Firsts and Photos

Photos first, since people have been actively lobbying for more...






As requested, the photos include lots of hair, some open eyes, and the obligatory little fingers around big finger. We probably won't do any geddes-esque poses, partly because we don't have any cute caterpillar costumes but mostly because ... well ... I mean they're cute and all, but they are all over the ward and we kind of laugh at them as we pass... We do have a ladybug outfit at home but she's much too small for it now. Later, later, there's lots of time.

As for firsts, here is a brief list:

• Her first overnight. She fed at 1:30 and again at 3:30, then slept though till around 7:30 or 8:00. She was assessed again, and received a score of "0" which is great - everything like high blood pressure, tremors, poor skin-tone etc. adds to her assessment score, so "0" means she's normal all round.
  
• Her first bath, around noon today. Apparently most children bawl and fuss during the bath, and while she didn't particularly enjoy it, she didn't cry much.
  
• Her first wardrobe - she's been wearing some of the clothes that we have for her now - little tiny onesies, since she's a small baby. I think she's a bit too big for preemie-wear but she's definitely on the small side for infant stuff. We've also been getting better and better at wrapping her up like a burrito. There's a definite trick in it, getting her snug and stable so she doesn't roll over onto her side and she can work her active little hands out of the blanket.
  

We've moved into a private room now, and will probably be in the hospital for another day or two just to make sure everything is OK. She's feeding deeply and regularly now, for 15 minutes at a time every couple of hours or so. She doesn't even cry for that. She will wake up, make little sucking movements with her mouth, and when she roots in response to a finger brushed on her cheek, she's ready to eat. She'll then feed for a while, burp, diaper and then back to sleep. Nothing seems to phase her.

She is starting to open her eyes a bit more from time to time and during her feedings, so we're starting to see what she's all about. She dreams a lot now when she's asleep, with little grunts and twitches and jerky little hand movements. Tricia wants to put her down next to Haley when they're both asleep and compare their dream-induced jitters.

One more funny little note. I had a baby countdown going on my computer and only recently did I look at it. It now says "baby! has occurred!"

I guess that says it all. I would even say that the exclamation marks are in the right place.

Twelve Hours

(as of 5:03 PM, June 29 2006)

Sophie is twelve hours old now and it feels like weeks. We are in the Mother-Baby unit now, having been moved from the Delivery room a few hours ago. We've tried breastfeeding a couple more times but she's not really into it. Not that she's complaining (she never complains, just sleeps and squirms) but she doesn't root around when we touch her cheek, and she doesn't suck a finger offered. She'll probably wake up around 3 in the morning hungry for a good big feed. The nurses say not to worry, and if she hasn't fed in another twelve hours to wake her up and really try to get her to take something. In the meantime, she is a delight to behold. So sweet and gentle, so quiet, so restful. There are many other babies in the mother-baby unit, and lots of crying going on, but Sophie sleeps through it all. Tricia says the other babies are like dogs barking - when one starts the others join in.

Tricia looked over at the baby just now and looked back at me and said "That's ours. We have to take that home with us." It's still completely surreal. All those months of waiting around for the little one to appear and now she is here and it's still hard to believe. At the same time, it feels like she's been here forever and I can't imagine life without her.

More photos soon - Daddy is working on the obligatory little-hand-clasps-big-hand pose, the little-head-in-big-hand pose, the eyes-wide-open-taking-it-all-in pose (this one's harder since she's had her eyes open for cumulatively about 45 seconds since she's been born). So stay tuned - posts will be erratic, coming only when I can get away from the hospital and find some internet somewhere, but I am writing about most of what goes on. Non-parents may get tired of hearing about Sophie's first yawn, her first smile, her first stinky diaper, but parents will know what we are talking about, we hope. And we'll try not to be too kitsch...

Breast Feeding

Note: the time on these posts is all wrong since there is no Internet at the hospital. I am writing them as they happen but won't be able to post them till later. This one happened at around noon.

