Baby Showers

Baby Bowie and I were very blessed to have three awesome and generous baby showers. The first one was hosted by very favorite friend Jill Livingston and included my loveliest and dearest girlfriends. The second was hosted by my step mother Sarah Blue and was a beautiful day with my dad's family and josh's family at our family home in Red Wing. Here are a smattering of photos from both events. My third shower was hosted by my mom, sister and aunt and included my mom and step-dad's sides of the family as well as a blast from the past of old neighbors, church friends and family friends. True to form we have no photographic evidence of the third. We had a righteous thunder and lightening storm throughout and the best cupcakes and cheese platter on the planet. Suffice it to say the third shower was also awesome and you can imagine it in your head.

PS all of these lovely photos from Jill's shower were taken by the incredible Jill herself.

30 years and 30 weeks.

Josh turned 30 last week, I turn 30 next week and our baby turned 30 weeks yesterday so of course we needed to celebrate our 30s. We had a brunch party and we are thankful that the weather cooperated and our home was accommodating to so many bodies. We want to thank everybody who turned out (with spectacular food, cards, gifts and children) to celebrate with us. I always wish that I would have taken more photos but realize that I was too busy having a good time to think about it. Some pictures I didn't post because you are more beautiful than my photography skills captured. 

*A note about being 30 weeks pregnant. I am feeling huge all over but trying not to judge because I know my baby boy is happy, healthy and growing quickly. I'm starting to slow down and it's become more difficult to do simple things like bend over, sleep and get into and out of my car. I've been feeling pretty short on energy and patience and am going to push myself to up the walking and yoga for the next 10 weeks. That being said it felt really good to have so much positive interaction with friends today. I felt a nice burst of oxytocin. I'm super looking forward to the upcoming baby showers and getting to spend more awesome time with friends and family. Have I also mentioned how great Josh has been? He's been incredibly helpful and patient. I don't think I would have gotten through the last few days without his help and love. I feel so good about the community our son is going to be born into. That's the very best birthday present I could ask for.

Notice these children hiding in the very back of my closet. So cute.

Denim twins.

Busted coming down from the make out room.

Demonstrating proper child handling techniques.

20 Weeks

I'm halfway through my pregnancy, which means the doctors reward us by telling us baby's gender. It's a boy! A stinky, peeing outside, trouble-making, dirty old boy. We couldn't be more excited. Josh is going to be a great Dad and I am already imagining the backyard camping, lego building and explosions of drum and feedback from the basement that is sure to come. Our blobby boy is totally healthy and weighing slightly over a pound today. It was amazing to watch him punch and kick and wiggle through the ultra-sound. He's ready to rock. We can't wait to meet him. 

As for me I'm feeling great. I've gained 16 pounds, which I'm told is more than enough for this stage but I like to think that there is a great intellectual power passed on to children through their parent's cookies. I am told I have an anterior placenta which means that I have extra padding between myself and the baby's kicks to my belly. I am able to feel little boy Bachman when I lay on my side but it'll be awhile before he's strong enough to make himself known for Josh to feel. He looks like this right now:

This is his foot. Totally cute.

Maplelag 2014

Josh and I just returned from our third annual Witt-Blue-Bachman family vacation to Maplelag. The weather was colder than we have been accustomed to but the snow was great and the trails were beautiful as usual.  It was a bit strange for me this year because my gear doesn't all fit and my center of gravity is a bit off but I was proud of myself for getting out as much as I did. 

Because I didn't ski as much as I usually do we needed to find some new activities (besides eating cookies and taking naps). Josh and I went snowshoeing...

We also found our way into the game room...

Josh took me into the tower for some sparkling juice as we watched the sun set.

And finally we wore crowns.

This is our last year sans the third generation! We made sure to spy on other families who had infants and devise some good plans for next year. Another successful Maplelag.