IT'S A GIRL!!!!!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
T-Minus Six Days and Counting...
Next Wednesday, we will find out if this little munchkin in my belly is a girl or a boy.We are 1000% excited for either option. I'm not one for the whole pink vs. blue thing... the nursery will be sage green and tangerine orange no matter what, but I just want to KNOW!
Any guesses--boy or girl??
Any guesses--boy or girl??
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
A New Dawn
Three years ago today, the world sputtered and came to a screeching halt. Well, at least it felt that way.
Back up… Remember those nagging questions about how to get more out of life I mentioned in the blog about our motorcycle trip? Well, as it turns out we’ve been having those thoughts for some time, even back to our days in beloved Portland, Oregon. So in the fall of 2006, Sean and I picked up our lives and our stuff and our cats and we moved to Minnesota. You see, my dad was a master of getting the most out of life and we thought we'd come here and learn from the best. So we moved to the Twin Cities, within easy driving distance to the life’s-work cabin he and my mom had been building for years. Tired of being spectators from 1700 miles away, we made the leap with great expectations and joy in our hearts.
Just a few short weeks later, the universe saw fit to take Dad from us. I guess he was needed more somewhere else, although I find that difficult to believe.
I’d love to be able to say we all kept his philosophy of life in mind as we grieved, aged, lived, and moved forward over the next three years. At times the sadness was too much even for the best of us. But we picked up the pieces and went on with our lives, just as he’d want us to.
Now, however, we find ourselves at a new dawn – one of truly joyful changes. My sister Jess and I are BOTH pregnant—11 weeks apart. We are the only two siblings and it’s her first baby as well. Talk about magic! A beautiful spring after the long, dark winter. So today, instead of being sad, I will celebrate our new dawn… soft baby skin and the magical wonders of the world; zerberts and giggles; mischief and shenanigans; and rowdy, lively holiday gatherings. Sean said it best: Life’s fighting back.
*****
In honor of the day, I thought I’d post the poem I wrote just after my dad passed away. If you knew him, remember him. Even if you didn’t, take a cue from him and remember to live each day to the absolute fullest.
Majestic, magic oak tree.
Sturdy, genuine, gentle; my epitome of strength.
Mischievous chipmunks in the woodpile.
That twinkle in your eye.
Coyotes calling.
Family.
A solitary buck.
Respect.
The plunk of an acorn in the water - a near miss.
There's that twinkle again.
The impossible flutter of a hummingbird's wings.
I feel blessed to have you near me.
A soaring hawk, carefully encircling the land.
"Stick together, and don't be afraid."
Ironwood, birch, maple; white oak, red oak, walnut.
Dad, I still have so much to learn from you.
I will look for you, when next I go, to our sanctuary.
Back up… Remember those nagging questions about how to get more out of life I mentioned in the blog about our motorcycle trip? Well, as it turns out we’ve been having those thoughts for some time, even back to our days in beloved Portland, Oregon. So in the fall of 2006, Sean and I picked up our lives and our stuff and our cats and we moved to Minnesota. You see, my dad was a master of getting the most out of life and we thought we'd come here and learn from the best. So we moved to the Twin Cities, within easy driving distance to the life’s-work cabin he and my mom had been building for years. Tired of being spectators from 1700 miles away, we made the leap with great expectations and joy in our hearts.
Just a few short weeks later, the universe saw fit to take Dad from us. I guess he was needed more somewhere else, although I find that difficult to believe.
I’d love to be able to say we all kept his philosophy of life in mind as we grieved, aged, lived, and moved forward over the next three years. At times the sadness was too much even for the best of us. But we picked up the pieces and went on with our lives, just as he’d want us to.
Now, however, we find ourselves at a new dawn – one of truly joyful changes. My sister Jess and I are BOTH pregnant—11 weeks apart. We are the only two siblings and it’s her first baby as well. Talk about magic! A beautiful spring after the long, dark winter. So today, instead of being sad, I will celebrate our new dawn… soft baby skin and the magical wonders of the world; zerberts and giggles; mischief and shenanigans; and rowdy, lively holiday gatherings. Sean said it best: Life’s fighting back.
*****
In honor of the day, I thought I’d post the poem I wrote just after my dad passed away. If you knew him, remember him. Even if you didn’t, take a cue from him and remember to live each day to the absolute fullest.