Tricia has been sleeping since the birth (and quite pale, too). She has been bleeding a lot (not unusual) but she is slowly regaining her shape and starting to feel like a normal human again. She went to have a bath at around 10:15, getting cleaned up and relaxing and keeping those stiches clean - she had a second degree perineal tear during the birth (meaning skin torn but not muscle) and her stitches will fall out over time.

After the bath, we went to the NICU to see Sophie and to try breastfeeding, but she had already been cleaned up and released to the Nurserey, meaning that everything really is fine, and none of the problems they were keeping an eye on came to be. Tricia was feeling a bit faint after the walk to the NICU, so she went back to the delivery room and I went and got Sophie from the nurserey. Now mother and baby are back together for the long haul.

We tried breastfeeding as soon as Sophie and Tricia were back together, and Sophie seemed to take well to it but didn't drink much - about fifteen seconds again and then she fell asleep. That's pretty much all she's been doing - sleeping. we've changed her diaper a couple times and she hasn't made a peep, we've coddled over her, and so have her grandparents (Hank and Gladys) and she hasn't fussed at all. A quiet little sleeping little baby. That's probably going to change soon enough.

Update: in the NICU

Sophie is very popular in the Neonatal intensive care unit. She is doing very well, and is on a few monitors to keep track of heart rate, oxygen, temperature, etc, and has had some blood tests like blood sugar and things like that. Everything seems to be good, and the nurse in the NICU seems to think that Sophie might be out today. Tricia is still sleeping soundly, waking once in a while but generally not staying awake for too long at a time. They are hoping that Sophie can have a good feed by 11:00 am or so, and if Tricia's not up to it then there is formula, but we'd like to avoid that if we could.

Sophie is cooing and gurgling, rooting for food and making the odd cry-like squeak, but generally she is well behaved and very cute. All the nurses love her.

Meet Sophia Kathleen

At 5:03am on June 29th, 2006, Sophia Kathleen Gerhard was born, 6 pounds 14 ounces, with lots of hair and long eyelashes.




Tricia figures that labour actually started around 6:30 last night with back spasms, but we were in the hospital by 11:30 and in the labour room by midnight. On first exam she was 2 cm dilated and at station -3 (station is a measure of descent of the head in the pelvis, from -4 being the least to +4 being furthest down) so the nurse thought we would be here for a while. The amniotic fluid was a bit greenish (maconium) so they put her on a fetal monitor for a few contractions, and everything looked good. The baby's heartbeat was around 140 most of the time, dropping down to 110 or 120 during the contractions.

Around 1:30 am, Tricia was indicating that she was in a lot of pain, but she was still not very dilated so the nurses couldn't give her an epidural yet. Instead, they gave her a shot of morphine with some gravol-like substance, and that seemed to make things a bit easier for her for a while.

At around 4:30 am, Tricia was in a lot of pain and the contractions were very strong. I called the nurse in to have another look, and Tricia was fully dilated at station +4. What normally takes 16 hours, Tricia did in 3. Unfortunately, she was now too late for an epidural, so she had to do the whole thing "naturally". She was in a lot of pain.

She started pushing at around 4:30, and the baby emerged at 5:03. Again, very quick. Seems this baby was very anxious to come into the world, but still wanted to be "on time". Not many babies arrive on their due date, so they say.

So here she is.

She is pink and breathing and quiet and just barely opening her eyes for the first time. I think she likes it here, although it is a lot brighter than where she's been for the past little while.

They took her away from us for a few minutes to make sure everything was OK with the maconium (which it was) and then they gave her back to us for half an hour or so. We had a go at breastfeeding, and after a couple false starts she seemed to get a good latch and fed for a few seconds before falling asleep again.

Sophia was then taken down to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for observation, which we knew would be happening. Tricia had been on anxiety medication before and during the pregnancy, and doctors are not quite sure what that could mean - in a small percentage of cases like this, there are a few complications, which are easy to take care of if noticed soon. She decided to stay on the pills because doctors DO know what can happen with excess stress during pregnancy. But having her in the NICU is not a big deal. Like I said, we knew it would happen, and it is giving Tricia a chance to rest.

