Farmer Bea

Today a neighbor rang the doorbell to see if Beatrice would like her old rocking chair. We said sure, especially as Beatrice has been asking for "three things" for her birthday:

1) a "'mall baby cradle" (small baby cradle)

2) a "rocking chair for me"

3) a bike

We have the first in the attic, and I was going to go find some cheap plastic rocker (as you can never find good wooden kids furniture that isn't pink or blue anyway). #3 will probably be for Christmas. Anyway, we said yes and our neighbor went back home and returned with this. Wow. I'm pretty sure it's nicer than most of our other furniture!

Visit from KMB and Karen

Karen and Karen trekked over to the East Bay to take me to brunch today. While Beatrice was very happy to spend time with her Daddy, she was less pleased to miss out on time with visitors. She insisted on a photo.

In other news, we've just been getting ready for the new baby. Beatrice has taken to carrying around Cabbage Baby, dressing him in our new baby's clothes, putting him ni-night in our new baby's crib(s). Lots of work.

During the week, we had a nice visit with Megan, Colby, Eleanor and Anna too. Veteran's day...no school for Beatrice or Eleanor!

Hot water

Anyone who's ever tried to take a shower or run a bath upstairs at our house will appreciate this picture. This is just the HOT water. Our landlord fixed the water pressure upstairs, so now when we run Beatrice a bath we don't have to start 10 minutes early. And, as Andreja put it, the taking a shower is "ah...America", which I believe translates into luxurious, over-the-top, bliss. Zach said he sang the Team America song to himself the first time he took a shower with the new water pressure. I think I just moaned the whole time.

Bye Ziva!

Ziva, Andreja and Urban had to go home today. We don't envy them the flights back to Slovenia. Or trying to fit half of Target back into their flat.

We're so glad you came to California. Next time Slovenia!

35 Weeks

I can't believe I'm posting these pictures.

Me at 35 weeks. The one with the tape measure is of me at 36 weeks pregnant with Beatrice. The tape says 43.5 inches. For comparison Zach and I had ...fun?...taking my measurements this time. 41-46!-42. I should look like a (very large) column! Instead I don't have one straight line on my body. Ok, maybe the bridge of my nose, but that's it. Everything else is ROUND.

I did realize recently that it could be worse. I could be this pregnant in Georgia:

Random stranger on the street: "Whoa girl, you look like you gonna pop tomorrow!"

Me: "Yeah, so I hear. Only 5 more weeks to go."

Stranger with the accent from GA: "FIVE? Good Lord! You must have twins in there."

Me: Sigh.

Stranger: "No, seriously, you are big, girl!"

Best part of this interchange? He was yelling from across the street. Nice. Makes me miss London, where at least everyone waited until I was 36 weeks pregnant to whisper, "Wow, luv how far overdue are you now?"

Duck songs

Lots of baby time recently. It's tough, especially when you have so many babies to diaper and put down for their naps.

There's also cooking and reading to be done too, so Beatrice is quite busy these days.

She also is learning new songs at school. This one, as far as I can tell, is about ducks. There's another 4 minutes of the song. I tried to post, but I think the multiple error messages mean it's just too long to put up. Probably for the best, as not even Grandma Wibbs and Granddaddy Bill could stand it for that long (too many memories of me doing something similar at that age!)

LBS mini-reunion

John & Jas came up from LA for the weekend, as Andreja, Urban and Zhiva are all here (that, and I can't travel to LA). We had a lovely time all together again. It was just like London...just with kids.

Zach and Jas cooked an amazing meal - butternut squash soup, Andreja's bruschetta, leg of lamb, Jas's tamarind veggies, followed by a cheese course and chocolate pound cake. Yum!

The ladies also escaped to the spa. We had a lovely time, even if I do look ENORMOUS in a white terry robe.

Such a nice LBS mini-reunion....if only we all didn't live so far away from each other! We'll have to go to Slovenia next time.