The Miller's +1

Lilly's weekend with Mom and Pop!

2011-05-10T16:36:00.001-07:00

Our 5th anniversary was this past weekend and for ages we've been planning to have Lilly stay with my parents while we took a trip away just the two of us....ah, it was WONDERFUL. We had a stay-cation and checked in at the Estancia in La Jolla, it was perfect. We cruised around like tourists taking in the aquarium, late brunches, early dinners, cocktails on the cove, the spa, art galleries, and jewelry stores (just for fun!)...to say the least it was renewal, rejuvenation, rekindling. Super special :) When we got back my parents had print outs of photos they had taken at Babies r' Us over the weekend! They are priceless! Very retro in style and fashion (Lilly's wearing my baby outfit that my mom made and saved!)...I laughed and cried so hard when I looked through them...! I missed her desperately but loved my time with Matt ;)

Teething...

2011-01-13T11:02:00.000-08:00

Oh yea. We are in FULL-BLOWN teething mode. A few nights ago Lilly woke up crying (never happens) and Matt and I were in a conundrum. "What do we do?!" Eventually I went in, nursed her (which everyone tells you NOT to do at night, I know, I know) and she went back to sleep. Only to wake up again crying! What the...? (P.S. if you want to have children any time soon, stop reading now otherwise this may end up acting as very effective, non-invasive birth control, I'll give you some space....)

The next day, I woke up groggy and out-of-sorts to Lilly crying again! SHe usually wakes up laughing and talking, a little whine now and then but generally pleasant. Matt said in passing, "maybe she's getting a tooth?" SHe rubbed her eyes furiously about an hour before her usual naptime and without any breakfast food but she looked so miserable I put her down. She slept about 35 minutes and...up again crying! I figured that the night had messed her up (it sure had me!) and got her up planning to put her down again at her regular naptime. No dice. This is when the tooth idea popped back into my mind, but she clomped her jaws shut everytime I tried to wedge my pinkie in there. Sometimes she cries so hard she loses her breath and it takes several seconds for her to kind of lurch to get it back and let out another wail, I don't know whether to cry or laugh...it's TERRIBLE. Long story short, several jacked-up nights, one whole bottle of tylenol, a handful of Hyland's teething tablets (I dunno, are those a crock?) and 6 half-quality naps later, she's got about half of a bottom tooth rising up to shine for us, and I about fell over dizzy the fourth time I got up last night to soothe her...and now I'm off to write my *fantastic* dissertation. I think my committee may need a few beers for this one to make sense.

Family Christmas Pass-thrus

2011-01-12T09:41:00.000-08:00

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With a family of 23 on Matt's side and a family of at least 40 on our sis-in-law's side...there are some pretty crazy family pass-thru events. I like to call them pass-thrus for a few reasons:
1. no one is ever sure what time they start or end, it doesn't matter because everyone will leave or show-up whenever they can
2. no one is ever sure if there'll be food, when it wil be served, or if there will be enough, it doesn't matter because the people who had the whole dish of enchiladas earlier will be gone by the time the tray of lasagna comes out for the next shift!
3. "Is so-and-so gonna be here" is an invalid question, so is "was so-and-so there?" Nobody knows.
4. If you're from a small family (ME!) bring earplugs and something to think about...everyone is all together but there aren't any cohesive conversations going on (too many interruptions!) and there is general auditory chaos since there are three children of every age group pal-ling around together, in and out of doors.
5. Don't wonder what you "ought" to be doing, bringing, saying, or helping with...there isn't anything. Just come!
6. This year at one pass-thru event, the older boys and men were building massive Chinese go-carts (don't ask)...see: Papa's hands! The younger boys kept coming in the kitchen asking for baking soda, vinegar, and Lord knows what else, the girls were screeching in the back rooms at FB pics or outfits, and begging to be dropped off at the Forum, somebody's friend came over and had a quesadilla made for them, muddy shoes were everywhere (remember the rains?!) and there I stood in the middle of it with Lilly :) If you come from a big family you're thinking, "so?"

Miller family Chili night

2011-01-12T09:30:00.000-08:00

This was the first time all four Miller siblings have been together for Christmas in 7 years! Matt's Mom was verklempt! Here's a pic of almost all of them - Lauren was up in the kitchen... We got together almost the whole family after Christmas for a Chili night. Arlin started the pot and Dave spent hours babysitting and chopping veggies for it, of course, it is the Miller's and we ran out just before Dave had any!! Sheesh. Anyways, after adding 4 spouses and 13 children to the mix over the years, it was special to see the original family of origin sitting at the table together at one point. TY, Arlin, Lauren, Matt, Tyler, and Diane :)

Christmas pictures? Ummm...

2011-01-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

Well, I was caught up in the moment and this is all I got! Uh, totally ashamed!

Extra, extra! "First time Mommy fails to capture obligatory 1 million Christmas morning pictures of first child!"

Ah! I am officially NOT an American, and I'm a sub-par Mommy on this one. We even have a flip video camera and I didn't get anything on THAT! So sorry Lilly! I'll be ready at your High School graduation, promise ;)

P.S. How is Matt not implicated in this guilt-fest? Hm...

Julian trip....brrrrrr.

2010-12-31T15:20:00.000-08:00

We always go the day after Thanksgiving, nothing like turkey sandwiches in 30 degree weather with a baby....but the applie pie we waited 45 minutes in line for, ahhh, tradition!

Does Lilly remind you of a certain someone from a certain Christmas movie?!!? :)

Lilly goes to work

2010-12-04T14:33:00.000-08:00

Recently, Matt started leasing a new space to office out of...real estate investors don't usually like to meet at kitchen tables, near jump-a-roo's, while petting pugs so, alas...he needed a meeting space. Lilly and I went to visit Daddy at work! We've never done that before :) We had fun, Lilly worked and Daddy worked...maybe she needs to start studying for her brokers license! So long Collins Development....hello, Miller & Miller Commercial Real Estate! ;)

Bday parties

2010-11-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

We went to two special friend's birthday parties this week. On the same day! Lilly chilled at both, her usual deal. She is very serious whenever we go anywhere, at home she jabbers and screech-laughs non-stop...but walk into a house, party, church and girlfriend becomes ultimately observant! She loves my best friend Tritia, as you can see here and I am crying that I didn't get a pic of she and her future husband (Matt and I are rooting for match-making to make a comeback, we have a list already going) driving together in a power wheels Escalade! Ugh! When we asked him where he was taking her he said, "preschool!!" So here he is, my future son-in-law ;) making a cupcake with his sweet mommy then tasting it, isn't he scrumptious!? :)

Sqeaky clean

2010-10-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

Bathtime is a blast with Lilly. She laughs and kicks and splashes and plays with toys. Then she loves to be squeezed and hugged in the towels. Auntie Arlin in Nebraska sent a precious bathrobe - doesn't every little girl need a bathrobe?! A few pics :) We've since moved from the kitchen sink to the big girl bathtub with the ducky in it...no less fun!

Happy Birthday Lilly!

2010-10-05T10:08:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Lilly turned 6 months old! Hooray! Praise the Lord, there is much rejoicing in our family :) What a precious little gift she is to Matt and I (and Pepper though he doesn't realize it yet). Thought I'd list a few of the nicknames she's inherited so far...

Lillers - Matt
Lilly Bluebird/Lillybird - me
Babe-ers - Matt
Lil' Miss - both
Munchkin/Munchie - both (see a later blog to come on the use of this term titled..."is it PC?")
Missy - Matt
Pumpkin - me

And her latest tricks:
Sitting up - I've got to get a pic...
"Motorboating" with her lips and tongue - thpthpthp!!!!

We love you Lilly Lindgren - can't wait for the next 6 months ;)

Big girl!

2010-10-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

Mom and Pop Taylor gifted us with a gorgeous wooden highchair last Christmas that is like the one I grew up in (it made it through me, my sis, my cousins, and then, sadly died). We have had the new one sitting and gathering dust in our kitchen since last Christmas awaiting a tiny little booty to come and sit in it! And drumroll...here she is! :) Such a big girl, Lilly loved sitting in it! (I sound excited/surprised because I was beginning to wonder if she would ever agree to sit anywhere except the jump a roo - seriously!)

But, even with all the excitement of sitting in the high chair, interestingly enough, this little blue bird is not in love with food! She will eat blended up avocado with a bit of fervor but nothing else. A bite or two and no refusal, just not interested, hm. Rice cereal, sweet potatoes, bananas, no thrill in any of them. Coming from these two parents who love to and can seriously EAT, it's a little kooky.

Lilly's started drinking ;)

2010-09-30T15:46:00.001-07:00

After church on Sunday we walked down to Panera with my parents (Mom and Pop Taylor from now on) :) Lilly was very interested in our water cups and so we started to let her play with them. The little drops of water in the bottom slid down into her mouth and she tasted and swallowed them! So like a trick pony we started doing it with her over and over again - she did splendidly!! So we promptly returned home and tried the sippy cup with the straw (Auntie Shcaff, the Speech and Communication Disorders Specialist, insisted that this is the only way to go, from nursing to straw, to regular cup, and we listened!).

You won't believe me...

2010-09-30T15:23:00.000-07:00

...but I'm sorry. I really am. I have completely ignored this blog (not that I forgot it) and like most things these days, I just let it sit for awhile! I faithfully read the blogs of several friends of mine, and even have the audacity to complain when they don't update them. So, I am holding a total double standard and I don't deny it. I apologize for it. I love you. Ok then, can we make up with a few recent Lilly pics?

A day in Papa and Gogo Miller's backyard

Jump a roo - PURE JOY (for Lilly and us!)

Lilly and Pop (She LOVES him)

Lilly and Mom (She LOVES her)

Big girl *sitting* (!) in the ducky bath - I was a little sad when she got too big for the kitchen sink but, I got over it when I saw this!

I love being a mommy :) And I will try to be a better blogger...

Summertime!

2010-06-29T22:08:00.000-07:00

Lilly and Mommy headed out for a day in the sun! :)

Superheros

2010-05-07T17:54:00.001-07:00

Anybody I've seen or talked to in the last week or two is going to feel sick of hearing me say this, but...

Parents are superheros, rockstars, saints, something like a phenomena, I could go on!!

I can't seem to do anything aside from look at Lilly lovingly, feed Lilly, change Lilly, wash Lilly's clothes and blankets/burpies/etc., cram some food in my mouth quickly, feed Lilly, gulp unending amounts of water, call my Mom for help, do more laundry, change Lilly, write half of a thank you note, look at Lilly lovingly, feed Lilly, change Lilly, sleep a little....and then watch the sun come up and do it all over again!! This is the greatest miracle and the greatest challenge I've ever faced and I still say, what a precious gift, joy, and privilege :)

Athena does it again!

2010-04-22T15:21:00.000-07:00

She changes my world by capturing precious images of me and my family...the very ones I was fearful I wouldn't be able to capture! Here's a preview...

Thank you hardly seems right - I am cooking up something special for her though ;)

Lilly's first week

2010-04-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

We came home and hunkered down! Lilly worked on getting to know Mom and Pop Taylor, we worked on getting the stroller rigged for a walk, Mommy counted Lilly's toes over and over, and we were brought several meals by friends like Nancy Garrett who also snuck in a squeeze when they delivered food! Never, have I ever, been so thankful for food brought by friends! Wow, it makes a huge difference! Several friends brought breakfast which I would never think of but it was SO great to wake up after a long night awake, to a yummy breakfast...heaven! (Forgive me - I don't know how to turn vertical pics right side up!)

Lilly Lindgren Miller!

2010-04-14T14:15:00.001-07:00

Baby was finally born...wouldn't ya know it, on her due date - Easter Sunday! She weighed 9 lbs (!) and measured 20 inches, and was born with a FULL head of dark hair! More on the story soon - busy falling in love and falling asleep here...more of the former ;)

Nope, no baby yet :)

2010-04-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

Looks like we might enjoy Easter this year without baby! We'll see...

Urban legends...

2010-03-31T22:37:00.000-07:00

31 Flavors ice cream...many times in the past month, chocolate peanut butter, oh yea - no baby.

Spicy mexican or cuban food...tried both, yum - no baby.

Finally quit work, and stopped checking work email constantly so that "psychologically you're ready"...no baby.

Drinking Raspberry Leaf Tea...yep tried it, nice relaxing - no baby.

Eating pineapple...yummy - no baby.

Asking everyone to pray that baby would make an entrance...no baby (or the righteous people forgot to pray).

Walking, squats, yoga ball sitting...no baby.

Vacuuming, doing laundry, scrubbing floors (suggestion of Diane Miller)...gets good stuff done - no baby.

Vigorous rubbing of the belly...Mom tried it - no baby.

Stern talking to the belly...Ashley tried it several times - no baby.

The thing nobody says but supposedly works...we've got it healthily covered and, no baby.

Informing belly of all the family in town, family with time off and convenience factors...no baby.

Getting membranes stripped/swept...uncomfortable and...yea, no baby.

Giving up and relaxing like it won't ever happen - no baby.

Contagious "friend just gave birth on Tuesday now it's my turn!" vibe...no baby.

Last hurrah potluck on the beach with small group "we prob won't see y'all for awhile!"...did it last night, a total blast, gorgeous weather, yummy food, great fellowship...no baby.

Full moon labor voodoo...last night @ 10:25pm - no baby.

Thunderstorm pattern, barometric pressure change...60% chance tonight and tomorrow...I'll keep ya posted.

It's Wednesday and we're...

2010-03-31T11:01:00.000-07:00

...headed toward Thursday. Still no baby!

Only a small change :)

2010-03-29T13:31:00.000-07:00

Just returned from the Dr.'s appt. we almost canceled two weeks ago...(rolling my eyes and sighing). Dr. said if there was a dispute about measurement the past two appt's there is not one now...we are firmly at 3+ cm and 50% effaced. Since my Mom had her membranes stripped (google it if you're curious - I don't want to put a link!) about 24 hours before both Ashley and I were born, we asked about it today and the Dr. agreed to do it for us! So, it was a bit uncomfortable but hopefully it will get things going :)

Matt's family from Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Colorado are all here for spring break and easter weekend (13 people plus the SD crew of 9!) - it sure would scratch their baby itch if Miller #23 arrived this week on demand! As for my family, they have been on baby watch, in a cell phone panic, "don't start a load of laundry" mode for over two weeks now! Ashley is on Spring Break this week, my Dad is transitioning jobs and his last day is Wednesday, and small groups are on a two week break for curriculum for my Mom...sooooo...pray that this baby gets uncomfortable enough to work us both into labor in the next few days - we'll keep you posted!

Still waiting...

2010-03-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

Went to the Dr. today - worst thing he could have said..."Well, strangely enough I kinda disagree with the measurement they took last week." Ohhh....Kaayy....So, the update is: Even though the Dr. saw last week thought we were at 3cm and effaced, etc....Dr. Dunn thinks I'm at 2cm, less effaced, very soft (?) and ready to go for a short smooth labor WHEN the time comes. He had us feeling much less urgency as we left today. Though he did say, pack your bag, put the on call number in your phones, then go out to your favorite restaurants and see a movie now guys because you'll submerge for the next 6 months after this only to emerge totally different humans...oh man! What a roller coaster the past week has been! My apologies to all the friends and my family especially who have all been "on call" through this. Here we go again!

Hurry up and wait!

2010-03-18T18:46:00.001-07:00

On Monday we had a regular Dr.'s appointment and I expected a low key check-in. We got anything but! They were just as surprised as we were to find that I was 3 cm dilated (at birth you're 10 cm), and 40% effaced (you're looking for 100% in labor). So, 5 days before the appt. I was zero on all of these measurements though I was feeling some strong tightening over the weekend. Clearly something was happening - the Dr. said that going from 0-3 and 40% in 5 days is fast, that Matt should not go away for the weekend (which he planned to do and has now canceled), that we should pack a bag because this baby is on track for a soon, smooth entry into this world before our next appt. (Monday)! THEN, after my appointment, a few unmentionable events occurred that further confirmed that things were moving right along. I called the Dr. to report and they were even more enthusiastic about the imminence of this child's arrival! Well, I stayed home from work Tuesday and walked, ran errands and timed contractions with my Mom all day getting things ready for impending arrival, etc. We packed bags! Contractions were always at 7-10 minutes apart which is on the way but not there yet...My Dad, Ashley, Emily, Matt, and I all had dinner together thinking "this could be it!" I lost sleep, which means Matt lost sleep, we went to the Dr. again on Wednesday and they hooked us up to a monitor and counted contractions at 7-10 minutes, nice healthy heartbeat on the babe, blast!! They sent us home, "Call when you're 5 minutes apart! Or we'll see you for your appointment on Monday!" Oh sheesh.

Then, things...just...stalled... All quiet on the western front. They said it happens all the time, that things start and then get put on hold. So, "what the hell?"...I thought, and came in to teach my class today (Thursday) and my amazing co-workers (who are dear friends) gave Matt and I a lunch shower. It was wonderful!! We felt so special! Contractions are still occurring just not with enough frequency to go in. Then we came home tonight, made burritos and are sitting tight doing work and relaxing...waiting for lil' mil'...

So...we officially had a fire drill (all of us!) and the good news is, we did learn a lot from it. Matt was a bit rattled and feels better now about it all - I also forgot all kinds of details as we were prepping in an absolute adrenaline rush and we will all be in much better shape the next time around. Let's just hope the next time is the real deal, and comes soon! Go baby go!!

P.S. Any tips on keeping labor going are appreciated!! ;)

Matt, my Mom, my professor, and a makeup artist...

2010-03-15T11:53:00.001-07:00

Sounds like the start of a joke yea? Well, it was how I spent my Friday last week...taking maternity photos! I'd never heard of this phenomenon until one of my doctoral profs at USD offered to take them since she is building a photography portfolio (like she doesn't have anything to do with a teaching appointment at USD, publishing awesome research, and two kiddos under 3!). She has a girlfriend who is a makeup artist and they are such a simpatico team (they met in childbirth class - their kids are 3 weeks apart). Here are a few of the pics they orchestrated...my mom and Matt came too. I told this dream team of gals, I don't think you're supposed to like your maternity photos better than your wedding photos!! But shh...I kind of do! Here are a few highlights.

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I really thought I was pregnant then...

2010-03-08T15:59:00.000-08:00

haha! I'll post a pic of me pregnant now in a day or so.... :)

Hooray!

2010-03-04T11:23:00.000-08:00

We had an ultrasound yesterday and found out that mini-Miller's head is down and ready to go! Praise the Lord! We were VERY relieved for a few moments...until the tech said, "wow, that doesn't usually happen!" Our response, "what?" The tech, "well, supposedly you are 35 1/2 weeks (out of 40 total in pregnancy for all y'all who aren't hip to the pregnancy metric system) but all your measurements are showing that you're more like 37 1/2 weeks...do you have your bags packed?" (Here she chuckled but we did not) Oh dear! I thought for sure we had at least a month.
Baby is nice and big already also, the computer guessed 6lbs 12oz with a margin of error that could bring that number up to 7.8 or down to 6 lbs. even (here Daddy Bill would say "how do it know?"). STILL, my sister was 6 lbs at birth! This little thing could arrive much sooner than we thought or be much bigger...yikes! This news prompted a spending spree by me at Babies r Us and Target yesterday grabbing up the essential things we haven't received as gifts (e.g. crib mattress & sheets to cover it - not that we have the crib in hand yet, changing pad & cover to put on it, basic burp cloths) and a bit of panic as I realize that "takeover measures" may need to start earlier than anticipated at work...my dearest friend at USD, Paige (you saw her in my Berlin/Prague adventure pics - she was my travel guru and guide!), is helping me continue my class while I'm gone on leave - she is a saint!! Of course, perhaps all of this will be in vain since as births go - they are very unpredictable. This I know. BUT it doesn't mean that my Mom didn't offer to spend her whole day off tomorrow helping me get situated! We've got serious organization of my house (especially the nursery, drawer liner paper, hanging clothes, setting up baby bathroom, changing area, and Lord knows what else I'm sure wouldn't occur to me!). For my part, I have prepared for her gracious help and organizational genius by washing everything associated with the baby so far, in baby detergent and folding it neatly into laundry baskets :) As for today, I am still playing professor proctoring my students' midterm exam (don't tell I'm writing this while they take it!), participating in the interview of a candidate to be the new University Academic Librarian, planning the new grad student orientation in May, etc. Next week is spring break (hooray! Just in time.) and I will have some relief from my USD duties to putz around the house dreaming of lil' mil' and talking to Pepper about getting ready for a new arrival ;)

Who knew?

2010-03-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

"Vertex" - a never before known word to Matt and I, it is apparently the position you want the baby to be in, in order to have a safe delivery and avoid a c-section. Being fresh off of two nasty thyroid surgeries in the last 3 years, I would like to avoid any form of or associations with surgery for a good long while if not forever. So...we go to Dr. Dunn's (my mom calls him "poindexter" on account of his black, thick-rimmed glasses and propensity to hum and sing little ditties while looking over my chart!) office last week for a routine appt. and he digs around in my stomach for a few minutes...and "hm" he says, "I can't find the head in the vertex position." Matt blurts out, "what's vertex?" with serious, furrowed brow. Dunn explains that the head should be pointed down and ready for exit by now - if not, then we have to consider a c-section. "She doesn't want a c-section," Matt responds immediately and matter-of-factly (he's been listening!) :) Dunn says, "we'll cross that bridge when we come to it guys, the good news is...you get another ultrasound!" So...we have a third-trimester ultrasound (which we wouldn't have gotten since everything has been progressing well - good and bad I guess!) and we'll have it on Matt's bday, Wednesday of this week the 3rd of March. What a bday present right? Wish I'd gotten to see mini-Miller on MY bday! Ashley is convinced she turned the baby into the correct position in her dream the other night, so we may have good news on Wed, if not, we will commence all of the baby-turning voodoo and trickery that has been suggested to us by friends both near and far :) For now, pray that the little babe would turn itself, it certainly moves often enough and vigorously enough to get the job done in my opinion!

