Diamond in your nose

I fully support my children's teachers.

Having been there, done that with parents who feel their off-spring are special snowflakes who should get special rules, I try to be extra aware of what is going on in the classroom and do my best to keep those standards at home.  This is mainly in regards to homework and classroom consequences.  

However, there are times, when I want to beat my head against a wall rather than support a teacher.  Like today.  It is only because I know and recognize my child's strengths and weaknesses.  And while I am supportive of challenging him to encourage growth, I am still the one sitting with him as he struggles, whines, and frustrates the ever loving snot out of me.  

There are actually two things going one here today that are making my BP rise:

1.  Matt forgot his spelling book.  Matt forgets stuff every.day.  EVERY DAY.  And I usually remind him to get it together at pick up.  I had Jeff get the boys today (this momma is tired) and guess what--I wasn't there to nag, so something was forgotten.  This is an easy call for me.  I am not running back to the school.   Not going to write an excuse note.  Matt is going to deal with the classroom consequences of weekend homework AND my consequence of no Wii or TV time the rest of the week.  Like I said, easy call. Easy to support the teacher (and hope that Matt can get his act together to remember to bring his assignments home).  

2. And this is where I am struggling and literally want to throw a tantrum.  Matt has a daily journal as part of his homework.  About half the time it is "free journal" and the other half the teacher gives a topic.  Topics have included favorite food, why homework is important, why he wants to learn to read, and what he did over summer break.  Generally, Matt can crank the journal out in about 10 minutes.  And he enjoys it.  However, today he came home with the topic: diamond in my nose.  No, really, that is it.  No explanation, no direction.  Just that.  I suspected his teacher wanted some creativity so I called around to other parents to confirm and then explained to Matt that was the assignment.  Make something up about how you got a diamond in your nose (gross).  My logical and just-like-his-father-who-lacks-in-the-creativity-department child has been sitting for 30 minutes whining.  And making terrible faces.  Because he literally has no idea what to write.  And I want to tell him it IS a stupid subject and to write whatever he wants.  But I won't.  

And so I am frustrated.  Already upset with him regarding the missing assignment, I am really struggling to not go all psycho mommy on him about just sucking it up and writing out some dumb story about a diamond in his nose.  

Rocket Boy

This is Matthew.
In the morning I launched a rocket.  It went super high.  It almost went as far as my dad's old rocket went.  It was pretty cool.  I really liked it and I had lots of fun.
It took us a long time to set it up but it was really quick to launch it.
When I got home, I told my mom about it.  It was very very fun.

Me Me Me Monday

I am tired.
And that is quite honestly THE only complaint I have right now. 
About anything.  But especially about "me" (the baby incubating, never been this pregnant before, still rocking pre-pregnancy pants, walking at least 2 miles a day--me).

I remember being miserable the last weeks of pregnancy with Matt.  Oh man was that awful.  And even with Nic the aches and pains of my bones just carrying the extra awkward weight was enough to make me sore and grumpy.
But this pregnancy, two days (TWO DAYS) before my due date, I feel awesome.  It's strange.  And disconcerting.  And I am almost feeling like I am going to be pregnant forever.  That wouldn't be too terrible if I kept on feeling this way.  But, dang, I want to see my Emerson! 
And then there is the crazy pants mental part of this whole thing.  I keep waiting for my water to randomly break.  Any little twinge or remotely uncomfortable twitch I immediately am on alert.  I am too wired at night to sleep well because I don't want to sleep through labor.  Even though I know that sounds dumb, it still keeps me up!  This waiting stuff is for the birds.
And then there are all the "old wives tales" of how to get labor started.  I have tried some of these.  Obviously didn't work even though some women swear by them.  I guess I have been picky in what I have tried: no castor oil or evening primrose oil.  And I am not inclined try some of the crazier things I have read about (we do have an induction date soon).  But it would be nice if Em came on his own. 
The boys ask every morning if the baby is coming.  And are disappointed at bedtime when he hasn't arrived yet.  They are going to be great big brothers.
Andy is antsy as ever.  Which isn't completely helpful with my state of mind. 

