Are any of you Portland friends heading out to do any shopping tomorrow?  If so, would you care if I came along?  Our car is going to stay put since we have neither chains nor snow tires.  I still have a few last minute gifts and would love to tag along if you'll be out.  I'll buy you coffee.

I love Thanksgiving.  I normally enjoy planning the menu, doing the shopping, doing the prep work on Wednesday, getting up early on Thursday, cooking all day, and then giving thanks and eating with my family.  Tom called me a few weeks ago and asked how Thanksgiving was going to work this year and I asked "can you just tell us where to be at what time" and left it at that.  We have nothing to do this year but show up at my father in law's house.  It's so nice.  We'll have a mid afternoon meal there with the family and then head over to Jeff and Sandi's with some Irish Coffee fixings and friend time. 

I have a lot to be thankful for overall and this year is especially a good one.  I certainly remained hopeful that we would have a child, but it was getting harder and harder to see how or if it would play out.  Showing Steve the positive pregnancy test on St. Patrick's Day and feeling that this time was "different" was the start of some crazy times.  Even with the severe exhaustion and morning sickness, I loved being pregnant.  I think that June-October will be etched in my mind as one of the best periods of my life. While Nola's birth wasn't the story that I had written in my mind, it worked out okay and I'm coming to terms with a lot of it and admitting that it was pretty rough emotionally. The past 7 weeks have gone by so, so quickly and I just can't wrap my head around Nola being here yet.  It's wonderful and tiring and I'm just so elated with her.  Watching Steve with her is one of the highlights of my day.  It's one of the most romantic things ever, this having a child together.  Nola is a bit fussy, a lot cute, and melts me all of the time.  This year has been so excellent and I love that I will get to end it while still being on maternity leave and getting to meet Nola's needs and continuing getting to know one another.  

We have a lot coming up in 2009 and it's nice to just enjoy this time. 

( Nola pictures )

Happy Thanksgiving! 

As posted earlier, Nola was born Friday morning at 3:53 a.m.  She's healthy and beautiful and all I ever imagined and we couldn't be happier.  I felt pretty close to her inside of me, but this is just amazing.  She's going to be here in the hospital for a while, since she was 6 and a half weeks premature.  She's very tiny, but her health is great and she's meeting and beating her milestones.  All in one day!  

( How this came about )
Thank you for all of your sweet, kind words.  Before the pregnancy and finally getting there, during the pregnancy, now....

xoxo

Although 6 weeks premature, she's doing so wonderful.  Steve and I are mad about her and couldn't be happier.  I have been able to spend time with her and she's a wonder.  Truly gorgeous.

We had a wonderful dinner out to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary.  Of course. we ended up talking about the baby all evening.  Not so much a fun couple night :)

We went to Sel Gris for an early dinner.  The chef, our old neighbor, sent out an appetizer for us with some wine.  I guess I forgot to tell him that Steve hates the idea of sweetbreads and won't eat them and that I'm pregnant.  We shared our meals and it was fantastic.  The dungeness crab salad had grapefruit granita and radish all around it and was just so, so good.  We also had a peach and nectarine arugula salad with percerino.  Yummmmmmm.  The yellowtail in miso broth was delicious, as was the steak.  We had a really delicious cheesecake for dessert too.  Local peach and huckleberry over a homemade ricotta cheesecake.  It's a great special occasion spot in Portland.

( Baby stuff )

Getting close!
( 30 weeks )

As usual, in August-September, I worked all day yesterday.  I am exhausted, but things are good.  The heat was pretty heinous yesterday.  It's cooler this morning and I'm enjoying the paper and news and computer.  Off to float down the Sandy River in a couple of hours and then going to get some bedding that we have been eying. 

xoxo

What a quiet weekend! 

I had to work yesterday (that time of year, sort of like how retail is at the holidays I guess) for a few hours.  I came home and did a steam cleaning of all of the downstairs floors.  Again.  Arlo and Steve went and picked up the baby's bookshelf.  It's nice to get stuff done.  Steve made a little gazebo area in the backyard and it's been nice to go outside and read.  He has been working on the small yard quite a bit.  His goal is to have the grill covered enough so that we can grill throughout the fall/winter.  It doesn't really snow here, so I guess that makes sense.  And I certainly enjoy it. 

