Red Robin Celebrations

Doesn't this guy look happy?

 

It could be because he's about to eat a Mud Pie...

or it could be because he's finally finished with his OB/GYN rotation...

or it could be because he is now officially a Vanderbilt 4th Year Medical Student!

Most likely, it's a combination of all the above and more.

 

We had fun celebrating Brian's accomplishment at our favorite place to eat. 

We also celebrated 36 weeks of baby

 

and 5 1/2 years of being married

 

 I think we're as crazy (and maybe as clueless?) as ever.

Here's to many more Red Robin trips celebrating many more adventures!

Summer Time

There was one thing I really wanted to do before Little Girl comes:

Kayaking!

....at 34 weeks pregnant?

Well, let's be honest, kayaking on the Duck River in Columbia, TN is less like

 

(source: listofimages.com)

and a lot more like

(source: www.dltk-kids.com)

but it's so much fun and I knew that there would be no way to do it again once we have a baby.

 

We enjoyed the sunshine, cool water and beautiful Tennessee scenery.

We saw lots of turtles!

We even had great company:

I think we all got toasted, but we had a blast and it was totally worth it! 

And here I am at 35 weeks:

"Proud to be a Vandy! Homegrown in Vanderbilt"

I think it's still too big for her!

Midnight Snack

Brian gone on a night shift + Natalie no morning responsibilities = 

MonkeyBread ("skinny" recipe) at midnight.

 Pathetic? Maybe. But definitely quite yummy.

33 weeks

It's unmistakable, Little Girl is growing! 

This week she is apparently the size (4.5 lbs and 17 inches long) of a pineapple, which sounds really uncomfortable. At least this week's comparison is a fruit that I can visualize... last week was a jicama. What the heck? The point of this whole vegetable/fruit weekly comparison thing is to give me a visual that I can relate to since I can't actually see my baby. Using a jicama then, since I have never seen one, defeats the purpose. (But maybe I am just ignorant and everyone else in the world knows exactly what a jicama is.)

Things Little Girl is enjoying right now:

Rolling from one side of my abdomen to the other.

Sticking round hard parts of her body out on my right side (never my left).

Giving Brian "high fives" when he pokes her.

Experimenting with her athletic skills when I am trying to sleep.

Bumping against the inside of my lower ribs when I try to slouch. 

Sleeping (or at least, not bumping around) when I am on an elliptical machine. 

Things I am enjoying right now:

Going to the gym in the morning (and taking as long as I want! No rush to get to work!).

Reading books about natural childbirth (just finished "Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth" and "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Natural Childbirth." Currently reading "Your Best Birth." My definite favorite has been the Idiot's Guide).

Wearing T-shirts and yoga pants/pajamas every day.

Taking naps whenever I feel sleepy.

Getting together with friends (and having an AWESOME baby shower!-- maybe pictures will come later)

Cleaning our apartment.

Working on projects.

Quilting.

Here is my first finished project of the summer-- a quilt for Little Girl's room!

 I love the turquoise and pink and gray together! I just can't decide if I like the front or the back of the quilt better. It is a nice size (about 50x75") for the recliner chair that we have in her room.

This week I am determined to be extra productive, although Brian is on Labor & Delivery night shifts (6pm-7am) all week, so his sleep schedule may throw a wrench in my plans for productivity.