We just finished week 21, which means we're in the sixth month and the harvest is coming along swimmingly. I am growing, really just my belly, at an exponential rate. Baby Kestler is also growing fast, speedily closing in on a an entire foot's length each week. Right now, Baby measures at about 7.5 inches and weighs almost a pound. Baby was at lease kind enough to take one of the eight pounds that I have, so far gained, for herself. It's hard to really describe what our baby must look like right now. His skin is covered in vernix and is very loose and wrinkled, and will stay that way until he gains more fat- which I am helping him do. In a few weeks Baby should look less like part of the 70+ crowd and more his (or her?) age. This may happen faster if I consume many more celebratory meals. For our anniversary (#3) we were suspiciously eyed by the server, as our table grew to host a meal fit for a wedding dinner, or a royal and gluttonous feast. It was delicious and Baby Kestler concurred with the forceful kicks of a well fed fetus. We, 
the baby and I, especially liked stealing bites off of Dad's "Deconstructed Hot Fudge Brownie Sundae" which was much more than a post marxist desert, it was oowey goowey good to the soul. However, two bites in and I got told, and had to travel my fork back to its' residing plate. This anniversary certainly had a special weight to it, and yes I am referring to my added baby gains. It's amazing to look back at where Adam and I started out and where we are going, all that has happened in the middle and all that the future has in store. Two years ago, when Adam brought up starting a family, I told him he'd be well into his forties before I would be ready. I wanted to teach English in Japan, travel back to India, jump into a master's program or go on a bigger adventure. I felt like I had to get life out of the way first. Yet, last August something I can't explain just turned on. I had one beer, threw my BC in the trash and told my love I was ready to give it a shot, knowing that adventures are in the everyday. Experiencing pregnancy with this new baby, and with Adam has so far confirmed that choice. I can honestly say, I love it. Sure siatica sucks, and the heart burn is burdensome, my sausage toes are antagonizing as is my waist line at times, but this is truly just as euphoric as sitting on top of Kalla Patar in the middle of the Himalayas with Adam, or turning corners to find lions in a tik jungle, and just as mentally stimulating as reading Spinoza's proofs. It is marvelous to the infinite degree to be the most important and depended upon person to one small and unique child, even one that is unborn at the moment. Now, I don't know if my baby is developing these kind of strong emotions for me and her pa yet. Probably not. She's probably focused more on her growing taste buds and questioning my culinary skill, rolling her eyes at my ability to eat raw carrots by the bushel. Or she might be more enthralled with her thumbs and ears more than her emotive side as her tactile senses become stronger. She most likely, has no idea that she is housed inside another human being and perhaps, like us, thinks we are all alone in the universe - wouldn't I love to know what our baby ponders!
So to explain these photos...Adam took a photo shoot of me, us, himself in an attempt to learn how to work my awesome camera. He is modeling my beach hat (for our trip to Florida - we leave tomorrow!!!) and sunglasses in one, and I believe, birthing a pillow in another. I had to buy new clothes finally. I'm part proud, and partly surprised that I was able to put maternity shopping on hold for so long. Too bad my reasoning was rather based upon my cheapness and inability to deal with the heat than my potential to fit into clothing nicely. Anyway, my new look for a pregnant summer is pictured above - minimal, breathable, light - all to deal with the elevated temperature that accompanies this process. Baby Farmers run one degree hotter than the rest, add in a toasty summer outset and you can be sure it feels like an eternal sauna. Well, we're relocating our harvest to the damp and warm tropics of Florida for an 11 day period of hyper photosynthetic growth, transference via momma's gonna lie on the beach a get a rad tan. We'll also be active in post harvest training with Wendy and her two tots. Assuming I survive the heat, I'll report back with updates, pictures and stories. Much love to you all!!!
