Where did January go?

Wasn't it just Christmas? I don't mean to sound insane or idiotic....but seriously, where did January disappear to? The implications of how fast January went by are a little frightening. I have less than 3 months until my due date...and I'm less than 2 months from my impending 4th annual 29th birthday. Time needs to sllllllooooooooooow down a wee bit so that I have a chance to get some stuff done! Random things...like putting our spare room back together, and updating Nattie's baby book, and finally getting ALL of the laundry put away.

Thankfully today has been productive. All the errands are run, the upstairs computer has been backed up so it can be taken apart & stored....one basket of laundry has been put away and I'm headed to start dinner in a few minutes. Nattie - fabulous as she is - is taking a 3 hour nap :)

Tomorrow we're having Webster's Superbowl Party (a very exclusive event - for 3 VIP's only) and I've got plans to fix up some munchies. We're scrapping traditional dinner in favor of grazing and hopefully I'll be able to hang until at least half time. The menu will consist of homemade guacamole, a hot crab dip on baguette & some shrimp cocktail. That should make for an interesting weigh in at the OB's first thing on Monday morning!

Happy Saturday!

Garden dreaming....

I just realized that for the 2nd time I'll be trying to put in a garden 3 weeks before having baby. And I'm sad to think that this time around my dear friends Amy & Deidra will not be around to help me. I've wrapped up the month at work I think I will spend the afternoon surfing the web to find new goodies to grow & try this year. Plus, its lousy outside so looking at pictures of pretty green plants is bound to cheer me up.

I was thinking that Nattie & I might tear up a tiny bit of yard & put in a butterfly or hummingbird garden for her. She loves flowers and bugs and birds so it is likely to be a hit and keep her attention for at least 10 minutes out of the day. And she does LOVE to help water so that can be her little project.

I am sitting her chuckling to myself because if Jame could see inside my head right now his first thought would likely be a very sarcastic "...how much of this do I have to help with?!?!"

Back by popular demand....

Disclaimer....there is a 27 week preggo picture below. Due to frequent harassment from lots of different people I've decided that a shot of Patrick & I might not be the worst thing ever posted on the internet. :) So, once you're done 'admiring' the two of us scroll down to see the current cutie in the family. And please, if you have any honest opinions about how I look don't share them....I only want to hear lies about how fabulous I am and how I've got that amazing glow...oh, and that I look positively teensy!

Here is a great shot of Nattie - this is a true window into her energy and personality.

and sneaking over to a 'no' object to see if anyone is paying attention.

Sharing is caring!...and other updates

Nattie is doing great w/ her transition to preschool. She has been spending a select amt of time there daily and is definitely happy to share all the stories and adventures with us. I hear a lot of it, stream of conciousness style, on our drive home. She talks so fast anymore that I think I understand about half of it. Last night she announced at bedtime that she would share her blankie with me...because "Sharing is caring, Mommy!" I wonder what other interesting little phrases will come with the preschool transition. I suppressed a laugh at how hokey it sounded and admitted that I loved sharing blankie with her!

Entering the home stretch.... My 3rd trimester started on Wednesday so that is exciting. And yesterday I realized that we've made it to double digits. Only 97 days left until my due date. Guess its time to start a to-do list so that nothing important is forgotten as I slowly lose my mind.

Its been a very busy week so hopefully the weekend will bring some relaxation. No plans yet which sounds like heaven.

1-20-09 and weekend update

I know we all have different political viewpoints and opinions but I think almost anyone with a pulse can admit that this is a really important day. Along that vein I would just like to note something that is really sticking with me today. VA is a very different world from VT (ha! no kidding, right?) and being here to see how affected my black friends are by the inauguration of the first black president has been something I never could've appreciated if I were still in VT. The depth of this for many of my friends has been so surprising and amazing and has really touched my heart and opened my eyes. I do hope that this really means a healing for some of the past that just keeps resurfacing...or maybe it indicates a maturation for our country. Anyway, I'm feeling hopeful! And very thankful I'm not traveling north on I95 today :)

Ah, the weekend.... why does it always end so quickly? On Saturday Jame & I left Nattie w/ a babysitter and went car hunting. We found a good one that we both really liked but are going to keep it in mind and try to find it for less somewhere else. The dealer where we found it has a no haggle policy...and frankly, I'm a haggle kind of a girl. I felt so disappointed leaving there, knowing that if we bought from them I'd feel like I'd been cheated. Jame thought it wasn't too annoying but agreed that a lower price would be much nicer! We had lunch just the 2 of us and overall it was a really enjoyable day. It was cold here though - and windy - we're getting very soft after 2 years here. 2 years ago a 25 degree day in Jan would just feel normal.

