Week 28 is here!

We are officially in the "third trimester" now! Woo hoo! We cannot believe it has gone this quickly! Baby Girl Howell is active, strong, healthy and growing . . . and so is Mama . . . and Dad. Pete is being so sweet - he swears he is gaining some sympathy weight too - "all for us" of course!

I was reading in my favorite pregnancy journal today and it reads, "Pregnancy is one of the three periods in a woman's life when there seems to be a lowering of the ability to cope with the emotional experiences of life. The other two times are at puberty and menopause."

I laugh. That is code / warning to husbands and friends "BACK THE HELL UP, DO WHAT I SAY BECAUSE I JUST MIGHT BE IRRATIONAL AND HAVE NO REASON TO BE... WHAT - SO - EVER!" Luckily, I have been a complete angel and have had NO moodiness whatsoever, naturally. ;)

I am proud to announce that another family member will be having a baby this summer... Pete's cousin's in Madison, WI, Bridget and Brandon just informed us that they are having a baby too! ANOTHER cousin - there is nothing better than cousins.

I haven't taken many "frontal" shots because you couldn't ever really see any "roundage." But now you can, so here you go. You might also notice that my belly button now has a "top lip" I like to call it - kind of strange. I hear the whole darn thing will be poking out soon.

So, the baby. This week she is starting to see light and darkness, she can stimulate herself to breath (i.e. if she were born today she could possibly breath on her own without ventilation), she can regulate her own temperature now, and her eyes move in their sockets. She weighs about 2 1/4 lbs.

I will begin to have more "Braxton Hicks" contractions in order to "practice" for the birth, traditionally women gain about 11 pounds between now and birth time, and my weekly weight gain should be between 3/4 to 1/2 a pound a week. So far I am holding steady at 8 lbs total. But the newest and first cravings I have had are chocolate shakes - so I am expecting a spike of the scales soon!

Other child news (of the furry variety) --- WE BOUGHT ANOTHER HORSE! Helga, a 10 year old Norwegian Fjord from Victor, Montana will join our pack soon. She has been ridden lots and driven some (yay for buggy rides) and we plan on using her a lot this summer and hopefully breeding her in the spring, along with the other mares. Welcome Helga! You will love your new home!

Even MORE child news: you get a sneak peak at the newest Roger's baby. Madeleine and Mike welcomed a BEAUTIFUL baby boy into the world last Wednesday. 7 lb 9 oz - William Craig. We are quite smitten with him. Pete has insisted on visiting them practically every day since he arrived.