Ahh...summer!

Nothing says summer to me like the beach.  It's been pretty rainy here over the past week but we have made it out to the beach once a couple weekends ago.  This was baby's first (un)official beach trip.  Plum Island is a favorite place for Ben from childhood on... and now it's a favorite for me too.  We hope this girl loves the beach as much as we do. 

Yes, I'm hiding in this picture because the one I took before this made me look like a great white beached whale! (Sorry baby...hard to tell you were even there.)

School's out...

Partially cleaned out...

All cleaned!

My old job!

One last note from some of my students...

It's been a week since I was last at school.  It is strange to think that my job is really done.  At this point it doesn't really feel much different to me than any other year since I always have a break for the summer.  So far everything seems very routine, except for the cleaning out of my classroom.  I spent quite a few hours throwing, and sorting and resorting and throwing some more.  I think I did pretty well to get a classroom full of 13 years of teaching materials down to a few boxes (a carload of boxes - but still not too bad).  It was fun and a bit sad at the same time to go through old files and be reminded of the hundreds of students I've taught over the years.  I have really had some great times and fun memories in the two schools and many classrooms I have taught in.  

We're getting closer...

31 weeks

At our birthing class last night we realized that there are a lot of things we haven't thought about...that apparently a lot of other people have thought about already.  To binky or not to binky?  To vaccinate or not?  Who will we use for a pediatrician?  Some people due after us have their "bag" for the hospital packed already!!?  I don't know, maybe it's because I have been so focused on finishing out the school year and then maybe I'll have some time to think about these things...other things I guess you just figure out a long the way.  One thing we do know after last night's class is how to swaddle a preemie cabbage patch kid with a slightly concave head in a fleece blanket 6 times the size of the baby.  Some how I don't know how applicable that will be... but if we ever should need that particular skill, we're ready!

April showers bring...more May "showers"

We were so blessed last month by the generosity of our family and friends.  Apparently May was baby shower month!  

The first shower was thrown for us by the people I teach with at NCA.  This was definitely a surprise.  I walked into the "meeting" and apparently didn't notice that the counter was loaded with gifts, food and decorations.  Then people said "SURPRISE", and I thought "I'm the only one not saying surprise...hmmm...sooo...the surprise must be for me!"  How blessed I am to work with such wonderful, kind and generous people.  

The second shower was given by my mom, Ben's mom and my sister-in-law Sarah.  This one was not a surprise...but there were definitely surprises involved...friends that came from a distance and friends I hadn't seen in a while.  What a great time.  And once again we were the recipients of everyone's amazing generosity.  This baby already has been so blessed before she even officially arrives.  

Designed and sewn by Sarah

"Life is good!"

It's definitely a girl!

Ben's special gift... Daddy's Tool Belt...all the neccesities

 for diaper changing...YES, great idea Cari!