Deep Thoughts.

(C-man meeting his baby sister JuJu for the first time)

I'm at the point in my pregnancy when one starts thinking this is never going to happen. The baby coming out part. It feels like I will always, always be pregnant. Not that I dislike it -- in fact, I'm one of those women who actually rather enjoys it. It's sort of like being perpetually engaged. It's exciting, strangers give you lots of smiles, you sort of feel part of a secret club.

But. At this point, you begin to wonder how, when and if things will ever change. How will this baby actually come out? (Please, I do know how it happens, it just seems so strange that one minute your baby is happily living inside you and the next, all the forces of the universe are driving it out...)

More deep thoughts (feel free to click away): How does the baby know when it's time? How does labor decide how to begin? (Both of my other labors started with my water breaking.) What is labor like for the baby? Scary? Tiring? Exciting? Or is that just how it feels for the mom? Will I be able to handle another natural childbirth? Right now it sounds so exhausting. But reading Heather's (also part 1 and 2) and Leigh's recent birth stories (both drug-free) have been very inspiring.

In other news, my dear friend Elise arrived last night for a week. (Hooray!) We are crossing our fingers the baby comes while she is here. :)

What I've Been Up to Today.

Yes, folks, that is a pumpkin pie and a tomato and spinach quiche. Now, before you get too impressed, do know that those crusts are the frozen ones from Whole Foods, and that I have not baked or cooked anything in what feels like weeks. This was the least I could do.

I have had my heart set on a pumpkin pie ever since B and I made a quick trip to Costco last week and I saw them so prettily displayed in the refrigerated section. I've regretted not getting one ever since. I am going to eat a very large piece this afternoon piled high with unsweetened whipped cream. Just sayin'.

The quiche is a little bit of nostalgia for me. Right after JuJu was born, my friend Paula brought over a tomato and spinach quiche (and a yummy salad as I recall) and it was one of those perfect food moments. You know, when you are starving and something (preferably homemade with love) just totally hits the spot? That quiche, that day, tired from feeding and caring for a brand new baby, did it for me. Something tells me this won't be quite the same, but hey, at least I'm cooking again!

Eli Giggling.

If anyone needs a cute baby fix (or a jumpstart for their ovaries), check out my darling 5 month old nephew giggling. It just doesn't get any better.

Eli Giggling on Vimeo.

B and His Promises.

So, every once in a great while, B likes to make some sort of outlandish promise, and so far, has always made good on them. Like the time we were in Cortona, Italy and Bryan told me he would introduce me to Frances Mayes (the author of Under the Tuscan Sun). We practically ran her over with our car (I still don't know how he found her) and he hopped out to introduce me.

Anyway, when we bought our house, the owners told us that it had been in Sunset Magazine right after it was first built in the '60s. I think that night Bryan told me he was going to get the house back into Sunset. I was like "pshaw. yeah right." Well, I am happy to report his promise-keeping record is still perfect. In the October issue, our house is featured! So, if you are not completely sick of looking at pictures of it yet, pick up the latest issue. There are some photos online too. Click on "Midcentury Update."

photo credit thomas j. story

38 Weeks.

I do apologize for the complete lack of non-baby related posts, but it's all I have right now. Went to the doctor today, everything looks good (I was worried the baby had flipped into a breech position, but not so...whew), and no signs that the baby's arrival is imminent. Although I can't help but think this could be my last belly shot.

One more thing: So. Over. This. Heat. I want a fall baby, not a sweltering Southern California heat wave baby!!

Who Wants to Play?

This is pretty much what is on my mind all the time these days: boy or girl? I have no real clues to give you. The heart rate has been in the 160s and the 130s. I think I am "carrying" (or whatever they say) the same as the other two times. In some ways this pregnancy has been more like C-Man's (no real morning sickness), and in other ways more like JuJu's (I'm not starving and having insane food cravings -- which is a bummer).

So, what say you, boy or girl?

Overheard.

I admit this is about as random as it gets, but I had to share. Or at least document it so I don't forget.

(In B's car on the way to school. Out of nowhere.)

