Alaska, Sarah Palin and 20 weeks!

I knew that Sarah Palin reference would get your attention.  More about her later...

Chris and I just got back from our trip to Alaska.  That part of the country (really it should be part of Canada) is just so beautiful.  I've been to AK before, but not to the lower part.  It is all pretty, but I have to say - the more North you go, the better.  We visited Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Prince Rupert, BC.  We also spent a few days in Seattle (which would be my dream city if the sun came out more).  Here is a 5 point summary of our trip:
1.  I probably won't cruise again.  I like to experience local places, people and restaurants.  This is very hard to accomplish when traveling with 5,000 other people.
2.  I had the best meal of my life, or at least since the last time I had Alaskan King Crab.  I hope that each of you get to experience this delicious, delicious meal.  I want to shed a tear just thinking about it.  Yum-o.
3.  Alaska is cold.  Seattle is cloudy.
4.  It was so fun to spend time with my family.  We are so grateful for this opportunity.  So, so grateful.
5.  Next time half my family is upgraded to a penthouse, I will fight harder to get one too.

Now, some pictures:

Random giant mountain coming out of the sky through the clouds.  Taken from the plane.  There were a ton of mountains, but this is the only one that made it through the clouds. 

Ketchikan, AK 

Mountains and pieces of glacier.

Sawyer Glacier

That's right - a Sarah Palin store.  Skagway, AK  I went in and gawked at the tourists.  People actually like her here.  I nearly died from shock and disgust.

Good lord.

The shipment of 35 lbs of Salmon that's in our freezer now.  Chris caught it off the coast of Ketchikan.

I stole this one from the cruise ship.  It's a picture of a picture.  The small asian man working the desk reprimanded us, but we can't be stopped.

Oh and when we got back (Saturday) - I felt the baby kick!  I've been feeling it a ton lately, which is awesome and totally freaky.  Each time I feel it, I experience such a sense of joy (and bafflement - is that word?).  Sometimes I poke back, just to let him/her know who runs the show.  :)

18 weeks!

We made a playlist for the baby last night.  People always find it strange that I don't listen to music or really enjoy it unless it is a very specific occasion.  However, this isn't something that I want to pass along to my offspring, so I've made a concerted effort to introduce new music to it.  The problem is:  I don't know music.  This is where Chris comes in.  Here is a sampling of the baby's playlist:
1. And It Spread - Avett Brothers
2.  Helicopter - Bloc Party
3.  Jacksonville - Sufjan Stevens
4.  Gentle Moon - Sun Kil Moon
5.  That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings
6.  North Texas Fight Song (Chris is trying to squeeze in some subliminal messaging)
7.  I Hope - Dixie Chicks (one of my only additions)
8.  Can't You See - The Marshall Tucker Band
9.  All My Days - Away We Go Soundtrack

Honestly, I have only heard of a handful of these bands.  But, I think the music is working.  I'm about 70% sure I felt the baby move last night during its first jam session.  I'm happy to report that the movement first occured during the Dixie Chicks.  That's a good baby.

We got some new pictures, so here you go.  No I still can't decipher head or hind of 80% of these so I'll only include the most obvious one.  Here s/he is waving!

On another note, we had a beautiful flagstone put in over the weekend.  It is AWESOME!

I have never haggled more with a company than Home Depot in the past few weeks.  I was there on one of my weekly negotiations when I spotted this - LOVE.

He couldn't be bothered with a shirt...

Maternity Pictures?

I have an ongoing conflict in my head.  I feel pressured to do some form of maternity pictures, but I really don't want to.  And no, it's not bc I feel gigantic.  It's because they all (no offense) look awkward to me.  Maybe people do naturally lean against a tree, in full make up, and look adoringly into their spouse's eyes while he rubs the baby belly.  But, I do not.  Sure I rub my bump kind of a lot, but for some reason my hands never form a heart shape with my fingers over it.  I know you've seen this picture a least a hundred times.  Not me.  I love this bump, but I don't want to frolic through a field of bluebonnets with it.

So, the question is - what do I do?  When did maternity pictures come about?  And why?  I get the curiousity that people feel about my growing belly and the subsequent pictures they desire to go along with it.  I can't remember how many times I longed to see a friend's pregnant belly when I found out she was expecting.  I get that.  But maternity pictures, I do not get.  Will the urge to take them come about later?  I just don't know. 

And please do not get me started on semi nude maternity pictures.  Dear god, I do NOT want to bear it all for a camera while my husband holds my boobs.  How is that natural?!!  Do not get me wrong, if you want to do this - you go girl, do it big.  But that is not for me.  I will not be doning lingerie and rolling around a bed with my protruding belly.  Someone made a mistake of just sending a belly bearing picture to my sweet grandmother, I thought she'd hit the roof with embarassment. On this issue, I agree Gram - no thank you.  No thank you indeed.

What is a turnip?

Why do they keep picking fruits and vegetables that I've never heard of?  What is a turnip exactly?  Another thing I read, said it's an onion so I'll just go with that.

I cannot believe I'm already 17 weeks along.  It's funny how time goes by so quickly and yet so so slow.  Well, people it's happened.  My first pregnancy puke.  Apparently my gag reflex is VERY sensitive because while brushing my teeth I made my self blow my breakfast.  Not just once, but about 5 times.  Once I gagged once, my gag reflex just kept right on triggering itself.  I was worried the madness wouldn't stop, but then it did and life went on as normal.