Sanctuary
Please do not repost or reprint without permission.
Please do not repost or reprint without permission.
Majestic, magic oak tree.
Sturdy, genuine, gentle; my epitome of strength.
Mischievous chipmunks in the woodpile.
That twinkle in your eye.
Coyotes calling.
Family.
A solitary buck.
Respect.
The plunk of an acorn in the water - a near miss.
There's that twinkle again.
The impossible flutter of a hummingbird's wings.
I feel blessed to have you near me.
A soaring hawk, carefully encircling the land.
"Stick together, and don't be afraid."
Ironwood, birch, maple; white oak, red oak, walnut.
Dad, I still have so much to learn from you.
I will look for you, when next I go, to our sanctuary.
Friday, November 13, 2009
What do an 80s dance party and goldfish calesthenics have in common?
I LOVE being pregnant. I love the feeling of anticipation, the self-reflection, and the excuse to shut out the world and really think every once in a while. Even taking into account the "evening sickness" and supernatural exhaustion I had in the first trimester. And two weeks ago, I experienced my very favorite part of pregnancy so far.
I was sitting at my desk at work and was distracted every now and then by an odd twingy, fluttery sensation in my abdomen. Not really thinking about it (and because pregnancy is FULL of all kinds of fun, unexpected bodily sensations that can only be attributed to ME), I went on my merry way. Then, after a few more flutters, it hit me. "OH!!" I immediately called Sean to say that yes, I had just felt the baby move for the first time! (Ladies, at this point, resist the urge to say "neener, neener, neener, I can feel it and you can't." It's hard enough to be an expecting daddy. No need to rub in the fact that we get to feel the magic way before they do. And no, I did NOT say anything of the sort.) I tried hard to tell him exactly what the feeling was like... maybe some sort of goldfish calesthenics. Then, I proceeded to run around to all the females in my corner of the office and tell them the amazing news. I just KNEW that's what I had felt. And sure enough, now--two weeks later--as I write this, there is some sort of 80s dance party going on in my lower abdomen. Judging by the feel of things, I think there is probably even a disco ball.
I was sitting at my desk at work and was distracted every now and then by an odd twingy, fluttery sensation in my abdomen. Not really thinking about it (and because pregnancy is FULL of all kinds of fun, unexpected bodily sensations that can only be attributed to ME), I went on my merry way. Then, after a few more flutters, it hit me. "OH!!" I immediately called Sean to say that yes, I had just felt the baby move for the first time! (Ladies, at this point, resist the urge to say "neener, neener, neener, I can feel it and you can't." It's hard enough to be an expecting daddy. No need to rub in the fact that we get to feel the magic way before they do. And no, I did NOT say anything of the sort.) I tried hard to tell him exactly what the feeling was like... maybe some sort of goldfish calesthenics. Then, I proceeded to run around to all the females in my corner of the office and tell them the amazing news. I just KNEW that's what I had felt. And sure enough, now--two weeks later--as I write this, there is some sort of 80s dance party going on in my lower abdomen. Judging by the feel of things, I think there is probably even a disco ball.
Yes, THAT flu
I'm ashamed to say there's probably only one reason I finally got around to creating this blog today of all days. I am home sick, likely with H1N1. Now, before you get worried, please know that I'm on the mend and the doctor said I am past the period of primary complications that pregnant women often see with H1N1. I got the H1N1 immunization last Thursday, which likely helped shorten the virus' course through my body. I didn't even have a fever, which is good news for the baby, but I did feel amazingly horrible on Wednesday. Sean got hit with it, too... he's been home from work all week.
That's it for now... just keeping you posted on the news from the Duncan clan. Here's to a speedy recovery!
That's it for now... just keeping you posted on the news from the Duncan clan. Here's to a speedy recovery!
Getting up to speed
Greetings, all! I finally got around to creating a place where family and friends can come to find out the latest news on Baby Duncan and the rest of our clan.
I'll do my best to post updates and photos as often as possible. Since it took me so darn long to get this going, here's a rundown of our journey thus far...
As many of you know, Sean and I took an amazing motorcycle trip to Northern Idaho and back this summer. This trip helped us put life into perspective, and we returned from the trip in mid-July, excited to put the wheels of starting a family in motion. Typical for us, we figured we could plan the whole thing out. Life, as it turns out, had a more magical plan.
