16 weeks

How your baby's growing: At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

Well the big news this week is definitely that I felt the baby! I'm convinced that I did. It really makes it all feel more real. I feel more of a connection with my baby. It's not quite so abstract now that I've felt my little one move. Pretty cool stuff. My next doctor's appointment is on Tuesday so hopefully they'll find everything is progressing nicely.

what's up, baby?

photo from birth.com

I think I felt my baby move. I have no way of knowing for sure. I've been questioning every little gurgle in my belly for the past couple weeks. But this definitely felt different. My first clue is that it was in the area of my uterus. Duh. And at first it felt like something turned. It didn't really feel like a flutter. I can't describe it. Then about 5 minutes later I felt something again. This time more fluttery. Could it be the baby? How the heck am I supposed to know?

For all you ladies who have been pregnant, how did you know it was the baby moving? When did you first feel it move? What did it feel like?

a valentine for my valentine

I'm really not that into Valentine's day, but except for all the hype, what can be bad about a holiday dedicated to LOVE! My very own darling husband surprised me this morning by leaving a "tribute" post to me on my own blog. (Scroll down to read it if you haven't.) I didn't realize he had done it until I got an email notification after a couple people commented...more than 2 hours after he posted it! Upon reading it, I immediately teared up and just did again when I reread it. Jared is very good with words. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with him so quickly! Today I fear that I will not be able to write as beautifully as he has done. Nevertheless, here is my Valentine to him.

To Jared,

Lovers Running by Brian Kershisnik

Nearly one year ago this painting was on display at the Utah Museum of Art--on the day we got married. I love it. It is so joyful. The lovers are outside. They are running. They are embracing and about to kiss. And they have angels in the clouds gazing down on them. Who wouldn't want to be them?

This painting is how I feel with you. Life is joyful. We know real love. We are running through life, and we are turned toward each other. We have angels smiling down on us. I know we do.

But life isn't always a sunny meadow. Sometimes it is stormy. Sometimes it is cold. Sometimes there are mountains in our path or rivers to traverse. Sometimes we stumble and fall.

Still I know you are there beside me. I know my hand is firmly placed in yours. We are on the journey together. And when the rain pours upon us, we hold on ever tighter.

No matter the rain or snow or mountains or deserts we must face, I know we will get to the sunny meadow once more. How happy I am to have you as my companion as we run along.

I love you, my friend.

yours forever,

Katrina

Tribute

Happy Valentines Day, my dear wife.

Usually I draw little cards to commemorate special occasions, but for quite some time this blog post has been swirling in my head, so I figured today would be a good time to write it.

I wanted to write a tribute to Katrina, one inspired by the following picture:


Here you see a gorgeous, striking young woman on that most special day of her life--her wedding day. Now, this particular girl is beautiful, stable, friendly, talented--in short, she has many qualities that could snag her pretty much any guy she wanted. And I happen to know for a fact that there were several of such guys who were interested in her... men who could offer her lives of financial and emotional stability and all sorts of things that the typical girls wants.

But this is not the typical wedding picture. In addition to the lovely bride and lucky guy are three precious children, fitting symbols for the complexity of the life Katrina has chosen. My heart fills with wonder and gratitude as I reflect on how much Katrina has accepted and loved these cherished friends and charges of mine. I am already a better father because of her influence, and I am so excited to have a fresh start and bring a baby into our family. I know that Katrina will do an exceptional job as a mother. As those of you who know Katrina well are aware, marrying me has added complexity and challenge to Katrina's life that she otherwise would not have known. What you cannot know fully is the degree to which she has handled these challenges with admirable grace, patience, and love. I honor her for it.

I joke that God finally slapped me upside the head and interceded by bringing Katrina into my life, because I certainly wasn't getting it before her. She is the kind of person I would have been looking for had I been wiser... she is an ideal match for me. For almost anyone, I feel, and I am so grateful she chose me to share her self and life and love.

As I have said before, Katrina has so many of those traits that are so foundational they risk being taken for granted. She loves exceptionally. She is an amazing friend. She is wise and stable and caring. And then there are those traits that too often do not inhabit the same soul...purity of heart and openness of mind, emotional stability and artistic creativity. She drinks in life with a childlike wonder--savoring all that delights the senses--good food and stirring music and beauty captured by the eye and camera. Plus she is gorgeous and sexy and interesting and fun!

