thirty nine weeks

dear sweet baby:



i think (and hope) that this may be the last little letter i write to you...that is, while you are still in my tummy.

it is a little bittersweet knowing that i will never be expecting you-our first baby again, knowing that this chapter of your little life is almost over, but I cannot say that it has exactly "flown by". there is just so much waiting in pregnancy...waiting for that scary first trimester (and the morning sickness) to pass, waiting for ultrasounds, waiting for assurances that you are well and healthy, waiting to learn if you are a boy or a girl, and most of all just waiting for that incredible moment when we will see your little face for the first time.

as wonderful as it will be to finally see you and to watch all the people in our village begin to love you, i will never forget how special it has been to carry you inside me like a little secret. it has been the greatest gift of my life.

i saw you on the big screen today. and for the first time, i have a glimmer of what you will look like. you were a little blurry but i can already say that you are the most perfect, darling thing i have ever laid eyes on. and your nose and little hands are just too sweet for words.

so please come whenever you feel up to it...we are most ready for you, baby.

all my love,

mama

p.s. you wouldn't believe how excited your daddy is...i have never seen him like this. it melts my heart every. single. day. we are so, so lucky.

::baby berry sucking his or her little thumb. i could have died it was so tender.

dinner. followed by dessert. of course.

i got brave this week and headed into the kitchen with the goal of a nice little spread for the mister when he got home. i had ina's summer garden capellini recipe in hand, basil from our garden (!) and the mister's favorite: homemade garlic bread. i kinda like it too.


and for dessert, the decision was berry crisp, after i somehow came home from the farmer's market with a pint of blueberries, three pints of strawberries, AND three pints of blackberries. my mind is just not my own right now.





one dirty floor, a dishwasher full of dishes and two swollen ankles later, i questioned my decision to undertake the market AND dinner AND dessert AND clean up, but you should have seen the smile on ryan's face when he got home.


it made it all worth it.

date night

after our little stay at the hospital this week, we settled in for a jeopardy/entourage marathon and soon found ourselves itching for an outing, and some fresh air... so we declared it was "date night: country drive edition".

something about those wide open spaces lately. they make me so feel so at ease. i think i am missing my napa.

of course, we had to stop for some strawberries. i think the ladies felt sorry at the mere sight of me and they threw in an extra pint, free of charge. sweet. so we drove with the windows down, the radio off and ate two pints of berries, debating which berry shade and shape made for the sweetest taste. baby was happy too.

we found high ground just in time for sunset, meandered around some overpriced real estate and took some really lame self-potraits.

and in just a quick moment, the day slipped away, and took with it all our worries.

so homeward we headed, with full tummies, a little heartburn, and sleepy smiles.

discharged

we had our first labor and delivery experience yesterday, but left the hospital sans baby. whew! i was pretty close to being induced and as much as i am ready to give birth, induction is not exactly in our ideal birth plan.

at our regular check-up, the baby thought it was playtime and gave us a bit of a scare with a high heartbeat, and didn't seem to want to settle down for nap time. so down to labor and delivery we went for our first non-stress test...which is exactly the opposite of what it sounds like... it IS stressful! especially when your silly little baby jumps around for nearly TWO hours and won't give the doc a resting heart rate.

we were then sent down for an ultrasound so the doc could look at baby's movements from the inside and of course, our little berry then decided it was time to sleep. so they poked and prodded my belly until baby graced us with his or her attention. and then they discovered that my heart rate is still too high, so back upstairs we went for an ekg...

all to learn (seven hours later) that we are fine to return home and continue our waiting game...sheesh! but in the meantime, we have to return for those pesky non-stress tests every three days...

so home we are, contemplating every trick in the book (even the old wives's tale books) to get this baby here, naturally, with us, on the outside. it was a nice little practice run for us however, navigating the hospital grounds and all their procedures, and the nurses really impressed us...such sweet, calming souls they are. i could never be a nurse.

ready and waiting...

this baby's sweet little nursery is finally coming together. and i can't wait to share it with you.


just a few more man tasks and a few finishing touches required.


