Can you believe that big boy was in there??

My friend Luette sent me this picture taken at a full moon bonfire at our house, shortly before I had Mason (as you can tell). I love it, and so wanted to share it with all of you! I think it truly captures just how huge I was, though I still can't believe that big boy fit in there.

Springtime!

Once again it's been a while, but finally I'm updating the blog. It feels like perfect timing, with springtime in full swing and all of the newness that this season brings. Yesterday we had a snowstorm, and today it's warm and sunny....definitely springtime in Colorado. I don't know about all of you, but Aaron and I have been spring cleaning like crazy. Last weekend we rearranged a couple of rooms in the house...it's amazing what a fresh space can do for the psyche. Aaron cleaned out the barn and I've been starting seeds indoors and enjoying watching the little babies pop up. So far I've started kale, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatillos, some chili peppers and flowers. Our rather ambitious weekend project is going to be building a cold frame! I'm very excited about the prospect of starting some salad greens and other plants outside soon. The chives are back in the garden, and many of the perennials are popping up. Last fall I planted 11 different varieties of heirloom garlic from seed savers exchange, and I'm amazed at how fast it's growing already. As for baby news, we are both very healthy and doing well. I can't believe I'll be entering into the last trimester in the next week. This baby seems very healthy and quite active, and I'm loving every second of feeling the little one move around in there. I'm certainly growing, as you can see from the pictures, and beginning to shift from getting used to the idea of being pregnant to thinking about the birth. I've been knitting quite a few things for the baby, I suppose it's been my way of "nesting" so far. I haven't had any strange or unusual cravings so far, though I do seem to crave exactly what my body is needing nutritionally at that time. For example lately I've been wanting beef (specifically locally-grown, grass-fed Kretsinger beef) and beets. When I told our mid-wife Heather about this, she said that it was perfect because my body is building up my blood right now, and these are two of the best blood-building foods. I guess my point with this little story is that our bodies are amazingly capable of communicating information to us about our health and well-being...we just need to learn to listen and trust them. Aaron and I are feeling great about our decision to work with Heather and have a home birth. We haven't picked out names yet, though we have a few that we're thinking about. We definitely want to meet this little person before we decide completely. We are still firm in our decision to not find out the sex of the baby, though it seems like everyone has their own theories! With spring here at last, I'd love to share some information about dandelions as a wonderful spring tonic for the body, but as this post is getting long, I think I'll do that on another post soon. I hope you are all doing well, and enjoying the change of the seasons as much as I am.

belly photos

Well here are the promised belly photos! These were all taken this week, during week 15 of the pregnancy. We are doing great, and I'm feeling wonderful. We have an amazing midwife named Heather, we're planning a home birth, and no, we don't want to find out the sex of the baby until the birth. Most people so far seem to think it's a girl, but I'm not convinced either way. I'll definitely update the blog with more photos, so check back! According to various sources, astrological and otherwise, 2008 is expected to be a year of change. That definitely feels true in my world so far, and I'm hoping for some much needed political and global changes this year as well...which brings me to a very funny slogan I heard last week from a friend. Here it goes..."Procreate 2008, a new generation for a new administration". I think it's hilarious and a bumper sticker waiting to happen! For other news, I no longer have a cell phone. I've been talking about getting rid of my cell phone for at least a few months now, and one day last week I just decided to do it. We now have a home phone number and Aaron's cell. Some people seem shocked that I've made this decision, but I feel very peaceful about it. When Aaron called to tell Alltel that we wanted to drop one of our phones from our plan, they had to tranfer him to the "I will convince you to keep your phone department", and a 20 minute conversation ensued. I wish I could of listened in because it was hilarious to hear Aaron talk about it. The friendly Alltel guy was exasperated that Aaron was not interested in any of the "special offers" he was given, and that he truly wanted to cancel the phone line. He asked Aaron why, and Aaron told him that I was concerned about the radiation (which is very true). The guy said "you're kidding", and Aaron said he was not kidding. He just could not believe that I was actually concerned about something like that. I would have told him to open up his cell phone manual to one of the very last often-overlooked sections, and he would have found the same safety information I read (which aparently no one else bothers to read) that warned of the dangers of the radiation emitted from the cell phone. Do you know that you're not supposed to have the back of the cell phone within 2 centimeters (or something like that) of your body for an extended amount of time? Well I read it myself. There have also been studies that have shown that those constant doses of radiation definitely affect you're brain activity. Of course, if you're like my good friend Andrew, you will excitedly hope that the radiation gives you some sort of superpower. Good luck Andrew. Anyway, I didn't actually mean to rant about cell phones, but what's done is done. I'm not pushing delete. Please enjoy the rest of the photos below, and check back soon for more.

Another belly photo...Aaron artistically playing with shadow.

The wreath I made for our front door, amazingly still intact after taking quite the winter beating.

Athena's first time to climb Ama (the amazing tree in our back yard).

Cool photo of a bike in our yard.

And now, for the mystery photo....can anyone guess what this is a picture of? There won't be a prize or anything, but I'll be really impressed if you get it right.