Farewell Grenada!

Our time in Grenada has finally come to an end. What a year it has been! I'll never forget the moment we arrived to this island, the excitement we had about living in the Caribbean and the new adventure that lay ahead of us. Although we feel ready to leave and move on, there are certainly things I will miss and I will always look back on this experience fondly. I'll miss having gorgeous beaches on our doorstep, spectacular sunsets, the simplicity of life and the ability to do whatever whenever. What I will miss most are my dear sweet friends. Without them this year would not have been the same and to be honest, I'm not sure I could have kept my sanity without them! Thursday coffee dates at Rituals, book club, pregolympics in the pool with Melanie, getting to see Jackson and Gracie grow and learn new things.... and the list goes on. Thank you for always being there for me and for enriching my life.

I can't write this post without including what I won't miss which is first and foremost mosquitoes! I think that will be my first question for God when I meet Him- why did you create these horrible blood thirsty things?! Nor will I miss the vicious dogs, creepy crawly roaches, and sugar ants. I won't miss hot sticky weather and sweating 24/7, and I'm also happy to never have to shop at IGA grocery store anymore, although it sure has made me appreciate the availability of food in the States where you never have to worry about milk, eggs, cheese and produce not being in stock.... we are so spoiled in America!

Last but not least I would like to acknowledge my husband. He has worked so incredibly hard this year and I'm so proud of him. I truly admire the balance he is able to maintain as well as the optimistic outlook he has on life. He amazes me!

Thank you Grenada for an incredible experience. We will never forget this year... how could we? I mean, we're leaving with the best souvenir possible.... a baby!

6 Month Pictures

Pictures by: Casey McDaniel

25 Weeks

Good news in week 25.... looks like I will be able to deliver at Los Robles Hospital! It couldn't be any closer to the house and it's where so many of my family members were born too. I feel so much better now that I have an appointment set up for when we get home, and I can better visualize my birth plan.

Not much else going on with us, but here's what our boy is up to:

Head to heels, our baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if we could see it, we'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Grenada Baby Shower!

In order of pregnancy weeks: Erin 12wks, Kathy 18 wks, Lauren 24 wks, Melanie 27 wks

Sunday was our joint baby shower and what a nice day it was! Good friends, games, yummy food, red velvet cake, presents... what more could I ask for? What an incredible time in our lives to share with one another. Thank you Amy, Bri, and Marca for such a special and memorable day! As well as a thank you to all the guest who brought delicious food and thoughtful gifts.. it was a joy to share the day with you all.

Safari art

Where ever we end up next year I'm excited to have a second bedroom for the baby... a nursery to decorate! We're planning on doing a safari theme and already have a couple of hand painted pictures to hang in his room.

My friend, Jennifer, who is a fabulous artist painted this for us as a gift and she didn't even know we were doing a safari theme!

I painted this cute little monkey to go with the other animals

23 Weeks

Halloween in Grenada is really just like any other day. No houses decked out in cobwebs and gravestones, no giddy children walking the neighborhoods in their costumes and certainly no over flowing candy isle at the grocery store. I miss the cool weather that comes around this time of year and the smell of stews and apple cider. Although Grenadian Halloween was a let down, I am excited about the thought that this time next year we will be buying a baby boy's costume! Adam already has his eye on a Darth Vador suit, as well as several other Star Wars toys. What am I going to do with two boys?! haha... can't wait actually.. they're going to be quite a pair.
Baby at 23 weeks: At about eleven inches and slightly over a pound, our baby is the size and shape of a small doll. This week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain. Our baby's weight in the next four weeks alone should double. With his sense of movement well developed by now, our baby can feel me dance. We've also been having fun watching my belly move when he kicks and squirms.

21 and 22 Weeks

I'm worried that this baby is never going to sleep. He seems to be constantly moving, just like his dad who can never sit still without shaking his leg or tapping his foot. I have a feeling he is going to be just like Adam. I've noticed this past weekend that my belly has really popped out and my belly button, while still a definite inny, has become shallower. My pregnant friend, Mel, and I are up to 60 lengths in the pool and feeling great. It's a good thing I have someone to motivate me because lately I've been addicted to our baby registry! I can't stop... I think I might need help. Everything is so cute and I want it all..and of course it's ALL necessary ;-) I'm so excited for the baby shower coming up next weekend. It's a joint shower for myself and three other pregnant friends. Grenada seems to be the place to conceive! In other news, we submitted our hospital choices for next year and we're crossing our fingers we'll get placed in Bakersfield- hmmm never thought I'd say that! But, it's the closest hospital to home and I want our son to get to see his granparents, aunts, uncles and cousins often. So, please think positive thoughts for us!

Here's how baby is doing at 22 weeks:
At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, our baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.