in other news...

It seems that our lives revolve around the Poppyseed. It's all I can think about, talk about, dream about, worry about...you get the idea. But we really do have a life beyond this. So here's a brief update of what we've been doing.

1. Levi recently purchased a horse trailer. It's one of those things that we will only use two or three times a year, but somewhat necessary. I think that we should offset the cost be using it on a monthly basis. Our cows get dusty and could use regular showers. I suggested that we load up the girls and take them into town to drive through the car wash. Levi doesn't agree. Hmmph!
2. Things are winding down at work for me. I've only got one more week to go before I can kick back and relax. Or should I say, before I can start making plans for Levi's summer tasks. Poor guy. He's in for a busy summer. More on that later.
3. I am scared to death of my llamas. There, I admitted it. These are the same llamas that I wanted for two years. I wanted them so badly and Levi caved. But now when I go out to the pasture, I carry a big stick. Oh, they are freaky little buggers. They know how to intimidate. And I'm a big wimp.
4. Levi got a new camcorder. We like to tell ourselves that it's for the Poppyseed. But really we have nothing better to do but accumulate gadgets and gizmos to play with.
5. And I got a new camera. Slightly better than my last one, with so many new cool features. My first picture was at Aboriginal Day of a drum group. I don't have their permission to post those, so I'll show you a few from yesterday. Pixie and Jack are reliable models that never protest to being thrown all over the internet.

Poppyseed update

This kid is just starting to take up some space. At four months (s)he is making my pants a bit snug. And trips to the bathroom are beginning to become a bit more urgent.

What else? Oh, how could I forget? For the past month, I have been experiencing pain in the nether region. Yes. And it's quite common. The ligaments in my pelvis have begun their long road to stretching enough to let a pumpkin out. Yes, a pumpkin! Needless to say, I can't walk very fast and sitting at my desk all day makes it far worse. Joy, joy, fun, fun.

Recent highlights. At my last doctor appointment, we finally heard the heartbeat. I was laying there on my back while Levi sat in a chair watching and an intern observed my doctor with his hands down my pants trying to find the Poppyseed. Awkward! It took awhile, but we finally heard it. I expected to hear a loud, racing heart. Something like horses hooves beating as they run across a field. But this was more like a light, steady thump under water. Much like an alien baby!

And last night, Levi and I went to a monthly Positively Pregnant meeting. It's put on by the Health Unit. Surprisingly, Levi and I both enjoyed the chance to hear from other parents and what they are experiencing in their pregnancies. The nurse gave a little spiel and there was a Q&A period. Well, worth our time.

Other than that, I'm feeling great. I still go to bed early, especially if I've worked a long day. Levi has been nothing but fabulous. Even though he has been down this road a few times, he is still interested, excited, and eager to know what's going on.

Finally, we're not saying, but we have already decided on names. So excited.

things i did not know about being pregnant

When the doctor told me I might get odd food cravings, I didn't realize that monkey brains would be out of the question.




















And when he told me I should continue exercising, who would have thought I'd have to give up skydiving?





















But the worst part is that I might have to give up my job. Yes, apparently the daily use a jackhammer is not the best thing for me and the Poppyseed right now.

well, that was a disappointment

I was pumped and ready to go to the doctor today. Today was going to be the day. The day we got to hear a heartbeat. We were actually going to hear our baby's heart beating. Inside its chest. Inside my body. How cool is that?

Yeah. Whatever! Didn't happen. She said in another week or two we'd be able to hear it.

On the bright side, the doctor did detect the heart beating. 146 beats per minute. Whoa! My kid is running a marathon in there. Apparently that's normal. And here I thought I was giving birth to the next Ben Johnson.

All in all, it was an uneventful visit to the doctor. Which is good. Everything is fine. Everything is normal. And we didn't get to hear the heartbeat. Dang it.

sweet little secret

What I'm about to reveal is a secret that women have been guarding since the invention of gestation. Hosting a human being inside of your body is an excellent excuse for just about anything that you don't want to do.

"Honey, can you take out the garbage? The smell of it makes me want to puke."

"Sweetie, would you do something about dinner? I can't stomach the smell of cooking meat."

"Love bug, could you please vacuum? I'm soooo exhausted."

You get the point. And when all else fails, this one works wonders: "What do you mean you are tired of washing dishes? Do you not understand what I have to go through to bring a child into this world? I have to build a brain, create a digestive system, and make limbs. It's a miracle. Your child. If you can't just help me out, then you are welcome to give birth and I'll do the damn dishes."

Works like a charm.

it's a little early to share, but...

My dad has a secret. A big secret. A secret that is becoming unbearable for him to keep to himself. A secret that he would love to share with his family and friends. So, he calls me last night and confesses how difficult it is to keep his secret to himself. He says that he can hardly sit on it anymore. So, here it is: My dad is going to be a GRANDAD!! It's his first time, you see. And he had come to the conclusion that it was never going to happen for him.

Yes, we are about to become three. Well, we are a long way off. But the fetus is the reason that I haven't been around to update. I am exhausted. I have not slept so much since I was nine years old...possibly since I was six. There are nights that I go to bed at 7:30pm. Especially if I don't have a nap after work.

The fetus, or Poppyseed as Levi and I prefer to call it, has been kicking my ass. Besides the constant fatigue, the smell of onions make me dry heave. I cannot open the fridge. The smells of sweat, meat, raw vegetables, butter, and so many other things, make me twitch. I have yet to barf my guts out, but really dry heaving is so much worse. I have always been the girl who finds relief in vomiting the entire contents of her stomach, but dry heaving brings tears to my eyes and knocks me to the ground. On those mornings, I would love nothing better than to crawl back into bed until the world smells better.

I had wanted to sit on the news until the end of this month. The end of May will mark the end of the first trimester and past the danger zone. Levi, wants to tell the world. Dad wants to blurt it. So what the heck! With all the time I spend in bed, what danger could there be? We are happy. Excited. Over the moon!

So there it is. We are having a baby. And Family? Do not phone us past 8:30 pm. Seriously. I will be in bed. I am so not kidding about that one. I'll be out cold.

flashback friday

I had a little walk down memory lane this morning. Levi bought me a digital photo keychain. A just-for-fun giftie. Love it! It will hold up to 60 photos and will even display them as a slideshow. I had great fun going through my photos. The ones I selected were a mix of my favourite people, moments, and places. Such a fun little gadget. Here are the photos that I added: