23 Weeks

Saturday we had our third annual Christmas Tree day. We go to the same tree place every year and get a 7 foot Noble Fir. This year they did not disappoint and we had a great time decorating our tree and eating a turkey dinner. We also were finally able to get Rich and Karen's car put back together with new tires and rims. On Sunday, we picked Rich and Karen up from their trip to the west coast of Africa. They were gone for about 5 weeks and had been flying for about 36 hours. It was a clear beautiful day in Tieton but in Yakima there was a ton of fog. Their plane had to circle for about an hour before they could land. We were worried that they would have to turn around and go back to Seattle. It is nice to have them back and they were impressed by how much my baby bump has grown. Tuesday, Karen and I went and got a pedicure after school. It is always nice to sit back relax, chat, and get my toes painted. Wednesday, Nathan and I went looking for a recliner after school. We found a Lazyboy that we like and we went back to pay for it today but they said that in stock means it is in their Tri-Cities store and they won't pick it up until next Thursday. I could really use that recliner these days because sitting on our couch is getting more and more uncomfortable. My upper and lower back are hurting more as my center of gravity is starting to shift. I also have some annoying leg numbness on my left thigh. The baby is growing and growing and I am also growing and growing. I know that this is only the beginning but it can be hard to see my changing body. I mostly just feel like I look fat but as she grows my belly mostly grows outward so it looks more and more like a baby bump instead of a spare tire. Only 5 more weeks until we get to see her again and 4 more weeks until I am in the third-trimester. I honestly can't believe how fast this has been going and that we will get to see her in just over three and a half months!

22 Weeks

This week was a little crazy just because of the weather. Monday, Nathan and I both had to go back to school and the weather was cold but other than that it was nothing special. Tuesday was pretty much the same cold, overcast, and frigid cold. Wednesday morning we woke up to an inch, inch and a half of snow on top of the 3 to 4 inches we got the week before. The drive to work was slow but other than that the roads weren't too bad. After school we had our 22 week doctor appointment. The baby's heart rate was a lot easier to find and was nice and loud and strong about 154 bpm. The nurse let me record it because it was so loud and easy to hear, and Nathan wasn't at the appointment yet (he had some last minute meeting at school that he left early so he could be at the appointment at all). My weight was the same as it was four weeks ago and my blood pressure was in its normal range for this pregnancy 109/58. They gave us the results of our quadscreen for down syndrome, spinabifida, etc. the results indicate that our baby doesn't have a higher risk of having any of the syndromes screened. We scheduled our next two appointments and I am excited that my glucola screening, which is an am appointment, will be done during Christmas break. I am excited because I am trying to conserve my sick days for when the baby is actually here. On the way home from the appointment the weather took a turn for the worse. It started raining and the temperature started dropping, and by the time we made it out to Cowiche the roads were slick as snot. We tried to avoid an accident/congestion by going a different route. The car in front of Nathan slowed down on a hill and while they turned around and Nathan made it up the hill I got stuck. I couldn't go forward up the hill and I wasn't even going to attempt to try to slide/back down the hill. Nathan parked his car at a church at the top of the hill and then slid/walked down to my car and was able to turn it around so we could get to some flat ground to put my chains on. Once the chains were on I was able to make it home just fine. The next morning there was a two hour delay at school and when it was time to leave it was still sleeting, Nathan drove me to work and then went to his classes and then he picked me up after he was done with classes around 17:30. We made it home just fine but it continued to snow/sleet off and on during the night. Friday morning Highland had a 2 hour delay but West Valley didn't so I had to make sure I had plenty of time to get to work. I did but the roads were pretty slick but not nearly as bad as Wednesday night. By the time school got out the roads were just fine and the temperatures are warming back up. The baby is just happy hanging out in my belly growing fat and happy, she loves to kick and squirm at all hours of the day and night. This week was the first time she kicked me in the bladder while I was driving home from work, and while I am glad I didn't pee my pants, I am pretty sure that it won't be the last time she does that.