Community Serve Day

2010-03-01T10:58:00.000-08:00

Last year, our church canceled worship services on a Sunday in February and 1600 people went out to sites all over San Diego and did community service. People cleaned up beaches, painted abuse shelters, fed homeless, bathed shelter dogs, packed home goods for military families, painted schools, gardened, moved foster young adults into their own apartments, etc. It was astounding and the news media ate it up :)

This year, would you believe that 3800 people went out to 123 sites in San Diego to do it all again?!!? Yea. Whoa. Our small group participated and the majority of us were together at a seniors' retirement condo community in Encinitas. We had a great time doing things for them that they have a hard time doing. Washing windows, pruning trees, cleaning out rain gutters, picking up poop (my job! Pretty good for being so pregnant right?), replanting, weeding, sweeping patios, etc. We had a blast being together, being with the extremely grateful older folks, hearing their stories.

Special props to the Hajjars who brought their 2 & 3 year old sons (and their plastic rakes!) to learn about serving others. Precious little family - we love you guys! And special props to Matt and Ted who wore matching work boots and got down and dirty with several seriously laborious projects - nice work gentlemen (especially for a commercial real estate developer and a high end engineer!!). Cheers - to making friends, meeting real needs, giving God credit.

Just look how happy this doggy was that we picked up his poop and washed his windows!!! Well, he was actually snoring, sleeping in this pic - secure isn't he? His name is Quincy and I think he would make great friends with Pepper! :)

Tea with "The Girls" :)

2010-02-22T10:56:00.000-08:00

The first celebration of baby Miller's arrival took place last weekend and it was lovely! Tritia and her Mom planned an elegant tea for my most special, longtime friends from SFC and their Moms. There were 9 of us for tea at The Grand Del Mar (whoa!) and here are inital pics of Trish, my Mom, Shcaff, and me and then just the Shcaffs, and one of "the girls" - more to come later :) It was so special!

All of them shared sentiments, blessings for lil' mil' (what I've taken to calling the baby instead of "it" or "the baby"), Matt and me. Tritia had a beautiful, big jar to collect them in (already in the nursery!). In fact, the most special things shared over the tea were the ones for Matt and me, along the lines of having a strong marriage be the greatest gift and comfort we will offer our child. Good news is, we love being married and have weathered a few things during our marriage already (cancer, moving, phd, the real estate crisis, the vegetable garden, etc.) so we get that married life takes work. And we will work hard at it for you lil' mil'!!! We love you already...maybe you could show a little appreciation by settling down in the middle of the night every once in awhile?

Nursery update!

2010-02-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

So...following a lengthy, philosophical marital debate on the necessity (or not) of a glider for a baby nursery (those postings only appear in the blog published in my mind! ;) That's where I'm always right, hee), we lucked out. Our debate was partially solved by a friend who offered to GIVE us their fantastic, upholstered glider and ottoman! The only bummer is that said glider has made it through two kids, several moves and is requisitely dingy. It is a lovely light green toile that I love though it totally clashes with the whole light aqua thing we have going in the nursery now - shoot. The only solution...reupholster or slipcover. Our good friend Nancy Garrett encouraged me to try for a slipcover since it can be removed and washed avoiding the situation that exists with the glider graciously given to us (dinge). Bummer is, I called Tritia's upholstery dude and with the fabric and labor, slipcovering a free glider is almost as expensive as buying a brand new glider...$550 - sigh! Good news: we have a glider that by the light of a nightlight during a 2am feeding will look fantastic in our nursery! Bad news: during the day it just ain't right! To add insult to injury, one of my crafty pregnant friends in SF this weekend informed me that she is going to make a slipcover for a glider she procured on Craigslist...well shame on me, I don't know how or have the time to do that. I'll keep you posted.

Storing up for the winter...

2010-02-17T11:31:00.001-08:00

An observational post after looking at my previous SF post...looks like at 34 weeks I'm getting the "storing-up-nuts-in your-cheeks-for-hibernation" look - oh SHEESH! Heehee! Good news is, I saw two friends from High School (both moms of two) at Target yesterday and they showered me with the VERY gracious - "you look so great!" encouragements that I now know to give to every pregnant woman I come into contact with for the rest of my life! It feels so good even if you know it's not necessarily reality!!!! Thanks to the "beauts!"

They also instructed me to buy the cheaper Target brand of Dreft baby detergent (MuchoFrugalMan - aka Matt Miller - thanks you ladies!) which I turned right around and switched out, and recommended the Petunia Pickle Bottom bags hands down...not sure how to get my hands on one of those considering the aforementioned frugality that rules our home. BUT maybe if my small group, work friends, family, neighbors, and friends all pitched in, we'd end up with one!? ;) I'm sure the Stanford Jansport backpack we have in our crawlspace will work just fine as well! Come to think of it, we could just cut up some old Stanford crew shirts to dress the baby in and save a little green...just kidding! I love you babe!

We left our hearts in San Francisco!

2010-02-17T10:31:00.000-08:00

We drove (sounds crazy but we love it!) to San Francisco this past weekend to celebrate Valentine's Day and my Birthday in the city where we fell in love! Cheeseball, I know, but when Matt asked what I wanted to do that was my choice! See friends, eat great food at Jasmine Garden - formerly Will's Vietnamese (this is our favorite dish we miss in SD - Pho, Vietnamese noodle soup),

go to our old church we love - City Church,
see more friends,

enjoy the museums - this is the DeYoung in Golden Gate Park,

go to the Top of the Mark and Indigo for my Bday (both a surprise - yay Matt!), etc.

The weather was GREAT - and wow, that is NOT a guarantee in that city as everyone knows! We drove home Monday and on the way down met Ashley and Emily for a bday dinner at Souplantation in Carlsbad where they presented me with a precious, hand-crocheted baby blankie (it's almost done!! SO much work Shcaffy thank you!) in yarn the daquiri ice color of the nursery with a satiny white border :) Can't wait to hold onto it! Never have I ever been so excited about a birthday present that isn't really for me!!

Holy basketball!

2010-02-08T13:11:00.000-08:00

Ok, so Matt and I went to my uncle Tracy's house (in Carlsbad) for a Superbowl extravaganza with my sis and Emily (who are settled in, working, and living in Carlsbad too now), my Aunt Stacy and Petra, and a few of their friends (one of whom is a nurse practitioner in my OB's medical practice at Scripps - wacky!!). And everybody commented the whole afternoon and evening how round and forwardly located my tummy is recently. It got A LOT of touching at this get together and since everybody's family, I suppose it's only fair...

I'm in my 8th month (I'm a little over 32 weeks but I just say 8 months - I should've posted earlier about my annoyance with the whole 9 mos./10 mos., counting in weeks phenomena) and am definitely feeling bigger and more pregnant (read: not really sleeping). I woke up this morning and caught a glimpse of myself and agreed with my fam members comments from yesterday...I had Matt take a few pictures so that I could document it. One of them was this one - WHOA! Holy basketball - this belly is looking seriously spherical!! I chose a more subtle version of the same shot to post on facebook as an updated, obligatory *pregnant chick* profile photo. But I had to give this one to my people who care enough to read this blog. Matt and I take a tour of Scripps La Jolla tonight, the hospital where we are planning for the baby to be born. I'm excited though also a bit apprehensive because this really makes it seem real! In the meantime, I'm posting this on a break from writing a dissertation proposal draft (that doesn't want to be written!)...I am struggling lately with writing motivation. What with all the nursery updates and babies r us registering and editing that sucks you in, who could blame me!?

