baby update:

Well, I officially look like I swallowed a basketball! :)

We had a 36 week check up today and saw baby brother one last time on ultrasound before he's here live and in person! He's doing great. He looks very healthy. There is lots of amniotic fluid, the placenta looks healthy, the umbilical cord is in the right place, no concern whatsoever, he's still a boy, and the best news of all...

He's head down! He's in position!

I'm 2 cm. dilated and 50% effaced. (this really doesn't mean much other than he's getting ready. I could still go all the way to due date.)

We've been busy here getting laundry done, things moved around and bassinets out.

I'm really excited to meet him and give him a kiss, but I'm being patient and taking lots of breaks. I know he's happier in my belly. So, 38 week appointment is scheduled, BUT

Just in case, keep your phones on!! :)

xo

My Grampy is 90 today. Happy Birthday Grampy!

It's a special day.

 Call it coincidence, but I was emptying an old box yesterday (yes, we still have boxes from our move a year ago that haven't been unpacked) and I found this photo of my Grampy and I dancing. 

He's a great dancer and I've had the privilege many times.

I just love my Grampy and Grammy.

I was just telling Brad's mom about what it's like for me to step into their home. I can't seem to take a deep enough breath. I love the way it smells. It's like wrapping up in a warm blanket.

I have so many happy, loving memories of spending time with them. 

I'm missing my Grampy today, wishing I could celebrate this great milestone with him.

I'm filled with gratitude to have the experience of having such loving grandparents!

Happy 90th Grampy!

I love you so much!

I miss you and send you hugs from California.

xxoo

more collages from summer in Truro 2011

Taking an after beach bath in the claw-foot tub at Great Nana's

Beach time at Corn Hill

Farmer's market in P-town

Great Nana's house and all its detail. Such a special place.

Blueberry picking with auntie coley and making blueberry corn muffins.
There is no one more into this than Nicole. Sometimes I think Ava could be Nicole's daughter.

Sunsets and beach bonfire evenings at the beach.

see you again in 2012.

missing Truro in the middle of winter....

I'm really in the middle of it today. Just so sad and tearful and I can't really figure out why. I mean, I could think of reasons to cry, but they aren't really why the tears keep welling up. 

 I'm sure it's being 8 months pregnant and full of hormones that just won't take a break. My body is getting prepared to bring another soul, another life into the world. There is something so powerful about it that seems to go unspoken about, but I feel it coming. Physically and emotionally.

Since I know better than to sit and soak in my sadness, though sometimes there is a time and place for that, I sat down at the computer and dug into old photo files from this summer. The place where I find purity and peace year after year, in Truro.

And I found photos of it's beauty, and among them pure joy in my Ava. 

It reminded me there is so much joy and it's so easy for her to feel it.

All these photos I disregard and think aren't special make such a magical collage that show me the truth:

there is light, there is love, and there is sand to sink my feet into that will absorb the unwanted.

the best moments at the beach are these: when no one is there because it's late in the afternoon. Or in the morning, early, while everyone else is packing up their gear to get there.

All you need is your birthday suit and some courage to jump in that icy cold water.

You can't not smile and scream out a little.

Ava is proof of that.

I'm glad I found these.

It was time for an update and our trip east this summer was right where we left off.

Let's begin with this and then there will be more.

Disneyland/Newport Beach

Our first trip of summer was to southern California with Brad's parents, UB, and Grandpa Great. We're so fortunate that they invite us to come to a different location every other year. They save up their time share points and make us an amazing vacation with childcare included. 

Brad and I had some really nice dates in Laguna Beach during the week; eating right on the water one evening and at the local favorite another. 

And during the day we relaxed on the beach together, or at the villa pools. There were like 8!

Doesn't she fit right in the so. cal vibe? 

It was hard not to laugh when we saw her chilling out like this one afternoon after a swim.

And since we were already down there and 15 minutes from the "happiest place on earth" we decided to take Ava. 

