MM is headed to Africa and Europe, O My!

MM is about to be a world-wide traveler, for the 2nd time since she's been in my belly!
The first time we just didn't know she was there yet... Not negligent parents, just unaware :)
The story is, we were headed to Africa over December to do some planning for this trip that we're about to take. On the way we stopped in France for some meetings with people who we're working alongside with both in Africa and elsewhere. But it was a NIGHTMARE.

Yes I was pregnant and didn't know it, so the obvious nightmarish, confusing symptoms were alive and well - vomiting, extreme fatigue, heightened senses to say the least... But then there was the evening we spend sleeping in a hallway since the hotel we booked with (in France, in December...yeah. bur.) closed at NINE PM. What kind of hotel locks it's doors at NINE PM? Nobody knows, but there we were. Locked out. One in the morning. In France. In December. Cold. Unknowingly Pregnant.

The good times don't stop there. We slept in a hallway until the hotel opened at 6am and then were showed to our room that we STILL HAD TO PAY FOR. But on our way to our room, we found a stash of pillows and blankets, all hotel fresh and folded, waiting to be used. STEPS FROM WHERE WE SLEPT. Under coats. On running shows and scarves as pillows. Yeah. Ouch.

So needless to say MM has had many adventures, some overseas, since she's been around, but this next one is sure to be memorable - for us if not her :)
We'll be away for 8 weeks in total - 6 weeks in Africa, 2 weeks in France afterward to relax (yes, the glorious fact is that our plane for our work trip flies through France to get to Africa, so we can delay our trip home and stay in France for no extra expenses!).

So excited for us and MM.... the stories we'll tell her when she grows up :)

mm @ 22 weeks!

MM is 11 inches and almost 1 pound this week!!! She has lips, eyelids, eyebrows, and tiny tooth buds for BOTH adult and baby teeth! Plus her eyes and pancreas are in final stages of formation and then she basically just needs to grow and fatten up the next couple of months until she's "ready" Plus they say she's the length though not weight of a spaghetti squash this week :)

GONE 'TIL JULY

We're heading on a work trip to Africa for 6 weeks then taking advantage of our location in the world and taking our vacation afterward in France!

First family vacation :D

So I won't be blogging until at least July 1st. WOW. This will be hard, I LOVE blogging, it's become part of my day, even if only the 5 minutes it takes to write a post. Oh well, adventures are to be had!

See you in 8-ish weeks!

the mom club

I feel like since becoming pregnant, every mom out there and I have this weird special bond, that can't be explained by any other thing. It's like I've entered this club and now I get the inside scoop on all-things-mom: best deals on baby related products, tips, crazy personal health information and conversation, you name it.

Take today.
I'm at the dentist and my hygienist who I've met twice in my life starts telling me about her 1-year-old and she "finally got him off the boob".
Am I hearing this correctly?
But it's completely normal, because I'm in the club.
Then she goes on and on about how expensive baby things are (this I can relate to having just finished my registry and feeling super guilty that I'm actually asking people to BUY ME this stuff that costs a fortune).
But it doesn't end there over a mutual hatred yet appreciation for "the good stuff" - you know, not cheaping out and buying the less expensive baby gear that simply doesn't last as long or isn't as high quality.

THEN SHE OFFERS ME HER BREAST PUMP.

She's only used it once, it was the same brand that they give you to try at all the Montreal Hospitals and she had two and now needs zero since we all know her son is "off the boob". She said she'll just bring it to her office this week and we can come get it. Simply to save me the money of buying a new one (though I'll buy the breast shields and bottles obviously)!

Her final words, "hey I know what it's like, I'm a mom too"

Love being in the club :)

2 Weeks of Bumpage

@ almost 21 weeks {note the belly button that was formally an inny...}

boom! prego!

and again @ almost 22 weeks on the way to the worst Dentist appointment ever {it's true what they say, pregnant women's gums GUSH at the dentist}

I think I look less pregnant at almost 22 weeks than I did at almost 21 weeks... all in the clothes or lack there of I guess {in my new Old Navy maternity skirt!}

This lady is having a baby girl :)
{I don't think I'll get tired of saying that for a LONG time!}