Recent Reading

I've been working my way through my shelf of books that I need to read before I buy MORE books. Here are two of my recent reads: I almost never read a book because the movie looks interesting, but with The Reader, that's exactly what I did. I wanted to see The Reader in the theater last year, but it just never happened. Then I thought I would just watch it on Netflix (it is indeed downstairs waiting to be watched even now). And then I decided to just go ahead and read it first.

I heard the movie is pretty weird, but the book was actually decent. I do think you can be weirder with books than movies and your reader will stay with you and work through the weirdness.

So the synopsis: Young German boy falls in love with a woman twice his age. They have a relationship and she moves away, quite suddenly. The next time he sees her, he is a law student and she is on trial for war crimes in the concentration camps during WWII. This is where their relationship evolves and grows... and he helps her deal with her terrible secret.

I'd give this book 3.5 stars.

My school book group just read Ann Patchett's Run. Patchett is most notable for writing Bel Canto (which I am currently reading). This was a beautifully told story about an elite family in Boston: white, older dad who used to be Mayor; one troubled, grown, natural son, and two brilliant, adopted black sons. Their lives change dramatically one night in a snowy car accident when they meet family and non family that will redirect the course of each of their lives.

I'd give it 4 stars.

Oh Captain, My Captain

Bob had his picture taken this week for his packet to be promoted to major. Who knows when that will happen, but now that the photo is taken, the packet is complete. I think he looks pretty official here. He's been practicing... not too happy or too gruff. His head neck shouldn't be smashed down or pointing up. His shoulders should be square and the metals straight... you get the gist. I think he nailed it.

As crazy as I am making myself these days, I am just beyond thankful for Bob. The man is even keeled and has this unnerving way of seeing the big picture when I am still stuck in the details. I appreciate his humor (which doesn't show in the picture) and his steadfastness (which does).

Margot is one lucky baby to get Bob as a daddy. And I don't know how I'd get through this process without his encouragement.

Turn Baby Turn!

So what would a week be like without a little bit of new baby stuff going on? I'd like to use the drama, but that seems a bit extreme at this point. It turns out that Margot was still lying transverse (side to side) last week, and I was 1 cm dilated... so the doctors said I could either go ahead and schedule my c-section (uh, no thanks!) or schedule a time to move her manually in the next two days. I chose option number two.

But before then, we tried everything in our power to turn her ourselves, and without pain. It should be noted that we've been doing most of these things for months now. But I'm swimming, high stepping, squatting, sitting on chairs backwards, sitting on a birthing ball, going to the chiropractor... etc.

So Thursday, Emmy- our doula, came to the house and burned Moxa Sticks (Mugwort) on either side of my pinky toes to trigger the reflexology points that should relax the uterus to let Margot move freely. So here I am pictured standing on phone books with these sort of Roman Candle things burning on either side of my feet. I stood like that for about 45 minutes, and the Moxa sticks smell like you're burning two doobies in the back yard. I'm sure the neighbors are either scandalized or are planning to introduce themselves to us any day now.

Friday morning at 6:00, we went in for the external cephalic version... it didn't work. They turned her head up. Totally breech. I won't even go into the excruciating pain of it. But I have to think it's definitely less painful than a c-section. And if it gives Margot a boost out of her comfort zone... then I'll gladly do it again.

I feel like I've been beat about the stomach with a baseball bat.
In happier news, is this the most beautiful high chair you've ever seen in your life? Bob's parents (Bob-the-dad and Betty) ordered it for us. I absolutely adore it. Bonus features- it comes with a plastic tray cover... for when it's really time to use it. And it turns into a toddler chair when Margot's ready to eat at the table with the adults. This is really a piece of furniture that our grandchildren will use.

Thank you, Cornelius parents!

And finally, here is a fun picture taken this week. Bob is the Charlie Troop Commander for 1-14 Cav. Pictured next to me is Paige and Suzanne. Paige's husband is the Bravo Troop Commander, and Suzanne's husband is the Alpha Troop Commander. They're both due mid to late November.

I said if we wanted to get a picture of us all pregnant, we needed to do it at this coffee... because by the next coffee I expect to have a baby in my arms! So here we are... A, B, and C commanders' wives.

The moral of the story: Don't drink the water at Ft. Lewis if you're not ready for a baby!

Starbucks Trivia

Before moving to Washington State, I erroneously thought a couple of things about Starbucks. I thought:

1. People in Washington would snub Starbucks- because it is a major chain, and Pacific Northwesterners (practically the North American inventors of coffee) would only accept locally owned and operated coffee houses. -NOT TRUE.
2. I thought Starbucks was opened in Starbucks, Washington. -Also: NOT TRUE.

Last weekend, when Bob and I were in Seattle for our little trip, we took the underground Seattle tour and learned a little about the origins of Starbucks. Here's the skinny:

1. The original location was opened in 1971 in Pike's Place market... where you can take your picture and wait 45 minutes for a cup of coffee.
2. The original logo is pictured above. Remember, people: sex sells. So what would sell a quality cup of coffee better than a topless mermaid? Well, the Starbucks truck drove around Seattle selling coffee... and the locals had a fit about decency. (Side note: I have a hard time believing Seattle was EVER that uptight about a little modesty. Has anyone been here lately? Clothes, shmose...) I digress. So they reconfigured the mermaid to picture her from the clavicle up.
3. The original Starbucks was opened by an English teacher, a history teacher, and a writer. -I'm reasonably certain all those late nights of grading and writer's block spurred their business venture.

