Touchy-Feely, Week 17

Happy Memorial Day! This weekend we celebrate the life of David MacDougal, Doug's Gramps, who passed away on Thursday. David died on the date of his wedding anniversary to his wife, Elizabeth, who died 6 years ago. While we are sad to be so far away from Doug's family in Australia, we smile knowing that this D reunited with his E on their anniversary. We know that both Doug's Gramps and Gran, his Grandad, and my PaPa will celebrate the birth of our baby this fall. Such is the cycle of life...Slash must be growing at a healthy rate, because I'm sure growing at a healthy rate. Now that I'm visibly pregnant, friends and strangers feel entitled and excited to rub and pat my belly. Good friends and family know that I'm not a touchy-feely person, so I'm forced to adjust to this side effect of pregnancy. I'm adjusting to many changes, actually!

Doug and I have the same routine on weekday mornings. Every morning as I leave for work (5:50 am), I go into the bedroom and say goodbye to Doug. For 6 years, he's always said the same 3 sentences to me: "Have a great day, sweetie. I love you. Drive safely." (On a side note: I knew I loved him when he correctly used the adverb safely even in his semi-awake state.) Another side effect of pregnancy: Doug's morning conversation has changed since Slash entered our lives. Now, Doug actually lifts his head off the pillow to inspect my new maternity outfit and my growing belly. He tells both me and Slash that he loves us and hopes we both have a great day. While he wishes us a safe drive to BHS, he rubs good morning to my belly. This is the kind of touchy-feely that I have easily and joyously adjusted to!!

This weekend in our backyard, we will lift our beer and/or water to toast those who have died serving our country. We will also toast those we've loved who have passed away and the one we love who hasn't yet been born.

Love you all.

E

Start of Week 16

Hello! We've had such a wonderful weekend after a busy week at work for each of us. The weekend kicked off with dinner at our house with our fabulous friends, the Minahans, the Nivisons, and the Heidergotts. Then on Saturday morning, Doug and I packed up the car and headed to the Salmon La Sac river where we found a private campsite. The weather was amazing, and we relaxed, explored, ate, and laughed a lot. Doug perfected his marshmallow roasting techniques while I mastered the technique of going to the bathroom in the woods while pregnant. The weekend was beautiful in every way!

Slash update: We learned that although the baby's eyes are shut, s/he can be affected by outside light. Supposedly, if we shine a flashlight on my stomach, the bright light will cause the baby to move around. Additionally, we learned that our baby gained muscles and now possesses the ability to form a fist. I developed the following theory: could I feel my baby move for the first time if I shined a flashlight on my stomach to make him/her punch me? Doug said: "That's crazy!" My mom said: "It's fetal abuse...poor Slash." My dad responded via email: "Shine a light on this baby and he/she might just have the muscle power to give you the finger." Despite the skepticism of my loved ones, Doug and I tried it. And, it worked! With my eyes closed so that I couldn't see where Doug shined the light, I felt the fluttering! It was amazing. While we were camping, I was then able to notice this same feeling (minus the blazing light). My baby's got moves!

Love to you all!

(D) and E

Week 15

Happy Mother's Day to our beautiful and loving mothers! We love you both. This time next year, I'll be officially celebrating this day, too. I cannot wait! I'm amazed that there is a child growing inside me who will love me like I love my mom (well, I hope s/he does!). We are so blessed. Doug and I spent this morning at the market gathering fresh flowers (Doug's gift to me in honor of Slash), cheese, and bread. Here is a photo of our Mother's Day spread in the backyard:



I have been busy this week, meeting day care centers, registering for everything baby-related, and shopping for bigger clothes. Speaking of bigger, here is my belly in all its growing glory:

We hope you are enjoying the spring weather. Doug has been taking advantage of it by golfing quite a bit. I'm sure he already has our child's first set of golf clubs picked out! We joined some friends this past week for a twilight scramble. I lacked any skill worth talking about, except I was able to take one good shot.....




Love,

(D) and E

Bloomsday (Start of Week 14)

Doug and I joined my brother and sister-in-law in Spokane to visit my mom for Bloomsday. While Christopher and Ali ran the race and Doug golfed, I fulfilled my role as the pregnant woman by eating cookie dough! We missed my dad who is currently serving in Bagram, Afghanistan.

Doug and I had another doctor's appointment this week. Once again, our child could not keep still, making it extremely difficult for the doctor to hear the heartbeat. All we heard was the swishing and swooshing sound of Slash moving around. Just as the doctor would think she could get a heartbeat, Slash would dart away. It was hysterical! We've realized that our child is going to get along very well with our maniac cat, Louie. (Eventually, we did hear a healthy heartbeat.)

I'm too bloated to take a belly shot tonight due to cookies, chicken wings, lasagne, cinnamon rolls, and bacon. Not only was I eating for two, but I was eating for three, since I had to pick up the slack with my Dad's absence.....haha.

Love you all, E