Today's post brought to you by the letter 'H'

Hormones, heat, heartburn, hemorrhoids (yes, TMI), and heat rash pretty much occupy my time right now. I'm in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy, and looking forward to meeting our beautiful baby, Annika Joy.

I haven't been updating as there doesn't seem much to update lately. My time is spent trying to stay cool - not that it's been scorching hot for normal people, but with my baby belly, I overheat really easily and it makes me pretty miserable. So, I've been hanging out in the air conditioning as much as possible, try to cook in large batches only 1 or 2 days a week, and stay hydrated. But I am uncomfortably HOT pretty much all the flippin' time.

I did sneak into Seattle for a long weekend earlier in the month to enjoy some cooler weather. It was nice to wear sweats to bed, and use a blanket again. LOL.

Speaking of sleeping, I would have added 'insomnia' to the list above but it doesn't start with the letter 'h'. Most of July/August was miserable with trying to sleep - there was simply no comfortable position. Naturally a tummy sleeper, that option was slowly 'growing' impossible, for obvious reasons. Back is out. And I could only last on one side or the other for so long -- and then the vicious leg cramps started. No kidding - whatever side I was laying on, that corresponding leg would cramp within an hour. Calf, arch, toes -- and trying to jump out of bed while 7 months preggers to work it out -- very comedic.

After about 2 weeks straight of hardly any restful sleep, and some online research, we broke down and invested in a very comfy La-Z-Boy recliner for me to sleep in. I haven't slept this well in years. I sleep all night, only waking for 'nature' breaks. No leg cramps. I sleep through Victor's alarm, and only wake up when he kisses me goodbye in the morning. Who would have thought???? I love my chair. I may not go back to the bed...ha ha.

Other than that, it has been a picture perfect pregnancy. Perfect blood pressure, only have gained 13 pounds, despite being what the doctor calls my 'advanced maternal age'. Whatever....

I'm making a prediction. I fear that once I have the baby and the extra heat generating critter is out on her own, I am going to be freezing cold all the time. My poor husband. He has to deal with all this, as well as my bizarre crying at sappy cat food commercials, or crying over anything (DANG you hormones!). He loves me, so I'm sure he can handle another month of this....

So, if you think I've spent an entire post listing my ailments and boo-hoo complaints -- it's not really that bad. I know in 4 or so weeks, I will be holding a tiny miracle in my arms and it will be more than worth it.

I am grateful, hopeful, and excited for this new chapter in our lives.

I'm promising to post frequently once Annika gets here-- those will be more interesting than reading about my silly problems!

Take care - oh, and keep us in your prayers. As new parents, we are understandably a bit freaked out and just want to have wisdom, you know?

3 pounds! And 11 weeks left!

I'm now 29 weeks along, with 11 to go. Baby Annika (pronounced like 'Monica' without the 'm' for those who wondered) is now 3 lbs, and doing amazing acrobats in my belly. I can feel her kick/punch on both sides at the same time. I cannot wait to meet her! I hope she has my sister's tempermant, however my mom has cursed this poor baby with the wish that I get a daughter just. Like. Me. My husband claims that is totally unfair, as he was a good, respectful child growing up...lol. Poor Victor.

Hmm...11 weeks ago I was on a trip to visit family and friends in Seattle/Chicago. It seemed like it just happened, the time has flown so quickly. So 11 weeks isn't really that long of a time to go when I put it into perspective!

I've slowly come to the realization (slow learner, sometimes) that the best way to meet new people down here is to..go out and meet new people. No one is going to come and randomly knock on my door and ask if I want to come out and play (although that did happen in Lynden with my super cool neighbor Melissa, who I miss). So, I have struck out of the condo-cave and here is what has happened!

