"We have a birthday..." declares 10-month pregnant woman of misery.

Most women are with child for 9 months.  Me?  I prefer to suffer for 10.  Well- I don't prefer it, but multiple weeks overdue seems to be my style.  So we have been swimming everyday for two weeks to pass the time and finally, FINALLY, we decided to pick a date.  Having the baby on Tuesday.  We'll let you know how it goes.

Meanwhile:  Here is our week in review:

Our front lawn is looking awesome, thanks to Q.  He says the novelty of mowing has not worn off.  He even set up a little work shop in our garage where he sharpens the mower blade.  We're still trying to get the sprinklers just right and Annie is determined to help.  She loves water and being outside.

 Poor Annie- she got her first real owie, a burn, this week.  She was so distraught she took a 4 hour nap immediately following our kisses and band aides.  Now we have to kiss every scratch and itch and I've just barely been able to talk her out of multiple chickie band aids. 

 I finally lost it on Thursday.  I stayed in bed crying all morning because I was still pregnant and this one has been so hard and it is still not over... and other stuff that has been building up and driving me crazy.  Then, suddenly, we were surprised with company.  Q's family showed up to spend some time with us. I was absolutely overwhelmed at first but it was a really good break because they entertained Annie for 3 straight days and we took her swimming in their hotel pools all weekend as well.  Annie held her own as the only girl in a sea of boy cousins!  She absolutely loves "the boys" and we were glad to catch up with them again.  Q had just been saying how much he missed his family and in one week we've had spontaneous visits from two of his sisters.  I guess Q's out-loud wishes are really powerful.  Maybe he could wish for a certain baby to make an appearance next.

 Best invention ever:  The 100% sun proof wet suit for 2-year-olds! I feel like the best mom ever.

Question:  It's midnight.  Do you wake your hubby up to rub lotion on your sunburned swollen feet or just suffer all night because it is impossible to sleep and you just finished your book (1776) anyway?  I know- you let him sleep.  But oh how my feet ache.

Find anything good at the thrift store lately?

No baby yet.  Big surprise.  I just keep getting bigger and bigger.  In the mean time, we have been living it up the last few weeks of our summer vacation.  Swimming almost everyday, bike rides at dusk, movies in the afternoon, eating out, cuddling.  Today alone Annie and I went to kneaders and Grandmas Toblers bakeries before noon to get nothing but brownies and treats. I tell you, there is nothing NOTHING like summer vacation.  It is heaven on earth.  Here's the latest:

In recent AWESOME events:  We are going to close on our condo!  Oh the years we spent praying for this and we finally have a closing date.  It's been so long that I've been out there, I forgot that we do own a pool... at our condo.  It is perfect for kids.  So Q and I took Annie one last time to say goodbye and enjoy the pool for the first time in years.

 I'm trying to get Annie to smile again for photos.  So far we've had marginal success.  

 Have I mentioned that we live in THE BEST neighborhood in SGU?  We absolutely love it!  Plus, almost all of our neighbors have pools and are kind enough to invite us to swim.  Swimming is just about the only thing I can do right now since I was supposed to have this baby LAST WEEK.

 I am such a lucky mom because Annie is totally into hats and sunglasses lately.

 I've been teaching Annie some new dance moves but so far, kicking back with her feet up (and crossed) is the most popular move she has picked up from me.  At least it beats her grunting every time she bends over to pick something up (hmmm, wonder who she learned that from?).

 Two smile-inducing phrases that do NOT work with Annie:  "Show me your teeth"  ( she does, literally), and, "Say cheese!" (she runs to the fridge for a cheese snack).

 Find anything good at the thrift store lately?  I buy almost all of Annie's toys there.  Our thrift stores are so NOT great but I've managed to walk away with a few good finds.  I even found some awesome HUGE frames that I've been looking for forever.  Then my mom borrowed them for Megan's wedding and when I tried to get them back she didn't let me have them.  We haven't seen the end of this tug of war.  So, what genius item have you found at the thrift store lately?

Arts Festival 2012: