3D Ultrasound

So, we did this really cool thing! We had a 3D ultrasound done at 30 weeks 4 days and could see little Lealou's face. And what's this? A smile on my little girl? This image is created with soundwaves, so it's slightly distorted, but a pretty good representation of what she looks like.

6.5 Months Down...

So here we are at 26 weeks...6.5 months along, and only 3.5 to go. Wow, it's going by so fast! Not much left of the second trimester, which has been uneventful and pleasant. I have felt great. No severe mood swings, no physical discomfort aside from my growing belly being in the way. It's not too bad. People keep telling me I look small for how far along I am. You be the judge. I think I have put on a LOT of weight, but the distribution has been more on my backside than the front. GRRRR. So, what's going on INSIDE? Well, Leah pretty much sleeps all morning, then gives me a few kicks around lunchtime, sleeps all afternoon, then launches into a dance party when I get into bed. She loves to kick at where I put pressure on my belly. So, when my arm resting on it, she aims for that arm. I suspect she has her dad's restless leg syndrome, too, as she's pretty wiggly when she is probably sleeping. This is one active little baby!

According to the Internets:

Your baby measures about 9.2 inches from crown to rump and weighs almost 2 pounds now. Its hearing is fully developed. As the fetus reacts to sounds, its pulse increases. Your baby will even move in rhythm to music. Lungs are still growing but are not yet mature. Patterns of your baby's brain waves appear like a full-term newborn. It also has patterns of sleeping and waking.

My sister is brilliant!

Y'all have to see this vid she made for her 'Christmas Greeting'. There is sound, too.

This is the first time Ben Affleck has made me laugh.

As a religous watcher of 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' the spoof Ben Affleck did of him on SNL last weekend had me ROTFLAMO old school style. The best part is the 'special comment' at the end rant about his cat Mrs. Precious Perfect being the reason he was not allowed into an apartment. He had Olbermann spot on. There is even a Mitt Romney reference.

Mrs. Precious Perfect Rant:



The whole video:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/42024/saturday-night-live-countdown-with-keith-olbermann

Hallowe'en

Ava was a beautiful Princess Leia, seen here mugging Bear.

Dale & Rachel, hardcore rockers. Marc in his new favourite hat.

Lisa with Andrew Bultman, dressed as Bobo Fett (right?)

Darth Mull (Jason)

Jessica was Queen Amidala, though she took her hat off by now.

Stephanie, stunning as always, herself. Erik was there, too, though in the most bizarre costume I didn't get a chance to catch on film.

Gladiator Babe

Sweet little Olivia.

Joey and his friend.

Travis had the best costume EVER.

Ali & Manny, dressed from 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'. Yeah, took me a few guesses, too.

Marc & Monique, oven and bun maker. So cheesy.

Tigh & Eric, with another friend. Tigh's costume takes some explaining if you don't watch Battlestar Galactica. Well, actually, even if you do.

Election Day!

You KNEW a theme T-shirt was coming...

Washington D.C. or Meetin' Mayumi

I recently returned from a trip to Washington D.C., where the primary purpose was to meet my new niece, Mayumi. And see some historical stuff. Here is the darling girl:

Here she is with her Grandma Glo:

Here we are at Thai Crossing. Look at all the space!

Oh yeah, the US Capitol was there.

I also saw the Canadian Embassy.

And here's new mom Hilary, sportin' Mayumi all around the district.

A fun trip, for sure. Though I saw a bunch of other things like Monticello and Mt. Vernon, the National Gallery of Art, the Newseum and the Mall. Nothing is as cute as these pictures of Mayumi.

Introducing...

Hello, my name is Leah Nicole Heileson.

This is my spine. Wicked cool, eh?

ARM!

These be feet.

Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal.

I'm so cool now, I have Dinos on my computer. I feel a bit like Wash, though I do not play with them. I'm not THAT big a geek, come on!

4 Months!

Folks, we're at 16 weeks of pregnancy and this is way cool. To the left is an approximate image of what the bambino looks like now. According to the Internets: "Fetus is five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight, eyebrows, eyelashes and fine hair appear. The child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault." This week I began to feel the results of the above described movement. It was kind of tickly and fluttery, very light, but definitely something is moving around in there. I can't wait to feel a really strong kick...though it will probably only happen at night when I want to sleep! VERY soon we will be finding out the gender! I have an appoinment at Fetal Fotos next Tuesday and hopefully they'll be able to tell me WHAT IT IS! So far, I have had a very easy pregnancy, which is awesome. The worst thing (aside from having to quit the Chardonnay) is how much weight I have gained. I am eating totally healthy, resisting the sweet things that sound so good right now, and sticking to 'good for me' stuff...but still the weight continues to build, and not just in the belly. If you need me this weekend, I'll be shopping for some more maternity clothes, so I don't have to wear the same shirt every other day.

O.K., Seriously. Ya gotta stop whistling.

There's this guy who I work with, whose office is not far from my 'area' and he is freaking annoying. All morning he has been whistling. Tuneless, loud, incessant. I want to stab him with an x-acto knife.

Baby Care Advice

My BGF (Best Guy Friend) Travis sent me this the other day to help me prepare for caring for an infant. It was so helpful that I thought I'd pass it along...(click to enlarge).

14 week belly shot.

Now, to clarify. This is at about 11PM of a long day wherein there was some overeating...but it looked like a real belly, so here 'tis:

Tour d'Oregon

Marc, Andy, ? and I just got back from our week-long road trip to Oregon, and it was so much fun! Andy seen here, is playing in the Sprague River.

Me, hanging out with ?, at a canyon near Crater Lake.

The Pinnacles near Crater Lake.

Sat. morning, mom and I did the 10K portion of the Crater Lake Marathon.

Mom at the Crater Lake Lodge.

Here I am at the Crater Lake Lodge. Most beautiful day EVAR.

Marc.

Mom & Dad

Now at Diamond Lake, Marc & Andy brave the cold water.

After swimming, Andy does his job as the official wierdo and cuddles with Marc.

Now, we're at Mom & Dad's in Roseburg. Andy has a bit of trouble getting used to the flooring.

Touring some Umpqua Valley Wineries while in the area.

A visit to Andrew's gravesite, Andy the dog knows exactly where it is.

My favourite vineyard of the trip, Abacela, a spanish style winery with all spanish varietals.

We finally get to Bandon, where Andy plays in the surf like he never left.

A sweet bike we saw at Sixes, Oregon. They drove it from New York!

The lighthouse at Sixes. The western most point of the continental US.

Last night camping on the McKenzie River. Enjoying some yummy soup, a hot fire, and my dog.