Korean Spring

Even though we could have done without the week long stay in two different Korean hospitals for Ava, we were able to enjoy a short visit from Nonni, be surrounded by thousands of dainty blossoms and eat gobs of delicious Korean goodies to make up for that. Oh and I turned 30. No big deal.

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Happy (belated) Spring!

To catch up, or not to catch up

Blog Boycott.
Officially over.
....
I am not positive as to what started it all. I just suddenly lost all motivation to take pictures, upload pictures, post pictures and b.s. about the said pictures. Looking back, something was terribly wrong. It's not like me at all. Well, it is like me to not want to b.s. but the taking picture part seriously baffles me.
If having a baby doesn't warrant some blog posts, I don't know what does.
....
So now I'm left with the challenge of playing catch up... you know... delving back into my iphoto library and rounding up the best of the last three months...
or....
sum it up as a blog loss and start anew. Dang.
For now I'll settle on indecision and just give a little update until I get back into the swing of things.
....
Since my last post about Spain... life went a little bit like this:

- Snow melted
-Went to France with friends
-Went pregnant swimming (awesome)
-French waitress says baby is girl
-Work
-Snow & freezing temperatures
-Cry in front of everyone at going away party
-Do AWC version of Gangnam style at 37 weeks pregnant
-Sit around the house until 39 weeks pregnant when doctor threatens to induce
-Admitted to hospital for "monitoring"
-Go into labor next morning (funny how that happens) and give birth to our Ava on 12.12.2012
-Still can't believe we had a baby on 12.12.2012
-In-laws arrive on 12.12.2012
-Love on my newborn and her big brother
-Snow melted
-Christmas
-New Years
-Say goodbye to our friends
-In-laws leave, my parents visit begins
-Pack
-Cry
-Pack
-Cry
-Snows
-Move out of only home our son has ever known
-Cry
-Life packed into five suitcases and seven shipping crates
-Say goodbye to Chad
-Leave Germany (four years and fifteen days after initially arriving)
-California
-Jet lag
-Sit in the sun daily, play outside, facetime with Chad
-To be continued...

In case you didn't notice, that was a lot of stuff to squeeze into a couple of months. I left out a couple meltdowns, Christmas markets and crying. Best to spare you.
I pledge to do better with this blogging bit but I promised myself that I would spend the next couple of months intensely focused on my children, being a tourist in the town I grew up in, catching up with old friends, playing outside everyday, eat gobs of local almond butter and enjoy this little vacation in California. Blogging comes second to that.




Ava Analise 
December 12, 2012
8 lbs. 2 oz.
20 inches
(currently weighs 13 lbs. 6 oz. at 2 months)

25/53 & Spring!

Today offered some of the best weather we've had in Germany this year. It was so very beautiful. Rhett and I enjoyed it while walking around post to check our mail and pay Chad's (ahem) parking ticket.

We drove the long way home through the countryside... we passed some tulip gardens and some orchards before stopping by Lidl for baby food.

Rhett loves his Deutsch baby food.

As we approached our home, we had to creep up our street because there on Wiesentalstrasse was a wagon pulled by two horses. Kids were lining up the block for a ride.

The joy of Spring!

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. -Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

Our Saturday Walk...

Meaty and his handsome bandana.

Blossoms...

Unchartered walking paths...

Meaty getting overheated...

Meatloaf being carried by Chad because he refused to walk any further...

Meatloaf napping.

.The End.

Walking gets the feet moving, the blood moving, the mind moving. And movement is life. ~Carrie Latet

Can you hear me Spring?

(I don't usually put strange blankets over the back of my couch but Chad insists upon doing so... please don't judge.)

This week was long. I think mostly because the sun came out for the first time in 3 months and stayed out. All day. The unfortunate part was that I was stuck inside at work watching everyone else outside enjoying the day. What about my wellness darnit?

Anyways, Monday we went to the doctors. Chad's first appointment. Baby White was uncooperative and curled in a little ball. He or she was resistant to showing their face and remained quite content on staying in the above mentioned position. Fine, be that way, baby. We did get a lovely picture with a small glimpse of baby face... and intestines. It's not clear enough to post so you'll have to take my word for it. Heard the heart beat as well.

Also, I wore maternity pants almost every day this week. No buttons or zippers save a lot of time in the bathroom. Especially when you go there about 30+ times a day. It's awesome. They're still too big so I use a bella band and all is well.

We also bought our plane tickets to Venice... it's official. We're going on our cruise. Hello Turkey, Croatia, and Greece. Can't wait to meet you.

Our landlord also made a surprise visit and opened our overstuffed mail box. I told him I had pregnancy brain and forget to check it. He believed me. I do remember to check it... I just don't.

He invited us to his wife's birthday party on Monday evening. Chad wants to get her onion flowers. I told him no (they smell like rotten onions after awhile, no lie.)

Today, the sun is being much like Baby White and hiding behind gray clouds. Darn. Looks like we'll be inside cleaning what looks like a bomb went off.

At least there is the promise of Spring...

common' Spring...

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow. ~Proverb

Oh and this is what you look like after doing 12 fitness tests in 4 hours while pregnant. Lord have mercy. It was a crazy day at work.

15 weeks.

Today, will be a good day...

I woke up this morning and my first thoughts didn't include poop (well, they did, but in a good way), throw up, or more sleep.

I knew it was going to be a GREAT day. I guess I have successfully survived my first trimester (alone, might I add) and now I can go back to feeling myself. I plan on enjoying every minute since I know it will be short lived.

Anyways, after getting up I looked around my house and decided today would be a productive day. Actually, it has to be productive because I haven't thoroughly cleaned my house in 7 weeks. I mean sure I've vacuumed and thrown some cleanser around but that really hasn't put a dent in this disaster. BUT TODAY, I feel like I can clean 100 houses (all with non-toxic ingredients).

I also had visions of putting up spring decorations, sewing, airing out the house, and washing my car (although I doubt I'll get that crazy). I may even take these poor housebound dogs for a walk.

I figure even if this sudden burst of energy fades in the next couple hours I still know it will be a good day because...

I realize now that throughout it all I was never really alone...

the sun is up in Stuttgart...

and Spring is in the air.