Newport, Virginia

Newport, Virginia, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

First day of school

First day of school, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Happy Hollow

http://www.navicamls.net/listings/360/RV823457822A.htm

What if the Provos became farmers? Small farmers.

It is my four week birthday!

It is my four week birthday!, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Charlottesville

Slide, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

We spent the day in Charlottesville yesterday, and E loved the Virginia Discovery Museum. She did a craft project, played dressup, and went camping and fishing.

It is always nice to be walking down the street in a new town on a beautiful day and run into a friend--Darryl. He works at a theatre there in the downtown. On the way to the car we stopped at Spendora's Gelato and Ella loved it so much she was licking the inside of her cup. I have never been to the downtown mall, and thought it was-----very unlike Blacksburg. We are moving the minute John finds a job here. Not likely but a good thought.

Hurricane

I just read a moving post about the hurricane at http://www.suburbanbliss.net/ titled "I wasn't sure how to do this." It says it all better than I could. Thank you Melissa.

Actually, I'll just put it here:

I wasn't sure how to do this.
When the hurricane hit I thought, "Things will be fine, they have been before."
When I began reading about the rising water in New Orleans I thought, the water is rising slowly. It's not the same as the tsunami. We're in the U.S, things will be fine. On day three I began to feel angry. Last night I went to bed after reading news websites and emitting horrible squeals and gasps. I read the news because with sensitive kids you can not watch television news because you will live with those horrifying images for the next 5 years. Those horrifying images (image from The Washington Post, from James Nielson of Getty Images, AFP) on the television will appear at the most unlikely times from my children's mouths. They will remember the images they see for at least five years.
Currently my head is exploding and I tend to avoid writing about things which make my head explode because I am not intelligent enought to speak about politics or the suffering of others in any profound way.
When the Tsunami struck in December, I felt guiltily removed from that suffering. Logan and I donated money to the relief effort but I was haunted by the fact that if it had happened in my own country, I would have been moved in an overwhelming way. I calmed myself thinking that in my own country there would be the help, money and resources to save people. I thought things would never be as dire as they were overseas because we are America! We don't let our people suffer as if it's the third world. But then I saw the images and read the tales of suffering of the people left behind, they have been treated as if they are a third world country. They have not been treated as Americans. Shouldn't it have been different?
I want to point all of my anger at Bush and his stupid fucking comments, I mean, Thank God Trent Lott's house will be rebuilt! I want George to have a place to drink his lemonade. It's not that he made that comment, it's that he's saying that as at least 5,000 people are still at the Superdome living with shit and piss and shootings and rapes and no water or food. You stupid Fuck. How dare you. You are the president. You're not some fucking blogger who can say whatever they feel appropriate. You are our leader, you are required to be....to at least pretend to be sensitive to the suffering of people who don't look like you but are Americans all the same.
But no, it's not just Bush who has failed. It's also the city of New Orleans who's failed to perform in a crisis. Just like Chicago failed in 1995. I've been reading about the politics of the city, and if Detroit were under sea level and in the path of a hurricane, it would also be lost. The politics are the same. The lack of effective leadership is the same.
My heart is bleeding and it's true, is now the time to point fingers and cast blame? Shouldn't we be helping?
I'm in Michigan, there is not much I can do. I've donated and the company I work for has promised to match all donations made to the Red Cross by it's bloggers. I started donating a relatively small amount. Today I emailed again asking that one third of my monthly paycheck be donated. Logan was aggravated because we are currently waiting to purchase a misfiring gas range and a dishwasher which hasn't been working for a month. When I thought further, realizing Weblogs Inc. would be matching my contribution, I wanted to donate more because I can wash dishes for a few more months, I can use the microwave for a few more months, but I can not pull that type of cash donation out of my checking account.
My guilt at being white and middle class has gotten the better of me. I'm so sorry for New Orleans. I'm so sorry for the gap between the middle class and the lower class. I'm sorry we didn't take care of you and help you out of a drowning city. I'm questioning my government because people have died needlessly and I hope the questioning will help prevent this type of crisis in America in the future.
I am sorry.

