planes trains and automobiles

Lou's cousins were happy to discover when they came over that there were some 'boys' toys to play with. While she enjoys playing with her baby doll and teddy's, this girl definitely loves the feel of cool metal in her hands, a good choo choo train, 'baplanes' and trucks. It's fun. I can still dress her as girly as I please (at least for a little bit longer) and she can play with boys toys.

30 weeks

I've been asked to post a belly picture. It's been a while since I've done it so I'll oblige :)

Of course I haven't been as good about writing about this pregnancy as I was with the first. It's kind of inevitable, unless one is greatly consistent and makes the effort. I honestly am okay with it. The first pregnancy is exciting, different, breathtaking even. The subsequent ones are just as precious in a mother's mind, only not as thrilling because you know how it all goes. Which is not to say that every pregnancy isn't different, oy! This pregnancy is very different...and I feel like I have mentioned those differences on here so that I will remember. I just feel grateful and blessed every day that I am carrying another child and that God has chosen us to bring another soul into the world. That is one feeling I don't want to forget...even through the hard stuff I feel a strong sense of gratitude every morning that I wake up. I am starting to get so anxious to see this baby's face. That day couldn't come soon enough.

Yesterday I had the gestational diabetes test done. For some who may not know what that is - it's a test to measure how your pregnant body handles glucose in the blood. You have to first fast for 12 hours then gulp down this sugary drink. Then they take your blood within an hour and then they can tell if you have signs of gestational diabetes. Which I understand can be very harmful to your baby if not treated. I was fine. They also check for some other indicators in your blood - like iron levels. Which, mine are slightly low, but nothing to get concerned about. I have taken iron supplements in the past but I honestly despise them. They have side effects, like constipation. Blech. For now I will make the extra effort to eat foods rich in iron. Other than that my lovely OB says I am looking great. Gaining the right amount of weight, the baby is likely head down (though there is still time for shifting around) and pretty much a picture of health! Once again....how can I complain about one single thing? I am so grateful to be healthy. 30 weeks....about 10 to go! (of course, I wouldn't mind a little less ;)

Oh, and just for fun...I was looking to see if I posted a picture of me when I was 30 weeks with Louisa. I think this is pretty close. Kind of cool that we are having another winter baby. This time she will be here by Christmas!

Toms and Choo Choos

I realized I forgot to write about my sweet little Juliet tomato harvest. These little guys did make it through the minimal sunshine to ripen. I have gotten about 20-25 tomatoes, and have just been basically throwing them on my salads. I'm glad I decided to grow something on my little apartment deck. Hopefully it was practice for having a home and a garden where I can expand into a lovely vegetable garden. I don't really want to stay in an apartment forever :P

Oh and here Mike and Lou are drawing together. She loves to make 'requests' for what you should draw for her. Some favorites are turtles, choo choos, and bubbles. I love the way she says all these words.

Cousins

Someone had lots of quality cousin-time this weekend. She basically loved it.

Are these two adorable babies going to grow up into gorgeous people or what??

Fall nature walk

We pretty much take walks every day around here. Yesterday turned into an impromptu nature 'lesson' basically just because there were some extra-fascinating things around. Like a raindrop covered spider web, a snail (one alive an several empty shells) beautiful leaves fallen on the sidewalk...

Then the teacher in me thought it would be fun to do some leaf sketches. You know, since fall is definitely here and this is a typical fall art project. Louisa mostly colored while I had my fun. Sometimes I can hardly wait for Lou to grow up so we can start our formal schooling together. Most of the time, though, I'm content with waiting. We are constantly learning anyway, after all!

My little student!

Being cute...

....it's kind of her forté.