So Sophie is down there and Tricia is resting after a long night. It could have been a lot longer, for sure. No beds free in the maternity ward, so for the time being we are hanging out in the delivery room. They gave Tricia some breakfast (none for the dad, sheesh) and she is now napping again. I'm going to head down to the NICU to see Sophie.

Sophie. It's still so strange to think that we have a little girl. We had said all along that we would be happy whether it was a boy or a girl, but I think secretly we were both hoping for a girl. There seem to be a lot of boys popping out these days and we are happy to buck the trend.

At least we're not spelling it Sowfee or anything like that...

On our way in (david)

Warning: may contain mucky details

So we had a doctor's appointment earlier this afternoon, and the doctor listened to the little one's heartbeat and did some measurements and said "I guess we won't see this one till next month" - a bit of a shock till we realized it's the 28th today. This morning Tricia had some pink show (look it up for those who haven't been pregnant) and she lost her mucus plug around 7:30 this evening. According to all our books that could mean anywhere from hours to weeks till the delivery date (SO helpful, these books).

Around 9:30 Tricia started to feel back spasms, and for the past hour or so she has had 45-second contractions every 2-4 minutes, getting stronger. All signs look like this could be it, or it could be a false alarm.

So as of 10:30 tonight, we are on our way into Regina and to the hospital. If they send us away we will probably go to a hotel and go in again in the morning.

This baby might actually be on time!

Toenails (david)

Tricia and I had a good giggle yesterday evening. After a long day for both of us (me at work since earlier than normal, her with her parents cleaning, sorting, packing, trashing) we were sitting in front of the TV and she held her toes out to me and said "paint?"

To be fair, we had been talking about me painting her toenails for a while now, and this seemed like a good time. Having never painted someone's toes before, I was nervous and asked for directions - it's not that hard as it turns out. First, of course, I had to trim and file her nails and do her cuticles. Seems like a small thing but it's something Tricia has found more and more difficult as her belly got bigger and bigger.

So I made a few errors, and it was awkward to get at all of her toes, so we were a bit contorted some of the time and giggling other times, and she's got this tiny little toe on one foot that barely deserves paint but I did it anyway, then she says "Two coats". Two coats? Tricia says to me (half mocking I'm sure) "the things men do for their pregnant wives" and I said "I am so blogging this."

For anyone who hasn't experienced this, however, painting the toenails of your 9-month-pregnant-due-in-two-days wife is quite a bonding experience.

Grandparents (david)

Well, Tricia's parents are due to arrive here in Wolseley in about an hour or so, and they will be here for a couple weeks, through the birth and the first few days after. They have been saving up vacation to be here for the birth and we are both very happy that they will be around to help out. Some people have given a little nervous giggle when we told them that both sets of in-laws will be here when the baby is born, but it will be a good thing - lots of hands to help out, and they are all very aware of our space and our need for bonding with the munchkin. Or at least that is what they say now. We shall see when the events transpire, but hey, someone's got to stay home with the dog while we're in the hospital.

The trick of it all is that neither Tricia nor I have parents in town or even in the province. Tricia's folks are in Vancouver, and mine are in Winnipeg (transitioning to Sioux Narrows these days) so monumental occasions like this are important for family cohesion. and so they come, and we are glad. It takes a village to raise a child, and we are happy with the village we are in right now, but it also takes relatives, and although there are times we are glad to be provinces away from our folks, we are also very close to both sets and are happy when they can be here. It will all be chaos at any rate, so more people can't add that much, right?

My parents, however, are in a slightly different position all of a sudden. They had been planning to come out right after the baby was born, and again when we get the new house, but mom just came down with shingles, so she won't be near the baby till that's stabilized. When she emailed me with this news, I thought at first that it was another update on their house renovations! She has been on prednisone for a little while trying to fight off a lung thing, and apparently that's the kind of immune system opening that the little shingles critters look for, and bam. What makes it all the worse (aside from shingles being very painful and uncomfortable) is that they recommend people with shingles not be around people with weak immune systems, pregnant mothers, or newborns. Of all the rotten timing. So Grandma G won't meet her first grandchild until the singles are no longer a problem, which could be from 1 to 3 weeks. Best case, they do their thing quick and the baby is late, so they are not a problem when the baby arrives. Worst case, the baby will be a couple weeks old when s/he first meets Grandma G.

