And life changes

So uh we have some life changing things happening. For the good of course. Nothing depressing or anything.

Last week, Helga (Jonas' mother) found a house to go look at for considering of buying. We ended up looking at it twice, once during the week and once during the weekend in the light. They decided to make an offer on the house, and it was accepted today. How does this affect Jonas and Heather? Well you see, this house was chosen because it suits the needs of not only Helga and Geir (Jonas' pappa) but has an extra apartment that will be big enough for my own budding family. Two bedroom apartment for us. So we are going to be moving into this place right before Noah is born. Which means I am now able to plan a nursery!!! I am so thrilled and excited for this, life is really just amazing right now.


I have been making some very cozy warm neckwarmers I would like to share with you that I am super pleased with.

Jonas of course is looking cool while modeling his favorite of all of them. He insists he should be allowed to keep it because he loves it so much.

Doobadee

Tomorrow morning we have our next appointment with our midwife. I am excited to see how large my uterus is in measurements because it has always measured larger than it was supposed to be compared to how far along I was. So we will see.

Other than the general aches and pains of pregnancy, the only thing I am having trouble with is my belly button. I normally have a half inny/outty. A mixture of both really. And if you have noticed in some of my photos, I am already almost at my "done" point. Well if you look at my belly button, or rather, around it, you will see a faint bluish hue almost as if I am bruised behind the skin. I am wondering if I am getting a hernia because it is hurting, and with growing as fast as I am, I wouldn't be surprised if something like this was to happen.

It seems that every two weeks I can see a substantial difference in the size of my belly. I have been guessed to be at around 7 months so many times, due to my size.


I have been crocheting up a storm. Creating a ton of neckwarmers and whatnot. Jónas and I took a trip to this new place I found (surprisingly because of Facebook) that is a craft shop. Most craft shops here in Iceland are rather lacking, and I had kind of reserved myself to being without the supplies I wanted and or needed for certain types of projects. Well this shop, upon entering, made me want to cry. It was so beautiful. I could not believe that Iceland has pulled through for me finally in something that is so important to me. Maybe this is just sounding dramatic, but people who know me know how important my crafting is to me. I am a creator and an artist, and I am always wanting to make things with my hands, and now I can do it so much easier. I seriously had a great day because of this place. Little things in life, eh?

The Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy: Yes
Was it planned: Yes
What was your first reaction: So fast and soon shock!
Who was with you when you found out: Lalli. He had crashed on our couch the night before. I randomly decided to take a test, assuming it would be negative. But it wasn't.
Who was the first person you told: Lalli. Then Jónas.
How far along are you: 23 weeks :)
What was your first symptom: My boobs hurt for over a week.
What is your due date: March 15th. Or 19th. Or 8th. Depending on who is doing the ultrasound :/
Do you know the sex of the baby: Boy!
Have you picked out names: Noah Þráinn Jónasson. Þráinn being pronounced Thrauw-in.
How much weight have you gained: Enough :)
Do you have stretch marks: I don't THINK so. I can't really tell yet.
Have you felt the baby move: Since week 13. He is a strong one.
Have you heard the heartbeat: Most certainly. It's a beautiful sound.

The Birth
Will you keep the baby: We didn't plan to have him just to give him away...
Home or hospital birth: Hospital!
Natural or medicated birth: Whatever happens when the time comes.
Who will be in the delivery room with you: Jónas, my mom. It depends on who comes.
Will you breastfeed: I am sure going to try my best.
Do you think you'll need a c-section: I haven't the slightest clue
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time: My eyes may leak a bit, but I'm not sure.
What's the first thing you might say to him/her: It's so nice to finally meet you face to face.
Would you let someone videotape the birth: Highly doubtful
Are you excited about the birth, or s cared: Mostly excited. A tad bit apprehensive.

As the days get darker...

Here in Iceland, it is very similar to how it is in Alaska with the sun during different seasons. In the winter, the sun stays down except for a short period of time, rising late in the morning/afternoon and setting just a few hours after. In the summer, the sun doesn't completely go down. So as the snow season starts to arrive, the sun sleeps in longer, and it becomes much harder to tell what time of the day it is. It seems the most appropriate time for nesting and hibernating. Noah keeps me snug and warm, and I am cozy in my living room and bedroom.

Being an unemployed and pregnant woman, in the cold, I find myself trying to find reasons to stay inside. I prefer to not go out into the world of wind, rain, and who knows what else.

So I have begun preparing for the holidays early this year. This includes deciding that this year will be a hand made and heartfelt Christmas. I am trying to chipper up my holiday spirit, as over the last 6 or 7 years, the holidays have been rather sad and depressing. Making my lists and bringing together my supplies is fun and exciting, and is giving me a purpose to my days, making me feel rather productive. I have started to paint bottles that are normally used for wine for my mother's Kahlua recipe, and I am quite pleased with the results thus far. Here are a few bad quality photos of some bottles thus far:


After doing tons of Google searching, I have found a substantial amount of recipes, and ideas that I plan on incorporating into Christmas baskets for our loved ones. I cannot wait to complete them. I started working on learning some new things to crochet, and here is a slipper I made!


