atchoo, really? (Tricia)

Okay, so David has had his fun reflecting on this pregnancy thing... But being the one that is actually pregnant, I figured it was time to take my opportunity to "weigh" in on the subject. So, the past nine months have been quite a learning experience for both of us. Who knew that the body could do such an amazing thing! Currently, I am learning that sneezing with a full bladder is definitely not a good thing for a pregnant woman to do. Sigh, you really do have to give up a little dignity in order to fully enjoy the gifts of pregnancy.

So, while David is doped up on cold medicine and allergy stuff, I am snuffling through my days drinking orange juice and sleeping at night with the amazing "Breath Right Strips". Actually, this isn't the worst cold I could have had. I just like to complain.

As the waiting whittles down, my excitement and apprehension grows. I can't wait to see what the littlest Gerhard looks like and to watch this little person develop. Will it look like me and act like David? Or act like me and look like David? Now that I think about it, I am not sure which is better/worse for that poor child. It will be nice to have a small bundle to hold, to find out what those elbows and knees are able to do beyond poking me in the side. And it will be nice to know that we will finally have some one to use all the things we have (well, the necessities we have) in preparation. All in all, I am excited to be becoming a mommie.... although the birth process still scares me just a little. I will let you know how it goes when it happens!

Anyway, those are my first thoughts for this blog page (actually this is my first time 'blogging' ever, so be patient!). We appreciate all the support and love offered to us through our families and friends.... it makes the time much easier! Keep us in your hearts and minds.

atchoo

Well, it was bound to happen after a weekend at Conference (that's the annual meeting of the Saskatchewan conference of the United Church of Canada). We have caught a cold. Normally not a big deal but with the baby in the belly, Tricia is a bit nervous. Every time she sneezes or coughs, the baby jabs her ribs with an elbow or a foot as if to say "HEY! I'm gestating here! knock it off!" Today is one of our (now biweekly) doctor's appointments, so we'll have a chat with Sue and see what she has to say. The biggest problem is that Tricia can't take any of the usual remedies, so it's hitting her a bit harder than normal, and at the same time David is tanked up on loratadine (or maybe it's fexofenadine or cetirizine now, I can't remember), along with pseudoephedrine, vitamin C and ecchanasia since he is also battling allergies and hay fever, so he's basically no help. And since we're in the city today, we'll be running errands and looking at furniture for the new house so we'll have to see how long THAT lasts.

Maybe if we're (un)lucky, tricia will sneeze that baby right out of there and we can just skip the last month. Everything's ready, we packed our bag last night, but I suppose it would be a bit of a shocker.

Ultrasounds

We have had two ultrasounds, one at 12 weeks and one at 20 weeks. These are, I suppose, the first photos of our yet unnamed, unborn little one.

Here are ultrasound photos from 12 weeks:


And here are ultrasound photos from 20 weeks:

T-31 days

I've always been a bit hesitant to join the blogosphere, not believing that I would have much to say that isn't already out there. I read my brother's blog (adamgerhard@blogspot.com) and once in a while I will scan some others that a digg or slashdot article take me to, but in general I am a little disconnected from the whole thing. When I was a teenager I wrote a journal every night, but I can't imagine anyone actually reading that - mostly because it was dull as tacks.

Things have changed, in that my wife and I are due to have our first child in a little over a month. This, I feel, is an event worthy of blogging, and something that people might actually be interested in. I know, I know, there are a multitude of pregnancy blogs and podcasts there, some of which are a little frightening, and I don't expect that this one will become world-famous. The intent, rather, is to have a place to put photos and happenings around our little one so that our many friends and relatives who live far away can keep up to date.

This blog will not be updated daily. I don't know if it will even be updated weekly. Once the baby actually comes, we may be so busy and tired that it won't get updated till s/he's fifteen and learning to drive. Regardless, this will be an attempt to document and reflect on the growing child that has been with us since October, yet who we haven't quite met yet.

A few photos here to start us off: Tricia's belly from a couple of months ago, and the nursery in Wolseley (that's our dog, Haley, keeping an ever-vigilant watch over the crib)