Waiting

This is kind of what we feel like we've been doing - waiting. I mean, we're going places, doing things... But really we're waiting. Yesterday the doc said there's no way Elsie's waiting until her due date to come (Aug 20). So when I couldn't sleep while Elliot and Michael were napping this afternoon, I started intensely cleaning the house, hoping I would trigger a beginning that would not end in disappointment, but in a baby. I cleaned for 2 1/2 hours. I had two contractions.

The good news is, the house is cleaner. Michael's cooking dinner, and Elliot took a long nap. So, we wait.

Just married

So this has been a funny few days. Some friends of ours got married last Saturday. It was a great wedding. I heard the reception rocked (I was unfortunately having completely unproductive contractions). Michael took the couple to the train station Monday morning and kept their car. This worked out well, since ours was in the shop for the three days. So Elliot and I have been riding around in this Jeepish/SUV like thing for three days. The funny thing is, the car was decorated for the wedding.

Monday afternoon Michael got a honk, smile, wink and thumbs up from some woman as he drove by. And you should see the stares I've gotten as I, the large, very pregnant woman walk around past the "Just married" writing on the back window and get my 2 year old out of the car. It's been fun. I love the reactions. The driver's side window said for awhile "Almost not a virgin anymore" or something like that. I don't think they bought that one with me. It was inappropriate enough in general, me driving or not, that I couldn't take it after one trip somewhere close. So I washed it off with a diaper wipe. Ironic, eh? The rest I left, though. We took the car back today, and got ours back. It's been fun, but it's over. I'm both sad and happy to say, I MISSED my minivan. ...

All's quiet on the western front

So, it's quiet around here. A bit too quiet. Yesterday was loud and exciting. There was a wedding that Michael and I both got to be a part of. I had prayed that God would keep Elsie still and inside until the wedding was over - both so we wouldn't screw it up, and so that we got to be there for it. She was quiet in the morning. As soon as the homilie (how do you spell that word?) was over, she started moving. She kept moving until we got to the point where the contractions were intense and every 6 minutes or so. I was convinced I was about to not be pregnant anymore. This was a wonderful thought. I called my mom, packed my bag, and picked out an outfit for Elsie.

Then everything stopped. It was like someone turned off the GO switch. I laid on the couch and angrily reported contractions to Michael that were WAY too far apart to be useful. Ah, the waiting. So Tuesday we're scheduled to go to the doc and do some official checking of the Elsa status. Whatever that means. Is there really anything official when it comes to the status of an approaching birth? I mean, other than, yes, it happened, or, nope, not yet?

Elliot continues to be fascinated with babies. He stares at them as I ask, "do you want one of those?" I'm actually not due for 4 weeks (from tomorrow). Stay tuned for further updates...

Big mama, little boy

Elliot's been on a reading streak lately, especially since we went to the library the other day and got 5, yes, 5 books about trains. This morning he was trying to line them up on the floor as if they were all part of a big puzzle. He holds onto his favorite while he obsessively reads himself the others, several times in a row. He's been sleeping until 6 or 6:20am lately which is late and wonderful for Elliot. Then I put him in bed with me to wake up for a few minutes. He usually tosses and turns for 5 minutes, then leans into my face and giggles. It's pretty cute. Although it's early and I never want to get up, it's not a bad way to wake up in the morning.

Travels

Hey everybody. We've been out. Now we're back. We were in Memphis and then Atlanta, where Elliot spent some time with his Big Papa and Yaya (Michael's parents). Here's what he did while there:
1. Swam
2. Watched Nemo
3. Ate his body weight in everything each day
4. Watched Nemo
5. Fell in love with his Auntie J and cousin Jack
6. Watched Nemo AND
7. Watched Nemo

I have to admit, I'd never seen it before and it's pretty darn cute. We had a great time in GA. The pool was beautiful, we got to see all kinds of family, and we RELAXED. Elliot, of course, misses Nemo, whom he calls, everytime, ELMO.