The Movers and Shakers

Ok, Ok! New blog post, I get it. Baby-baking time is dwindling and I am getting excited! I have scheduled my first appointment with the Tucson Birth Center (September 26) and now I'm working on the details of my flights. This little babe has been quite active lately and I have been treated to many pokes, jabs and kicks in various organs. Nick and I have both distinctly felt little feet. She seems to prefer my right side and this one specific spot where you can often find a baby foot. If you look closely, my belly is usually lopsided and the overall shape changes based on her position. I find this fascinating and although I can't really distinguish between most of the different body parts, I make my guess and go with it because I like picturing this little person inside me and what she's doing.

I have also decided that Baby girl loves Mexican food. (Does this girl have some Southwest in her or what?!) Earlier this week we made simple fajitas for dinner and shortly afterwards Nick and I were treated to a belly movement show unlike anything else we've seen yet. For over an hour we watched her roll and punch, kick and flip, squirm and squiggle. It really was like watching an alien inside my body. You could see the difference between when she pushed out an arm or leg and when a shoulder (etc) would roll over underneath my skin. All you mamas have seen this before and it. is. so. cool!! I think that all this movement has really helped Nick bond with her because it's big enough that he can be a part of it. His face lights up with every new feeling he's able to share and I think for both of us this idea of a baby is becoming a real person whom we are anxious to meet.

On the flip side of that . . . anxiety has two faces. I am enjoying pregnancy and I think that's pretty apparent. I am enjoying the ease in which I can take my little bug with me everywhere I go and the secret movements between us when I'm walking through the grocery store and falling asleep each night. So trading in this really awesome time for crying, sleepless nights, frustration and uncertainty doesn't seem all that appealing. I know it will all be wonderful in the long run, but for the time being I am trying to cherish this very special, private bond that will end before I know it.

In another part of life, Nick and I are celebrating our 1 year anniversary tomorrow! Hard to believe that so much has happened in this last year and how different the next year will be. "They" say the first year of marriage is a big adjustment but the only thing we've changed is our titles of boyfriend and girlfriend for husband and wife. Guess that's thanks to living in sin together for 4 years beforehand. And I wouldn't have done it any differently. We have a nasty weather forecast here this weekend; rain, rain and rain mixed with lots of wind, even a flooding warning which also means a mudslide warning. Lucky us. So we have decided that our 1st anniversary will blissfully be spent as a pair of homebody's, cooking together, watching movies while camping in the living room and putting together a new puzzle, one of our favorite pastimes.

Dance life is also starting to pick up again after a summer hiatus. Our Dance Camp is next Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We have classes running all three days for ages 7 thru adults. This year we have some guest teachers doing African, Zumba and Middle Eastern classes and I'm looking forward to being able to get in on those myself. Normally during Dance Camp I'd be teaching a pile-o-classes along with the other teachers but this year I'm teaching just 4 classes over the three days and my role will be largely administrative. I'm still looking forward to seeing all my kiddos and an open schedule will leave me lots of time to sit in on classes and watch.

Another special day at our house, Boomer's 4th birthday! Isn't he just adorable? He got a big pile of milk bones and a new toy from Dave and Nancy, my bosses. Yep. My dog is so special that other people celebrated his birthday! For any who don't know, Boomer comes to work with me 4 days a week! He's the Viking Travel dog and people around town actually recognize him. He works very hard everyday to greet visitors and lay his head directly on the legs of my desk chair. He's kind of a big deal. And so was his birthday.

*Disclaimer - we're really not the type of people that throw bday parties for our pets but we did think it was a pretty damn funny photo op to make him a little hat, which btw he was happy to wear so long as a treat was being promised.