Nursery in progress

2010-01-25T15:41:00.000-08:00

Hello from Dunsmore Court where we are beginning to realize that a baby will soon be moving in, hel-lo!! :D My Mom and Dad recently got into the "baby's-arriving" spirit and bought a darling crib,

a changing table to match,

and bedding at Babies R Us. They overhauled their upstairs study into a full-blown super-cute nursery (at which point I was thinking "maybe I'll bring my babe home to their house after I give birth!"). My Mom dug up the sweetest mobile, quilts, clothes, books, wall art, and toys from when Ashley and I were babies and incorporated them into their nursery - it's all so cute! Much of it was handmade by my Mom which makes it very special indeed :) So, that got me going on OUR nursery which until last Friday was my office, Pepper's bedroom, and a dissertation dumpsite. A week ago or so I picked out crib bedding that is all textures of Bella Notte fabrics in a very light aqua color that Ashley dubbed "Daquiri Ice" (old Baskin Robbins ice cream flavor) and Tritia steered me toward the right paint color to paint one wall which is actually a closet that came without doors when we bought the house - we're going with it. I spent the day Friday cleaning the room out, and in the evening had Matt move the couch, rug, desk, lamps, 4 bookcases full of books (yep, I saved all UCSB, Princeton, Baylor, Berkeley, and USD books, readers, and notebooks...ouch), and went to Containers and Things for 2 portable zip-up wardrobes to put all our out-of-season jackets and clothes in in our crawlspace. I sent Matt on a Craigslist mission to pick up a super cute white wicker changing table I fell in love with (and he got it!). Saturday, my parents, Matt and I moved the 2 dressers (still needing to be painted) from my Grandparents' 1942 wedding set up into the room, along with a white wicker bookshelf we were given, the changing table,

assembled the wardrobes, filled them with the contents of the "closet," cleaned out my dissertation reading PILES, and other miscellany that had accumulated since moving in (plenty). And while Matt and my Dad painted the aqua closet wall/nook thingy it's first coat (2nd coat TBA),

my Mom and I went to home goods to find a few "Daquiri Ice" colored ditties to accessorize the room :) (this lamp is a remarkably perfect color match, as are the little baskets on the bottom shelf of the changing table - see above). The dressers will go on either side of the "closet" when the painting is done, and the crib is going to be repaired and then move in. If you have any coaching or ideas on how to keep this thing going or tweak it in any way, please let me know! In the meantime I am on the hunt for a great glider, rocker, etc.

I also forgot to mention how much of a help Pepper was in making this all run smoothly - love you dude! (My mom and I went to a "Dogs and Babies" class at Scripps hospital yesterday - Pepper is gonna be a great buddy for this little one...my Mom's dog, Lucky...we're not so sure :/ )

Swim suits

2010-01-22T13:12:00.000-08:00

So I mentioned in one of my previous posts from paradise that I would report a brief inner-dialogue about being pregnant and being in a situation that requires swim wear...I know - swim wear is NOT a topic many of us love to talk about but this is interesting. Well, the Kauai trip was one such swim wear-needed situation and so a few months beforehand I began considering it. First off, I realize that MAJOR strides have been made in maternity wear, my Mom made her maternity fashions and though she is just about the cutest thing ever, they were not cute. Even so, maternity swim wear has not made these strides in my opinion. I went to Pea in the Pod, Motherhood, Old Navy, etc. and didn't find ONE thing that made me say - oh, cute! Even on the hanger! Everything was black, brown, navy or a stupid paisley something - and everything was big bottomed, full topped, gathered in a hundred places...you get the picture. So, what's a girl to do who isn't ashamed enough of her pregnant body to put it in one of these things (no offense since I have seen pics of almost all my friends in these previously mentioned all black numbers - I know you have no choice!) and wants to be brightly colored, fashionable, well-fitting, and *gasp* heaven forbid feel a little sexy with her hubby while on a romantic babymoon!?

Well, I decided, that bikinis are two pieces with a space between them right where my bump is and I might as well take advantage of it! I started trying on my regular bathing suits - and lo and behold...they worked!! Splendidly! Now, one caveat, ever since I was little I have bought bathing suits in one size up since I HATE constricting swim wear. This causes a bit of an issue in rough surf but no problem most other times. This fact obviously helped the wearing-my-reg-suits-while-preggo situation since I definitely filled them out more than I usually do in all the right and wrong places! Now, you may not believe me that this worked, but I'm telling you, it did - I'm even gonna post a brave picture of myself in one of them (notice there is no rear-view, this is key)!

SO...listen ladies! The next time you're pregnant...you do NOT have to succumb to the tent-ish, funky, dark, lame-o maternity swimwear out there. If you don't already own a suit that's a bit roomy, and are ready to plunk down cash for a maternity one anyway (did I mention they are often 50% more expensive than reg. suits too! Horror!) then please girlfriends, go buy a bikini that is sexy, colorful, fun, stylish and one size bigger!! You will feel so good and your hubby will love it, I guarantee it! (Ok, let's be real, your husband might not notice, Matt doesn't usually notice this stuff...but he sure appreciated the fact that I didn't need to break the bank on maternity swimwear for the ONE warm trip we'll take while I'm pregnant...and I swapped a deluxe mani-pedi in exchange for my frugality in swimwear :) ) Yay for me.

Life is good - busy, but good!

2010-01-20T14:15:00.000-08:00

Went to the OB Monday and the Endocrinologist Tuesday - things are looking good overall :) Measurements are right on, blood pressure is low and good, heartrate is healthy, movement is frequent. I am borderline anemic lately so am aiming for more red meat and leafy greens, and am registering low blood calcium (common for thyroid patients) so...doubling up on supplements for that. Basically, things are trucking right along :) Just thought I'd post my good report and my gratitude to the Lord for smooth sailing so far!

Matt's idea of paradise

2010-01-09T17:27:00.000-08:00

Have I talked about Matt's love of staying in for home-cooked meals before? Maybe I just mentioned his strange affinity for potlucks or anything from the slow-cooker? Well, even though he married an independent, over-educated, ecclesiastically liberal (for his family!) woman - Matt has a few severely traditional bones in his body about FOOD! :) My idea of a perfect vacation - never having to cook or clean! Matt's idea of a perfect vacation - never having to go out, staying in and eating stuff we make ourselves! Oh boy! We knew this before we got married and have been compromising ever since. And once you see the Cheshire Cat smiles on this dude's face when I do craft some sort of meal in the condo, you'll know why I can slip very easily into the 50's lady housewife every once in awhile - I love him! (AND, to be fair, last night we ate out at a very exotic, super high-end, fantastic restaurant...so we're even! He loves me!) Here's a few pics of Taco night at Kiahuna
,

and Papaya morning yesterday...funny ;)

Here are a few pics of our beach time

and of ol' man Miller feeding the birds!!! I am seriously laughing out loud :p

A morning in the McBryde Botanical Gardens

2010-01-09T17:02:00.000-08:00

Otherwise known as the place where they filmed all three Jurassic Park movies! The most beautiful place I may have ever been I think - this botanical garden is NOT to be missed...wow! Just LOOK at a few of the pics we took today...

Vacation blunder #1

2010-01-07T11:34:00.000-08:00

When I first told my sister I was pregnant she promptly went out and bought me the cutest, comfiest white linen maternity pants - they are seriously awesome (you'll see me in them in the previous post from Joe's on the Green). Well, as you might know, Kauai is famous for it's red dirt that underlies everything here. And when it rains, it becomes red mud...well sometime between breakfast, the absurdly expensive island grocery run, and a little stroll in nearby Koloa...my white linen pants had mud splatters all the way up the back of them!! Horror! When we got back to Kiahuna, I spent the next hour soaking and scrubbing my precious pants in the bathroom sink - blast!!