I'd argue about it being the happiest place on earth. I think even Ava would. 

My girl likes the beaches in Truro better, but she sure does love Disneyland too!

It was exciting, but also there was mostly a look of awe on her face the whole time. She was really taking it all in and trying to figure it all out. She kept asking if was all "real".

Because she had seen so many great Disney movies, like peter pan, alice in wonderland (her fav), sleeping beauty, snow white, etc. she really enjoyed the rides. Actually, Brad and I did too! Peter Pan was my favorite. It was so cool. I had some flashbacks to being there when I was four too. 

It was a fun experience and it tired us out too. 

We'll be back, but not for a while and we're definitely going off season next time!

A HUGE thank you to Grandpa for making it happen!

zonked!

She got to choose a toy before we left. She chose Sleeping beauty and spent a good 15 minutes sitting on the ground staring into the box at her.

my most memorable part of the expereince with her was watching her wave to all the princesses as they went by in a parade. She was just in total awe. They were so real to her and waving back.

How different the expereince being a kid there than an adult. 

I loved watching that.

in other news...another proud parent moment:

I know all of you already know this, but maybe you haven't see him yet? This little man is coming in January. Possibly January 15th. We saw him, all of us, on Aug. 16th. I was so focused on the screen and saw immediately that he was a boy. When I asked the tech she froze the frame and said "yes". There wasn't much mistaking it ;)

I just can't believe it. 

I never thought I would have a boy. Every day the idea sinks more into my heart and I just feel a smile come over me. 

I'm excited to see what's in store for our family.

And, I know, I'm biased, but even the tech said "that's a cute baby". I saw him at 12 weeks, before we knew, and said "he's so cute!"  How I knew he was a he I don't know, but I saw that little pug nose and feel in love a little. 

We can't wait to meet him! Well, we kind of can. We want him to be safe and grow and give us some time to get ready for him. As of today we're not ready for him at ALL. :)

For now he sends me love with his kicks. I love every one of them.
Ava gives him zuccums everyday and laughs in my tummy, so I'm sure he's heard his big sister laughing. I'm sure she'll be the 1st to make him laugh too.
I'm so grateful & happy that she'll have a sibling that lives with us.

So meet Mr. fill in the blank James Koch.

Ava is a pre-schooler!

There is so much more that I've skipped. We've had a wonderful summer with many trips and fun. I promise I will post those photos for you, but as a mother, I am overwhelmed with my girl this week, so I have to write about this first. 

She began Montessori school. 

Brad and I both held back tears as she went so willingly and happily with zero tears. 

The truth is we're in transition week, so I went with her on day 1 for an hour and marveled in the feeling I got being there. The moms, the teachers, the school was so peaceful and exuding good energy. I felt like we had made the right decision completely.

Ava left that day saying "that was fun! I'm going to learn, mama. I'm going to learn how to read and play and not cry when buggies get on me." 

These are things we hadn't talked about.

smart girl.

The 2nd day she did an hour alone with half her class, so 5 classmates. 

This is the day that my eyes swelled after I left her in her classroom. 

We hugged and she didn't want to let go, but she bravely did with my encouragement, kissed me, and began to play.

She told me when I picked her up that it wasn't as fun as the day before. She took some "private time" and sat alone waiting for me to come back. 

But she didn't cry.

She made me a bracelet and drew a picture. 

I think she was more reserved, but she'll warm up and I'm so proud of her strength. This from the girl who said all summer when we talked about starting school "but I don't want other kids to be there".

I'm just so proud of her.

It was a big couple of days. 

Friday she'll go for 2 hours alone with her whole class and Monday we'll begin regular schedule.

Aside from all that, isn't she just ridiculously adorable? She was really excited the 1st day.

(click on photos to enlarge)

Daddy wanted a pic too even though he was still in his bathrobe. Daddy is our monk ;)

Lily wasn't thrilled that she left, but she sure was fun to come home to. 

Ava drew a picture of a spider and brought it home for Lily. :)