I'm Back!

Finally home after a week with my Dad in Coeur d'alane where we got pampered at the spa, toured the lake by cruise boat, and saw all the quaint sites of the town.





Then to Saint Louis for two weeks where I visited my uncle Doug ( mother's brother) and fam . The Haldeman family is beautiful and loving and doing so well. It was a great oppertunity to connect with that side of my family. It was also so nice to see my darling husband - enen if it was just a bit in the evenings after work. Boy I miss him again allready... But I liked Saint Louis. I was suprised how nice the area was and wouldn't mind moving there for a while...


However, coming home reminded me once again just how much I love the great northwest. It is so green and lovley with mountains and beaches and mild comfortable weather. It is the only place that really feels like home to me, and it is good to be back in my own bed tonight....

On shoes

I went to the mall yesterday and since I obviously have no place looking at clothes, i switched my attention to shoes. Oh I do love shoes - like any red blooded woman.
But oh the woes of my poor feet. Did you know that growing up one of my biggest body insecurities was my feet? yeah. Living in California we would play in the sprinklers outside and when we walked barefoot from wet grass to dry pavement I would descretely walk on the sides of my feet so the prints i left looked like there was an arch. My flat feet left, what I felt, were remarkably unusual prints.
This it turned out would be the least of my foot concerns.
I spent years in arch supports and now far too long without them. I can never wear the pretty little things I wish for , and flimsy fashion sneaks flatten & spread out far too soon. Having flat feet is contraindicated for being a "real" dancer. It also makes balance/standing/walking anything tireing for very long. I have however pushed passed this in my life. Im a tough bitch sometimes. I've spent summers walking hundreds of miles. I was somewhat of a runner once. I cut many rugs with my duck feet flapping in the wind. But, come the end of the day, my poor ugly feet throb in agony and scream in pain.
Not that any of this matters. No big deal. Lots of people have flat dorky feet.
I am simply more aware of this condition now than ever before since the fluid of pregnancy seems to be collecting everywhere. Namely my feet.

you should have seen the wobbling i made in too tight stilletto heals this weekend.
Imagine a gelatineous watermelon on stilts....

Next stop Saint Louis!

Saint Louis here I come.
I am very excited to see my Uncle Doug (its weird to call him uncle since he's not much older than me so I say it here just for clarification) and Angela and their 4 beautiful kids : Garret, Ashleigh, Evan, & brand new baby Nathan!
Oh, and keith too...

More pictures later.....

Ahhhhh.....

I just left Coeur D'Alene with my Dad and in three days had 2 pregnancy massages, a fabulous spa facial and far too much food. We took a lovely day cruise on the lake and visited through art galleries and stores. It was a very nice chance to talk and visit about all sorts of things.

I finally feel a little relaxed.
Now I am in Pullman with my Dad and his family. Last night I visited my sister michelle (she just moved out here) who topped off my evening with a mint foot rub! I haven't been touched and pampered this much in a year! What a treat.

finally figured out how to spell "coeur d' alene"

I'm off for a daddy/daughter spa day & sight seeing in Coeur d'Alene. Just the two of us - I havent seen him alone since before my dear Mother died. That was almost 5 years ago now. wow that (sometimes it still feels so fresh). Then I stop in pullman for a few days to see my sister and wait to fly on to St Louis to meet my long lost husband. We are staying with my Mom's youngest brother "uncle Doug's" family.

So wish me Bon Voyage
...and I'll catch ya on the flip side

Happy Birthday !!!!!!!!!!

My darling husband Keith is the big 29 Today!

HORAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!

I know you're sad and lonely right now:(
So am I without you......
but,
Soon we will be together in Saint Louis and Oh how happy that will be!
May you get to participate in a way cool surgery today
May you feel full and complete today
May you buy yourself something pretty to wear on your way home
and
May all your wonderful dreams come true

I love you

Today's highlights were....

Swimming in my pool for the first time with a big belly







and.....
when my new Bumbo came in the mail!

My weekend with the in-laws

Me with my niece & nephew (Kodi &Payton)
big ol' me rode on the horsey with Kodi

-




Out to lunch with my Mother-iL and the kids. We tricked Payton with a sugar-free italian soda :)
It was nice to get away for a few days... especially to somewhere a little cooler. I was treated to a fabulously greasy breakfast out with Chris & Lisa. Caught a movie with Chris. Mom & Pops had a big BBQ on sunday for 20 family & friends.
On the way home I took my belly-baby to the beach for the first time and videoed myself for him.
Good times...