If that's the case, webcams will come in very useful. We have set up a generic webcam pointed at the crib, which people can check at

http://gerhard.sasktelwebsite.net/webcam/babe.html
(autoupdating, needs java, not running all the time since we only have laptops here)

and we will be web-cam-chatting with family and friends as the babe grows. What would we do without technology, eh?

9 Days to EDD (Tricia)

Well, we are really hitting the end of the road with this pregnancy. I can't tell which emotions I am feeling more: scared, anxious, excited, overwhelmed... the list goes on. Anyway, I had my weekly visit with Dr. Cordoso. We didn't have to wait an hour this time, but that's okay. He's a pretty busy doctor. I was really hoping that he would have some good news for me... like something about dilation. However, I was to be disappointed. After checking my blood pressure, measuring the fundus, and listening to the heartbeat, Dr. Cordoso checked my status for Strep B and then probed a bit to find that I am closed up tight. Sigh. So, no dilation.

I know that that status could change at any moment, but I have to say that I am a little disappointed. I am eager to meet this little one, especially seeing that it is running out of room. Now we get to wait another week until we see the Doctor again. Let's hope something happens in the next week.

As for life, it goes on. So far I am enjoying my time off. I will enjoy it even more when I actually have a day when I don't have anything to do but rest. Mom and Dad arrive next Monday, and I looking forward to having them here. We have lots of things to do, and having two more sets of hands is great. Diane and Arthur will arrive closer to the baby's birth...when ever that happens!

For now, keep us in your thoughts and maybe send some good labour vibes my way!

Final Words (Tricia)

Well, today was my last Sunday as worship leader at St.James United. I am still the minister, but now I am officially on maternity leave. I thought I would post my final sermon, just so you know what I had to say. Just so you know, the baby has been quite active these past few days and I have been experiencing more and more Braxton Hicks contractions...so I know the body is gearing up for the big event! Anyway, here is the sermon! Enjoy...

I spent a lot of time this week thinking about what it is that I wanted to say to you on my last worship as leader. In my mind this was supposed to be an easy reflection to write: speak a little bit about change, talk about all the good stuff that has happened and will happen, and then speak amazing words of wisdom that would carry you into the transitions that are going to take place. Alas, as most things, it is easier said than done. Or in this case, easier thought than said. This reflection has been started about ten different times, each time offering more and more frustration.

I think one of the problems is the fact that I have too much roaming around in my head, words and thoughts that need to be spoken and yet, somehow, just don’t make it out in the right way. I guess seeing that I only have a week and a bit left to my due date, I should use my pregnancy excuse as much as I can, while I can. However, it’s more than that. It’s the fact that I am gone but not really gone, which in itself is confusing. I am going to be around town, living in the manse but not doing all the usual ministry stuff that I do. I won’t be standing in the pulpit… in fact, I will likely be sitting in one of the back pews worshipping with you all. I won’t be in the office, in fact all my books and stuff will be gone. And yet, I am still your minister just on maternity leave. So do I say all my good-bye type things today or do I wait until October when I am really no longer the minister of this pastoral charge?

So I think I will do a little bit of both –some reflection on the future and some saying good-bye stuff. That sounds like a good compromise to my brain.

These last two years have been gift to me. Being with you and growing with you has allowed me to change and develop in ways I never expected. When I arrived here, I was absolutely nervous and scared… what if you didn’t like me? What if the things I tried failed? The What If’s dwelled in my mind until the day I came to move in and I found the group of St. James Movers standing in the drive way. And heck, who wouldn’t feel welcome when the town throws a parade on the same weekend you move in. I almost thought it was for me, but then I heard about this swinging bridge being rebuilt and realized I was only dreaming. A girl can dream can’t she, especially when there has been a parade each summer that I have been here!

