Visitors

Last weekend, I met my Granddad Van Sciver for the very first time!

 He was really nice and good at holding me.  Sometimes he seemed more interested in our cat Gus but that's okay...  

I also got to see Grandma!  She kept saying that I was "the picture of health," whatever that means... here you can see this special shirt I got from Mommy's cousins, Erin and Graham--it has my nickname on it! Can you see what it says?

I found out that Grandma and Granddad enjoy one of my favorite pastimes! Who knew that folks from Washington and California could have so much in common? 

I've also been practicing my exercises during the day.  Mommy and Daddy are such drill sergeants!

Okay, I'm pretty proud of how high I can lift my head and how steady I am.  Can you see how I lift my feet at the same time? 

Of course, after a tough workout session, I like to do a little fist-sucking.

Here's the whole family! We are going to use this picture for the church bulletin to announce my upcoming baptism!  That's right, folks, I'm joining the Catholic faith officially this upcoming Easter Sunday.  I am nervous but excited! 

Well, seeing as how I'm currently sleeping as I write this, I think I'd like to get back to that. Until next time...zzzzzzzzzzzz........

Adventures in Babyland

I've been busy these past couple weeks!  I've had a number of "firsts" and things are starting to change a little around here because Mommy is getting ready to go back to work soon.  I'll miss her a lot during the day but I'm going to love having special time with Daddy!

 I found this photo of Mommy from Christmas day, a few days before I was born.  I was almost ready to come out!  She's told me she was really uncomfortable those last weeks I was in there, and I can see why.

 We've started taking more walks outside because the sun has been shining!  Or so Mommy tells me... I'm usually asleep for most of the walks.  I really love this Baby Bjorn carrier (thanks Grandma Gail!) and it's comfortable for Mommy too.

 See, here I am, ready for a walk, this time in the stroller!

 I'm so comfortable with Mommy that I fall asleep on her really easily during the day.  Sometimes I wake up if she tries to make me sleep in the swing or bouncer, because I only want to sleep on her!

We went to Camp Seymour this week for my first time!  That's where Mommy and Daddy met, 6 and a half years ago! I had so much fun!!! (Okay, truthfully, I was asleep during most of the visit...)

I had never seen so many trees in my whole life!!

 See, here I am, sleeping--er, I mean, meeting Yoda!

 Daddy has started trying to have me drink from a bottle, since Mommy has to go back to work soon. I've been kind of difficult about it so far, but I think I've given him enough trouble and I'll be better.

We had a dinner party with my friend Anthony, his mom and dad, and other grown-up friends Justine and Champ.  Justine is holding me and Anthony, and she's going to watch me on Fridays starting in a couple weeks.  She is sooo nice and I really like when she holds me. Plus there are so many colors and pictures to look at in this room at her house!

 

I've been smiling more lately, and Daddy caught some of it on video!

 

 

Hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day!! I'll write again soon! 

First Monthiversary

Last Monday (January 28) I celebrated my very first monthiversary!  (But if you are counting by weeks, and Mommy is, I am now 5 weeks and a day old).  So much has happened in that time!  I have had a number of family and friend visitors; I've gone for walks in both my stroller and the Moby carrier; I've been to church, Fred Meyer, Costco, Target, and Ross;  I've slept, spit up, eaten, moved my arms and legs, and lifted my head; and I've cried, listened, stared, and, on a few special occasions, smiled.   Below are some pictures documenting my adventures. 

Here was Mommy enjoying a delicious dinner at Anthony's on December 27th, my due date! Little did she know that just a few hours later, I'd be ready to come out and see the world!

Daddy was so excited to meet me!!  I was a little confused and tired...

This is Diksha, who was Mommy's doula.  She was a big support to Mommy and Daddy during the pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.  She is awesome!

Grandma Gail and Aunties Erica and Maria visited me during the first two weeks.  They helped with cleaning the apartment, cooking, and holding me!  I was so sad when they had to go.

Auntie Sarah is so good at holding me and getting me to fall asleep!

 

I was so happy to meet Barb and Papa Homer too!
       (That's my Daddy's dad) 
I hope they visit me again soon!

Grandma Becci came all the way from California to see me!  She was so great at calming me when I was fussy.

                                                  Here I am after my first bath.  I didn't cry at all. 

Mommy and Daddy have caught me doing all sorts of cute things.  I'm growing bigger everyday!

 I've hung out with my BFF Anthony a few times, but I've either been eating or sleeping during our play dates... He was born November 17th so he is teaching me a lot about how to be a baby. I think someday soon I'll actually notice that he's there when we are together. 

But I have to say, of all the people I've met, I love Mommy and Daddy most of all.  Now, on to more adventures!  I'll blog again soon, but right now I need a nap!

28 weeks---where has the time gone?

First of all, I apologize for so many weeks of silence! It isn't because there have been any problems or anything going wrong.  It is just because soon after my last post, I had to get back to work as a full-time teacher! September always takes up a lot of time because there is so much that goes into the beginning of a school year, but I hope soon we'll be settling into a rhythm and everything won't take me so long :) 

First of all, we found out on August 20th that we are having a BOY!  I won't share that picture with you, but we saw the proof.  James had been eager to have a "Daddy's girl" but he is still excited to have someone he can talk sports with :)  I was really hoping for a boy and had felt like all along it was a boy, so this was just great confirmation. 

I also went through a phase where I was craving sweets and baked goods, so I made cupcakes one day, scones another...James made a delicious strawberry rhubarb pie. Tonight we're going to make a pumpkin pie.  I had the glucose test at my last doctor appointment but haven't gotten a call about the results, which means:  my body is craving sugar and has no problem processing it.  Good news?