Oh well, while I was slaving away on the pants, Matt was getting some good reading done in the hottest part of the day, and I eventually made my way into a swimsuit (I'll post a separate blog about this!) and out onto the patio for some relaxation. As I lay there on the chaise lounge (feeling the baby dancing around in there - a bit tough to relax!) it occurred to me how funny it is to see the gorgeous hawaiian view from over my bulging stomach...had to take a pic. Pretty amusing even if it shows my increasingly dimpling thighs!

Kiahuna morning #1

2010-01-07T10:21:00.000-08:00

Ah...waking up in paradise - it takes a night of sleeping somewhere for me to "get" that I'm actually there I think. Well, yesterday morning, our first one here felt fantastic! We woke up, fiddled around the condo we're staying at and headed over to our favorite, secret breakfast spot - Joe's on the Green. It's in the clubhouse of the Kiahuna Golf Club and therefore, I think nobody is aware of it...or they think they have to be members of the golf club, or something. Anyways, Matt and I explored it one of the mornings we were here on our honeymoon - and it is out of this world! Dark horse candidate for the best meal in Kauai - we both agree - because of the divine banana macadamia nut pancakes served with coconut syrup (Matt's pouring it in the pic - heavenly). The view onto the golf course, out to the mountains, over to the ocean is seriously unappreciated (no one is ever there!), and enjoying it all with a nice cup of decaf, SUPER perfect!

In the clubhouse there is always some gorgeous flower arrangement and since Diane (Matt's mom) is really into flower arranging, I have taken a few pics with whatever is there the few times we've been over the years. So from a few of these pics I can surely see that I now look very pregnant - no mistaking it now - so I'll post it for y'all to see...kind of strikes me as funny as I post these! You also have permission to laugh at my curly, bouffant hairdo...thank you Hawaiian humidity ;)

Babymoon :)

2010-01-06T14:41:00.000-08:00

Aloha! Matt and I arrived in Kauai yesterday...ahhhh. USD is on intercession for most of January and we decided a babymoon/dissertation-writing getaway was the perfect plan! We hopped two frequent flier mile tix and are staying in the Miller family's condo at Kiahuna. FANtastic! Just LOOK at the smile on Matt's face ;)

Snuggie update

2009-12-28T16:08:00.000-08:00

I got one too! Turns out Snuggies are the only things you don't have to buy in "maternity" size!

The Christmas of Snuggie

2009-12-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

We attend a SD regional YoungLife Xmas party every year at Matt's parents house. It's a big potluck (15 crockpots of soup from folks who bring them) - Matt LOVES anything potluck. Anyways, every year there is a white elephant gift exchange between the 50 or so people who come. I'd bet money that it is not the type of white elephant you are thinking of though; people pick a gift from under the tree and the leader of the game signals to everyone that they can tear into their present. They then start a song and this is where it gets wacky...like musical chairs, during the duration of the song, the crowd mills around trading gifts at will (meaning if someone takes your gift and hands you theirs, you can't protest!) and at random until the song ends. Last year we ended up with an open box of chocolates and the largest tub of pink dippity-doo hair gel you have EVER seen. Well, we brought that gel back this year as our gift and the most desirable gift was...a Snuggie! Humiliatingly, during the exchange, Matt trampled a few YL staff and donors to acquire said Snuggie!! He was very proud. When I saw a Snuggie for dogs at the Walgreens near us...I had to buy it to let Pepper match Matt! Here they are really watching a movie with the Snuggies!! Didn't realize they would be such a hit!

Christmas Card Pic

2009-12-28T13:24:00.000-08:00

So...we didn't get our cards out on time this year. Nor...to most people :/ My computer crashed in the fall and I got a replacement but not after all of our addresses were lost. Poo. Matt came up with some (much appreciated though many were outdated), and I sent one back to everyone who sent one but alas...I have 75+ cards left and no addresses to send them to. Anyways, in case you were one of the ones who didn't send one or get one - here's our pic! Friends Tammy and David Moriarty took this pic in front of the Del Mar Heights Plaza Xmas tree the night we saw the Messiah with them. A GREAT night :) The message on our card says, "Christmas comes late this year...we're due in April!" This helps to explain the plump middle on the chick in the pic ;)

The end of semester strikes...

2009-12-20T09:31:00.000-08:00

I have been completely absentee on the blog. Lo siento. A few things have happened since...quick catch-up in no particular order since I'm in finals week - AH!

- The garden is growing and we had our first harvest dish last night - a salad of arugula and avocado both from our yard!
- We had our 5 month ultrasound in November (everything was perfect, we turned away when they checked the sex, and her comments the whole time were around the baby being very low and ACTIVE which was no surprise to me since this child moves nonstop day and night!) and they changed our due date to Easter Sunday, April 4th :) Funny!
- We had our 6 month appointment last Thursday and everything checked out again, praise the Lord! My mom came with me this time and had the pleasure of putting the heartbeat monitor on my stomach when the baby rolled over and pushed it back at her, we laughed hard - I told you...active!!
- We traveled to San Francisco earlier in November for a "Family Dinner Thanksgiving" with great longtime friends of Matt's who have become precious to me too - always SUCH a great event!! Only bummer, a bunch of my other friends weren't in town to visit...
- Teaching has been a crazy schedule of one-on-one meetings with students (my favorite part of the class I'm teaching)...and my assistantship has been full of event-hosting for various scholarly presentations, meetings, networkings, etc. Gotta love working with scheduling & catering at a university...blech.
- Our weather has been wack-o, very warm and sunny one day, freezing (ok, 40's - 50's) and rain another day, then yesterday...back to 77 and sunny?!!?
- My sister and Emily are in the process of moving from Massachusetts to San Diego this weekend! Big decision! They arrive to a warmer, less snowy Christmas, and us on Sunday. They are looking for jobs, living situations, and possibly more school for Emily - and they always have good luck so I'm not worried!!!
- My Mom had foot surgery to repair a broken bone and nerve problem about a month ago but has had to be off of it and work for 6 weeks! My dad took 2 weeks off work to help her and I've been with her and helping her all along. Bonus: Matt and I have benefited greatly from all the meals brought to them by deacons and friends!!
- Consequently, I cooked a Thanksgiving dinner all by myself!! Well, friends brought another turkey and my Mom coached from the couch, and chopped/stirred from the kitchen table as she could. She has it so together, she set the entire Thxgiving table before she had surgery so it'd be ready!! :)
- Matt and I are happy campers under the mistletoe in our freezing cold house (we don't use our heater - ah my frugal husband!) especially since Matt got (read: grabbed) a Snuggie from someone at a YoungLife white elephant xmas party we attended at the Miller's...couldn't find my camera last night to take a pic of him in it - super funny, sorry!!
- We heard an amazing concert of Handel's Messiah at our church who hosted the Orchestra Nova, an innovative new life that's been given to traveling sections of the SD Orchestra - took our breath away and maybe will make the baby smarter, what the heck?
- I'm procrastinating my final paper writing duties while recording jibberish on this blog...so, I'll get back to that now. Much love and Merry Christmas to all!

overseas #3

2009-11-16T15:36:00.000-08:00

The doner kebap from Efe's in Zehlendorf (pronounced, F-A's Doh-ner Kay-bop)! A fabulous late night food that Paige used to eat between walking from school to the S-Bahn at the end of the day. For a very cheap price (well...in Euros) you get the crustiest, spongiest naan-type bread sliced open to be slathered with garlic, sweet mayo sauces and stuffed with colorful cabbages, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and a gyro-like lamb and beef rotisserie meat. WHOA! This is a reflection of the heavy Turkish influence in the city of Berlin, and let me tell you - it's fabulous :)

