little kicks

I kept waiting, waiting to feel something.  I've felt lots of pressure since about 6 weeks that I liked to think was Appleseed pushing and stretching inside of me trying to make room.  But I didn't feel any actual movement.  Then last week when I would sit back in my classroom at the end of the the work day, I felt these swooshes.  

And on Monday we went and officially met our baby.  Right there on the screen - little Appleseed looking like a little human.  Little clenched fists up by the face, crossed legs, and the cutest button nose.  It was the sweetest moment I've felt up to this point.  Holding J's hand, we looked up at the screen and at our future.  This is our baby, the one we'll meet in five short months.  The one whose personality will come alive before our eyes week after week.

The ultrasound tech was able to point out exactly where the baby is resting inside of me with the head on my right and the legs push down on my left side.  Over the next couple of days I started to hone in on that little spot on my left.  And that's what it took for the little bubbles I've been feeling to all make sense.  Appleseed has been dancing above my left hip and I didn't even know it.  But now that I recognize it I get to feel it more often and it's pretty amazing.

18 weeks

Bruschetta night

This week, Julie hosted our last girls' night of the summer.  We had more food that we could ever stuff our faces with, and everyone drank enough wine to keep me laughing all night.

I stayed till 3am, probably the latest I've stayed out this whole pregnancy.  But the part of the night that made me so happy was the conversations my best friends and I were able to have.

As the hours passed (and as they consumed more wine) we were able to think about our pasts, our futures, ask questions, and push each other to think differently than we usually do.  We're the perfect balance for each other.  

Durfee, Koch, Jamieson - 2011

Keepin' tabs

**keeping tabs on the concerts this babe's already been in utero for:

-Jack White

-Florence and the Machine

-Tall Tall Trees

-Kishi Bashi

-Nicki Minaj

-Dawes

-Gogol Bordello

-Mumford & Sons

**looking forward to some more:

-Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

-Regina Spektor

I'm sure there are many more to come.

14 weeks

There's definitely something there.  People that know me notice it.  

But it's still at that point where I can sleep on my belly and fit into my skinny jeans.

The only craving I consistently have is for a good, crusty, macaroni and cheese.  I dream about it.  

At this point, this babe is the size of an apple.  From an appleseed to an apple. : )  And I feel like there is something in me, pushing out my belly.  I have days where I think he's going through growth spurts, stretching me forward.  I have a feeling he's going to be a wiggler and I'm going to start feeling real kicks in not too long.

road trippin'

 From South Haven's Lake Michigan, we drove west past Chicago to Dixon, IL.  We've been looking forward to this for months.  Mumford and Sons headlined a music festival, what they called a stopover. They took over the whole town.  It was kind of surreal walking the streets, like we all knew something big was happening but didn't know what it would all entail.

I was excited to be able to camp and be near it all.  And I was a little nervous that my pregnant self would have trouble with it.  But I did really good.

I took naps when I needed to, stretched, ate a lot of yummy food, and was able to thoroughly enjoy the experience.

This Appleseed is one lucky babe.  He's already been to so many amazing concerts and places.  It makes me think he'll come out with music and traveling in his bones.  Just like Mama and Papa.

The beach

Our annual family vacation to South Haven has begun.  We eat lunch on the beach, sunbathe on the beach, and I even get to do homework on the beach.  Swimming feels like the best pregnancy workout.  I get out of breath easily but it still feels so good. 

The waves are much more calm than usual so the water looks bright shades of blue and turquoise. 

The kids are all getting to enjoy extra Uncle Jason time and I think they couldn’t be more thrilled.  He is the life of the beach party.