Week 30

Here is the week 30 picture. Wow - very surreal to think that we are at the 10 week countdown.

Jon and I had a wonderful early Thanksgiving with some friends this weekend - which was awesome. Why the early meal you ask? (No...it's not because I just want Turkey twice - even though that is true.) It's because we're going on a little trip on Wednesday to someplace where they don't celebrate Thanksgiving!

Stay tuned...we'll be posting pictures of our adventures.

All the little green lights are blinking

Things to be thankful for on November 3rd, 2008.

First: the weather is beautiful, the leaves are stunning, and the air is so crisp you could bite it.

Second: the time change went off without a hitch. Thanks to Anna for reminding me to change my clock. Thanks again to Anna for calling me at 4:30 am to tell me that the clocks go back an hour, not forward an hour like she had said the night before.

Third: Jon is home. After the men's Quarry seminar in Dallas he came back a new, stronger, more complex man that I can't wait to find out more about. AND - he fixed the internet in about 30 seconds after I fought with it all weekend and never got it to work. Now the modem is up and running - the green blinky lights are on and I am back in blogging business! (I love having him home.)

Forth: Jon in general. If you need a refresher go here. Let me just add though that he COMPLETELY surprised me (Jon's family will know that's somewhat of a feat) this weekend by planning and scheduling a spa day for me. I've never done that before and left feeling super relaxed and like a queen. (I know you all probably think this blog is a mushy love-fest but he is just too incredible NOT to be thankful for.)

Fifth: the little guy is growing like a weed. We'll post the 27 week pic soon - but trust me, he's big. And I think he loves the Bradley method classes I started yesterday - LOTS of kicking involved.

Sixth: a weekend of cleaning, classes, friends, family, love, laughs, relaxing, being busy, cooking, and just being that got me ready for another week.

Corny

Jon and I went to Frederick, MD yesterday to go through a corn maze with Chul and Katie. None of us had ever done a corn maze - so we were all pretty excited. I wish I had a shot from above - but the entire field was mowed to be a picture of Obama and McCain.

Jon (on the phone...how odd), Katie and Chul contemplating the challenge. Before the maze we made sure to get our energy up with Hamburgers, cold apple cider, and apple cider donuts!

We chose the long maze - which was suppose to take us about 1 to 1.5 hours. They give you a "passport" which is 10 questions. When you reach certain signs you answer the questions and it tells you to go right or left depending on the answer. We ended up skipping several of the signs (and finding others 5 or 6 times after going in circles).

Reminds me of the first time he told me he loved me...

After we made it through the maze Jon challenged Chul to a little peddle-cart race. Not sure who won - the 7 year old girls racing with them were pretty darn good though.

These are my people

Last Sunday the ECDC Community had a cookout at Fletcher's Boathouse on the Potomac near DC. It was absolutely beautiful. The weather was sunny and mid 70's - perfect for being outside - and totally why I love fall.

Being with the people was by far the best thing though.

Gbenga Idowu - our resident photog - took some great candid shots that he let me include here.

Jon and Gbenga starting up the grill.

A small sample of the spread and crowd.

Just hanging out. Baby Evan is all wrapped up! So is Whn. :)

One of the two brave boating crews on the C&O Canal.

Lisa and Zakyla enjoying some quiet time.

A great shot of Anna.

The football team - I love the second action shot.

Catherine playing with Liam. Big groups always turn into a kiddo swap meet - they're just too cute!

Heidi and Zakyla and Zhaun - one of my favorites of the day.

It's so incredible to have this group of people as family.

Almost Fall!!!!

The weather has gotten much chillier the past two days. Today it was in the 60s and raining. It feels very fallish. This makes me really happy for a few reasons:

1) fall is my favorite season. It means beautiful weather, spectacular colors, warm clothes, cuddling (with Jon - *wink*), warm drinks, soup, the start of the holiday season (not that I have a particular affinity for the actual holidays - just the general season), and family.

2) it always reminds me of 'back-to-school'. You know, the new pencils, new teacher, fresh paper smell of the back to school time. It automatically causes me to want to start something fresh. Hmmm...combined with nesting I wonder what THAT will bring?

3) this year it means that the baby is that much closer to being here. I'm not rushing you little guy - I'm just enjoying being excited about you.

Here are some sneak preview pictures of what the fall will bring around here. I'm cheating a little because they're from a few years ago - but I just can't wait!

The river from walking on the canal.

What the driveway will look like. A perfect carpet of brightly colored leaves. BEAUTIFUL!

In other funny news - and totally changing the subject - this is what I did this week to illustrate the dangers of having a smooshy brain.

Our dear friend Marcia (remember - just had adorable baby Evan) had one major food aversion while she was pregnant.

Chicken.

I mean - she couldn't stand to be in the same place where chicken had been. It was really, really bad.

The lovely Marcia.

After Evan was born I decided to make her and Mark a meal that they could heat up in a crockpot when they needed. So I got everything ready and sent it over with Jon one evening. I made them...

Chicken Stew.

I didn't realize until just yesterday (three days later) and was horrified...absolutely horrified. Marica was so gracious though and said that she ate it anyway. She is wonderful.

Evan is Here!

A big, big welcome to Evan Rhys Nathanael Headley. He was born at 12:07 AM (!) on Thursday the 18th after a long, long labor. Remember Mark and Marcia? We had a baby shower for them a few months ago. (hmmm...maybe my wonderful, handsome, and oh-so-smart husband will show me how to put in a hyperlink to that blog post so you can go back and see it).

I haven't yet met Evan (I think we'll see him tonight) but this picture of him melted my heart just a little bit. He's so perfect. :)

.....I can't can't can't can't wait to meet ours.

Baby Wesley!!!

My dear friend Holly had her first baby early Saturday morning (12:26 am!)

Wesley Gordon Creasey. We always joked about who would have kids first - but I don't think we ever thought we'd have them 5 months apart! Congratulations Holly and Jeff!

Week 13

Week 13 picture! Maybe starting to podulate a little bit?

And a Jon picture. I'll post some of these occasionally so you can keep track of his progress as well. Jon's in the full swing of the summer hockey season and getting buffer all the time. ;)

Not much new this week. Just continuing to move along. We met my parents in Baltimore yesterday morning and spent the afternoon and lunch just meandering around town. It's so nice to be able to do day trips and see them. Baltimore is such a great city too - I think we could easily live there if the commute was better!

We also had Mark and Marcia Headley's baby shower yesterday! I didn't take any pictures...but here is a picture of the couple at Omo and Lisa's wedding in Trinidad from May.