Amy's 35th Birthday Party - All are invited!

Last Wednesday I had my now bi-weekly baby doctor appointment. Baby W. will be arriving on July 28, 2009. I had big dreams of delivering on my birthday, the 29th, but Dr. Bass only delivers planned cesareans on Tuesdays. So there you have it.

We thought we had a name but now I'm no longer sure. So all the names posted on the left are still in the running. And I'm being sincere when I say I am poring over all of them and my baby name book. I think this one may be a wait and see situation. Yesterday I had a brainstorm. "Phil! What about Matilda Ruth and calling her Tillie?!" Uh, that was a no go. So feel free to let me know if you are having any inspiration.

But on July 29, 2009 I will be hosting my own 35th birthday party at the Wood County Hospital in Bowling Green, Ohio. Most of you know I'm kind of a quiet birthday gal but there will be streamers and balloons, cake and ice cream for all who would like to come meet our sweet little one.

I am posting the photos of all the babies born by my fellow bloggers/friends/family thus far in 2009:

The year started with my cousin, Sharon Pearson's 5th child, Jaiden Pearson (also shown with 4th child/2nd daughter Valencia):


and our friends from Portland (now in Blackfoot Idaho) Heather and Tim Goodworth welcomed their third daughter Meg:



Then came Kathryn Conser. My dear friend Megan, from Portland, gave birth in February to her third child/second daugher:


Last Tuesday, Aaron Choate was born to my USU roommate, long time friend and blogging celebrity, Loralee. This is her fourth son and baby:


Yet to come in 2009 are:
Collin Knapp (#2) to my sister Allison - due date 7/27/09
Baby Gates (#3) to my other Portland bosom buddy, Julie Moyer-Gates- due date 10/09
Baby Resek (#2) to my LA/DC roommate Adrianne (Smart) Resek and if it wasn't for her I would never have moved East and met my sweet Charlie Brown- due date 10/09
Baby Webb (#3) to my sweetheart Paula (Yokum) Webb - due date 12/09
Baby Kinnunen (#2) to one of my very oldest and dearest friends, Nicole (Coloff) Kinnunen-12/09

I keep a scrapbook page at the end of each year for annual baby announcements I think 2009 is going to bring us a bumper crop!

P.S. I stole these photos from their blogs which can be found to the left. If you would like to see more pics of their little darlings just click and enjoy!

Princess Baby Mena!

I was wishing my mom in California a "Happy Mother's Day" and telling her about the kids. She loved Jacob's soccer photos but I realized I had never posted Mena's dress-up pics. This is what Mena calls "playing make-up". The above is my favorite. It has such a sense of joy and freedom. Enjoy, she's a CUTIE!

Jacob - MVP

Our son Jacob has many, many talents. But focus and teamwork aren't two of them. Or the love of nature either, for that matter. His two favorite sports are swimming and gymnastics. Where one is safely indoors.

This spring we offered him either T-ball or soccer. He chose soccer. Great! Thought I, there is a lot more room for social visibility. You know, no one ever says "Hey, look at that cute T-ball mom." Whereas soccer moms are just so suburban chic ;-) And of course it's all about me.

But here's the kicker, vanity gets me every time. I'm still not the cute soccer mom. My huge tummy crowded in sweatpants, they are all that fits. Stained t-shirts because my wardrobe budget can't keep up with the tornado that is Mena. And sporting the ponytail while my hair shows off my bad roots because I can't figure out a hairstyle I want or the time to get to the salon.

So I'm actually having to pay attention to my son playing the game instead of flaunting my cute soccer mom self.

These pics are from his first game last Saturday. His team, Crew, lost 0-4 but then won on Tuesday 2-0. On Tuesday he even helped defend the goal with a his head. All the parents cheered and asked me his name. Beaming, I said, "Jacob, and he meant to do that!" But of course moments later he is galloping to the bench yelling, "Ow, ow,ow..." Later, he made a successful pass to a little girl teammate who made a goal. And he even attempted a goal himself.

We're very proud of him, this year he is no longer twirling in the back corner like lasts year's attempt at Rugrats Sports. He's actually listening to his coach and watching the ball 50% of the time.

When Tuesdays game was over he came running to me for some H2O. "Honey," said I, "your coach is talking to all the kids you need to go over there". In which my little "Beckham" spins and begins skipping back to his group. "Run, Jacob run! Don't skip, sweetie."



p.s. At the library today I checked out "Great Hair: Secrets to Looking Fabulous and Feeling Beautiful Every Day" by Nick Arrojo of TV's "What Not to Wear".