These are always a pain

It's always hard to start something new, especially when it feels like you're picking up in the middle of a story. And this isn't a particularly interesting story, but I thought it might be nice for family/friends to know what was going on, especially considering that this whole pregnancy thing causes a great deal of change and variation.



So, here we go. Today is officially 24 weeks, which means that in 13 weeks, Rhia could be born and be considered full-term. Eeek. That being said, she could also go another 18. I'm thinking 18 would be a bit excessive, and I would be forced to hand her an eviction notice in a grouchy manner. I guess she'll come when she's good and ready. In a moment of "oh crap, we're not prepared at all and maybe we should start"-ness, we ordered a changing table online the other day (this one: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2310696), which should be here eventually, pending that Snoqualmie Pass ever becomes genuinely passable. It shipped from somewhere over on the west side 2 days ago--and considering that today is the first day the pass has been open in 4 days, I'm giving the table a bit. But it is exciting, and sort of pushes us in that preparing for Rhia direction. Al and I are procrastinators and avoid planning most things, so it feels like a big step. Other than a few onsies and pairs of teeny-tiny socks, we had done little else to prepare. We'll get there.

She's moving all over the place, which is pretty fun. She responds when we talk to her, and if she kicks and we sort of push back, she kicks back. It's a fun game, which I spend a good bulk of my evenings playing. When I sit and watch my belly, the whole thing moves now, instead of just a little spot. I can tell that she's a little more crowded than she was a few weeks ago. There's nothing quite as incredible as feeling her move around, and it's really cool to feel her getting stronger and stronger.

Otherwise, things are snowy and cold and overall creating a sick-of-winter feel for both of us. Arizona isn't looking so bad right now.



And, for your enjoyment, a most-recent picture of my enormous blob-like belly, taken at 23 weeks, 3 days: