Lake 22 at 21 weeks

Yesterday, toured a birthing facility and I think I am bigger than those at 36 weeks! Anyway, here's a pic, so you can be the judge. Big lesson for the day was: dinner can't wait until 8pm. Bad, bad, bad. But that was yesterday :)

Today was fabulous! Took a hike to Lake 22 and made myself laugh out loud when I thought "Lake 22 to celebrate week 21." Well, I was entertaining myself. It was gorgeous up there. At 2500' it was the perfect time of year to see the last of the snow melt. I watched the falls as they came crashing down from the 3500' cliff. Or, if you like the small things in life, lots of avalanche lilies popping from under the remaining snow patches.

Lucky to have such a nice day on a day off. Felt really good, except I'm pretty out of shape. Sorry no pics :(

Feeling Strong Now....

... Whoa! Little Doodle has graduated from the so-called popcorn effect to outright ACTION today! I think he is no longer exploring his space, but trying to expand the limits.

Speaking of "expansions," this week begins the foray into maternity clothes as my standard wardrobe is magically shrinking. Thanks to AH for the first few items... I've worn those cute pants twice already this week.

All for now!

House Building 101

My man has been in log home building school for 3.5 weeks now. He's becoming quite the master. Here are a few of the pics he's sent. Will try posting more when he gets home.

Mike's first corner notch.

"OK. Now DO IT!"

Grandpa Bob holding his own.

Breaking the Silence

So, the blog has been dormant, because, really there has been one major thing going on, but we were keeping quiet. Being nearly 40, we were silently waiting out the first trimester. And it took that long to get over the shock.

I was really quite sick for the past few months, so didn't feel like doing much of anything (like writing) anyway. But, now I feel great and, apparently, so does "Little Doodle." He has begun making his presence known more politely now. (Before it was just a lot of time spent over the toilet.) Now, he is giving little nudges and pokes, barely noticeable, but definately there. Getting to be just about every day now that he reminds me my largesse is actually his temporary home/incubator.

In a week or so, we'll find out if I have to quit calling Little Doodle "him." If he cooperates, then we'll be able to end the Adams-Jones feud :) All the Adamses think it'll be a girl and all the Joneses think it'll be a boy. The divide is alive and well in our house, too. But, "we'll be happy with either..."

"It Ain't No Etcha-Sketch. That's One Doodle That Can't be Undid, Homeskillet"

Yep, it says "Pregnant." And, yep, its ours! Shocking, I know!


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We're calling him "Little Doodle" for the moment. Its better than "blastocyst." He's due November 7, 2009. I hope he comes earlier so I will still be in my thirties. I'm told that's the last thought I'll ever have about myself.

Little Doodle will quickly understand that, as my kid, he's just along for the ride. In fact, I estimate that he's been riding 5 times already :) (Don't tell the Doc)

He will be the third Scorpio under one roof. I anticipate a very LONG, LOUD 18 years ahead! Totally INSANE! And, before you ask, no, this was not on the log home building agenda. But, again, he's along for the ride.... Aren't we all?

Home for the Soul

I went to the beach this weekend with my Man to celebrate 16 years together and to spend some time away. We walked a few miles to see the seastars and anenomes in the tidepools, basked in the glorious sunshine, watched the seaspray lift off the cresting waves, practiced yoga poses on the beach, marvelled at the most brilliant sunset in oranges and yellows we had ever witnessed, danced by the warming fire, and contemplated life on other planets while being lost in the Milky Way. The next day, we did the same thing. The sun was just as warm, my Man perfected his headstand, the rising sun infused the seaspray with a rainbow (if you looked in the right spot, yep, every cresting wave), and the sunset became more complex as a single cloud to the south added a purple tinge to the creamsicle hues.

I intentionally left the camera at home, so I will work hard on preserving the memory. For I come away with more than memories, I come away refreshed with a happiness that is part peace and part shock. The yin and the yang.

The serenity lasted an entire workday. It is not gone yet.

2009!

It has been quite a bumpy beginning for 2009, but we've had some fun along the way. Check out this weekend's latest "home improvement" project. Something I've wanted to do with that old childhood runner sled for a while now :)

Julie asked about goals. My goal for 2009 is house, house, house. Get designs and permits in hand for the real deal. You might get a sense of the crazy things a house built by us might contain if you scroll through the few improvement project posts.

A friend who built her own log home suggested that I should know what theme I wanted: New England whatever, American something, Nautical (?!). I suspect we're creating a whole new category - Found Objects.

Lots of work, but full of fun!