Faerie Beds

Little John's first hike wasn't much more than a mile, but the scenery was gorgeous. (See the whole hike on Flickr by clicking any picture here on Ellajohn.) We found milkweed pods--ripening faerie beds--with silk inside waiting to be knit into faerie covers. I was looking for caterpillars on the milkweed leaves, and we were lucky enough to find one so we could talk about metamorphosis. Ella recognizes the monarch butterfly, so maybe we can learn the names of some of the others. We talked about migration, which E thinks is when the butterflies go to the other side of the mountain. John slept through the whole thing, but was very cute in the safari sunhat. It was his first ride in the front pack, and although he is small I have to get used to that weight on my chest.

headed for a hike

headed for a hike, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

pond

pond, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Cutting the Grass

Cutting the Grass, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Fall is in the air, and it is only going to be 74 degrees today. We are going to go for a walk at Heritage Park, the place Ella and John call butterfly fields. I took a funny picture of John last night when he fell asleep in his bath. He is starting to hold his head up by himself, and he gave his sister what appeared to be a huge grin this morning.

The Painting Date

The Painting Date, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

We made this on our painting date 2 weeks ago.

Swinging with Jenny

Swinging with Jenny, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Snack Quilt

Snack Time, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Ella's first day of School

The Children's Garden, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Today was Ella's first day at school. It was really just orientation for new students, and she will have a her first regular day of school next friday. I know she already feels comfortable enough for me to leave her there. Today she made a crown, played with trains, did some laundry, found her coathook and her cubby, and made some new friends. Spending time there is like stepping into Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood for a few hours. It was great to meet other parents and hear their stories. There were two other babies there with their older siblings, so there is a good chance of him finding a place in a new playgroup as he grows. For today, it looked more like a La Leche meeting.

Little John

JBP, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

I fell off the sofa!

Well, my part time maternity leave from being a stay at home mother is officially over. John went back to work full time today. The little man is three weeks old. E and J took the opportunity to not sleep well last night. E ended up sleeping on the sofa---and falling off somewhat cheerfully in the middle of the night. J was sneezy and stuffy but seems fine this morning. I have a backache from the IMAX show at the science museum yesterday--don't try to sit in the exact center.

On the other hand, preschool starts tomorrow. Well, orientation is tomorrow. E will officially start next friday, but she is excited about tomorrow. I think preschool will be a huge organizing factor for the whole family. We all have to be dressed and out of the house by eight fifteen. Ella will have ballet and story hour at the library on tuesdays, so thursday is the only weekday we don't have some organized activity.

Three weeks old today

Three weeks old today, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Sally & Ella

Sally & Ella, originally uploaded by styro.

Ed, Pat and Little John

Ed, Pat and John John, originally uploaded by styro.

daddy and john

daddy and john, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Rock a bye baby with a bear on his bottom. E likes to shriek in pretend fear, "There is a bear on my brother's bottom."

First shoes

First shoes, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

JP models his first shoes.

Uncle John

uncle john, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

I had to post this because my brother fears that he will appear on the internet snuggling a baby, so here it goes. This is John Butler of Farmville, Virginia. Babies like him and he just doesn't know why.

Napping with Papa

Napping with Papa, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Little John encourages everyone to just lie down and take a little nap. Maybe it is that new baby smell.

Ella takes her Brother on the Road

Ella takes her Brother on the Road, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Sweet Feet

Sweet Feet, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Here is where Ella's adventures begin

Here is where Ella's adventures begin, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

blue butterflies and swarms of goldfinches

On the Road

On the Road, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Ella and John took a morning hike.

Click on it!

"Click on it" is Ella's answer to all computer woes. She just wishes she was more adept at letters so she could type in pbskids.org by herself. That would just set her free. She recently found the colonial williamsburg site for kids and now wants her own corset. Well, Christmas is coming.

In case you don't know, click on a picture in the blog to get to my Flickr photos. I'm going to try to put all my pictures there and get them organized somehow. The move to digital is dangerous in that the pictures seem to exist in this netherworld. Since John was born I got out all of Ella's albums and realized that I hadn't put a single picture in a book since her last birthday. One of my first trips out of the house with the baby was to Target to get two nice scrapbooks for them and to print a hundred photos off of my camera that I've been saving since last November. J also fixed our printer that has been down for, oh, a year. E has been printing pages from Seven Little Monsters to color. We'll never have to buy a coloring book again.

