My sister Sarah came down and picked me up Friday the 7th. We had a giggly road trip down to LBC and some really good sister time. That night we went to a party at Nicols, really fun. Saturday morning we went over to grandma Betty’s and spent the morning getting ready and setting up. It was really good to have that time with Sarah, Mom and Grandma. All the ladies showed up at 2ish and it was a wonderful gaggle. We laughed and got caught up on all our lives. What an amazing circle. She is quite lucky to be coming into this group. I got home Sunday with some great things for the start of what is sure to be a beautiful little life.

Magical. Mom and Mike came up in their RV, Mary came up on the train and Brittany came from Ojai. We all met up at our house for a few hours of quality family time. At 4ish we all went up to Gabby’s. It was about 7 hours of non-stop fun and entertainment. We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of LOVE and SUPPORT from our wonderful, magical mountain of neighbors and friends. It couldn't have been lovelier. We went home that night feeling so blessed to be part of this community. It is like one huge, loving, beautiful family that took us in and called us their own. Huge THANKS to our gracious queen Gabby, Trace and Daniela for putting it all together. Magnificent!

Monday I went in and got lab work done to determine glucose (for gestational diabetes) and blood count (for iron levels). Turns out I am exactly normal. Good to know. I only see the OB at the doctor’s office one more time before B-day:)

So, within the past few weeks we have two new additions to our wonderful family of fun freaks! Abe and Jessica Powell have added a little gentleman named Leo to their unit and John-o and Elsa have added a little boy also, his name is Finn. Both new boys seem to be healthy and happy and I can not wait to meet them and welcome them to the mountain.

We met with Alice again yesterday and I had a lovely pregnant lady circle with Jessica, Jennifer and Elsa. I feel really good about everything that is happening and very lucky also. Everything seems to be just peachy. It's nice.
Last weekend the girl and I went down to Long Beach and did some pre-shower planning with grandma Debbie and great grandma Betty:) We hit Target pretty hard and the party store for Birds and Bees stuff. We are getting very excited about all of it!

I am pretty sure that this week (week #12) marks the beginning of our second trimester. Baby is now the size of a small lemon. I have still not gotten sick, just a vague nausea throughout the day. I have funny food cravings; today it was egg salad sandwich (I found egg less egg salad). Ben has been super sweet and nurturing to us. He makes us wheatgrass (even though we can't always stomach it) and he cooks us great meals. It is wonderful feeling so loved and cared for.

Ben and baby and I met Alice at her home on Friday. She is lovely and kind. We talked for about an hour and a half about everything home birth would entail and what to expect and what we should consider. She asked about our lives and medical history and births. It was very informative and helpful to us to be able to ask some of our many questions. We left feeling very good about having Alice as our midwife and positive that we wanted to go through with having the birth at our home.

Tuesday the baby and I went back to visit with Alice. We went over my medical history in more detail and life in great detail. It was really nice talking with her, I felt really comfortable. She let me hear the heartbeat again with a "doppler" (which is like a handheld ultrasound). I love that sound! The sweetest music to my ears...

I had decided to attend a seminar series called the Landmark Forum. I paid my tuition and got all the appropriate papers signed and dated... I was all set to go all weekend for an intensive 3-day (life changing) seminar. The only thing that hadn't arrived yet was my monthly meeting with Mother Nature... where was she? So, as I got ready for the seminar, Ben went and bought the test. We were going to just make sure she would be there soon so I could go give myself fully to the weekend ahead...

That little blue "x" was the bluest "x" I have ever seen. Clear as day. There was no mistaking it. Although we looked at it about 100 times, it was definitely a very blue "x".

http://www.landmarkeducation.com/ 
The first day the forum leader had us write a possibility for ourselves... I wrote: "the possibility I am creating for myself is to be a continuous space for more possibility (like wishing for more wishes)". It wasn't till days later that I realized I am, in my current state, literally a space for an entire lifetime of new possibilities. From that point of realization to right now I am so profoundly inspired.

That Monday evening, after a very long, very emotional weekend, was the first time Ben and I had a chance to sit down and talk about everything. That night we made a commitment to ourselves and the baby and the universe to being the parents, friends, family and keepers for this beautiful souls time here on Earth.

The baby is now at about 10 weeks along in it's development. It has been emotional and I have been nauseous maximus, but other than that, a very exciting and happy experience. Ben has been so supportive and sweet. Making me healthy food and wheatgrass shots, and making me smile and truly happy always. We went on March 15th for the first ultrasound and heard it's tiny, but super fast, heartbeat. Seeing that screen was unbelievable. I will post photos of it soon.