Hello Fall!

Fall is the essence of Colorado.  Weather cools.  Leaves change.  Foliage far and wide!  This year we decided to try out Berry Patch Farms in Brighton.  It was a perfect day for pumpkin/berry picking and hanging out with the fam. 


I wore overalls for the occasion.

Hay Ride!

Little Choi's Cousins, Susannah and Aedan



"Porky" - fattest pig you'll ever see!



Every year I look forward to pumpkin carving.  It's a great time to set aside mundane thoughts and bring forth veiled creativity.  This year we had the added challenge of not using patterns.  As you can see we freehanded our designs.  David decided to carve a pumpkin within a pumpkin...a questionable motif...but in my opinion, it turned out great!  I, on the other hand, decided on a scary/ugly teeth/robber pumpkin. 

   



Final note: we were cruising through Target the other day, we stopped by the dollar bins for a last minute purchase.  This time next year, baby will be wearing these...

Aren't these the cutest socks you've ever seen??

Baby Fever!

Everyone has it!  Our families are getting plenty of practice.  Get excited Aedan and Susannah, you're going to have another cousin soon :) 

Future Grandma Choi

 

Future Grandma Wong



Aunt Sarah

 

Aunt Priscilla



Uncle Andy



Future Dad

8 weeks!

Nothing brings home the reality of pregnancy like catching a glimpse of a tiny human being moving inside of you.  Today, after a long awaited 8 weeks, we met with our OB for our first ultrasound.  Stupid us!  We forgot to bring our video camera for this momentous event!  Ah! 

In any case, I suppose ultrasound pictures will have to suffice! 

Anyone know if those are the baby's eyes?

Apparently at 8 weeks, little baby Choi has a "crown rump length" of approximately 16 mm long.  The "crown rump length" or CRL measures the fetus from the top of the head (crown) to the bottom of the buttocks (rump).  Adopted from the early 20th century embryologists who found that preserved specimens of early miscarriages assumed a "sitting in a chair" posture, ultrasonographers use this term (CRL) in early fetuses that also adopt the same posture in early pregnancy.  The CRL is highly reproducible and is the single most accurate measure of gestational age.  From 6 - 9.5 weeks gestational age, the fetal CRL grows at a rate of about 1 mm per day.  Oh and FYI, gestational age is the age of an embryo or fetus.  A common method of calculating gestational age starts counting either from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period or from 14 days before conception (fertilization). 

We're looking forward to our next appointment at 12 weeks on November 1st.  That means I'll be nearing the end of my first trimester.  Goodbye morning sickness!  I hope you magically disappear forever!!

Oh, I forgot to mention that today is David's 27th birthday!  Happy birthday to the best husband EVER.

For Women Only

For all you crazy ladies out there trying to get pregnant (or avoid pregnancy), I would highly recommend a book that was recommended to me by my good friend Sara (who's due in March) and my cousin Jayme (who just had her first baby last April).  

The book is called Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weshler.   It describes the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) as a

"...remarkable system of knowledge that uses your two basic fertility signs - waking temperature and cervical fluid - to accurately gauge when you are ovulating.  Such critical information serves as a window into your cycle, empowering you to practice effective natural birth control or pregnancy achievement, as well as to enlighten you on the entire array of life's menstrual mysteries.  Indeed charting your cycles with FAM will show you, among other things

• The difference between perfectly normal, cyclical cervical secretions and true vaginal infections 
• When to expect your next period
• Whether or not you are even ovulating
• Whether or not you are pregnant
• Your true due date, if in fact you are pregnant

It  is unfortunate that the Fertility Awareness Method is even referred to as a method, because in reality, it should be seen as a fundamental life skill that all women should learn"

This book is awesome.  The method works...or at least it worked for us! According to this book, our true due date is in fact May 24, 2011!