After the bath

After the bath, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

I'm two weeks old today

I'm two weeks old today, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Dr Samples

Every little kid in Dublin was at the pediatrician today getting their last minute health certificates for school. JBP has gained four oz since last week and his bones are healing. He got his blood drawn from his big toe, and it hurt Ella more than it hurt him. His red blood count was a little elevated, and that is why he is so pink and has a tendency towards bluish feet and hands. The doctor said that it is fine and will slowly diminish over time. I think we can safely transfer him to a more local pediatrician now for his one month check-up.

Ella went to Hand in Hand this afternoon and is so tired right now. J is giving her a bath and we are hoping for the seven-thirty bedtime tonight. She requested candlelight at dinner tonight, that and "Jerry" (Seinfield). Tomorrow we are starting to eat at the table every night.

Ella and John

Ella and John, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Date Night

For those of you who know that I've seen one movie in the theatre this year and haven't slept through the night since 2001, you will be surprised to know that I went on a date last night. With my husband. We went out and painted at one of those girlie pottery painting places and had dinner at an indian place. We painted a big long platter of fruits, vegetables, and dragonflies. J was quite afraid of the painting and said that he hadn't done an art project since middle school. This is just not true because every year I get a three foot tall homemade Valentine complete with poems, cut out hearts and red glitter glue. We were inspired (somewhat, I hope) by little John's first vist to the farmer's market yesterday and a swarm of dragonflies in the pasture across from our house.

Speaking of my one movie this year, we got a great baby gift from Uncle Joe and Aunt Ren, a year of Netflix to keep this date night thing going as the little ones snooze away. J is such a moviegoer, and has been known to go to more than one movie in a day. We were pretty spoiled in Portland by the number of moviehouses we could visit without even getting in the car. Now we can just walk to the mailbox. Thanks guys.

Roanoke Star

Roanoke Star, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Not a diet for the weak

I lost 27 pounds this week and gained several bra sizes. Why am I not a supermodel?

Wake Up Time

Everything's A OK, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

John isn't so interested in Sesame Street.

Peaceful Morning

Peaceful Morning, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

I can't believe it is seven thirty.

Stalking the House

We went to see a house in Christiansburg yesterday, and the only problem with it was that it was in Christiansburg. http://www.navicamls.net/prospect/default.asp?k=105&b=296292&a=360&c=3993

Otherwise it was perfect. It had three bedrooms upstairs and a tiled bath with a clawfoot tub. Down stairs there is a living room, dining room, library, and bedroom/playroom/ family room, plus another nice full bath. The kithen and baths were newly renovated--stainless fridge and gas stove, cast iron sink, nice tiles and beautiful cabinetry and fixtures. The fixtures suited the 1915 house, and the floors were beautiful wood. It had a big backyard with a deck, and a front porch with a swing. John could have had the library with it's floor to ceiling bookcases and little passway for coffee from the kitchen. The house actually looked better than these pictures because it is empty now. It would need no work at all---perhaps removal of some wallpaper borders upstairs.

The street itself was nice, but there are no sidewalks and there is nothing to walk to. Zero in the neighborhood amenities department. I think you could walk to Main street in Cburg to buy a gun or get some pork products and Cheerwine soda at Wades. We just couldn't make that kind of call on the spot, but we are excited about the prospect of moving into a new house in the next six months. We can learn to tile and refinish ourselves. Hello Home Depot. We are back to square one--farm in Floyd or in town Blacksburg. Well, call it square two. We added close in areas of Giles County and Craig County down 460 west towards West Virginia. We have to move somewhere because our pipes are playing the alien organ in the middle of the night.




.

Six days old

Six days old, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

I can sleep while doing a russian dance.

Naptime

Naptime, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

At 3:30 in the morning mamma gave in and gave me a paci. I love it. She won't drink diet coke at dinner again.

