Update

Not too much to report except that I am meeting with my OB Monday morning to regroup and come up with our plan for the week. He said the baby will definitely arrive this week, we just have to determine when will be best. Interestingly, my aunt called this week to remind me that my grandfather's birthday (the baby's namesake) is Wednesday, August 20. Although he passed away nealry 17 years ago, I have to believe he is still watching over those spirits yet to join the family. Who knows, maybe we were supposed to wait?

Postponed?!

It's true. We've been officially postponed. I had my amniocentesis today (a truly lovely experience I wish on no one) and it turns out that while our little guy's lungs are very close to ready, they want to give him another few days to bake. Seriously! The only thing we could plan on with this little bundle of surprises was his arrival date and now he has managed to evade even that near certainty. Oh well! The last thing we want to do is hasten his arrival only to find we've put him in more trouble than he absolutely needs to endure at this point.

He is still looking big and strong. They estimated his weight at approximately 7 lbs 10 oz today and his noggin is measuring in at 41 weeks! At this point all we can do is wait it out through the weekend and check back in with the docs early next week.

We are already amazed at the outpouring of love and support from so many of you. Thank you for all your offers of help and meals and cleaning and on and on. All of which I'm sure we'll need soon -- just not as soon as we'd planned. We are truly blessed to have such amazing people in our life. Just as so many of you pray for us, we offer our prayers of gratitude for you in return. All I can say tonight is please stay tuned!

Speed Demons (with training wheels!)

Preston got a new "big boy" bike this weekend. (Another important step in his quest to do almost everything exaclty as Ty does.) He was so adorable in his new helmet, I just had to share the pic.

Wedding Day

Well we made it to the wedding! My youngest sister Aly made me promise not to have the baby before her big day and I was able to keep the promise. It was an absolutely magical day that I couldn't imagine it being more perfect for her. She was stunning. So beautiful, in fact, that strangers from other wedding parties at the temple that day were taking her picture (much to the chagrin of the brides those people were supposed to be adoring!).

The ceremony was absolutely memorable. They were given some very special advice and one observation struck me as partcularly unique. The officiator mentioned that some couples seek to be married, while others are looking to be sealed as partners for time and all eternity. He felt the spirit of their ceremony indicated that latter. I couldn't have agreed more.

The reception was also breathtaking. Cole's aunt generously opened her stunning home and yard to 200+ guests. It was gorgeous and charming; a perfect setting for the new picture perfect couple.

I am so proud of Aly, the decisions she's made and the happiness that's followed. We are thrilled to officially welcome Cole to the family. My boys absolutely adore him--and I trust their judgement without reservation. His family has brought such joy and comfort to Aly as well. What a gift...a great guy and a great family! Here are some of my favorite pics from the day:

Goodbye Dear Friend

Just another quick post today about a great man that passed away this last week. Colin Taylor was more than a special person in my life as a teen and example to me as an adult. As the father of one of my very best girlfriends then and now, he also saw fit to father me in so many ways through the years. I spent early teen years working as a waitress at his BBQ and hayride, Blue Sage. He'd pick me up in his blue truck and we'd make the 45 minute journey up the canyon yapping about any thing we wanted to. He always made me feel so special, so grown up and so entertained during those drives. He and his angel wife Janet raised an amazing family who have remained good friends over the years. I was just telling Matt that I most value the honesty of our friendships with the Taylors. You can go months without having the chance to see each other and yet with each one of them, especially my dear girlfriend Amy, you can just pick up exactly where you left off. She is truly more like a sister than a friend.

I sincerely regret not staying in closer touch with Colin over the last few years. Especially as his health struggles intensified. I know life is busy, but that feels like such an empty excuse when it's too late to tell someone how much they helped you and how much you love them for it. So don't make my mistake! Call, write, visit that special person...today!

More Adventures

Summer rolls on and so do we (For me, quite literally)! The boys are just wrapping up summer school. They will miss it greatly. I felt guilty enrolling them a few months ago, but lately Preston's been crying and begging me to take him to school on his days off. Instead of having my feelings hurt about the quality of my company, I am going to choose to feel it a great compliment to our decision to keep them learning this summer. I just bought their little uniforms for next year (I did all of their school shopping in 12 minutes...12 minutes!) and they are going to look like proper little men. Fortunately they seem to dig the duds, too.

We went camping a couple of weekends ago with our good friends the May's and their good friends the Pollard's. Although I did wonder what I was doing at nearly nine months pregnant on an air mattress with my three year old, we had a great time. I've included some shots below. You have never seen dirtier kids! They were truly in their glory.

The many, many doctor appointments are still humming right along. They're guessing little man is now almost seven pounds and they are going to let me go another two weeks so we should be able to deliver a tough guy close to eight pounds. At our last cardiology appointment they took us on a tour of the delivery room I will use, complete with a sliding window through which they will immediately pass the baby into ICU. When we got a chance to see the other side of that window and the very tiny babies in there I couldn't help but think what a thug our little guy will look like among his peers. For that, I am grateful.

More soon!

The Countdown Begins

After a series of good appointments the last couple of weeks we got as close to definitive date for our little guy's scheduled debut as anyone is willing to give. Grab your party hats, because it looks like August 14 will be his birthday! Dr. Draper (one of my OBs) said he is impressed with the baby's growth and if his lungs check out as ready to roll during my amniocentesis on August 13, they will deliver him the next day.

Despite all the special arrangements, new hospital and knowing exactly when he'll arrive, Dr. Draper is trying to keep things pretty normal for us. He said I could have my doula Carrie there and do a regular delivery because he anticipates our little guy will come very quickly due to my history of short (and then even shorter) labor. If I can pull off another natural birth it means I will be able to be taken over to Primary's to meet my son hours sooner than if I do the drug thing -- now that's true motivation!

It's crazy to know that this whole dream-like scenario is about to coming crashing through the door to reality. There has been a surreal peace that has surrounded all the hoopla this pregnancy has brought on--I hope I can maintain that feeling of calm once our guy is here.

I have to give a big thanks to everyone, especially my little sis and bride-to-be Aly, who has pulled through on the babysitting end of things for us. (Her help may even just earn her forgiveness for asking me to stand in the heat of an outdoor August wedding in a black dress/tent as her bridesmaid on the last weekend of my pregnancy :)) My boys think everyday is a party and have been sheltered (as I hoped they could be) from much of the stress of the situation because of your love and willingness to step in and make things as normal for them as possible. Many, many thanks to doting grandparents as well. We are so fortunate to have great moms and dads who go out of their way to make sure we're alright. We could not imagine trying to do this alone.

Matt and I spent last weekend in San Francisco for one last getaway. Matt had a conference and I tagged along. Between the wharf, Chinatown, the vineyards and downtown shopping adventures it was so nice to walk together, laugh together, and truly enjoy each other's company--just the two of us. Although I was certain I was in love before the trip, it is now confirmed. Matt is still the guy for me and will be forever. It's awesome to know those feelings that started 15 years ago are still there and stronger than ever. Here are pics of a beautiful vineyard in Sonoma and the amazing flowers of Lombard Street.