23 weeks

Please ignore my red, puffy face.  We had just returned from camping so I was tired and burnt and China had just squirted out of my arms like a greased pig during bath time which caused me to break down into hysterics until Ryan assured me sure she was okay.  Oh who are we kidding I was still a mess even when I knew she was okay.  Anyway, apparently pregnant women are more susceptible to the sun (overheating, burns, etc.)...at least that's what I've read/heard, and in my case that seems to be true.  I've never been one to get too hot or burnt but lately I've been doing both even without that much exposure (and I always wear sunscreen).  I also seem to swell and I'm thinking I might not be able to wear my wedding ring for the rest of the summer.  In exciting news, Ryan finally was able to feel the baby.  Baby boy was in there one night this week being as exuberantly active as usual and his movements were so dramatic I figured I could probably see them from the outside and I was right and Ryan was able to feel the movements!

Other non-baby news around this household:

Rabbit Gate Part 2 - Right before Memorial Day weekend we noticed a giant hole in our garden where a pepper had once been planted.  I immediately placed the blame on China but Ryan had checked her feet and she was clean.  After inspection of the hole he determined it had to be a rabbit hole because it was kind of a burrow.  He wanted to catch the rabbit in the act so he could chase it out of the yard and then place a barrier where it had been entering.  So one evening after work I hear him outside all excited that he had seen the rabbit (and had chased it away) and now knew where to seal the yard.  And then...silence.  And then..."Racccheeellll, um, you might want to come  here."

There were pink, blind, squirmy little baby rabbits down in that hole.  Sooooooo, we now have baby rabbits nesting in our garden.  So much for getting any veggies this year.  The mom sits right across the fence in our neighbor's yard (where there are no dogs) and comes to visit her babies about twice a day.  Each time she leaves she covers the hole back up so you barely even notice it's been disturbed.

Apparently the babies leave the nest after 3-4 weeks.  Then we can finally block off the wabbit access point although it will probably be too late in the veggie growing season to matter.  The one thing that still might produce is our tomato plant (or I should say plants).  We got a topsy turvy this year in an attempt to keep the juicy tomatoes out of our dog's mouths and so far it has been working great for that purpose and also the plants look pretty healthy.

Camping - We went camping for the first time this season at Springer Gulch.  It was a beautiful weekend for it and was some much needed time away from connectivity and the city.  It's a little different camping while pregnant as I'm not able to mountain bike or drink beer (two of our normal activities while camping) but I was still able to play games/throw checkers (I don't like when Ryan beats me), read, go on walks, and nap.  (The strange bump protruding from my belly is not the baby but plastic bags in my pocket.)

Memorial Day - We spent Memorial Day weekend doing a lot of work around the house.  We picked out all the plants for the season as well as some trees to place in the giant pots flanking our garage door.  And then of course we (Ryan) planted everything.  We also got the camper out and completely prepared it for camping.  We hadn't used it for a year so it desperately needed a cleaning and also we wanted to test everything out to make sure it was working.  I remember one year we didn't do that and we got up into the mountains to discover we needed a new faucet as the old one popped off the first time we tried to use it and water was spewing everywhere.  Over the weekend we also enjoyed a barbeque with some friends.

Eating - I am eating like a horse now and am really itching to go out to eat a lot as I hadn't done that (or eat much at all for such a long time).  One place Ryan took me was Joe's Crab Shack.  I was craving seafood and was thinking of Steuben's lobster roll but didn't have the desire to go that far for it so we went to Joe's instead.  I hadn't been there forever and I found it extremely enjoyable.  I got my own steam pot and it was nice enough we could sit on the patio which overlooks the mountains.  I was a pretty happy girl.

Ryan's Work Trip - his Dad would be proud that this is what he did on his latest work trip.

Adorable China - I don't recall why she's so wet here (I think she might have been stuck out in the rain) but I think it's cute that she's burrowed amidst all those pillows under the bed.  (Yeah so I never make the bed - don't judge.)