Dog Days of Spring

I don't actually know what the phrase "dog days" means. Hold on while I look it up.

Okay. It refers to the"hottest, most sultry days of summer." I kind of doubt that these are the hottest, sultriest days of Spring in Arizona. But here is a video taken on the patio yesterday featuring our dog (Sonmi-451) and Bridget's belly. I thought bright sunshine would demonstrate how crazy our weather is when you compare it to that of the previous post.

24 Weeks: Skiing and Such

Rocking the Rockies with a Bun in the Oven
Last week, Bridget and I drove to Telluride, CO for some Rocky Mountain skiing. As predicted by anyone who knows about skiing in America, it has ruined us for skiing in the East. I'm not saying we won't ski in the East ever again -- Ben would be heartbroken, for one thing. I'm just saying that we will make a huge deal about how much awesomer it was to ski in Colorado.

Here's a picture of Bridget just being mellow:

O HAI -- I'M ON YR MOUNTAIN, SKIING YR SLOPES

In case you couldn't tell, she is standing on top of a mountain. At 11,000 feet or so. Where is the whipping wind? Where is the arctic gear just barely protecting her from lethal frostbite? Where is that look of abject misery that seizes Bridget when a light breeze brushes her exposed flesh on, say, a beach? Nowhere to be found. It was just balmy up there. Here's a poor attempt to include the view in a portrait:

Some of you might be surprised to hear that I chose to ski without direct Heersink-applied duress. But it's true. After December's rainy letdown in Franconia, NH, I actually found myself wanting to try skiing again before the spring made it impossible. There was another reason, too....

Oh, yeah! I remember now -- it's going to be a lot harder to dash off to the slopes for a carefree ski getaway for two once a baby arrives. So this is probably our last vacation as an unaccompanied couple for, I dunno, let's say 15 years or so. SO WE SKIIED OUR FACES OFF. It turns out I am getting much better. I didn't fall down at all, not even once, over the two days in Telluride, and we were not just on the bunny hill, thanks. Ask Bridget.

Sue and Debby Come to Visit
Okay, so we got back to Sedona just in time for Sue and Debby (Bridget's mom and aunt, respectively) to come for a few days of horseback riding, hiking, and Red Rock adventure!

Then this happened:

Cathedral Rock

Backyard

Back patio

It's rare for snow to stick overnight in Sedona, but it did. Horseback riding was out. So the ladies set to work on the nursery:

And although it's hard to fit the whole thing in a picture, I assure you that it is an adorable, gender-inspecific nest for a tiny baberton.

THEN WE SKIIED SOME MORE!!!!!!!!!

That's Debbie, Bridget and Sue at the Arizona Snowbowl in nearby Flagstaff, a miniscule ski area that got 56" of snow over the three days before we went there. It was also twofer Tuesday at the already affordable locale, so everyone and their mom (and aunt?) decided to hit the slopes with us. Which wasn't great, considering there was one lift worth using. But just in case you thought you could get smug about it, ("That doesn't sound so great!"), get this: the cost for a lift ticket PLUS ski and boot rental was only $60/person.

AND WE SNUCK IN A FETUS FOR FREE.

Anyway, that's probably enough for today, but here's Bridget, her belly, and the dog on the back patio, a sunny 70° today:

24 weeks, 4 days

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Week 20 Sonogram

Yesterday we visited Dr. Rolle in Cottonwood for our latest sonogram. He said everything looks "great, perfect, fine!" I only realized when he said it that other outcomes were possible. Here's the best profile view we got:

"Big Nose"

...in which the kid's nose looks big.

We said "what a big nose."

Dr. Rolle said "But look at the lips, the chin, we wanna see that -- no sign of a cleft palate," pointing with the tip of his pen as he spoke, "and everything looks really great."

Bridget looked at me appraisingly. "Is that from your side of the family?"

"It's not my nose..." I protested.

"No, you have a great nose."

Dr. Rolle pointed to another printout saying "Look! Here you can see the eyes, there's a perfect lens!"

