I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet

Yesterday, Dave, Claire and I went to the OBGYN's office to take a peek at our little one and find out if we are having a boy or a girl. As soon as the ultrasound lit up, our wee started moving. It was fun to see the baby's arms and legs kicking around while the tech took measurements. Then came the moment we had been waiting for, the tech asked us if we wanted to know the sex of the baby and Dave and I in unison responded with a resounding, "Of course!". Pregnant pause. I swear, just as the words "Hmmm, it's a..." start slipping out of the tech's mouth, I felt the earth move under my feet. The blinds started swaying and the ground rumbling. It was an earthquake--5.4 on the Richter scale. Yikes! Luckily, the hospital is on rollers and there was no damage, but our tech was very distracted and talked about the quake for a couple of minutes and then went and checked on the office to make sure everyone was okay. She returned in about five minutes, with the news that everyone was indeed okay and that our little one is a GIRL, who may just have a flair for the dramatic.

On a side note, the night before the ultrasound Dave asked Claire if we were having a boy or a girl baby and Claire said very assuredly, "girl". I have never heard her say the word boy or girl before, so maybe Claire knew something that we didn't. We can't wait to meet our new little lady.

My Little Angel

I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday for blood work. Dreading the long wait and then the inevitable prick of the needle, I thought I would take Claire along for a little distraction and company. Knowing that she might prove to be a distraction to everyone, I came armed with her stroller--otherwise know as a restraint device--books, treats and a sippy cup. Much to my surprise Claire was a perfect angel. In the waiting room another couple even pointed her out to their unruly three year as a model child. Of course I was beaming and did a great job of pretending that she is always so calm and peaceful. Much to my pleasure her new found tranquility even lasted into my appointment with the nurse.

The nurse got right down to business and didn't waste any time telling me how well-behaved my Claire was being. I almost pointed it out, but thought that might tip her off that Claire is not always so well-mannered in social situations. The nurse found a vein pronto and jabbed the largest needle into my arm (I have a huge bruise to prove the size it). I flinched and clenched my teeth and then Claire grabbed my attention. She was sitting in her stroller looking very concerned at me and then at the needle and then without any guile on her little face she boldly held up her thin arm and laid it bare for the nurse as if to say "Take me". I am telling you, I don't know if I could have loved my little one any more than I did just then. In that minute, she quit masquerading as a human. My little angel, I love her, love her, love her.

Memory (blog style)

Okay, so I copied this from a friend (Emma) verbatim (I'll admit I'm being a lazy poster lately). And just knew it was a brilliant idea when a well-respected friend (Julie) gave me the same idea on the same day I read Emma's post.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I (or you and Dave, or you and Claire) had together. It doesn't matter if you knew us a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Daddy's Girl

Claire has been a little obsessed with "daddy" lately. It started a few weeks ago, intensified when we went on vacation to Utah and then heated up even more when Dave went back to California and we stayed behind. She adores him, idolizes him and can't wait to spend time with him. A perfect way to illustrate this for you is to explain how she calls for us. When she wants Dave's attention puts on a perky smile and in her best sing-song voice in her cutest little girl tone, says "Dah-dee". When Claire wants my attention, she looks at me demandingly, gestures her arms emphatically and says in a perfect Long Island whiny accent, "Mawh!" Crazily enough, both are equally adorable and endearing and make us jump to attention.

Claire has also spotted symbols for her daddy everywhere--little tokens that remind her of him. Here are just a few. The first one Claire spied on a telephone pole outside side the grocery store, Dave calls this his "mother's milk" and is often, much to my chagrin, spotted with one in hand. When she saw it she excitedly yelled out, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!!!"

The second symbol, Claire spotted in the grocery store again accompanied by a "Daddy" chorus of squeals. Dad's deodorant has become one of Claire's favorite toys. She likes to rummage through the bathroom drawers, clutch onto the deodorant with a monkey-like vice grip and then run like mad, knowing that I will chase her before she gets even a nibble out of the appealing blue surface.

The third token of Dad was adopted after Dave tore down a 19th century family home that was on his parent's property with a track hoe. I took Claire out to see Dave run the track hoe several times and she even got a ride on it. After Dave left town, I was in the backyard with her at my dad's house and she saw a track hoe in a lot a few yards down and for 15 minutes called out for dad in her perfectly perfect daddy singsong while waving her hands. 

Unfortunately, my little daddy's girl does not have any symbols for "Mawh" yet, but I am sure when she adopts them it will be something really exciting like toilet bowl cleaner, or broccoli, or maybe even dental floss. 

Lesson from the Great American Jackalope

Because Claire and I surf youtube shorts when it is 118 degrees outside and because this is what we sometimes find.

which somehow, just for a minute, makes being inside all day bearable.

Wanted: Excorcist (specializing in unruly 18 month olds)

So how is it that my little wee looks like this on the way to church

and like this on the way home


but during the actual meeting she looks and acts like this?


Any advice?

Claire has an announcement to make...

She's expecting! A new baby brother or sister on December 22, 2008. We can't wait and are excited to have our wee ones just two years and one month apart. I am feeling pretty good, despite being really tired, over emotional and nauseous most the time and am just looking plain old plump. I'll be happy when my stomach starts looking more baby, then its current pudge look that I have only obtained through a diligent commitment to my "keep-it-down diet" of pasta and ice cream.

My first trimester just ended though and if this little squirt is anything like Claire was, it will be smooth sailing from here. Oh yeah, except for the night-time wake-you-up-screaming leg cramps and heart burn (from apples, watermelon, bread and other noxious foods). Overall, Dave and I both feel really blessed we get to have another little one around again and we can't wait to meet him or her.