Merry Christmas!

Christmas morning 2008 was the first either Jeff or I have spent in Seattle. There were three snow showers and a hail/sleet shower throughout that day, and with all the recent snowy weather, there was plenty of the white stuff on the ground -- a true white Christmas in Seattle, go figure. We opened gifts over coffee with a fire blazing. Santa even left a few things for babyj!




After the unwrapping was done, we arranged our gifts under the tree and set out to prepare our dishes for the potluck Christmas dinner we had with neighbors and friends. We made a prime rib roast and creme brulee; others brought appetizers, potato gratin, veggies, sweet potatoes, cookies, and pound cake to the table, and of course, there was plenty of wine and good cheer to go around.



We hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas celebration! Stay tuned for more baby news.... We have a doctor's appointment and several classes to attend in the coming week.

Snow in Seattle, Part 2: babyj's second walk in the snow

Friday 12/19 was cold and icy, but the precipitation had ended, and we ventured out for a few hours for some holiday shopping. By dinnertime, it was in the low 20's. Brrr! Saturday we braced ourselves for another snow event. It started to snow about 3.00 in the afternoon, and by bedtime, we had another 5" of snow on the ground. Of course that means THIS morning, Sunday 12/21, we ventured our again for photos and a trek to our favorite coffee shop. Jeff even took some video with our digital movie camera (maybe he'll post some video clips later). The 5" of new snow was topped off with some freezing rain, so the snow was crunchy. With temperatures around 30˚, we found less slippery ice and more slushy patches, making it easier for pregnant women to get around. Thank goodness!

The first two pictures were taken on our street. You'll notice my new car is covered with the recent accumulation of snow -- we haven't yet gotten chains for it, so whenever we go out, we use Jeff's Passat, in case chains become a necessity. The third picture is of snow covered trees lining Fremont Avenue; we pass these on our walk to Lighthouse Coffee Roasters. We DID see plows on Fremont Avenue and on N 45th Street today, while we were out walking, so we know the city has at least a few snowplows. ;-)

The snow began again sometime around noon, and it has been going ever since. Weather forecasters are predicting another 3" to 6" for the city through this evening. All this snow is likely to keep us from Christmas shopping for each other. So much for creating our own gifting traditions for our first Christmas ever in Seattle!

Snow in Seattle, Part 1: babyj's first walk in the snow

On Wednesday, 12/17, between a trace and 3" of snow were forecast to hit Seattle in mid-afternoon. The city braced for a nasty evening commute, and many school districts cancelled classes for the day to avoid having students stranded at schools. But no snow fell in the city that day. (There was snow further north -- a lot of snow, in fact!) However, the second punch from this storm set in overnight into Thursday morning, and we woke to 3" on the ground and temps below freezing. Jeff decided not to drive into work, and we started the day with a walk to our favorite coffeeshop.














The weather was agreeable enough and we were enjoying the break from our usual routine, so we continued our walk along the shipyards on the north side of Lake Union to Gas Works Park to see people sledding on 'kite hill.' Our friend Ed and his dog Lula joined us at the park to soak up the scene. Then we had lunch with Ed and Marcela at their house. Thanks, Ed and Marcela, it was yummy!

















Babyj seemed to enjoy the day out and about, but all the walking wore out her parents. We needed to nap. Cosmo also enjoys naps. Here he is being cute (and challenging Jenny's ability to breathe).

31 and 2/7ths

I went to see the doctor today; the official word is that I'm at "31 and 2/7ths" weeks. I found out I have gained 20 pounds since I first went to the doctor in July, and my blood pressure is holding steady, between 100/60 and 110/70 each visit. This visit, my "measurement," from the top of the pubic bone to the uterine fundus, was right on target (between 30 and 31 cm -- I guess that's close enough to 31 and 2/7ths for them). BabyJ's heartbeat was strong and regular, in the 150 bpm ballpark.

So far, my appointments have been four weeks apart, but now they switch to two weeks apart, for two appointments, and then they'll be weekly for the rest of the way. Today's appointment was the third time in all these months that the doctor had to run out, coincidentally, just before she was to see me, to deliver a baby. Today's laboring mom was having her first baby, and I elected to see another person on staff rather than wait for Dr. F to return. Who knows how long she would have been, as they tell me the delivery speed of first babies are a little unpredictable. I wonder what BabyJ and my body have in store for me in February....

I have no earth-shattering news to share with respect to my own health or that of BabyJ (which is fine with us -- no news is good news in this situation), just minor updates. BabyJ moves around a lot, and her movements are more deliberate and forceful than even just two weeks ago when we were in Cleveland for Thanksgiving. I am no longer comfortable sleeping on my right side, so I am relegated to sleep on my back, inclined on several pillows, or on my left side. Truthfully, I am thankful that I am still sleeping at all! After a couple of fairly busy days this week as the fall quarter ended, I found myself truly exhausted, instead of just mildly tired. I am somewhat disappointed by this, but it is not unexpected -- plugging along at my usual pace won't last all nine months of this journey, and now is as good a time as any to slow down. Yoga class this morning included a way cool chant to accompany the idea of letting go of something old and making space for something new (which is perfectly appropriate for me to think about these days), but I found that chanting while holding poses is no longer "routine" but "work," as I panted my way through several of the verses.

Minor complaints about waning energy and decreasing lung capacity aside, it's hard to believe how "normal" I feel despite the fact there is another human growing inside of me. As cerebral as I tend to be about most things, there are moments when I am simply in awe of what is happening. I have to remind myself that my body was designed for this very task, even though I have not called upon it to do this ever before, and that I have to trust it enough to listen to it and to learn from it. What an amazing blessing, to be one small part of the big circle of life. Just under two months to go until the due date. Anyone interested in wagering when she will actually arrive?

We were showered!

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Mom and Julie hosted a baby shower for Jeff and me. It was so nice! It was great to spend the afternoon with family and friends who wish us well and share in our happiness about and anticipation of our growing family. Everyone was so very generous, and we left Ohio laden with gifts that have equipped us well for our first months with BabyJ. Below are some photos from the event. Enjoy!