• I dropped into a ministry in north Long Beach that serves women with crisis pregnancies. They have free counseling, a maternity home, post-maternity low income housing for mom's and their babies, as well as a thrift store, and basic life-skills training for these women on the fringe of our culture. I start helping them this week! I've always supported Pro-life ministries with my $$$, and now it's time to get into the trenches and start helping in practical ways. I am very excited, as I've wanted to do this for a very, very long time!
• I went to a S.C. Lewis Society meeting on Saturday. I'm a huge Lewis fan, not only for his fiction but his practical and love-imbued apologetics as well. It was humbling and stimulating to be the dumbest person in the room! :-) Met some new people there that are all in the area, and it's wonderful to find Christian intellectuals who are all in academia. It was certainly a stimulating day!
• I've been in email contact with a local M.O.P.S. coordinator, who invited me to her church yesterday. It was a really great service! The worship was awesome, and I think Victor will even feel comfortable there too. I'm meeting some ladies for coffee tonight as well from this group.
  
• I was at the grocery store yesterday enjoying the air-conditioning and, well, shopping too! I recognized a couple from the marathon childbirth class we went to last week. There wasn't much social time during the class, so no one really connected. However, I stopped her and we stood and yapped for about 20 minutes. We traded phone #'s, and she's inviting me to her baby shower next month. We're also going to hang out later in the week for a movie or coffee. Her name is Elizabeth, and this is her 2nd child (also due in October!) and her oldest is 17. Her husband also seems really sweet.

I'm starting to not feel so isolated down here, which is good timing now that I'm not allowed to fly.

I'm also thankful to the Lord for answering my prayers and bringing women and potential friends into my life when I need them. I know I have love and support with all my family and friends at home (and Chicago!!!!), but it's not the same when you can't BE with them, you know?

Anyway, this is turning into a long post. Sorry, no pictures as V has the camera at work. Oh, can you please pray for him too? He's working non-stop during the refinery turn-around and won't have any days off until September. And then a 2nd turnaround in Sept, and a month-long one in October, in time for the baby. Talk about timing! Please pray for his energy level, and that he gets time to rest during this crazy season of our lives!

Insomnia and other random musings

Ok, it has been hot down here, and I think I feel it more thanks to the little person I'm carrying around. After losing 100 lbs, I couldn't stay warm to save my life, and even last summer I was wearing sweaters mid-day in the summer. Not so much this summer. The mall is great to escape the heat. There is air conditioning, Starbucks, bookstores, and lots of benches. There is also ample opportunity to spend money on stuff I didn't even know I needed...lol.

I'm especially loving the middle of the night 'I HAVE TO GO --NOW' urges, that result in a 'tink-tink': nothing that indicated the previous seriousness of the 'urge'. But that must be the baby sitting/punching/kicking/whatever to the bladder, right?

That is usually when the insomnia kicks in. Tossing, trying to find a comfortable position, trying to stay cool, not wake the hubby, not arouse the cats (who now think 'Mom's awake - PLAY TIME!') -- all part of the 2:30-5:00 AM sojourn.

Good news. I have officially entered my 3rd trimester. Had a doc appointment yesterday, and everything is textbook perfect. Now, I get to go in every two weeks. I love hearing the heartbeat!

Also, I have finally connected with a M.O.P.S. group down here. It's more than MOPS, it's also a women's group for moms with kids of all ages. It took awhile to get connected, between slower summer schedules, vacations, etc. I'm meeting the leader at her church this Sunday (which looks really great, BTW) and having coffee with more ladies Monday evening from the same group/church. It will be nice to worship again!

I have to get connected or I am going to lose it! :-)

Additionally, I'm going to volunteer for some local campaigns this fall as well. It's also a good way to meet some like-minded people. I went to a campaign rally for a local congressional candidate last week and met a really nice couple who live in the next town over.

So, slowly, I'm starting to get plugged into the community.

Here are some random pictures -- nothing that really relates to the post.
Lighthouse off the Navy Pier in Chicago. Looking at this picture cools me down about 10 degrees...doesn't it look refreshing?
A-Rob getting made up as a clown for a school play. What a ham.
Sigh. Clean blanket (thanks Traci!) right out of the laundry. The tres gatos were on it ASAP. Feugo, the calico, follows me as a bring clean loads of laundry into the bedroom to fold. As soon as I dump the basket onto the bed, she tries to nest, or find a comfy spot on the pile. I fold ASAP, but on those rare occasions if I leave the room for a moment, I come back to find her perched and snug as a bug. Punk cats.