I do try and remind myself that, really, this is a good thing.  There is nothing wrong with either Emerson or me.  We are healthy.  He's big and while that may be scary/intimidating, he's perfect.  I am healthy.  My blood pressure hasn't gone up much and, thanks to physical therapy, actually carrying Em is easier and less painful.  I guess he and I had our rough time in the beginning.  Hyperemesis and headaches and scary moments have led to a ridiculously lovely end of pregnancy.  So it is ok that I am still a big ol' preggo.  It is ok that other parents at drop off/pick up times at school are surprised I am still there and still walking the kids.  It is ok my belly looks like a giant balloon.  It is ok to be excited to meet my littlest one...but still have a smile on my face and an upbeat answer when people ask how I am feeling.  

Lazy Sunday

Andy and I danced to this at our wedding.  Almost nine (NINE) years later it still gets me teary eyed and reminds me of how in love I am.  <3

A better day...

...could not have been planned.
Today was amazing.
It was one of those rare days where we all managed to find the balance between accomplishing what needed to be done and getting to do what we wanted to do.
The boys were happy, cooperative, and sweet.
Andy and I laughed and teased and worked together.
It was a day that took it's own direction.  One that I didn't push and pull and stress over.  
It was good.  We need to do more days like these. 

It started with the boys and Andy getting up early and launching off a rocket.  Yes, for real.  It's been something they have wanted to do since we moved and the boys found the rocket.  Weather hasn't been cooperative until now.  But early morning trade winds were calm and the boys had a great launch.
We did the boring house work stuff--cleaning rooms and dusting and changing sheets.  The boys discovered another "rocket" set while cleaning and had a blast setting them off (reusable rockets that are set off by stomping/jumping on a pump). 
After the beds were all made, the four of us went to the big mall with our LEGO store and Jamba Juice gift cards.  The boys spent 45 minutes in LEGO store bliss picking out new sets while Andy and I scoped the newest sets and Advent calendars for Christmas.  We popped down to Lush to get some fancy-pants soaps (Andy adores the store) then over to Barnes and Nobles to book browse.  There is something inherently lovely about book stores and libraries--I could spend hours lost in either.  The boys and Andy picked up a few RC Aircraft magazines, a new story book, and I got a coloring book to keep me occupied during labor.  We grabbed a Jamba Juice for the ride home and scoped a new eatery (aka did a drive-by/parking check) before enjoying lunch at home.  Then I took a nap.
Andy helped the boys assemble the LEGO sets and did several loads of laundry.  He also took them to the mini-Nex for slushies and then on to the park. 
We squeezed in a trip to Target right before dinner.  I "needed" organizational stuff and side-walk chalk.  Andy and Jeff handled dinner: baked potatoes with bacon (mmm).  Now all of us are enjoying a movie, definitely past bedtime, cuddled up on the couch. 

Bliss.
And not because we went shopping or got new stuff, but because we spent the day together (minus my nap) doing fun family stuff, not fighting, not stressing, just enjoying the time.

