31 weeks

A lot has happened this week...and not all of it has been good.

First of all, Evan is doing well. I haven't received the results of my blood work for Fifth Disease, so I hope everything comes out ok. Evan has recently decided to lay a certain way that makes my belly lopsided quite often. I like to assume that its his butt sticking out but who knows what it really is. When it happens, I wish I were as rich as Tom Cruise so that I could afford having an ultrasound machine in my home in order to see how he's laying. It still boggles my mind that inside of this belly is a baby that weighs about 3 pounds and roughly 16 inches long. From this point on, he's just going to get more plump and just a little longer.

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

I on the other hand, am not so lucky to be in such a cozy place like Evan. As many of you have heard, the Arizona education system is going through some shocking buget cuts which are resulting in the dimissal of thousands of teachers. I being one of those. Since it is my first year in the district (even though I've been teaching for four years), I'm one of those that is being let go for the upcoming school year. Many other teachers are in the same position I am, which makes it hard to find a job when no one is hiring. I have been and will be searching for something...so if any of you have ideas, PLEASE SHARE!!

But the best thing is that Paul and I have....

9 weeks to go!!

Maternity shoot

As I noted in an earlier post, Paul and I were able to have some maternity photos taken by our friend Pam. She isn't finished with all of them, but here are two samples. I can't wait for the rest!

Fifth Disease

I received a phone call from my school nurse informing me that I have a student who has Fifth Disease. She also said that I could contact my doctor to have some blood work done to see if I have it as well. And of course, it's the student that sits right next to my projector cart where I am 90% of the day. It couldn't be the kid in the back of the room, could it?!

Anyway, I am heading to the doctors tomorrow after work to get tested. Hopefully, Evan and I are alright.

"Getaway" Weekend

There are two things that I love about Paul's job: Lake Day and Getaway Weekend. His firm allows their employees to take a weekend off during "busy season" (tax season) to get away and pays up to $250 of it. Well, instead of going away somewhere and having to spend a ton of money, we decided to make last weekend our "staycation".

Paul and I both took off Friday from work. I started my day by getting a prenatal massage, manicure, and a brow wax. Then we were off to get my oil changed! That afternoon, I went to a bridal shower for a coworker. For dinner, Paul and I went to a new place called Amano Pizza. It's on 16th st. and Baseline...we pass it all the time and always say we should try it. It's super small and quaint, but we prefer Cibo downtown.

Saturday began with maternity shoot done by our friend Pam. She is FANTASTIC and I'm so excited to see how they turn out. We then went to have lunch at Einstein's and visit Paul's grandmother. After letting Layne out, we packed and checked in to the Pointe Tapatio Cliffs Resort. The first thing we did was go to the pool!

This is how I lay out by the pool...with my virgin Pina Colada. (I forgot my sunglasses.)

This is how Paul lays out by the pool. (He forgot his hat.)

Paul has learned rather quickly that pool water must be rather warm for me before I get in. It was rather warm out on Saturday and the pool wasn't too bad, so we were able to go in for a short swim before the sun set.

It also seems that every time we go somewhere on vacation we see a wedding, in this case there were two. Or as Paul says, "Didn't you think there would be one since we are at a resort on a Saturday." Guess I forgot about that.

After relaxing at the pool, Paul and I showered up and got ready for dinner at A Different Pointe of View. It's the "fancy" restaurant at the Pointe and overlooks the city. It was absolutely beautiful! We had a delicious dinner as well: I had halibut, Paul had filet mignon. He asked for it well done, but when it came out it was rare. The server said the chef had sent the wrong steaks to the wrong tables. In return, Paul received a new steak and we both were able to get free desserts! YUMMY!

Sunday morning was spent packing up, heading home, going to Maricopa to get a sander that doesn't work from my brother-in-law, visiting my mom who has Virtigo, and then going to Home Depot to purchase wood stain and a new sander.

Even with all the errands, I must admit that Paul and I were able to spend our first FULL weekend TOGETHER since Christmas time. We were able to have some much deserved quality time with each other...it doesn't get any better than that!

April Fools!

After AIMS testing yesterday, which was WAY fun, I had to wait around at school until 4:30 for a short IEP meeting. (Mind you, school dismisses at 2:45.) So at around 4:00, I decided to get some coffee at the nearby Starbucks - sorry, Paul. Here's how the order went:

Starbucks: Hi. Welcome to Starbucks, may I take your order?
Me: Yeah, hi. I'd like white mocha Frappucino.
S: Oh, I'm sorry. We discontinued Frappucinos starting today.
M: OHhhhhhhhhhh Noooooooo!
S: Just kidding, April Fools!
M: !?!?!?!?
S: Can we get you anything else?
M: No, just the Frappucino.
S: Good thing, we're out of everything else.

Is it just me or was that NOT FUNNY!?!??

30 weeks!!

I cannot believe that 30 weeks have passed and we have so few to go! We're 3/4 of the way there! At times it feels like the 40 week mark will never arrive and yet when looking back it seems to have gone so quickly. I have this feeling that Evan will arrive earlier than 40 weeks. I was correct in guessing his gender and I hope am with this one too. After Paul took this picture I told him, "Wow. My belly isn't as big as I thought it was!"

To which he replies, "Let me take one to show you how it really looks." And VOILA! It looks much bigger now! (You can even see my belly button coming out!)

Our friend, Pam, is taking maternity photos for us this weekend. Hopefully, I will be able to post some of those soon afterwords.

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

10 WEEKS TO GO! Single digits...here we come!

Belly Shakin'!

This might seem strange to some people, but I find it rather entertaining and frightening at the same time. For a while now, people have been able to see my belly move when Evan is tumbling around in there. Paul and I have tried to capture this on video several times with no results. The other night, I think it finally worked!

For this first one, look immediately to the upper right side of my belly. It started recording in the middle of some huge movement.



Yes, this is my bare belly...but watch it shake!