Like Father, Like ?????

We had our 20-week sonogram and have decided to not find out the sex of the baby, but we do know a few things:

1. Baby is in the 70th Percentile for growth.
2. Baby is extremely active - the lady administering the sonogram kept remarking how mobile our little one was and was having a hard time getting a clear shot.
3. Lil' Spence knows where its forehead is.
4. We are certain of the father.....

An End to Our Summer

Baby, Pat and I are well and gearing up for the school year. Pat begins his Ph.D program next week, and his students are currently moving into the School of the Art Institute residence halls. We've been honored to have lots of family and friends this summer and hope to see them again very soon.

We're wrapping up our fifth month and finally felt the baby move two weeks ago during the judging portion of the television show Project Runway. Perhaps we're growing a designer?? Mama could always use new clothes.

Here are some photos from the last few weeks...

A fantastic surprise included a visit from my college roommate, Caroline Price. Busy as a social worker in Nashville, she's improving the lives of others with the aid of her beautiful red hair and Southern charm.

Pat checking in to make sure Lil' Spence and I are well and comfortable.

We keep trying to tell Ella that a big change is on the way, but she seems unconvinced.

Farewell to Andrea
Sadly, we're having to say bon voyage to our friend Andrea, who is leaving for a MFA program in ceramics at Cranbrook College. We are thrilled to see her go towards great things, but will miss her terribly. We were able to take out our sadness on bowling pins at her goodbye party. 

 

 

Bébé Bien Nourri

We had a delightful visit from my Uncle Van and Aunt Rosie, who treated us to an amazing dinner at renowned Charlie Trotter's Restaurant. We had the honor of dining at the chef's table in the kitchen and were able to watch these geniuses at work. We took a picture with the Chef de Cuisine and I've never seen Pat look so happy. His smile gets even bigger when he's been fed well.

We've been laughing that this baby has been fed better as a fetus than most people ever will. We're terrified that Lil' Spence is going to come out demanding to have a bottle presented to him/her, sniff the nipple and swirl the milk, before tasting.


At Charlie Trotter's, we were each presented a box like this containing unbelievable desserts.

 

A very full group including us, Aunt Rosie and Uncle Van and their friends, M.L. and Bruce

Naranja is Spanish for Orange


Baby is growing bigger each week (we're entering week 16) — he or she is as long as four and a half inches right now, about the size of a large navel orange. Right now Naranja is practicing breathing, sucking, and swallowing. A few weeks ago we had our first tri-mester round-up and saw the little fruit bouncing all over the womb, kicking, curling toes, and moving those little arms and legs in our sonogram. It's an active little critter with a healthy heartbeat.
By now, the ears are positioned properly on the sides of the head (they used to be in the neck) and the eyes are moving from the side of the head to the front of the face —less gecko, more baby.

I've had a few health adventures recently - got the stomach flu last week and then three days later a lovely bladder issue which landed me in the emergency room for eight hours. Everything's A-OK, but poor Pat has been exercising those "for better or worse" vows, seeing the worst sides most recently. He's been such a pro and wonderful caretaker - I'm a very lucky lady.