Summer In the Library

I am at the library and the keyboards are weird. It's also very strange yet somewhat comforting that this place still smells the same as it did some 20 years ago. It's not just the books but something else too. I remember coming to the library as a child and really loving it. I still do, even though finding a book here is much harder now that I'm not reading Baby Sitter's Club and Sweet Valley High.

Smells always transport me back to a specific place and time. Just being here and smelling the smells reminds me of being young, summers off, escaping into a new book. I remember getting snoballs near the library- that super sweet syrupy flavor on a super hot day. The bugs would circle 'round, attracted to the sweetness. I always liked tart flavors and that hasn't changed much.

I'm looking for some books on parenting. "Happiest Baby on the Block" is one of them. I don't want to buy any of these yet in case I hate them. I made that mistake with pregnancy books. I certainly wasn't looking at books on parenting when I was here all those summers ago. Maybe I sneaked peeks at books on puberty and sex (he puts his what in my what?!),but not raising kids. I could probably get interested in the young adult books of today. Well, if my love of Gossip Girl is any indication.

I'm sure young adult books have changed significantly since I was a young adult. (I SWEAR these computers are so loud! I feel guilty for typing!) We weren't as promiscuous (well, I wasn't. Am not. whatever) or tech-savvy. We didn't have the kind of freedom expected of today's kids. Or the amount of entitlement. I'm sure not all of today's youth are like those kids on Gossip Girl but I know that they are still different than I was.

But still, the good old days are really now. Right? Because you didn't know that they were "good old days" back then but you think back on them fondly. Or you might not. I guess I'm thinking that I was always waiting for the next step- to be older, taller, have more freedoms, have more stuff, do more, etc. When happiness and life are right here and now. I had the greatest childhood I could ever ask for and that is something that I hope to give my children.

I think the key is in the smallest day-to-day stuff- trips to the library, story time, sharing supper, and snoballs in the summer.

My Baby! News On the Ultrasound

My computer cord is dead. Yes, again!! This time the dog did not chew it though. It just died- natural causes or something. I'm on Blue's computer right now. I've decided to order another cord from HP (the makers of my laptop) and I don't know how long it'll be before I get another one.

We had our 19 week ultrasound with the perinatologist (maternal fetal specialist) on Monday. It was amazing. I was so super nervous going in there but everyone was so sweet and comforting. We saw Baby's legs, arms, hands, spine, stomach, bladder, heart, etc. Baby's head was down though so we could not see a face. The ultrasound lady, the doctor and I all tried to wiggle and jiggle Baby to make her/him look up or move but, no dice. Oh well, everything else looks great. We go back on July 17 for the next look.

Blue did not really like all the wiggling of Baby. It was weird to see everything moving around while Baby was in there. His or Her heartbeat did also get a little bit higher when we were doing that. I know that Baby is very protected in there, though. It's just such a beautiful miracle to see the growth- from an unrecognizable, tiny little peanut to a BABY! A 9 oz Baby (that is how much they estimated that s/he weighs). I'm so in awe and feel so incredibly blessed and lucky.

Thank you to Liza for being the only person on the blog who guessed Baby's sex. She guessed GIRL. Anyone else want to guess?

Blue and I are headed to my parents' house for dinner tonight. Some of my cousins are in town and we are going to spend time with them. I love family get-togethers! We'll be having one again on Sunday for Father's Day. I'm making a dip (spinach and artichoke), my grandmother is making brisket and potatoes (I think?), my aunt is making a vegetable and Gussie Gus is making a dessert.

Have a great weekend!

The Best I Got Right Now

• I've been trying to put up more pictures from St Thomas but it's not working!! AGH!!
• I woke up early this morning with stomach troubles and a sore throat. I feel really yuck. I'm going to do nothing today. I need the rest.
• I've only felt Baby move once or twice. I want to feel him/her again for peace of mind and because it's cool.
• It is so super hot here already. It was 92 degrees yesterday and the humidity is awful. I am going to try to get pregnant in the summer next time instead of being 4,5,6 months along.
• I need a prenatal massage. My lower back hurts badly. At the end of the day, I can hardly move.
• Are you watching tv? Summer seems like it's all about the reality tv. I watch Tori & Dean, Top Chef Masters, Cake Boss, etc. I also watch The Closer. That is about it. What are you watching?
• I go to see the maternal fetal specialist on Monday at 8 am. I am super excited to see Baby again. I'm super nervous that they will find something wrong. This ultrasound is the one where they will measure everything and see all they can. We won't find out the sex but we'll find out everything else.
• Oh- Blue and I were talking last night before we went to sleep (my fav time). I didn't feel well and he wanted to know why we say, "I have a cold" instead of a "hot." I actually think that I have a hot. Silly boy.
• Who wants to start guessing what Baby's sex is? We've only had three "Boy" guesses. Tell me what you need to know to guess.

More Pictures (Scroll Down For the First Set)

Out Of Order- St Thomas Pictures

Back To Reality

We arrived home at around 3 am this morning. We had about a 7 hour layover in the Miami airport (it was only supposed to be 5). My ankles and feet were swollen from the plane but are better now. And, I'm tired. Real tired.

The trip was amazing. St Thomas is absolutely beautiful. I loved when we went here. Actually, the house we stayed in was on Magen's Bay. If you look at the picture in that link, see how the water is in the middle and there is beach on the right side and land that wraps around the top? The place we stayed, Coral Gardens & Secret Gardens , was in the strip of land that wraps around, towards the end (top right-ish). You had to walk a lot of long winding stairs to get to the beach at the house. I didn't do it. I rode to the beach instead.

Anyway, I'm tired and busy entertaining my in-laws for the weekend but I wanted to stop by and say hello. I wanted ya'll to know that the wedding was spectacular, everything we all thought it would be and more. I'll be back with pictures and stories in a few days.

Have a great weekend!