Overseas #2

2009-11-16T13:57:00.000-08:00

So travel in Europe is great! Especially in Berlin - easiest city to get around! We took the U-Bahn (underground) and the S-Bahn (aboveground) transit systems just about everywhere in the city. Here is an amazing shot of the Berliner Dome at twilight, beautiful! And here's Paige checking our map for which way to head after we emerged from a U-Bahn stop. We did have one tricky experience with the transportation though...and by tricky, I mean frightening. On Sunday night late (~10pm) we waited for the S1 train to take us back to Mexikoplatz (don't ask) where we'd get off to walk 5 minutes to Paige's aunt's home where we were staying. Well, the S1 rolled up and although in German it said something about "don't board," we boarded it with everyone else. After a minute or two, the PA announcer said something muffled and unintelligible in German and everyone jumped off the train. We looked at each other worriedly, and then moved to follow them all but the doors closed and the "open" button on the door turned from green to red! The train started out of the station and we looked up and down the aisle ways to find no other soul on the train with us. Uh-oh. We rode for about 5 minutes until the train rolled to a stop, in a dark tunnel, and...turned off! We pressed the call button and Paige used her best German to tell whoever was out there that we were still on the train. No answer. To boot, the screen read "no service" in German!

This picture does not do justice to the fear that began to grip Paige at that moment. I started laughing because I thought nothing could really go wrong...but Paige was in the real world where two girls stuck in a subway train car all-night long could be a dangerous event...we both had laptops, cameras, cash, passports, etc.! I took pictures of her and the empty cars that stretched forever and laughed...

Then my attitude changed. I asked out loud - "if we got left here, where would I pee?!" Paige responded, "if we got left here things could get much worse than having to pee on the floor - people can mop that up! Who knows who comes down here at night!" Yep, we were sitting ducks! After 25 long, scary minutes we heard a conductor shutting things down on the other side of the last wall of the train car and we banged and banged on that wall! No response - what the heck!? 5 more minutes went by and the train turned on! We rolled back to the station, the doors opened and we ran out! No explanation, nobody around...horrible! Thank you Lord for keeping us safe!

overseas #1

2009-11-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

10 days ago I left for a trip to Germany and the Czech Republic for a little pleasure and a little business. I flew to Berlin to meet up with one of my dearest friends, (also in the USD PhD program) Paige, for a few days of exploring. She lived there for 2 years of High School with her aunt and uncle. We stayed with them - they were very gracious and we made our way around the city on awesome public transport, eating buns of all sorts, drinking coffee, (and just a 1/2 a beer - shh don't tell!) which is all pretty good for about 5 months pregnant!!

I was proud of myself and had a GREAT time! It was COLD but clear and dry for most the trip, and we saw LOTS! The fall colors were amazing (nonexistent in San Diego). The highlight of which was the ceremonies commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall at the Brandenburg Gate (kinda like the Times Square of Berlin).

And it was like New Year's Eve there, masses of people, even in the cold and rain! We saw Gordon Brown (PM of England), Gorbachev, and Hillary Clinton speak among others, but the real attraction was Bon Jovi live ;) we were about half a block away from it all near the extensive holocaust memorial (which was moving - wow) playing "dueling umbrellas" with all the bystanders! It was a great celebration to attend with the Berliners and the rest of Europe who had traveled to be there!

We also visited with Paige's friends (a family) who live in Berlin - the Mom made us homemade Indian food - WOW! I didn't think I liked Indian food, maybe its the baby, but it was fantastic! My appetite problem did not exist in their home as I ate 3 portions of everything she made!!

Pumpkin Carving

2009-11-01T20:10:00.000-08:00

I had to post separately from the pic I posted of Matt because well...I still feel conflicted about him in that outfit (shiver shiver)....

On Halloween we had some dear friends from our small group (the Moriarty's and Lineberger's) as well as my parents over to carve pumpkins. They would also be the test subjects for my first attempt at BBQ Pulled Pork :) I think the pork went over well but the pumpkins that the boys carved were the highlight!

Pepper manned the door for Trick-or-Treaters while we had a blast together...

happy halloween :/

2009-11-01T20:04:00.000-08:00

moses basket

2009-10-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

A month or so ago, my Mom pulled down the moses basket that she used when Ashley and I were babies :) It was all decked out in tangerine gingham, light green ribbons, and white eyelet lace just waiting for the boy/girl each of us could have possibly turned out to be. She made all the bedding for our cribs, bassinet, this moses basket, and clothes for years and years - she has been a very talented seamstress over the past 30 years (she even taught smocking in a little business with our good friend Penny for a few years) though now she spends her creative energy writing small group curriculum, preaching, training lay leadership, speaking at conferences, and being the most thoughtful and supportive Mom on the planet! Anyways, the bedding and basket were looking a little tired after spending 28 years in the rafters above our garage - and so we turned to our current guru seamstress, Alexis Garrett of Fern and Feather fame, to help bring it back to life. And bring it to life she DID! I was smitten with the all-white theme she did her darling son Henry's crib bedding in and found the sweetest "Dotted Swiss" fabric in gauzy white when we visited Yardage Town. My Mom was tickled that she remembered the name of this (unbeknownst to Lex and I) very classic, old fabric style from when she used to help her swedish grandmother, Ethel Lindgren, in the fabric store she ran! I didn't even know that story :) Alexis wisked the basket away for about a week and all I got while she worked was a voicemail in which she was squealing with delight about what she was creating! She invited my Mom and I for tea to come and pick it up and it was simply the sweetest, most ladylike teatime! Her most elegant dishes, serving utensils, linens, candles, fruit, teas, and honey all laid out next to THIS!

Such a precious first baby item that is now proudly displayed on the console table as you walk in the door to our house, and filled with the sweet cards and a few little gifties we've received for baby Miller so far! Lex wouldn't take up my promptings about paying her so I took matters into my own hands and remembered her pouting about not knowing what to plant in her garden next. SO....I took a big wide basket to Sunshine Gardens and loaded it up with purple basil, candy mint, beets, arugula, chives plants, etc. and delivered them to her in thanks. Sustainable gifting that gives and gives I hope! Love you and thank you Lex!!

fall gardening

2009-10-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

Matt's dad, Tyler, is a SERIOUS green thumb. Just get a load of the basket (see below) we harvested out of his vast garden at the end of the summer - figs & tomatoes to die for. Well, he helped us clear and plant a garden in our backyard last fall when we had just bought our house. It was splendid to watch carrots, onions, arugula, potatoes, and lettuces grow! When it came time to turn it over for the summer crops he helped, as well as our 6 yr. old nephew from Denver, Duke Benson. We had a moderate showing of tomatoes, zucchini, squash, and basil...we practically killed the artichoke plant (and others due to ignorance of watering etiquette amongst other things), and so we weren't thrilled. Everything eventually died off and we finally got up the motivation to turn it over...well Matt did :) It required tearing out all the old stuff, turning over the soil, covering it in mulch, watering it like crazy, then planting new plants. Well, Tyler came through with two large barrels of perfect mulch just as he left for two weeks in Hawaii (a jealous "aloha" from me...sigh).

