Vacation in Switzerland and 12 Week Ultra Sound

On Sunday we returned to Miami after a week long stay in Switzerland. We spent 2 days in Zurich and then headed to the mountains, Davos, to see family and celebrate Nelly's 90th Birthday. The flight there was super easy as it was a night flight. Maia slept almost the entire flight after about two hours, which was so nice because I got to sleep and watch movies. On the way back, not so much. Maia slept exactly a little over an hour and for the rest of the flight she was climbing on us like a little monkey. She was a good girl but after a 10.5 hour flight and two hour drive to the airport, I was done. The last two hours of the flight seemed never ending. It was torture. Though all went well and I have to say Maia did amazing. Being back in Switzerland after over two years was sooo nice! I immediately devoured all my favorite foods I had missed so much and pretty much ate my way through Switzerland the entire week haha. We even had cheese fondue in the middle of the summer but it was necessary. So good. For the first time in years we had spectacular weather. It was gorgeous. Not too hot, but just perfect. Apparently, we missed the heat wave which I was happy about because I get enough heat in Miami this time of year. We were so busy in Zurich meeting all my girl friends, going to dinner, lunches and play time with our babies...we couldn't believe when it was time to go to Davos. Another few days in Zurich would have been nice. At least I saw all my girls who I have missed so much. Oh, how I wish I could see them more. In Davos we went to lunches with the family and did some shopping and resting. We went for a hike on the mountain Schatzalp and had lunch afterwards. My grandmother and Nelly are getting older but they are still in good shape. It was so nice for Maia to finally meet them. I got some cute pictures of them together. Taking posed pictures with Maia is a challenge these days...she cannot sit still. The stroller is almost useless at this point, she always wants to walk. At times it can be frustrating especially when we go walk the dog. I have to chase Maia, watch lucky...our 20 minute park walks now easily take over an hour. When she sees stairs, she needs to walk up them at least 20 times. She sweats and gets rosy cheeks but she doesn't care. She loves it. I hope by the time the new baby arrives, Maia will at least be able to walk in the direction I am going and not left, right, backwards so I have to chase her down. It should be interesting. 

On Monday the day after our return from Switzerland I went to the doctor's office to do the first part of my sequential screening. I went to the same place I did with Maia, so a different office to where my doctor is located at. They do the sequential screening and it will also be the place where we find out the sex, Sep. 30. That is my appointment for the last part of the sequential screening and where they share the sex. I will be 18 weeks pregnant then. I'm soo excited! The first part of the sequential screening consisted of the ultra should where they look at the nose and the fluid behind the neck. Everything looked great. Then they took some blood and if I don't hear back I am in the clear until the next blood work in about four weeks. My little baby was sleeping so peacefully and laying in a perfect position for the ultra sound technician to do her work. She was very happy about that. Then he or she woke up and started dancing around which was so funny to watch. He or she was stretching its legs and putting its arms to its face. Pregnancy is just amazing. It really is fascinating to think there is a little person growing inside of me right now. I was so thrilled when I left the doctor's office, also because I am now 12 weeks and can openly tell people now that I am pregnant. I already told most people around me but I do not plan to announce it on facebook for a while. I've become much more private on facebook, posting few posts and pictures of myself and Maia. 

Today I submitted my last chapter to my chair! It almost felt strange submitting it because there is nothing left to do, at least for the moment. I am so close though, I am a few months away from graduating and being done with school...forever! I can't wait. I will even slowly start looking for job opportunities. I am also teaching the equine family therapy class again this semester with my chair and I feel much better about it this semester because I feel like I have some breathing room now that my dissertation is written and I only have edits left. I may actually go to the actual classes and not only teach the class during barn days. Now all I need is my hours to get licensed and I am golden and can finally slowly start building my private practice. 

My garden has been suffering this summer, at least parts of it. The summer heat just makes everything look like shit it seems in Florida. Or I'm simply an amateur gardener lol. I'm also too tired and pregnant to spend my days in the garden in this extreme heat. I may have to replace some of the plants with more florida native non-flowering easy shrubs that require little maintenance. I also need to pull a ton of weeds, do trimming, replace some of my dead tomatoes and herbs and just simply clean up. It requires constant work in the yard if you want to keep in nice, which I obviously do but sometimes I feel like I can't keep up, especially now that I am pregnant. Tomorrow, I dedicated as my garden day. A break or something like that, now that my chapter is submitted. 

On Saturday Brad and I are going to dinner to Macaluso, one of our favorite restaurants to celebrate our 8 year relationship anniversary! I can't believe it's been that long already. I'm so blessed to be with such a wonderful man, an adorable daughter, and a child growing in my belly :) 

Here are some photos of the ultra sound this week....