Oh. My. Cankles.

That's right... CANKLES.  My attempts to be helpful during our crazy moving weekend has backfired, and my body is officially in revolt.  My calves hurt - and there is no longer any sign of my bony ankles.  In fact, the skin on each of my toes feels so tight, that I'm pretty sure I have sausages attached to my feet.  Attractive, definitely.

On a good note... the moving is done!  Well, the moving out is done.  Moving into our yet-to-be-chosen home in Portland will be yet another adventure, but thankfully that will wait for 2 more months.  Carter is having a bit of a hard time adjusting to the move to Grandma and Granddad's house.  He doesn't quite understand why we aren't at our home... but not in Portland yet, either. Luckily, there is a 4-year-old neighbor at this house, too - so he'll have a new friend to play with!

I'm already 21 weeks and 4 days along (a bit behind in my blogging, thanks to the move!).  Baby boy is getting super strong, and more than a little bit stubborn.  He has been kicking like crazy, and he is finally powerful enough to make my whole belly move.  Of course, I try to tell Chris as soon as this happens, and the second Chris tries to feel him, baby stops all movement.  He stays perfectly still until the exact moment Chris moves his hand away... then starts up again!  Silly boy :)

Busy Packing

Ahhh, spring break - finally!  What is usually filled with sleeping in and spending time with friends has seen a significant change this year.  I've been packing all week, trying to get everything in order for our move.  We only have 8 days left before we load the truck and send it off to Portland.  How has it come this quickly?!  I have been trying to pace myself, take lots of little breaks, and stay hydrated, since I know that packing and moving isn't exactly the best thing for a pregnant momma.  So far, so good!

We finally had our 20 week anatomy ultrasound on Tuesday.  I am so thankful that every little measurement they took was perfect.  Our little boy is measuring 11oz - just right!  He was a sleepy little guy, and didn't want to move around much, so I need to return for another ultrasound in early April to take a few more measurements that they were unable to get.  I certainly won't complain!  Another chance to see my boy - yay!

Baby's movement has been getting much stronger this past week.  It shouldn't be long until Chris and Carter (and random strangers who enjoy touching a pregnant mom's stomach) will be able to feel those little kicks and jabs.  I can't wait to see what Carter thinks about that!

House-Hunting From Afar

I'm currently addicted to looked at available rental homes on craigslist.com and hotpads.com .  The HUGE downside to my obsessive house-stalking, is that what I actually see a house I really like... there is nothing I can do about it.  Here's a picture of my current favorite house:

Hello, Landlord.  I don't live in your state yet, and I can't come and look at the property.  Can you just HOLD it for me for another month or so?  Just in case I like it?  Oh, and can you send me more pictures and interviews with the neighbors, and the ages of all their kids?  How many steps to the closest yoga studio? etc...

See?  If I send an email like that (which is really what I want to know!), I'll never hear back, and they'll tell their friends all about the crazy transplant from Phoenix coming in to annoy their town.  Just what I need!  Making friends before I even get there :)  So... I stalk, I wait, and I pray for the weeks to fly by.  In no time, Chris will be up there, doing in-person stalking for me - which will be much more effective.

Portland... Here We Come!

...and we thought a BABY was going to be our biggest life-change of the year.  Not so!  Chris has been offered a job that he just can't turn down - in PORTLAND!  Of course, the timing is a little... interesting, but our excitement over the move is huge.  Portland is definitely our kind of city: vegetarian-friendly (for my sweet vegan husband), eco-conscious (so my cloth diapers won't be so unusual), and politically active - a blue state - wahoo!

Am I nervous?  Why would I be nervous?!  Maybe because I am going to be 7 months pregnant when we move 1300 miles away from home?  Because I'll have to find a new midwife/ob/hospital/birth center/pediatrician/etc?  Because I have to scout out neighborhoods, choose a good school, and find a place to live... all in a city that I've never even visited?  Ummm... yeah.  I'm a little nervous.  But, don't let that fool you - I am really looking forward to this move.  I know that God has big plans for our family, and the way this job worked out, makes it impossible to believe that He didn't have a hand in it.  I know that we are doing what is best for our family, no matter how challenging the short-term might seem.

On the plus side, I get to spend a gorgeous summer exploring a new city, eating at new restaurants, and making new friends.  I will be setting up a beautiful guest room - and I expect to have LOTS of visitors (who wants to come and see a cute baby this fall???).  Chris's new job will allow me to stay at home with Carter and his new baby brother - for as long as I want to.  That is a huge relief, and something that I am so grateful for.  Carter and I are excited to plant our first garden, and he has been busy planning which vegetables to plant.  It will be an amazing adventure - that's for sure!

We're Heading Out of Town

It is official - Chis accepted a job in Portland, Oregon. He leaves April 6th, with Carter and me following at the end of May. I've been blogging about it, though not publicly, since it wasn't official until yesterday - I'll get that posted tonight. We're in for a whirlwind of packing and planning!

And the Hormones Begin...

So far this pregnancy, I have felt really great.  Sure, I was a little tired and a tad queasy during the first trimester, but all-in-all this has been a fabulous pregnancy.  I really thought I was in the clear from all the pregnancy-related craziness, but my hormones seem to be on overdrive.  I have been upset by the littlest things - with very little sense involved at all.  Yesterday, I stopped at one of my favorite places for lunch - a guac BLT, fresh-squeezed lemonade and a salted chocolate chip cookie.  It should have been perfection... but instead, I found myself wanting to curl up in a ball and cry.  Why, you ask?  Because the pickles got all over my pineapple.  And I hate pickles.  And my cookie was crunchy.  This was particularly distressing, because I had the same cookie two days ago and it was perfectly soft and chewy.  I knew what I was missing, and proceeded to brood over my misfortune for the rest of the night.  Good thing Chris was traveling for work - I was no fun to be around last night!

In better news, I am 19 weeks along today!  *Almost* halfway there!  Well, maybe more than half-way... if I deliver a little early, as I did with Carter.  I have had a few former coworkers post pictures of their brand new babies during the past couple of weeks... I love seeing those tiny babies!  It makes me so excited to meet this little guy!  Only 20ish more weeks to go!

18 Weeks!

Sometimes I forget that I'm already 18 weeks along.  Then, I look down and see my ever-growing stomach... and remember.  Whoa!  As my students say - I'm getting "huger" every day.  I've gained about 10-12 lbs, and I'm feeling great!  Still very excited for my 20 week appointment and ultrasound.  Nana and Grandma will both be on hand to see their newest grandbaby wiggling around in there!
The "fruit" of the week is a sweet potato.  This might be the ugliest sweet potato, but surely it is no representation of my gorgeous growing baby.

Sleepwalking

Last night, I was getting ready for bed when I heard Chris start talking.  I walked into the family room and saw him carrying Carter back to bed.  Apparently, he walked out of his room, went over a side table and acted like he was turning radio knobs (imaginary, of course).  He had no idea what he was doing!  Looks like we found another way that Carter takes after his mama... crazy sleepwalking!