Pediatrician Today

JBP had his first office vist this morning, and apparently he is shrinking on schedule. He is 10 pounds 2 oz and 20 3/4 inches today. Most babies lose 10% of their body weight in the first week and then climb from there. E lost more than a pound in her first week. He was pronounced beautiful by his pediatrician.

He had no jaundice, although they thought he had a mild case on the way out of the hospital. His bruised arms and fingers are almost resolved.The doctor checked his broken clavicle and four ribs and reassured us about them. He doesn't seem to be in any pain from those. His lungs are fine after his 24 hours of oxygen in the hospital. He spent a day under a cake plate in a room by himself when the pediatrician that saw him on his first morning thought that he may have had a collapsed lung because of the trauma of the four broken ribs. The nurses that took care of him there were incredibly sweet and kind. They got me a pump almost instantly so that he could continue his breastfeeding, and he was drinking out of a little cup. Down south is still a bit of a mystery for me. He has a Level 1 hypospadius---his little hole for peeing is about half an inch lower than normal. Just after his birth they couldn't find it at all which was a little distressing, but as you know, he is peeing all over anyone that is brave enough to change a diaper. He didn't get circumsized because this might need surgery around age 1 to correct the hypospadius and the way that his penis curves to one side, so he is going au naturale.

Ella walked (and rode piggyback) all the way downtown for an outing with J. They did their usual library to Bolos circuit and then then went to the elementary school playground. They called for a ride and we went out to the Lebanese place for dinner. E was almost too tired to eat and she has another blister from her flipper floppers. J didn't know they wouldn't work for a long walk.

My children, whoa, I have two, are in bed and I'm having a beer. Thanks Anne and Rich for the Black Jack Porter from Floyd Fest in the fridge. Best beer I've had all year! Cheers!

He's home!

I'm so happy he peed on my head!

Ella's first real diaper. Mamma doesn't really know about the boys, and the pee arcs into the air and onto Ella's head. She laughs uncontrollably saying, "I'm so glad he did that because he really must have had to go. " She calmly wipes her head with a baby wipe.

More pictures...

E. says baby J. is huge-mungous.

_J.

Guest blogger J. with news!

John Butler Provo
August 10, 2005
10:58 Pm
10 bs lbs, 11 oz
21.6 inches

A lot of work by young J. and S., but both are doing fine.

Thanks!

Off to the Hospital

12:12 am. Off to the hospital at this slightly ungodly hour.

Contractions

I've been having contractions for about four hours. I'm not running around packing anything, but Ella made her move as well the day before her scheduled induction.

Antsy

I think I'm just making everyone antsy at this point. We went grocery shopping today, and John took E on a hike this afternoon on an old farm that is now a park. Hopefully she sleeps tonight. Last night she was up for almost an hour crying but couldn't really communicate what she wanted. Water. Banana. Turn off air. Lullaby. Blow nose. The Planet Sleeps lullaby CD finally did the trick.

I have no ankles, and my toes are sausagey.

Four Days or Less

We went to Stepping Out, our town's summer festival last night. It was hot, but we went late and walked around and looked at the craft vendors. There was some cool pottery. We had some dinner from Gillie's on the lawn and talked to Kathryn and her girls. Some kids were nice enough to give Ella some balloons, and she got together with a small pack to run and play in the grass behind the main stage. I am trying to find humor in the fact that there is no comfortable position. I've been thinking that this is the first time in my life that I would like to have a recliner chair, a portable one.

Am I in the Wrong Line?

I have met some very nice women here in Appalachia. I must insert a quick story I heard from one of these nice women this morning. We were talking about what a small town we live in and she said that she hit a deer on MAIN STREET last year.

Anyway, I'm obviously on some sort of mamma circuit...ballet, kindermusik, playgrounds, Kroger, Swim lessons, etc. I have lived here less than a year, and people, more often than not, say "Do I know you from Bible study?" No, I have not been studying that since the early eighties. Pretty much given it up entirely. Maybe my new glasses are screaming bible study 1958. Aren't there any heathens here? We have the best of intentions to start going to the Unitarian Church, and E's new preschool is at the Unitarian Church; we don't feel like we need to go to Church, but we thought the UU's would be a good source of thoughtful intelligent heathens.