Sunday Nattie & I had a nice play date and then I met a friend for an insanely long, very relaxing lunch. It was terrific. I smashed any guilty feelings about leaving Jame alone w/ the mini-tyrant for so many hours and truly enjoyed myself, the food and all the good conversation. Yay girl time! Sadly, since that lunch I've been unable to eat much of anything. Patrick is riding high into my ribs and so I'm longing for a deep breath and a meal that doesn't look like it was planned by a diet nazi. Drop Patrick! Drop dammit! This is my last big chance to indulge before I spend the rest of my life on a diet and you're ruining it! Drop Boy, Drop!

Yesterday I took the holiday and get a few things done - errands & such. Watched the movie Juno (very funny!) and then watched Jame assemble my glider/rocker. I am very excited about this chair for a few reasons. It will make those long nights w/ Patrick much comfier...and we paid for it by selling unwanted stuff on Craigslist. I do love to feel like I'm coming out ahead (note thoughts on buying cars in previous paragraph...tee hee).

And...drumroll please...it might snow here today. A whole half inch. I'll take it!

Wow, this got long winded....

Preschool & hiccups

Yesterday I met with the Director & Asst Director of Nattie's daycare about her transition to preschool (conveniently offered by the daycare). Jame & I had both spaced that her birthday might not be the best time to do that based on all the changes from Patrick's arrival. Their feeling was that she's good to go in March with a couple of her older friends and so they're starting her transition today. The plan is to let her spend 1-1.5 hours a day with various teachers & rooms to see how she does and where she feels most comfy. I'm nervous for her and am not quite ready for my baby to be in preschool but I know she'll love it! I'll be very curious to hear her version of her time spent in the "big kid" classrooms today as well as what her current teachers have to say. How is it possible that she's ready for this? Where has the time gone? And since I'm hormonal I'm going to stop thinking about it before I start crying at work..... Ah the joys of motherhood/distraction/pregnancy/insanity/exhaustion.

Patrick's latest development is that he's had the hiccups since lunch. Now that is a strange feeling! I'd really like to tell him that if he holds his breath and drinks water very fast he might get rid of them and save his Mommy from total distraction.

Nattie Brag!

On Sunday Jame said to me that he was going to take Nattie & the dog to the P-A-R-K. Nattie turned and said "Mommy, Daddy is taking me & Kaylie to the Park! P-A-R-K spells park!" Another obvious indicator that she's brilliant....and that Jame & I are in WAY over our heads :)

Now, I'd like to know what else she's figured out how to spell and has been holding out on us!

Viability and Terrible Two's!

24 weeks today and Patrick has reached the point of viability - I'm incredibly thankful we've come this far but he's got strict instructions to stay put until at least the first week of April! Had my monthly OB appt this morning and everything looked good. I did agree w/ the OB that the holiday eating should end with the holidays but thats just common sense.

And Jame & I have had to put a little steel into our spines (and a steely glint in our eyes) when it comes to Nattie. For the last week she's been "that kid"...yeah, the one that makes every fertile person who comes into contact with her renew their birth control prescription. So, its back to the drawing board as far as this whole parenting thing goes. Hopefully we'll find the right tactic, and she'll discover sooner rather than later, that we mean business. I don't think it'll be long lived since she can't stand being stuck in time out.

I'm back at work today and not really loving it. I know it sounds pathetic but even after 2w of vacation I wasn't ready for it to be over.

Catching up!

Where to begin.... First, here are some photo's from Christmas. The first is Nattie leaving cookies and a note for Santa. The 2nd two are the mayhem after gift opening. Yes, she is wearing 1 pair of pj's, 4 costumes & a chef's hat!

Saturday we headed to NJ for a visit w/ Les & family but it didn't work out as planned when half of the house came down w/ some serious ick that wound up causing us to leave early. Very disappointing but there wasn't much to be done. I escaped completely and am so glad, but poor Jame has just recovered after 4 days of no fun at all.

On Tuesday I dropped Nattie at daycare (per her request believe it or not) and went to the outlets to buy some things for Baby W....who isn't baby W anymore :) So, I'd like to announce that we've decided on Patrick Dawson Webster (!!!) as his name. I finished painting his room and have been organizing LOTS of stuff and I'm starting to feel like we might actually be prepared when this pregnancy comes to an end.

There were no festivities for NYE since Jame has been so sick and I'm always ready for sleep by 7pm these days. We are thinking about going out for a nice family dinner tomorrow to welcome 2009! I cannot believe its a new year already...where has the time gone? I am so thankful for so many things in '08 and am truly hopeful that '09 will bring more health & happiness (and perhaps the recovery of some wealth)!

Today we got our house back together and it looks so empty after all our decorations came down. I am always sad when the holidays come to and end but I suppose they're only special because they come once a year.

And tomorrow Jame & I are going to go be good, responsible adults and get ourselves some adequate life insurance. When did we get so grown up? Thats about all our news from VA. I'll surely be better about these updates once I'm back at work (sigh) on Monday and trapped in front of a computer all day long.

Happy 2009 and best wishes to all our friends & family! We are so thankful for you!