Brief Blogging from Muskoka

We've been in Canada since Saturday afternoon, and at Graeme's cottage since Sunday. We came up for a wedding (Graeme's cousin Vicky) so we got to see all the family. We came into town this morning to find a wireless connection, so we're all perched outside the public library without laptops out. Unfortunately, I've taken no pictures yet, although I'll work on that so that next time we're connected I can actually do a real post.

Really, this is the most pathetic blog post ever. It's mostly just to let you know that we're all alive and well.

28 weeks

About 12 to go, although up to 14. I'm not officially (by any of the three measures) in the third trimester. I can't believe that 10 or 12 weeks ago I thought I looked pregnant. HA! No, NOW I look pregnant. Enough that strangers are starting to smile at me, and people who see me who didn't know about it say in a very surprising tone "OH! You're having a baby!".

The regular symptoms continue. Heartburn, feet in the ribs/liver, sore feet, tiredness. But I'm enjoying it too. Baby Texan is super active and I love feeling her squirm around. At birth class last night, Graeme has sitting with his hands on my belly for about 20 minutes, so felt her constand squirming. That is typical for her in the evenings. From about 8 or 9 until I go to bed, she's awake and active. I wonder if she'll keep that schedule once she joins us out here in the world.

Week 28:
- Eyebrows and eyelashes are now very noticeable.
- Hair on her head is growing longer.
- Eyes are completely formed now.
- Her body is getting plump and rounded. Most of that increase is muscle tissue and bone. Fat will be added during the third trimester.
- Muscle tone is improving.
- Lungs are capable of breathing now (but baby would still struggle and require medical attention if born now)
- She can recognize your voice now.

(I was planning to add a belly shot, but we're leaving for Canada early in the morning, and it didn't quite get done.)

yay!

Rebecca called me this morning to tell me she and Jeff are engaged. I'm so happy when my friends are happy, so I was doing a little dance around my living room when she told me. They haven't been dating for terribly long, but have been very close friends for many years. I'm totally happy for them both.


(Picture from another friend's wedding a few weekends ago. Rebecca was in the wedding party)

27 weeks

Time seems to be flying now! 27 weeks, 13 to go. I had a midwife appointment this morning, which was good. My blood pressure was slightly higher than normal, but that was likely because I managed to lock myself out of our house this morning. I gathered up my stuff to go, and headed to the car. Upon checking my pockets, I realized my keys were still inside on the coffee table. This would normally not be a problem, since the back door is usually open. But there have been a lot of breakins around the neighbourhood in the past month, so I've been better about locking it - and the windows. Hmmm. I went to the back yard and tried pulling on the doors. They moved a bit, but I couldn't get them to open. I checked a few windows and they were all locked. At this point, I had 10 minutes to make it to the birth center. I headed towards the car to call Marlene, who has an extra key to our house, and noticed that the bathroom window wasn't locked. I climbed up on the air conditioner and opened the window. The window doesn't open very wide, but I did manage to get myself through it into the bathtub. It was not comfortable climbing through there and leaning on my belly. So, I did make it to my appointment, only 10 minutes late (I called on my way) but I did have slightly higher blood pressure.

Otherwise, the appointment was good. Baby Texan was awake and wiggling around, and her heart beat was good. They took some blood for the glucose test (I had the two-hour postprandial screen, rather than the 1-hour glucose tolerance test) and I told her my latest symptoms (continued heartburn, pain from my liver related to BTs feet pushing on it, minor sciatic pain) and asked a few questions I've been saving up. I also got a letter to the airlines for our flights next week.

I'm taking the day off, so I'm planning on cleaning up the house, going to the gym and preparing for movie night. I love having a week day off. It seems so decadent.

This weeks development (and a belly shot at the bottom):
- The brain continues its rapid growth.
- Response to sound grows more consistent, the network of nerves to the ear is nearly complete. As the hearing continues to develop, he or she may start to recognize your voice as well as your partner's.
- Lungs continue to grow and prepare for functioning outside of the womb.
- She continues to take small breaths and although she's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when she's born.
- Eyelids are now open more. Your baby can distinguish between light and dark.
- Retinas have formed.

Nesting? Who, me? (plus belly shot)

Last week I organized the closet in Baby Texan's room, and I've also done some other decorating/organizing. Cleary, in the first picture, you can see that the crown molding is still not up. And there is no crib bedding yet, so I'm obviously not in FULL nesting mode. I haven't started doing the laundry, for example (although there is a pile to be done.)