Every doctor's office I go into seems to have a bible in the waiting room, and there was Christian rock playing at the dermatologist's office. That is spooky. I did hear some of the Jesus moms talking about consulting this dermatologist at Bible studay about hypoallergenic sunscreen for kids. Maybe this is part of the Bush health care plan....free medical advice at bible study groups.

Three Year Old Bus Stop

When E wants some attention from John she goes and stands on her bed and calls out that she is waiting at the three year old bus stop. He is to run in there and pick up her, either on his back or "like a sack of potatoes". The sack of potatoes request is usually at bedtime.

I use her like a magic eight ball all the time. I ask her daily if the baby will be born that day. She has had several good answers. Her number one answer is, " No". Sometimes she says, "I know because I'm down with him" Her most mature answer is, " I can't tell you because he'll be born when he is ready." This morning she said he would be here at "6:20 of the longest day." Consider that nine months ago we were driving north on route 15 and Ella said, "Did you know that there is a baby in your belly?". No, I did not know.

Noodle Noodle

Noodle Noodle, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

E decided that she just wasn't diving in today after great success with the noodle. Maybe tomorrow she'll try with the "Goo Goo Goggles".

Last OB appointment

I am 1.5 centimeters dialated and baby John's head is "engaged". I had a quick ultrasound just to be 100% sure that he was head down, and I got to see his chubby little face. I have an appointment at the hospital at 1 am on tuesday morning if nothing happens before then. I'm so excited. He could still very well wait until next week and be induced, but the doctor said he felt good about the induction working.

Tuesday again

After having contractions for a few days, it seems to have stopped. Next week would probably be better than this week. No one has to rush here to take care of Ella. Grandmarie is coming for the weekend, and Granny is coming on tuesday.

John and Ella just went to EATS to get healthy snacks for the hospital. For those of you who don't know, my husband likes to eat during times of stress. I just hope he doesn't get anything stinky. Anne Giffen "catered" Ella's birth, arriving at the hospital with a large bag from Trader Joes. I think there was even cake. I had the ice chips. Fabulous.

Ella has been very good today. She didn't want to leave the pool after swimming, but she sat on her towel and had snacks until she realized that it was really hot. We read five books after lunch and then took a nap for a few hours (Miracle!). This afternoon she set up the Fisher Price farm and the dollhouse together on the living room rug an played for a long time. I know it will be a long evening though since we aren't even having dinner until seven.

You Know...

You know you live in a small town when the bagger at the grocery store offers to drive you home. You know you are too pregnant when the bagger at the grocery store offers to drive you home. Drive, I can drive. I'm going to go home and mop. I just went to swimming lessons with a three year old.

Ten Days or Less

I realized that at this point in my previous pregnancy that Ella was going to be inside for 31 more days. That just wouldn't work here. Today marks 37 weeks (full term today!) and E was born at 41 weeks, 1 day. She had been served her eviction papers and would have been induced the next day. HHmmm. How much more could she have weighed?

I had contractions all weekend, but nothing that progressed or changed. John was having one of those stress colds....sudden armpit pain when I thought my water broke yesterday morning. He had to take a nap and fret over the uncut grass. The sun came out later and that grass did get cut. He keeps wailing, "but I need another week". He might get the week, he might not.

Every piece of clothes not on our bodies is clean. The fridge is clean. John was asking Ella if she had any questions or worries about baby John coming home. Her question...."What are his television priviledges?"

Hee Haw

Hee Haw, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

I did bring the Youngest Democrat!

Potluck Picnic with a Donkey

Last night we went to a potluck/fundraiser for Tim Kaine. E loved it because it was at Nellie's Cave Park and there is a playground. She proudly wrote her own name tag and shook a few hands.

