OB appointments are very anti-climactic

So, there's really nothing new going on. I am currently at 23 weeks and everyone says that I definitely look pregnant now. This is good news as I'd rather look pregnant than fat (or JUST fat)!

I had my 22 week check up last week, and I guess everything seemed to be going along normally. Usually I get numbers for the baby's heart rate and how my belly is measuring, but they didn't give me anything this time. Well, the only thing I got was my blood pressure which was around 175/65 or something like that, which she said was very good and pretty close to where it always is, so that wasn't anything too exciting. The only news I got was the knowledge that the pain I've been having (I'll spare you the details) is totally normal, there's nothing I can do about it, and it's just going to get worse! I'm really looking forward to the next 4 months after hearing that, let me tell you! It's very sad because I always get excited leading up to an appointment, but nothing ever happens so I'm not sure why. I mean, unless it's an ultrasound, or closer to the end when some "progress" might be going on, but even then... what are you going to do about it until December? But I guess I should be thankful that nothing more exciting is going on, because if there was, it probably wouldn't be a good thing.

I found out at my benefits fair last week that my bone density is on the low side. It's barely low, but low nonetheless, especially for someone my age.  I figure Cranberry must like to suck me dry of my calcium like Nate did with my iron, so I have been trying very hard since then to get in at least 4 servings per day. It's really not that hard, especially when one can be a bowl of ice cream! Speaking of which, this girl definitely seems to like her ice cream because every time I have it she moves and grooves for awhile afterward. Peter even got to feel her doing her ice cream dance last night!

Nate left for an 8 day trip with his Grandpa Jack and Nana Dianne on Friday. I tried not to think about it too much before he left, and even on the drive to the airport, but as soon as they started wheeling his stroller away I started to break down! I don't know if it was pregnancy hormones or just a concerned mom (or both), but, yeah, I was the crazy pregnant lady crying at the airport. Oh well. They started the trip in Minnesota where Peter's sister Patty and her family live. Nate had a great time there because he got to play with his cousin Georgia - she will be 4 next month. From there they drove to Wisconsin where Dianne's sister lives, and should currently be in or around Illinois where Peter's sister Beth lives. He will get to see some cousins there too, but they're pretty much my age. I've gotten to talk to him every night and he seems to be missing us, but not TOO much. That's exactly how I want it! :)

Nate, Georgia and Henry

*Update - Just got a call from Jack, Dianne and Nate and he's doing fine. He didn't want to talk to me so he could play the piano!

With Nate gone, Peter and I are taking advantage of the "free" time by painting the nursery! We got the majority of the painting done, but were having some issues with our stencil and are currently at an impasse as to how the pattern should continue at certain corners. We really should have planned better. I will post some "in progress" pictures, then post some when it's done a little later.

Step one - "Vanilla" about halfway down

Step 2 - Purple about halfway up

Step 3 - Polka dots!

We also took a day off on Sunday to celebrate our 4th anniversary a few days late. We went to brunch in Flat Rock, a little mountain town in NC and it was delicious! We then went to a pick your own orchard and got a peck of apples. MMMMM... I love apple season! We had planned on driving to see some waterfalls, but decided it was a little too far (a total of a 3 hour drive there and back) so we came home, and went to see a movie. We have to keep our anniversary tradition alive! the rest of the week we've just been hanging out at home and getting as much done as we can without a little guy to worry about running off or feeding. As nice as the free time has been I really miss the little monkey and can't wait for him to be home on Sunday!