Week 32

This week we begin week 32 and it's hard to believe that we have approximately 8 weeks left before Cletus enters the world - by some other name I hope! I've been feeling well, despite some minor back pain, and am learning tricks to manage my energy. I'm happy to report that I'm back to regular sleep once again, and it's reassuring to know that's still possible. Our weekly photos have gotten a bit mixed up with the transition to the new parents-grade camera, so here's the most recent pic of week 31 taken last weekend at the the Elephant Walk Bed & Breakfast in Stillwater, MN. Jason and I spent a fantastic weekend there together to focus on each other. Just like people recommended we do so before our wedding, this was a great chance for us to spend time away from distractions and enjoy each other!

Baby Shower in Wisconsin Rapids

Last weekend we traveled to Wisconsin Rapids for a hometown baby shower. We got to town early enough on Friday evening to go out for a good old fashioned Wisconsin fish fry with my family - it's been way too long! My mom and sister-in-law, Sara, hosted a baby shower for us on Saturday with about 20 of our family, neighbors, and family friends. It was great to see my grandmothers and aunts, and so many other women who shaped my memories growing up in that same house. Everyone was tremendously generous, including some beautiful handmade gifts. The best part is watching my mom's excitement build as she prepares to be Grammy for the first time!!

The Nursery

Preparations for the baby's arrival are moving right along, and the long unused bedroom off our 2nd floor bathroom has come to life! I wanted a neutral color that wasn't yellow or green. I liked the idea of orange, but tried to stay away from anything too peachy, so we have ORANGE! We are a little overwhelmed by how bright the color is, but are going to let it sit for a few weeks to see how it looks with a rug, furniture, and baby accessories in it. The crib and dresser have arrived and we're waiting on the rocker. If our child has problems sleeping, maybe we'll have to tone down the color eventually (or buy tiny sunglasses!) Thanks to Jason for all of his work on the plaster, ceiling, trim, and walls in this room. ;)

Baby Bump Pics

OK, Erin, this one's for you. We've been taking photos of my tummy every week since week 10 of this pregnancy, or October 30th for those of you not tied to this schedule like I am. My far away friends have been asking for photos, so here they are, probably my first really embarrassing pics online, but I'm sure it will only get worse from here. Here's a sampling of our progression so far!

Week 10


Week 14 on the Caribbean cruise!


Week 18 - Christmas


Week 22

Dance Party Cletus

Let the kicking begin! We certainly have an active little baby living within! I've had fun in the last few weeks feeling little Cletus kick at all times of the day; during meetings at work has been the most fun as it takes me by surprise. The baby is usually quite active before bedtime so that Jason gets to feel some movement. Jason and Cletus are working on getting to know each other through a series of questions and then a "one kick for yes, two kicks for no" response - ha! I have noticed the movement calm down quite a bit when I'm at choir on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings. I'm hoping that music will be a great source of comfort for all of us once baby arrives! Other than that, no real baby news to report. We're zeroing in on day care and nursery furniture decisions. It will feel good to get some of these things crossed off the list!

LeaderShape in Minnesota!

I'm just reentering the world after a week of LeaderShape at Camp Ihduhapi outside of the Twin Cities last week, mostly below zero! It was a fantastic week with an excellent group of students and staff. This year, LeaderShape was especially fulfilling for me because it was the culmination of a lot of work bringing this program to Minnesota. LeaderShape has been around on college campuses for 22 years as a leadership development curriculum focused on living & leading with integrity. I believe that for most students it's the first time that anyone has asked them to voice their aspirations for their own contributions to the world, their core values, and made them think about how those core vales should line up with every day actions. I could go on forever, but I really believe this is important work and I'm proud of them all. Now I'm excited to move forward and figure out how to sustain this program at the University of Minnesota for years to come!

Ultrasound Pics

We promised that we'd post some ultrasound pics for those who want a first glimpse at Cletus in the womb. Click on each photo to see it in larger form. Our 20 week ultrasound confirmed that all is well after many measurements. How do those techs have any idea where to find these things inside? Crazy! Anyway, the photos are below. I was disappointed that we didn't get more clear images, but it was magical watching the little one move around.


We also had an ultrasound at 12 weeks for a first round genetic screen and I think these images are precious too!