Catching up

32 weeks preggo in this pic...we went to El Mundo the night this photo was taken and enjoyed a fabulous meal outside...it was SOOOO good--Adeline loves ethnic and Mexican food just like me:)

Here I am 33 weeks pregnant and we were celebrating our 2 year wedding anniversary.

Johnny's parents gave us the most beautiful flowers and vase for our anniversary:)

Johnny and me enjoying the best filet mignon you can get in Louisville (we think anyways) at Pat's Steakhouse. They just so happened to play Ella Fitzgerald's "At Last," which was our first dance as husband and wife, as they brought out our complimentary dessert...so romantic =)

Happenings

Our 4th of July picnic at Cherokee park...Johnny with the grand opening of his specialty IPA. For those that don't know beer...that means India Pale Ale....and this puppy is VERY VERY hoppy!!! I guess this stuff is the real deal, clocking in at around 1.075 O.G. :)

note the apples from our apple tree!!!!

31 weeks tomorrow!!!!!!

picture at 30 weeks

Johnny playing a tune for his little girl:)

...proud of my gladioli grown from bulb and zinnias(from seed) and snapdragons along our fence row.

Our garden has taken off ever since getting back from Hilton Head. The cucumbers are growing like crazy and our green beans taste fabulous...now I just can't wait for the tomatoes, zuchinni and squash to get going!

Here are some older pictures of the garden before it started producing...

Johnny using water from our rain barrel...it takes a little longer to water since there is no water pressure...but it's free!!!

Vacation to Hilton Head Island, SC

28 weeks pregnant!! Start of the 3rd trimester! Hilton Head was a nice get-away but we are going to stick with NC beaches or Fripp Island, SC for future beach trips. HH is very crowded and commercial...and it was burning up!!! Temps were in the 110's Fahrenheit. We did see some beautiful wildlife and ate some FABULOUS seafood.

We went sailing on the island's fastest catamaran called "Flying Circus" in the Calibogue Sound.

We booked a morning slot and Captain Bob said we must have good karma because usually there isn't too much wind in the mornings and we did have some breeze that morning, enough to set sail.

Looking up at the sail....so pretty.

A momma dolphin and her baby was just behind her...

Johnny talked me into playing putt putt---this is me on the chopping block after he beat me.

Sunset at Broad Creek Marina.

28 weeks pregnant...our little one's first trip to the ocean.

27 weeks pregnant

26 weeks

Here I am--26 weeks :)

Our little girl is at the peak of her rolling and squirming and kicking!! She is now about 2 pounds and 9 inches from crown to rump. This week marks something pretty amazing--she can finally open her tiny little eyes!!! I have been craving tons of fresh fruit--cherries, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, apples, grapes-yum.

We met with our midwife and absolutely love her. I could not be happier that we decided to switch practices.

Weeks 24 and 25

Week 25

Week 24

The weeks keep flying by!!!

a perfect morning

Johnny and I woke up early and watched as the sun's rays filtered through the thick green leaves on our trees laden with morning dew. Droplets of dew and remnants from the heavy rain last night hung to everything...our snapdragon's mango colored blooms, the baby apples on our apple tree, the white fence, every blade of grass, even from our tomato plant's leaves and the garden fence.

We walked out to our garden and saw that everything was good. The green beans were sprouting their way out of the earth, the buds still curled down to the soil, defying gravity as they continue their upward climb to the sun. The tiny green leaves of broccoli and lettuce colored the deep brown soil and the cucumbers were emerging out of their mounds. The squash and zucchini have yet to make their appearance.

The squirrels were busy scurrying about and the birds happily singing their morning song. Our little girl was busy too, rolling-kicking-punching--I can just imagine her in my womb--happy and warm.

Johnny made fresh French Press coffee--the steam swirled upwards from our mugs, delighting the senses, completing the morning.

23 weeks!!

Feelin' good at 23 weeks!

Johnny and I got our garden planted this weekend complete with fencing to keep all the neighborhood rabbits away. We have 9 tomato plants (slicer and cherry), sweet corn, green beans, broccoli, lettuce, squash, and zucchini. Johnny is also growing his own cascade hops for his thriving homebrewing adventures.

It has been busy around here making preparations for our little girl. We met with our doula tonight. She is from Germany and was actually a nurse midwife in Germany! But, because it would take too long to get her U.S. nursing degree, she now is a certified doula and we are hiring her to be our birthing coach in September. We are so excited!

