Luther practicing

Also on Thanksgiving weekend, Luther had a chance to practice having a baby around. Angela and her almost-1-year-old, Olivia, came to visit. It was great to see them! Here's Luther checking Olivia out. He was gentle and mostly ambivalent, as expected. Olivia was also a good "is the house kid-proof" tester!

Bailey practicing

While Bailey was here she was diligent about caring for the practice little g (a stuffed animal dog from my childhood...he's the one on the right in the cradle (the cradle that Tia Silvia's babies slept in!)). The aforementioned teddy bear is the one on the left. The book Bailey is reading is Buenos Noches Luna (Good Night Moon, in spanish, a wonderful gift from Joan and Jen). She fed him, changed him, read to him, and rocked him in his cradle. She is going to be a GREAT big sister!

Bumbum bumbum

I heard little g's heartbeat with just my ear on N's belly yesterday! It was soft and strong...bumbum bumbum bumbum. Noelani heard it with the fetascope (she cannot put her ear to her belly, it seems!). Very cool. We also found out that he is as big as the teddy bear that Silvia gave him...perhaps I need a visual of that so you can really see...but not tonight! ;-)

Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving at Tia Silvia's house with all of the local family, including Duncan's mom. It was a wonderful time, full of stories and laughter, and three 20 minute walks: before dinner, after dinner, and after dessert! Bailey was with us, and Tom came with us, too. Here is a picture (taken by Tom) of Noelani and I with Bailey and her soon-to-be little brother. :-)

"Can you please tie my shoes?"

"Can you please tie my shoes?"

I have been waiting to hear those words! It is a quintessential step in pregnancy, and I was overjoyed when Noelani asked me this morning. :-) Here is a picture from last night showing what (who!) is in the way when she is trying to tie her shoes...

Shotgun Wedding

Well, if you were there then you know that Noelani and I eloped at our Baby Shower this past weekend. It was a wonderful shower -- good people, good food, good energy. We feel so lucky to have found each other and to have such good friends and family supporting us. This little g is a lucky boy!

Bedroom Walls & Crib

Here is the final result of our stencil painting. And, the crib (graciously donated by Laura!) which we finally put together. We have a rug (which was the inspiration for the figures on the walls). Now we just need to add a baby...

Little Figures

This was "get the baby's room ready" weekend. Well, the start at least. We put together his crib, and painted little figures on the wall (thanks to the kindness of Steve & Kate for making and cutting the stencils). Here's Noelani, hard at work...

Practicing with Renata

Our neighbors, Shannon and Carlos, came to visit tonight with their 12-day old baby, little Renata. She is so very small and beautiful. It was wonderful to see her, and to see them with her. They are doing a great job, and we are happy to know that they are a few steps ahead of us.

We both had a chance to hold Renata. For me (Mary), she wiggled just like Gabriel is doing in the womb right now. With Noelani, she used Noelani's finger as a pacifier, and held her hand with her little tiny fingers. It was so sweet!