Here I am, in all my glory

38 weeks, 5 days
I'm SO ready!
I'm having unorganized contractions.
I'm not timing them, when I suddenly feel very serious
and don't want to talk
it will be time to go to the hospital.

That's my big plan.

Until then...I wait to meet my little boy.

Any day now, he'll be in my arms
and I'll become the human baby bottle.

Go Spike Jonze!!!

Let the wild rumpus begin!

We love Rocco

Here is a portrait of Griffin with his best friend Rocco. Can't see him? Well, you're not alone. Rocco is Griffin's imaginary friend and we love him.

They go on many adventures together. I've heard reports of deep sea fishing trips where they both caught Jaguar sharks. If we are in the car listening to music, Griffin will announce if Rocco likes a song or not. He loves Justin Timberlake!

Rocco lives in Africa. Griffin will pack a bag and pretend to leave home to visit him. He also is friends with Vick...he lives on the North Shore. Wherever that is?

I just love it that these imaginary friends have such tough mafia names. I also love it that Griffin feels so free as to parade these fellas around town. It's rewarding to see your kid enjoy being a kid.

Makes me miss my imaginary friend Jo Jo. I'm not exactly sure when or where I lost him. Maybe I'll ask Rocco if he's seen him.

Lady in waiting...

My midwife has set me up. She told me to be prepared for Koen's arrival this weekend. Now, every sensation makes me believe that I am in labor.

It will happen...I can't get antsy.

So I am passing my time looking at cute hedgehogs. Somehow, they make me feel feel better.

I mean, just look at that little critter.

I really need to have this baby. Before I go out and buy one of these little suckers! I know that my hormones are not helping to cure my obsession with photos of tiny creatures. It's a sickness...really!

3...2...1...BLAST OFF!!!

He's trying so hard to just bust through the ceiling and zoom off to Saturn.

A moment of pride?

I told Roger that if he let me pick the name Koen
then he could pick the middle name. No questions asked.
He has taken his time and
not offered many hints.
The other day I asked him if he had any ideas.
He said he was thinking of the name Ash.
He said it with a side glance and a grin.

For those of you not familiar
with significance of this name,
I am not surprised at all.

Ashley J. "Ash" Williams is the protagonist
in the Evil Dead and Army of Darkness horror film franchise.
Played by Bruce Campbell
he is an absurd character who
cuts off his arm because he is possessed
and then rigs this awesome chainsaw for an arm.
He kicks serious ass.

Amazingly enough, I am cool with
Roger's choice.
I guess that he married the right woman.

So, it looks like our little guy will be named

Koen Ash Hewett

I think it sounds like a rock star
or a really cool action hero.

I can't wait to meet him!

It's crap like this that makes life worth livin'

Ready for baby

The nursery is all ready for baby and so am I.

What really gets me lactating are all the tiny details.

Like little footy jammies washed in Dreft and hanging neatly in a row.

or tiny smiling faces waiting to greet the new little one.

The Gallery Of Superheros

We had a small intimate art opening
at our house last night.

Artist: Griffin Hewett
Attendees: Me and Roger
Time: As soon as Roger got home from work.
Location: The hallway in front of Griffin's bedroom door.
Lecture: The artist gave a 20 second lecture about his work

Inspiration for art: Lego Batman the video game.

You can now add "Curator" to my many titles here at our house.

Early morning dress up

Roger is done with the camera and it's back home with us.
Thank God because this is what
I stumbled upon early this morning

YOU'RE WELCOME!

We call him Red

We have a beautiful bird that has been visiting us in the backyard these days.
He loves to hang out in this one tree that is right outside the French doors that lead to the back deck so,
I spend a lot of my time admiring this little fella
with my swollen ankles propped upon the couch.

I am not an avid bird watcher,
although deep down inside
I've always wanted to own a pair
of binoculars and a field journal
where I keep track of the birds that I see.

I spotted this little guy 2 weeks ago
and called my dad.
Both of my parents enjoy birdwatching
so I asked him to look it up in his little bird book.

He was thrilled that I cared.
I described the bird and my dad
very enthusiasticly said he would
grab his trusty book to identify my
little visitor.

We bonded.

Turns out it is a
Downy Woodpecker.

I love him.
We call him red.

cool baby gear

I had amazing visit with my doula Pat Nielson today.
I just love that woman.
She makes me feel all safe and warm.

She owns Full Bloom Pregnancy Center.
If you live in the Athens area, you have to go into her little store and check out her cool baby gear. Here are a few gems that I purchased for Koen (this is how we are spelling his name , it's official!)

The Maya Wrap...I can just see myself strolling through the
grocery store sporting one of these wraps
with my baby snug on my belly
with Griffin in the shopping cart begging me
to buy him candy.
Adiri baby bottles
Which are perfect for breastfeeding babies!

Banana Hat!!!!
How could I pass this one up?

Let's celebrate!!!

Today is the day that I have been waiting for...

My mom is coming home from Colorado for good!

My brother has been restored to a good place and my mom gets "The mother of the year award."

With her arrival comes a helping hand, a loving embrace, a babysitter to watch Griffin while I give birth that I know has longer than a 2 hour babysitting threshold, (Sorry Poppy!) a listening ear, a nurturing heart, and the beautiful gift of sanity for a woman who is set to give birth in 33 days.

I am breathing a huge sigh of relief and trying to give myself a pat on the back (without pulling my groin muscle) because I made it 8 weeks without her here.

In retrospect...it was a hell of a time.

We survived
*The Flu (all 3 of us at once)
*Pink eye
*A nasty fall with a trip to the Emergency Room
*Bed Rest
*Croup
*A week long toothache that ended in a root canal for mommy
*A snow storm

I am so ready to have her home. I am so ready to have this baby!

Snow

It snowed here in Georgia last weekend.
8 inches to be exact.
We managed to get snowed "out" of our house.
We were out and about when it started to snow.
When we tried to pull into our neighborhood, the roads were
just too icy to get home.

We went over to my parent's house.

The power went out at 4 pm on Sunday.
We grabbed blankets
Dad put a fire in the fireplace.
We huddled.
Branches started to snap
a 25 foot pine tree fell with a huge thud
in the backyard.

The power was off until Tuesday.
We told stories by the fire.
Griffin put on a puppet show.
We sat in the front room and watched people
trudge through the snow and would try to guess
where they were going.
We played games
and even made up our own games.

The high point of entertainment was when
Roger and my Dad fixed the door to downstairs.
Every tool was brought out of the tool box.
Theories on how to fix it were discussed.
Then the moment of glory...
A fixed door!

We snuggled under blankets to keep warm
while we slept at night.

The snow was beautiful.
Not one of us had a charged camera.
So, no pictures.

Only the memories
of all of us having a wonderful time
without any electricity.