i can tell that we are going to be friends...

Dear Baby Girl,
Last night I had a dream about you. You were tiny and pink and talking to me. We had the best time. Several months ago a friend who'd just had a baby told me that she actually missed being pregnant. At the time, I thought this was maybe the dumbest thing I'd ever heard. I can see now that she had a point.

You and I have had the best time together this week. You have been flipping all around and I can even see you move from the outside now. It feels less like alien possession that I would have imagined.

Your dad and I have been reading to you (his favorite: Once Upon a Potty). Yes, your dad is in junior high.

I love you baby.

demolition christmas

In an unusual turn of events, Nate and I decided to forgo our trip to California this Christmas to stay home and knock down walls and put up windows in preparation for the bean's arrival. (Sorry, Mom). We feel very parental indeed. Here's a shot of Nate on Day 1. At the moment we have a sweet secret passage way through the middle of the house, but that will eventually become a wonderful, boring hallway.

teachers give the best books

Thank you to my Wednesday night Methods in Literacy class for surprising me with a baby shower! The Bean is going to have the best little library!

movement

Baby girl has been moving like crazy this week. She seems to be a big fan of orange juice and shows her enthusiasm for it by ramming her little self into my much, much bigger self. I love this stage of pregnancy. I'm bigger, which is a weird thing to love, but so is she- and it's great to feel her roaming around. Recently she visited a movie theater, dinner at the Montage and church- all three of these places made her bounce around like she's had a big hit of orange juice. All of this is so much fun it almost makes Nate want to carry her for a while.

half-baked alien baby waves hello

Here's one more picture from last week's ultra-sound. She's finally stopped lounging around and has really started the gymnastics now. She especially loves to swim laps after a nice cup of cocoa.