Dear me, where did August go?

So hey everyone it's September! And once again I've been remiss in sharing tidbits from our journey, which is a shame because so much has been happening, I really have some interesting fodder for blogging to share. Now of course, highlights of the past month or so will occur.

1. I walked for graduation! I will be graduating in December, and as there isn't a ceremony that is held in December, most graduates are encouraged to walk in April. I however, and as you may know, rarely like to do anything the usual way, so Shane and I (both December graduates) walked and participated in commencement ceremonies in August. My parents and grandparents came for the blessed early celebration, as well as a very pregnant Krista-who surprised everyone! (Except for Jeffrey and I of course...)

{there were refreshments after the ceremony, and this is where, and how, my family found me}

{underneath it all, this is how I made it through the event without fainting. For more information on why the skirt I bought one week before graduation didn't fit, see life update #4}

2. Jeffrey finished his super computer! It starts up completely in 45 seconds flat. It also has a Blu-Ray player disk drive, so now he's all into that. I'm pretty proud of him though, it is a pretty awesome piece of technology.

3. School started again. Along with more work (lets talk about how I should work less....perhaps another time?). I AM excited to be in my last semester, I just think it still hasn't hit me yet. We took over apartment management in our complex about 2 weeks before school started, and my head has been swimming ever since. I do believe that I'm about to get my legs under me again, but it's sure hard with tenants knocking on our door at all hours, and running around doing maintenance, and putting out the occasional fire (not a real one, thank goodness, just metaphorically). All in all, I definitely feel like I working two jobs, and going to school.

{our new apartment...and oh whats that??...a ginormous sunflower!! this blossoming beauty is so big!}

4. And in other news, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!! A BOY!!!! I'm currently at 21 weeks, (21 down....19 more to go!) I've been feeling ok mostly, my largest complaint would be that I'm tired and I always feel like a beached and bloated whale. Or a sausage stuffed into a skin that is 3 sizes too small. Or a ravenous wolf that loves milk, buffalo wings, salad, more salad, french onion soup, pizza, tomatoes, peaches, paninis, pickles, and lasagna.

I can't button my pants anymore without feeling faint-so though the pictures may not show it, I assure you I am growing! And the best news of all: the baby is doing great. Our perinatalogist, who analyzes our frequent ultrasounds (one of the perks associated with being an ex-cancer patients...LOTS of baby pictures and some extra care!) uses words like "perfect," "great," "beautifully," which are more than encouraging to a little mama with lots of worries. But at this moment all my worries are at rest. Our little boy is growing splendidly, he is measuring a week and a half big (it must be all the veggies), and swims and flutter kicks all the live long day.

In addition to our perinatalogist, we see a team of midwives for our baby care. It was really important to me to see a woman for baby matters, someone who would directly understand how I was feeling about nearly everything, and both Jeffrey and I value the support and range of birth options provided by our midwife team.

Needless to say, after 2 jobs, school, and making a person all day long, I konk out every night around 9pm-or earlier. But we are both so excited and can hardly wait for our little love bundle to arrive around January 22, 2012. Until then, love, foot rubs, and the occasional Indian-takeout (or pizza...or mega salad bar) will keep us alive.

{16 weeks}

{18 weeks}

{21 weeks}