Adorable.

Brock's sitter, Zia, asked that we send our kiddo in his Halloween costume today. So, we threw some scrubs on him, seeing as he is going to be a surgeon for the holiday. When I picked him up decked out in my own blue scrubs, she couldn't get over how adorable the 2 of us were...thus making a photo of the 2 of us in blue surgical scrubs a "must have". I don't care what Brock does when he grows up, but it sure would make mommy proud to have him follow in my footsteps.

On another Brock note. Though he can speak plenty, I feel he might end up like his father: a man of few words. When we pulled in the driveway this afternoon, I shut off the engine. Brock immediately yelled, "keys!? keys!?" So, I handed him the keys. He then suggested, "out?" So, I let him out of his carseat. He lept into the driver's seat, sorted thru the keys until he decided on one, then began inspecting the ignition. I opened the passenger-side door, to remove my purse and jacket, only to have him insistenly pat the passenger seat, as if to say, "get in and sit right here". So, I complied. He then stuck the key partway into the ignition, and began turning the steering wheel! He was taking me for a ride. Don't worry though, he paused from navigating for a moment to pull down the visor, open the mirror, and adjust his hair. I don't think I do that very often, and I REALLY don't think Matt does...

On a side note: I am 39 weeks today, and still preggers! I have been asking the baby to wait until today all along, and he/she so kindly complied. Now, it's open season. I REALLY prefer to give the baby an opportunity to join us on its own terms, but will be forced to intervene if 2.O takes much longer than the expected due date. Only because I am confident I can deliver a 9+ pounder, but 10lbs might be pushing it (no pun intended).

Though I have been told I have a "cervix of steel" (TMI?), I am confident (hopeful) that the baby will, in fact, arrive right on time. I feel a ton of pressure, my Braxton Hicks contractions are getting increasingly more frequent and uncomfortable, and I went into labor with Brock with these signs or fewer. So we shall see. Only time will tell.

PS- We still have no idea what to name a boy...suggestions are welcomed!!!

The game called: life.

A second ago, I almost changed my facebook status to read: I am really good at the game of life.

I think I have discovered the secret to life! This secret is...are you ready?

Make a decision, and stick to it.

Just think for a moment what that statement means. When I think to all of the times I have been down in the dumps, or observed a friend or family member down and out, what these situations all have in common is dwelling in the past/regretting a decision. If it truly was the wrong decision, than fix it dear Henry. But if it wasn't, get over it and move on with life.

I am in no way implying that I have made all the RIGHT decisions. Absolutely, I have not. But I have stuck to every one of them, without reserve, and because of this, I am happy, successful, and always looking forward to my next crossroads. Cheers!

*After writing this, I realized I can never fully express what I am trying to say, so here are some quotes that capture my thoughts:

• “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure , the process is its own reward.” -Amelia Earhart

• “Your decision to be, have and do something out of ordinary entails facing difficulties that are out of the ordinary as well. Sometimes your greatest asset is simply your ability to stay with it longer than anyone else.” -Brian Tracy
  

• “It is not always what we know or analyzed before we make a decision that makes it a great decision. It is what we do after we make the decision to implement and execute it that makes it a good decision.” -William Pollard
  

• “Decisions, particularly important ones, have always made me sleepy, perhaps because I know that I will have to make them by instinct, and thinking things out is only what other people tell me I should do” -Lillian Hellman

• “All my life, whenever it comes time to make a decision, I make it and forget about it” -Harry S Truman
  

Utter Chaos

You can call it "nesting" if you insist on that awful, inaccurate, non-real term, but I call it preparation. Just like the week or two before a huge exam, or the week or two before a huge competition, you don't just sit around and wait for that day to happen and hope all goes well...you prepare, practice, get anxious and excited for everything to be and go perfect. So, here I am, sitting at 2 weeks before the estimated arrival of our little baby 2.O, and what have I done? Nothing. Therefore, I feel it very appropriate that I feel the sudden need to get things organized - or at least some clothes washed for the new one.