I am 9 days away from our Alaskan cruise!!  I am so so ready to relax while looking at the most spectacular views on earth.  Eating dinner for an entire week buffet style should do wonders for my weight gain.  :)  Alaska is truly a beautiful place and I am so excited to see it again.  A huge (words can't express) thank you to my grandparents who made this trip possible for Chris and I!  Their generosity is beyond measure.  Thank you.  I will be eating my weight (which is up there now) in seafood, mercury be damned!  I'm sorry, I can't travel to Alaska and not eat king crab, fish & chips and clam chowder.  I promise that it'll only last a week.

We have our 18 week "anatomy" sonogram in a week.  Most people think the anatomy sonogram is just to find out the sex, but actually it's to measure all of baby's limbs, heart, organs, etc.  I'm excited to see the turnip/onion again and I hope he/she dances for Chris like it danced for me last time.  The urge to find out the sex is there, very prominently.  Time will tell if Chris and I can hold out for another 20 weeks.

On another front, the plagues have passed and I am feeling GREAT!!  I'm excited to start exercising again, after not being able to gather any will to do anything more than walk for the past 4 weeks or so.  Unfortunately, it's hot as blazes outside so I'll have to keep my exercising secluded to the gym.  GTL, after all.  Yes, I watched the first season of Jersey Shore.

Here is another picture of my bump!  I think it's been about a month since the last one.  I'll include two, one of just the bump and the other with a glimpse of the bump and a great pic of Milo's squishy face.

Why is Dallas so loose with their tornado sirens??!!

For those of you who don't know it, I am really afraid of tornados.  I have very few normal fears, I like snakes, don't mind spiders, I don't think someone's going to kidnap me and cut out my baby, nothing.  But I AM afraid of tornados.  I am pretty sure it stems from the 2nd grade.

Our classroom was in a portable building (classy) and so when the tornado sirens went off in our tiny town, we had to head into the boys bathroom.  Now, I'm not sure what was more traumatizing...knowing that there are tornados around us or having to sit in the disgusting 2nd grade boys bathroom.  Our teacher tried to distract us by reading "The plant that ate dirty socks."  I remember it so vividly, its strange - I can barely remember what I wore yesterday.  Anyway, the tornados really were coming for Whitehouse so my mom rushed into the school to pick us up.  Her, my brother and I all sat in the bathtub for what seemed like hours with a mattress next to us just in case.  SCARY.  It turned out the fear was merited, less than 2 miles away, a tornado tore out an entire subdivision of houses.  And thus, a deep rooted fear was born.

So, yesterday when the sirens were going off AND I saw on the news that tornados were coming - I cried.  Hard.  Then I gathered up the dogs and some blankets & pillows, and sat in the hallway for hours.  Chris cannot be contained, he (for reasons I don't understand) is fascinated with tornados.  I think all the recent tragedies surrounding tornados has sealed the deal - I'll have to build a fall out shelter underground.  Ok, maybe not, but good grief - can we get a break?!

Oh and I made the baby solemnly swear last night to NEVER be a storm chaser.  I will hold him/her to that promise.

HAILCORE!  Yes, that is baseball sized hail in our front yard.

And another one, with Finley trying to eat the hail.

Probably not...

Today I got an email with the subject line "10 maternity swimsuits that you'll love".

Um...probably not.

Nobody likes a complainer

Nobody.

But...seriously - can I please stop getting sick.  I thought the 2nd trimester was supposed to be easy?!  So far, I'm plagued with nosebleeds, congestion, pink eye (yes, in both eyes), and headaches.  Not to mention, I HATE sleeping on my side.  I finally had a normal night of sleep last night.  Thank you baby jesus.

But, nobody likes a complainer.  I know I'm lucky that I haven't been that sick.  I am also very lucky to have a healthy baby & pregnancy, so far.  But make no mistake about it, pregnancy isn't a walk in the park!!  There is a touch of guilt in telling you these things, because I don't want you to think I'm not grateful or excited.  It's just, in your head before conception, you have an idea of what pregnancy will be like and then post conception you learn what pregnancy is really like.  :)  Who are these people that love being pregnant?!  Sadist.  Just kidding...maybe.

On another note, today - I feel fantastic.  I feel pretty good that this is the light at the end of the tunnel.  I always feel rejuvenated on the days I get to hear the wee one's heart beat.  What a joy that sound is.  I could literally (say it like Rob Lowe on Parks & Rec) listen to it all day.  I love you baby.

I have a much more open view of having a daughter too.  I think this is because we spent some time this weekend with a sweet set of girl twins.  They were so cute and so lovable.  I was wrong about being convinced I wanted a boy.  I'll be overwhelmed with joy at whatever we get.  I am pretty sure Chris feels the same.  We have a sonogram scheduled for two weeks and I have to admit I am fighting the urge to find out what it is.  This is going to take some serious reserve to resist the urge.  I think it'll be worth the wait though.  I keep picturing the joy of finding out, just Chris and I (and an army of hospital personnel) at the birth.

Two fun things happened that I've forgotten to tell you about.

First, our baby got its first package in the mail.

It was a pair of bibs and a blanket that my sweet Granny made.  I love her!

And we bought a sweet dresser for the baby's room.  I love the sleek 70s design to this.  I got some cute number drawer pulls that will make it so awesome!