We found this rocker glider at a garage sale for $5.  The cushions were stained and there were some screws missing for one arm, but James's dad took care of the woodwork part and his dad's girlfriend sewed new fabric over new cushions for us, so we have this "like new" rocker glider.  We are soooo thankful for Dad/John and Barb doing this for us!

 

For a "baby moon," James and I went down to Portland for Labor Day weekend.  He usually works Saturdays so it was a real blessing to get 3 full days together.  We stopped at a consignment store in Vancouver and found this swing for only $25.  It's in great condition and is so soft!  It also plays music. We hope Baby will be very content in this swing.  

I went to a consignment sale this weekend and found a few items I couldn't pass up!  This is a hand-painted Nemo/Dory picture.  I'd already committed to doing a forest theme for the baby's room, but this was too cute, so it will go into our bathroom which already has an aquatic theme. 

I bought just a few outfits at the consignment sale because I know we will probably get lots at our showers, but there were a few I thought were unique and I should get.  This lion was one of them.  It is velour and cute from the front.  When I saw the back, I couldn't stop laughing, and then I just couldn't put it back on the shelf.  

I'm already at the start of my 28th week!  It's hard to believe how quickly the time has passed.  As you can see, I'm still just gaining weight in front, which most people comment looks good, and I always thought so too before I became pregnant and saw other pregnant women, it is very flattering to just gain the baby belly.  But I'll tell you, it is not comfortable!  Sitting is probably the worst.  The past week it's felt painful at the top of my belly when I'm sitting for more than a few minutes. And last night James and I went to a movie and it was almost unbearable to have to sit in those seats for that long. I felt bad for whoever sat behind me because I was almost constantly moving and trying to adjust to get comfortable.  And I still have a few months to go!

Other than that, I'm feeling good!  It's been great to have some gifts already arriving (James's mom got us the Pack 'N' Play which made this feel very real because that will be the baby's bed in the beginning... Thank you, Becci!) and we're slowly but steadily clearing out the baby's room to get everything situated in there. 

James is feeling excited and scared but I try to reassure him that I know he will be a wonderful dad!  He already is, as he helps me around the apartment and takes good care of me and baby. 

Thanks for reading! I won't let so much time pass before the next post!

Milestones

So what used to feel like gas bubbles are now more definite nudges and movements in my belly. Tonight was the first time I could actually see a kick in my abdomen!  I laughed in surprise and glee and James rushed over but then of course Baby got shy and wouldn't do it again.

James had a significant day of his own. He went with his sports camp to the Mariners game in Seattle and witnessed a historic game--pitcher Felix Hernandez pitched a perfect game!  James is so excited that he's been watching television coverage of the game and even recorded the game which was broadcast late in the evening and wanted to watch while it was recording!

And Gus? Poor guy isn't enjoying the hot weather we've been having and has been passed out in various spots in the apartment. The next two days are supposed to be in the mid 90s so good luck, buddy!

21 Weeks

So far I'm just gaining belly weight.  It is fun to look at these photos and be able to see the growth! And now, less than a week until we get to see our baby on the ultrasound again and find out if it's a boy or a girl!

So it turns out my "cold" seems to be one of those less fun pregnancy side effects--extreme congestion! I went to the doctor Saturday and that was pretty much what he told me. I haven't had a fever, no one else around me is getting sick, no one else around me was sick when I started feeling bad, and it's all contained to upper respiratory congestion. Yuck!  Some sources I've read said this could stick around most of the pregnancy, but I sure hope that's not the case. I've considered which I'd prefer--nausea (which some women have during most of their pregnancy) or this, and when I look at it like that, I guess this isn't too terrible. I still hope with time, and nasal rinses, this will go away!

Strange Dreams and Being Sick

So I've gotten sick for the first time since being pregnant.  I'm working at a children's museum in Olympia for a few weeks this summer teaching camps and this is my last week.  I teach one camp in the morning and one in the afternoon. Monday afternoon my throat started hurting.  Tuesday it was burning. Yesterday I started getting a bit of a runny nose and today I am completely congested--runny nose, watery eyes, nasal pressure, the whole shebang.  There is really no one to sub for me at this job though so I am powering through as best I can but I feel terrible!  And it makes me nervous for Baby, but probably just because this is my first one and my first time being sick so far.  But I know having a cold is pretty common while you're pregnant so I really shouldn't worry.  I just wish I could take it easy and sleep all day! I took some sudafed tonight and hope I'll feel better in the next couple days.

On a more fun note, I had the strangest dream the other night.  In the dream, I was 5 months pregnant, just like I am now.  James and I were looking at my stomach and then we started to be able to see the outline of the baby, its profile, like it was pressing against my stomach.  Then it just seemed to press more and more and became more clear until it was just out of my stomach. It was "born" and fully clothed, clean, no umbilical cord, as if it had been out of my body for a week or something instead of just coming out.  In the dream, it was so real and I couldn't figure out if I was dreaming or not. I asked James and he said it was real. I asked him if we should call the doctor or go to the emergency room since we had a premie, but he said no, it was fine, and the baby really did look fine.  (In the dream I don't remember if it was a boy or girl) We took the baby for a walk and met up with my friend Haley, who is also pregnant but due about 7 weeks before me, and showed her, "Look! Our baby!" and she didn't seem the least surprised.  I could NOT figure out if I was dreaming or not--it seemed strange to me but everyone else acted like everything was fine.  This is how I knew:  we were back at our apartment and I was holding the baby on the couch, I looked down at it and back up, and then back down, and suddenly the baby was wearing a completely different outfit.  That's how I knew it was a dream--there was no way it could have changed clothes so suddenly. 

I love these vivid pregnancy dreams! They are so fun!