"It's the Terminator!" I cried, spying the targeting device in the flayed cyborg's eye socket. I ducked and rolled behind the receptionist's desk. The receptionist squawked and threw a bunch of papers in the air as I pulled her out of range of the robot assassin's deadly lasers.

"You sure you don't want to know the sex?" Dr Rolle asked.

"No thanks," we replied. "It's enough to know we're having a robotic Jimmy Durante."

* * *
Seriously though. They couldn't tell the sex because the position of the fetus didn't offer a good view of the relevant area. We're going back in 4 weeks so the doctor can "feel [Bridget's] belly," but there won't be a sonogram until week 36.

Dr Rolle loves to give cryptic advice. Two examples from yesterday's session:

Food
BRIDGET: So can I ask about food and weight?
DR ROLLE: (Reassuringly) Eat whatever you want.
BRIDGET: (Reassured) Oh, good.
DR ROLLE: Just watch the carbs, and the sugars.

Baths
JEREMY: And what about baths?
DR ROLLE: (Reassuringly) Enjoy! Seriously.
BRIDGET: (Reassured) Oh, wow, great! I keep worrying that I'm gonna cook the baby.
DR ROLLE: Just don't take 105° baths, you know. Keep it around 100°
BRIDGET: (stunned into silence)
DR ROLLE: And don't soak for a long time.


* * *
And now a belly picture:

20w1d

Kicks?

So, I've had a lot of gas lately, but in the last couple of days it's been feeling weirder than usual, like watery bubbles that don't actually go anywhere- they just sort of blurp around very low in my abdomen. I asked my sister about it today and she confirmed my suspicions that it's probably a baby swimming around in there, which is nice because up until now I've mostly just been feeling like a slightly fatter, tireder version of myself. It's good to feel like there's actually a person brewing in there, and reminds me we should get a baby book! I guess this blog will do for the time being.

Quad Screen Results

Bridget's latest blood test -- the Quad Screen (which you can read about on the Wiki page for "Triple Test") -- came in.

They say everything is normal and healthy! Go Bridget!

Why Are We So Quiet?

I know you've been biting your nails waiting for an update, but not much has happened, fetus-wise, since the last sonogram. But that doesn't mean there isn't other stuff we can tell you! Here are some assorted facts about the next year or so:

Baby Registry
First of all, since some folks have asked, Amazon.com is hosting our baby registry. WAIT DON'T GO THERE YET. See, we haven't really added much to it, because, well, we don't really know what to add. So in the comments, please let us know what you, readers with children, think is essential for the baby registry. Then, once that thing is jam-packed with the goods, we'll send out a general plea for help with the merchandise.

Summer Living
We have rented a summer-house-type situation in Harpswell, ME for June 16 - August 4. That's about 7 weeks, and we're due to have a baby smack in the middle of them. Harpswell is 15 minutes from Brunswick, ME, home to Deirdre, Marc, Fiona, and Myles Brown. The house will have room to sleep 4 others comfortably, and we sure as hell expect some guests during our stay. Like, constantly. So if you're interested in joining the fun, let us know so we can make up a schedule!

The Birth
We're aiming for the birth center at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick. We're looking into the possibility of using the infamous Natalie Rockwell, CNM to assist, because, well, we've just heard some awesome stories. Ask us, we'll tell ya. We're also keen to get our friend Sally Cumberland in the loop, but that's not solid at all, yet.

Quad Screen tomorrow. More news when we get it!

Blacking out the Blog

In a promising early sign of progressive political leanings, our fetus today advised to us leave off blogging, just for one day, in protest of SOPA and PIPA. 

Therefore, the following amazing image -- and the witty anecdote and caption that accompany it -- cannot be seen. This post will not "unblacken" after a day like Wikipedia. You will never see the amazing content obscured by this box. This post will stand forevermore as a reminder of why we must keep corporations from buying legislation that curtails our freedom.

         Hey Guys! So as you may know we are not the only ones at the school expecting additions to

         be the best of times indeed, Scooby-doo!

         

         Stay tuned!