Stubborn...

Just a funny update. This week, the OB doctor recommended to Mama to start wearing her maternity support belt to help keep Barack off her bladder so she doesn't have to keep running to the ladies room every hour. Well, Barack does not like it and has been kicking it with vigor during the day. Once it's removed, he flips and buries himself back onto her bladder. It's been a funny battle (well not so funny if you are mom's bladder...)

We came across a great cartoon strip this week. Although we love the name Barack (since we love our new president and its an old Hebrew name--Daddy loves the old bible names), we think that Barack might not make it to the official birth certificate.

A Day of Inspiration and Hope

Today was definitely a day marked in history. Our country has elected and inaugurated the first person of color to hold the highest office of public service. Although our own little Barack may not have understood the songs and speeches of the day through the computer speaker held up near his home, we only hope that the spirit of humility, service, and hope was able to pass the layers of tissue to his newly formed ears. Mama got a couple of kicks when VP Biden was sworn in and during President Obama's speech. So perhaps this little boy was inspired. We only hope as much.

In more exciting news, Barack is 21 weeks this week. So off to the doctor's for more pictures. Barack is definitely a boy. There was no being shy this time. Despite a half Dr. Pepper, he decided to take a nap at the very bottom (head down of course) of Mama's uterus. He moved around a bit, but for the most part was fairly calm and sleepy. Maybe all the inauguration events wore him out....

Here's some new shots of our little man:

Half way to B-day and turning 30

We've hit some major milestones over the past 2 weeks. Mama Flora turned 30 years old and Barack is 20 weeks (the halfway point). We all celebrated it with a much needed vacation, and thanks to Gram and Grandad, the whole Flora clan (including Uncle D) packed up our bathing suits and shorts and headed down to Cancun. Barack must have liked his first foreign adventure because he was definitely kicking during the week--usually during the evening hours from 6-11.

The beaches of Cancun are amazing--just like those Corona commercials with the white sandy beaches, clear aqua blue water, palm trees, and sun. We spent a couple of mornings laying out and splashing in the warm waters. Here is a view from our hotel room one early morning. The sun rose each morning at 6:00 am and it was hard to sleep in as the beaches were so inviting. Our hotel was nice, but the "hotel zone" of Cancun reminded us of a Mexican Las Vegas, complete with major American restaurants which were somewhat mediocre. Only Uncle D headed out to experience the night clubs one night in which he said they were like a Spring Break party. Barack was a little too young to go out yet.

On Mama's 30th birthday, we made an excursion inland to Chichen Itza to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World and Mayan capitol. It was probably one of the highlights of the trip. The archaeological park was big and many of the buildings were well kept. Here's a picture of the main temple called El Castillo, or the Castle.

On the trip we also visited Playa del Carmen, a beach town just south of Cancun and the all-inclusive resorts. We really enjoyed the atmosphere of Playa del Carmen, and would like to return there for another Mexican vacation. We also visited the Isla Mujeres, an island off the coast of Cancun. We got off the ferry and explored the downtown region. Then Daddy F hiried a taxi driver to take Mama and him on a tour of the island. Once we got south of downtown, we got to see the beauty the island and a Mayan temple ruin. The temple was for goddess Ixchel, the Mayan Goddess of fertility, reason, medicine, and the moon. Here are some shots from the island:

We also explored downtown Cancun called "El Centro" by locals, had some great meals including traditional Yucatan food and Barbacoa (type of BBQ), and had massages and/or traditional Mayan Vapor bath. We really enjoyed our little Mexican vacation, and look forward to visiting it soon. Even Barack got a new little outfit:

Finally, an updated bump picture to show off Barack's growing process:

A Busy End of the Year...

We have been busy monkeys around the Flora house. Oma and Opa came and helped with some home-improvement projects. We painted both Barack's new room a nice blue and our bedroom a richer shade of yellow. It took three days and lots of time spent atop of ladders as we have 14 foot ceilings in the schoolhouse. But in the end, everything looks much nicer and we are impressed with the new low VOC paints available at the local paint store.

And to finish off the week, we took Oma and Opa to a Butler Men's Basketball game. The Bulldogs came through in an exciting game against UAB. Plus Barack got a little gift of some Bulldog gear for next season:

Heading into the holidays...

Well, the holidays are officially upon us. Oma and Opa are on their way, leaving a warm and cozy California only to be victim to Indiana's cold spell...BRRRR! Dad and I are tired of this cold and are looking forward to a nice warm week in Cancun with Gram and Grandad in January. However, there is the issue of a proper bathing suit....(Thank you Oma for coming through again with my clothing crisis.)

Dad is recovering nicely from his hernia repair on Friday. We are now two peas in a pod that are able to lift no more than 15-20# and our normal pants do not fit because our bellies are swollen (for different reasons of course.)

No new news with Barack...there have been questionable "flutters" but as this is the first child, we aren't really sure yet. I am sure he will be tap dancing like Savion Glover on my bladder soon. (I do admit that my bladder has been sore each morning...)

Page, the furry family member that resembles more a cat than a monkey in looks only, is posing below by the tree to wish you all a very Merry Christmas from the Barrel for all of us:

Sweet Sixteen

Happy Sweet 16 Baby Barack! You must be really growing now because your mom's innie is now beginning to look like an outtie and you are hungry ALL the time!

This weekend marked Mom's first late night outings--Friday was ladies night out for the Wine Wednesday Holiday party and Saturday was the MLS fußball watching/Red Light Driver CD release driver. Although your mom got to drink in swanky sparkly lemonade and virgin Cosmos, you demanded to be fed at 1:00 am. And how picky you have become! Giving your Mommy cravings such as all things tomato (especially pasta with a marinara sauce), high pulp orange juice not from concentrate (so picky!), all things waffle (toaster, cones, cookies...), and milk (your mom is overjoyed that her lactose intolerance has gone away to make the dairy cravings not so uncomfortable to digest.)

Daddy has been studying hard and taking tests for the past two weeks, so soon we can all celebrate the holidays together.

You heartbeat was heard today at one of your check ups with Dr. V. Good and strong! No known feelings of your rambunctiousness yet, but I am sure your mommy will be feeling you soon.

Drum Roll...

So today we were able to peek inside once more at little Barack. Everything is looking good. Baby is progressing quite well, weighing in at about 3 ounces and a nice strong heart beat of 155 bpm.

But most importantly we were able to gain a look at the "important" parts. At first Barack was sleeping soundly, but after much poking and changing positions it was moving all around. The nice ultrasound tech informed me that this child will be felt kicking before we know it and has a ton of energy! Then it was being shy, by placing its umbilical cord between the legs.

Finally, we got this shot:

Yup, those are the nuts and berries. We are having a boy!!!!