Sailing through Week 28

I know that many couples spend the weeks and months leading up to birth wondering what their baby will look like or be like. I know that i hope he doesn't have my nose and does have Alex's long eyelashes, but either way he will be the most beautiful baby we have ever seen. Alex and I are thrilled that all we know at this point is that he is healthy and active and already very much loved. On this Sunday afternoon at South Lake Union Park, I got the rare and beautiful chance to see a glimpse of my future child in my husband. An idyllic Seattle Sunday spent on Lake Union in a 115 year old sailboat  and perusing Pike Place Market didn't hold a candle to the joy I experienced watching Alex play with a model sailboat alongside 4-year olds. The blessing in my belly and the gift of this moment is one that I imagine won't be matched until I get to see my husband and son enjoying this activity together. The wonder, joy and delight that I see in Alex will be the same I see in my son, wether he has beautiful eyelashes or not.

The video below of Alex the 27-year-old will never fail to make me smile...

Joyously Busy

Today marks the beginning of the final stretch of this pregnancy, and despite the fact that I am still about a week smaller than I should be at (according to my midwife), I am feeling stretched. Bets are being placed as to when my belly button will become an “outie,” and little Erik seems to be having a little harder time moving around in his cramped digs. Judging from the protrusions that make their way slowly across my belly several times an hour, he is very active.

These last few weeks have been joyously busy. I was able to take a few days with my mom and sister and do a road trip through Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks from Phoenix to Las Vegas. What a relaxing, enjoyable time together. With memories of so many road trips in our Ford Windstar in mind, it was so neat to once again embark on new territory as a family (the females, that is), although this time in a rented Chevy Malibu. It is amazing what a few days of music, NPR, outstretched highway, cavernous chasms, towering cliff faces and lots of Vegas sunshine can do to revive and motivate my busy spirit.
 

Alex and I were able to meet with all of the midwives in the Swedish Ballard Birthing Center last week, and left feeling so confident about what is to come in just 13 short weeks. Ever the planners, we are faithfully going through our to-do list to complete whatever we are charged with in plenty of time for our new arrival. We have a “go bag” packed and ready to go, have interviewed pediatricians and are slowly but surely preparing the nursery. We may fall into the category of crazy first-time parents, but are so excited when we can do something active to prepare for this life-changing event, even if that includes playing YouTube videos loudly over our stereo of babies crying so that Kaj and Khloe get used to the sound.

We are so thankful for an easy pregnancy thus far, and are especially grateful when we get a rare evening or weekend together. Between choir, search committee and Alex’s courses for work, we are already struggling to find date nights and time to just sit and process and marvel at what’s to come. We are looking forward to a trip over Memorial Day to enjoy our last vacation as just the two of us.