37.5 Weeks and Counting

I suppose that I have to take advantage of this lull before the storm, by updating our blog often now... because in a couple of more weeks, you may not hear from us for a while:) Well, you will probably hear some big news and see some adorable pictures, and then hear silence as we learn to function with a third voice in the house (even if that voice does not yet use coherent words).

All that to say that I am writing a post, when really there is not a whole lot to say:) Another week has gone by, which means only one more until my husband is home!!! And I thought that it would be nice to let you see what I am looking like these days... now that I am 37.5 weeks and counting. As of this moment, (well, this exact moment I have a bum being decidedly pushed out on the right side of my stomach, which is a common occurance these days) Kaiya has dropped a ways (and I now understand why pregnant women waddle, because it definitely is rather uncomfortable having her head so far down) and I have been having "fake" contractions for a couple of weeks. My doctor explained to me that that was what the tightening of the stomach was - but there is nothing to go into labour and delivery for until these tightening moments are also painful. My doula, Laurie, has made a valiant effort to explain what "painful" means in this sense, but it seems that this will have to be one of those things that I hopefully just know when I feel it. I was also a little concerned that my water may break while I was in the pool, and I would not know it. Apparently, though, as my very patient doula also explained to me, it just keeps on leaking... so I would know once I got out of the pool, because I wouldn't stop dripping. All of these interesting things that I never had occasion to know before now.

And as for my question about nesting, I think I have received the answer this week. I spent Wednesday afternoon cooking enough to fill our freezer with meals for when the baby arrives. And Thursday afternoon buying a new vacuum cleaner so our house would be nicely vacuumed, and scotchguard to protect our recliner/rocker chair in the baby room, and a vinyl cover to put on our mattress in case my water breaks while I'm in bed (thanks for the suggestion, Mom!). Well, the list goes on. I think that I'm beginning to feel that "compulsion" to have things prepared.

Well, not many more pregnancy updates to go... and then it will be baby updates! And rather than more pictures of me and my growing middle, there will be pictures of someone much cuter! Stay tuned...

Snow Festivals and New Home

This has been quite the ordeal - trying to finally update our blog. With interesting internet access at the library, and serious issues getting our internet hooked up in our home, I have finally managed to begin a blog update (against all odds!).

Having said that, our last month has been a whirlwind of unpacking combined with exploring. We managed to take in both the Hirosaki Snow Festival and the Lake Towada Snow and Light Festival. Thankfully, we went to the Hirosaki one first (it may have been a bit of a let down had we gone to Lake Towada first). The issue was that this winter has not been one of much snow (for this area), so the Hirosaki festival did not have a lot to work with. It was still very beautiful, and the castle (top picture) was gorgeous at night time.

Abi's question was, on a scale of 1-5, how did we like the festival. We agreed that it was around a 4, but the experience of the drive there (which was close to 3 hours) and learning what a snow lantern was (that they were not hanging lanterns, but rather standing lanterns with electric flashlight type things inside), was priceless.

The Lake Towada festival was the next weekend, and it is up in the mountains. So, it was a little more treachorous drive, but also gave us the greater reward of plenty of snow (read: snow stage, snow igloos, snow sculptures, etc.).

The highlights of the Lake Towada festival included a very interesting musical performance - an odd stringed instrument, as well as different drums than I have seen before, with plenty of Japanese commentary scattered between numbers.

We're still not sure if the main performance was supposed to be the lady who was talking (maybe she was a comedian??) or the musical performers. They had a fabulous musician, though, who played a type of flute, and that was my favourite part. Also, watching Sadie watch the fireworks was pretty funny (she's 11 months old), as she really wanted to see them, but they were too bright. So, she had her head tilted back and eyes squinting and blinking often. The ride to and from the festival was also an adventure, as 7 of us (6 adults and 1 baby) all went in our Mazda Proceed (which is a Japanese Mazda SUV with a third row of seats that flips up in the back).

Now, for a couple of pictures of the house, and an updated picture of my growing belly (picture taken at 27 weeks)!

Getting Fat

I have told many of you over the past while that I would send pictures as I grew, so, I am finally putting that into action. I had Hyatt take a quick picture of me last night before we went out, because my outfit was one that particularly showed my growing belly. I apologize for the background, although it does give you a glimpse of where we have been living for the last 4 weeks. So, for that reason I did not crop the background out of the picture. Ah, yes, the Misawa Inn. Only 4 more days and counting:)