Ireland

The trip was fantastic, but I'm so glad to be home in my own comfortable house (or duplex rather). The flights were rather long, but we survived with the help of bad airplane movies, Dramamine, and a new card game we learned. We actually got to spend a few short hours (like 3) running around New York on our long layover and saw a lot of famous stuff, which was surprising because we had no idea what we were doing.





When we got to Ireland, we spent a few days in Dublin seeing all of the major sights before heading out to a cozy bed and breakfast on the western coast. Dublin was so quirky and old and very friendly. We definitely enjoyed finding our way around and talking to locals. There were very few other tourists around, which made things pretty nice.


On the Dingle Peninsula we stayed right on the bay and got a feel for small town Irish living. The fishing, the pubs, the accents, the ancient ruins and elaborate churches popping up where ever. And most of all, the sticky toffee bread pudding and seafood chowder!



For the full version, check out our web album at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/Jessie.Gieseke/Ireland2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCJKXh4SxjsOHKg#

First Belly Picture

Many people have been encouraging me to do this, so I finally had Dan take a picture of my profile, which will now be a weekly tradition. I'm at 15 weeks in this picture and you can see that I'm showing just a little bit (enough to make my pants uncomfortable). I'm on the hunt for affordable and versatile maternity clothes that I'm sure will be needed in the near future.

Halloween

We had a fun pumpkin carving party at our place a few weeks ago. We had way too much food, but it was really nice to have friends at our place. Here are a few pictures.

Is a human!

I had another doc appointment this week, which ended up being really exciting. I was bummed that Dan wasn't there, but we didn't realize that they would do another ultrasound so soon. After waiting in the packed waiting room for an hour and a half, I got to see the baby again, and this time, it looks much more like a person. It was kicking its feet, moving its arms, and bouncing all around in there. I was so shocked at how much bigger and more defined it is than when we first saw it. And it's moving! I can't feel anything yet, but hopefully soon I will.

The picture on the top is the baby's profile and you can see the feet and legs pretty clearly. One arm is up and the other is behind its body. Its now 2-1/2" long. The second picture is the baby looking straight on with its body curled up. These still shots don't really compare with seeing the baby move around in real time. It really was thrilling!

Cinco Patitos

My mom sent us a couple of things through the mail for our upcoming trip to Ireland and included a nice present for the little one. I thought this was our first baby present... however Jess reminded me of the train whistle my parents got in Alaska. I think it is going to be a while before the little tyke will have the lung capacity to get that thing going. Anyway, we received a duck towel which was very cute and inspired a nice rendition of "Cinco Patitos se fueron a nadar, qua qua qua qua qua qua qua qua. La mas pequenito no sabia nadar, qua qua qua qua qua qua qua qua. Pobre pobre patito, pobre, la mas pequenito. Cinco Patitos se fueron a nadar..." I'm looking forward to being a father:-)

Swine Flu!!!

Dan came home with the flu this week! We were pretty nervous because my doctor told me that it is not good for pregnant women to get the flu and we should avoid it at all costs (lowered immunity I guess). So Dan went to an urgent care clinic to get diagnosed and I got prescribed Tamiflu to help me not get it from him. The Tamiflu turned out to not be my friend and I couldn't keep a dose down for more than 1/2 hour. I've been Lysoling everything around the house, I sent Dan to the guess room to sleep on the futon, and I've been keeping a 6' radius between myself and him. So far Dan has relapsed and the fever has come back, but I'm flu free. It is making daily life difficult, but hopefully Dan will bounce back soon.

October Pumpkins

Dan and I when out to the pumpkin patches in Half Moon Bay last weekend to find some plump pumpkins and fresh produce. It was very cute watching the families walking around together, picking out their pumpkins, and it made me excited for things to come. Everything will be so different next year at this time. There were pigtailed little girls riding in Daddy's wheelbarrow with the pumpkins. But there were also siblings pushing each other down and a mom and son in a full brawl over a snow cone. Those "family fun" activities definitely have the good and the ugly sides.

As a random side note, we got an eyeful with this full contact medieval sword fight that was going on next to the corn maze.

I have to say that I miss San Luis Obispo and the Farmer's Market every Thursday, and most of all, the fresh apples and cider that they sell in the Fall up in the coastal hills. I'll have to wander back down their one of these days...
As far as the pregnancy is going, I'm feeling ok, but hoping that my energy level majorly rebounds in the next few weeks. Tomorrow makes 11 weeks and counting!