simplifying our lives

More words to live by from the lovely Marjorie Hinckley, stolen from an another amazing woman I know:

"We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are."

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morning at the zoo

very pleased about his "junior officer" sticker from the national zoo police

at times he was more into the displays than the actual live animal

enamored with the elephants -- begged to go "down" and be with them

these monkeys were making a HUGE racket -- the one with his neck puffed out wouldn't let the other move out of the box

drawn to the monkeys, along with everyone else within hearing range -- they put on quite the show

just another monkey in the monkey house

end of summer storm

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Humidity and temperature levels are still pretty unpleasant this week. We're not quite feeling like "fall" around here (although rumor has it we should enjoy a cool, crisp weekend). All the moisture and warm air made for quite the thunderstorm last night. It didn't last all that long but it was loud enough to startle us at times and the lightening seemed to strike just outside our apartment.

How amazing is this picture taken last night of the Jefferson Monument? Three lightening bolts at one. Gorgeous.

32 weeks

I hit 32 weeks yesterday. So technically, I guess I'm in my eighth month? This is when it hits me hard that pregnancy is totally 10 months, not nine as we are tricked to believe. When you add it all up that means I carried Christian -- who was two weeks late -- for 10 1/2 months. They say everything is a bit quicker with the second one. Fingers crossed!

No belly shot today. I actually want to get a few taken of me by someone else -- maybe this weekend, if it's not too humid out. I don't know that I'll be brave enough to post them but I would at least like some for the sake of family history.

Observations:

- energy levels are all over the place (i.e., I felt like I was on top of the world yesterday and today I feel completely wiped out, both physically and mentally

- baby is crunched into the right side of my body -- I feel achy under my ribs for most of the day and there's pain in my mid-back area from the pressure too. It makes me want to lean to the left so I'll probably need a good chiropractor when all is said and done

- still getting sick when I have an empty stomach. With Christian I threw up through the first five months but this time around I can't seem to get past it. I nearly threw up all over our fresh, clean sheets last night -- luckily Shane was quick on his feet to get me some crackers

- running is still happening, more or less. I ran four miles today and felt pretty good -- definitely feeling more crunched for air this week and feel more pressure on my bladder, etc. My support band really makes a difference though -- keeping the strain off of my lower ligaments and pelvic bone.

- emotions running high(er). I haven't noticed myself feeling too emotional until the past couple of weeks. I was near tears a lot last week and also went through a grumpy bout for no good reason so I'm going to blame the hormones
- struggling with short-term memory and alertness -- I'll blame the hormones for this too -- shrinking brain cell volume is a very real thing. I can't keep anything straight these days and then I catch myself totally tuning out. (I even walked off with another person's cart at Costco the other day -- almost made it to the register before I "woke up" and realized what I'd done!)

welcome, fall

Hip hip hooray for the first day of fall!

Summer was fun but we're looking forward to:
- all things pumpkin and squash -- food, decor, scents
- outings to admire east coast autumn leaves (bet you can't find better fall foliage anywhere!)
- sipping hot chocolate, apple cider & herbal teas (peppermint, raspberry leaf, etc)
- crisp, cool air and less humidity
- playing outdoors without sweating
- rainy days to bundle up, build forts and read books
- wearing sweaters, long socks, tights, leggings, boots, hats, jackets
- visiting our favorite DC sights, now that tourist season will be slowing a bit
- prepping for the arrival of baby boy #2

What about you?

jumping off the diving board

This is what you get to do at the neighborhood pool when the season is nearly finished, the lifeguards have stopped caring, and the only people there are you and the Wittwers.

Note: Christian is wearing a Puddle Jumper. I highly recommend it. For $17.99 I totally bought myself some freedom this summer -- he stopped clinging to me within a week and and I no longer stress about him jumping in (since he was more than willing to do it with or without gear). Bonus: It's U.S. Coast-Guard certified so he wore it on my parents' boat this summer too.

only two more months

Near the end of our visit to California last month, my friend Wendy gave birth to her fourth child, Abigail Jayne. Christian and I stopped by the hospital on the way to catch our return flight and we had a hard time giving Abigail back to her mama when it was time to leave.

Two months from today and I'll have hit my due date with Baby Larsen #2. I don't put much stock in due dates (Christian arrived nearly two weeks late) but still, we're definitely getting excited about having a sweet little baby around the house for us all to adore.

finding contentment

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"When I let go of the idea of someday happiness, I found it in everything around me. I didn’t need a bigger house to be happy, and I certainly didn’t need something prettier on my walls, or nicer bedding, or fancier gadgets in the kitchen. There are things that make our lives easier or prettier, but I learned that none of those external things was going to make my life better.

"Beautiful, happy moments happen in big houses, small houses, fixed-up houses, and outdated houses. They take place in itty-bitty studio apartments, and they take place in homes we own or spaces we rent. The beautiful moments, the contentment with what we have comes from within, not from the walls around us."

(quote from here)

30 weeks

For some reason, I was super productive this weekend. Could I be nesting already? Or maybe I just got that extra kick of third-trimester energy? Either way, I'll take it.


Observations:
- kicking has intensified, so much that my stomach is now a distraction at church and other public forums (I love the reassurance that comes with such movement but it makes me think we may have another very energetic little boy on our hands)
- feeling the baby up in my ribs, which means i get achy if i have to sit for long (like during my evening commute which comes close to being an hour and a half on a typical day -- doesn't that make you want to move to DC??)
- doc says I'm measuring small but I feel plenty big; I've already put on more weight at this point that I did with Christian (unfortunately)
- I wake up with achy legs and deal with the occasional charlie horse in the early morning hours before getting out
- still running, for now; I even ordered some maternity running capris so I have no excuses (my shorts are starting to bunch up -- not attractive or comfortable)
- hormones seem a little over the top -- my skin is breaking out again and I was unusually unhappy and short-tempered last week
- and, yes, there's now a definite blind spot below my belly, soon I won't be able to see my feet at all

christian-isms

Christian's quite the gabber these days. I'm guessing he gets it from my side of the family. (Although Shane can sure gab as well if you get him on the right subject.)

And since he's still hit and miss with his prepositions and tenses, Christian's been coming up with all sorts of funny statements.

For example:

He'll say : "I wanna kick you" (while holding a soccer ball). Translation: "I want to kick the ball TO you."

He'll say: "I eat you." Translation: "I want to eat WITH you."

He'll say: "I hold you." Translation: "I want you to hold ME."

He'll say: "I want to sit you." Translation: "I want to sit WITH you."

He grabs my hand: "Dance me." Translation: "Dance WITH me."