A Month Already?!?

Wow, where does the time fly?

After my video upload fiasco, I just couldn't bring myself to write more posts without finishing that last one... which meant I just didn't post for a whole month. Sorry faithful blog readers who were hoping to see something new. But now I'm back on... got the videos uploaded (see previous post for those cute videos and read our quick update at the bottom).

So, what has the summer brought this summer so far?

1. Hot weather.
We had almost a whole week of 100+ temperatures and most days no wind either. Let's just say we (all of us) haven't been outside for about 2 weeks. And I'm afraid to see what our next PG&E bill will look like, yikes! (AC from about noon to 8pm everyday along with fans running in every room)

2. E is napping in her crib!
We started this nap training about a month ago because I just could not comfortably hold her for her naps any longer (the bulging tummy gets in the way). But then E got sick... we took a break from the crib napping for a few days... and then we went away for a long weekend with my extended (the Yee) family. Failed attempt one. :( But when we came back from our long weekend, we started all over at square one. Now we're happy to say... at day 9 (second time around) E will go down for her nap in her crib with only a mild amount of crying or fussing. Sometimes if she's really not tired yet, she'll cry for two minutes which turns into calling out "Mamma Mamma Mamma" which turns into her talking and playing with her Mr. Bear Bear. YEAH!! Now I can get a nap in the middle of the day too... and E consistently takes 1.5 to 2 hour naps a day. This weekend we'll test how well this new "napping in crib" routine works when we're away from home. Cross your fingers for us!

3. One long weekend to Truckee.
This last March my dad retired, so my siblings and I planned a long weekend up at a cabin in Truckee. The first day we got up there just around dinner time, bought some quick dinners from Safeway and headed to the cabin.
It was a really nice cabin! E fully enjoyed the carpeted stairs (and all the aunties and uncle to play with). We even got the Master Suite and ended up putting E in a walk in closet (so she could sleep in her own room). The only bummer is the house was really warm (like high 80's) and we couldn't figure out to get the air working and didn't open the windows because of the hazy smoke filled skies. So, that night was a bit hot and uncomfortable. But by the next morning the haze had disappeared and everyone was ready to relax and hang out.
Each morning we walked the loop that the cabin was on and E had lots of fun looking at plants, saying Hi to neighbor's dogs and just walking with everyone.
We also made a trip to Reno (on Saturday) for some All-You-Can-Eat Sushi (and a quick stop at a casino). E was nonplussed with both. :) Sunday we went to King's Beach on the north side of Lake Tahoe. E LOVED the beach. She even went in the water and wouldn't come out (even though she was turning blue and shivering). This is a big step for her as last year she wouldn't even let us take her into a pool. And we ate a lot over the weekend (maybe too much).

4. E goes swimming and swimming and swimming.
Over the course of about a week... E was exposed to the beach and a full size swimming pool. And from that point on, she has been loving the water. It also helps that our friends the Uyeyamas have a new pool that has lots of afternoon shade and has the coolest (approximately) 3'x6' step that is the perfect height for E to stand and wade on.
At first she was wary about the water and only wanted to dip her feet. Then as she watched Vivi glide around the pool on a floaty, E consented to sitting with her. And by the end of that day, we was fully gliding on her own and playing with toys. After two or three more times (on separate days)... she'll go right up to the end and try to climb in on her own. Of course, she also asks us to join her (whether we want to go swimming or not, ha lol).
Will E become a water baby just like I was when I was younger? We'll just have to wait and see.

5. A lot of working.
Ian has been working and working and working and working on his dissertation. In the last month since school has ended, he's almost gotten two (of the possibly around five to nine) chapters done. "Only how many to go before December 1st to graduate by the end of fall quarter, Ian?" But really, this is already a lot. These two chapters are the introductory chapters that give you all the background and setup for the rest of his dissertation. I think (if I can recall) it adds up to almost 40 pages (single spaced!).
We also switched to a new schedule and both of us try to get up before E wakes us (although I was only successful with this for about a week) and eat breakfast, start work (or in my case, do some daily devotions). This has really helped Ian... as he is actually disciplined to stick with it. Ha lol! :)
I have also been working quite a bit... keeping E occupied (and away from bothering Ian when he's writing), making a baby and trying to get ready for Baby Two while also trying to plan ahead with our packing. I'm a planner by nature. So, I've already gone through most of our "storage" boxes, baby clothes, baby gear, our clothes and done at least one quick tour of the house for things we didn't want to keep that we garaged sold. But we still have the immense amount of books, kitchen gear and furniture to sort through and attempt to sell. My impulse is to do it all now (especially with another baby on the way), but we kind of need our stuff until we move and Ian doesn't really have the time right now to help (or make decisions about stuff months in advance). Oh and I'm also trying to do as much billable work as I can (that I can get paid for) to make up for all our income dips (which happens every summer, on top of rising rent rates and because we might be here longer than the University can "afford" to provide Ian with TA work/a stipend/waived tuition).

6. An ever growing Gilda (and baby).
We're in week 26 now... just about to cross over into the third trimester. Wow, that went fast.
I don't look huge... but sure feel big (and uncomfortable). Being pregnant this second time around has brought about all the uncomfortable and "big" feelings on early. Although most of the time I feel like I'm already in month 7 or 8 (I'm just under 6.5 months) with swollen feet, decreasing appetite and horrible night sleep. Being that it's been hot doesn't help either (think pregnant in hot weather and having swollen feet, but not being able to really slow down or even sit down for long).
Yet, we're very thankful that the baby is doing great. She's moving and Ian can feel her moving. People might even be able to see her move as she is very active and makes her presence known.
I'm also doing well (even if I'm always tired, but that's probably in part to playing with E all day) and I even passed my second round of glucose test ("passed" meaning I do not have Gestational Diabetes which considering my family history is good news). So now we just are continuing with our monthly checkups and moving right along.

7. And a new Costco in our area.
OK, I know what you're thinking "Uh, ok... odd thing to mention." Yes, but if you live in Davis, this is a big deal. First, it's close. Second, it has Costco gas, which is soooo much cheaper than anything else around. Third, stuff can be (but not always) cheaper. Fourth, it's air conditioned (or at least it feels like it is) and that makes it a prime place to hang out when it's hot. Not to mention it's big enough to roam in for a while and they have samples! (What more can you ask for?) Well, actually... reason number Five tops them all... it's the least busy, least crowded, most stocked Costco I have ever been in. And that's saying a lot, since my family shopped at "Costco" when it was still Price Club! This Costco NEVER has a line for gas, inside checkout lines are never more than 3 carts deep and there's so few people there that sometime the sample people blatantly say "Please take several samples". Case in point, one time we went there and they're were serving root beer floats (Henry Weinhart rootbear, mind you, in full size cups... just to sell the Kirland brand ice cream) and giving out samples of some pulled pork by cutting a 6" sandwich in half and serving that. That was one tasty day! :)

There's probably more, but that's all I can think of right now. And now... it's past my time for bed (Remember that new schedule?? It's also supposed to include going to bed earlier so that we get up earlier). Night Night.