Summer Traveling

Tomorrow I'll be 31 weeks pregnant, and my time for flying is rapidly diminishing. So it was time to head back East to see friends and family.

So on June 25th I flew to Alabama to visit my old college friend Bev. She and her mom threw a beautiful baby shower for me that Saturday. I don't have any pictures from that... they were all taken on another camera. So I'll post those when I get them.

The next day Bev and I drove to Ft. Benning, Georgia, to visit my friends Robin and Joe. Robin is due about five weeks after me, and it was fun to get some belly shots. She's just SO DARN CUTE!

We were in the South for about a week, and then Bev, her fiancee Kevin, and I drove up north to visit my family. Bob flew in to meet me there.

On Saturday, July 4th, my mom threw a baby shower for her side of the family and some old family friends. It rained... but it was still a lovely time (indoors). Again, I don't have tons of pictures on MY camera.

Sunday, Bob's mom organized a shower at Bob's brother's house (which is an amazing house, by the way) for that side of the family. I'm not sure if there are any pictures of that day or not. It was a beautiful day and a great chance to catch up with people we haven't seen in a year and a half. Too long!

Yesterday, we met up with my cousin Christy, her husband Mike, and my Godson, Leo. We met at Newport on the Levy and visited the aquarium. Leo is just brilliant and adorable to boot. It's a great combination. Unfortunately, the sun is so bright that we are squinting terribly, and I look absolutely enormous in this shot, but what can you do? -That's what I get for leaning back on the railing and sticking out my gut...

And finally, I'll leave you with a picture Bob snapped yesterday, after I woke up from a nap on the sofa. I think it's not a bad picture, and lord knows, I could use a decent picture of myself SOMEWHERE on this blog. So here it is...

There's more fun to come... including a 3D/4D ultrasound tomorrow... I'm so looking forward to that! And dinner with old high school buddies, and swimming with my old, pregnant friend, Mindy, on Friday. I'll post more later in the week.

"Book Shower"

Last Saturday, my friends (who started out as co-workers) threw a book shower for Bob and I. Each guest was given a little book plate sticker to go in the children's books they brought. Each sticker has a little tree that matches the nursery and says "Margot's Library." How wonderful to have your own library before you're even born!

Lucky little Margot got SO MANY good books. Some we knew, and they took us way back: Curious George, The Hungry Little Caterpillar, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, etc. Others were new to us, and I'm sure we'll have gobs of fun reading to her.

And there were wonderful little blankets and outfits. It was just a perfect afternoon spent among friends and books.

The only thing I'd change: I look huge in the pictures! Why didn't someone tell me my dress was billowing up around me?! I easily look twice as big as I really am. I've got a few showers coming up: Bev's in Alabama and my mom's in Indiana and I think one Bob's mom, Betty, is throwing. Please, people, don't let me be photographed like that again! I know I'll get to be huge. But I'm not there yet.

Oh, my self confidence is slightly shattered...

"Olympia Pride"

So here's a funny story for you:

Last year around this time, Bob's parents (Bob-the-Dad and Betty) came out to Washington for a visit. Wanting to find fun things in the area to do to entertain our guests, I scoured the newspaper for local events. Lo and behold, I found something called "The Olympia Pride Parade." Well, I'm proud of Olympia. And who doesn't love a parade?

So we get downtown Olympia and are walking up to the parade, and Bob notices these men dressed in military clothes and carrying a rainbow flag. Bob says to me, "Those men are not in correct uniform!" I was like... "Oh, they're probably in the reserves or something. No big deal." Then Bob noticed the rainbow flags, and he says, "This is a gay parade!" I, looking to just enjoy the afternoon, assured him this was Olympia- and there are all kinds of rainbows around on any given day.

Then we rounded the corner to find float after float of rainbows and people with outstanding costumes. I was drawn like a moth to a flame... "Pretty colors and glitter!" while Bob shrunk back. Anyway, it ended up okay. We just rerouted and went to the Farmer's Market downtown instead.

I saw a banner for the parade again this year, and I had a good chuckle to myself. And I went down to enjoy the costumes (by myself) yesterday. For the most part it was extremely family friendly. -Except for the Village People look-alike guy who was wearing leather ass-less chaps. You just don't see a stranger's butt cheeks in public that often. The people around me were first intrigued (as was I) and then a little outraged. This was supposed to be for families and the community. There's one in every crowd who takes it too far.