Coming straight from seminary, fresh blood you might say, I know I was vulnerable to the temptation of trying too many new things too fast. Despite my eagerness to do all these wonderful new things, I didn’t give in to the temptation. We tried new things slowly and as I tried different things I was relieved and overjoyed to find out that you really were interested in what I was offering.

More than worship, bible studies, faith studies, board meetings, youth movie nights, more than the programming pieces I did, it was the interactions with each of you on a personal level that offered me the opportunity to become more comfortable in my role and allowed changes to bloom. Through you I learned that being a solo minister in a small town definitely has its rewards… the extra weight I put on is a testament to that. You have allowed me the privilege of becoming part of your lives. You have shared your stories, good and bad. You have allowed me to sit beside you in the hospital, at home and at the care home. You have entrusted me with planning and leading of funerals, weddings and baptisms. Through you, I have been affirmed and supported in my work in this pastoral charge. I never worried that I wasn’t cared for or thought about. There was always someone there to check in on me, and see how things were going, especially during the hardest times.

And in return, I have become more confident in my ability to be present for you, to offer prayers of comfort and support, and to speak loudly about the presence of God in this community of faith. I moved from being that scared brand new minister to a fairly capable leader fulfilling her call. Thanks to you, I have changed from being a city girl simply working in the prairies, to being a prairie girl living and working in a place that she loves. Yeah, I will complain about the weather, but I have learned that really, regardless of my relationship with God, I have no control over it. I, like everyone else, simply shrug my shoulders and chalk it up to living on in Saskatchewan.

There have been so many other things I have had the opportunity to experience. For one thing, tis better to follow the instructions of the UCW catering ladies than to try to strike out on your own. Never fear about quantity of food at a potluck, there is always, miraculously enough. Thirteen teenagers do not fit comfortably in the living room of the manse. No, the furnace ducts should not sound like dishwashers. If you feed them, they will come. There are people in the congregation who do spend more time at the church than I do! Getting the congregation to moo like cows is far easier than getting them to answer my questions during sermon time. The work of this church goes far beyond these four walls. We truly are a community that supports and loves each other, most of the time. This is a congregation rich with gifts… both used behind the scenes and up front. History is important. This congregation has an incredible ability to show support and affirmation in so many ways, not just to the minister (who truly needs it sometimes) but also each other. Sticky notes will not stick when you need them to. The list goes on. But most importantly, the Holy Spirit dances in this place, and finds life through all of you –through all that you do both here in the church and in the wider community.

I am fully aware that this Sunday marks a change for you and I. After this week, my role in this community shifts as I enter into maternity leave and no longer offer leadership in the way that I have been. I know, from personal experience, that change can be both positive and negative. For me, change can be a scary thing and I have seen a lot of it in the last little while. I like things the way they are –that way I am comfortable, and have my routines. I know where to shop, where to eat, how to get where I am going. Change shakes all that up and leaves me disoriented.

I think, that for us as a congregation, this change that is taking place is more positive than negative. Yes, there are hard parts. We have to say good-bye, and that is hard to do when we have built such a good relationship. You as a community are entering into a time of unknown. You are sharing ministry with Grenfell, and you have lay leadership for Sunday mornings. But that is all you know right now. Whatever happens in September is in God’s hands. Scared? I don’t think you should be. Think of this time as an adventure, an opportunity to explore and to get to know yourself as a congregation a little bit better.

You are entering a journeying time. I know those who are on the committees doing the work of finding a new minister may not necessarily be having a good time on this journey but it is beneficial. You are a strong congregation… yes, an older congregation with smaller numbers but you are strong. I have seen you work. During this time you get to dream and vision and plan. You can take the time to listen for God’s voice, see where that is calling you. It takes a certain level of trust, seeing that you don’t know who you will be calling to your pulpit and your faith lives. Again, I don’t think that this is a bad thing. You have had some excellent ministry leadership come through your doors, all without you fully knowing what you are getting.

