bump on the blog

In between 32 and 33 weeks.

I think the bump is looking more like a mound these days.

The crazy thing is that I feel happier and lighter and overall just plain better right now than I've felt during this entire pregnancy. My mood is good. My energy is good. My skin is clear...ish. And, aside from this foot lodged into my ribs, my body is feeling comfortable...ish.

Gotta love the ups and downs from hormones, huh?

Now, could somebody please tell me where I put my chocolate?

**Stay tuned for details about where the photo came from**

what I am doing today

1) Buying plane tickets for my mom to come visit for three whole weeks in April!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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2) Planning a hike and a lunch on the Amalfi Coast for Saturday, then a lunch and a trip to a winery on Sunday for Tony's birthday weekend.

3) Making birthday cards for Tony with Graham.

4) Figuring out how to make a homemade funfetti cake for Tony's birthday.

5) Eating too much of the Reces icecream I drove all the way to the base to get for Tony today as one of his birthday gifts when I had no other reason whatsoever to drive all the way to the base.

6) Enjoying the view outside my window.

Hope you're enjoying your Friday as much as I am!

time marches on

It's no secret that I tend to get a little emotional when I think about how much Graham has grown. About how the baby in him is just, well, gone. About how I sometimes peruse pictures and videos of his babyhood and let myself just cry. About how I used to get so excited over each and every milestone, but now I don't want to see anymore milestones. I simply want time to stop.

But, alas, time marches on, and today I realized that maybe that's not such a bad thing after all. Today, I discovered something wonderful about Graham growing up. It is completely revolutionary, and my life will never, ever, be the same.

Today, I discovered that Graham can vacuum!

And he likes it!

He vacuumed the entire kitchen/living room area while I washed the dishes. I gotta figure out how to use this discovery to my advantage and try to get him to continue to like it, rather than giving in to the temptation of making him do all the vacuuming from here on out and consequently squashing his love for it.

Oh, and I guess I should also mention that he is really starting to grasp this whole reading thing, which is pretty awesome to witness.

And, I overheard him uttering several Italian phrases today. Hey, maybe he's a bilingual genius! I kid, I kid.

Anyway, the moral of this story is that I suppose watching your kid grow up can be quite amazing.

No, really the moral of the story is that I may never have to vacuum again!

how was your weekend?

 

Did you spend hours upon hours playing with mini-remote control cars like we did? No? Well, you should try it sometime. Maybe next weekend? You might regret it when you think of all the housework you could have accomplished, or the places you could have visited, but whatever. It'll be worth it, because it's fun. I promise.

Tony ordered these mini-racer things for Graham as a Christmas gift, but they didn't arrive until after Christmas, so we gave them to him on the Epiphany. In case you're wondering, the Epiphany represents the day the wise men visited Jesus and gave him gifts. We figured it was a pretty fitting day to give Graham another toy to play with.

Little did we know that we would get sucked in to these things ourselves. They are addicting, people. We set up the little cones that came with them and tried to hit them with the cars. Each time you hit one, you scored a point, according to Graham. It was more difficult than you might imagine. And, in a household without television or video games, it provided endless hours of entertainment.

Mini-racers.

Go get ya some.

favorite pictures from 2011

In no particular order, these were some of my favorite pictures/memories from the past year.

Just felt like sharing....

blog therapy

I've been a bit of a Debbie Downer the past couple of days. All I've been able to focus on are the discomforts of this pregnancy and how I miss my family and friends. I've just been sitting around the house twiddling my thumbs, because, well, all you hard working folks out there are going to be jealous when I say this, but I am bored. I'm sorry. I know. I mean, I could go out exploring Naples, but I am getting sort of tired of this feeling of purposelessness that being unemployed has plagued me with. Lately, I've been allowing that feeling to somewhat paralyze me. I feel stuck. Anyone know of any good jobs that I can do from home????

But, I don't think you visit this blog to listen to a Negative Nancy. So today, I am trying to change my tune.

I'm simply going to list the positives.

My boys.

 Sunsets outside my front window.
A healthy baby in my belly.
Italy.
The five hours I spent skyping with my mom over the weekend.
Books.
Blogging.
Graham's friend's mom who invited Graham over to play today.
Tea.
Hot showers.
Hmm, actually, I think I will go enjoy one of those right now.

 

Thanks for being my therapists today. I'm already feeling a little better.

wrapping up 2011

Well, since it's the second day of the new year over here, I figured I better say goodbye to last year.

We had a rather subdued holiday season at the Blaine house this year. We were all quite sick, and I have been suffering from every single pregnancy discomfort and ailment known to woman. I thought I was some kinda tough mama with Graham's pregnancy, but this one is humbling me every single day. Sigh.

Anyway, our Christmas morning was full of Lightening McQueen and a slinky.

 


After being cooped up and gazing longingly at our view of Ischia, we decided to use what little energy we had the day after Christmas and hike to the top of the island where there happens to be a little chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas.

 

It was funny trying to describe the difference between St. Nick and Santa Claus to Graham. He was confused about why the saint statue wasn't wearing a red and white suit.

 


I've said before how people used to come from afar to the land of Ischia to be healed by its sands. Well, it actually did turn out to be a rather healing hike for Tony and me. We thought Graham was also on the up and up, but then his tonsils got huge and he got a fever, so he had to go back to the doctor, but now he is definitely much, much better.

 

 New Year's Eve was filled with friends, food and fireworks at our house, as well as resolutions to travel to Ireland and Poland this year. Such rough lives we lead! Here is my lone picture of one of the fireworks we shot from our house.

 You will just have to come here next year so you can believe me when I tell you how crazy the fireworks are on New Year's Eve in Naples.

Now, I get to spend the whoooole week with Graham, because his school doesn't start back up until the 9th.

 

 Maybe we'll go do a little adventuring and then I'll write about it.

Or, maybe not.

Maybe I'll just stay home and trrryyyyy to enjoy being pregnant!

Happy 2012!