Winter Wonderland

Waking up this morning (Friday 12/28) at our parents home in Reno, we're being told a storm is on its way and that its best to, if you are planning on heading over the Sierras, to do it sooner rather than later. There is a chain advisory on 50 and 80 already...soon the roads may close. Lina, Monday and I are packing and saying our last goodbyes before heading back home.

Christmas was great! We spent 6 days in Reno with our folks and brother and sister and their kids. It proved to be very relaxing and loads of fun visiting, chatting and playing the standard Reeth card games until the wee hours of the morning.

Monday is really starting to PUSH the confines of his little Belly Bungalow. His kicks and stretches are much more pronounced. Yesterday we saw the most visible movement to date. Up until yesterday it was a few bumpy rolls and some belly jiggling. This was nothing like the past. Monday either stood up directly - pointing to Lina's naval or he tried to use his foot as a battering ram in a last ditch effort to escape. Its shocking how able Monday is to make his presence known. We love it...nightly whispers to Monday to hurry up and get here.

Tomorrow marks Monday's 30th week - he's finally out of his 20s. They grow up so fast don't they :D

When is average okay?

In utero!

Yesterday we went to the doctor for a check up (bi-weekly) and a more detailed reading of the ultrasound that we had on Tuesday. Monday is doing great - growing at the right pace and all looks perfect. In fact, Monday is in the 54th percentile for growth which, as far as I am concerned, is just about as perfect as it can be! He isn't growing too quickly (too much weight gain, hard labor) or too slowly (too little weight gain, worry about health) he is just above average!

I almost felt like Goldilocks yesterday thinking "that one is too big, that one is too small -- but Monday -- he is JUST RIGHT!" Over the long term, both Tim and I expect our little man to find his stride and succeed where he has passion, but for today, average is just about perfect.

Ah the joys of home ownership

So we are officially in winter out in California, which means it is 55 and raining. This morning we woke up at a more leisurely pace as we were going to work from home in the morning before an ultrasound around noon. As I made my way downstairs to cook us some breakfast, I happened to look up and notice that our skylight above the stairs had a leak in it. Ughs.

Tim got up on the roof this morning and started futzing around with the skylight. It turns out that there were a number of screws holding the seal that had rotted out or were in the process of doing so. On our way to the ultrasound, we made a brief (think of us in a box store at a trot through the aisles) stop to get some items to fix it up.

We then had the ultrasound (Monday is great!) and came home to fix it up. The rain cleared and Tim was up on the roof again. He's done his best to reseal, but we need to see what the deal is after the rain comes again. Thankfully, it is coming soon so we should get a sense of our success by tomorrow morning. If this hasn't worked, we're left with professional roofers, and our first hit to the pocket book (after the big and obvious purchase one) since we moved. Oh well, these are the joys of it all, and I would rather be here than anywhere else in the world.

Out with the old...

Back in 1998 when I got my 2 door Honda Accord, I told myself that I would have it until I was married and having a kid. 10 years ago, I didn't think I would have the car as long as I did, but I did know that it represented my sporty-single years.


I am pleased (and saddened) to announce that we successfully sold it this weekend! We took it in to get detailed and start to focus on getting all the dings fixed when Tim posted to Craigslist. We immediately started getting calls, including from a man in Concord who has been looking for the 4 cylinder that we had for over 9 weeks to get for his son. With the cost of gas increasing, the 4 cylinder appears to have been a hot commodity!! He ended up coming by the detailer and buying it on the spot for a (slightly) discounted rate as he is going to take care of the big dents from my last parking lot fender-bender. We got a great price for the car and are more than thrilled to just have it off our hands - without having to manage all the repairs and love it needed.

As excited as I am about the newest phase of life we are passing into, the sale of this car has always meant for me the transition from my youth - and its with a touch of sadness that I say goodbye to it. What a great car, what a great time of my life... and I am glad I am done with both.

28 Week Update from Baby Center

How your baby's growing: By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

2/3 Through!

Wow. It turns out I just crossed over into my 3rd trimester! This milestone apparently means a lot of things, like

• - increased doctor visits (check)
• - increased discomfort (check, check)
• - inability to sleep well (oh no)
• - increased trips to the bathroom (good times)

It also means that Monday is going to be here before we know it, and that is incredibly exciting. One of my parent's neighbors used to say "every child is a unique and individual person, and it is your responsibility to get to know him." I just can't wait to get to know Monday.

Timmy's got his hands full....