"This summer has been unfairly fast. I want a redo."
That quote is from my friend, Lisa, and is 100% accurate. I think the other misfortune is that so many of my summer days filled up with activities so fast that I've been running running running all summer to make sure I show up on time!
Here's a recap of some of the things we did:
July 15 & 16:
A SUPER FUN Beach Day with Miles & Sara at Corona Del Mar! When we arrived, Audrey went straight to the water and rarely came out! She loved chasing the waves. At one point, a wave pulled her under the water. I was near her but not close enough to grab her. So I watched. She popped up, took a breath, and came waddling toward me. I congratulated her on being so brave and putting her feet down to help her stand up. I'd given her a few guidelines for being in the ocean: 1.) Don't go in farther than your belly button unless you're with Mommy and 2.) Never turn your back on a wave. Since we got there before Miles and Sara, I watched her from the beach so I could stay with our stuff. She followed my rules perfectly. I got nervous when some older kids came out to the waves near her and went farther out. I watched to see if she'd get the courage to follow. Nope. She's brave enough but still has enough fear in her to keep her at a safe distance away from the crashing waves! Anyway, after her tumble under the water she wanted to go sit down. She did look a little shook up so I just kept hugging her and praising her for being so brave and then I gave her a snack. Once she'd settled in her chair, she bragged to Miles about how she went "under the water and it was scary!" We grabbed lunch at Ruby's. Another perfect beach day!
The next day was my family shower for baby Oliver. Audrey came with me. It was a tea party and was just lovely. I LOVE tea sandwiches! I got some really nice gifts and it was great to celebrate with my family and some friends. The only unfortunate thing was that my mom wasn't there. I kinda lost it at the end of the party when I was saying good-bye to my aunts (Anne is married to my mom's only brother and Karen is married to my dad's oldest brother and they both live locally in So Cal). I just felt this heaviness. The night before, I woke up around 3am (to go to the bathroom) but again felt this heaviness. I know it was sadness and it was consuming. I really miss my mom and I really wish she was here to celebrate the joy of Oliver's birth.
July 19 & 20
My friend Jenny from church invited me to be her guest at the Huntington Library. She is a professor at La Verne University and has a library card with the Huntington. Basically, she can come during closed hours and just READ for her own research. Sweet deal! And she's allowed one guest. So I totally bounced on that offer and spent the morning and early afternoon enjoying the views of the garden. (We didn't do any reading - don't tell!) When we got back to Pomona, we visited with Megan and baby Kenneth for a while. The next day, Audrey and I went out to lunch with Megan and Kenneth. We went to The Brick in Pomona. I had their chicken shwarma. That is another type of food I can't get enough of this pregnancy! :) That and BAKLAVA! Yum!
July 22 - 24
We vacationed to Palm Springs with the Johannsens for the weekend. It was HOT! In Pomona, it hit 108 so in Palm Springs.... it hit 117!!! On Friday we all went to see "Finding Dory." SPOILER ALERT: When Dory was reunited with her parents, I cried like a baby. It had to be my hormones and just feelings for my children. I also felt like the movie was a positive commentary on what it looks like to care for a child with special needs. I loved that her parents were so loving and caring throughout (Jeff said he thought they were a little too loving and caring and was waiting for them to suddenly do something sinister...!) Anyway, it was cute but kind of dragged on - we're together! we're lost again... we're together! we're lost again... On and on.... But the A/C was great!
Saturday the cousins played and played! We took them to the Children's Museum - the one we have visited each year. Audrey's favorite part was the Pet Hospital (no pictures because I was just having fun watching her pretend). Then she spent a LONG time "working" the cash register at the Grocery Store. And of course, the two of them made some pizzas. When we returned to the hotel, everyone suited up to go swimming, except me. I made a mistake mixing the fruit for some homemade ice cream and had to start over. So I was waiting for ice cream to churn. When it was done, I waddled over to the pool and Jeff met me with a sigh. He was ready to leave! The water was tepid... like taking a hot bath in the hot air of Palm Springs. But the girls were loving it! Such water babies! After the pool, the girls helped Papa make pizzas for dinner.
Sunday we played for a little bit in the morning and then hit the road back to Pomona. Audrey took around 400 photos on my camera before we left and during the drive. I love them all! I love seeing the world through her eyes and looking at some I remember her being really excited about taking that particular photo. She is so cute! Maybe a kiddie camera would make a good birthday present?
These past three days I've been commuting down to Downey for a Project Based Learning (PBL) training with the two new teachers at my site. The commute is making my days LONG... I woke up today and thought, geez, it's only Wednesday? Wish I'd felt that way the rest of summer. On the contrary, I kept waking up and thinking, omg! It's already Wednesday?! Clearly, the beginning of the school year is around the corner... Gearing up for the longest month and half of my life... Work while 8 1/2 - 9 months pregnant will be... interesting.