What are your plans for this Christmas? Or whatever holiday it is you prefer to celebrate?

Noah is such a trooper, kicks getting stronger and stronger. I am now able to feel him rolling around, some occasional hiccups, and general havoc he causes to my uterus. I should have some more ultrasound pictures scanned soon enough! Until then, check out my 22 week pregger belly!

As far as my cooking goes, I have been experimenting with some new things, and just throwing other things together. Last week I made grilled turkey quesadillas which turned out amazingly yummy, and the other day I just threw together a casserole that consisted of potatoes, Icelandic hot dogs, corn, fresh string beans, cream of chicken soup, and fried onions on top. It sounds like a strange mixture of stuff. But it came out delightful. Here are pictures of both dishes.

Keeping Occupied

Getting re-adjusted is proving rather difficult. Sleeping at night is a challenge, and I am simply exhausted all day long. Phew, it's frustrating. At least Jónas and I got out of the house for a while and made a friendly trip to visit our lovely friends Kristjana and Halli (and their beautiful daughter Lily)! It was nice to see them.

So in order to keep myself fully occupied, and to keep my life more exciting, I am going to transform this blog into a co-topic thing. I am a pregnant crafty crafter woman, and I want to tell you guys all about it. I don't see why I can't do that! So I shall!

I cook, bake, crochet, paint, make bath and body products, jewelry, and general random things. So I want to share things, because I know I love reading about what everyone else is doing!

So get ready for the new additions to the blog! Hope you like it!

Back in Iceland

Aw. It's always so sad to leave my family and friends. But then again, it is lovely to be home again with my husband and lovely kitty.

Yesterday we went in for the 20 week ultrasound with Helga (Jónas's mom). The tech who performed the ultrasound was rather lacking in the brains and personality department, and when we left, I was rather disappointed.

She not only was rude, but forgot to check the heartbeat, and made us pay for more than one of the exact same pose picture. She also never asked if we wanted to check for the gender (or in our case, confirm, but SHE didn't know that...). She didn't allow Helga to come in except for the last minute of the whole thing. She also refused to double check and confirm the due date still applied, merely looking at what the last lady (in Iceland) had said which was the 19th of March. Well remember how the last U/S in the states came up with the 8th of March? I really just feel rather jipped.

Jónas was able to feel Noah kick the night I came home, which was no shock to me. Heck, you can already see his kicks from outside my skin, and he is quite the active baby. Strong little Noah.

So now that I am home again, I am struggling to adjust after the jet lag, and have found a lot of aches and pains in my back and whatnot to be almost insufferable. Around halfway through my stay in the US, my tailbone started acting up, and I have had nothing but a terrible time with it. My belly button is also sticking out already.

I have to remember to keep my sanity while I can in these next few dark and cold months of Iceland. :/

Feeling clumsy and cowish

Ahhh, right right. Saturday was my baby shower, and it went amazingly. Everyone was so absolutely wonderful, and made me realize that Noah really has a lot of love already, and he isn't even born yet. What a soothing and comforting thought. My goodie bags were a hit, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, and all of our delicious food.

Made me stop though for a moment and realize that a lot of people love me too. Helps, you know, when you live in a far away country with barely any friends, and you sit in a room surrounded by people who are just so happy to see you and be a part of your pregnancy. Makes you feel all warm inside.

So yesterday I woke up to a bout of lovely throwing up. On an empty stomach. That lasted for a long time. After I was finished, I had broken blood vessels surrounding both of my eyes. Oh man and there were a lot. I had to struggle to keep from crying. It wasn't a good morning. And then we had plans to go visit lovely Brooke, who so generously volunteered to take pictures of myself, my belly, and some of my good friend Jessie and I as well. So lovely, this Brooke. Beautifully pregnant as well.

I feel like I could get sick this morning too. Really now, am I to be one of those pregnant ladies whose sickness lasts throughout the entire pregnancy? But randomly? Can I seriously not ever feel like I am having what one would consider to be a "normal" pregnancy? "Normal" of course, because every woman is different. But generally following in the same guidelines!! So I must be consistently measuring super duper large (while Noah measures normally), have ridiculous round ligament pain that prevents me from moving pretty much at all, continue to throw up throughout the entire thing.... This is beginning to be exhausting. Noah, if you can hear my fingers typing, I hope you are a magical baby enough to understand what I am typing... Let's just try for the nice and easy pregnancy (if that exists)...

Ha. This is just one of my grumpy-ish rants. I am not feeling so well right now, and I have some light cramping.

Oh man, I ate so much food last night. Made me stop and remind myself that I CANNOT do that regularly, and gain too much weight. Gotta keep an eye on it all....

And now, dear readers... whoever you may be... I must bid you adieu for I feel an upchuck on it's way...