28 weeks pregnant

I've made it another 4 weeks...and what a crazy month it's been! I've had a couple trips to the labor and delivery ER in the last few weeks. Everything turned out fine, but it was a tiny bit scary. Baby Sterling is growing and growing and growing and I'm doing the same. Doc has me on a fairly restricted activity regimen, so I'm going out of my mind...but I'm hanging in there b/c I know that having a full-term bundle of joy is worth the sacrifice. And as my boss so lovingly pointed out, now that I'm a mommy, mental sanity is no longer a luxury I get to indulge in. LOL!

The next three pics are sonogram pics taken around 20 weeks. This is a cute little profile.
In this pic, you can see both lower arm bones (radius and ulna) and the handbones (metacarpals)...that's why the sonogram nurse wrote "hello" on the image. :)

Here's a really good profile of Sterling. The "black hole" in the middle of his chest is actually his heart...it is soooo amazing to get to see each little chamber pumping away. Heaven for both the anatomist as well as the mommy in me!

This sonogram shot was actually taken at the emergency room at my last trip...so he's 24 weeks old in this hot. You can see all 4 fingers and thumb...they are in a fist with thumb out...like a hitch-hiker. He's probably getting ready to or just got done sucking...cute, huh?!
And here I am at 28 weeks (so Sterling is really only 26 weeks old). I'm up to 124 lbs. and 34 inches around. All abdominal definition has completely gone. Believe it or not, I'm still able to do crunches (modified, of course)...and yes...my doc says that's perfectly fine. I'm all for anything that's gonna help me get that baby outta me faster when the time comes...and that includes having strong abs!!!

About a month ago, Jeremey and I went to the beach with some friends, so I had to hit Target to get a preggy-suit. Can I just say how aweful swim-suits are for pregnant women. They look like they are made for 80-year olds! Seriously, they're atrocious! So, I ended up just buying a regular 2-piece...in much larger sizes than I'm used to. It's a strange feeling buying an extra-large top when I've only ever worn a small. LOL!

Our Wedding Sampler

I've been meaning to have the wedding sampler my mom made for us professionally framed for a while now. I tried framing it myself...but let's just say it gave less than pleasing results. The frame shop did a spectacular job. We can now proudly display my mom's handywork on the wall...yay!
Here's a closer shot of the sampler. Didn't my mom do a great job?! It looks much better in person...the stitching is more obvious and the colors more true. Nonetheless, it's a great memory for us and I'm so glad to have it to take with us to our next stop in life where there are no palm trees or beautiful beaches (Kentucky).

24 Weeks Pregnant...and other stuff, too

Well, four more weeks have passed. I'm 24 weeks prego in this pic (as always, according to a 40-week pregnancy schedule), so Sterling is actually 22 weeks old exactly. He's kicking and punching pretty hard now. You can see it when he's moving around...either his bottom or his head can be seen fanning across my abdomen...very alien-esque...maybe a little cuter. :)
I'm up to 120 lbs...a weight I've never been...so this is uncharted scale territory for me. Ahhhh! So, at 5 months pregnant, I've gained somewhere between 7-9 lbs. My waist is 32 inches here, so that's a net gain of 6 inches around so far. I'm getting a lot more comments about my size these days...lots of "WOW, you really are pregnant!" and "hey, I can actually tell you're pregnant now!" Of course, I can't believe no one said this months ago...but whatev. LOL! Sterling is just over a pound and about 10 inches long now from crown to rump. Although pregnancy has not been the most fun thing ever for me...I have to say that my most fun thing about being pregnant is when Jeremey can feel/see Sterling kicking/punching/moving around. Sterling now has a noticeable startle reflex, too...so when Jeremey talks to my belly, it wakes him up if he's asleep and if he's already awake, he jumps.

In February, Jeremey and I traveled to Lexington, Kentucky where I interviewed for a post-doctoral research position at the University of Kentucky. While we were there, Pam and Jessie (Jeremey's mom and youngest sister, respectively) came to spend a day with us. If you can't tell this is a mom and daughter in this shot...you are blind!

Just to update everyone, in case you haven't heard yet, I was offered the job in Lexington and just accepted the position last week. So, the plan for me is as follows...October: complete dissertation; November: defend dissertation; December: graduate with my doctorate and move to Lexington (Christmas time); January: begin my post-doc.

Here, Jeremey and his mom boogie down to a fun oldies song outside the Applebees where we had dinner.

Here are a couple pics of Jeremey and I with our instructor and one of the girls who trains with us.

A few nights ago, I asked Jeremey if he could buy some milk while I was teaching class. From the ensuing huffing and eye rolling, it was obvious that buying milk was not on his evening schedule. But, he went anyway...'cause he's good. When I got home from teaching (about 9:30pm), I went upstairs to take a shower and get ready for bed. There was a dozen long-stem roses in the bathroom sink. My first thought was, "ooo, I wonder who he bought flowers for"? My second thought was, "I wonder why he didn't put any water in the sink". My third thought was, "why are there flowers in our upstairs sink...why aren't they at least downstairs...where the kitchen is"? Finally, I came to the conclusion that these beautiful flowers were for me! YAY!!! Jeremey knew that the first place I go when I get done teaching is upstairs to take a shower. What a sweety-pie, huh?!

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!