26 weeks

May 2nd was 26 weeks. Wow, about 14 more weeks until we get to officially meet our son! I can't wait! April proved to be a busy month as it usually is for me, and I noticed not having quite the energy I did in previous years. When your lungs are being compressed by your son, it's not easy talking to hundreds of middle schoolers 5 times a day. But I made it through. I also learned that my days of spending every day on the road are over for awhile. . .now if I can just get through all the Saturdays I booked working!
Speaking of compressed lungs, I can't get enough stretching or yoga in these days. Lil' man is taking up so much room, that all I want to do is stretch out. If my rib cage could just expand another inch or so and if I could just add another inch or two to my torso. . .ahh, the relief it would bring! He lets me know when I have sat too long (especially my days in the office), and starts poking and kicking. I guess we both like big open spaces, Lil' man.
This weekend we had some visitors as well. My Dad and Janis came to visit for the weekend. We had a great time. It was a full weekend with Art on the Avenue, Jeans for Justice, and the church Sunday supper. Steven did great showing his vinyl recording jewelry for the first time at a festival. So many people loved it- was so proud of him. Later that night we had the Jeans for Justice event which raises money for the Catawba County Rape Crisis Center. Steven donates a work of art every year for this event.
I also picked up a jogging stroller that was on consignment, and had to call Anita in LA to help me fold it! It was quite the spectacle I am sure. Here it is the hottest weekend of the year so far for us, and here is this big pregnant lady stuck in the parking lot trying to fold a stroller down so she can fit it in her car! Who made these things so difficult??? Finally after getting all sweaty and looking like a fool, and people looking at me and questioning my right to be reproducing I finally shoved the stroller into my car. No it still wasn't folded down. Later that evening with the help of two engineers (My Dad and Steven), the stroller was finally folded flat. Whew! Thought I bought a defected stroller!

22 weeks 5 days

Last Friday was 22 weeks and 5 days. A little over 17 weeks until we get to meet our lil' man! Time really does fly. He kicks so hard now, but dad still hasn't felt him yet. I think it calms the baby whenever Steven puts his hand on my belly, because he always seems to stop. Soon enough he will feel it though. I enjoy watching my belly bounce with each kick and punch, and even play back from time to time.
The past week I have really popped out. Steven loves it, and I am still adjusting to it. I am definitely getting more stares at my belly these days. I even had a lady at a rest stop let me go in front of her while we were on our trip. Bless her. . .I really did have to go right then!
Steven has also enjoyed talking to our son. He talks to him every day, and sometimes likes to even talk in to the microphone as he calls it (my belly button). I think he does it just to drive me crazy really!
We had a midwife appointment last Friday morning, and everything is going well. I am measuring on track, Steven got to meet another one of the midwives, and the heartbeat still sounds beautiful. I told her about the tightening I've been having which is apparently the Braxton-Hicks contractions. I don't get them very often, and they don't hurt, but I do fell like I'm going to pop. Apparently this is my body getting ready for labor, and as long as they don't start coming to often I am in good shape.
So, everyone is good, and ready to move on to our 23rd week. The next couple of weeks will most likely fly by as I move into the busiest time of year for environmental educators everywhere. Before I know it it'll be May and time to visit the Grandmoo!

Easter and the end of our trip to Louisiana

We had such a great time in Louisiana visiting our best friends William and Anita Katzman. Michael has gotten so big, and it was great to have the chance to take a few pictures of him for Easter. We were able to do a little bit of site seeing, but the important parts of the trip were our annual s'mores (usually part of our annual camping trip. . .but there had to be some adjustments this year), and of course some board games. Did I mention Steven and won trivial pursuit pop culture ;). Sorry, Anita! Did I mention how cute Michael is???

Geckos eating the bugs off the porch

Every year we experiment with our s'mores, but this is what happens when you let the preggo pick out the supplies for the s'mores. I had to get the peeps for Easter!

Steven and I in downtown Baton Rouge on the Mississippi River.

Trip to Louisiana

Last May our best friends moved to Baton Rouge. . .taking my God son with them. Back in November, Anita & I decided that we would surprise William by planning a surprise trip. So on Good Friday, Steven and I packed our bags and hit the road for Louisiana. The drive down was fine, complete with Cadha pups getting into the bag of Twizzlers and eating about half the bag, and a glimpse of a John Grisham novel once we got into Livingston Parish. The twizzlers came out all right, literally, but wow, you wouldn't believe how much red dye is in those things. The Grisham experience was a stop we made just outside of Baton Rouge (I had to make quite a few stops on the way down). We stopped at a gas station that had 30 minute parking signs on one side of it and near the woods. Hmmm, I don't want to know. Inside was an old gray haired man, with a stubby, unshaven face mopping the floors as slow as molasses. Did I just step back in time? The humidity outside was unbelievable, which only adds to the scene. The bathrooms. . .well, I'll leave that to your own imagination of horror. On the way out, the stop was completed with a kid walking in with the longest rat tail I've seen since the 80's!
Thank goodness, Baton Rouge was much nicer. William was quite surprised and we started our visit off with tacos and margaritas. Of course I abstained from the margarita's, but had great company!