My dear sweet husband booked us a mini getaway in Woodinville at Willows Lodge Resort. Not too far so we wouldn’t be able to get to the hospital quickly, but not in the thick of our normal lives. Unfortunately, I got some bad news (well rather just news, not so much bad) about the possibly cause of my severe allergies. A blood test indicated I’m allergic to cow’s milk, chicken eggs and of all things, baker’s yeast. So while it’s not as bad as a wheat or gluten allergy, it certainly will make eating out and cooking in very creative opportunities.

I managed to eat an amazing meal at the Barking Frog that avoided all those allergens and to help celebrate the upcoming arrival of Baby Beard.

I had the great fortune of being hired to a consultancy in Seattle, WA for my first job in Washington. Despite being really scary starting a new job in a new town while being less than three months pregnant, they made me feel welcome and were even kind enough to provide some camaraderie, with two other ladies in our small office pregnant at the same time! We had the opportunity to celebrate the third trimester at an office gathering and took some photos.

Due dates: August 31, September 3, and September 9. Can’t get a more close knit office than that J I promise that isn’t part of the hiring process.

Sean and I don’t really like the 3D/4D images you can get these days with your ultrasound. We definitely prefer the 2D images that don’t try to make more of the images available. Plus, it’s a little traumatic when the algorithm can’t extrapolate what a particular feature and it just leaves a weird gap or dimple in the image. It also messes with the whole surprise thing.

We’ve found that not knowing the gender has made visualizing the baby post partum more difficult. We live in such a gendered world that it’s hard to conceptualize this bundle without a gender. Also, I’ve got no mother’s intuition about what we’re having so it’s a big guessing game for me.

Here’s a 3D shot though because it is still pretty neat. Although you know I couldn’t take it too seriously…

What's that you've got in there?

We now have the curtains up in the baby’s room.

Like I said in the previous post the nursery is coming along. Next addition…….shelves.

I think this is the first time I realized that pregnant women near term really do look like they are smuggling basketballs in their shirts. Seriously, what is that thing at my waist?

Just kidding, I totally know what that is… Baby Beard!

I’m pretty worn out this week, world. I’ve never, in my entire life, gone home sick from work 2 days in one week. Never. I’ve never taken this much time off for illness. And it isn’t directly pregnancy related as far as I’m concerned. I have a pretty weak immune system it turns out, especially when it comes to histamine response. I have struggled with allergies all my post pubescent life, and frankly I was not prepared for how my body would respond to pregnancy. I have to admit I’ve been thinking I was superhuman and I thought I would be cool for the last haul. I’m not giving up, but I sure am tired of being so whiny!

Fun stuff: I’ve got a really active bundle of joy. Week before last we had a fantastic time in Houston. Sure it was hot, it was humid, and frankly, it was hot and humid. But man I sure did miss me some sun and there was plenty of it in Htown. Our families sure know how to take care of us when we’re in town.

Powerful thoughts: We also got to see many great friends and it made me incredibly happy. Community and relationships are so very important for a growing family and you don’t realize how much they matter till you leave them all behind.

That’s the sentiment I had as I looked back at profile shots over the course of bambino #1’s gestation. In fact I would say I can even tell a growth spurt between 18-22 weeks. Craziness. Here’s a little progression from weeks 13-30.

I need to work on looking happier in these photos… J

This new saga in the Beard household is small, but MIGHTY!

We’re flippin’ excited and can’t wait (and are scared to death at the same time) to welcome Seajay* in September this year (or August if this baby takes after its father).

Me at 20 weeks LMP. 

*All names have been changed to protect the innocent.