Good-bye Summer! Hello, Baby!!!!
Here's a recap of some of the things we did:
July 15 & 16:
A SUPER FUN Beach Day with Miles & Sara at Corona Del Mar! When we arrived, Audrey went straight to the water and rarely came out! She loved chasing the waves. At one point, a wave pulled her under the water. I was near her but not close enough to grab her. So I watched. She popped up, took a breath, and came waddling toward me. I congratulated her on being so brave and putting her feet down to help her stand up. I'd given her a few guidelines for being in the ocean: 1.) Don't go in farther than your belly button unless you're with Mommy and 2.) Never turn your back on a wave. Since we got there before Miles and Sara, I watched her from the beach so I could stay with our stuff. She followed my rules perfectly. I got nervous when some older kids came out to the waves near her and went farther out. I watched to see if she'd get the courage to follow. Nope. She's brave enough but still has enough fear in her to keep her at a safe distance away from the crashing waves! Anyway, after her tumble under the water she wanted to go sit down. She did look a little shook up so I just kept hugging her and praising her for being so brave and then I gave her a snack. Once she'd settled in her chair, she bragged to Miles about how she went "under the water and it was scary!" We grabbed lunch at Ruby's. Another perfect beach day!
The next day was my family shower for baby Oliver. Audrey came with me. It was a tea party and was just lovely. I LOVE tea sandwiches! I got some really nice gifts and it was great to celebrate with my family and some friends. The only unfortunate thing was that my mom wasn't there. I kinda lost it at the end of the party when I was saying good-bye to my aunts (Anne is married to my mom's only brother and Karen is married to my dad's oldest brother and they both live locally in So Cal). I just felt this heaviness. The night before, I woke up around 3am (to go to the bathroom) but again felt this heaviness. I know it was sadness and it was consuming. I really miss my mom and I really wish she was here to celebrate the joy of Oliver's birth.
July 19 & 20
My friend Jenny from church invited me to be her guest at the Huntington Library. She is a professor at La Verne University and has a library card with the Huntington. Basically, she can come during closed hours and just READ for her own research. Sweet deal! And she's allowed one guest. So I totally bounced on that offer and spent the morning and early afternoon enjoying the views of the garden. (We didn't do any reading - don't tell!) When we got back to Pomona, we visited with Megan and baby Kenneth for a while. The next day, Audrey and I went out to lunch with Megan and Kenneth. We went to The Brick in Pomona. I had their chicken shwarma. That is another type of food I can't get enough of this pregnancy! :) That and BAKLAVA! Yum!
July 22 - 24
We vacationed to Palm Springs with the Johannsens for the weekend. It was HOT! In Pomona, it hit 108 so in Palm Springs.... it hit 117!!! On Friday we all went to see "Finding Dory." SPOILER ALERT: When Dory was reunited with her parents, I cried like a baby. It had to be my hormones and just feelings for my children. I also felt like the movie was a positive commentary on what it looks like to care for a child with special needs. I loved that her parents were so loving and caring throughout (Jeff said he thought they were a little too loving and caring and was waiting for them to suddenly do something sinister...!) Anyway, it was cute but kind of dragged on - we're together! we're lost again... we're together! we're lost again... On and on.... But the A/C was great!
Saturday the cousins played and played! We took them to the Children's Museum - the one we have visited each year. Audrey's favorite part was the Pet Hospital (no pictures because I was just having fun watching her pretend). Then she spent a LONG time "working" the cash register at the Grocery Store. And of course, the two of them made some pizzas. When we returned to the hotel, everyone suited up to go swimming, except me. I made a mistake mixing the fruit for some homemade ice cream and had to start over. So I was waiting for ice cream to churn. When it was done, I waddled over to the pool and Jeff met me with a sigh. He was ready to leave! The water was tepid... like taking a hot bath in the hot air of Palm Springs. But the girls were loving it! Such water babies! After the pool, the girls helped Papa make pizzas for dinner.
Sunday we played for a little bit in the morning and then hit the road back to Pomona. Audrey took around 400 photos on my camera before we left and during the drive. I love them all! I love seeing the world through her eyes and looking at some I remember her being really excited about taking that particular photo. She is so cute! Maybe a kiddie camera would make a good birthday present?
These past three days I've been commuting down to Downey for a Project Based Learning (PBL) training with the two new teachers at my site. The commute is making my days LONG... I woke up today and thought, geez, it's only Wednesday? Wish I'd felt that way the rest of summer. On the contrary, I kept waking up and thinking, omg! It's already Wednesday?! Clearly, the beginning of the school year is around the corner... Gearing up for the longest month and half of my life... Work while 8 1/2 - 9 months pregnant will be... interesting.
Good-bye Summer! Hello, Baby!!!!