Katrina, you are my Angel. I love you.

100-days of strike

Isn't it just like creative writer types to end their strike on exactly the 100 day mark? It has such a poetic ring to it. All I can say is WAHOO!!!! Now hurry up and bring back some shows people! I miss Seattle Grace and the Pie Hole. And now I've forgotten what other shows I liked because it's been... so... long!!! Sadly I read that a lot of shows, such as Pushing Daisies, probably won't be coming back this season at all. Tragedy. At least I have CNN with all the political shenanigans still ongoing. By the way, Obama is on a roll!

What show's return are you most anxiously awaiting? Or could you care less?

pregnancy is weird

It really is. It is a bizarre thing to be inhabited by another living person. And it is strange to see your body morph as that person grows. And I'm just getting started! I'm starting to show a bit more as my tummy expands. But this is what I don't get: I haven't actually gained any weight. The scale is not changing despite my growing midsection. Which leaves me to conclude that other parts of me must be shrinking. Jared pointed out yesterday that my pants are baggier in my butt and legs. And I think my arms may be a bit smaller too. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm the type that has always gained and lost weight all over my body, so to only be getting bigger in my belly is kinda weird to me. Of course, that is the way I'd like it to be since I am pregnant and not just getting fat, so I am NOT complaining. It's just a little strange to me that I haven't gained weight yet. I keep thinking one of these days I'll get on the scale and will have gained 5 pounds overnight. I'm waiting.

11 months married and a tag

One more month until our first anniversary! Time really does fly when you are having fun, doesn't it? I thought today would be a good time to do this tag from Autumn.

How long have you and your significant other been together?
We’ve been married 11 months! We knew each other about 8 months before we got married. A bit fast, I know.

Who eats more?
Jared most of the time, but pregnancy has definitely allowed me to catch up to him sometimes. I am definitely eating more often, but he can still usually eat more during one meal.

Who said I love you first?
Jared did.

Who is taller?
Oh, he’s got a good 9 inches on me.

Who sings better?
I suppose me. I’ve had much more training, but Jared really does have a nice voice.

Who is smarter?
Well, Jared is definitely smarter in many ways. He’s very brilliant. But I have more practical smarts… like a good sense of direction. Jared is hopeless in that area. Seriously hopeless.

Who does the laundry?
Lately, Jared has been doing the laundry since he works at home and I don’t. But we both fold.

Who does the dishes?
We both do.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?
I sleep on the right side if one is laying down in bed. We’ve switched a couple times but we always go back.

Who pays the bills?
Mostly Jared.

Who mows the lawn?
We don’t have a lawn.

Who cooks dinner?
It’s probably Jared 70% of the time. He’s a fantastic cook!

Who drives when you are together?
Neither of us love driving, but I tolerate it more than he does. So we split driving duties.

Who is more stubborn?
Hmm…probably Jared.

Who is the first to admit when they're wrong?
I think we are both good about this.

Whose parents do you see the most?
We definitely have spent much more time with my parents, but the frequency is probably about equal.

Who kissed who first?
It was a fairly mutual if I do recall.

Who proposed?
Jared, of course, although I certainly knew it was coming.

Who is more sensitive?
We are both sensitive in our ways.

Who has more friends?
Me.

Who has more siblings?
I have 4 and Jared has 3.

Who wears the pants in the family?
This is a funny question. I’d say we share the pants.

15 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

My baby is looking more and more like a real baby!

bloomed

These are the flowers my parents sent me on my birthday after they bloomed. Gorgeous!

Have a wonderful weekend!

no more mitt

photo from poligazette.com/2008/01/07/mittmentum/

Romney is out. Or technically has "suspended his campaign" meaning he will still hold on to his delegates in case something crazy goes down. I feel a little sad. Mostly because I really do think Mitt Romney is a good guy with good intentions. But somehow, even with all the money, things just haven't gone his way. Somehow people never really got him. Somehow he wasn't able to be himself. I don't think he connected with people. He just didn't quite seem genuine, even though I really think he is. And that makes me sad. So many people disagree with McCain, but at least we really know who is. Somehow who Mitt Romney is didn't seem to get through to people. Plus there were circumstances outside his control that worked against him. And that's the way politics go. It's a strange, strange game. I think Mitt stepping out of it today was the smart thing to do. We'll see how long it takes Huckabee to do the same. Oh yeah, and that Ron Paul guy too.