So I encourage you to live into the hope and potential of the changes ahead of you. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you, especially as I embark on my own major changes. As I think about the littlest Gerhard that is about to join the world, I go through many of the same emotions that you are. I am scared, apprehensive, thrilled and excited. As you know, I have never done this before. But I have been held up by the fact that I am surrounded by folks who have been there before, and who are willing to offer any help and wisdom they can. You have made these past nine months easier for me, and as I think about the next few months, I know that I will be able to struggle through gracefully because I have such an amazing base of support and knowledge to draw from. It’s not every child that is born in to a group of potential grandparents and supporters. It makes my heart sing to know how loved this child will be; not only by David and myself, but also hopefully by all of you.

Leaving here will not be easy, which is why I am not really going to talk about it. I don’t fully go until October when you release me from my covenant. For now, I get to live among you and share the joy of our lives with you in a very different way. I get to sit in the pews, I get to just be for a little while.

What I do know is that you have worked your way into my heart. This is my community, a place where I am comfortable and happy. So the prospect of leaving breaks my heart. But I know that it is the right choice for us at the moment.

Like I said earlier, you are a gift from God to me and to David. I do not regret coming here and I give thanks for all that you have offered me in the last few years. I know that God has richly blessed this community with an amazing variety of people and skills. Know that as you search and dream, God goes with you empowering you to do what is needed for the church in the community. God will always be with you, causing you to dance and to embrace your faith as fully and joyfully as you can. I have felt and seen God’s spirit here, and rejoice in the fact that you will continue to find life through each other and with God.

I am not sure that I can say much more, at least not without my hormones completely taking over. I am proud of you and of who you are. I am more than pleased to have been able to share this part of my life with such an amazing group of people. Never let God’s music leave your hearts and may you always sing a new song to God. thank you so very much.

T-16 days and dropping (david)

We had our last visit with our GP today, and we will have our second visit with our OB-GYN tomorrow. Our GP has confirmed that Tricia has indeed "dropped", which for you non-babied types means that the baby, which has been upside down for about a month now and has been squirming around and around, has now finally made its head fit into the cradle of Tricia's pelvis. As it progresses, it will continue to squirm and shift and, when everything is ready, Tricia's body will respond to the baby's hormonal onslaught by contracting her abdominal muscles to finally get rid of this invader. Things are getting very close now.

Tricia and I are attending our first of two breast-feeding classes tonight, and since we have loads of stuff to do in the city tomorrow, we are staying in the city in a hotel. Normally, we like to request a king-sized bed when we stay in a hotel room, but we are actually kind of glad that they have two queen-sized beds in this room - we've been in separate beds for the last little while, with both of us congested, snoring, and Tricia up every couple hours to pee. I suppose it's good practice for what's to come. Someone said once that the first six months of parenthood feel like it's 3:00 am all the time. I can't decide which parenting warning/threat/scare-tactic I like best (we've heard MANY in the last few months) but that one is the most poetic so far. Another I like is "I was a much better parent before I had kids" - all those times we've been in the grocery store and some parent has a screaming kid on one arm and we think "can't she CONTROL that kid?" we're really thinking "I would be SUCH a better parent than her!"

I think we're ready to have our thoughts re-arranged on a regular basis by this kid, but it's kind of hard to tell...

Questions people ask (Tricia)

Well, I have finally found out what the two most popular questions asked in the final month of pregnancy are: "You still pregnant?" and "So, do you have everything ready?". It is always interesting to get asked these questions, because they offer me the opportunity to answer differently each time. It is especially fun because the first question is answered quite easily by a quick glimpse at my still existing "bump". I am wondering if I should start concealing a basketball under there.

It's the second question that is most thought provoking. "Do you have everything ready?" Well, I am not sure. What do you mean by "everything"? Does any one truly know what having "everything ready" for a baby entails? Currently, I tell them we have the basics -crib, crib bedding, change table, 200 diapers (up to 15 pounds), wipes, bathtub, some clothes, bath stuff (shampoo etc, travel system (bassinet and stroller), a bath towel and a receiving blanket. That's all you really need right?