Off to Tori's today to visit with her daughter and meet her family.  I've been looking forward to this all week :) 

I think that the Food Network finally has a new cooking show that is actually good.  The host is the sous chef of Mario Batali on Iron Chef America.  It's called Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and it is pretty good.  The host, Ann, is sort of annoying but it had a few good tips in it.

We finished some more Obama t-shirts and I'm looking forward to sending in our next campaign contribution check.  I found the letter that my mother wrote to Howard Dean and am wondering if it is inevitable to go bat shit crazy.  Seriously, the craziest letter ever.  She was a huge Clinton supporter and hates Obama.  Her new target is Howard Dean.  Ugh.  So much I could say about this issue. 

Have a fantastic weekend!!!

I always forget, with Canada being so close, that I have to wait for people to go through customs when I pick them up from the airport after a trip to Vancouver.  I had a chance to chat with my Mom and Dad while I waited for my Mother in Law to arrive.  They are leaving for Toledo tomorrow morning and sounded so excited to get up there to see Rico, Coco, and Dre.  They are off to Europe after that, and I'm pleased that they still going to go.  My Mom's tumor is growing again (not responding to the treatment that kept it one size for a few years) and she's feeling pretty tired from her chemo.  I can't believe that they are almost 80.  They'll be in London for 6 weeks, with a 2 week cruise around southern Europe (well, Spain and Portugal). 

I've been so busy doing a lot of nothing.  Outside of spending time with friends, I don't know how to account for my time.  I feel like I've done fuck all for the baby's impending arrival, even though I seem to think of little else. 

The baby is healthy and the pregnancy is finally EASY.  I feel great, if a bit lazy.  I'm only getting sick about twice a week now.  I'm not super exhausted.  My ankles are still there.  My belly is pretty cute.   I'm just happy.  And lazy :)

xoxo

It's been such a blur this weekend. 

Erin and Brandon came over on Thursday night for pie and Guitar Hero.  Fun, but bittersweet with her leaving tonight for DC. 

All of the plans involving water were canceled this weekend.  The 4th?  Too cloudy and chilly to float down the Sandy river.  Yesterday, too rainy/cloudy and cold for Steve, Tori, and TJ to go rafting. 

We went to see Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantameno yesterday.  Very funny, but I loved the first one too.

Tim's for a birthday barbeque tonight.  Steve's birthday tomorrow.  Dr. appointment on Tuesday. 

Is anyone able to record tomorrow morning's episode of "Made in America" for me?  It's on at 9 a.m. (pst) on the Travel Channel.

Let me know!  I'll give some $$ and xoxo

My appointment was so incredible.  The Ultrasound Technician put the wand down on my stomach and we instantly saw the baby's profile.  Awww!  The next 30 minutes were really cool.  She talked us through all of the measurements that she was taking and it was amazing to see the kidneys, the bladder, two legs, the feet, the arms, the hands, the chin, the nose, the eye sockets, the heart, the brain, the spine; etc.  The heartbeat was right where it should be and I feel so relieved.  She said that the baby looks perfect.   The baby girl is just perfect. 

We are just so thrilled.

Steve took me out to dinner to celebrate our daughter and we just let it settle in. 

So, so happy.

xoxo

My aPoll #1209536 Your Odds are 50/50
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 20

Jethro or Cathy?

ppointment is at 2:30 p.m.  We do plan on finding out the sex.  We do not plan on naming the child Cathy.

I have watched all of the M. Night Shymalan (spelling?) movies and didn't like them at all.  I thought that the Sixth Sense one was okay, but I always think that they are going to be so good.  I watched the one for the Happening and I know that I'll end up going to see it.  And probably really dislike it.  Signs was probably my least favorite, with the Village a close second. 

Watching the Top Chef finale tonight (Go Stephanie!) with Erin and Brandon.  We are heading to a wedding tomorrow night, and I sure hope that it's nice outside.  It's been so gloomy and cold, and the thought of sitting outside for a wedding at 6 p.m. sounds just awful. 