I don't know how she does it, but she goes from getting so upset and throwing herself on the floor to being sweet Lou again in 0.2 seconds. I've been told this is normal for her age (even though I'm confused, do the terrible 2's really start at 18 months? Where was my fair warning?) It's trying at times, yes. But you know, I've learned to mostly be patient and wait the tantrums out, or at least that's mostly my strategy. I try not to give her extra attention unless I know something is actually wrong. Certainly there are very inconvenient times for this behavior...like when I am out in public, because, it's really not easy picking up a 25lb kid while being 6 1/2 months pregnant! But then, it's the weirdest thing, minutes later she transforms into this adorable sweet baby again and the frustration dissipates. Okay....? Anyway, here she is looking at well, mostly herself, one morning before church. Before this she was crying and screaming for "baba; nigh nigh" (she does that a lot when she's upset) ... oy!

Spotted fruit

Someone thinks this is the proper way to eat a plum (biting little pieces off and mostly spitting them back out. Grab two or three more plums and repeat)

Hehe, what kind of a face did I capture here?

I should be thinking twice about leaving fruit in a bowl as a centerpiece on the table. She can (and will) get to it. Consequently, I have a lot of plums to eat now before they go bad!

More seattle scenes

Seattle Public library, downtown.

hmmm, checking out the crazy building from the outside.

they have an excellent children's section, I must say.

Michael has been feeling better, for the most part, and we were able to have another nice family weekend together. Saturday we had the whole day open so we decided to take the bus downtown and check out the Seattle Public Library. It is no ordinary library, for those who have not been. And even though it's pretty funky - it's definitely not my style at all. Really modern. Oh well, still interesting to experience. Then we wandered around a little in Seattle and took the bus back home. Louisa loved riding the metro bus. And of course she was waving to everyone on the bus, makin' friends. Sunday was lovely too as we have some special people back in Seattle with us! My sister in law and her family, who are city people through and through, hung out with us all afternoon. The day ended with a sunset walk on Alki. Very nice, indeed.

Oh yeah, and you can't tell here but poor Lou actually had a fever yesterday. During church she was very clingy and ended up falling asleep in my lap (a very rare thing these days) She was so delighted to have her three cousins over though, and it kept her distracted for the most part. Her fever seems to have broken over night and this morning she seems to be doing just fine. I really hope no one else gets sick - enough already! (even though I realize the cold and flu season has just begun)

(some of the photo credits go to Kelly. The one of Mike, Lou, and I and of the boys on the beach :)

Walkin' in the rain

The last two days have been a little crazy as Mike has been home sick. As nice as it is to have him here, it really interrupts our usual schedule. (Plus of course, it stinks that he doesn't feel good) Louisa's behavior is testimony to the fact that she really does much better on a predictable schedule. She is delighted to have daddy home, but it kind of makes her wild. It's also been raining so we were all cooped up yesterday and part of today. I left Louisa with Mike for a few hours while I went and had a root canal done. I am relieved to have that over with, and to tell you the truth it wasn't that horrible. The most horrifying part was the bill :/ Anyway, when I got home Mike was definitely ready to go back to bed. Soooo...having a cooped up toddler on my hands I did what I could - went for a walk in the rain. And boy did she get a kick out of it! She was absolutely loving this novel concept of splashing in puddles and getting soaked. I have been looking around for rain boots and a rain jacket but my efforts so far have been unsuccessful. I'm actually a little annoyed since I see they have adult rain boots but no kid's. Well, I'm sure something will come up soon. I know Lou will be delighted the next time we get to have a rainy day adventure.

Swagger Wagon

Not sure if I am behind the times with this one (it already has like 6 million views) ......but honey, it's time to get a SIENNA!

The wind in our hair

The weekend came and went.

Life passes so quickly sometimes! But we had fun. We rode a ferry for the first time as a family. I was pleased because I didn't feel hardly any motion sickness. Lou thought it was pretty neat. She wasn't intimidated at all by the water, and was walking from one end of the boat to another checking out what people were doing.
(a little self portrait using the front window of the ferry)

More pictures to follow of the trains we went to see. I hear a little one waking up in the other room...

It's the weekend!

Happy weekend to you!!