So I do love Starbucks. I viewed it as a little piece of home when I was living in Europe. -Though the local coffee houses were usually better. And it's about the only decent cup of coffee one can find in the entire city of Cincinnati. Out here, I'm with the locals: Yes, we will pay $4.00 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks, but we will just as gladly purchase a locally owned and brewed (with love) cup of joe.

The really strange thing with coffee out here though is this: they ask you if you want a straw with your HOT coffee- EVERY TIME. Now I'm used to it. But I still think it's just a little different. So I always decline. I guess I'm just not quite a local... yet.

Random Prego Stuff

Today is 35 weeks, and as of today- I'm in my ninth month! Hooray!! And as always, there are some interesting things going on around here.

I included the picture up top to show you, loyal reader, just how much room a baby at this stage takes up in your uterus. Far out, huh? It's mind blowing to know that Margot is about 20" long and weighs 5.5 pounds. She's getting pretty big.

And I didn't know how I felt about the whole Belly Casting thing. My friends here have done it, but it's super hippy-dippy here. I wondered what I would do with a mold of my pregnant self. Hang it on the wall? Is that weird? Well, I do plan to trim it, sand it, and paint it... so it should be tres artistique when I'm finished.

Anyone remember Basic Art with Ms. Booth? It's just like that. (Only then I made a lion mask using my brother's face).

But right now, here's the weird part: when I walk into that bathroom where the cast is drying, it's like walking in on myself. I can't really describe the feeling. I am used to carrying that belly around and seeing it in the mirror and looking down at it when I'm trying to put on my shoes. But it's really strange to see MY BELLY disconnected from my body. It's like there my body double is hanging out in our upstairs bathroom. It's trippy, I'll tell you that.

I don't know when the mold will be finished. I'm busy crocheting a blanket for Margot to come home in (almost done with that), a Halloween cross stitch sampler (I should be able to get that done by October), a quilt wall hanging (I'm taking a class on Thursdays to do that one), and building a padded headboard for the guest room bed. So it's a little busy around here.

I'm confident most of these projects can be finished before Margot makes her debut.

I hear babies have a way of sucking up excess time.

-Understatement, anyone?

Sleepless in Seattle

With the hot weather here (108 degrees) and my growing belly, it's been tough to sleep. So this seemed like the ideal weekend to take a mini "Babymoon" trip to Seattle. Plus, it coincided with our joint anniversary with the Army. They've recognized me as a Cornelius and as one of Bob's dependents (it's always glamorous verbage with the Army) for seven years now.

We stayed in the Seattle Westin. I do love the Westin because of the Heavenly Bed. It really is heavenly- usually. The mattress is magical, the sheets are fantastic, and there are pillows of every imaginable size, shape, and density. And I usually relish my sleep at a Westin.

Pair the Heavenly Bed with air conditioning and I thought I'd sleep like a rock. But I did not. It's tough to hurl your belly from one side to another when you flip over. Confession: I always thought ladies who complained about this were perhaps a tad prone to exaggeration. Nope. If you turn too quickly, it feels like your belly is being ripped off your body. And I do mean ripped.

Despite the lack of sleep, we had a lovely time. We visited the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) and took the Seattle Underground Tour. It turns out Seattle used to be about 15 feet lower than it is now. So you can take this walking tour to see the original level of the city. You might think it's just a big basement, but it's more like an underground ghost town. -Worth taking the tour. We ate a delicious dinner at Chez Shea... maybe the best fillet I've ever had in my life! Oops, and raw fish for an appetizer. Maybe a little dangerous, but super amazing.

And what is a celebration without a couple of gifts: a hand-made copper bracelet from the market (7th anniversaries are traditionally celebrated with copper), a bottle of Bulgari Rose perfume. -Now I can stop wearing it only at the Duty Free shops in the airport. It's tough to find! And beautiful flowers from the market. The best thing about the market is the flower section. That enormous bouquet cost $10. -No kidding.

I took Bob to a fly fishing store downtown and hoped to buy him something wonderful. Do you know what the man picked out? This little bottle of something you spray on the flies to make them float! Good thing it's not our real anniversary. I'll have to think of something amazing to celebrate our 7th church wedding anniversary in December. What do they make for men in bronze or copper?

Sleep or no, it was a fabulous weekend in Seattle.

Preparing for (Another) Deployment

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I've been so focused on Margot being born soon, that I've lost a bit of the other enormous thing happening at that time: Bob deploying. Not that it's not important, but I think I'm such a linear thinker that I've sort of pushed it to the back burner. You know: I'll deal with first things first.

But the reality is this: Bob's guys are leaving very soon. I can't divulge dates, but suffice it to say there is very little time left for these guys with their families. I'm oh so thankful Bob gets to stay a little bit longer, and that he will get to be here to see and help little Margot be born.

I am more thankful for Bob than I am for any other thing in my life... and there are more good things in my life than I can begin to count or name. And it does hurt to think of him deploying again and leaving our little family. -Oof, I'm sure it will be harder than ever to leave a sweet little baby and a crying mommy! But we will be strong, as we always are.

Those of you Army wives out there, you know this to be true: this lifestyle is not for everyone, and those of us who make it work prove our mettle daily. So here's to Bob's guys' wives who are facing their first or second or third... deployments in the coming days and weeks. May you know peace and strength.

We're in it together.