Pregnancy, Week 30

It's the beginning of week 30, just about ten more weeks until Caleb arrives, and not leaving much time left for us to prepare the house for his arrival. Nesting I suppose is what it's referred to, and we've a long way to go. The painters are finally coming in tomorrow to begin work on the nursery and a few other rooms, leaving the carpet to be replaced. Once those two are complete, the remainder of the renovations should be fairly minor. Let's hope all goes well.

Caleb is doing well and still very active. His movements no longer feel like little jabs any more, but more like quick strokes across Jae's belly. They're even visible, sending Jae's belly shaking with each stroke. It's kinda like he's waving hello from within her. I just smile and stroke Jae's tummy hoping to feel Caleb's next wave. I like to think it's his hand that's pressing against her belly, and so when he moves again, it's as if he's giving me a high five. :) Just ten more weeks.

So as I was setting up the expose for Jae's weekly pic, I took the test shot below and was surprised at how it turned out. It's a bit over exposed in the lower left hand corner due to the off camera flash, but I like the effect. It's a bit more of a profile shot of Jae's tummy too, a nice change from the usual 3/4 view.


Here's a shot Jae took of me while I was setting up the flash. The CLS was enabled so the flash fired as Jae took the picture. Pretty neat effect.

Pregnancy, Week 29

Week 29 and all is well. Jae and I began our birthing classes last Wednesday. The first session was very informative, outlining much of what can be expected during delivery and all that leads to it. The dreaded delivery video was even shown, both of the child birth and something I never really considered . . . the placenta birth. Not quite sure what to make of it just yet, but I've been told the actual experience isn't half as . . . let's say, unsettling. I think I'll try my best to remain beside Jae during the entire delivery as best I can. The view from mommy's perspective I think is not so . . . intimate. I just can't wait to finally hold Caleb. Nine weeks and counting.

Best Tacos in Plano

Jae and I stumbled across some of the best tacos we've ever had at Home Depot of all places. I was just picking up a few things for the house and as we were leaving we came across the tool shed turned snack stand placed right in front of the store. It didn't look like much at the time, hardly even noticable except for the aroma coming from it. It was so good we had to stop in for a peek and I'm glad we did.

The tacos above don't look like much, but man do they taste good. And as strange as this may sound, the meat used to fill the tacos were cooked in a crock pot, not grilled. Yeah, I know, hardly sounds like a taco to me too, but it was excellent. The meat was tender and juicy. It was covered not only in the fresh diced onions shown in the photo, but with sweet caramelized onions that were cooked along with it. And the spices, oh the spices. Fantastic. It was so good, Jae and I tried returning a couple of days later while on our way to another store near by just to pick up a few tacos, but unfortunately the stand was closed. We are officially hooked.

Here's a shot of the taco stand. Color coordinated to fit Home Depot's decor and all. Too funny.


And another wide angle shot of it including the Home Depot just off of 75 and 15th. What a find?!

Hamming it up on Thanksgiving

Just a couple of pictures taken of Jae and Lydia just after Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone else was too stuffed to take pictures.

"Peace!"

Ah like aunt like niece. Lydia with her best peace sign too.

Apple Peeling Made Easy

Peeling apples has never been easier with this apple peeler I bought at Bed Bath Beyond. I usually bake an apple pie for Thanksgiving and Christmas each year, and as much as I enjoy do it, peeling ten apples with just a paring knife can be a real pain in the wrist. So this year I thought I'd do things differently and buy the contraption to the left. I had seen ads on it floating around the internet and had my doubts on its effectiveness, but after having used it first hand, I'll never bake another pie without it ever again. Not only does it peel, but it also cores and slices, all with the simple turn of a crank, practically taking all of the work out of peeling apples. Love it. To the left is a shot of it peeling, just before it begins coring and slicing.

And here's one of it peeling, coring, and slicing. The slices form a tight spiral that's easy to cut into perfect quarter chunks -- just the right size to fill a pie.


And here's a profile shot that includes the turning mechanism. Easy as pie!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!!

Pregnancy, Week 28

Well, after two weeks of missed pregnancy updates, I'm finally getting around to our latest post. Life's been abnormally hectic these days, and is finally beginning to resume its normal pace. There was an especially worrisome bout of cramping over the weekend that left Jae home bound. Fortunately, it wasn't anything too alarming. Aside from the unbearable pain Jae felt throughout the ordeal, Caleb was doing fine (and still is) and without any signs of prematurely being born. The little guys doing just fine. Still kicking away at mommy's bladder with all the gusto as before. :)

The pain eventually passed and Jae is doing much better. The only pain that arises these days is usually due to over eating. Belly real estates been awfully scare now that Caleb's 28 weeks old and over two pounds, leaving mommy with little space to ingest as much food as she once was able to. So on the days she tends to eat a bit more than what would normally be comfortable for her, we try to walk around the block more.

Boy, it's tough being pregnant, isn't it. With three more months to go, I hope Jae will make it through with minimal pain and discomfort. And with some luck, the second pregnancy will be more pleasant.

Arkansas Fall Foliage 2008

Jae and I spent the weekend in northwest Arkansas, checking out the fall foliage. The pregnancy has forced us to take things pretty easy, leaving us with very few traveling options. So I dug around the internet and discovered that Arkansas of all places has some of the most brilliant fall foliage, possibly the next best thing to New England. And so off we went on a little road trip to take in some fresh air and some of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen. Behold, Arkansas and the beauty of fall.

Taken at Prairie Grove Battlefield Memorial Park. I've never seen a tree so orange in all my life. Isn't it amazing? Jae just had the best time. She's so into this kind of stuff. Can you see her just beneath the tree tossing leaves into the air? She's such a kid at heart.


Orange, red, yellow, and greens of such brilliance. What a sight? And what's more is the photo just doesn't do the trees justice. They were even more radiant in person.


Here's Jae tossing more leaves beneath another bright yellow tree. I've got the cutest wife. I hope Caleb is having a good time too. :)


Look at her. She just can't get enough.


She loves it so much, she's beginning to sprout leaves out of her ears. :)


Here's one of us together.


And another. Jae thought I'd look good with a leaf behind my ear too. Gosh, the things I do for her.


Here's one I took of Jae as I was setting up the exposure for the shot. I don't think she was expecting it. I couldn't help resist posting the photo though. She's just too cute not to. Just look at the face.


Here are a few pics taken along the Cossatot River. Just as we were about to reach the river, we came across these trees and had to stop for a quick photo.


And maybe another photo or two of Jae . . .


. . . and one of the largest and hairiest caterpillars I've ever seen. Almost looks like a pipe cleaner, huh?


Okay, and finally, a couple of Jae taken off of the Talimena Trail. Jae and her finest bunny impersonation taken in front off leaves of the deepest reds.


She's just so cute. I can't wait until Caleb reaches an age when he'll be able to appreciate these. He'll get to see how beautiful his mommy was even when pregnant with him. :)