And Matt spent last Saturday morning as a day-laborer in the yard while I attended my good friend Val's baby shower (blessings on little Townsend Livesay's impending arrival!) at her home, Mint Julep (She's so southern...I want to name my home too!). ANYways, after Matt did the heavy labor, we both went to Sunshine Gardens and chose new plants and seeds for our fall planting. We bought beet seedlings and seeds, broccoli, arugula, lettuce, radishes, and green bean seeds.
Here's Matt working away getting it all planted! And here's Pepper doing his usual "work" :)

appetite stimulus package wanted

2009-10-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

Strangest pregnancy symptom so far...NO. appetite. period. Sure, until I was 3 1/2 mos. pregnant or so, I was nauseous, standard morning sickness stuff. For example, whenever I smelled spaghetti and meatballs, washed the tupperware it was reheated in, or even saw Matt after he ate it, I promptly threw up. Apples, orange juice, dry waffles, Jamba Juice, PopTarts, Jack in the Box taco nachos (see pic below - how nasty is that!?), and (cooked) sushi from the place across the street were the only things I could imagine keeping down BUT I was at least hungry. I wanted to eat, I just felt like I was gonna throw up if I ate certain things. And I felt sick a lot, especially in the early evening and middle of the night. Now, the 4 month mark rolls around and my nausea is almost non-existent, hooray! The nights are much improved and I am very thankful. The problem now, I just don't want to eat. This has NEVER, ever happened to me - I know it's not a surprise :) Last visit to the Dr. I had lost 14 lbs. since my first visit at 7 weeks...wish I could transfer this problem to the 4 mos. after I give birth to this babe, I'm sure I'll be wishing for a decreased appetite at that point!

The doc suggested TJ's whey powder with fruit in smoothies for the mornings to up my protein. I had an artichoke last night and that was fine. Any ideas or suggestions you might offer would be fantastic...

a crib!

2009-10-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

So, we weren't in the market for a crib just yet (I'm only 4 mos. this week), but...I had a yummy breakfast with my best friend Tritia down by the beach yesterday. What a difference a day makes! Trish owns a darling childrens' interior design store here and has a finicky customer who recently returned a very high quality, very lovely crib. The client used it for 6 months (during which her child gnawed some of the paint away on the railing - ?!!?) and so Tritia can't sell it again through the store. Instead, she thought of us (thank you Trish!) and sold it to us today! I thought we were going to just go look at it after I was done teaching for the day, but when I met Matt at the store he had his parents' landscape truck lined with blankets and his checkbook at the ready!! We quickly realized that the crib is exactly the dream crib we might pick if we were at a purchasing level above "Craigslist-standard." It is a traditional, heavy wooden crib with turned legs, a distressed cream finish, and rattan panels at both ends (above is the website pic for it). It is made by a custom, furniture company that hand-makes each item when it is ordered. Of course, we need to sand it a bit and touch up the evidence of the "biter" but other than that, this is a more-than-perfect beginning for the soon-to-be, Miller nursery! The room that will be the nursery is currently my office (where my books live) and Pepper's room (he sleeps on the couch in there every night). We haven't even moved things around in the room enough to have a place to set it up but, since it is here now...that may happen soon ;) A few weekends should take care of that! My parents recently gifted us two dressers that belonged to my grameyer (my mom's mom) that we'll refinish and use in the nursery as well. And that's as far as we've come, a long way for a day or two!

the cat's out of the bag...

2009-10-13T20:53:00.001-07:00

I told my dissertation committee that I am "with child" this weekend over email (long story - maybe later). Anyways, I hadn't planned on telling everyone else at USD until a week or so later, in a slow roll-out to folks who care more than most, then to those who will notice eventually (my students), etc. But, one of my students actually asked me if I was pregnant today!! Whoa - not usually kosher but, hey, she was right so I guess it worked this time. Anyhow, I decided if I didn't tell the class, she would. So, I told them today at the beginning of class. The minute the words left my mouth...about 7 of them shouted and high-fived each other..."YES! We were right!!" and "I KNEW it!!" It almost made it no fun to tell them! I'm very shocked that they had a clue about my "condition" and haven't had that response from anyone else I've told yet. Why? Maybe the students have to spend so much time with me, that they're contracting some version of Stockholm Syndrome whereby they over identify so closely with me that they "knew" I was pregnant? A few cited the loose dresses I've been sporting and the glimpse of a bump as it is emerging but when questioned, most of them answered, "I just knew." Wacky!

craigslist is back on the good list

2009-10-11T11:27:00.000-07:00

Good news! We ended up buying a car from a guy off craigslist in a neighborhood close to us...AND we had a great experience! This guy bought it from his dad (the original owner) and it is in great shape. It is an acura mdx from 2001 and coincidentally is the same car Matt's Mom drives and they love it. We had it checked out by a mechanic and it looked wonderful - he mentioned it needed new tires so we got that handled. Matt bargained the guy down by $600 on the price of the car and we are happy campers :) One less thing to worry about!

bumps that go "bump in the night"

2009-10-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

The night before last, Matt & I were watching the PBS series "Carrier" on on-demand netflix (a wonderful technology and an interesting series!). Watching something on the laptop together in bed before sleeping has been helping me relax, get rid of a headache, and/or nausea to get ready to sleep (I have felt the worst during the evening/nights these first few months). Well, it seems that the baby was just deciding to un-relax because I swear, (I know you won't believe me!), I felt the baby move in my belly! Now, I know, the books and websites say you probably shouldn't feel anything yet (I'm at 13 weeks and 5 days) or that if you do, it is probably gas but...I have felt all those things and I swear I felt something low and gentle move in there! Call me crazy but I wanted to report it!

RIP 4runner

2009-10-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

Biggest bummer recently...I was in a freeway car accident that rendered my car a "total loss" about two weeks ago. (I'm fine, a bit sore, and the baby's fine - I loved that car!) The insurance company graciously gave me a rental car for 6 days while we found another car. Seriously? Who can find a used car in 6 days, while working? Needless to say, it has been a challenging task. We have schooled the craigslist, autotrader, cars.com websites and visited countless cities and neighborhoods from Otay Mesa to Anaheim visiting potential purchases. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE...has been a "total loss" of time and energy for Matt & I.

Every posting we have followed up on has misrepresented the car in one way or another. Several claimed clear title when a car fax states otherwise, many claim they aren't smokers when the car reeks of cigarettes, one had a completely dead transmission which was conveniently never mentioned, and the best one so far was the car that when pulled out of the garage was a different car than the one pictured in the posting! COME on! What gives? The search continues...

fall & "fairytale" pumpkins

2009-10-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

Have you seen these pumpkins? I found them for the first time last fall and thought they were very cool. This past week, when the weather changed, they appeared again and Matt & I went and picked out a couple for our front doorstep. Now it feels like fall and looks like fall around here.

new blog & news

2009-10-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

We've never blogged before. I love following my long-distance friends' blogs but neither Matt or I have ever been authors of a blog. It has been wonderful to stay in touch with the happenings of these friends through their pictures and posts - and I decided I'd try it. I'm even hoping it may bring a welcome outlet while I am writing my dissertation this year. So...what better way to start a blog than with a baby announcement? We're having a baby - sometime around April 9, 2010!

I've been desperately sick over the first few months but am starting to feel more like myself everyday - whew. It still seems a bit unreal since to the average student, grocery store shopper, etc. my appearance would not be classified as "pregnant." But we heard the little heartbeat just yesterday and therefore, know that there is a little somebody growing in there! This leads me to answer the question everyone is quick to ask...no, we aren't going to find out boy or girl :) We are keen on the surprise factor and (despite much consternation on the part of most who hear about this decision) we are standing firm. Yesterday, after making an appt. for the next in-depth ultrasound, Matt instructed the Dr. to "make sure that everyone knows - that we don't want to know!" We are taking bets though...