All clear

My 36 week check up was today. The Doc was happy we made it to this point and said, whenever the baby and I were ready, was fine by him. Well, I'm ready...now all I need is to get our son ready. Any suggestions? And no, I'm not drinking castrol oil, or whatever it is, fish oil maybe? Jere suggested the diving board...not bad, there is a high dive... No just kidding. I'm not going to force him out, but I'm not going to necessarily take it easy either. It is hot, I'm freezing my men into quilts, I'm having trouble breathing, my feet are numb more often than not, and I don't want to eat...only drink fluids. Our bags are packed, and will be in the car by this afternoon. Arrangements have been made for Dar to spend the night with friends if he needs to. My projects are now done, so it has become a waiting game. Let's take a pole shall we? When will I have this baby? Any guesses?

Why western is better...

This is a typical Japanese style toilet...and this is why western style toilets are a much better idea.

Enoshima Island

Yesterday, we went to Enoshima Island for our joint anniversary/Louis' 31st B-day celebration. It's about an hour away (only 19km). The weather was warm, and we haven't hit the summer tourist season. It was lovely. Dar had fun running in the water and sand with Dad. The sand was shale glitter and was impossible to get off of us. This is the island as we came up to it-
To get to the beach we had to climb over this wall and then back up again to get to the car. On our way down, a group of older gentlemen had just climbed up and were worried I would deliver the baby on my way down. We had a lovely conversation with one of them who was very sweet. Both times we made the trip over audible astonishment was coming from more than one location at my having just gone over that wall. But hey, it looks worse than it is. And Louis helped me.

Dar just threw that frisbee, backhanded. Pretty impressive flight pattern...it went right to Louis.

Our jet kite, it wasn't quit windy enough where we were but they flew it for a little while.

Fukuishi-or lucky stone. Or at least the building around it.

Here is the stone.

Since the beach excursion had tuckered out Dar, we didn't do the stairs. We both rested while Louis ran up and took some pictures. Although I am very much looking forward to not carrying around an extra 30 pounds for baby and going back to explore the island. It really was glorious. They have sea caves, gardens, an aquarium on the mainland, several shrines and memorials. It will be a worthwhile trip back.

The lighthouse.

It was pretty cool. Behind where Louis is standing, they have a pathway of rocks, logs, and bumps that are designed for foot massaging when walking on it barefoot. I walked a little ways down the path. It generally felt good. A few of the massagers hurt me though. But there are some spots on my feet right now that don't like being touched due to pregnancy, so I'm not the best judge.

Spiderman/Nacho Libre

I'm way behind on this one, but when Louis came home from San Diego he had brought a cape for Dar. Purchased in Tiauana, it has spiderman in gold on the back, but a Nacho Libre-esque hood. Hence the reason he bought it, I think. Anyway, Dar loved it.

Has it really been 7 years??

Today is our 7 year anniversary. It sounds a little unbelievable to my ears. I know we've been married a while, but really...7 years?? Yikes. I mean, that is almost 10 years! Wow, how time flies. In those 7 years, we've...

-lived in 5 places, 2 seaboards, one foreign country
-have owned and sold a house
-own(ed) 8 cars--3 trucks, 2 sedans, 2 'classic projects', and a beater upper van
-bought 2 dogs--neither still with us
-had 1 child, another on the way
-finished law school
-been through 1 deployment
-had many callings
-been through 5 different temples...worldwide (I just had to add that :))
-have spent lots of time with our famillies, both locally and on joint vacations
-and...we've been through rocky times everyplace we've been, until I think we can safely say, we have finally hit our stride


....and we still have not taken the time to do those dance lessons we've always talked about doing!! ;);)

Louis, it's been great. Ok maybe not all of it, but for the majority of the time, you have made me a very happy women who loves her life. And, even with the challenges, I wouldn't change a thing. You and Dar are my world. I look forward to seeing another mini-you running around with us in life and more after that. If given the chance again, I would still make the same choice as I did 8 years ago when you proposed to me in BWI airport.

I love you honey.