i am not sick anymore.... but still blowing my nose very often. that is my only symptom. i mentioned to my midwife that i have been sick twice this pregnancy and never in my past pregnancies and she said this year has been so bad regarding viruses. so much stuff going  around that she wasnt surprised. and it does seem like everyone is sick all the time this year!

in regards to my belly size... it is just how it should be for how far along i am, so for everyone who thinks i am tiny, now you know i am not. and i have definitely felt the baby move a lot! everyday all throughout the day. i love it! he/she is only about 4 inches from their butt to the top of the head...and barely weighs anything, but so much of it is formed and in position, it really is amazing. i have this great pregnancy journal i have kept for each pregnancy. it describes what is going on everyday and tips and advice for being pregnant. thanks to gil and kirstin, it has been so great!

we will be finding out the gender april 17th. i had a midwife appointment this last week and we scheduled it then. justin and i havent done too much thinking about names yet, we want to wait till we know the gender before we waste too much time on it, or get attatched to one idea or another. we both are fine with a boy or a girl.... there are just as many pros and cons to having either one as a third, so whatever it is we will be thrilled! and we will happily share our ideas for names in the near future. 

so i have been sick the past few days. it has been terrible. justin reminded me that i was never sick while being pregnant with dahlia or valen... isnt that odd? and this time i have already been sick two times. i feel like i am healthier now than i was in the past, so what is the deal with that...

and my belly isnt growing that much ): i know it will soon enough, but no one thinks i look pregnant even when i try to show it off... people just laugh at me. seriously! i love having the pregnant belly and i love feeling the baby move all around. i swear i have felt little flutters here and there already. i read that usually doesnt happen till about 20 weeks but i dont believe it. and it wasnt gas either, i have plenty of that and this wasnt gas! (: 

and i am SO ANXIOUS to know what the gender is.... a friend of ours gave us a gender prediction test and i took it and the results were BOY. the test supposedly is 90% accurate but i am not betting any money on it till we see the ultrasound. i think the test is testing for increased levels of testosterone in your urine. it seems if this is a reliable way to find out that more people would know about it. i should ask my midwife. we wont have an ultrasound till mid april i think.... so far away!!!

i havent been nauseas for several days!!! i forgot what that felt like! monday night we were at some friends for dinner and i had seconds and dessert and it was wonderful! last night i dreamed of my favorite breakfast and when i woke up made it immediately and it was extremely fulfilling! i havent eaten this specific food since becoming pregnant because for some reason it bothered me. have i already told you all about this.... well i toast two slices of  whole grain european bread that is really flat. then i grind up 1/4 cup walnuts, mix it with a little orange marmalade spreadable fruit and it is delicious! and a glass of orange juice with a banana. i couldnt handle orange juice either when i was nauseas so this was very nice. then later i wasnt sure what to do for lunch ..... but then i remembered i am not as sensitive to things anymore, so i could make whatever i wanted! so i made canned salmon sandwiches for me and the kids. a little cream cheese and green onions.... it was heavenly! sounds so boring and simple, but those things i missed so much!  gosh it feels good to be normal again.... well normal enough (:

we found this home on tumwater hill, one of the areas we are considering buying a home. if it was fixed up, this would be my dream home. so much potential, but costs a lot to do it all. 
things i love.....

the porch!! 

the layout

four bedrooms plus office

old kitchen with black and white tile floor

tons of character

next to a park

 

things i dont like....

funky walls that need to be redone

ceiling full of asbestos that needs to be torn out

one small bathroom

garage needs to be burned down

not fully fenced

i wouldnt put anything in the oven that i wish to consume

needs a lot of cleaning 

next to a park

we have been entertaining the idea of buying a house this year. we arent in a rush but it is possible we might. if the right opportunity arises. we have been keeping an eye on the market since moving here last year and this was the first house even close to our price range that we loved. i have seen several that were already fixed up but they were more expensive and way too small for us. i am willing to compromise on some things, but 1000 square feet is pushing it. there are actually a lot of homes for sale in our price range, BUT they are out of town too far, or just not in the location we would choose. and honestly that is my priority. location. i want to feel close to downtown, not in suburbia. we will keep you posted!

i have been very anxious to get out of town for a while now. i headed out to portland/vancouver on friday around 4 o'clock. i was a little sad about it because i didnt get to say goodbye to valen before his nap... but i managed to still go(= i visited my best friend shekinah and my sister and was able to see my brother and his wife and adorable daughter kloee! i had a few people that i was hoping to see, but by sunday morning i was so exhausted that i just decided to come home.

 

shekinah and i headed out to portland saturday afternoon and hit up a few shops that we love... chatted over coffee.... grabbed some dinner... shopped some more.... then went to trader joes before heading home(= my favorite! we had the best time! i have known her her entire life, our moms were friends before we were born. it was so refreshing to be around her. especially because i still feel new to olympia and we are still getting to know people here, it was nice to be with someone who knows me so well and we have that history together! i dont like living so far from her, or my siblings for that matter, but it is just really best for us at this point to be here, i really think that and so does justin. anyways, i had a great time this weekend, and enjoyed seeing my nieces lillian and kloee and nephew jonas, they are so special to me and i love them very much! i miss them! kloee is about 10 months and i havent seen her since august.... such a great age right now, just so content and smiley... oh she is adorable! shereally liked me (: