Last Minute Thoughts

Well, it's 11:30pm and I'm not quite ready to go to bed yet, so I decided to do a list of the things that have been on my mind in preparation for the big day.

1-For those of you who don't know, I'm getting induced at 6:30am Monday morning. I'm kind of bummed about this, because I was induced with Nate and really wanted to just "let it happen" this time. Just seems a little easier for me and the baby. But my doctor seems to think that the delivery will go much better if I do it a little early. He wanted me to do it last Monday, but I opted to wait another week. I have been so sore this pregnancy. I carry really low and it's been painful to walk and do just about anything for the last 5 months! So needless to say, I'm ecstatic to start feeling better soon. Plus, I can't even go into public without endless stares and multiple comments on my huge belly. It just amazes me that complete strangers will actually come up to me and make stupid, rude comments. This happens, literally, at least 3 times a day and it's getting REALLY old.

2-I'm really annoyed at the designers of strollers, especially double strollers. Who are these people? Obviously people without children. Nate's really active and only 2, so if I ever want to get out of the house, I need something I can strap both of my kids into. Why is it that every stroller has huge flaws? Like the fact most of them are 47 pounds!! That's just ridiculous!! What mom wants to push around a 6 foot long, fifty pound behemoth and lift that thing into her trunk?? We did find one I sort of liked, until the saleslady told us that it only fits into SUVs. There is the option of a side-by-side stroller which are smaller and lighter, but they barely fit through doorways and store aisles. The last option is the "Sit-and-Stand" where the carseat fits in the front spot and the toddler sits or stands on the back of the stroller. First, that would mean the toddler faces backwards, and what toddler wants to do that? Second, the front seat only sits straight up, so the baby has to be in the infant seat attachment, or old enough to have excellent posture. The seat back also juts into the toddler area, making it so he has to lean forward. Plus, no real seat belt to keep him in place. Yeah, great idea... Why don't the designers talk to real parents and get some innovation going here? I still have no idea how I'm going go anywhere...

4-I'm wondering how Nate is going to do with his new sister. I think he'll be super excited at first because he loves babies. But once he realizes he's not the only thing in the center of our universe anymore, he may get a little testy. We bought him a new toy (a tool box/bench) to distract him a little and we will be trying really hard to spend some one-on-one time with him. We'll also enlist his help with the new baby, so hopefully that'll help.

5-I'm apprehensive about starting all this baby stuff over again. Having Nate was such a huge adjustment for us and he wasn't the easiest-going baby. I really felt like it took a good 6 months to start getting a handle on things. And now here I am with a new little personality to learn. Granted, in many ways it won't be near as hard because I'll have an idea what I'm doing this time. But every child is so different and now I'll have TWO to keep track of which means double the work. But, of course, double the fun and love, too. I just need to focus on that part!

Geez, that sure was a rant, wasn't it? Well, at least it's now (hopefully) off my mind and I'll be able to sleep. Wish us luck! We'll let you know how everything goes.

Welcome, Joseph!

Announcing the arrival of Rob's first nephew (on his side)

Robert Joseph Russell

Congrats to Gene and Breanna!

San Francisco - Day Two - Alcatraz

So what is it like to be in America's most feared federal prison at night? Let's just say that it didn't bolster my desire to become a convict! As we approached the island I was quite struck by the rough appearance of the island. There were not shores and nice beaches. The shores of the island were etched away by hand (I think this was first done by military prisoners before it was a federal prison).

I felt an eerie and disconcerting feeling as we cruise around the island to the dock. The structures were so worn down and drab. I can't imagine taking a similar cruise as a future resident of Alcatraz! 

Being there at night was incredible.  A multitude of extra activities is available during this time so I encourage everyone to take the night tour if the opportunity presents itself.  Fewer people, more activities, increase ambiance, need I say more? 

We learned that a large group of Native Americans claimed the island as Indian lands and lived there for a while before being removed by US Marshals.  The National Park Service has a good web page on that movement.

I was really excited to photograph Alcatraz and Julie was kind enough to let me shoot all these pictures, Thanks Julie! I think that these pictures really speak for themselves so I hope you enjoy them.  I took particular care to maintain the "feel" of the place so pay attention to their treatment.

Mobile Test

To test blogging from my phone. This will help with updates when we head to the hospital. It also means that you will see more random posts.

Terrible Morning

So things are just dandy now but I experienced a serious tragedy earlier this morning.  I started my trusty Corolla this morning and plugged in my ipod only to find the screen blank!  Nate was playing with it the last night and I didn't make sure that it was turned off. It became clear to me that the battery was completely drained!

I had to suffer the entire way to work listening to the radio.  Let me assure you that the depths of hell were sounded as I suffered through radio music and talk.  I forget how terrible the radio experience is these days and how much I love the selection of music on my ipod!

Anyway, I made it to work (barely) and my little red ipod is charging happily.  The drive home should be better :)

Rob's New Haircut!

Check out my new haircut! What do you think?

