Preggers

Two and a half weeks to go (until my due date, that is)!!! I know I've said this already but this pregnancy has flown by soooo fast. Some of you asked for a belly shot, so Rob has been following me around with the camera today. Here's a shot from us playing at the park this afternoon:



and



I am trying to come to grips with some issues of fear I have from Jasper's birth. I've been really emotional lately whenever I think about my previous labor and how this one is going to go. For a long time I felt sad because things hadn't gone as I had "planned". This sounds crazy but I felt like I had failed myself and Jasper in some way. It took me a few months but I came to the realization that it didn't really matter. It really doesn't. Jasper is alive and healthy. I am alive and healthy. We are happy. God loves me and is happy with me as a mother. I am blessed that I even had/have the opportunity to bring a baby into the world. Giving birth is amazing. I know these things deep in my heart but when I think about how incredibly long and painful the labor experience was for me, I feel sick and scared and fearful. Everyone keeps telling me this time with be better and I am praying everyday that this will be the case but the one thing I have learned more than anything is that there are no absolutes when it comes to labor. You prepare yourself to the best of your ability and the rest is out of your control. You have to let go of what you want and what you think should happen and turn yourself over to the whole experience. This is the most primal experience that humans endure and it is in labor that a women's deepest, most physical instincts take over. I did all that I could do when I labored with Jasper. My phsical body had absolutely nothing left, at one point. I felt like I was walking through the valley of death and I felt as though I was on the edge of walking through the veil that leads to the other side. This is what I am scared of. I have fear that this labor will be as difficult and I afraid that I won't be able to do it. My body is seasoned, though, and experience makes one stronger and wise. So wish me luck and say a prayer for me in the next few weeks!

Here's a few more shots of us crazies at the park:

O Christmas Tree

We got our Christmas tree today! We had such a good time. It was Rob's (and Jasper's) first time ever cutting down a Christmas tree, so it was quite a momentous occasion for the entire Egbert clan. This morning was beautiful. As we drove out to Carnation Tree Farm, we had some breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and the Cascades. The air was crisp and clear and we arrived early. We scouted amongst the Fraser and Korean Fir before realizing they were a bit out of our price range. The Douglas Fir were the cheapest option but neither Rob or I were really taken by them. We then found the Grand Fir section. They were a perfect match with our pocket book and our taste. Picking out a tree is so fun. You have to take into account every side and angle of the tree. Sometimes a tree looks perfect straight on but the other side reveals a gaping hole in the foliage. Height is another issue. We were nervous about picking out a tree that was too tall for our ceiling but I think we did a pretty good job eye balling it. Jasper LOVED the dirt and the tractors and the saw and Rob cutting down the tree and stomping around in puddles and watching the ducks. He did NOT like seeing Santa (they had a Santa Clause that you could get your picture taken with). He wouldn't even look at him. He turned into this completely different child, burying his head in my chest and clinging to me with a death grip. Anyway, here are our photos:

Jasper update

Jasper's friend Max has been sick this week. Jasper misses him. Everytime we drive or walk past Max's street, Jasper yells out "Ma-!!" (that's how he says Max). He put two words together for the first time yesterday- Ma- sick. Get better soon, Max!

Jasper's personality has been developing so much lately. He is a really, really friendly person. Today, we took the bus down to Ballard. He waved and said hi to everyone we passed. As we left he bus, he waved bye and then signed "thank you" to the driver. He is also very compasionate. I got a cut on my finger last week and everyime he sees it, he gets a very concerned look on his face and says "owie". He is concerned when he sees other kids cry and lately he's been saying "sorry" alot. He's just a really kind hearted little boy. I sure love him.

This summer I cut Jasper's hair really, really short a couple of times (pretty much just shaved it off). Well, his hair grew back in super curly! It's so weird because it wasn't really curly before.



Just for my own record I want to write all the words that Jasper is saying right now. Here is goes:
wawa (water)
more
dog
about 20 different animal noises
daddy
mama
milk
snack
Jesus
school
bus
car
truck
choo choo
play
go go go!!
bike
draw
sorry
owie
uh oh
share
no
yes
one two three
banana
toast
pasta
bubbles
tool
shovel
cereal
silky
nap
hot
ice
crow
duck
eye
nose
ear
teeth
knee
mouth
chin
sick
cough

Thanksgiving 2008

We just said goodbye to our Thanksgiving visitors - Rob's sisters Kim and Ally, and Ally's husband Vince. It was so great of them to travel all the way to Seattle. What a fun time we had. Ally and Vince arrived on Tuesday from Salt Lake. We walked down to Fremont, checked out Dusty Strings and a couple of other fabulous stores, ordered Sushi from Musashi's, played Boggle, and enjoyed some Jasper entertainment. On Wednesday morning, we took a little walk around the neighborhood then headed down to the Aquarium. The Seattle Aquarium is great. Jasper loves all the fish and birds and wildlife. Afterward, we had to eat at the the Egbert's nostalgic Steamers joint. We spent the evening walking around Ballard and stopped into Cupcake Royal and a few other shops. Kim flew in that evening from Chicago so we all stayed up rather late talking and catching up. We started our Thanksgiving festivities with the 1st Annual Tour de Turkey (a bike ride around Seattle our friend George Durham spearheaded). It was seriously the best way to start off Thanksgiving. I always feel sick and yucky after an entire day spent in the kitchen cooking and then followed by all the eating. It was great to get some fresh air and work up an appetite for the feast. (Editorial note: many passers-by as well as their fellow riders were awestruck by the 7- and 8-month pregnant women (Kathleen and Sara) pedaling along on the 8+ mile bike ride). After our bike ride, we all dove into our individual cooking assignments. We didn't eat until 7:30 pm!! All the food turned out perfect! Really, every dish was delish. The only thing was the pumpkin pie and custard that we made from scratch and they ended up being just a bit stringy- better luck next year. Here is the run down of what our menu consisted of and who did what:
Turkey- Rob and Kim
Gravy- Kim
Homemade rolls- Sara (Aunt Jean's recipe)
Cornbread and wild rice Stuffing- Vince
Cranberry Sauce- Kim
Mashed Potatoes- Ally
Roasted Thyme Sweet potatoes- Sara
Cranberry Jello- Rob and Kim (Egbert's special recipe)
Hot citrus punch- Kim
Pumpkin Pie- Sara and Vince
Custard- Kim
Sour Cherry Pie- Kim

Here are photos of the food prep:


Our crowded, small kitchen


The turkey


Pumpkins


Our elegant table


The turkey masters




Yum, yum. What a great meal. What wonderful guests.I want them to come live with us or at least near us. Yesterday, we went to the zoo in the morning and Pikes Market in the evening.

Here are the photos from the week:


The zoo


Pike Place market




The gingerbread displays


Jasper pushing Kim in the stroller

Tour de Turkey: