I frequently forget that the main purpose of this blog is to allow our family and friends a way to keep up with everything that we are up to. On the other hand I feel that I should be sending out these updates way more than what I do. But thankfully, on a phone call with Aunt Linda this morning, I was reminded how much people like the pictures and stories. This revelation coincides nicely with my increased feeling of well being each day. Our blog has been pretty quiet since we arrived in Washington and with good reason. As Andrew pointed out the other day I have been pregnant pretty much the entire time we have lived here. Much to my frustration this pregnancy has been the opposite of glowing and wonderful. Undoubtedly, I am thrilled that Andrew, Aydan and I are going to be welcoming a new little one to our family this year however I frequently have to wonder at the timing. That's life though and the only thing that can be done is the best we can do.
We are in the middle of the pregnancy right now, 20 weeks, and ready for the checking-it-all-out/gender reveal ultra sound visit. The timing for the appointment was worked out in such a way that Nora could join us at the appointment and Aydan was on Spring Break so we were able to have him with us as well. Quite a room full of people to find out about this 12 oz baby growing in my tummy. The initial images showed a tightly curled up little one and the question I wanted answered the most, apart from is the baby healthy: is it a boy or a girl? seemed like it may elude us on this visit. Gosh darn it. The tech suggested I head out and empty out my bladder which her machine was showing to be quite full. The pressure of a full bladder can give the baby less room to move around and we still had a lot of images to take.
(Image above is the baby's spine and back of the skull)
Bladder emptied and belly gooped up for round two we were able to get through many of the required images: brain, heart, bladder, stomach, etc. At that time the ultrasound tech, Nadia, asked us if we had a guess on whether we were going to have a boy or girl and we all said girl. That's been the thought for the past several months. Response from the tech, "Are you sure?" Well, no but...definitely not as the images revealed a "loud and proud" boy. She did check two or three more times during the imaging process just to be sure but as far as she was concerned there is no doubt as to the physical markers we were able to see. Andrew and I had easily found a girls name but a boys name had really thrown us for a loop. The day before the ultra sound the suggestion of Arthur Jerald Kolberg was made and the longer we were kicking it around the more we all loved it. The middle name, Jerald, is for my father, and while we didn't know it at the time, Arthur is Andrew's Grandfather Kolberg's brother's name. Whew. That's a lot to get out. But how fun to have family connections to our son's name?
Side profile of little Arthur Jerald.
Skeletor Arthur? :) Andrew plans to take this image in to work and hang it up in the Skull Room...which is a weird but cool Atlas thing. What a place he found for himself!
Feet!!! Little, TINY, feet. Of our baby!
This was my favorite image that we were able to get during this last visit. His mouth is WIDE open and I'm trying to decide if he's saying "HELLO!" or just laughing at us in joyous anticipation. It is DEFINITELY not a cry of any kind. Much too early for that :)
I do have to share that it's been about a week or two since this little guy started making his presence felt in a more physical way. At first it was the fluttery little movements I remembered from my pregnancy with Aydan but now there is a definite forcible kick happening more and more frequently. My eyes always go a little wide with surprise. How can we be half way through and it's still sinking in? I am SO excited about this little one!!! A new life to share and enjoy and mold!
As I mentioned, I am feeling better all the time so I've been trying to get us out and about on the weekends more. It seems tragic that we have been here for nearly six months and really have not had the ability to enjoy our new surroundings more. In an effort to make up for lost time I've been seeking out places for us to check out as a family. I usually try to make sure that at least one of our weekend activities lets the boys get some time in on their long boards which usually means a nice long walk for me and the dogs. I have been spending less time taking photos while we are out, usually I'm too busy holding dogs' leashes or Andrew's hand or simply enjoying what I'm seeing. But one weekend that I thought I should share is from our anniversary. I will try to get in the other photos soon too.
Happy Anniversary to the Henning-Kolberg family! March 29, 2014 and Andrew and I have been married a year. We decided that since part of our wedding gift request had been for funds to help us make this move, a trip to someplace where we could see Seattle would be a fun tribute to the fact that we are here now. Thank you everyone!
Just a bit overcast, right? But the steely grays and blues are my comfort tones. I love days like this one.
Family in the little gondola before the ride started.
Aydan is having fun and is also mildly terrified simultaneously. This was a good decision.
View as we started going up.
Andrew
Me holding Aydan's hand :)
More comfortable and enjoying the view.
Seattle
Through to the other side of the Wheel.
He looks so pensive...
It's been 365 days since we said yes to a life joined together in a way neither one of us ever expected. And here we are. Living in Washington state with a teenage son and another one on the way. What a life! There are great things happening for this little family and we only become stronger and better together each day. Being married DOES change things. It makes things better. At least that's the way it's been for Andrew and I. One year down and the rest of our lives to go.
I LOVE THIS KID!!!
Those clouds...
And now we are plenty brave enough to mock fight in the gondola. Oh, boys...
After the ride we wandered around until we were all too hungry to think properly. Thankfully, being down by the pier there were plenty of options for greasy fried fish and chips and that was exactly what I had been craving...with LOTS of tarter sauce, please! We each got a full plate and ate until we could barely move...and then got ice cream cones for the walk back to the car. Lots of walking, eating, laughing and drizzly bits of rain. Perfect way to celebrate :)
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