Almost 31 weeks along (compare with 28 week photo – some subtle differences)

As our due date approaches, I keep wondering “what sort of child are we going to have?” One characteristic I am especially curious about is whether we will have an adventurer:

Left: Carrie in fourth grade repelling down a dam next to a waterfall
Right: David being greeted by wolves at a wolf refuge (talk about an intimate and intimidating hello!)

After many such interesting and exciting experiences, our lives seem downright boring nowadays. Perhaps we need to go climb a mountain or visit a non-industrialized country? Obviously we can bring along the kids.

The first box of baby layette has arrived! Thank you, Grandma!

As I started unpacking these beautiful organic prefold diapers, it started to really hit home: our little one is going to be here soon! I think it’s absolutely incredible that the baby will be so tiny that it will fit in these little diapers, while at the same time a bit shocked that I am going to give birth to a baby that will fit into these diapers. Do you know what I mean? Regardless, I am so excited and feel very blessed.

For those friends and family members who have been asking, we’ve finally put a baby wishlist online! Please check it out. Absolutely no pressure to buy anything! Please just enjoy looking.

As you can probably tell, we’re going mostly organic with the diapers, clothing, bedding, etc. After reading up on all the pesticides applied to cotton and the chemicals involved in wool processing, coupled with my history of chemical sensitivities and allergies, we decided that as organic as possible feels right for our family. Luckily, the green/organic baby movement is in full force and is easy to find (especially here in California — all the local children’s boutiques I’ve gone to have carried organic lines!). With the first batch of layette items here (and softer and of higher quality than I imagined!), we’re so pleased with our choice!

Tuesday and Thursday are our yoga days. I go to my prenatal class in the morning, David goes to his advanced ashtanga class in the evenings. Someday we’ll be able to go together again, but that is many months off at this point.

I love and look forward to my prenatal yoga class. It’s so fun being surrounded by lots of other pregnant people. A whole room of women who smile for no reason, can’t seem to stay cool, tire easily, hold their bellies when the little one kicks, and can’t fit into their rings anymore. Recently there have been more people at class than usual and I loved the energy.

On Thursday the class includes mamas and babies. It has a totally different feeling than my prenatal class. Instead of a quiet and serene space, this class is full of baby chaos and I LOVE IT. Smiling, cooing, crying, laughing babies. Every class gets me so excited that I am going to be a mother soon. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Our dear friend Kate-Robin flew up from San Diego to celebrate with us — the best holiday gift ever. We cooked an amazing feast of garlic mashed potatoes, cranberry-apple stuffing, crab wrapped in sole with a blueberry cream sauce, salad, pumpkin cheesecake and pecan pie with ice cream, and spent hours chatting and catching up. We couldn’t help but feel grateful for our good friends and healthy, happy family.

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Recent twitter updates:
+ Leftover cranberry sauce tastes good with kasha! Who knew?! November 25, 2007
+ Addicted to Heroes. How did I not know about this show before last week? November 24, 2007
+ Wonderful day. Great food, fantastic friends, such a good time together. November 22, 2007
+ Baby has the hiccups! (Cracks me up and makes this whole pregnancy thing so real! My tummy is rhythmically bouncing.) November 20, 2007

More sites for you:
+ all buttoned up, now with a new baby
+ A Browner Brown, design and every day life goodness
+ Bits and Pieces… of a happy life, lovely photos

Tart recipes to try:
+ Blueberry Tartlets
+ Green Vegetable Tart
+ Asparagus Gruyere Tart

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By the way, in the past I have replied to comments via email. With this new setup, I am going to try replying here — in the comments section — instead. Let me know what you think.

Five years ago I met my husband at Thanksgiving Dinner in New Mexico. Amazing how one night can completely change everything.

These five years have been the best of my life.

Happy Anniversary, honey.

Thought you might enjoy these 2002 blog excerpts about the weekend we met:

Read more »

David comes home later today and I cannot wait! Making noodle kugel to celebrate.

For over a week now I have been sleeping through the night for the first time in several months. Either I am getting used to the baby’s kicks and able to sleep through them (ha!) or the additional vitamin B-12 that I’ve been taking has had a huge impact (David and I are both B-12 deficient). Whatever the reason, I feel like a new woman. I figure I had better enjoy it while it lasts.

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Delightful sites I’ve recently stumbled upon:
+ Lovely Design
+ Liquid Paper
+ Need some ideas for your Thanksgiving menu? Domino inspires.

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Recent flickr favorites:

Click above to view more.