The Great Pumpkin Caper

Someone stole the pumpkins off of our front porch this weekend. We had 5 of them, each of us had picked one out, they went from big (dad) to smallest (baby) at a local pumpkin patch. I know they are just pumpkins and all, but our heart sank when we realized they had been stolen. John and I were in a sort of funk for awhile. Who would steal our pumpkins? Our KIDS pumpkins!!, A pregnant lady's pumpkin for goodness sake!! Have you no SHAAAAAMMMEEE? ha, just kidding, but I was pretty upset about it.

Well I'm so delighted to post that this morning we walked out our door and found our pumpkins all returned in good condition with these notes taped to them. Ahhh I feel love and peace again for our neighborhood. I will no longer squint my eyes suspiciously at all the passing teenagers, I will no longer scan porches as we drive down our street looking for our kidnapped friends. Carry on with Halloween everyone, all is well.

Grateful Friday

It's 2:39 am right now and I can't sleep. I've entered the stage of pregnancy where for me, everynight is a long drawn out toss around in bed ordeal. So I either lay there frustrated or get up, wrap myself in a blanket, and watch TV or read or surf the internet. I only have about 4 weeks left, time is flying by and I don't quite feel ready for the baby yet. Luckily I have 4 weeks left to get ready. We have everything we need, so I'm not sure why I don't feel ready. John has his 4th interview with this job in Walnut Creek next Wednesday. We are pretty sure they will offer it this time. It's a great thing yet many challenges go along with accepting this job. It will mean he will have to commute the last month of my pregnancy and then for a month after, until we find a place to live. I have thoughts of him getting the job, him being there, me at home in labor with the kids, him rushing home (it's about 2 hours away) and not making it. I wonder if everything will fall into place, babysitting?(should we just bring them?), will I deliver fast?, how will I get to the birthing center?(drive myself in labor?) All of these questions are making me feel not ready. I want to trust God, just breath and let the plan unfold, but it's hard. Meanwhile, people are telling me the baby looks low, that I've "dropped". I'm having more and more contractions throughout each day, and the days are going by quickly. One thing I know is that this baby will come when it's ready, I'm eager to meet the little one, to hold a tiny hand, and smell the little neck. To watch Jack and Stella as they look at this amazing little baby. Today I'm grateful for all the questions, we are on the edge of a new life in many ways, and though it may be scary, it is exciting.

Baby Shower

My friends threw me a baby shower on Sunday. I've been meaning to post about it all week, but got busy. It was more of a "mommy" shower. All the gifts were for me. It was wonderful. I got lots of stuff to pamper myself, lotions, bath stuff, even some pregnancy clothes. My one regret is that I didn't take any pictures. I brought my camera and then forgot all about it once I started stuffing myself with empanadas and cake. My belly cast Gretchen did for me is beautiful, all the guests signed it, I'll show you all when John and I write something on it and then put a final protective spray on it.

Grateful Friday

My friend Gretchen did a belly cast on me Monday. I'm not sure why we aren't laughing in this photo because the whole thing was pretty hilarious. Instead of using Vasilene we tried Saran Wrap to protect my body this time. Lets just say getting my breasts to look somewhat natural and not all smooshed or squished to one side while wrapped in plastic wrap is not easy. We finally worked it out with a lot of fancy maneuvering and the end result looks great. Gretchen did a super job and I'll get to see the final end result on Sunday. Thanks Gretchen!!

Here's some other things I'm grateful for this week:
- My mom coming over yesterday, bringing me an iced vanilla latte and "The Little Mermaid" for the kids.
- Iced Vanilla Latte's from Starbucks.
- The season finale of Project Runway. I was rooting for Uli, but really liked Jefferey's collection especially that first red polka dot dress.
- John backing up our computer on a back up hard drive, I can stop worrying now that we are going to lose everything.
(doesn't Gretchen look like an artist in this picture? Beautiful!!)
- My friends throwing me a shower on Sunday!! Yippee!!
- The holidays coming, I'm going to make some pumpkin bread over the weekend.

Apple Hill

Every year we go to Apple Hill. It's about 45 minutes away in Placerville. It is always crowded but this year we decided not to go to the popular spots and headed up the hill a little. We found a place called Honey Bear Farm. It was perfect.

The lines weren't very long for pie and the farm itself was beautiful. There was a huge Koy fish pond and old trees and a pumpkin patch. They had made a maze out of hay stacks that the kids loved.

It think next year we will try this place again or maybe even explore some of the smaller farms down some of the little roads.

Apple Hill has lots of memories for me, we've gone every year pretty much since I was a kid. Usually with my dad though what I remember is stopping at road side farms where there were huge bins of apples to pick from and hot apple cider. We would always get a piece of pie or a caramel apple. I'm glad my kids will have lots of happy memories of our Apple Hill trips too.

