Family Vacation/14th Week

Just tonight, we got home from vacation to Santa Fe with Ryan's family. While unpacking, Ryan and I (and baby) finished off a large Casey's pizza! We've never done that before :)

(For those of you keeping track of my effort to control acne with my diet, no, I shouldn't have had all that cheese...or bread. I was just enjoying one last day of vacation and filling a craving.)

It fits the theme of the vacation, really, because I grew quite a belly on vacation! I even popped a button off my shorts last night. I'm thinking I'll be transitioning into maternity clothes now. I act like I hate it, but really, I've looked forward to this my whole life. I was just telling Ryan's sister that when my sisters and I played Barbies we used half of plastic Easter eggs to make them pregnant. We also frequently stuffed our dresses when we played dress-up. As I got older, my dreams turned to intense longing to have a baby of my own. That I get to carry a baby is a big privilege. In quiet moments, I lie with my hands on my belly praising God and praying for my sweet child.

So, we went to Santa Fe to spend time with Ryan's family (including his grandma, aunts, uncle, and cousins). It was lovely! I told Ryan on the way home, "I like your family!" I really do.

Santa Fe is liberal and new-agey and a nice place to visit. It was interesting to see the history and architecture (buildings made of adobe). The area just North of Santa Fe in the mountains was beautiful. Ryan went trout fishing there a couple of days, and he was very successful one of the days--17 fish!

One day, we went on a almost three mile hike in the mountains. For a preggo girl who can be totally out of breath just sitting on the couch in Iowa, I did REALLY well on the hike! I think my body liked getting the blood flowing. I really need to get back to taking walks now that I'm home, but it's just so hot outside.

We stopped by Denver on the way home. I got to meet a very lovely couple from Ryan's family's past. Then, we stopped by Mile High Sports Authority Stadium before we left. Ryan was pretty happy. We looked at baby clothes and just couldn't decide what to get. We figured that by the football season after next baby will be wearing 12 month sized clothes, but Ryan and I couldn't decide what to get. Ryan's siblings told us they wanted to buy a sweet little windsuit, so we let them. Ryan decided to get three little footballs for baby. Ryan's dad kept picking up little pink outfits and dresses...we put his vote in the girl column.

Side note: So far, there are just three people voting boy. Everyone else thinks baby is a girl. Ryan and I are keeping our thoughts to ourselves, but we'll be thrilled either way! We'll find out at the end of August.

So, Ryan and I have spent the past three days in the car. I said we should have been keeping track of gas stations, fast food restaurants, and public restrooms. I think we used a lot of them! Now, it's time for me to enjoy being home, but I wanted to give a little update...especially for Jenna B.

Other pregnancy updates before I go: almost no morning sickness anymore, eating lots, tummy growing, energy levels normal, getting dizzy and/or lightheaded often, my bladder has no idea when I really have to go and when I don't, still thrilled and excited and happy :) oh! and bloating...How could I almost forget the bloating and gas? I have sympathy for those babies who need burped half-way through a meal!

Jordon


Update: I had to edit my post to add a few things I forgot: I liked the weather in Santa Fe, but it was less than ideal to get caught in heavy rain a couple of days :) Also, I forgot that I also get heartburn often...I think maybe forgetting could be another symptom?