Something to live up to

I still feel that the challenge I've always faced as a writer was naming my children. And I feel that your name is like a one-line poem and that it should resonate even before somebody even meets you.

~E. Ethelbert Miller

Baby's Room

The Bean's room is starting to look more like a nursery.



We got the crib home yesterday after a little misstep. We had ordered it from the JC Penny catalog, and when we went to pick it up at the store, we realized that the box would not fit in either of our cars.

So, yesterday, Brandon rented a small Uhaul, picked up the crib and brought it home.

Thankfully, when we order the dresser, it will be delivered to the house.



I think it looks pretty good in there. But it does make the room feel a lot smaller. We'll have to see if the bookshelf gets to stay once we've brought in the dresser and a rocker of some sort.

An important moment

I look a little bewildered in this photo. And if you look very closely, you might be able to see why.

Brandon took this picture mere moments after we discovered that we are going to be parents.

I wish I'd taken a photo of him. He is so very excited.

We are about 14 weeks along now in this baffling journey, starting to think about picking out a crib, starting to talk about names, almost finished clearing out the room that will be the nursery. Much less nausea (though it hasn't fully gone away), much more energy for me.

But still trying to wrap our brains around the enormity of the thing.

I have been craving cheese. And guacamole. Sometimes together in the form of nachos.

I have been instructed to take photos of my belly, but have so far resisted.

I have also been asked when I would make a baby blog. But I think, all things considered, that this is the place for any baby blogging that might happen. This blog has been with me an awfully long time (in blog years, it's ancient). It seems only right that I record the next chapter here as well.

So stay tuned. In a few months, these unfinished files will seem even more unfinished as we bring a brand new blank page into the world.

Strawberries

Strawberries
Originally uploaded by LacyLu42.

Oh man. So many berries. So much jam!

Yesterday, we picked 12 pints of strawberries and 6 pints of raspberries, as well as a pound of basil and bought two pounds of tomatillos.

Yesterday, I made salsa verde. Today, I made eight pints of strawberry jam (some with balsamic vinegar—really good!), one and a half pints of raspberry basil jam, six cups of pesto and a partridge in a pear tree. That left two pints of raspberries and two pints of strawberries to freeze, and two pints each to eat fresh.

Thank you so much to my husband who hulled about a million strawberries while I cooked!

Perfect

DSC04684.JPG
Originally uploaded by LacyLu42.

Is it weird that I miss his toes?

Pooped

Pooped
Originally uploaded by LacyLu42.

Sometimes, it's hard work being a puppy (or a Brandon).

Puppy Hugs

Puppy Hugs
Originally uploaded by LacyLu42.

Sometimes, we like to pretend she's a lap dog.

Graduation Day!

Graduation Day!
Originally uploaded by LacyLu42.

Bella graduated from beginner puppy training on Sunday, and they had an adorable hat for her to wear! She looks so unhappy, though!

I call this one, "Cone of Shame."

Bella and Brandon Roughhousing

Bella and Brandon Roughhousing
Originally uploaded by LacyLu42.

This, my friends, is the face of puppy love. Look at that sweetness! I'm going to get a print of this and tape it to the fridge to look at when she's busy destroying something.

More photos on flickr!

Meet Bella

Bella's First Day
Originally uploaded by LacyLu42.

Allow me to introduce you to Bella, the newest member of our little family.

Bella is six months old and she's a black lab/border collie mix. We found her today at a PetSmart. She'd been with Every Creature Counts, a no-kill shelter here. The woman from the shelter (named Wendy!) told us that animals come to them when they've got no options left; Bella was slated for euthanasia in Mississippi before she was rescued by Every Creature Counts. So, we named her Bella because she's a southern belle.

She was pretty shy and scared when we got her, but she's warming up to us beautifully. She's been in shelters her whole life, so she doesn't really know what to do with a house and a yard. They told us she wasn't potty trained, but we've only had one accident.

Wendy from the shelter was nearly crying when we said we wanted to take her, because she was so scared, she wouldn't even come out of her crate. We spent more than half an hour, sitting outside the crate, tempting her with treats to get her to come close enough to be petted. Wendy said she was afraid Bella wouldn't get adopted, because no one would take the time to get to know her. But we just fell in love and felt like we could give her a forever home and all the attention she needs.

Cleo is taking this a lot better than we had anticipated. She's not hiding or anything; she's mostly interested and a little wary, though not keen on being approached too quickly! We're really pleased that she's handling it as well as she is.

More photos to follow, I'm sure! Or you can click the picture and go to flickr to see more photos from her first day.