We have decided to switch from an OB at our old practice to a nurse midwife to deliver our baby at Clark Memorial Hospital's Family Birth Place. This change has really helped us feel more at ease with our wishes for a natural birth and we now know that everyone working with us is on the same page---valuing the fact that birth is a natural event, and for the majority of births NOT a medical emergency that requires multiple interventions! Women have been doing this for hundreds of thousands of years--Mom had all 4 of us naturally, and I am excited for the opportunity to have our little girl naturally and treasure every second of labor and delivery, no matter how hard it will be.

In other news, we officially joined Our Lady of Lourdes parish--a Catholic parish and school about 3 minutes from our house (we can actually walk to church!!). It is such an awesome community and we feel so welcomed there. We are actually already making plans for baptism!! There are tons of little ones being born into this parish--so we were advised to start thinking of a date because the days are already booking up!

22 weeks and Mother's Day Weekend

Our little girl is making it hard for me to sleep at night (just a precursor of what's to come) as I wake up 2-3 times per night and then have a really rough time falling back asleep---all I really want to do is roll over and fall into a deep sleep on my belly but that's not comfortable anymore.

She is so active and has no set wake/sleep cycle that I can determine yet. We finally got the crib from the couple we bought it from and Johnny put it up last weekend. It looks a little lonely without the mattress and bedding...but all of that will come in due time (my bedding is backordered for 2 months!!)

Johnny and I are getting so anxious for her arrival--time seems to be stationary--but we know once she is here, she will be as big as Ella before we can blink. So, we continue to savor every kick and every gentle punch as our little one prepares for her transition from womb to world.

21 weeks 4 days pregnant--MAY 1st

21 weeks pregnant and loving every minute of it!!! Our little girl LOVES to kick and roll around...last night during the PHISH 3D movie she was dancing up a storm.

Well, it's Derby weekend here in Louisville, KY!!! Oaks was gorgeous yesterday--sunny and high 70s. Of course today it is raining today and soaking wet--last year it rained on Derby too. Hopefully it won't stop the races! Off to a Derby part this afternoon:)

Diane's shower

I finally got to see Diane and her baby bump in person! Christina hosted a great shower in Cincinnati this weekend--here are some pics of Diane and me pregnant at the same time---just 8 weeks apart!!! She is due July 8th and I am due Sept 7.

20 weeks

HALFWAY THERE!!!!

I'm 20 weeks along in this picture and feeling great:) We had the ultrasound on Friday April 23 and found out we are having a little GIRL!!!!! We are overcome with joy. She is just so beautiful. Johnny thinks she already looks like me in her mouth and nose. I wish I could post some pictures of her---but for some reason the u/s pics won't upload on here.

She weighs 12 ounces and her heart was beating at 153 bpm. We got to see all of her organs and everything is developing perfectly so far:)

19 weeks

Today marks 19 weeks and 5 days pregnant. I can't believe I am already half way through my pregnancy!!! Johnny felt the first kicks this week... an absolutely indescribable moment it was to feel our son or daughter together for the first time. Our bambino is definitely more active right now at night and in the early morning hours after breakfast. He/She gives most little punches and kicks to my right side--and every time I still can't help but smile. It is more than joyous.

Sporting a noticeable bump:)

Cumberland Trip

We decided to embark on a little get-away at the end of Johnny's spring break and came upon this lovely bed and breakfast in the heart of the Cumberland's and foothills of Appalachia (pronounced like -Throwin' an "apple at cha") called "Cumberland Manor Bed and Breakfast."

This house was built in 1890, a Victorian era home, overlooking historic downtown Middlesboro with views of the Cumberland mountains.

Our room (the Kennedy Room) was on the 3rd floor at the very top.

Here I am...18 weeks pregnant!!!

Jill, the innkeeper, was a FABULOUS cook--we started out with a fresh fruit cup and bran and berry muffins, followed by fluffy pancakes and biscuits and gravy...YUM!

Overlook on Ridge Trail with views of Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky.

Week 17

Here I am...week 17! We had our 16 week check up this week and got to hear the heartbeat again at 158 bpm. I have gained 8 pounds (and all of that happened in the last 5 weeks!)

Our little one is the size of your palm...or a large naval orange (4.5 to 5.5 inches long).

In 3 weeks, we find out the gender...can't wait!!!

More pics from Megan and Ella's visit (March 26-28th)

Starring the cutie herself....Ella Kate:)