Goodbye dankles, hello ankle?

So, those of you who know me VERY well know that the bone structure in my feet are a little different than most. I have a second bone that pops out below my ankles medially.  I lovingly call these bones my "dankles" (double ankles). Well, imagine my surprise when several days ago I looked down and saw that I still have a dankle on my right foot, but my left foot, well, there was only one ankle to be seen. It looks as though the dreaded foot swell of pregnancy has decided to show its face. This is one milestone I would have been happy never to hit!

Let's just hope the cankles stay in hiding! (and no, these are NOT my cankles...)

Belly Olympics

Yesterday I hit the 27 week mark, and I have been noticing Hj move around so much more. You can look at my belly when he moves, and see the entire belly jump around when he kicks. It is quite entertaining, and I giggle out loud when it happens, because it still takes me off guard.

Since he started moving, I have just felt kicks that would last a second or two. However today, I felt an actual body part just bulging out through my upper left quadrant for about 20 seconds! It felt like it was a knee, but since the lil' guy is only about a chunky 2 pounds, it is possible that it was a bony butt. Regardless of what body part it was, it just is a fun reminder that in a little more than 3 months, we will be able to look at those little body parts, rather than feel them through my expanding belly!

A Letter to Poppie

Dear Poppie,
I just wanted to take this moment to tell you how much Momma and I love you. We are so lucky to have you be the special person to share our lives with. Momma could not imagine anyone but you being the father to her children, and I could not imagine growing up with anyone but you by my side. All of the little things that you do to make us feel special never go unnoticed...whether it is reading to me every night, singing your silly song to me, making a CD for me to listen to, putting together all of my baby items, or just loving momma.

I cannot wait to be in your arms and look at your face. I already know how proud you are of me, and I have not even made my entrance into the world yet! If kicking momma in the belly makes you say, "Isn't he just so awesome?", than I can't wait to blow your mind with all of the things I have waiting for you: my first smile, my first step, my first word.

I am so excited for our "two dudes" adventures, whether it be running in the stroller with you, going on a bike ride, or even napping on the couch.

So while I may be kind of quite this Father's Day, I just wanted to let you know that I am loving you and dreaming of all of the memories that we will soon make together.

Love,

Hj

HJ's First Set of Wheels...

Thanks to all of Liz's anesthesia classmates who generously contributed to HJ's new BOB Revolution Stroller. 

Special thanks to Kacie for organizing the shower and all the festivities...Liz was beaming!

One of the nice features of the BOB is the ability to lockout the front wheel so it becomes a jogging stroller.  Now if we only knew someone who "jogged."  I run.  Semantics?  Maybe.  I just don't see "jog" as a term I would use to describe what a hip, 30 something, dad-to-be would be doing in his free time.  Running, yes.  So when Poppie uses the stroller, with the front wheel locked out, we will call it a running stroller.  When Momma uses the stroller, with the front wheel locked out, we will call it a jogging stroller.   Although, Liz does like to jalk.  How does one jalk, you ask?  It's Liz's term for combination of jogging and walking.  So, I guess we either have a running stroller or a jalking stroller :)

Bump!

Below are some 24 wk pics of Liz's belly...it's measuring at 38" now, which is comical because the rest of Liz is normal, Liz size. 

Also, we've started to put together HJ's boy cave (nursery).  His crib is up, as is the glider. 

Lastly, this Saturday Kacie, Liz's good friend, is throwing a Minneapolis baby shower for us.  Thanks so much Kacie!

Memorial Day weekend

This past Memorial Day weekend I attended a 27 hr boards review course. Not exactly the most exciting way to spend a holiday weekend, but I wanted to get it out of the way before Hj comes.
The good news was that it was in Des Moines, IA. Mindy and Danny were sweet enough to let me crash with them at their place, so after a long day of learning, I always had a fun evening waiting for me. We ate lots of delish food, and since it was the opening weekend of Sex and the City, Mindy and I just had to go see it!
Don't worry, we put "ear muffs" on Hj and Genevieve during several parts of the movie:)
Another bonus to the review class was that I was able to see Jenna, a friend who I had worked with in the CVICU. She attends Mayo's anesthesia program and graduates this coming March. We had a wonderful time catching up!

Here are some pictures of Mindy (29 weeks pregnant) and me (23 weeks pregnant). 

This last picture makes me laugh, because due to our height differences, it is almost as though Hj and Genevieve are spooning!

Thanks again for the great company and hospitality! Can't wait for the next visit...at that point, we will both be cradling two precious littles!