Black Belt Testing

Yesterday, Jeremey and I tested for our black belts. We became students of karate (karateka) shortly after we got married and have enjoyed it together ever since. Our style of karate is a very traditional Okinawan style in which you only receive a green belt, brown belt, and finally a black belt. Our insturctor (Sensei Howard Moring...on the right below) tested yesterday for his 4th degree black belt. He has been practicing karate for nearly 30 years. In this picture, he is working on a sai kata with Sensei Bo, who traveled from Georgia to attend our big test.

This is Sensei Richard Bonsteel, Howard's instructor and the man who tested us for our black belts. He is a 6th degree black belt (notice the red and white belt). He trained directly under the master of our style in Okinawa.

Here's Jeremey and I working on Seisan Kata...the very first kata we learned. In most styles this kata is a black belt kata...but in our style this is where you start.

In this picture, Sensei Bonsteel is showing Jeremey a hidden techniqe in one of the kata moves.

Those of us testing (Jeremey, Howard, and myself) had to perform one of our kata alone. Jeremey was asked to do the first bo kata. He is very good at weapons kata. I, on the other hand, am much more of an "open hand" kata gal.

Here, Sensei Bonsteel is showing Jeremey another technique...watch closely...now he's up...

And now he's DOWN! Sensei Bonsteel tossed Jeremey around like a rag doll. Jeremey loves this stuff! I could do without...LOL! Once Jeremey was on the ground, Sensei hyperextended his arm and touched a pressure point under his jaw to make him really squirm. Painful? Yup. And still, Jeremey LOVES it!

After Jeremey was released, they bowed to one another to show thanks and respect.

We worked with Sensei Bonsteel for about an hour and a half on Wednesday and again for about 2 1/2 hours on Friday before our actual test day...though really, all of it was part of the test. Yesterday we worked for only 2 hours before being honored with our black belts. (However, some of us stuck around and trained for another hour after it was all over...hard core, I know!) Here, Sensei Bonsteel and Sensei Howard are asking us to the front to receive our new belts.

I'd say getting your black belt at 4 1/2 months pregnant is pretty good...I know I'm proud! It was a long week for me (and little Sterling)...but it was still fun and well worth all the hard work. Jeremey always kids around and says that Sterling is going to be born an automatic green belt! LOL! I'm excited to be a black belt because it means that I'm now a sensei (teacher)...and you all know how I feel about teaching!

Jeremey feels the same way I do about teaching...we both can't get enough of it. Before handing Jeremey his black belt, Sensei Bonsteel told Jeremey that he had an outstanding character (I was glowing with pride in this picture) and he emphasized how important teaching is. We are very proud of our style of karate and are glad to help pass this on to future generations.

After the testing and training ended, we all went back to our place for a BBQ. It was a great time and it was great to just relax and enjoy the beautiful day and all the delicious food.

20 weeks pregnant

Here I am at 20 weeks prego...so the baby is 18 weeks old. Almost half way there! I weigh 117 lbs in this shot and am 31 inches around at the waist. That means I've gained about 5 pounds and 5 inches. It may not sound like much, but trust me...it feels like a lot already! I've been having really bad fatigue, back aches, and head aches...making daily life less than pleasant most days. :( My appetite is growing, though, so that's good. Only 4 1/2 more months (ish)!!!
I felt the baby move for the first time about two days ago. I've been feeling some fluttering for a few weeks now, but this was the first definitive "whoa...now that was a kick or a punch!" feeling. It was pretty cool. I've not been enjoying pregnancy all that much...so getting to feel Sterling moving was a really nice treat for me. In addition to getting stronger and getting denser bones (both of which help him kick and punch me), Sterling now has eyebrows and something called vernix. Vernix is like a wax that helps protect his developing skin from turning raisin-like in all that amniotic fluid. Babies look strange enough when they're born...the last thing they need to look like is a giant raisin! LOL!

Here I am with "normal" clothes on. I'm almost always in either scrubs for work or work out clothes...neither of which show of my growing tum tum too well. Jeremey took this picture of me right before we went on a date. We went to dinner and then came home and I gave him a foot massage. It was a great night! (Thanks Christen and Matt!)

The Amazing YOGA-DADDY!

Jeremey got me a pregnancy yoga DVD so that I can take advantage of all the relaxin in my system and try and develop my flexibility...and who knows...maybe I'll develop a taste for yoga workouts. Doubt it, but who knows. :) Well, Jeremey's been having some back pains, so he joins me in my YOGA-MAMA worksouts. Some of these images are a little dark...but the lights were low and you can see the actual yoga instructors on the TV. So, sit back, relax, and brace yourself for some serious entertainment (and not to worry...there is no spandex involved!).

YIKES!!!

DOUBLE YIKES!!!

TRIPLE YIKES!!!

Jeremey pretends to be a tree with flowers here...hmm...wonder what type of flowers?

Jeremey is connecting to his heart and his "baby" here. I'm sorry, but he looks preggy in this shot...doesn't he!?!

Paying attention to the yoga instructor, Reignbeau Mars...I'm serious...that's her name. Can we say: HIPPY PARENTS!

It's a BOY!!!

Well, it's that time again. Here I am at 16 weeks pregnant. I grew a lot this last 4 weeks. I can't wear any of my button pants anymore! This is the only time in my life when that will be GREAT news! :)


Here I'm 114 lbs. and 28.5 inches around. Come on, that's a baby bump...right?! My first trimester side effects are slowly tapering off. Still some nausea and headaches...but not nearly as bad as a few weeks ago. I'm also slowly gaining some energy...and an appetite.


This is how we found the baby (who we'll call by his name from now on: Sterling James Ahlgren) when we started the sonogram...soundly sleeping, all snuggled up on top of the placenta. You can't see his arms b/c they are tucked under his body. This is a true fetal position!

We got to see Sterling sucking his thumb...it was great. You could see his little mouth going and everything. In the last sonogram, we couldn't tell if the baby was just putting his hand up to his mouth or actually sucking...but this picture clearly captures a thumb-in-mouth action.

Here's another one of Sterling all curled up and resting on his placenta...what a cush life! You can see the ribs really well in this picture as well.

Sterling has his little hand in a fist in this image. Working on those karate basics already! He knows what mom and dad are expecting...practice, practice, practice!

Drum roll please...... Here's the pic we've all been waiting for...parental discretion advised. This pic is at a strange angle...but you can think of this shot like this: if the baby were sitting on a piece of glass, this image is taken from below. I don't know if that helps at all...but the pic is labeled, so you're on your own with the rest.

Hope you all enjoyed these pictures as much as we did! We are so excited to be having a little boy. Now, I just can't wait to meet him! And before that, I can't wait to feel him practicing all those little punches and kicks (and blocks if we're lucky...hee hee). Doc says I can expect to feel the baby moving any day/week now. :) I can feel flutters now and then...but nothing definitive yet.