Guess who's going to be sharing his toys?

Sawyer is!!! Although, little does he know, he's going to be sharing a lot more than just his toys. The tradeoff: a lifetime buddy!

Yes, as of tomorrow I will be 8 weeks pregnant. It's funny, because I always know, almost instantaneously, that I am pregnant. (Well, 3 times anyway - 1 was a miscarriage). This time, there was no way to mistake it: my moods were swinging in an uncommon fashion, my breasts were tender (I'm still nursing Sawyer so I didn't think that would be a factor this time, but surely - sorely, it is), fatigue set it, and nausea set in earlier and so far a bit more fiercely than before. The biggest difference, though: my ravishing hunger. Yes, growing a new baby and feeding a bigger one all at once takes a LOT of calories. I have never been so hungry - I feel like I'm just grabbing at food all day - in my life.

Sawyer and his new baby brother or sister will be 19 months apart. He is just not going to get it for a while, I'm afraid. Or, maybe he'll catch on more than we think. He is a smart cookie, afterall :) Baby #2 should arrive early to mid February.

In the meantime, we are enjoying our summer! We started parent-tot swim class last week which is twice a week for a month at an outdoor pool in Magnolia. In August, we have class every day for two weeks! It's great to count on a little time in the pool on a hot day! And it makes me have to get out of the house even when I'm feeling not-so-good at times. But I can't complain too much, because while maybe I don't feel quite-so-good at times, I also don't feel so-so-bad at all. It could be much worse!

Here's to our new little one! We are excited to see him or her grow, along with my belly, in the weeks to come. Wish us luck!

Celebrations // Sawyer turns one!

Today is Sawyer's 1st Birthday! We are busy celebrating today and partying tomorrow...so I'll finish this post later...just wanted to say:

Happy Birthday, Sawyer James! We love you bunches and bunches!!!

Outings // Experience Music Project

Last night was "All Access Night" at the EMP/SFM (Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum), which means, entry was free from 5-8pm. We decided to go check out a couple of the new exhibits. We started off by meeting up with Jacob. He got off work a little early to join us for a picnic under the Space Needle and then we headed to the show...Sawyer had a blast chasing seagulls and trying to fly himself...

I have to say, first, that we absolutely love our city. We love living within walking distance of the Seattle Center, the Zoo, the Fremont Troll, Gas Works Park, Lake Union, Pike Place Market, and Downtown...LOVE it! We love that Jacob bikes to work most days, and the others he can walk or ride the bus. It's so nice to only fill our gas tank up about once a month because we can walk so many places!

Okay, so inside the EMP we were excited to see the Hatch Show Print exhibit. If you are a fan of printmaking, especially vintage music poster prints, this show is a must-see! It was awesome. The only un-awesome part was that Sawyer kept trying to touch the sensors below the prints and I ended up chasing him out of the exhibit so we wouldn't get in trouble. It is VERY hard to hold still when you are 11 months old! We ran into our friends, the Parkers, in the exhibit, and ended up going and getting a jam studio, where we all played around with two almost-1-year-olds and recorded our set. We had drums, bass, 2 electric guitars, and two vocalists (said children). It was fun to rock out with our friends! Sawyer and Forrest really liked the drum sticks, too!

When we'd had our fill of music, we headed down to the SFM and the Jim Henson: Fantastic World exhibit. Among many other famous Muppets, we had the great pleasure of seeing the Mahna Mahna original puppets on display! Sawyer's face actually lit up with recognition! This is one exhibit he really enjoyed!

They had a mini muppet show set up where kids and adults could "play" their favorite Muppet tune with the big, fun, puppets. Here you see someone playing the drummer Muppet - to our favorite song, nonetheless, of Mahna Mahna. So much fun!

It was such a warm night (we've been having a wonderful heat wave here in Seattle) that we played around the Seattle Center and decided to go run around the International Fountain before heading home. We may not have a yard, or grass - but we have this fountain and acres of grass to run around just a few minutes walk from our apartment! It's one of my favorite places to be on a warm day - and especially on a warm evening.

Sawyer was a little cautious as he realized a huge squirt of water could come at him unexpectedly. But it didn't take him long at all to warm right up to the water fun!

By about 8:30pm, our boy was exhausted. The fountain shut down for the night, and we headed home to put our little man to bed. I must say, it was one of the best evenings of my life. I've been having a lot of those lately. We've been playing so so hard this week in all the sunshine. We started the week off with some sickness - but we've had a grand old time hanging out at some of our fave spots including Matthews Beach, the Mounger Pool, the kiddie pool in our courtyard, and with friends. Sawyer tried his first pbj sandwich and LOVED it (I know, just a week early, but hey, why not?) In the summertime, we pretty much LIVE outside. and LOVE IT, every minute of it!!!

Welcome, Summer! You can stay as long as you'd like! You are ALWAYS welcome here!

