"Engaged" has a whole new meaning...

Went to see the midwife on Friday. Seems Anushka has gotten comfortable with her head in my pelvis, her head being "engaged". Most of the time that means that the baby is coming in about 2 weeks. We're still 5 weeks away from the official due date. A bit of panic (Jeff says urgency) has ensued. (The baby stuff isn't sorted, we don't have a car seat, room isn't ready...) The countdown has begun, with perhaps an earlier arrival than anticipated. Hopefully the Jeff side of her will take over and she will decide that she is comfy in there and stay a bit longer than 2 weeks from now. I need her to stay in there until May 9th, so that I can have her in Stony Plain. I will keep you posted...

The latest bump...

Winter again and again and again

I was just starting to get used to having to wear just a sweater and then the snow hit again. And it doesn't look like it is going to stop any time soon. Doesn't the weather know that I don't have a winter jacket that fits over my belly? It just better be nice by the time Anushka arrives...

Easter Shenanigans

I've got birthing on the brain...

My reading focus has been on the whole birthing process after I got my fill of pregnancy information. I am currently reading Birthing Within by Pam England (thanks Vicky!), where they have the following quote that I thought was worth sharing:

Not so long ago I attended a birth for the first time since my own. To breathe with the mother, to watch the child's head appear, to experience the entire process moment by moment allowed me to touch a primordial element in my being. I laughed, and cried, experienced fear, empathetic pain, and deep joy. I was standing at the doorway of existence, feeling, as deeply as I had ever felt, the connectedness of my humanity to the rest of nature with her cycles of spring and winter, creation and decay.

-Ram Dass
From Introduction to Who Dies? By Stephen Levine

Happy Birthday Rita!

I got to enjoy the afternoon outside in the ravine to celebrate Rita's birthday. Thanks for letting me hang out with you and your family on your special day. Hope everyone got outside to enjoy the sunshine today.

Opening presents.

Hanging out in the tree.

The Wild Tangerine

We had a yummy dinner at Wild Tangerine last night with my grandma and Shirley. The menu isn't huge, but everything we ordered was awesome. I had lemon chicken over bok choy with a side of gnocchi in coconut cream sauce. For an appetizer we had popsicle shrimp with wasabi mayo, which I would highly recommend. Jeff and I "shared" dessert. We ordered a sampler plate consisting of a brownie with marmalade and cream cheese frosting, chocolate ice cream, and some sort of cheesecake. We will definitely be going back, but next time it might be takeout, depending on baby Marv.

The alien with the hiccups

Just when I thought it couldn't feel any weirder, Anushka got the hiccups last night. For about 20 minutes I felt this consistent contracting as well as the usual tumbling. Bizarre, but entertaining.

Farewell, Kevin and Lori!

Well, it's official. My brother has moved to Vietnam. Good luck, we'll miss you (mostly).

Their flight over left on Tuesday, it was a teary goodbye, but everyone survived.

One last dinner with our side of the family - at the yummy Cafe Select.

For details on their adventures, check out their blog, which I have linked on the right.