As Grandma Wilma put it so perfectly, "I told you those motorcycles were trouble!" Shortly after our return, I found myself sending text messages to Sean throughout the work day, saying things like "oh my GOSH I'm tired." And, "why is my office spinning...?" Sean kept saying I was pregnant, but I went to the drugstore and bought a test, still dubious. was so doubtful, in fact, that I took the test while he wasn't home! According to the directions on the package, you're supposed to do your thing and then wait up to five minutes for the results. So I followed the directions and prepared to wait the five agonizing minutes for a result. Not 30 seconds later, BAM - a big, pink line. Pregnant!! WHOA.
Now I was forced to wait until Sean got home.. talk about agonizing! I was so shocked and excited, I just stood by the door with the test in my hand and watched for his car. When he walked in the door, I know I must have been acting funny. So funny, in fact, that the one-armed hug I gave him was an instant giveaway. We had one of those better-than-the-movies exchanges: "no way"... "you did?"... "you are?" ... "no way" ... "we are?" ... "you sure?" ... "oh my gosh!"
The following few weeks and months were spent in utter disbelief and 1000% excitement. It turns out we had returned home from Idaho having caused more trouble on the trip than we thought we had! Around Week 5, I remember frantically Googling "Week 5 pregnancy symptoms" because I became so puffed up with bloating that I felt like I was six months pregnant. Turns out that's normal, and it went away in a day anyway. By Week 7, I was in the throes of "evening sickness". Each day starting at five or seven p.m. and lasting until I managed to fall asleep, I'd feel like I had just spent four days in the bottom hold of a small boat that smelled of wet dog and had been tossed around in a hurricane. That persisted until about Week 14, but gradually began to subside around Week 11. Needless to say, that time period is a bit of a blur.
Now here it is, Week 18. Time flies! But I'm feeling fantastic now, and I'm so happy I've finally found the time to create this blog and let y'all in on my journey. Because you all know how terrible I can be at keeping in touch regularly! Thanks for reading!
I'll do my best to post updates and photos as often as possible. Since it took me so darn long to get this going, here's a rundown of our journey thus far...
As many of you know, Sean and I took an amazing motorcycle trip to Northern Idaho and back this summer. This trip helped us put life into perspective, and we returned from the trip in mid-July, excited to put the wheels of starting a family in motion. Typical for us, we figured we could plan the whole thing out. Life, as it turns out, had a more magical plan.
As Grandma Wilma put it so perfectly, "I told you those motorcycles were trouble!" Shortly after our return, I found myself sending text messages to Sean throughout the work day, saying things like "oh my GOSH I'm tired." And, "why is my office spinning...?" Sean kept saying I was pregnant, but I went to the drugstore and bought a test, still dubious. was so doubtful, in fact, that I took the test while he wasn't home! According to the directions on the package, you're supposed to do your thing and then wait up to five minutes for the results. So I followed the directions and prepared to wait the five agonizing minutes for a result. Not 30 seconds later, BAM - a big, pink line. Pregnant!! WHOA.
Now I was forced to wait until Sean got home.. talk about agonizing! I was so shocked and excited, I just stood by the door with the test in my hand and watched for his car. When he walked in the door, I know I must have been acting funny. So funny, in fact, that the one-armed hug I gave him was an instant giveaway. We had one of those better-than-the-movies exchanges: "no way"... "you did?"... "you are?" ... "no way" ... "we are?" ... "you sure?" ... "oh my gosh!"
The following few weeks and months were spent in utter disbelief and 1000% excitement. It turns out we had returned home from Idaho having caused more trouble on the trip than we thought we had! Around Week 5, I remember frantically Googling "Week 5 pregnancy symptoms" because I became so puffed up with bloating that I felt like I was six months pregnant. Turns out that's normal, and it went away in a day anyway. By Week 7, I was in the throes of "evening sickness". Each day starting at five or seven p.m. and lasting until I managed to fall asleep, I'd feel like I had just spent four days in the bottom hold of a small boat that smelled of wet dog and had been tossed around in a hurricane. That persisted until about Week 14, but gradually began to subside around Week 11. Needless to say, that time period is a bit of a blur.
Now here it is, Week 18. Time flies! But I'm feeling fantastic now, and I'm so happy I've finally found the time to create this blog and let y'all in on my journey. Because you all know how terrible I can be at keeping in touch regularly! Thanks for reading!
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