The closet, with explanatory labels.


And the belly this morning:

26 weeks

26 weeks down, 14-ish to go! Two more weeks until trimester three. Time is really flying now. Tonight we had our first Bradley birthing class. It was an introductory class and we were given exercises we should be doing daily including squats, butterflies and, of course, kegels. I just asked Graeme what he thought and I quote "it was fine." I think later classes will have more information, and I'm looking forward to it.

This week I've been having some back aches, as if my ribs are stretching, which they are. Still some sciatic pain, and the heartburn continues. But energy levels are great, Baby Texan continues to kick me frequently, and the belly continues to grow. I'll get a photo shortly.

This week:
- She may weigh about two pounds now (average is 1.7 pound, 760gm).
- To support the fetus's growing body, the spine is getting stronger and more supple. Though no longer than the span of the average adult hand, it is now made up of 150 joints, 33 rings, and some 1,000 ligaments.
- Air sacs in the lungs form now.
- Lungs begin to secrete a greasy substance called surfactant. Without surfactant the fetal lungs would stick together and couldn't expand after the baby is born.
- Although they've been sealed shut for the last few months, her eyes are opening and beginning to blink this week.
- Retinas begin to form.
- Brain wave activity for hearing and sight begins to be detectable.
- Fetal brain scans show response to touch. If you shine a light on your abdomen, your baby will turn his head, which according to researchers, means his optic nerve is working.

What's cooking Wednesday

It's a miracle! I actually cooked dinner, except it took very little cooking. I made a pasta salad, so all I actually did was cook the pasta. I added tomatoes, red pepper and some chicken (rotiseree chicken, yay!). For the dressing, I combined equal parts balsamic vinegar and olive oil, added some fresh oregano from the garden, salt and pepper, and a bit of fresh lemon juice. Delicious.

Another list!

I'm taking the day off today and have plans to be very productive. I know lists must be the most boring blogging ever, but too bad. I love lists, at least when their my own.

- work out at the gym
- grocery shopping
- lunch with Marlene
- yard clean up/mowing
- laundry
- haircut
- farmer's market

not originally on the list:
- dusting
- sweeping and mopping

I'm also waiting expectantly for Heather to post about her big ultrasound appointment today, but I don't think it will be til later in the day. Update: They're having a girl!

Another update: i decided to leave the yard work for the weekend, since it necessitates a shower after finishing. It will keep til the weekend anyway. Otherwise, a very productive day!

A list!

I've been realizing this week that I only have a couple of weeks of full time work left. There are lots of things I want to do before Baby Texan arrives. Some of it is definitely towards the nesting side of things. I made a list, because I looove lists.

The list:
- Make Baby Texan a quilt
- Finish her room (that just takes installing crown molding, which Graeme will have to help me with)
- Fill the freezer with prepared meals
- Paint and finish Graeme's office (pull off old molding, putty, paint, install new molding)
- Spring/summer cleaning - true nesting here like cleaning baseboards, light fixtures, etc.

Yay lists!

Seattle peeps - part 2

Sharon, Nick and Selah:


Anthony and Mire:


Jack:


Austin fascinated by the hair:

Seattle peeps - part 1

The people we knew at the wedding were all part of the mountain bike community. Here we are:

(sadly, Jennifer is missing from the picture, which is very sad. She'd played the music for the ceremony and I think she was still cleaning up or something. She did an awesome job with the music, but missed the picture. Alas.)

Brian and Lance, the men in black:


Francine and Kevin:


Jocelyn and Austin:


Kelly and Austin:

Wedding photos

I have a whole bunch of photos from our trip out west last weekend, and blogger has a limit on how many pictures you can put in a post, so I'm going to divide them up a bit. Look later on today for another photo post. We'll start with wedding specific photos.

The wedding was held at Mountain Home Lodge, which is up 1000' above the town of Leavenworth with an amazing view over the Icicle valley:

The whole lodge was for the wedding, and it was really nice to just have friends around - even those you didn't know yet. The lodge has 12 rooms and a few cabins, so the wedding party and a few extra friends (including us!) got rooms up in the lodge. Other guests stayed at home, and shuttles were run between the hotels and the lodge to keep people from having to drive up and down the narrow steep road. We were given 'the ranch' room, since it had a bit of a Texas theme.

The wedding was held on Sunday afternoon, and except for some wind, the conditions couldn't have been more perfect.



The ceremony was performed by Kelly, and it was quite short and very lovely. How can it not be when it's held with a background like this?