Thanksgiving & Growing Baby

Since our last blog, we received two pieces of happy news just in time for Christmas. First, our dear friends Tricia & Mick (whom we met in Austin during school) are having a baby in June. This was especially happy news since they have long been praying for a baby. Also our old friends Sarah and Bruce of Denver are having a baby in July. New babies everywhere! It will be neat that our kids will all be around the same age.

Mom and Rob were here visiting for Thanksgiving. They drove down from Montrose. It was great to have them here, and the weather couldn’t have been better. We ate lots of holiday food, and washed it down with Texas barbecue at the Salt Lick. We also visited the little town of Gruene and hung out at home. It was relaxing and fun. Mom of course couldn’t keep her hands off my belly. She is one excited nana-to-be, let me tell you. Baby performed for her and Rob, punching and kicking enough to feel and see.

Our baby is getting stronger everyday. In fact, at our Dr. Polon appointment today I had gained 4 more pounds for a grand total of 11 pounds. I believed it because my belly is definitely feeling heavier. Since I will probably gain at least 25 pounds total, it will be interesting to see how much my belly grows in these last three months! Dr. P suggested that if I have some champagne on New Year's I should be sure to wash it down with a nice vodka, which shows you his humor. Overall he is happy with how I'm doing and said I am a textbook case for a healthy pregnancy so that made Drew and I feel good.

Drew and I are enjoying this special time. It’s Christmas all over Austin, and we have taken time for little pleasures like Christmas lights, gingerbread villages, and curried mussels on chilly nights at a favorite romantic Indian restaurant. God has blessed us in so many ways -- with each other, a baby, Abby, a loving family and caring friends. Sometimes we wonder how it happenend that we have been given so much fortune.

I am going to Denver tomorrow through the weekend. I am sad to leave Drew for that long, but I want to go to my company Christmas party. It will be good for me to see my colleagues since I won't be traveling back for a while. Also I will get to see my brother and Dad which will be a nice treat. They have not seen my belly yet so it will be fun for them to feel the baby kick.

Drew was just saying that he needs to blog a dad update, so we will post some Christmas pictures soon. And of course an updated picture of the growing belly!