Saturday

J says if I get Ella out of here he will clean like a banshee. Now, that is a great deal. We will do the groceries and perhaps the Hand in Hand Playground. Every day that we don't have the baby is like a tiny reprieve--more time to clean or organize something. This doesn't seem to take into consideration the level of destruction that one three year old can create in one day. Also, my project list is taking on a mental patient quality. I really want a new handle for the play stove that Ella and I refinished. Other grosser aspects of the domestic scene are just too much to even start. There are, however, stacks of little tiny diapers on the changing table and little bins of Dreft scented onsies, socks, and hats on the shelf above. I feel like I can't get much bigger. Baby parts are recognizable across my belly, and sleep is nearly impossible. Even E recognizes when I have the sausage toes. I had to go to the doctor's office yesterday to get my BP checked because it was high on wednesday. It was normal. For me "normal" is 100/60 and the other day it was 130/80. I think it was because E had broken out of the waiting room and was looking for Dr Roberts to tell him some knock knock jokes. John was following her, and I was afraid that he would see me on the scales and know how much this nine month pregnant wife of his weighs.

Grace Catlin

I'm very serious about this balloon Anne, Rich, and Grace Catlin from Albany, Oregon just spent the night with us on the way to FloydFest. Grace slept in baby John's crib, helping Ella to see that having a baby in her room is no big deal. Grace is little but very content and self sufficient. Hard to believe but next time we see them there will be four kids. I just realized that these are the first folks apart from family to come and visit us in Blacksburg----and they came from Oregon. Well, they were pretty brave to come before we got the Anteater in our 2 bedroom house with 1.2 bathrooms.

Grace sleeps through the night at one year old. I may have to think about this weaning at one concept in a different light. So, we wish them well as they head out to find a campsite down in Floyd. It is a wee bit steamy and constantly on the verge of rain.

14 days to go!

I had at least 30 contractions today....and they did nothing. Dialated 0. After this weekend I'm just going to start doing more walking,etc I do only have one more doctor's visit though.

E finished ballet today and has the month of August off. We ran into Sharry from The Children's Garden at the library today, and E remembered her. E played 2.5 hours in the play area with some cool kids, seven of them playing some sort of domestic royalty game. One little guy was named Tecumseh.

There is a crib in my house...

...and now Ella wants to move back into a toddler bed. This actually would work if there was a place to put her big girl bed. Her room looks like a bedstore. I think we have to take off the door and put up a curtain because the door won't even shut. She is POed at the whole sharing a room idea at this point, but that's just tough. Gonna happen.

We are officically out of space for any more toys. If something comes in, that means something has got to go out. She doesn't need another hat, pocketbook, or hair accessory until she is ten. We are maxed out on bears and stuffed guys, and there are so many doll babies that she can't remember their names. Ella just got her third bookcase, quite an achievement at 3. I think I was in my twenties.

Domestic Anxiety

Ella has covered the entire futon in puzzles and her personal library. In between play sessions, she is helping me with her room. I have been organizing everything she owns and putting away clothes for both John and Ella. All of his clothes are washed and the crib things are in the washer now. Yesterday E was against the crib being for her baby brother. She thought that it was going to be for her dolls. She thought that the baby could sleep in her bed and he cuddled by her. Hopefully her outlook on this subject will have improved by the time we put up the crib today. She has a mobile to build, so maybe that will help. I put another coat of paint on her little stove a few minutes ago. There was no way that I was letting her help again. She was a great sander. She scrubbed away like a demon. Her painting didn't have quite the finesse and required three hairwashes during the project. It was freakishly hot, and I shouldn't have even attempted it on the front porch.Finally I convinced her that she was finished and gave her a bath in the pool before she could even go in. There is only a little paint left in her hair.

Some sort of nesting instinct must be kicking in today. I am so sure that I have to take everything out of the pantry and rearrange it.

Dragonfly Migration

Dragonflies are migrating--perhaps millions of them--through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Strangely, I saw one sitting on our front steps yesterday, jet black with square white patches on the wings.

Weekend

Mr Cleaver is out mowing the lawn this morning. It was getting pretty deep, and some cauldron of heat is approaching from the west. He filled up Ella's pink pool for later in the day.

