last week's unfortunate reference to meat portions I'm excited to move forward to a palm-size. Since we are in Bayfield, WI it only seems appropriate to compare you, Baby, to the size of an apple. You are weighing about 5 ounces so it's a good reference. Your heart beats are now regulated by your brain and are not spontaneous anymore, approx 140-150 beats per minute. Other than that you are simply gaining weight, packing on the pounds, and the good Doctor Diane has me doing the same. In total I lost 27 pounds while surviving the first trimester.

While in Bayfield, we ventured out into the cold and rainy day to go orchard hopping. We learned about apple cider, bought another bag of apples, taste-tested apple mustard, apple butter, apple chutney, apple cider, apple-raspberry cider, and apple jam. Last night I made the best apple pie ever. I hope I can duplicate it.

Your Uncle Ben and Aunt Linnea both took pictures with me and our bellies. Ben's is what we call a food baby, and Linnea's was a bag of apples we bought at a road stand. A random stop along the roadside, but a pleasant one nonetheless. Both your Dad and I are having a great time with Ben and Linnea! The photos will be posted later when the internet isn't so intermitent.

Week 16

Baby, you are growing up so fast! You weigh about 3-5 ounces which is about the portion size of chicken or meat, and about 4-5 inches long. This does not however, make for a pleasant picture for the blog. Your muscles are getting stronger and I read I should start to feel movement from you soon. Your eyes are working in the sense they can perceive light even though your lids are closed, but you also have eyebrows and eyelashes! Also in reading, I've learned that you've become more sensitive to touch and will squirm if I poke my belly. I still won't feel you squirming for a couple more weeks, but I just might take pleasure in poking myself knowing that I am making you move. :)

Outside the belly the temperatures here have plummeted, and we had our first snow fall on Monday. More snow was in the forecast for today and tomorrow, but I haven't seen anything at home. I'm sure at the higher elevations they are getting it. The forecasters are calling for 6-12" in some areas. I am clearing out the garden today of any remaining produce and calling it a season. I will have to go back down in October to remove the remaining plants and clean up my plot.

We have a big week coming up. On Friday morning we are flying to Minneapolis. We are going to stay with your Uncle Ben and Aunt Linnea. On Saturday we have a wedding for your Dad's friend Aaron. You might get a few tummy rubs from two or three of my high school gal pals as well if we are able to meet up. On Sunday the four of us will head northeast to Bayfield, WI. We rented a condo to stay at until Wednesday morning. Wednesday night we will fly back to Colorado.

Snowy Doctor's Visit

Baby, it is September 21st, and we have our first snowfall! I left home this morning for the doctor's and noticed it was starting to sleet. As I drove north the sleet turned to rain and by the time I reached the hospital it was starting to snow. I could barely believe my eyes. This is slightly unusual and about a month early. We all know the Halloween snowfall is inevitable, and like all snow here in the Springs it will only last a day, two tops. Even if it lasts through the night it will be a cool sight to wake up to tomorrow.

The appointment went well. I was able to ask a lot of questions mostly about the different flus going around and what I can do to prevent both. I received my first flu vaccine this afternoon, and will have to go back mid October for my H1N1 shot. I can't wait to see you again in a month. On Oct 27th, your daddy and I will finally be able to find out if you are a boy or girl.

Last Friday your Dad received his gold hat at the Old Timers banquet. It was fun to see a lot of folks your dad works with and catching up with them. I am proud of him too for his accomplishments. For those of you reading this and not sure of what's going on, I'll break it down for you. HP starts every employee with a red hat. This is a signal to those on the job site that the person with a red hat is new and caution should be used. After 6 months with the company, they give you a white hard hat to wear. This signifes that you have some experience. You are not brand new. You wear the white hat until Old Timers (5 years) at which point they give you a gold hard hat to wear signifying you are very experienced and have put in the time and dedication to the company. At Old Timers they also award those with superb safety ratings, and those who have been with the company 20, 25, 30 + years.

Rollin' along like an orange

Today you are measuring about 4 1/2 inches, weigh about 2-3 ounces and are roughly the size of a navel orange. It's good your in side where you don't have to battle sick people. I'm finding out from my doctor on Monday where I should go to get my flu shot. In the meantime, I've been trying to take in good ol' vitamin C.

You must be starting to have fun in there too! Now you have the coordination, strength and smarts to wiggle your fingers and toes! I can't feel the beginnings of your acrobatics yet, but I have been experiencing Round Ligament Pain. This is where the ligaments running vertically start to slowly stretch to help carry the weight of Baby. Sometimes it is sharp pains usually following a deep cough or big sneeze. Other times it is a slow, dull pain that just seems to be there.

Happy Second Trimester!

Today marks the first day of my second trimester, week 14. Baby, you are about the size of a clenched fist, (whose? I'm not sure) and on top of your cute little head you might be starting to grow some hair! Your furry blanket is also growing, but I'm told not to worry, it isn't permanent...we hope.

I've read this will be the most comfortable of the three trimesters and the best time to travel. The morning (really ANY time of day) sickness should subside, energy levels should start coming back (thank goodness! Baby, if you saw my garden you would be appalled), and I will start to show more of a prego belly. I'm definitely at the stage of questioning, "Is she pregnant or just fat?"

Which brings me to my shopping excursion yesterday. Kelley, baby Austin and I went shopping yesterday. The main goal was to find me something appropriate to wear to a work function for Jon next weekend and for a wedding the weekend after. Since normal pants don't fit right I knew from the get-go I would be buying my bottoms from a prego store. But shirts are still fine for the most part. I tried on a couple of shirts at the prego store and wouldn't you know it but those shirts are made for women who must be 8 or 9 months pregnant! I looked far more pregnant that I am, and I felt H-U-G-E in them. I almost started to cry but remembered I could try shirts on at other stores. Luckily, I found a shirt that will work perfectly. At least for now. Shopping these days seem to make me very emotional.

Hot Air Ballooning

(photo: Side-lined for 2009)

Every Labor Day weekend since 2005, Jon and I have crewed for Thom Zinser pilot for JD's Dream hot air balloon. We were addicted after our first flight and have gone on a few road trips at other festivals to help him out.

This morning Thom told us that it was our turn to fly again, assuming the weather would clear up enough to allow us to launch. I was excited...until he told me his general rule of thumb was not to carry pregnant women unless she was less than 3 months pregnant. At first I was thinking of the altitude, which I knew I would be ok on. But as he was talking, he reminded me of the landings, and since there are no guarantees for a text book "soft" landing, he came up with this prego-rule. After talking to us about it, I recalled our worst landing which we all still walked away from uninjured, but quickly realized it would be best to err on the side of caution on not go. He promised me he would make it up to me next year so long as I didn't come pregnant again. :)

As it turned out the weather barely cleared enough to allow to FAA to rule on allowing pilots to launch at their own discretion. We didn't launch. Thom likes the old addage, "It is better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air, than to be in the air wishing you were on the ground." Which oddly, became my mantra for the day.

The Energizer Bunny had a good flight today.

"How are things in the produce department?" Peachy!

Happy Week 13! You are growing quickly and are now the size of a peach! The highlight growth mark for this week is the development of your vocal cords. The book jokes "the better to cry with" but I hope you aren't a screamer. I'm really hoping you are a good, happy baby. One can dream right?

This is the last week of our first trimester, a third of the way through. It is hard to believe, but I must admit I am quite thankful. The random runs to the toilet or sink are getting old and I haven't been able to gain any weight. My doctor assures me this is ok for now, but I will need to start gaining soon for your sake Baby. Please be kind to mommy so she can keep in the vitamins and healthy foods, like peaches for you.