Surprise!

January 2 we got the shock of a lifetime. I was one day late, so when Bob went to the grocery store for chips, and I asked him to also pick up a pregnancy test. -Just to rule the possibility of pregnancy out. It was late, late Friday night. I cleaned the bathroom as I was waiting for the results. Though I was sure what it would say. Much to my consternation, it said "Pregnant." I shook the stick and waited for the word "Not" to come on. Nope.

Bob of course was thrilled from moment one. It took me a couple of hours to come around to the idea. You see, Bob is deploying in early August, and I am due in early September. And we've both had Human Biology classes, so we know how this works. But in all these years we've NEVER gotten pregnant. The hundreds of tests I've taken (in fear and trepidation of trading in my great life for one of diapers and feedings) have ALWAYS been NEGATIVE.

I went to the doctor last week, and there was a heartbeat (150 bpm, absolutely perfectly where it should be). As soon as I saw the heart beating, I was inexplicably attached to the idea of not only having this baby, but also WANTING this baby. It burrowed into my heart in a single moment. I'm still freaked out and worried. But I'm hopeful. This, too, will be a great thing. Change is tough. Life changing things that happen when I'm alone is tough times a thousand, but I know it is doable. Our lives are great, and this baby is an extension and result of our commitment and love for each other.

Unexpected Twists, indeed. Watch out world: Baby Cornelius is joining your ranks.

Back in Bling

The craziest thing happened on December 14th... our house was burglarized. While we were home! It was a normal Sunday morning. Bob went to the grocery store to buy Christmas cookie ingredients, and I went for a run on the treadmill in the garage. I decided I had time to lift weights too, and took my engagement ring, wedding ring, and West Point Miniature ring off and put them next to the t.v. in the garage.

Then, I dashed upstairs to take a shower before Bob got home. (I forgot to put my rings back on). Bob returned home, brought the groceries in through the garage (but forgot to put the garage door down). I was wrapping presents and decided I should put the paper away at just that moment. I opened the door to the garage, and there was a teenage girl there with her hand on the handle, she might have been 20. Then I looked to my left, and there was a guy about the same age holding my DVD player in his hands. I immediately remembered I had left my rings there, but of course they were gone. I chased them both down the block screaming at the top of my lungs "You stole my rings!" Bob was hot on my heals, and Chester joined the fun.

Long story short, they got away. With my rings. There were SO many should haves... Should have put my rings back on, Should have closed the garage, etc. We live in a terrific neighborhood. That morning, as we were waiting for the police to come investigate, I looked up and down the street. Tons of people had their garage doors open to put up Christmas decorations or whatever. It was truly bizarre.

Anyhoo... the insurance covered most of the cost of the three rings. So a couple of weeks ago Bob and I went jewelry shopping in Portland (no sales tax, versus the almost 9% here in Washington). These engagement and wedding rings are completely different from my originals, but they are starting to look normal to me. It's an emotional experience to be robbed. Especially when the villains take momentos that are dear to your heart.

So after a naked left hand fourth finger for a month, it's good to be "married" again.

The dogs we love

Did anyone see the movie "Marley and Me?" We saw it Christmas Day. That was one movie I enjoyed as much as the book. I laughed, I cried (I actually soaked my scarf with tears, no kidding). Then we came home and hugged Chester tighter than he enjoys being hugged, but what can you do?

There's something about a good dog. They contribute monumentally to a great life.

Happy 6th Anniversary (in Portland)

Our sixth anniversary was on December 28th, and we headed down to Portland to celebrate. It was the first time either one of us had been there, but certainly NOT the last. We have the best time exploring new cities (especially on foot) and visiting museums. This trip was no exception. We went to The Museum of Craft (modern art museum where the exhibits are made out of lipstick, pen caps, plastic bottles, etc), the Portland Art Museum, and the Forestry Center. We'll see more museums next time.

Here are the photo highlights:

This is me holding the map of Powell's Bookstore. The store is HUGE! It takes up an entire city block, and you really do need a map to make your way through it. I can't even express how overwhelming it was. I HAD to leave after an hour. I either was going to have a meltdown from claustrophobia, or I would drop to the floor with my pile of books and read right there for the next week straight. -We left and found a coffee/ chocolate shop. Good choice!

Here's Bob poring over the map and planning our routes before they delivered our coffee and chocolate to us. I love this picture of him: he looks like a little kid. The man is all about land nav. One of the many reasons I married him.

Bob loves maps, and I love really great hotels. And I'm pretty talented at finding deals on the posh ones. This little beauty, The Nines, I found on Hotwire.com It was a 4.5 star hotel, that I got for $79.00 a night! Yeah, baby! This is the best hotel I've ever found, I think. The lobby was full of modern art and naked mannequins. -Weird, but great. AND there were chandeliers everywhere: the bedrooms, the bathrooms, the halls, the lobby, you name it. Very twinkly and beautiful.

We ate our body weight in sushi and just had a fantastic time. We'll certainly be back someday to check out what the rest of the city has to offer.

Our six years have been marvelous, and I can honestly say we really do experience Unexpected Twists regularly. It keeps life interesting and full of potential and joy.

2008 Reading

These are the books I read in 2008, or as many as I can remember (51).