Home to Alaska

Coming home after visiting my sister and her family was a little bit easier this time knowing that I'll see her & Coie in 4 months when Eden is due. We had such a wonderful time out there... as usual. I definitely have the coolest sister, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews in the world. I don't think I can go much longer with them living so, SO far away. At any rate, we got there the day before Valentine's Day . On Saturday, Charley got up and went out to buy roses and candy for all the girls in the house...but appropriately, his wife received the largest bouquet. I'm just the luckiest girl ever to have that man as a husband.


So, I think Jen and me broke our record for daily trips to Walmart... and Blockbuster.

Last Sunday we all went to Wonderworks (which is an indoor, science-type-of amusement park). Frankly, it made my head spin a little. I prefer the kind of amusement parks where I DON'T have to use my brain. Like Disney Land, or 6 Flags. That's okay though, the kids had fun.

Here's a picture that I stole from Coie's blog of her, Emmi and me. I love Coie's expression. It's so her.


I meant to include this picture in my last post, but forgot to. So I stole it from my sister's blog to put here. It's my very Asian nephew the day Jen, Coie, Ryann, me and him went to Chinese for Coie's birthday lunch. After we finished eating, he very carefully put the chopsticks BACK in the little paper holder they came in, brought them home, and proceeded to pick up everything in sight with them. He is the coolest 5 year old nephew I ever had. Also the most obnoxious. But that's ok. ;)


I'm glad I cleaned my house before we left for our trip. There's nothing worse than coming home to a big, fat mess. Thankfully, our plane ride was uneventful. Although, our trip OUT there a week ago was interesting. We almost missed our flight during our layover in Minneapolis. I can't believe how huge that dumb airport is. While we were booking it down to our gate from the OTHER end of the airport, we stopped to use the tram (I was plumb tired out). While we waited for it to get there, I noticed my reflection in the window, and with shock and awe at how round I've gotten in just the last few weeks, I said, "My word, Charley, I'm a house". My dear, loving and always tactful husband stepped back, looked me up and down and replied, "um, actually, you're more like a shed". If his quick and witty comment hadn't made me laugh as much as it did, I would have probably thumped him on the forehead.

ANYways, speaking of getting more round, I'm only 3 days away from reaching the halfway point in this pregnancy. I'm praising God for his grace and mercy during the past 4 months. I hardly had any morning sickness at all, and this little girl is growing wonderfully! She's quite the acrobat actually, judging from the last ultrasound. Figures, she's probably going to be like I was as a kid- bouncing off the walls and always having SOMEthing to say. Heavens was I an attention hog. But my fingers are still crossed that she'll be more like her dad was: quiet, cute, shy and reserved. Although, he obviously grew out of that, so there's just no telling.

If you haven't figured it out yet, we've officially decided on the name, Eden Grace Preston. I like its meaning, too. Eden means 'delight' or 'paradise', and Grace means 'God's favor'. My sister and a few friends in TN got me THE cutest little outfits for her. And I found a few darling items at Baby Gap and Oshkosh during a couple of our many shopping trips. This week, Daddy-to-be and I are going to focus on clearing out what will be Eden's nursery so that we'll be able to start decorating it. I'd like to do a butterfly/garden theme ... which is appropriate considering her name. I haven't told you that yet, have I, Charley? Um. Well now you know... but as always, veto power is still all yours.

And finally, I'm REALLY, SUPER stoked about some other things that might be happening this Summer (along with the birth of my little one), but I can't really divulge that info quite yet. All I will say is that this may be the very best Summer that I've had in.. well, forever. :)