Week 28

                    28 Weeks  - May 29

Some like it hot. . .but 90's in May?!?

Kick, kick!  I am feeling movements on somewhat of a schedule now.  I slept late recently, but the baby didn't, so I had some weird dreams about obstetrical tests involving spinning my hospital bed so fast that it spins vertically.  I have usually been sleeping pretty well, but this weekend, the baby stayed up all night!  I feel enormous, but know I have 3 more months to grow.  I think I am nearly 20 pounds up.  This week, I get my second round of blood tests and get to do the glucose test (where I drink orange flavored sugar and sit for 1 hour before they take my blood).  Fun, huh?!?  Now that I am in the third trimester, the midwife visits occur more frequently- every 2 weeks for 2 months.  We start prenatal classes in June.
We are finally getting to work on our lawn and outdoor projects.  My dad was here briefly and installed a gutter.  I planted raspberry bushes and hope the heat will not kill them!  Brian is working on turning the weed lawn into a grass lawn and enjoys watching the dandelions wilt.  At least it is green!  I am still working on the window trim that my dad built for the nursery and painting details.  Sadly, we still have several things to hang on the walls.

We have been busy home-bodies this month.  Brian is busy with class, work and softball.  He took a weekend trip to Texas to see his sister's college graduation, where he spend more time in transit than at his destination.  I guess time with friends and family is worth the trip!  I have been working a lot and very busy when I am at the clinic!  I will be slowing down in the next week or 2, as we will finally have more staff back in town (we have been working with half staff).  I hope to get more house stuff accomplished and more exercise soon.  While Brian was gone, my dad was in New England for my grandmother's 90th birthday and he made it out to our house.  Besides his many trips to Home Depot, we went to see "A Little Murder Never Hurt Anyone" at a tiny community theater by my clinic.  It was a neat play, but I was by far the second youngest person in the audience.  I dragged Brian to the documentary Babies, where he enjoyed seeing little ones fall down or get hit by older siblings.  It definitely reminds one how few material things a baby needs to thrive.  We also have been considering getting rid of TV service as our cable bill rises and we hope to have better things to do this summer (though I am sure we will sign back on in the fall).  We would love tips on how to watch good news and weather forecasts.  The best thing we have watched lately was an evening lighting storm that occurred within a cloud.  It was fascinating, as we rarely get lightening and thunder.
We have been thinking of our friends in Nashville and the flooding as we prepare to visit next weekend.  It is amazing how hard it was hit.  I am hoping our crazy heat wave here does not lost long; my body holds heat too much now!  I guess we will have to get some window air conditioning units at home, but work is hard with the heat and the smell of cows and fertilizer wafting through the windows.

Nursery

     24 weeks - April 29

Brian felt the baby!  My sister got to feel it before he did, but he got a few good, rhythmic kicks.  I think it was because he played guitar for the baby.  I have trouble falling asleep at night with the movement!  Clearly, most people are able to see that I am pregnant now.  My extra heartbeats are not problematic (just annoying).  I may have more because of pregnancy, and feel them more with the increased blood flow, hormone changes, and the womb moving my heart's position.  We are starting to look into daycare, there are wait lists that and it can take a year to get a spot in the place. 

The house has had a major change in the nursery and some updates, thanks to my mom and sister.  Michelle scraped the horrid, old (and tough) wallpaper from the nursery and removed the sad trim. We patched up the walls and painted a bright shade of yellow and whitened the ceiling.  I still have more design to paint before we start work on the floor and trim.  All the windows let in light since my mom cleaned them; it looked like it had been several years between cleanings.  We have barley started work on the yard, a lot more grass and plants are needed.  Apparently, the lawn had been green in the fall because of weeds, not grass.  My peas and carrots may not have thrived since the crazy snow storm 2 weeks ago (it has been hot since).  Brian borrowed an electric mower and looked like a real home-owner.  My mom and sister brought the wedding gifts that had not fit in our car after the honeymoon, so we are more prepared to host events.  They also brought art and wall decor and Brian is anxious to have the rooms settled.

Brian was busy with an admitted student visit weekend when the ladies and I took an impromptu day trip to Montreal.  It was fun to re-visit some of the Honeymoon sites and attend mass in the fancy Basilica in French. We just walked around the 'old town,' had lunch, and enjoyed maple treats.  It was a tiring day!  Brian and I were very happy not to go out of town last weekend for once.  I had a local conference at a lake resort, so we stayed at the inn together and enjoyed the scenery.  We also went to a fancy Kentucky Derby party that was hosted by Kentuckians.  I enjoyed non-alcoholic mint juleps (the foreign people thought they were mint tulips) and brought out the big hats and bright dress (which is still way too big for me).  It felt like we were down south again with the sundresses and seersucker. 
I am very busy this month with work and conferences, while Brian is slowing down.  This should set us up for some fun June travel - we plan to go to Nashville and around New England.  I am glad to stay in town for awhile!  Brian had his first school paper due last week, and aced it, of course.  Hopefully, he will do as well in classes that are less interesting.