baby update

I've graduated to weekly doctor appointments now that I'm in the final month. At this last visit I also had another ultrasound to check on the baby's size. I'd post pictures, but but he's moved down so low and is so squished in there that honestly there isn't much to see. Now doubt it's a boy though. According to the measurements he's 7 lbs, which is 87th percentile, so a good sized baby. I was happy to find out that even though he's on the bigger side, his head is proportionate to his body. Kara had, and still has a big head for her size. The doctor also said at this visit that the baby is 90% effaced, and that my cervix is already soft and starting to dilate, so I should try and take it easy for the next couple weeks and keep him inside a little bit longer.

Sprinkler fun

One of the things we did to cope with the heat wave was escape to my Dad and Lisa's air conditioned house in Renton. Friday night we packed a change of clothes and headed over to spend the night, and hung out all day Saturday. We always enjoy visiting at Grandpa Bill and Grandma Lisa's, but the air conditioning was an added bonus this time. Kara especially liked playing in the yard, running around on the deck, climbing on the big toy, swinging on swings, and... running in the sprinkler! At first she just held out her hand to the water and kept her distance, but soon she was running back and forth, chasing the water as it moved across the yard and then running away again. Watching her brought back so many good memories of summer, and I love passing on these kinds of memories to her. Later that evening she went outside and ran over to where the sprinkle had been set up and said, "a water, a water, broken?" I told that no, the water wasn't broken, it was just turned off.

Maybe

she does understand... a couple nights ago I was changing the background on our blog and Kara climbed up in my lap. She saw the (almost 2 year old) picture of our family and said, " Mommy, Daddy", and then "baby". And when I told her yes, that was her as a baby she pointed at me and said, "tummy".

Birthday weekend

Last Friday was Jeff's birthday and we started the weekend with dinner at Red Robin Thursday night for Jeff's free birthday club burger. Red Robin is pretty much Jeff's favorite restaurant, and Kara is such a carnivore, it will probably be hers soon too. The Red robin bird was making rounds though the restaurant, and Kara watched him with fascination, but didn't seem to want him too close, because she clung to me and hid her face when he came to our table.


Friday Jeff had taken the day off from work and we headed to Alki beach. The sun was out, and the the view of Seattle was amazing. My little point and shoot camera really shows its limitations at times like this. Jeff built a sandcastle, and Kara sat and watched. Since the sand on the beach isn't naturally occurring, it doesn't go all the way to the coastline. So to make the sand workable we had to carry water up to the very, very dry sand. Since all we had was Kara's tiny bucket this required a lot of trips back and forth. Jeff offered several times to be the one to carry the water, but it was such a tiny bucket it wasn't the least bit heavy. After I insisted several times that I would rather be out in the cool water then sitting in the hot sand building the sand castle he finally believed me.










Saturday we went to see the new Harry Potter movie. Amy had offered to watch Kara for us, and Andrew and their kids took us out to the movie.It was sucha warm summer night that we decided to take a walk wround the pond down the hill.





Sunday we went out to visit Jeff's dad and brother in Port Orchard. We ate yummy BBQ and Kara played with her cousin, Andre. The garden gnomes looked to her like 3 of the 7 dwarfs and kept saying "Dopey, Dopey, Dopey".

We decided to try taking the Southworth ferry back instead of dealing with the bridge this time. Since we didn't have to pay the toll, or drive as much it was about the same price and way more fun. Since the 9:15 ferry goes straight across instead of stopping at Vashon it was almost as fast (except for the time spent at the dock enjoying the amazing view). We have decided to go home this way more often!

The Mr. Potatohead problem

For me being "crafty" is a talent that is definitely under construction. I'm a much better starter of projects then I am a finisher, but I keep working on it because I do enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes with the end result. Also, doing something that stays done is therapeutic. An added bonus for this project was a very inexpensive solution to a problem, the problem of keeping Mr. Potatohead from being everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I'm especially pleased that I manged to finish it within a week of buying the material, with no pattern, and only second-hand verbal instructions.

Gearing up for a baby brother

Getting ready to have two little ones I decided that something I would need was a double stroller. After reading a lot of reviews, comparing models, talking to other mothers of two(or more), and considering the many, many stroller options I decided on a Phil and Teds with a doubles kit. I love that it fits through doorways, in public restrooms, and around people on paths...

it folds flat without having to remove any wheels...

fits easily on the top shelf in the back of my car...

and its a great single stroller for times when I won't need a double.

The main seat also reclines completely flat and the second seat can be attached in front to accommodate a newborn and toddler.

Christmas in July?

This little snowman adorns our mantle all year round. Because he got missed when we were putting away the Christmas decorations? In our house, could be but no. We really love to snowboard? No again, neither of us have ever been snowboarding. Although I'd like to try someday when I'm not pregnant or recovering from being pregnant, or nursing a newborn. One of Jeff's younger brothers, Andrew was an avid snowboarder and we gave it to him as a Christmas present one year. Now it sits on the mantle as a reminder of Andrew. Andrew was killed in a motorcycle accident at the age of 25. He was headed north on I-5 when he ran into a pedestrian who was running from police and attempted to flee cross the freeway.

Early September we are expecting a baby boy who we plan to name Andrew Soule Fernandez. Soule is also my dad's middle name. His mother, Marian Soule Leonard was a direct descendant of Mayflower passenger George Soule.