Overall... I just enjoyed the fact that people can dress up in rainbow headbands and glittery wings and celebrate diversity. It was a beautiful day, and I look forward to attending next year with Margot. Diversity and acceptance of different cultures, races, sexual orientation starts at home. We've got to teach our kids how to love.

Don't worry... I'll be ready to hide her eyes in case the Village People guy is there again.

"Twins"

Last week at school was "spirit week," and Tuesday was twin day. So my friend and English teaching colleague, Kim, dressed up as my pregnant twin. She is not really pregnant, but she's got three kids, so she knew the drill. She walked with a swayed back and a waddle all day long. -Even though I don't do either of those yet.

We made little buttons that said, "Ask me about my pregnant twin!" That's how rumors are started...

Prego Friends

So I know about a million pregnant people right now... which is fun.

I've got one girlfriend here, Sarah, who has been such a great connection. She is about a week and a half behind me- so we're on the same track as far as development, weight gain, nursery decorating, etc.

Here are a couple of pictures of us last Saturday at the Farmer's Market in Olympia. Unfortunately it's so sun-shiny outside that it made some pretty harsh shadows on our faces. Still... the bellies come through nice and clear, don't they?

My running shoes are acting as walking shoes these days, and it's the weirdest thing: walking three miles FEELS like running five miles. I'm about that fatigued at the end of the walk, and my feet are puffy like after a run, and my thighs feel like I ran the whole thing up hill!

I'm not complaining, because it doesn't really hurt. It's just uncomfortable. I think I just am a tad worried about what it will feel like in a couple of months. One more trimester, as of Thursday! Hooray! My prediction is that I will continue to walk, because I go crazy without some kind of exercise, and I will just walk more slowly (As to avoid that rather unpleasant sensation of my uterus wanting to fall out. I swear it feels like that now... everything is loosening up).

I'm really looking forward to running again, running so hard I'm drenched in sweat from my hair to my feet. I dream about it regularly... some pregnant women dream about their hot doctors. Not Liz... running is what does it for me.

Anyhoo... that's just the latest.

Good Things

It seems like things are going very well. Today is 24 weeks, and Margot weighs a pound and a half and is 8" from head to rump (not including legs). You've got to love the fun facts in What To Expect When You're Expecting.

Last weekend Bob and I put the crib and the changing table/hutch/dresser together and in the nursery. It's starting to look more like a baby's room than an empty yellow bedroom. Hooray!

We registered, and that could have been overwhelming, but it wasn't. Have you seen the selection of binkies out there? Every once in a while living in the land o'plenty can be a bit daunting. Organic cotton spit up cloths? Does this aspirator that looks like an elephant really work better than the plain white one?

But last night things really got interesting. I was sleeping, as is my custom. And I awoke at 3:58 a.m. to find my belly moving all over the place. Little Margot was having a dance party, I think. It was pretty cool. I suppose I have just assumed her movements are somehow based on mine. Last night... the whole show was hers.

But here's the best news. Wait for it...

Today Bob came home and confirmed (as much as can be confirmed with the Army) that our brigade commander has said and confirmed to the squadron commander and to the troop commanders, that any soldier whose wife is due within 30 days of the deployment can stay back on rear detachment until the baby is born. And then they will fly out to join their unit, wherever that may be. How long will Bob be here after Margot has made her arrival? I'm not sure. It could be two days or a week. I will certainly take this victory where I can.

Be still, my heart: Margot's daddy will be here for the birth! I couldn't ask for a better gift than that. Bob and I are so happy. The stars are aligned, I think. And the universe is looking quite hopeful from here.

The Story of a Marriage

It's been a long time since I've blogged about a book I've read. And I don't really know why; maybe I'm just getting lazy. Rest assured, I AM reading!

There is a book list that comes out every couple of months called the Indie Book List. It's peer reviewed and fantastic. The books that make the list are on there for a reason: they're stellar!

So this book, The Story of a Marriage, is set in 1953 in San Francisco. There is sexual tension, racial tension, economic instability... it's enthralling. Additionally, the book is expertly written, and every few pages there is this sort of "aha" moment where much is revealed. Sometimes what is revealed answers questions I had, and other times they blindsided me. I do love it when that happens.

I need to find a job that pays me to read. I've got four more library books off the last Indie book list waiting to be read. But guess what?! The NEWEST Indie book list came out late last week! I need more time to digest all this great literature.