(this picture is very appropriate as we are going on a ferry boat ride tomorrow! It will be her first.)

That's my baby

I took Lou in for her 18 month check up today. It was so sweet, as soon as I took off her clothes and put her up on the examination table she got really excited and got this look like "oh! I know what to do" she laid down and pointed to her tummy and said "bebe." I am amazed not so much that she said baby in her tummy (because she's pointed to my tummy before and done that) but that she associated the times she's gone in with me to see my baby doctor to check on Josephine. She just must have figured it was her turn to have her baby checked out :) It was a very sweet/proud moment and it really made me realize how much she is growing up! She takes in much more than we realize and quickly learns what we are not actively teaching her - incredible to witness. I love that girl soooooo much!

Speaking of loving one's child, if you get a chance, this is an article with much food for thought. We read a lot of feminist literature in high school (Aubri, Jessie - we read The Color Purple, didn't we?) What do you think about this, dear readers? Do you think feminism is sticking with the new generation of women? Obviously, based on the decisions I've made you can see that I don't buy into many of the claims put forth by Alice Walker and her contemporaries. So far my life as a mother has been unbelievably fulfilling and it has forced me to grow as a person in a multitude of ways.

Like I said, much food for thought. I would encourage you to read the whole article and I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Under da sea

I got to blog earlier than I imagined I would. Louisa woke up at 5:30 this morning, which meant that she was ready for her morning nap by 7:30. So here I am. I have no idea how long she'll sleep (normally morning nap time starts around 9:30) This morning gave me the strangest sensation. Since it was still dark and somewhat rainy outside I got the feeling it was the middle of winter. We're not quite there yet, obviously, but there's no denying summer is on it's way out. Mike had his alarm set to 6 which was nice that I wasn't up by myself with Lou bear. He made it out the door for mass before work - :) I love that man.

So - like I mentioned yesterday we went to the Aquarium and even though it was very tiring, we had a great time. I've told you lots of times how excited Lou gets about fish - so yeah, we were a little concerned she would have a heart attack with all the different kids of fishies they had! She also loved hanging out with her bff - TJ. The only thing was it was very crowded, even though we got there right around opening time. Guess it was the holiday. Oh well, I'm sure it was worse in the afternoon. Mike and I enjoyed ourselves, too, because these types of places are very educational for adults as well. Like for example, did you know rock fish can live up to 100 to 140 years?! Craziness.

I wouldn't mind going again sometime - though it's ridiculously expensive. How much could it possibly cost for fish food? Just kidding, I know operating costs are probably high - but it just seems absurd and hardly makes it a family-friendly place to go. I noticed most people had only 1 or 2 kids with them. I guess that's the standard now so they figure a family with two incomes and two kids can afford it :( Oh well, I think I'll stop ranting now - don't want to dampen the mood of our great weekend.

Labor day

What a day! We decided to wake up early and go downtown (Pike Place) to enjoy some coffee and freshly made donuts before we met friends at the Aquarium. I have never been to the market when it was actually peaceful. People were still setting up shop and the crowds hadn't formed yet. Plus it was perfect Seattle weather - by that I mean misty, wet, and a nice chill in the air. Not actually raining and not completely grey either. Perfect for enjoying a piping hot americano! (and wearing your favorite sweater) That's my idea of the perfect weather anyway, especially after it's been sunny and hot for too long. Well it was just such a lovely morning then then the day got better because we met friends at the Aquarium and explored all the "ish" as Lou likes to say. I was going to post

pictures of that along with this post but I'm afraid I am way too tired. Mike and I wore ourselves out this weekend, that's for sure. I wish I could say Louisa is in bed but she kind of took a power nap earlier and got all wound up after that. So daddy is trying to put her down now. I hope she goes down because I think we're both up for an early bedtime! Plus pictures of the market are so great in themselves that they really deserve their own post.

That means I'll post some cool pictures of the Aquarium tomorrow. Night!