Folklife Festival 2011

I mentioned in a previous post that we spent some time with Bob and Lisa on Saturday.  We stopped by the Folklife Festival at Seattle Center.  I don't have much to say about Folklife as we didn't spend much time exploring or really feel really inspired by much of what we did see.  But Matt did manage to capture the best shot I've seen in awhile:

She was making her way through the crowd chatting with folks and handing out her flyers.  Although it was sure to be entertaining, we all managed to find somewhere else to look, "Hey, what's that up in the sky there?" when she came by our table.  Probably a golden opportunity lost!

That Face

Well, here it is.  Me making that ridiculous photo face again.  But I guess that's not the first thing you'll notice.  Maybe the bulging middle?  Thanks to Matt for making the attempt to capture an image.  Shame on me for not being able to just smile and enjoy the moment.

This was on our walk over to the Volunteer Park Cafe through one of the most beautiful neighborhoods around. Unfortunately, the cafe isn't open on Mondays, whether or not it's a holiday.  That's okay... it was a nice walk nevertheless.

Oh, and check out this adorable Goldendoodle hanging out with us at Victrola, the coffee shop we finally settled at on 15th Street.  Yes, that would be a Golden Retriever and Standard Poodle.  Poor guy, couldn't they give him a new name instead of something so ridiculous?  The owner said she has the goofiness of a Golden Retriever and the smarts of a Standard Poodle.  I guess that could all be true but she was also a real sweet companion for a few minutes there.  

Weekend

We had a really pleasant and productive weekend.  Spent some time with Bob and Lisa on Saturday ... went to the furniture store on Sunday ... and painted our hearts out today.  The living room is finally painted!!  And it looks fantastic.  We also managed to get a few pics of me not making my horrible "photo face" on a walk around the neighborhood today.  Those will be posted tomorrow!  

Week 30

Whoa!  That really snuck up on me.  I'm 30 weeks pregnant... so I guess technically I'm starting my 31st week now but whatever.  It means I'm definitely limited in some movement (lots of giraffe like splayed legs while trying to do any bending) and rolling over in bed is getting more complicated.

I saw my OBGYN today and everything looks good.  When I first got to the office we had to get the dreaded weight measure out of the way.  Wait, whoa!  I lost a couple pounds from the last appointment a month ago.  Nothing wrong with that but boy, was I surprised.  Especially when I've bought larger pants in the meantime.  Well, I also made an appointment for the afternoon with a general doctor.  When I got there I was almost looking forward to stepping on the scale.  And then, there!  I knew it.  Their scale showed ten pounds, TEN POUNDS heavier than the other office.  Ugh.  I went back to the OB's office and they reweighed me.  Hrm.  Defective scale.  Isn't that always the way?

This was the first appointment, and likely the only, that Matt wasn't able to join me for.  But from here on out, there will be plenty of appointments.  I'll see the OB every two weeks for the next month and then every week until my due date.  But today was a great opportunity to really chat with her and I'm feeling even more comfortable and confident that we have the right doctor.

And a photo for the day... the beautiful Seattle view from the OBGYN's office windows:

 

One Room, Finally Together

Well, while the living room is still complete upended, I have finally managed to make the office usable. Yay!  Matt is happy, lemmetellya.  We moved the rug upstairs and it make the room feel much more comfortable and cozy.  I've been in / used this room less than a total of 8 hours since we moved in (or something like that) even though I thought painting over the crazy eggplant color would make it perfect.  It's just not a habit yet to spend time in the office... instead I drag whatever papers or materials I need for whatever I'm working on down to the kitchen table and make a mess down there. Well, no more! I spent a good couple hours cleaning and organizing and here's what we have:

My side (as  if that wasn't obvious) above and Matt's side below.

This weekend the plan is to paint the living room together and put it all back together.  But that comes after a trip back out to the furniture store in West Seattle to hopefully actually purchase a sofa (and maybe a new rug!).  If we go with a regular old upholstered sofa, here's the style we're considering (although with two seat cushions and two back cushions instead of three):

But, we'll also look at fabric options for a slipcovered sofa now that Matt has expressed an inclination and this is the style we'd order in that case:

Again, it would be a two cushion vs. this three cushion.  The main difference is the taller legs (which the slipcover will not cover) and the rolled arms.  I like this sofa... it's a little girlier!  Still a little hesitant about the slipcovers.  They're not like they used to be though and we sat on one of their slipcovered sofas in Portland.  Very neat and tightly covered.  And if we pick a fabric that is machine washable, I hear it's the best thing if you have kids and/or dogs.  Hopefully we'll have both eventually!

Anyways, I'm sure my father is thrilled to read about room organization and sofa selection... certain he was going to find here only photos of my growing belly.  Those are coming!  But I'm also trying to recreate our phone conversations while you're a little out of reach... so instead of having to listen to me ramble on about this stuff, now you get to read about it.  Hey, it comes with pictures!

Visit to La Conner

This picture is from a visit to La Conner several weeks ago.  We were actually on our way to the Skagit Tulip Festival but while we were having lunch at the La Conner Brewing Company we noticed the foot traffic outside on First Street was increasing with lots of excited kids and adults carrying folding chairs.  Hmmm... a parade maybe?  Yes!  So we stuck around to watch the small town parade and decided that the drive and visit to La Conner was enough of an outing for the day and headed home.

Staying Active

I think one thing moving to a new city did for me, besides making me ridiculously happy, is getting me to walk, walk, walk! It's how I like to explore a new place and especially a new home. So Seattle's keeping me on the move.

Other than the walking, I'm taking a prenatal yoga class at Seattle Yoga Arts which has been the best yoga class I've taken since the yoga I did with my dear friend Julianna years and years ago.  It's relaxing and invigorating and taught by an OBGYN so I feel well taken care of.  I also took a shallow water aerobics class at a local community center and if that pool wasn't so darn packed full of little old ladies dodging each other as we criss-crossed the pool, I might have gone back.  It was good exercise!  Other than that, Matt and I have tried to keep up our routine of going to the gym together.  Our walk there and back together makes the whole gym-thing enjoyable.  Oh, and each machine has a personal television!  Ha ha ha.  I get my fix for junky morning television programs and can then go on with my day.  :)

Week 27

Don't think I have a problem with starting something and then moving right on to other things?  Well, take a look at this blog!  Besides the lame excuse of moving and settling into a new city, I think I just don't have a habit of writing any more.  Not in a journal, not on a blog, not letters or cards.  I also need to ratchet down the pressure to write something good, you know?  This blog is not a memoir or some grand novel.  It's a way to feel close to friends and family far away and record a bit of this journey.  Blogs are interesting things...

So, the Third Trimester!  Overall, I'm feeling great.  My belly is no longer disguised by black sweaters and scarves (or maybe it never was!).  It's out there!  But I can do this size belly.  I feel pretty good, pretty cute.  But  then I remember that our little girl is going to quadruple in weight in the next three months.  Wait.  WHAT??  So, of course, I'm nervous about the remaining changes my body is going to go through.  Currently, I feel only slightly limited in my movements and activity:  easily winded on hills, overwhelmingly tired on occasion, and finding myself making logistical ajustments as I go to tie my shoes.