I'm painting the living room closet, and then E and I are going to paint her oven and some shelves for her room. I'm trying to work myself into some sort of nesting phase, but it isn't real...I'm just afraid it isn't going to kick in. Yesterday we had a great day. In the early morning we went to the Farmer's Market. It always makes me want to move to Floyd. Here is the latest interesting listing. 16 acres right near the parkway. http://www.navicamls.net/prospect/default.asp?k=126&b=276925&a=360&c=3993

After the market, John and Ella went to the democratic party HQ (doughnuts!) and I went to get a haircut and a pedicure. I had saved a birthday present gift card for a pre-baby outing. J and E then went to the Easy Chair Bookstore for story hour, and Ella met a friend who read to her for quite a while after that. Then we got some tacos at the Cabo Fish Taco place. It was much better than the last time..they actually brought me what I ordered. Last time they did not and didn't even know or admit it when I asked. Great cole slaw with spices and roasted pumpkin seeds. If you are craving cabbage, go there. There is great cabbage in the taco too. ;) It could be a pregnant thing too. It would be a great restaurant if they made their own sauce.

Then we drove around Airport Acres to see if there were any for sale signs. John did run into a friend there, and he liked the dense little shaded neighborhood.

Ella fell asleep on the way home, but then she woke up within 5 minutes of being in her bed. I was having lots of contractions, and John played with her in her room for an hour and a half while I took a nap. Later, Ella played in her pool, and we tried to get the morning glories to climb the trellis.

Cricket Rescue

121_2125_1, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Forget swimming, I have crickets to rescue.

Happy Birthday to Aunta Shelly

Happy Birthday to Aunta Shelly, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

E has baked a cake for your birthday, complete with sparkles and candles.

Troll Patrol

I think I would just like to sleep until September. As if my frequent potty stops aren't enough, Ella wakes up several times a night with random commentary. Last night she woke up to say, "Yellow Squash". She has also been talking about trolls a lot, and has John on troll alert when she goes to bed each night. These are the same trolls in the Three Billy Goats Gruff....ie..."mama, what is a plank?" All the windows and dooors must be closed and the grownups have to keep their eyes open. She also feels that I'm not holding up my end of the troll patrol because I can't run as fast as I used to.

I've been talking about her making a birthday card for Aunta Shelly, but nothing she has constructed would actually fit in an envelope. She is mostly interested in putting up the flag on the mailbox in order to post something.

One hour until swimming lessons, and we need to track down a large stack of library books.

Ellabelly

Ellabelly, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Three weeks to go!

Kicking with Courtney

Kicking with Courtney, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Backfloat

Backfloat, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Hollywood

Last night E put on one of her abstract getups...pink leotard, fairy wings, maribou slides, upside down colonial bonnet, and tiara. She walked in and looked in the mirror and said, "Am I rockin'?". This is the girl who at last year referred to her room as "backstage".
E went totally underwater in swimming today, surprising herself most of all. She was happy to finally get a noodle, and they did kicking while floating with the noodle.

Preschool Interview

Ella's first comment was, "They have silver bell flowers here." There was a whole border of hostas blooming outside the Unitarian Church. The Children's Garden is tucked into a wooded neighborhood making it somewhat difficult to find. The "classrooms" are simple and open and filled with basic (and mostly wooden toys) toys. Sharry showed Ella the block and clay area and Ella wanted to tell her about the modelling clay that we have that never dries up. Sharry has cinnamon scented PlayDoh.

The school was like the set of Mr Rodgers. The dollhouse is wide enough for many children to play in, and there is an extensive "laundry" and housekeeping area. E took all the laundry off of the clothesline and started ironing them at the small ironing board, requesting a basket to put her ironed clothes in. She told Sharry some of her ironing theories (always start at the edge), and looked around for a way to construct a grocery store conveyor belt . There are twenty two students and three teachers, one of which we met at a fourth of July party a few weeks ago. They are three, four, and five years old and divide into groups during "academic" time according to ability, not age. Ella could do math and reading with the older children if she is ready.
The playground area has two big sandboxes, several swings and climbing things, a vegetable garden, a full sized pioneer wagon, and lots of rakes, shovels, buckets, and according to Ella, "scratchers".

They send home a monthly syllabus of units--they focus on one major theme a week. There are field trips, a special movement and dance teacher, and daily "fruit and vegetable snack time". They all sit on a special quilt to eat.

I'm sold. It starts September 6. This morning E asked if I thought Sharry had taste buds.