My first So Cal earthquake

Hey! I just had my 1st earthquake in Cali! A 5.8, no damage- at least in my area. Have some pretty freaked out kitties, but everything is OK. Nothing fell, still have power. Just generating a lot of news coverage, but no pictures of damage or gore.

I recall the 2001 Nisqually quake in Seattle - it was a 6.8, and that one was a real rattler. I could see the rolling of the floor. That one was awesome!

Cats, cats, cats

more cat pictures

Another post on cats, you ask? Well, until the baby is born, the cats do provide the bulk of entertainment and mischief around here.

In fact, preparing the cats for the baby has been a bit of a challenge too.

They used to have run of the 2nd bedroom where we kept the cat condo, but began shutting them out last month. It is slowly getting turned into the nursery. When we open the door, one cat goes running in, but another - more sneaky- comes in commando style. She moves reallllllyyy slowly, like she thinks we can't see her. She keeps to the perimeter of the room, moving stealth-like under the furniture until she edges her way under the crib where she remains completely still. It cracks me up. After a few minutes, she starts her reconnoitering by slowly crawling out from under the crib. She gets up on her hind legs and peers into the crib with all the fluffy baby blankets and you can just see her little gears turning "oooohh, that looks cozy!"

Then she gets kicked out of the room. I will not be one of those parents that lets the cats in the crib or in the baby room, for that matter.

We screened in our porch to make a 'cat room' for our critters, as they are inside cats. Sorry, I don't have my camera right now to show you how it looks. They LOVE it! They have a great view, and can be 'outside' without being outside. The condo, litter box, and food are out there, and we installed a cat door on our slider too.

Yes, they are spoiled, but we love them.

And the baby is going to be a....

GIRL!

Everything is going practically textbook so far in the pregnancy. Baby is perfectly healthy, I'm doing great, and Victor is slowly losing that 'deer in the headlight' look. Until I brought up that he will have to suffer through puberty and adolescence with a girl. I may have set his road to daddy preparedness back a few weeks.... ha ha ha.

Cravings and random stuff

Hmmm...
Lately, I've been craving pizza, which I really haven't been much of a fan the last few years. I blame my friends in Chicago for taking us to Due Pizza when we were out visiting, and I felt I couldn't eat enough of it.

I'd been ordering take-out, but that starting getting pricey. So, this weekend I bought some Bobobli and tons of toppings. I just finished off a homemade 8 inch with salami, pepperoni, mushroom, onion, feta, sun-dried tomato, pine nuts, and mozzarella. Finger. Lickin. Fab. Oh, and did I mention I'm washing it down with low-sodium, caffiene free root beer??? Life is good.

Here I am tip-toeing through some rattlesnake infested flower gardens at the Reagan museum. Please note the blatant product placement where I'm drinking a grande iced caramel macchioto.

Here is a Chicago picture. My sister and good friends, the Wehunts, went on a lake tour. This silly girl had several incidents of a wardrobe malfunction. Poor Nate couldn't even bring himself to look over at that side of the boat. C'mon, it IS called the windy city!!!!! At least she was wearing some underoos - and modest ones at that. Everyone else on the boat were groups of families, and then...these yahoos. Whatever. Such a treat to view. :-( But I can't think of anyone else cooler to see and mock this with than Caroyln and especially Traci.
This is my new body pillow I use to find a somewhat comfortable position to sleep in. I am by nature a tummy sleeper, and that is obviously out of the question with the little critter growing in my belly. However, Osa thinks this new pillow is for her. Doesn't she look smug? And next, here is Victor encouraging her ego and rewarding her behavior. He spoils her so badly. I can't wait to see him as a daddy.
Next, I'll update some home inprovement projects and nursery pics!