In memory of Steve Erwin

I just found out that the Crocodile Hunter was killed by a stingray on Monday
I am overwhelmed by the emotion I feel for this loss. His character and influence was a big part of my old life and travels. I feel personally devistated in a way. I'm not starstruck by people or really a major fan of anybody - but this! This really hurts. I can't believe how much this means to me. And I feel like nobody around me could possibly understand the significance. I am truely sorry and tear stricken by this news. http://animal.discovery.com/

Horay for UPS & Target.com

Big Thank you to my Dad & Lisa for sending me this way cool bassinet!



It's totally portable and clicked right into place! It fits right next to your bed so you can easily reach over in the middle of the night.
I'm also glad that I changed my registry at the last minute from a yellowy natural color to gingham blue. It's just perfect :)
Thank you very very much!

little boys....... oh boy

3rd trimester swings

This morning I woke up from 13 hours of sleep
Then read my book in bed for another couple hours.
When i finally got out of bed I felt great! Happy and relaxed and surprisingly not over slept.
The temperature has been pleasantly in the 60's today and all my windows & doors were open
UPS delivered a baby car seat from my sister - Yay - and all seemed good....
Then,
The tide turned.
I tried to sign up for a birth prep class. The lady on the phone asked who my partner would be, I said I was going alone (husband out of town) She said I should bring my Mom - She's dead. How about a friend or coach, 'Um I'll just go by myself - why is that weird? does anybody do these things by themselves?' No, she said. Nobody. I started to cry and got embarrased and hung up on the lady.
When I thought i had it together I called my friend Kristina and asked her to come with me through a blubbering voice. I feel so stupid and i made her feel akward with my uncontrolled emotional ranting. I wish i never made that call.
Keith then lovingly called and arranged another class at another hospital that he could attend with me.
Now I felt ultra silly - I still have to call my friend back to cancel after all that.
But
I finally refreshed myself with a leiserly stroll through Tryon Creek State Park. The air was fresh and sweet and it struck me how long it had been since i walked alone in the woods
and how much i used to do that and love it.
Now i just finished 3 popsicles and a new list of baby names and am ready to go back to my book.

Has anyone read Wilbure Smith http://www.wilbursmithbooks.com ?
I love his stuff - so exciting!
right now im working on the Egyptian Series.

Greese me up baby - I'm doing all I can!

By The Way,

A big thank you to everybody that helped or contributed to Keith's Smiles of Oregon fundraiser. We had the event last week and collected tons of donations. Audrey even painted a piece just for it! not to mention helped me solicite dozens of other artists for work. Also thank you to Mom & Pop Neaman for driving all the way out here mid-week for the night And for Pops buying so much at the auction. He even got me a spa gift certificate!!! Revitlizing foot treament - here I come :)
There was however the little incident of the car bomb in the parking lot which dropped our attendance some but all in all, a nice enough event....
Keith was a superstar of course - and I came home with a ton of free cheese!

Blackberry season

Yummy! Blackberries are my new favorite berry, for now.

I'm all scratched up and my clothes are stained - I love that these sweet little morseles have the gumption to put up a fight! Nothing better than a good challenge with a tastey reward :)

He's gone again......

I'm so sad - He left this morning once again.... This time the open road is taking him all the way to Las Vegas Nevada. I came this close (my fingers are very close together) to going with him at the last minute this morning! but, it just didnt happen. Instead we lingered over breakfast together, talked sadly about missed time together, rubbed and talked to the belly, then stood by the car kissing godbye over and over again. I finally stood there, standing in the middle of the road, barefoot, waving to the empty street that he left behind him.
Three weeks in vegas.
Then two in Saint Louis! His last rotation is in Texas and then Im due to pop!

I miss my baby allready :(

Early birthday surprise for Keith

Sunday and Post-Call (that means just finished with a 36hr shift and no sleep) Keith stampers home and collapsed into bed. I had erranged for his family to surprised him at church even though his birthday isnt until Sept 9th (he'll be out of town and all alone then). But he was tooooo tiered and didnt make it there. So, I met the inlaws alone, taught a quick lesson, then drove them back to our place to surprise Keith awake in his bed after a 2 hour nap with unexpected family and balloons in his face! SURPRISE!!!!!!!! WAKE UP! SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!So there you are darling husband. Happy early Birthday - your family loves you
:)

Two Preggos jumpin' up and down

Me and "new girl" Bonnie endangering ourselfs & babies....
It sure felt good!
for the first minute ~ then, ohhhhhh
the next day, OHHHHHHH
I just found out what "brackston hicks" means.

Good News from my last doctor's visit.
I only gained one pound!
Now I'm right where i should be - so, humpf.

I guess that switch from regular to sugar-free ice-cream really helped :)

kickin' it old school.... (at Oxford that is...)

My Brother Roderick in the middle...

:)