Colorful kitchen!

Well, Seth and I have been a little disappointed at the slow rate of the work on the house since the holidays have hit...but this is the one beautiful exception--color has arrived to the kitchen! This room was painted in advance so the cabinets can be hung (they were supposed to arrive yesterday but did not), the other rooms still need some wall-fixin (where the mudding has dings and dents) before paint will go up. We also have a small deck with lots of steps in the back...Seth says as long as it's big enough for a grill, it's all good. Juniper tried out the back door, deck, and steps, then promptly peed in the new yard, so she seems to get what it's all about too. The kitchen color, if you can't tell from this photo, is a bright, light green. Ceramic tile proved too expensive, so we will instead have bamboo flooring on the whole first level (except the pantry and laundry area which get vinyl flooring). Every little change is exciting now, like the pieces of a puzzle coming together...we just need to remember to breathe and practice patience! I had my first real Braxton Hicks contraction last night, where my whole belly tightened up. It was pretty fascinating!

June bonds with Bean

Juniper sunggled up to mandy's belly last week. We think she senses the new arrival. Tomorrow makes 35 weeks. We got the hospital list from the midwife today and that makes things seem extra special real. Among the basics like baby clothes and pajamas, we need to pack sitz bath herbs, Arnica oil and snack food for partner. Saturday begins a nice break from work and we are ready to relax and do some mental preparedness for the wild and sleepless days that lie ahead. We'll be spending Christmas here on Woodrow Ave. We plan on cooking a tasty dinner and maybe going on a hike. Warm holiday wishes to all our family and peeps.

33 weeks pregnant

It's been a busy week filled with Christmas pageant rehearsals, medical appointments, quick trips to the new house, and time with friends. On Wednesday, I had an appointment at New Dawn Midwifery and found that the baby is still head down and hopefully will stay that way. I was a little dehydrated and have been properly scolded, drinking lots and lots over the rest of the week to make up for being a bad mama. In less than 3 weeks the baby will be "fully baked" but I'm not actually due for 7 weeks. The house is almost fully painted on the outside, and they begin painting the inside this week. Interior doors have been hung, and we like going into rooms and shutting the door to see how it feels to be in each space. Yesterday morning I preached for our morning service, then we had the Christmas pageant in the afternoon followed by a potluck dinner. The kids were amazing, and the food was excellent. It promises to be a slower week this week, and I get my first prenatal massage tomorrow! This body totally deserves it...

Fashion Victims Ball

Last night we found ourselves at the fashions victims ball, a rags-to-rags benefit for local charities. Not one thread of clothing was off limits and many anew styles were created- take heather's horse head print tee shirt and snake skin pants ensemble for instance. Ben's sleeveless v-neck polyester with butterfly collar was the envy most men in the ballroom.

Back by Popular Demand- The June

Ruff, snarl, growl, whine- just 8 weeks until this baby arrives. It may get all the organic clothes and fancy toys, get it's pants changed 8 times a day, but if there's ever a gas competition bean's got no chance.