Some pregnancy details...

I just wanted to share a few of the details of our experience of the pregnancy thus far. It's going to be very fun highlighting this experience from the perspective of doing it all in France, I must say, so stay tuned over the next few months!

First, let me just say thanks again to Audrey for making the video (posted in my last entry a few days ago). In case you didn't know, most of the photos she used of baby animals with their mothers were photos I took during our travels in Tanzania in spring of 2007! Also, many of the other photos were of Mark's PhD defense last December and also of the Butler family Christmas party last year. The photos of the beautiful, luminescent clouds were from the sunrise she and Ruth stayed up to see after they found out the news of the pregnancy! She also added a few photos of my family, of friends, etc. You did an amazing job, Audrey!

And Ruth, thank you for constantly burning a candle in our lil' L's honor (also pictured in Audrey's video)! It warms my heart and means the world to all three of us!

Thank you to everyone for your support, excitement and warm wishes! We feel extremely blessed to have been helped and encouraged by each one of you. :)

Soooooo, today I officially start week 20 of this experience, or in other words, it's almost half over! Amazing! I spent the first 16 weeks fairly miserable from all-day morning sickness. Eish! The hardest part was craving all kinds of stuff that was impossible to find in France (like refried beans)! Overall, it was very hard to get many of my cravings satisfied, and all I wanted was to have one day back in Pasadena, surrounded by my favorite restaurants. I am now finally getting an appetite and beginning to show a small Budha belly (just the beginning, I know)!! Lil' Lentil (a name we gave the baby when she/he was about that size) is due to join us sometime around the end of March. Personally, I am crossing my fingers for the first day of spring (March 20)--what a cool birthday that would be!

A couple of photos...

I took this photo when lil' Lentil was about the size of a lemon seed (about 6 to 7 weeks)

This was lil' L's first photo, at an 8.5 week ultrasound. Can you see tiny feet??

And lastly, here is a poem that I wrote just before we called to share the news with Mark's sisters. This poem came to me in less than an hour's time, which is amazing considering how un-poetic I usually am. We have used this poem several times in breaking the news:

MK went to Paris

MK went to Paris
During four wonderful days.
They had so much fun
That they came home a bit dazed

Not realizing that
A little stowaway had been stowed,
Not in their luggage,
But in a more secure place, for the road.

Normal life resumed
For MK in France
For two happy weeks
Until Kendra, by chance

Began to suspect,
After visiting the loo,
That when they came home from Paris
They were more than just two!

Testing, testing, testing!
It was the resolution
To this monumental question:
Would HCG hormone come out of solution??

After 3 minutes of waiting
For the life-altering news,
MK looked together,
Their hands fused

And Oh! the rush of emotion
As they looked at the test,
Keeping hearts calm,
But expecing the best!

Two clear lines said it all,
MK had conceived!!
They hugged long and tight,
Then went to the balcony to breath!

Wow! Oh my goodness!
Happy day! What this means!!
Not anything less
Than the fulfillment of dreams!

That was many days ago,
Now the news has sunk in.
MK, they're so happy,
At each other they grin.

Kendra has listened for years
To all the pregnancy lore
And realized, it's true!
She has craving's galore!

And nausea and fatigue,
They constantly tickle
Her tummy as she runs
For the next round of pickles.

Mark's been a hero,
A pillar of strength.
Many trips to get groceries
And listening to Kendra, at length

Go on about her anxiousness
And hormone-induced fear,
Holding her tight as she worries,
And as she sheds a few tears.

And their stowaway is growing.
Kendra feels her womb pull.
It's now passing they size
Of a little lentil!

Lil' Lentil they've named
Their little bundle of joy!
Who knows what will happen,
A girl or a boy?

Lil' Lentil is growing
At an exceptional pace.
Last week, for the first time,
A tiny heart began to race.

Kidneys, liver, and lungs,
Lil' Lentil has these.
And next week lil' Lentil
Will have tiny arms, tiny knees!

And so you can see
Everything is on course
For this tiny new being to appear
Around March 24th.

And so, do you understand?
Aunty Audrey, Aunty Ruth [or insert your name here]?
Lil' Lentil needs you!
So important, it's the truth!

Needs you every day
To love and to pray
For safety and health
In every possible way.

And next March
It will happen, you will see
Lil' Lentil will be here,
Little hands, little feet!

And then the moment you've thought of
For a long while,
Your eyes will make contact...
And then a big baby smile!