One Month Old

Ellie is already one month old! In all honesty, it feels like it's been much longer. It doesn't seem possible that your life can change so drastically in such a short period of time. Luckily she has learned to like her swing for fifteen minute stretches, which allows me to do a quick load of laundry or write a short blog (anything to keep me procrastinating in writing thank you notes). Knute and I really enjoy being parents, minus the lack of sleep. We have a pretty amazing daughter if I do say so myself (although sleeping is not one of her strengths).

Although Ellie's Zodiac sign is a Cancer, which traditionally tend to be home-bodies, she takes after her father in that she likes constantly being on the go. Ellie enjoys taking Rudy for walks, car rides, trips out to restaurants, visits with her friend Ayla, tummy time, and listening to music.

Introducing Elizabeth Clare!

Born June 24, 2008 at 2:46 AM
Weighing 6 lbs, 9 oz.
Measuring 19.5 inches long

It was love at first sight.

Baker Beach

We decided to pack a little picnic lunch and a couple of books and head out to Baker Beach in San Francisco. I really felt the need to escape the heat for a little while. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite the "fun in the sun" I had envisioned. It was extremely cold and foggy, and we looked pretty silly in our flip flops. We ended up having a nice time anyways, even though we didn't stay for too long. The view of the Golden Gate bridge was pretty and I always enjoy a relaxing afternoon with my Hubby. We were also entertained while observing and making fun of the couple getting engagement pictures taken. The photographer kept having them do cheesy things like spell "I love you" with sticks in the sand. Then he would have the guy pick the girl up and take a picture of him stepping out of a wave. It looked like they were trying to copy a scene from "The Notebook," but it was about thirty degrees too cold and there were no Seagulls. I asked Knute if he would carry me out into the ocean, but he said "no." Maybe next time.

The Dangers of Target

I feel that it is my responsibility to warn you of the dangers that lurk within Target. Unless you have an incredible amount of willpower (which I apparently don't), I recommend staying far away. It gets me every time I go. I have a pep talk with myself in the car that I am only going to get what's on my list:

Freezer Bags
Method Counter Spray in Grapefruit (I'm obsessed)
Windex

I'm not even in the store five minutes before the aisles have sucked me in like a vortex. All the fun summer stuff: bright colored beach towels, fun lawn toys, plastic cups with cool designs, 4th of July decorations! I tell myself that I don't need this junk. It's cute, but it will only end up in a Goodwill pile next year and create more unnecessary clutter around the house. I remain strong and head over to collect my Windex. Somehow I get side-tracked along the way. I start talking on my cell phone and lose focus of what I am there for. I start walking through the aisles in a trance-like state. I decide to get just a few more things that I need while I am already there.

Twenty minutes later I leave with the following:
Windex
Method Counter Spray
Two nightgowns
A nursing tank top
Eye Makeup Remover
Hair Gel
Elastic headbands
Underwear (ugly, full-bottomed, & cotton)
Grated Cheese
Peanut Butter
Tuna (gross!)
Cards for assorted occasions
Gum
People Magazine

Crap...I've done it again! I succumbed to the dangers in Target. The best part is that I didn't even leave with one of the three items on my list. I then had to make a separate stop on the way home for Freezer Bags. I will do better next time I tell myself. Next time Target will not get the best of me.

The Waiting Game

I know I'm smiling in this picture, but I actually want to rip someone's head off (I'm just joking...really). I'm 38 1/2 weeks now. The nights are LONG and HOT. Other than that, I can't complain too much (although I want to and I will if you'll listen).

I had a Dr.'s appointment this morning. Things are moving right along and progressing. My body is getting ready. I'll spare you of any further details. My Dr. said that there's a 50% chance I could go into labor before my actual due date. What is that supposed to mean? I think he's just playing with my emotions. After all, everyone IS out to get me these days. My due date is only 11 days away, so I guess it doesn't make much of a difference.

Knute and I are as ready as we may ever be. There's a little more organizing the garage I would like to see happen, but I am trying to accept that the house is never going to look perfect. Knute asks me what organizing the garage has to do with bringing home a baby. I'm not sure, but it does. I recognize that my thoughts are irrational, but I can't seem to help it for the time being. Wow...I sound like a real Loon.

Mostly, I can't wait for her to get here. I constantly imagine what she's going to look like and what she's going to be like. I can't stay out of her room. I love to sift through all her clothes and blankets. I want to make everything so perfect for her, but I know that the best thing I can provide for her is my love, and I have plenty of that. How can I already love someone so much that I haven't even met? It's so crazy to think how soon I get to meet her (even though the days seem to be getting longer). She must be getting sick of the view in there. There's a whole exciting world to see out here. We are ready and waiting.

Shawn

Last night we had dinner at "The Supper Club" in San Francisco to celebrate Shawn's 27th Birthday. Interesting place...you have dinner in bed. They also have live entertainment while you eat.

