A Lot of Trees

Most of the marked trees on our lot have been removed. Yes, they were in terrible shape, choked out by bittersweet and ivy and scrawny from a crowded life of competing for sunlight. We're going to keep some of the logs for firewood for the wood burning stove. I may have some of the cherry and walnut logs sawed down into planks for our avant-garde front porch guard rail. They will begin digging the footers in the next week. The lot is located in the "Montford" neighborhood, outside of the designated historic district. Visible from our street is the historic Riverside cemetery where Thomas Wolfe and president Lincoln's bodyguard are buried. Our street is going to provide many challenges for us such as the rooster and chicken coup two doors down, the collection of junk cars spilling into our side yard and the 4 -month-old puppy caged up beside our other side yard. The neighbors tell us over and over and over how much they watch out for one another. The call themselves watchdogs. It sounds cute now and hopefully it remains that way. Although it's sometimes hard to see past the green port-a-john in our front yard we are excited about living on gray street and being part of the 'hood. Sweet dreams-

Bob Turns 60, The World Watches On

We celebrated Bob's 60th birthday in Tennessee last night. Gail surprised him by switching out the usual vanilla ice cream alongside his apple pie with a scoop of hagen das rum raisin; Mandy and I added a Johnny Cash album to his collection and dazzled him with a sleek new camel back water device (he's most excited about what this means for his neighborhood coolness standing); Ashton "everything's stuck" Voss engaged him in a game of name that matchbox car. Gail planned a wonderful meal that included 2 lb t-bone steaks, mashed potatoes, salad and strawberry and apple pie. During the day we all visited Once Upon a Child, a consignment shop for baby supplies. Bob and I spent 20 minutes trying to decipher the instruction manual for a $350 baby carriage and Mandy scored some new maternity clothes.

Take Me(us) Out to the Ball Game

Last night we took in an Ashevile Tourists game with our friends Greg and Cindy (actually, our church made a night of it, but we didn't all sit together). They played the Columbia Catfish and
lost. There was no shortage of excitement as we (I) ate foot long hotdogs and salted peanuts while being bombarded with balled tee-shirts and McDonald's cookies. We were also amongst some local celebrities like the local orthopedics doctor who sponsored the frozen tee shirt contest and a convenient store chain mogul.

House Obsession

This is a model of the new house; the baby in seth's belly. The lot has been grubbed and they'll be starting the foundation soon. I'm reviewing the plans again, making minor atlerations to the floor plans, tripple checking the dimensions of the rooms. Is there enough space between the vanity and the toilet, will the nursery closet be big enough, should we extend the living room an extra foot to leave enough room between the couch and wood stove.... I'm trying to relax and let things take their course and accept the idea that we won't get everything we want in a house, but we can get close and enjoy the process and the end product.

Baby Bulge

Seth insisted on taking a photograph of my belly this morning...we thought the profile shot was the most generous. I had my 3rd appointment at New Dawn Midwifery today. (www.newdawnmidwifery.com) There are three midwives there who I see, and one of them will attend the birth at Park Ridge Hosptial in Fletcher, about 20 minutes away. They choose to work with Park Ridge (rather than Mission, the hospital in Asheville), because it offers a clamer setting with birthing rooms, complete with tubs for water births. They even serve vegetarian meals! We are hoping on and planning for (and praying for) a natural birth. I know many women who have had natural births (and many who have not!) and I'm enjoying hearing lots of birth stories, especially as women at church have just learned I'm pregnant and are eager to share their women's wisdom. A few other decisions we've made: we will not learn whether the baby's a girl or a boy until birth, and we don't plan to share names until after the birth (I want the baby to be the first to know her/his own name). In the meantime, we're calling the baby Bean. I was 12 weeks pregnant last Friday, and today I had the opportunity to hear the heart beat for the second time with the doppler. It sends a shiver! I also had blood taken (I was quite brave and courageous) and other unmentionables. All looked good, I'll get results of the blood work next week. In the mean time, I am in physical pain when I keep my pants buttoned, so (with the exception of the new larger pants I bought last weekend) I tend to run around with buttons undone and zippers half zipped, thank goodness for long shirts! The everyday, all day sickness of the first trimester has passed (thank you Jesus!), and the exhaustion is still there, but much diminished. I'm eating real meals now, variety, it's amazing. Onto the 2nd trimester!!

The Lot, lonely for a house

The lot on 30 Gray St, formally known as "Lot 24." The trees will be cut next and the lot will be cleared and grubbed.

Hail "The June!"

First Entry

Mandy and I celebrate our first blog entry. Many great things to share during our first orbit in the blogisphere. We are gearing up to be first time parents and second time homeowners. Mandy will be 12 weeks pregnant tomorrow. We broke the news to friends this week. We are also gearing up to build a new house. The permit was issued last week and we hope to break ground any day.