A moment for baby brother...

It isn't very often during this pregnancy that I really get to enjoy how amazing it is to grow this baby. With Mooner, even though I was so sick and felt so anxious, I would still marvel at least once a day at the wonder that it all was. So it was such a special experience last night when, Moon in bed asleep, Patrick out with a buddy, I alone in the tub, got to WATCH my big belly dance around for a good 10 minutes while the baby did some wild kicking and swimming. It was just really wonderful and I felt so connected and in love with this little baby. Just wanted to share that with all of you, who probably wonder what is going on with this baby and not just the Moon.

A Pre-Birthday Surprise!

Even though my birthday isn't until Thursday, Patrick totally surprised me by inviting some of my girlfriends to visit (2 of whom I haven't seen in almost a year!). It was such a great present and involved eating Lebanese food, sleepover movie watching and happy toddler times! Of course I didn't get any pictures, but the next morning we took Moon and Amelia to the park for some running around. It is so amazing to see our little girls play together. It won't be long until they are the age we were when we met!

Strange things that Moon's do...

Please send me strength to get through the rainy season with creativity and PATIENCE!

So we have been doing some crafting. The glue stick has proven popular, to the tune of 1 stick per day.

We have also taken to sorting buttons

WooHoo. So much fun to be had. No really. Moon finds it all too fun, at least!

Dan's Birthday "Party"

Our very special friends, Dan and Erin

Need I say more?

When I told Moon that we were going to get a cake for Dan, she was like "party?". I said, "well, I guess so". And Then Moon was like "party hat?" and I was like, "ok". There we have it, cupcakes and party hats!

Eye Update!

So today Moon went to OHSU Casey Eye Center to get another opinion on the condition of her eyes. The appointment went really well and many people looked at her eyes (because it is also a med school). They basically did the same tests, etc that her usual eye doc does, which was reassuring. By the end of the (3 hour) appointment, Moon was sitting up in the exam chair by herself. She also was falling asleep, but at least that was cute!
The basic conclusion was that the original diagnosis of farsightedness, leading to strabismus and amblyopia was correct. Her vision in the left eye is considerably worse than the right eye (which we also already knew) and we need to get the vision in the left eye to equal the vision in the right eye before we can expect to see improvement in the crossed eye look. So, good news is that surgery is not in our near future. Not so good news, but still not bad, is that we are going to have to put a vision blurring drop in Moon's good eye (the right one) every other day to strengthen the left eye. The concept is the same as patching, only the vision will stay obscured for a longer amount of time and she cannot "remove" the drops. I am not too excited about putting a chemical in her eye every other day, but the eye doc did tell me about some studies that were done on the safety of the drops that OHSU was a part of and I felt a bit better. In the end, I think it will be worth it for a short period of time. We are going to give the drops 3-6 months. And we have a checkback appt next month with our regular eye doc. So that's it!

I need a vote.

For a number of reasons, namely the China recall and our own space concerns in our little house, we have decided to get Moon one gift for Christmas that she can play with imaginatively and that can be "accessorized". Plan toys have made a pledge to keep their high quality wooden toys free of lead. They are made in Thailand, which makes them remotely affordable, compared to some of the very wonderful, but just too expensive to request US made wooden toys. They are also really nice and fun! Moon has taken a liking to both a play kitchen and a dollhouse. I don't know which she will get more mileage out of, so please vote by commenting on this post. If you have never commented before, starting a google account to do so is easy! You can use any e-mail address, plus when I print this blog into a book, Moon and baby brother will be able to see that you were reading the blog all along!

Kitchen Accessories

OR

Dollhouse Accessories

Shaving

While Papa was shaving, Moon decided to have a go at it. Fun, but the nasty shaving cream tasted bad and irritated her chin :)

Feeling a little sad for a favorite semi-local blogging mama. Send some love over Crunchy Chicken's way...

A trip to Kruger's Farm on Sauvie Island

Of course, Owie is eating nice farm treats, freshly picked in the field (strawberries). Moon is eating packaged, old animal cookies.

I think she looks like a city girl here...

Not this guy! He is lovin' the experience!

Moon trying to bribe Owen to do something. I think it worked.

And they are off.

Catching up a bit, for photo log's sake!

Mooner waiting to find out if she will have a little sister or brother. And having a snack.

There he is! Head and back.

Back, buns, legs and feet!

The exciting news that you have all been waiting for is in....!!!!!




It's







A







BOY!!!!!!

We are so stoked and the Mooner is too! She actually said that she was having a baby sister before the appointment, but was happy to say "brother" too :)

Moon's first sleepover with Emma!

There was lots of fun and madness to be had with Cousin Em and Aunt Sarah...

Couch jumping...

Zoo trip

The funnest time of all...

Mt. Tabor

Moon LOVES this park. It is beautiful, has sets of stairs to climb all the way up the "mountain" (or you can use trails, or drive). The play area is great and very shady. The trees are amazing.
This is a view from the top.

Having a snack after all that hard work going up the stairs! I will need to get a picture of those stairs soon!

And a little smiley girl.

Nearly a month since I have posted???
here is the gist of what has been going on...

Lots of drumming, early morning and late at night.

Moon is continuing to love emulating being a "lady" and wearing fancy shoes

And an extra fancy dress. Isn't this extreme to anyone else? But cute.

And hiding from her parents.

Why is she already so grown up? This is what WE want to know!
xoxo Jess

LLL Dance Party!

Hand Painting

Huff and puff!

Oh Bubbles, you are so wonderful!

Happiest day of Moon's life!

2 Naked Babies

Pose

Prepare

Now Dance!

Pre-Bath Tattooing

Papa's 80th Birthday Party!

Isn't he looking good for 80?

Great-gram and Moon blowing bubbles

Dakota and Moon having a fun time together!

The party was so nice! It was at Papa Mike's house (who Moon is now calling "mike") and there was TONS of family. Great day all around. I took a few more family pictures, but there are so many people in each one that I am just going to e-mail them out, so if you want copies, let me know!

Zoo train and the Zoo!
So we (Auntie Bean, Moon and I ) took one of the zoo trains from Washington park, to the zoo. It was crowded, but Moon loves trains, so there it is...

I remembered to take one animal picture, this is of a Colobus monkey nursing a baby. Very exciting.

Not too long into the trip, Moon was exhausted from the crowds and waiting around. So she slept and we rode a different train back to the park.

Passing another train!

And for the record, the new bird exhibit is not so hot. We walked into loud bird fights, too many people, a bird pooping on Moon and Auntie Bean's hands, and then left quickly as Moon was totally overwhelmed. Moral of the story. Never go to the zoo or take the train or go into crowded exhibits on a Saturday!!!

Just a moment...

to say how smart and talented our little Moon is! She drew a balloon!!! It may have been an accident, but she was very excited about it and consequently, so were we :)