C-Man: Da-ya? [that's what he's always called B] If I could have some corn to eat right now, I would squeal for joy.

37 Weeks.

This is my life right now. Waiting, waiting, waiting. House is clean (for now), laundry is caught up on (for now), closets are organized, and I'm quickly running out of nesting ideas. Too bad I can't get motivated to stock my freezer with casseroles. I have two girls nights out this week, which will be nice, but other than that, no big plans (it's sort of hard to make plans when you think you could go into labor at any moment). Then again, it may still be another 4 weeks, for all I know (C-Man was almost 2 weeks late).

The Last Weekend of Summer.

We have had a pretty quiet weekend. B has been picking the last vegetables of the summer garden. Luckily, we got quite a few of these sweet yellow peppers. We all like these. The kids eat them up, especially dipped in hummus.

And the kids have been enjoying the pool. Although it's been pretty warm this weekend, the water temperature is definitely starting to dip. So long swim season!

Craft Day.

The kids had a really fun time yesterday with Bug and Annalie making crafts and playing. OK, how cute are those wings?? You can read a little about it here and more later at the end of the month on Alpha Mom.

photo by SAJ

Wild Geese.

I have a friend going through a hard time right now. It is so hard to see someone suffer. This summer, I had many people share words of encouragement (and much, much more) with me when I was struggling. One example was a poem typed out on a beautiful, bright orange card, which I still keep close to me. Wild Geese by Mary Oliver. I had read it before, but never had it moved me so much. I hope it can help someone else.

Wild Geese

by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

photo by Misty Days/ CB

36 Weeks.

I got this super cute Michael Stars halter dress for $20 (marked down from $220). I never get deals like that! I wore it for date night the other night and I have a feeling, will be wearing it for lots of other things for the last few weeks (days?) of my pregnancy.

The suspense of boy-or-girl is killing me right now. I thought I "knew" what it was, but now I'm thinking opposite. I didn't get this way with the other two, so it's sort of strange. Plus, we have the girl, we have the boy, it really doesn't matter. But still. I can't wait to find out!!

Girl Time With Miss JuJu.

In addition to the manic nesting (I have been folding and refolding and stacking and restacking little onesies more than I care to admit), I've been very greedy with my one-on-one time with the kids. Since C-Man started school yesterday, JuJu and I are going to have some really nice time together before the baby comes. We aren't wasting any time. Yesterday, after dropping C-Man off, we headed straight for our favorite bakery and coffee shop, and then went for a little walk in the neighborhood. Of course, a little window shopping was on the agenda. We are girls, aren't we?

I let her lead the way on our walk.

"Oh look, mama! A pretty window display!"

These things are exactly what she likes....

"Mama, am I cute enough to warrant one of these?" (Don't worry daddy, the shop was closed.)

"OK, tired now, time for a little beauty rest."

C-Man's First Day of School.

So, our little man started kindergarten yesterday. (Mind you, it's "Waldorf Kindergarten" so the kids sometimes start at 4 and then go for 2 years.) But anyway, it's kindergarten, which is a big deal to him. And to put it in his words, "I LOVE kindergarten!!!!" (It's hard to get photos of the boy these days. He has decided he doesn't like getting them taken, and when I can convince him to actually let me get a couple, he's has to be goofy guy.)

See what I mean? (Isn't this soooooo B, by the way, for those of you who know him in real life?)

C-Man wanted sissy to get in a photo with him, and she obliged nicely. (By the way, the baby doll and bag go EVERYWHERE with us these days.)

Lunch Ideas for C-Man.

C-Man heads back to school later this week. I sat down with him yesterday afternoon to brainstorm about some lunch ideas. He can be a bit picky, so it was good to list all the things that we could think of that he likes and that are healthy. The list was actually pretty extensive and I know I will come up with more ideas as time goes on. Here it is so far:

Peanut Butter Balls (something my mom used to make for us...we mix peanut butter with dried milk powder and a bit of honey or agave syrup, then roll in carob powder, sesame seeds, coconut or ????)
Edamame
Crackers with hummus
Veggies with hummus or "brown dressing" (green onion, carrots, cucumber, bell pepper, radish, etc.)
Muffins: bran, applesauce, zucchini
Fruit with yogurt dip (I mix plain yogurt with a bit of honey and cinnamon)...he likes pineapple, mango, apple, melon, peaches, grapes, bananas, berries, etc.
Ham sandwich
Peanut or almond butter sandwich
Chicken sausage
Chicken drumstick
"Rolling eggs" (a.k.a. hard-cooked eggs)
Quesadilla with salsa
Nuts and dried fruit
Pretzel sticks with applesauce or peanut butter for dipping
Yogurt with flax
Pizza
Leftover pasta

I have been very inspired lately by Joslyn's new-ish blog "Raising Foodies" chronicling her journey to get her girls to eat more and better foods. Also, I love looking at Wendolonia for lunch ideas (she makes the cutest bento box lunches for her son!!).

Where do you go for kids' lunch ideas? What do your kids like for school lunches?

Week 35.

Funny story behind this photo. C-Man kept saying "Come mama, come see what JuJu did." (Which, as a mom, you KNOW cannot be good.) I ignored the situation for another moment to try to get another photo, but as you can see, he was literally pulling me out of the bathroom.
And, yes, JuJu had in fact pooped in the hallway. (She was going diaperless because I was about to stick them in the tub.) C-Man said, "Isn't that funny, mama? Isn't it? Actually, that's not very funny, huh mama?" No, son, not funny at all.

p.s. that's another non-maternity dress by rachel pally. actually, it's my sister's. thanks mo!

The Getaway.

We had a really nice getaway. We went to L.A. for a couple of nights. Stayed here. Took walks on the beach, slept a lot, went to a movie at Grauman's Chinese Theater, and ate at some stellar restaurants, including Lucques (Susan Goin is my hero) and Pizzeria Mozza (twice in two days, in case you wondered how much we liked it). But perhaps the true culinary highlights were the coffee experiences we had (coffee can be considered a "culinary highlight," right?). First at LAMILL in Silver Lake (where that photo was taken), and then at Intelligentsia in Venice Beach. B thought LAMILL was superior, and I thought Intelligentsia was. Either way, they were the two best coffee experiences we've ever had in the U.S.

I took all of two photos (both of the café con leche I had at LAMILL) so there isn't much else to show you.

Five Years.

Today is our five year anniversary. We have been so busy and distracted (B is in trial, I am in nesting mode plus getting C-Man ready to start school next week, yadda yadda), that we haven't planned anything big to celebrate. Not that we could go anywhere too exciting right now considering the 34 week belly and all. But we are going to get out of town for a couple of days. I can't tell you how much we need this and how excited I am to just not be home and to be sans ankle-biters, I mean C-Man and JuJu.

I loved our wedding -- we were married at a dear friend's winery, and had our close friends and family by our sides. It was a beautiful evening -- warm, starry, full of good smells and sounds. Crush (the grape harvest) had just begun that weekend in the Wine Country and everything was purple, green and gold. Most of all, it was the night we started our lives together in this new way. A married way. So grown-up. So real. And we really hit the ground running. A baby before our first anniversary and two more (almost) by our fifth. Two houses, a big remodel, work changes, travel, some bumps along the way. I can't wait to find out what the next five, and come to think of it, fifty-five will bring.

Love you, B.

Remember This Dress?

It's that nursing dress from Isabella Oliver. And it's 70% off right now. I have severely limited myself to purchases for this baby (it is our third and last baby after all), but I decided this dress was necessary. Isn't it pretty?? Thanks to Leigh for the heads up...and congratulations to her and her new baby boy! Born at home. Can't wait to hear the story.

p.s. SAJ was able to get a few shots from one of our playdates. Check out her post here.

34(+) Weeks.

Hello there....checking in. Here is the latest belly shot. We've been having fun hanging with SAJ and Bug a couple of times this past week. Shockingly, neither of us took many pictures to show you! Oh well, next time....

In other news, my friend Krista had her baby girl Lisette on Sunday afternoon. Congratulations you guys!