Spring 2012

Lucy loves to dress up!

We love you, Lucy Kat!

Easter!

Before school one morning, such a sweet little girl!

Lucy has her own tools now!

Auntie Katie and Lucy, good friends.

Sophia, Yulana and Lucy. 

Lucy has a green thumb!

Rose and I, both pregnant. Yes, there is only one baby in my belly!

Lucy and Evan

The last few months have been full of activity and change. When we returned from our trip to Hawaii, we began furiously packing for a move to a new home. We have moved across town into a lovely house with lots of room, close to our jobs and some friends, and a fantastic neighborhood. We are feeling pretty settled now, although we still have moments where we can't believe our luck at finding something so close to our ideal. There are many wonderful places to easily walk to along sidewalks, including restaurants, grocery stores, yoga, library, parks, shops, the high school and elementary school, a farmers market, and I could go on. We are near all of these conveniences of the city, but feel like we are in a small town, and downtown Portland is only about 10 minutes away! Our house is south-facing and gets some great sunlight, and is very spacious. We can imagine staying here for a long time!  Thank goodness Marc's Dad and my Dad came to help us move, and my sister Katie came for a week to help me, as the move and associated stress left me exhausted for a good month and a half.

Lucy is growing and learning and amazes me everyday. She is very sweet and will tell Marc and I spontaneously that she loves us. "Mommy, I love you." Yesterday she said "Mommy and Daddy, I love BOTH of you."  It was pretty special. She loves her stuffed animals, and has a whole puppy family. All of the dogs are named and she often plays doctor with them.  Before we moved, I was sick and laying on the couch trying to get through the day moment by moment. I heard Marc say "Lucy, do you have the scissors in there?" In my misery I thought, ut-oh, but was incapable of moving. About ten minutes later I heard Marc ask the same question. As I was certain by now that she had cut her hair, I roused myself finally and found the first lock of hair in the hallway, and lots of hair on the floor in her room. Lucy immediately began sobbing, and cried for 30 minutes, despite me telling her that I wasn't mad. If it happens again, well then I will be upset, but every kid cuts their hair at least once, right? The damage was easy to hide!  She has used her first "bad" word, she said "dammit!" when she spilled some water. I am sure she got it from me. She has shown me her "beautiful painting" and will tell us to be quiet so she can sing a "beautiful song". Often she sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow. On a walk, right after picking her nose, she said to me, "Mommy, I don't eat my boogers anymore." It was pretty funny. She loves to help me clean the house. One night while helping her fall asleep, she said, "Move over, your big body is in the way!" Indeed, my body is big!!!

One of the most endearing things about Lucy in the last several months is her belief that she is pregnant alongside me. She has put lots of detail into it. She ran into the bathroom, and pretended to puke. She says "That dress doesn't fit me anymore because of the baby in my belly." When she sees baby girl clothing in the store, she wants to get it for her baby girl. She has named her baby girl Shawna. She will say that her baby is kicking her, or her baby is sleeping, then ask me what Baby Jake is doing. She does say that her baby won't be born until she is big and grown, but other times she says that her baby will be born when Jake is.  She was also saying for a while that she was working on her masters. Our realtor thought that was pretty funny and said we must be proud of our pregnant three year old who is also working on an advanced degree! I have a special little baby doll and some accessories to give her in the hospital when Jake is born.

Baby Jake Carson should be here soon! Every day I feel more and more ready for his arrival, and I know he will be here when the time is right. We chose the middle name Carson as he is the son of a Karr :) and we have a good friend named Carson who was an important part of the concert-night that Marc and I connected at. He is like a big brother to us, and the name seems fitting, to honor both our friend, and my family at the same time. We are getting excited to meet Baby Jake, and learn all about him. It is still hard to believe sometimes! Lucy is going to be such a good big sister, and our family will be complete. Friday night we went out to dinner, and the waiter said "table for three?" In all seriousness I said no, that there was four of us. I was thinking, can't he see? I guess this means that I am ready! (And that I still have pregnancy brain at times!)