Baby John has a tentative birthday--August 10

Four weeks from today, folks, unless he happens to have a mind of his own and be born earlier, baby John will be making his debut. Ella has set her brother up for an early delivery since she weighed so much- almost ten pounds. He will be 38 and an half weeks gestation--considered full term plus a week. My doctor is also going on vacation, and we didn't want to have a repeat of the grumpy stranger who wanted to give me a a c-section in the middle of the night so that he could get some sleep. So, I'll either go into the hospital late on the ninth or early on the tenth.

E was quite a grump on the way to the doctor's office, but she cheered up once she got there. The baby's heartbeat sounds like a pony, and we were joking that if there is a pony in there then all of Ella's dreams are coming true. She'll have a pony but won't have to share her mama with someone new. He is staying in the same position all the time now, my right, with his feet kicking me towards the left. The feet don't hurt, but the little bottom does. Hmmm. Can you stretch a stretchmark?

Enough about me, this is Ella's world. She had ballet and swimming today. Even she knew that she would need a nap, but I dragged her out of bed for the doctor's appt at two. I'm signing her up for another two weeks of swimming. She is so thrilled to be there and so willing to try whatever the teacher says. I see these other mothers being just horrible and gettting angry because their kids are scared. These are preschoolers. One especially paranoid mother sits by the edge reminding her even younger toddler of all the ways he could drown. No wonder big brother won't let go of the edge and cries for thirty minutes. One little girl dropped out today--she wouldn't go in at all and her mother was outright mad. There is a new little guy with down's syndrome, and he is so happy to be in that water. His mother stays back and lets the teacher's direct him, and he is doing fine--totally willing to put his head under and come up laughing.

Ballet was fine. I think there were only three girls today. We are going to pick up Hyumi and go to the library one day next week for some playtime.

Be right there as soon as I grind this corn

Be right there as soon as I grind this corn, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Colonial Ella on the Road

Ella spent four days in Williamsburg with Granny this week, and two of those days were spent in full colonial costume. We took the ferry at Jamestown, and she loved feeding the seagulls. She walked on Duke of Gloucester Street and visited the shops. She rode in a 160 year old carriage that has also carried Queen Elizabeth. She had lunch at the Trellis (where mama and daddy met), and in the evening she saw a colonial variety show at the Kimball theatre.

The next day we went to Jamestown where Ella boarded the Susan Constant, played indian games, ground corn, and saw a great horned caterpillar. She scraped a deer hide with an oyster shell, and drew pictures in the soft sand.

While she loved the attention the colonial costume seemed to draw, she will tell you that her favorite part of the week was playing tennis.

I've included a picture of a giraffe tongue, and just to clarify...there are no giraffes in colonial Williamsburg. They are from an earlier trip to the Richmond metro zoo.

Ella in the Magnolia Tree

Ella in the Magnolia Tree, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Carriage ride in Williamsburg

carriage ride, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

It is amazing how a costume can change the personality of a three year old.

On board the Susan Constant

on board the Susan Constant, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Ella investigated every nook and cranny of the ship.

Colonial Ella

Colonial Ella, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

A sultry day in Williamsburg.

giraffe tongue

giraffe tongue, originally uploaded by sbprovo.

Ella feeds the giraffe.

Sleep theory by Ella

If you get up too early you will yawn.

Talking Outfits

If only my camera was here. Ella took off for the farmer's market this morning wearing: a pink leotard, long pink tutu, gold wings, purple headband, celedon asian style purse, white gloves, white eyelet bobbysocks, and sparkly red maryjanes. I'm picking up my camera on tuesday.

I've vacuumed and mopped and taken a shower, and I'm ready to go back to bed. It is steamin' outside, and I can't get motivated enough to clean out the living room closet. I'm going to set up the changing table in there with lots of kid storage on the shelf above and beside. Ella can keep toys in there to minimize the crazy clutter in her room.

She is in a spilling phase. She is somewhat helpful in cleaning up, but she spilled both courses of her breakfast on the floor. Makes one miss the high chair days.

Maybe John will hook up the AC today, and maybe we can go for a drive to look at the house in town and the Shawsville Pike house.