Right... Except that if you have ever walked through the baby section at any department store you know that there is much more to have in order to be truly ready. It is a bit of a racket. Weddings and Babies are expensive events. This is why the Shower is an important little celebration. Women get to gather to share stories of their own children's births and give gifts to the expecting mother. And these gifts tend to be the ones you haven't gotten around to buying or couldn't afford to buy. It's actually quite a wonderful phenomenon. We've all heard that it takes a village to raise a child, well that village also helps out with all the accessories that go with the child. I am very much looking forward to the shower that will be thrown for me when I go home in July. Not only do I get to celebrate and open gifts, I get to share the newest Gerhard with all my favorite people. It should be a good party!

So, David and I have set up a registry to help any of our friends and family that are looking for gift ideas or just want to see the kind of things that are out there. What did I say about Weddings and Babies? We are registered at Toys R Us (www.toysrus.ca). If you want to access it, type in my last name, my first name and the town (Wolseley) and it should get you there. I know that it might be in bad taste to tell you about it but heck, how else am I supposed to get the information out!

Anyway, as I watch the rain fall and take a little time to relax I get to spend a little time with my little one... Maybe doing a little dreaming and hoping for the future. Only time will tell what will happen for us. Let's hope it's an adventure.

Watching the Calendar (Tricia)

So, the days tick by and we watch them go by knowing full well that this little life will soon be a reality in our lives. It's all a little overwhelming. Each time someone tries to book an appointment or a dinner date, I have to yes but.... Things are truly outside of my control right now. It's all up to that little creauure dwelling inside me.

Anyway, the days go on and life keeps on keeping on. David keeps reminding me that the only way people will actually be interested in checking out the blog is if we actually update it. That means finding time and energy to do so. I guess it is a good exercise in taking time to look back on what has happened in the last week or so and how it has been affected by my pregnancy. I do kind of enjoy the opportunity... even if it takes me close to forever to write anything! :)

The last week has been hot, hot, hot! Normally, I wouldn't complain. I love the heat most of the time. Summer is my favorite time of year... no socks, no parkas, no snow boots! woo hoo. However, the heat takes on a meaner side when you are carrying around twenty extra pounds. I disovered this week that my feet and ankles could turn into bricks! Honestly. Between the heat and the humidity, my feet were swollen. The positive side of this, and there is a positive side, I had an excuse to spend time on the couch with my feet up with an ice pack or take time to soak in cool tub. So there are a few perks to experiencing some discomfort.

This past weekend, I had the priveledge of performing an outdoor wedding for a wonderful couple. The day started out kind of cloudy with a little rain... which isn't great for an outdoor beach wedding. But as we got closer, the rain became less of an issue. It was nicely overcast, with a nice cool breeze off the lake. However, as soon as the bride came out from where she was hiding, the clouds broke up, the sun came out and the breeze stopped dead. If you had told me two years ago that the temperature could go from 20 to 30+ degrees in moments, I would have laughed. Well, I am a believer now. The heat got bad enough that the groom was dripping and I decided not to preach the sermon I had written. I felt bad for the congregation which was sitting out in the sun while we were in a gazebo. By the end of the service, I was drenched...wearing a jean skirt, light cotton tank and my minister garb (alb and stole). Oy.

We had the wonderful opportunity to hang out the Malo cottage between the service and the reception. A cold beer would have been wonderful, but a nice cool gingerale had to do. Anyway, we got to relax, and the little one got to bounce around a little.

Anyway, we continue to wait with expectation for this little bouncing child. It is quite strange to watch the movements from the outside, as my belly moves and undulates with the baby. We try to live life as fully as we can while we wait. We attended a wonderful Diabetes fundraiser and got to do some shopping. We are both busy with work, which is great.

I suppose I should keep my entries short...I will keep it shorter next time, promise! Do leave your comments... I enjoy reading them. So, anything could happen in the next little while --so we will keep you posted!

Till then!