The only problem with this sudden desire of mine to get our house out of disarray, is that neither Matt, nor I, currently have the time needed to devote solely to this endeavor. Matt is working 10+ hour days. He has weddings to shoot, which take all day on Saturdays. I have to spend a lot of my free time studying for an exam that I MUST pass at the end of November. And on top of this lack of time, I have a complete lack of energy. Waking up at 5:19am and getting home between 4 and 6pm, delivering babies and seeing patients all day, while 38 weeks pregnant, has kind of taken it out of me. Shocking, I know. Then, in the middle of all of this, is poor little Brock who rarely sees both his parents at once, if at all. (Though he absolutely doesn't seem to mind - he loves his grandparents, aunts, uncles and Zia!) So, any little iota of "free time" I get, involves playing with my son; not laundry, not cleaning, not organizing, but going to the park, or to the Pumpkin Patch, or just a simple walk up the block.Things just feel especially hectic. I think the chaos is obvious when one has to pencil in simple things, such as going to the grocery store, Target, Costco or the pharmacy. Everyday, I sit for a moment and try to remember all the things I know I am forgetting, like bills, school paperwork, does Brock even own a pair of sweat pants, have I eaten today? The "baby brain" adds an extra level of difficulty to this task.

We are just so busy, it really has not sunk in that there will be a newborn living here soon. I mean, 2.O could arrive tonight! I think it will all slow down and fall into place once I finish up with my rotation next week. Even though I have to diligently study while caring for a newby, I will be home all day, everyday, for a month. I just have to keep reminding myself, one day at a time. Breath.

Camera Shy

Did you notice anything funny about this clip?

On my phone, you can record video while looking at it, Brock loves it. There were cuter, videos, with Brock actually speaking, but his father recorded them sideways...

...and when I say "speaking", I mean it. Today, Matt sneezed and Brock very clearly said, "Bless you". He also enjoys listing everybody he knows, these people usually include the parents, grandparents, daycare family, and, the dogs. "Taties" being his most commonly used word (our nickname for Tater.) He talks an awful lot about choo-choo's, which sounds like shoe-shoe. And, unfortunately he points out every truck, because his 'tr' sounds quite a bit like 'ph'. He can finally specify food and drink by name (for the essentials, you know milk, juice, cookie, pickle, hot dog, cheese, fruit snack...). And when he runs to the cabinet and points, apparently we would go item by item, asking, "these?" because now he thinks all other food is "these".

Lately, he has begun pointing to my belly and saying "baby", and randomly lifting my shirt to give the baby kisses. We never promoted this, he kind of came up with it on his own! Strange how kids know they are supposed to kiss things they love, and that he already loves his baby sibling. All along, I really didn't think he understood what was happening, but now I know he is aware that there is a baby.

I am really looking forward to spending more time with Brock during the next couple months. He will not be going to daycare because I have all of November off, and a light schedule in December. Though, being a toddler, he can have frustrating moments, overall, he is an absolute joy. Toddlers are fairly simple, their world is black and white. They either want something, or they don't, and they are just lacking the maturity to give a simple yes or no. The world would be a much simpler place if we all were a bit more infantile, yes or no, the only options. I digress. That child is hilarious. He cracks us up, as well as himself. One time, while I was carrying him, he tooted, and laughed! Who taught him that was funny?? Boys.

Season Over.

Yet another wedding season ends. Thank goodness - squeezing into a dress is not so easy anymore (as if it ever was). Originally, I thought that this would be our last year with wedding invites being in the double digits...but lately, it looks like 2011 is panning out to be quite a big year. Only time will tell.

Emily and Brad Griffith
October 9th, 2010
Indiana Hills Country Club

Emily and Brad's ceremony contained a few unique elements, including a love letter and and opera solo. We then headed over to Indian Hills to enjoy cocktail hour in the perfect weather that graced the 9th. I did wear heels, which was probably a poor decision, but I can't really stand for long periods of time anyway - so I looked at heels and pregnancy as a good double excuse to sit down for most of the night. And, what else do you wear with a formal dress??

The speeches were great. The food was good. The music was hit and miss. But, most of all the company was grand. Everyone was just, plain happy. Congrats, Emily and Brad!!