i spent the last week in a flurry of activity consisting of shopping, laundry, organizing, dusting, re-arranging, and folding. and i now know what everyone is talking about: the urge to nest is instinctual and the smell of dreft is intoxicating.


so for now, everything sits clean and still, just waiting for this little person to swoop in, take over and make a lot of welcome messes while looking real cute.


and i am officially bored.


now that most everything is done, i am feeling quite restless and quite ready for this baby to make his or her big arrival and give me something to do. i know, i know...all the moms out there want to slap me a little: i should soak up the quiet, soak up the sleep, soak up time to shower and do my hair...and i am...


but this girl is quite ready to move her body with just a bit more finesse and agility and most ready to meet this little person who will stretch her little life and heart in ways she could never imagine. forever.


just a few more days...


hopefully.

summer in a bowl.

with an empty car seat behind me and no real destination in mind, i hit the road and soon found myself in sloughhouse after being lured in by the wide open spaces and the road signs that promised all things farm fresh. i soon found all the "fresh" i could stand in the form of corn, berries (of course), beans, broccoli, tomatoes (real tomatoes!), onion and cucumber...

and later that night, dinner consisted of the latter three ingredients, combined with some olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and a bit of sugar...the salad of my summer youths, and one of my favorites.

and finally, just like that, summer is here.

baby shower no. 3

my third and final baby shower...i can't begin to express how grateful (or excited-as evidenced by my wide grin!) i was for this day. a day to spend surrounded by the women in my family, both sides, my in-laws, and my two besties. i know i say it a lot in this space, but what a lucky girl...


the scenery, decor and backdrops were breathtaking! wood chairs, countless bouquets of hydrangeas, polka dotted tablecloths, green napkins fastened with vintage diaper pins...these ladies, my two aunts, speak my language. or actually, i think i should say i speak theirs. either way, once again, i was shocked to walk through the door and see all these sights before me...



if the decor were like a cool, calming, and colorful feast for the eyes, the eats and drinks were like a party for my mouth...devine. my aunt lee's caesar salad dressing is the best i have ever had (no joke, friends) and my tante cory's gazpacho (topped with creme fraiche)...well, lets just say, i have been thinking about it ever since.




i just don't know how to say it other than, i love these faces. and our baby berry will too. its simply unavoidable.




i was, once again, shocked by every one's generous, clever, meaningful, fun, adorable and priceless gifts...




so many generations of rodrigo, abernethy, ringsmith and craig ladies...all in one place.




and then there was dessert. and iced coffee. in mason jars. kill me. it was too much. as in, too perfect.




it was another heavenly day. what a way to cap off the tail end of this part of baby's little life in utero...



i wish i could bottle all the cuteness and love that day was full of. thank you tante cory and aunt lee, and everyone who helped. i will remember it always.

july

:: grandma had a birthday....




:: and casa de awesome had a party.




:: girls. lots of girls.




:: a teenage boy learns to drive in a trusty ole' jeep.




:: dad finished the pool and we all reveled in it's clear, cool waters. delicious.




:: mister and my fourth of july supper, complete with a fire cracker centerpiece.




:: big city fireworks and a crescent moon. and back home for dessert.




:: firecrackers on the street.




:: camping with the wedick's. one last time before our tent will host three souls instead of two.




:: water and camping. it soothes me somewhere deep within. and one big baby bump.




:: my kind of day.




:: the trampetti's invite us to a fun night out at brew it up.




:: we learn about beer brewing, the boys measure and the girls gab...




:: and we all watch charlie brew a batch of beer in honor of his new son.




:: triple dates make us happy.




:: i was thrown yet another beautiful and perfect baby shower by my aunts. (more to come!)

:: and now nesting (and waiting!) is in full force. the first of many loads of diaper washing.

i spy...

...a dilligent gardener.

one of my favorite things to do lately is spy on husband from baby's nursery as he carefully tends to his garden each morning. it makes my heart swell to see him look after something with such care and to witness the pride he has for his little plants.

i can't wait to see his love for our little human...will my heart simply explode?

i am thinking it is quite possible.