Grateful Friday

Yesterday wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. John went back to work, and despite Jack being sick all day, and me having to literally crawl out of our bedroom because my siatic nerve wouldn't let me put any pressure on my left leg without what felt like a bolt of electricity shooting down my butt and leg, the day went pretty well. Jack pretty much layed on the couch all day, and after some streches I could move around the house pretty well on two legs. Here is my grateful Friday list, have a super weekend everyone.

- Playing Light Bright while watching the Amazing Race.
- John has another interview next Tuesday.
- It's Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Our churches annual Apple Hill service on Sunday. Apple Hill is a place up in the mountains where there are tons of apple trees and crafty booths set up, lots of pies and cider and wine. It's a good time.
- Lorissa and Gretchen
- My friend Gretchen inspired me to make extra buttery and gooey rice crisy squares, I made them last night, and it was well worth the stomach ache I had when I went to bed because they were delicious.
- John sending me to get a prenatal massage. It was so wonderful.
- John taking the kids and letting me sit in Borders to read magazines and listen to music for a couple hours.
- Camera Obscura, I love their music right now.
- After crawling out of the bedroom in pain and moaning about how much my butt and leg hurt, Jack through the day would look at me in concern and say tenderly "mommy I'll help your butt."

John goes back to work on Thursday. Yesterday the tears started flowing. When John is home we aren't the type of coupled who get sick of each other, and need our space,well ok, sometimes but I don't secretly wish he would be at work, and we could just go back to a normal schedule. We have fun. Even though this last month and a half has been anything but fun, we have had lots of fun, mixed in with lots of pain. In our almost 7 years of marriage, with lay offs (2), 2 kids which John got to take leave for, and with this motorcycle crash, we have gotten to spend months together at a time. Everytime he goes back to work it's is so hard, it's like my best friend is leaving me and I'm going to be all alone. Of course that is not really the case, he does come home every night and all, but it's not the same as having him there all the time. So anyway, I have 2 days left and everytime I think about Thursday coming I get a little sad, ok yesterday it was a lot sad, but I'm pulling the pregnancy hormone card and saying I'm so weepy (ok sobbing in the bathroom) because I'm 8 months pregnant. Ok all of a sudden I don't know where I'm going with all this. I've been up since 4 unable to sleep, and now I'm finally getting sleepy again, though I know the kids are about to wake up, so I can't go back to sleep. Anyway, I 'm just am going to miss my John.

(alright I know that was the most confusing, abrupt, wierd post ever, sorry about that, thanks for reading my sleep deprived ramblings anyway)

Grateful Friday

1. Our kids. They are so different, Jack more serious and worrisome, Stella more mischievous and defiant.
2. Nutella, my new love, God bless Nutella, sweet sweet Nutella.
3. John has another interview today, he's at it right now. Despite being all beat up the last few weeks he has done such a fantastic job of pushing through and still looking for work.

4. A marriage class at church the other night reminded me to love John for his differences and not try to change him.
5. Watching Stella try and ride her 5 inch tall horse. She gets so frustrated, I try and tell her that it's to small but she just doesn't get it.
6. All of you who take time to leave comments and always make me feel like a million bucks.
7. Finally getting some books on birthing and refreshing myself about some of the details of labor and breathing, I love looking at all the beautiful photos of moms with their newborns in one of the books.
8. Our friend Steve making me a CD of my all time favorite singer Tori Amos, just to encourage me.
9. The rain a couple days ago, and up in placerville yesterday when we went to Apple Hill.
10. The cool night air coming in our bedroom window at night.

Time

Time is running out for John being home. Next Thursday the Dr. said will be his first day back to work. He'll only have to be there about 2 1/2 weeks though, that is when his job officially lets everyone go. He still hasn't been offered a job, but we are holding out hope for one in Walnut Creek, we are expecting to hear from them soon, but he has another interview on Friday with someone else, so at least he is still getting bites.

We've been trying to squeeze in as many day trips as possible since our days together are coming to an end. Yesterday we went to our local park and John took a zillion pictures of pregnant me, which I love because I'm usually the one trying to snap a photo of myself, and it can get a little awkward. Today we are going over to a nature reserve (preserve?) and having a picnic.

Tomorrow we might head up to Apple Hill, eat some apple pie and look at all the crafts. Have I told you all lately how much I LOVE my family? I do, so much. They are everything to me. It's so cool having this baby because it is letting me relive the births of Jack and Stella. As much as I don't want any more kids after this one, I can't imagine that this will be the last time I'm pregnant. It's truly amazing to be carrying around this little life inside me. With all the discomforts and extra weight and strech marks, I love my body, I love standing in the bathroom and looking at my big belly and breasts, knowing that just beneath the surface is a living breathing baby that John and I made. Wondering who this little person will be, wondering (still) what we are going to name it, wondering if is a boy or girl, wondering so many things.