The weekend!

The end of another week! Hooray! I can't wait to get my newly veiny legs up and relax! It was quite a week, ending with a conference today I attended on social responsibility. It was very inspiring and I came away motivated for Monday, Un Rayo de Sol and lots more. Last week I played around on the Babies 'R' Us website and ended up registering for a whole bunch of treats! Just seeing what's out there was fun enough. I cannot believe all the goodies out there!

Thanks for the comments, Whitney and Ali, my ultra experienced blogging buddies. Everyone else... it is so fun to hear from you so get clicking! I am finding sleeping incredibly difficult, despite our luxurious new pillows. I know I'm supposed to stay on my left side, but I just can't seem to do that, always waking up on my back, and waking up every 15 minutes or so. Some nights feel like weeks they are so long. Any advice would be much appreciated!

Happy weekend everyone!

From our weekend away...

It felt sooooo good to be submerged in water, in the warm sun. Oh, to be back there now...

A picture of our enormous room at our hotel on our weekend away. It was almost bigger than our apartment, and it had a jacuzzi! Hooray!

Steve took a picture of us playing midnight mini-golf on the only course in Colombia and as the flash went off, I got a hole in one! Junior is bringing me great luck. I only wish Steve had turned the other way!

Three's Company

The kicks are keeping us amazing company now, day and night. If I can even get my hands off my tummy, it is also so much fun to just sit back and watch the movement. We are so excited to finally see our baby moving around. Steve jokes that he needs to have a few words with this child of his who is beating up on his mama, but I LOVE it! Having company day and night, in the classroom and washing my hair, it's all I could ever ask for.

Valentine's Day Loving

Me and baby at 21 weeks, off to eat a delicious guacamole aficionado burger. It may not sound like haute v-day cuisine, but it was my choice and craving and it was umm, umm, good!

What a Day!

It's 3:30am on Marina's birthday and we have a kicking baby to celebrate! Steve and I have been up for a couple of hours, with hands on my tummy enjoying every little outburst of birthday joy! It is so exciting. It is also SO hard to sleep. I simply can't find a good position and I can't help but be very envious of my 25 week pregnant friend, Jennifer, at Tower who just bought herself "an amazing" pregnancy pillow. Steve and I also splurged on Valentine's Day (after my Guacamole Aficionado Burger! Yummm...) and bought two new pillows and while they're good, it's not tailor-made for fatties like me. Anyway, I feel great, and we are so lucky, and woh... stop press.... I just had a splash of milk hit my tummy! This part is so weird! I have woken up to wet sheets twice this week. Note to all, week 21 is a happening one! My tummy has grown about 3 inches, I am definitely in maternity clothes and I have gushing milk ready and waiting! Wow! We leave in a few hours for Melgar, for some warmth, swimming and r&r and I can't wait. Maybe I can sleep on the bus...

Go for Launch...

Our Saturday appointment was great. We arrived around 8:30 for our 9:00am scan but didn’t end up getting it until around 10:00. Truly, that is the first time in all our appointments that we’ve been even 10 minutes late. The reason was quite sad. The people being scanned before us got some bad news and were in the room for a long time, wiping back tears and asking the doctor for a more positive prognosis. We felt so sorry for them and pray all will get better. It made me even more nervous for our ultrasound, but the doctor was wonderful and really put us as ease. We had about 40 minutes with him, starting at the head and working down each millimeter of our baby’s beautiful little body. It was amazing. We got to see waving fingers and a very strong heart, crossed feet and hands on the head. We feel so blessed. All is on track, measurements are perfect and we are so grateful. My placenta is still ultra low, so please still wish it upwards!

We went from the doctor to the lab for my shots. I had to have more blood tests to check my thyroid, general blood tests for how we’re doing, and a tetanus shot. I’m not sure when my phobia for needles began as I remember my mother always telling me I was one of the best, but the morning went off very well and there was no fainting this time. Remind me to ask for Elsa again next time!

I had an email from Tower on Monday saying that one of my former students has Tuberculosis, which is awful. Fortunately it’s just the germ, not the disease, but they may have contracted it when in Mexico with us last summer, or on another trip (or obviously anywhere). Steve and I are going to get tested, also. I hope she’s okay.

Since our doctor’s appointment, from which I always leave skipping, all has been well. I am totally exhausted every morning when I wake up, which is not a nice feeling, but tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and on Saturday we are going to Melgar, a sunny and beautiful town where we can swim, relax and enjoy a wonderful weekend together. I can’t wait! What’s even more exciting is that we’ve booked tickets to go to Florida in March and we’re meeting my family there! We’re also planning on taking a 5 night cruise to the Caymans and Jamaica as our last ultra romantic getaway before baby comes. I just make the 27 week cut off for being allowed on. I am too excited for words! With so much to look forward to, I’m feeling very spoiled.

We’ve narrowed down our list of names to three girls and three boys, but won’t decide for sure, I think, until we see junior in the flesh. Depending on our delivery date, anything could happen…

My bump is really solidifying (?!) now and it’s exciting. Still no real kicks but definitely movement and bones rattling around! Some teachers at school are finally satisfied with my size, thank you very much!

Have a Happy Valentine’s Day with your loves tomorrow!

Half Way

It’s almost the end of another week and I can’t believe we’re over half way through our waiting time! My threshold has reached 8:30 for bedtime, pretty much, though I’m waking up most nights for a few hours around 1. Steve’s bad back still gets him up around the same time, as the muscles go into spasm and he has to walk it off, so we’re enjoying some quality nighttime chats together, even if not at the time of night most couples are-a-chatting! This week, Colombia (and Colombians around the world) had a huge march against the terrorist group, the FARC. Everyone wore white t-shirts and joined together against the kidnappings, drug smuggling and violence they have endured for years. At school they also held a march. The event was symbolic and meaningful and literally millions participated which is great. Below are some pictures of everyone. Pay close attention to the quality of the road. That’s what I travel each day to and from school! The commute has been worse than ever lately. Last week, I spent over 24 hours on my rickety bus. I hate it! At home, we’ve been up super late watching the Superbowl, Super Tuesday and all sorts, but as I said, I usually hit the wall at 8:30. That doesn’t mean I don’t wake up for the happy, or not so happy endings and then credit myself the next day with watching the very end. Baby D’s going through a growth spurt at the moment. Since being home, that is in the last four weeks, his/her size has doubled. I can’t believe that. We have another scan on Saturday, plus all those shots and blood tests that I mentioned before, and I am, once again, both extremely excited and nervous. I wonder if it gets less nerve-wracking. With only 5 weeks until March break, we are incredibly eager and finally feeling like we’re on our way! I am too excited to meet our baby!

MARCHA CONTRA LAS FARC

TGIFebruary

Yey! It’s February. Only 144 days to go. It feels like the days are finally going by and I love it! I still have only a small bump and no real kicks, though definitely motion, but I’m waiting! Last night, for the first time, I woke up to baby being positioned above my bellybutton which was very exciting. Usually the pressure and bump is much lower. Most nights I feel a bit like a kebab, turning myself every 15 minutes, or maybe more like my sister’s Venezuelan classmates on their senior beach trip, in an effort to get the perfect tan. Boy, does it get uncomfortable fast! It’s basically comfy until the point that junior positions him/herself where the mattress wants to be, and that seems to take about a quarter of an hour. So, I’ve been really tired lately, but not too tired to stay up and watch the presidential debates and a little of the Celtics, here and there. Hopefully I can make it through the Superbowl! It’s Friday now and the weekend will be wonderful. We certainly feel very blessed for all that we have. Now let’s go Pats!