Ashworth Alcove

Well, well. This has been an exciting week! I FELT THE FIRST TINY MOVEMENTS!! I was in the car with my mom and dad when I felt what I would describe as a 'blump.' It was kind of like a bubble, kind of like a thump, kind of like a goldfish swimming around in there. When I first felt it I thought, "Hmm. That was weird." Then I felt it again and it hit me... I felt my baby move! It was definitely a different feeling than any I've had before. According to my grandmother, the baby will be born 4.5 months after you feel it move for the first time. If that is the case Baby Ashworth will make his/her appearance in mid-April. Our official due date is May 5. A few days after the initial feeling I noticed the goldfish feeling once again one morning when I was laying bed after waking up. The feeling takes place just below my belly button, which leads me to another subject... Never have I EVER seen the end of my belly button. I know, I know. People seem to find this stra...

What a crazy week. I actually just rolled over into week 17, but this is my recap of 16. My week consisted mainly of feeding Baby lots of dressing, napping with Baby, and then feeding Baby desert. I visited with lots of family and experienced lots of belly rubbing, which I didn't mind. My sister gave me a bunch of cozy sweaters and dresses this week, which is good because my regular clothes are getting snugger (more snug?) by the day it seems. My sweet nephew Jax rubbing my belly. The most common question I received was, "Do you know the gender?" Well, the answer is no. And then the question that immediately followed was, "Are you going to find out?" And that answer is yes. Prior to being pregnant I had always considered keeping it a big surprise because I feel like there aren't very many real surprises left in life anymore... Why ruin this one? However, since we found out we are expecting Ben and I have browsed around baby sections and baby stores o...

Baby Ashworth is growing and so is my belly! I never had the perfectly flat tummy, but it WAS perfect for sleeping on. It's growing more and more difficult for me to get comfy in bed because I can't turn to my favorite belly plank. Sometimes I use pillows (or my arms) to form a sort of lift, but it's not the same. And I'm kind of tired of waking up unable to feel my arms. My belly is protruding just enough to make me look like I've been eating a lot of donuts. And my dad informed me yesterday that my hips look wider (thanks Daddy!) I got my first maternity clothes! Just a few shirts, but I have a feeling that I'll be moving into roomier pants soon. I had another check up this week and was able to hear the heartbeat once more. It's been a steady 150 every time. My doctor said I could feel the baby move at any time! But she did warn that it was going to be more of a flutter than a kick and that I might even dismiss it as a rumbly tummy (which happens a lo...

And by little, I mean about the size of a peach. I feel that I've been a little quiet lately, but that's because in the spring, Ben and I are expecting a baby! It was hard holding in the news for the past few months, but I am now 14 weeks and doing well! The ultrasound photo was taken at 10 weeks. We've been to the doctor again since and were able to hear the heartbeat thumping strong both times! Such an amazing sound. So, I'll be posting about it more often now that it's completely out in the open. I'm so excited to be able to share this experience with the family and friends that we're not able to be close to.

Shame on me for not posting more frequently. I've been on a bit of a technology vacation. Just last month I was eating every meal in front of a computer screen and dreaming about my final projects, so it's nice to take some time away from technology and just take in the real world. That's where all of the inspiration is at anyhow! I just celebrated my 23rd birthday (yee-haw!) and it was perfectly low key. I spent the week in Tennessee with family reveling in the leaves and fall magic. I haven't spent time in the southeast during fall in a few years, so it was dearly missed. My parents and I went to Duncan's Market, my favorite place to visit during fall as a child. They have all kinds of fresh flowers and produce, including an impressive selection of pumpkins! We also paid a visit to David Crockett State Park to take in some fresh air, enjoy the leaves, and feed the geese that reside on the lake. The geese were nowhere to be found, however there w...

Summer is over. It's ended. Goodbye. Why does everyone like summer anyway? It's hot and miserable and it lasts WAY too long. I'm not going to miss you summer. You're a punk. Fall is way better. It comes around every year and steals your thunder. "Oh, here I am... In a cute cardigan with a mug of coffee. BYE" Bye, indeed. Fall has been hands down my favorite season for as long as I can remember. I've been contemplating the reasons why lately and I thought of something one of my favorite instructors from the Art Institute said once. We were discussing seasons and I mentioned that fall was my favorite and he said, "Of course it is... You're an artist." Many creative types are known for their attraction to fall and winter. But why? For me, I think it stems from the very beginning. I was born in October. Growing up I had fall birthday parties that included hayrides, bonfires, costumes, and pumpkin carving. So, it's always be...

I went to Tennessee this week and spent a couple of days with my family in Ramah. It was really rejuvenating. The leaves are just starting to turn. Cotton dapples the hills and the soybean fields boast a goldenrod display. I was only able to stay for a couple of days, but there was enough time for some Bunt family fun. We built a small fire in the backyard and roasted hot dogs, marshmallows, and even baked apple pie in a pie iron. My mom made delicious cider to sip by the fire. It was cozy and my idea of a perfect night.   The family cat Delphi effortlessly added to the seasonal decor. Speaking of kitties, our Snowshow/Siamese cat Apollo has finally been reunited with his fair-furred brother Perseus. Percy always handled the long drives from Texas to Tennessee by bedding down and sleeping the entire way. However, Apollo wasn't happy with the restraints of his carrier when he accompanied me on the road trip back in the summer. For this reason, he took up residen...