Family Photos 2009

We decided it was time to get a family portrait. Thanks to our friend, Tom, who did a great job! He did the shooting and he let me do the editing. The question now is, which is the favorite? Which one should we frame and hang on our walls?

East Coast Trip Part 3: Massachusetts

It was Sunday when we left Vermont. We enjoyed a multi-stake Stake Conference Broadcast at the LDS Church in Montpelier, and then drove the rest of the day. (to my East Coast friends: wasn't the broadcast wonderful? anyone have any idea where I can get a copy of the talks that day?)

Our first stop was Walden Pond. We stopped and had a picnic lunch and pondered what the experience of Henry David Thoreau must have been during his more than 2 year stay at the Pond. Of course, we all know he wasn't completely cut off from the world, as he frequently walked into town. Still, it must have been quite the experience.

We visited a replica of his one-room cabin. I can't imagine what it must have been like during the long, cold winters! Summer, though - what a dream - fishing, swimming, reading great literature, napping, berry picking. Too bad he didn't have a hammock :)

Sawyer had a wonderful time exploring. I somewhat expected the Pond to be like Seattle's Green Lake - but it wasn't. It was slightly bigger and much less populated. No kayaks or peddleboats. No crew. No playground. But there was a nice dirt path and several fishermen. There were even a few college kids there taking their first swim of the season (okay, it was nice weather - but kinda cold for a dip - otherwise I would've joined them!)

Next, we ventured a few miles and came to the very lovely town of Concord. So maybe I couldn't live in Vermont - but Concord was such a cute town! Clean and bright, it really caught my eye. We found the Sleepy Hollow Cemetary and what is known as "Author's Ridge" where several famous authors are buried with their families.

Above is the Alcott Family Plot. The graves of the family members are quite small and simple, but I really like the headstone for the family plot. Take note of the feather pen and paper. So appropriate! We didn't have a chance to visit Orchard House, but I hear it is wonderful so if ever you have the chance, check it out!

Above is the simple, yet large, granite stone that is the grave of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the contemporary and mentor of Thoreau, who's grave is also on Author's Ridge. I just loved walking through the lovely cemetary and looking at the old, old headstones. Cemetary's aren't creepy to me. There's a certain peace and calm about them that I enjoy (not that I visit them frequently, but I think you get my drift ;)

We also stopped at Minutemen National Historic Park. We walked across the Old North Bridge, where was once fired "The Shot Heard Round the World". (Every time I say that, the music from School House Rock pops into my head...)

We made it to our hotel in Boston that evening, which is the real reason this whole trip happened:

Tia's Graduation from Emerson! She now has a Master's Degree. Congratulations, Tia! We are so very proud of you and all of your hard work!

If you didn't know, Tia is my twin sister. Sawyer isn't very happy in this picture. Since Jacob had gone back to Seattle I was flying solo with my parenting duties. I chased him up and down the stairs of the beautiful Wang Theatre, where graduation was held, and really worked up a sweat. But once it was over and we headed outside to meet up with Tia, I put him in the backpack. Usually, he likes it as he has a great view, but when we stop moving for more than 5 minutes he gets antsy. Luckily, after this photo was taken, we headed over to Boston Common for a reception. I must admit, the one thing I wanted to do in Boston, I didn't get to do: ride a Swan Boat. But it's okay. Maybe someday?

We celebrated with a lovely dinner at the Prudential Center. It was quite a day. The graduation was the reason my 90-year-old grandmother ventured on this 2 week adventure! I think towards the end all of us were dreaming of our own beds. But we had one more day to explore...

So we went to Salem. We visited the Witch Museum. It is an interesting and tragic tale, what happened in that village long ago.

My little witch.

We visited another graveyard. This one happens to be the 2nd oldest cemetary in the United States! It is also the burying place of many of the victoms of the Witch Trials.

Adjacent to the cemetary is a Monument to those who were hanged. There is a stone bench for each victom. It was moving to walk through and look at each name on the benches.

Last, but surely not least, we headed out to Cape Ann (Gloucester/Rockport). I wish I could've taken more pictures, as it was by far my favorite place. Beautiful, well-kept, sun-bleached, little beach-y towns, now this is a place I could live!

We got out and dipped our feet in the Atlantic.

Here's Grammie, Gigi (Great-Grandma), Tysha, Sawyer, & Aunt Tia. Soaking in some sunshine!

Whew! And here I am with Sawyer. After our visit to Cape Ann, my family dropped me and my baby boy off at the airport and we caught a red-eye flight back to Seattle (direct, and probably the best flight ever - did I mention JetBlue doesn't lie when they say they give you 1st class at an economy price?) We had a wonderful time, but were ready to get home to Jacob and our own home. Sawyer slept like an angel the whole flight home. It was a long trip, but a good one! Thanks to my family for good times! May there be many more to come!