It's already December?!

I'm trying to avoid this blog turning into just a pregnancy update journal...but honestly that's all that's really gone on the last two weeks. This week was especially exciting because I'm starting to feel movement daily (although it's still not much, but still really fun) and I finally had another appointment. I loved hearing the baby's heartbeat (always just reassuring since I'm not feeling anything enough for constant reassurance). I have a tendency to be a worrier, and I spent a few weeks towards the beginning worrying, but honestly I can't believe how calm I've been. I'm so grateful for the peace I've felt so I can enjoy this experience. I have actually looked forward to being pregnant for a long time now and so far it has lived up to my expectations of what I hoped for it to be. I live in an amazing place where I am able to get outside and be active everyday, I haven't been too terribly sick, and I'm trying to enjoy this stage (2nd trimester) which is supposed to be the best (I'm rarely sick and I'm not huge yet). At my appointment on Friday I also scheduled my anatomy scan where I'll be able to find out the gender! I have no feeling one way or the other of what I think it's going to be! 

And in the course of writing this, I have thought of a few things we have done in the last couple weeks for me to share...

Got our Christmas tree and decorated for Christmas! Heidi (my also pregnant friend and running buddy) went tree shopping with us and we strapped both of our trees to the top of the Protege (pretty impressive little car :) It was definitely the warmest tree shopping we have ever done.

I love the lights outside with the ribbons on the lanterns. And we positioned the tree near the sliding door so I can stand in the living room or kitchen and look over to see both the tree and the ocean. It's pretty amazing. 

On Saturday we watched the Army/Navy (yay Navy!) football game with some of Grant's co-workers and then stopped at the hospital for Grant to round on one patient and remove some drains (should have taken 20 minutes total, so I decided to go with since it was on our way home). From the moment we entered the hospital, the pager would not stop going off. To spare you the details, let's just say the power went out so I was left in a dark office with no computer and an almost dead phone and Grant had several more patients to attend to. Lucky for me, the oral surgery dept head met us there and let me round with them! I might have died if it weren't for that experience since we ended up being there for 5 hours! It was fun to be a part of talking about some cases (made me feel like I hadn't forgotten everything) and got to assist Grant and see him in action. Note the dark room behind me...that's where I was hanging out prior to getting the go ahead to round with them.

I am almost finally through with all my orientation (I say that and it'll probably take weeks more) but I hope to be able to start volunteering soon! I have met with a few dept heads, submitted all my paperwork, done online training, got a flu shot, need to get a TB test this week, immunization records, submitted my nursing license and diploma, etc. I swear it is almost harder to get a position as a volunteer than it is to be a paid employee. I guess the fact that it is a military hospital might make a few steps more complicated, but seriously?! Going to my OB appointments is always an interesting experience for me, because I get so excited to be a mom, but also being there and talking with my midwife, etc. makes me realize again how much I love nursing and miss it. Only time will tell what my future holds...

And in case you were wondering what December in Oceanside looks like...this is the picture I snapped on Sunday as Mat and Jen texted and said they were no longer coming because they hit a snow storm and had to turn back. I can't even imagine snow right now!

Can't believe Christmas is so soon. Loving all the lights and decorations everywhere and can't wait to spend some good time with my family!