Apology to a Wonderful, Patient Husband

This morning I woke up at 5:00am to use the bathroom, not at all uncommon being 8 months pregnant. But when I woke up, I noticed something that made me feel silly and then I started thinking and thinking and getting ideas for this post. I never did fall back asleep. So I want to apologize publicly to my most wonderful, patient husband for all the annoying pregnant sleeping stuff I put him through every day. Here's a list:

1. My bed-hogging--So when I said I woke up and noticed something that made me feel silly, what I meant was that I looked over at Rob and he had barely enough room on the bed for his body to fit! We're talking zero clearance on either side of him. There he was, sound asleep, never realizing that if he moved an inch in the wrong direction, he'd be off his comfortable sliver of the bed and onto the floor. Meanwhile, I'm surrounded by a total of four pillows, taking up the rest of the space.


2. My falling asleep/waking up routine--Rob has learned that he can't lay down and get comfortable until I have plopped into bed and adjusted everything from my body to my clothes to my pillows for 4 minutes before I get comfortable. Then, finally, he can lay down in whatever space is left and fall promptly asleep for another 4 minutes until I'm so uncomfortable that I need to roll over, which wakes him up with my "OW, OW, OW." Then I adjust for an additional 4 mintues. Then he's finally able to sleep in peace. At least until half-way through the night when I go through the whole routine again when I get up to go to the bathroom or roll over.


3. My complaints about being tired--We both go to bed at the same time, but I wake him up once or twice a night. Then he wakes up at 5:45 to get ready and drive an hour to work where he is all day before another hour drive home. As soon as he walks in the door, Nate wants to wrestle, sometimes he makes dinner, we hang out and put Nate to bed, he does four hours of homework, and then finally gets to bed again. This happens every single day. Meanwhile, I wake up around 8:00, usually get a nap while Nate is napping, and then don't have homework at night. But I complain all the time about how tired I am!

I know I can't be too hard on myself because taking care of a very energetic toddler while being pregnant is super hard work. But taking care of me has to be almost just as hard!! Thanks, Rob, for being kind, always willing to serve me, being a fun dad, and working really hard every day to provide for our growing family!!! I love you!!!!!!!!!

San Francisco Babymoon--Day 2

Our second day we took a bus tour (I'm not usually a big fan of bus tours, but due to my condition and not wanting to rent a car, we thought this the best option) to the Muir Redwood Grove about a half hour north of San Francisco. It had been raining quite a bit so the ground was saturated, the river flowed deeply, and the trees were soaked. It was such a beautiful place!! It was very serene and humbling to look up and see how tall and to know how old those redwoods are. We loved our visit there.

Then the tour went to Sausalito, a small, Mediterranean-like town across the bay. There wasn't much there and it was chilly, but still a nice stop. We also got to see quite a bit of the city of San Francisco as we drove around on the tour bus.

Next we did the "Alcatraz at Night" tour but Rob's still working on those pictures. He took a ton and wants to sort through play "artiste" before posting them for all the world to see. So we'll put those up later.

Just for fun!

pacman cupcakes
Originally uploaded by hello naomi

This is just so creative! I didn't see any cupcakes like this at Nate's birthday party last year!! We'll keep practicing I guess.

San Francisco Babymoon

We heard the term "babymoon" a while ago and thought it was an ingenius idea (not the word, since honeymoon comes after the wedding, it seems a babymoon would come after the baby. But, hey, who cares?). Anyway, we decided that instead of going on a little vacation later in the year, while trying to juggle a toddler and a newborn, Rob and I would go away for the weekend for the first time since our crazy little son was born. Afterall, it'll be the last chance for quite some time, so we thought be better take advantage of it.

Since we couldn't stay more than two nights and didn't want to spend too much money or too much time flying somewhere, we decided on a weekend in San Francisco. It was perfect!!

We flew in Friday evening, the 25th of January and stayed at The Palace Hotel. It was stunning and in the perfect location which is what I needed since I can't walk a lot. We rested, got dressed up, had dinner, and then went to catch the cable car in the rain. While we were waiting at the stop (in the middle of the road), a car drove in front of us and hit a big puddle. We were hit with a wall of water, soaking us! Then, 10 seconds later, a car drove behind us and splashed the back of us! It was hilarious and just like a scene out of a movie. We laughed quite a bit over it. We went to The Top of the Mark, a jazz lounge on the top floor of the Mark Hopkins Hotel on Nob Hill overlooking the city. It was so nice to be out as a couple on a real date. We ordered an an $11 strawberry colada and an $11 hot chocolate. We listened to the great band and enjoyed being in each other's company. It was expensive, but a very fun and romantic night out. Then we rode the cable car back down in the rain. I thought it was beautiful and terribly romantic, but I guess Rob was just worried the whole time about me falling and getting sick.

I also endured many comments on my very pregnant belly. Everyone thinks I'm having twins or am due any time. But I'm not. At the time, I still had TWO months to go!! I was a total novelty there, like no one had ever seen a pregnant woman before! One lady got up told me that she was so happy and proud of me for "getting out there and actually doing it." Another lady just stared at it for a minute and then asked, "Is that real?!" Those are just two of the many, many comments I received over the course of the 3 days we were there. Very, very odd. It's a good thing I was on vacation and in a good mood, or I would've been terribly annoyed.

Well, that was our first day. Two more days to come. Stay tuned!