Laughter...

Ok, so it's Oregon and it's summer. You are going to see cyclists everywhere. Today however was an unusual sighting. Now, I've seen old guys on bicycles before, in fact it's pretty common in the "Green" state of Oregon. Old guys like to be in shape. I've also seen guys in suits on bicycles before. We've probably all seen a few Mormon "missionaries" on their bikes every now and then. Todays sighting however, took that combination and mixed it all up with a safety lesson we all should avoid.

Helmets. Now If you don't have a bicycle helmet, most just chose to do without. Some even go a little wacky and pick up a motorcycle helmet, or a skateboard helmet, but this approximately 60 year-old guy decided that he wasn't only going to wear his out-of-style 80's tweed suit with his 10-speed, but none other than a navy blue baseball batter's helmet (with a large red "B" on the side).

I drive a lot in my job taking supplies and what not to the carpet installers, but today had to be the best memory. I couldn't stop laughing at this image, and of all days, I wish I had a camera!

Nothing says it better than the bumper sticker that reads "Keep Portland Weird."



Can you imagine this helmet on your grandpa? Dad? Husband? It's OK to laugh out loud.


-T

Of All The Weeks...

I'd like to think of myself as an asset to not only the preschooler's this week, but also to the very patient teacher, Amie who was suckered into being lead teacher for Vacation Bible School at Grace this summer. I guess God had different plans.

Humility has taken it's toll on me as I lay here in bed, with no contractions at the moment, and not even a cute baby to justify my lackluster, and often mistaken look of laziness on this fine summer day. Okay, so no one has actually SEEN me today, but I'm sure if they did, they're first assumption would be that of laziness.

I had the opportunity (and was actually really looking forward to this!) to help in the preschool room during VBS this week, with none other than a good friend of mine, Amie. (Oh, and a couple wanna-be teen helpers that I still don't know the name of) After bending, chasing, corralling, and just plain exhausting every strategy I had while being 9 months pregnant, I left VBS an hour early on the first day. Lovely I thought; I'm going into labor, and will have a legitimate excuse for not showing up the rest of the week. Well, after visiting the hospital and my dr. on Monday afternoon, she informed me that I am dilated to a 1cm, and that it could be anytime. Cool. Tuesday I woke up feeling miserable. Contractions started early and lasted all day, 6-6.5 minutes apart, 30-45 seconds in length. The worst part of this weren't the contractions. Instead, It was the intense sharp pain on my left lower side that wouldn't subside. So, after being on the phone with nurses most of the day, Tim and I drove ourselves back into the hospital last night. Thankfully, I wasn't hallucinating, as my contractions were showing up on the monitors, however, they weren't strong enough/long enough to create any cervical change. I was also told that the pain in my left side are torn round ligaments that support the uterus and abdominal walls. I suppose I inadvertently tore these somehow during VBS on Monday. Or, I fell down the stairs in my sleep while thinking about cold milk and chocolate Ovaltine. The nurse was fairly certain I must have fallen somehow, though I kept telling her I didn't. So, of all the weeks this summer to be on my back....it had to be this week.

Now if only our daughter would make her grand entrance, maybe I wouldn't feel so silly laying in bed, reading Harry Potter books, eating Belly Bars, and surfing the net.

Fortunes and broccoli

It was yesterday that I was at work, tearing out some carpet from an apartment downtown. Now it isn't unusual to find pennies, nickels or even Cheetos between the baseboards while pulling carpet. I take those coins as my "tip" for the job, but leave the snacks for the installers.

Yesterday , however, was different. Oh sure I found 13 cents in pennies, but I also found a little slip of paper from someone's fortune cookie. "Tomorrow your partner will tell you exciting news."
"Ok", I thought. "Maybe we'll be going to the hospital soon and our little girl will be here, that would be an exciting phone call!" Baby did drop ofer the weekend so she could come anytime.

You know me though, I don't take those silly fortunes seriously. That was until today.

Separate house, different part of town, and this time not even an apartment but a duplex, yet they still had the slip of paper in common. This time it read, "An unexpected event will soon make your life more exciting." unexpected? Really? (Like I didn't see this coming the past 9 months?)

Well, it's 11:48pm, and as I write this blog we have less than a half hour before this 'fortune' proves true. Since we are still at home practically in bed, I doubt anything interesting will happen in the rest of this day. The Dr. is in Seaside at a conference until Sunday, so we are trying to lay low until she returns. We would rather baby come sometime next week, so our Dr will be here.

This fortune thing is a little crazy, but hardly believable. It's like the psychic magazine's website that recently read, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the magazine is now out of print" (like they didn't see that one coming?)

Anyway, we are still waiting and getting more excited. our baby girl will be here very soon and we will be jumping for joy, but for now, Heidi is acting like Broccoli; takn' it easy and Veg'n-out.

Identity Crisis

Since the passing of Snickers, we've noticed a sweet side to our little Emma that has been tucked away for a few years. I feel blessed to be able to just enjoy the company of our mellow, timid, sweet-spirited cat. She snuck outside the other day and gave us quite the scare, as she was no where to be found for hours. Shortly after I opened up our dining room sliding glass door, in she walked as dusty and dirty as ever. I was so relieved to have her home.

Tim and I came home from church this morning to find this cute girl sleeping soundly in none other than our baby's crib.....maybe she's starting to have an identity crisis :)

I guess putting clean sheets on the baby bed two months before her due date was a mistake!

Waiting for new life...

Lani took some urban maternity pictures of Tim and I in the Pearl (out of towners, this is NW Portland) Sunday night. We had a great time, and look forward to seeing the rest of them. Thanks, Lani!

Baby Shower

This post is long overdue! Two weekends ago, Tim and I were given a beautiful baby shower for our upcoming daughter. The weather allowed it to be outside in Dave and Shaela's backyard--they have a beautiful yard, full of flowers and couture landscaping. Our dear friends, Joel and Lani and Ben and Heidi orchestrated the entire event, and another good friend of mine, Andrea put together all of the decorations/floral arrangements and even our diaper cake! It was a truly unique and beautiful shower.
We had quite a few people in attendance as well, making for some pretty darn cute gifts...I think our daughter has more shoes than I have, and she's not even here yet! :) Thank you to everyone who was involved; we had the best time, and will hold fond memories of our baby's first shower. (I'll post more pics when I receive them from Lani....she was the photographer for the shower...for now, these are the two best ones I have)