I have known Shawn since our Elementary School days in Kingwood, Texas. We later reunited at CU Boulder and became Pi Phi sisters and roommates. Some of our favorite pastimes include having wine and cheese parties in our room, watching horror movies, "crank" calling people, singing in the car, and getting ourselves into laughing fits over nothing at all. Shawn would also make a great plate of Chex and cheese (kind of like nachos) when we would return home from the bars late at night. I think we would probably be embarrassed if people found out how silly and immature we act around each other behind closed doors, but I've never tried to give anyone the impression that I am cool or sophisticated. We went through a phase in college where we liked to rent movies about serial killers. Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, you name it. We would finish one and then return it to Blockbuster for the next. So strange...

Shawn introduced me to Knute when I was out visiting her during the summer after our Junior year. The rest is history. It's crazy to think how different my life would be had I never known Shawn. She is one of the most genuine, thoughtful, and funniest people I know and I feel so fortunate to have her as a close friend. Happy Birthday Shawn!

A Beautiful Sunday Afternoon

I LOVE baseball games when it is the perfect temperature and the perfect amount of sun. Truthfully, I really don't pay much attention to the game, but I enjoy singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," throwing peanut shells on the ground, and people watching. We packed our own sandwiches and bottled water, but I must say I found myself a little jealous of all the people who had hot dogs and nachos. I guess that's part of the fun. I sat through all nine innings without asking to leave once (even though the game went into the bottom of the 12th and we left after the 9th). If you are a fair-weathered fan like me, a Sunday afternoon in June is a great time to head to an A's game.

Our New Plant

We had a good run (about a year and a half), but it was time to part with my old plant. After several months of hoping it would somehow magically revive itself, I realized that it was time to say goodbye. It had been looking pretty sad there towards the end of it's life. At one time it was a beautiful plant with a nice healthy trunk and lots of bright leaves, but I slowly killed it. Some weeks I would over water it and other weeks I would neglect to water it at all. When we would leave town, I would forget to ask someone to take care of it. However, I refuse to give up. I am determined to keep a plant alive. One day I want to have a house full of lush, thriving plants.

I took a trip to Yardbirds and consulted with a sales person about what would be a low maintenance indoor plant. She said that this one requires moderate light and watering about every other day. Hopefully I can keep it alive. I feel like this is a very reasonable goal to set for myself. I am extremely determined and will do whatever it takes to be a better plant owner. Maybe I will sing to this one...

Walnut Creek Art & Wine Festival

Every year I look forward to this event with high expectations. I guess for me, it kind of signals the beginning of summer. Typically I go more for the wine and less for the art, but that was not so much the case this year. At the risk of sounding like a complete lush, I didn't have quite as much fun. It was still a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon and I enjoyed catching up with friends, but definitely not the roaring good time I recall. Is it me or did the wine glasses shrink by a good 30%? Since when did it become $20.00 for three drink tickets? Over $6.50 for no more than 3 oz. of wine? If I had been partaking in the wine drinking, I would have been very annoyed by this fact. Anyways...

One year I wore a fabulous pink hat (or at least what I thought to be) that stained my hair pink and took at least five washes to get out. I remember feeling so sexy in that hat, even though I'm sure I looked like a complete idiot to everyone around me. The afternoon then extended into a late evening with more wine at the Greenery, and then into the early morning at Lex and Aimee's house (also involving more wine). I don't think any other year has quite stacked up to that one. Of course, next year will be a whole other experience. We will have the pleasure of bringing our little girl with us. On the way back to our car this afternoon (after purchasing a huge bag of the best Kettle Korn I've ever had), Knute and I debated about which stroller we should bring with us next year. How silly is that? Life is going to be so different.

It can be sad letting go of certain chapters in your life. Knute and I have always had so much fun with it just being the two of us. Although we will continue to have plenty of fun together, the dynamics will completely shift with three of us. We will never be able to be careless and stupid without knowing that we have someone who is dependent on us. I feel like this reality probably changed in me several months ago when I found out that I was pregnant. You have to care for yourself not just for you, but for someone else as well. Knute probably hasn't quite yet experienced this, but soon enough. Once again, I somehow digress to "Deep thoughts by Paris." I'll save it for another time...

Insomnia

I can't sleep! Last night I finally drifted off at about 2:00 only to awake every hour because something really heavy was pressing on my bladder. Eventhough it's still somewhat early, tonight isn't looking much more promising. I think my dear daughter is crushing my lungs...it is getting so much harder to breathe. I can't find a comfortable position. The Nurse Practitioner said to try and sleep on my left side, but Knute sleeps on his right and then snores in my face. The Queen sized bed that I once thought was ample big enough keeps getting smaller and smaller. Okay...rant over. At this rate, it is going to be a very long and uncomfortable month.