We went over to Jessi and Chris' house last night to meet baby Ursula.  I couldn't believe how good she was for the visit.  She's a beautiful girl, with the greatest shock of hair and the most beautiful serious face.  I did get to see one little smile when she was about to go to the bathroom and her face just lit right up.  So, so cute.  She was totally relaxed and sweet.  Jessi and Chris looked fantastic and as if everything were just as it should be. 



xoxo

Florida was nice.  A bit stressful with so much family around and all that comes with that, but good to see everyone.  The beaches in Sarasota is really beautiful and we had two nice visits out to sun and relax.  Saw the Sex and the City movie with my sister in law.  Made lots of food and had dinner with old family friends. 

I came home and went for a quick hello to Sandi's birthday party on Sunday afternoon.

Busy, busy, busy week at work and it's nuts.

Had great conversations with Jenelle and Carrie today, which were unexpected and perfect.

Lunch with my friend Teresa tomorrow, lunch with Erin on Friday, dinner with Tim and Nicole on Friday night, and baby shopping on Saturday.

xoxo

My own version of a Tweet or Twitter or whatever it's called....

My parents were making breakfast this morning and were telling us a story.  My mother is so good at insulting my father at every turn, she doesn't even realize it.  "Blah, blah, Sam and Ruthie, blah, you remember, we lived on Livingston in Columbus, YOU MET THEM BETSY, the Gaggioli's, YOU WERE THREE BETSY YOU REMEMBER, it was right after your father made me quit my job"...

It's only Monday.

xoxo

However, the kids are adorable.  My parents seem healthy and happy.  We went for a nice walk on Saturday night and over to Sam and Ruthie's (my Dad's college room mate and his wife, like an aunt and uncle) house yesterday.  Steve and I are off to the grocery to get stuff to make dinner tonight.  As much as they drive me nuts, I know that I'm very very lucky.  I love my family.   

Oh! Because I'm unable to do any post without a mention of my baby.... In one year I'll have a baby the same age as Dre.  That's wonderful and scary at once.

The only thing that would be better than this trip would to be back in Portland with friends.

xoxo

I just got up to make some tea and finish packing.  I should have just sucked it up and finished last night, but I was exhausted.  Now I'm extra exhausted.  We leave here in one hour for the airport and our flight is still scheduled for 6:20 a.m. this morning.  We have a loooong layover in Atlanta, but I'm hoping to get put ahead on the 3:30 flight to Tampa instead of the 5:30.  We'll see.  I'm just excited to get to Florida and see everyone.  I'm like this every trip.

I talked to the kids last night while they were still on their way to Florida.  Coco has decided that she wants us to make her a book, just like we made for Rico.  Of course, I picked up the supplies last night.  Our 4.5 hour flight just got a little less relaxing.  The kids were, of course, delightful on the 22 hour drive from Ohio to Florida.  I seriously don't know how Monique and Rick do it.  Those kids are just crazy good. 

Luckily, there is a whole lot of nothing planned for the visit.  The only things decided for sure are that I'm going to spend all of Tuesday with my Mom, just us.  She gets one of her ongoing chemo treatments in the afternoon and she wants me to meet her doctor.  It'll be good to see where she is going now.  The last place was really nice, but she had to spend 6 hours for each treatment.  These new treatments are only for an hour.  She is finally starting to gain a bit of weight back and there has been no further growth in her lung for ages.  Other than that, we'll visit the Dali museum, go to the beach loads, visit my parent's friends, go plant shopping and orchid watching, and totally just love on the kids for a week.  



Have a fantastic week...

xoxo

One side effect of going to bed at 7:00 p.m. is waking up at 2:30 a.m.  I was happy, at first, to wake up so early as I have a ton to catch up on at work.  But it's not like I'm going to head into the office at 3:00 a.m. 

1. Go into work at 5:00 a.m. 
   
2. Get entirely caught up today.  Be prepared to leave on Friday afternoon and not have any loose ends before vacation.
3. Euchre and dinner with Tim and Nicole tonight.