Boy oh Boy!

We are excited to tell the world that we are having a little boy. I am 18+weeks and I am so happy I didn't have to wait another week to hear our good news. The ultrasound was fun today, lots of great photos and everything looks good. When the ultrasound tech put the image on the screen of the 'parts' I knew right away that it was a boy. She asked us if we had any thoughts on what the baby was going to be. (I had had a feeling from my first ultrasound that I was looking at my son when the doctor first showed me his image at 12 weeks, but I kept that feeling to myself. I wanted to wait and not project anything.) So then the tech says, 'this is something you haven't seen before', and sure enough the boy 'parts' were very clear.

Ellie is not very excited about having a brother she is 'disapointed' and says she wanted a sister. She asked us if we can make the baby a girl when it comes out. Silly! Sophia is very excited, happy to be getting the blue baby she hoped for. Chris and I are happy that everything is looking good with the baby,and now we just have to come up with a name. It is a very fun time to think about adding a new addition to our family.

Tomorrow, tomorrow! I love ya, tomorrow!

That is my mantra lately...I am trying to focus on tomorrow being a better day than today. Why you ask? Why am I wishing my days away? Because life has become 'so daily' to quote Mary Engelbreit. Its kind of like living ground hog day. Here is an example of life: wake up, get dressed, get the girls dressed and fed, head to the gym, run an errand or two, come home, do some things around the house, feed the girls, put Sophia down for a nap, teach Ellie her preschool lesson, maybe teach a lesson or two of piano or voice, make dinner, rinse, repeat the next day. It doesn't sound so bad to you perhaps, but its just so PREDICTABLE. I just feel like I am stuck. I am slowly making friends here, but for the most part it seems people are as busy as me with their kids and lives and don't have much room for another face in their lives. Its hard for me because I usually don't have trouble connecting with people or making friends, but here it seems people keep you at an arm's length. I feel like I have tried to reach out, maybe not. Maybe I am the one who is aloof and not showing interest. I just feel so blah. Maybe it is just going to take more time. More tomorrows...

I have gotten back into sewing a little bit, and being creative definitely has helped my mood. I miss being outside, there is still so much snow on the ground and taking the girls to the park is out. They hate being inside all the time and I agree, it is for the birds! I am soooo looking forward to warmer weather. The girls are also excited to enjoy the park again and I look forward to the pool this summer, although I will be huge and pregnant. I also miss photography. I think I need to invest in another book of some kind to get me inspired. Let's see, I also am trying to get caught up on the scrapbooking which haunts my craft table, there is still alot to do to feel ready to start another album, aka the next baby book. Our Italy album is sorely in need of attention, but luckily Sophia's baby book is caught up to one year. I have lots of projects, maybe I just need to channel my loneliness and cold weather blues to productivity.

Tomorrow is also the day we will (hopefully) find out what the gender is of this new baby. Ellie still wants a girl and Sophia wants a blue baby, although I am not sure if that really means a boy. The jury is out on my end, I have felt differently this pregnancy, but Chris says I have said that now three times, so its probably a girl, which would be fun, the girl thing is great. I know Chris would love a boy, and it would be fun to have a little boy to keep us busy, but I will be excited with whatever he/she turns out to be. Names are alluding us once again, although I have two girl names I like and a middle name for a boy.

Tomorrow tomorrow. Its only a day away and another chance to be happy and live well.

Snow Snow and More Snow!!

The 'snowfall' of this century hit last weekend here on the Atlantic Coast, and it has really affected our community of Columbia. The Washington area was affected severely with widespread power outages. We had friends in the Bethesda that lost power for 2 days or more. One of Chris' classmates stayed with us for a few days while he waited for his internet and power to resume. We were very fortunate to have no heating or power issues, we were quitecomfortable in our little igloo. The kids, Chris and I had fun playing games, baking, and relaxing. It seemed as we were indoors for so long, that time stood still, we waited and waited for life to return to normal, and the snow to stop. The gym was closed for a few days which was a cramp in my routine, but things are slowly returning to normal a week later. Kids in the area haven't been to school in over a week, I am sure many parents are going crazy and wondering when the schools are going to get things moving and get the sidewalks shoveled and streets plowed.

President Barak Obama has dubbed this storm "Snowmaggedon" and it surely fits. This storm rivaled one named the 1922 "Knickerbocker" storm one that dumped 28 inches in 24 hours. We had 33.8 inches here in Columbia. The kids have loved the snow, they enjoyed watching it fall, they love playing in it. Ellie really enjoys her advetures, and both girls like to collect the icicles that Chris routinely knocks off the roof'. I watched in wonder as the snow kept coming, and coming and coming. Sunday morning was an impressive wake up, with snow covering everything! We patiently awaited the snow plows which finally dug out our streets. School was cancelled for Chris on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday February 8th 9th and 10th. I was grateful to finally get out of the house on Thursday, and replenish our milk, cheese and ice cream supplies! Chris is back at school and trying to catch up on lost time from classes. I am hoping there are no more major storms on the horizon. We have five feet sitting on our lawn, I think we have enough for the season!