Couch Surfing

I like movies.
I like to go to the theater.   It's fun to take the boys, plan a date with Andy, or go with girlfriends.  A few months ago, Andy and I got SUPER crazy and double dated to a movie that got out at almost 1:30 a.m.  That's a late night for us old people.  '
I also like (and prefer) to randomly catch a movie TV from the comfort of my own couch.
I like old classics and stuff from the 90's.   I enjoy the bad editing for commercial time and/or the bad replacement for swear words.  Ask me sometime about "Mister Falcon." 
When the boys were little, I could get away with squeezing in a movie during their nap or after bedtime.  But lately, and by lately I mean since Nic was two or three, I have not watched a whole lot of movies at home.  If the boys miraculously nap at the same time, I am napping as well.  And by the time the boys are in bed, and I have gotten myself settled for the evening, a two-hour movie puts my bed time too late. 
However, with both boys being in school, I have been enjoying watching movies during the day.  A girl can only clean so much in a week.  And even with lunch dates and pedicures (SUCH a rough life) I can squeeze in some flick action. 
It takes a little planning.  Daytime TV is all about talk shows and infomercials.  So I use my handy DVR to record whatever sounds good for the week or utilize the free on-demand stuff.  This week I have enjoyed two "classics" and a "new" movie: Speed, Can't Hardly Wait, and What's Your Number. 
It's fun to watch the movies uninterrupted and if I can squeeze in a little multi-tasking (laundry, blogging, whatever) it's even better.  Still a little weird to me to take the time to watch a movie by myself.  It is almost a luxury.  But I am getting used to it and am sure Em and I will watch plenty of movies together while his brothers are at school.

Not impatient, but just wondering...

Mondays child is fair of face,
Tuesdays child is full of grace,
Wednesdays child is full of woe,
Thursdays child has far to go,
Fridays child is loving and giving,
Saturdays child works hard for his living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay.

So, which will sweet Emerson be?  

Just for funsies:
Matt was a Friday child and is absolutely loving and giving.
Nic was a Wednesday child but other than being an occasional drama-king, is no where near full of woe. 
Andy was a Saturday child and he works SO HARD for his living (wow).
I was a Friday child.  Not going to judge myself on that one.

PS.  If I could pick a day for Em to be born in the next week, I would have trouble choosing.  We have several great family and friends with birthdays in the coming week--Em would be lucky to share a birthday with any of them.

The Difference a Day Makes

Some days you wake up to rainbows and butterflies and happy cuddles in bed and giggles.  Some days are all about easy morning routine completion, getting out the door on time with smiles, having backpacks and lunches and water bottles ready.  The afternoons bring homework without complaint and finished within a reasonable and not hair pulling amount of time.  Smiles and laughter coming from upstairs while little boys play and stay out of your way while you are able to fully clean the downstairs (tile floors all through the downstairs is a lot of mopping).  Days like that are great.
We had a day like that yesterday.  Blissfully breezed through it.  No worries.  Just smiles and hanging out with my littles while they were home.  Good conversation and cuddling with Andy when he was home.  And an awesome look at my sweet baby Emerson via ultra sound.  He's big (they estimate him to be 8 lbs 5 oz right now) but perfect and healthy.  I went to bed with a smile on my face.

I woke up with a smile, too.  Andy kissed me good morning and the boys were already wiggling for the best position to cuddle in bed.  That was fine.  Until I got elbowed.  The day kind of went ttthhhhhhhbbbbbbb after that.  There was yelling about forgotten socks and not being quick enough to eat breakfast.  I am low on everything in the fridge and pantry (going to the store at this point in pregnancy just sucks) and living with an extra adult in the house means we go through food 5 times faster (figure the math on that one out and I will award you the Nobel Prize).  My grand plans to grocery shop today were thwarted by giant cankles.  My house smells like burning because the "spring form pan incident" never got fully cleaned up from the oven and someone turned the oven on but ignored the smoke/awful smell coming from it.  The kids are fighting me on homework today.  Matt is having a breakdown over having to write a half-page journal entry on why homework is important.  Nic is dying over a paper cut.  I just snapped at the poor kiddo because he wouldn't stop crying on the floor.  

Days like this overwhelm me.  And make me wish for different things.  Question my decision making.  Inspire me to a 7 pm bedtime for the kids and a good book on the couch for myself.  But I am never alone on the couch any more.  So maybe a 7 pm bedtime for me, too.  At least I know there is always a chance tomorrow will be a rainbows and sunshine day.  And maybe I will finally make it to the store.  And clean my oven.  But first, I think I will set the goal of starting the day out with a big hug and kiss for my littles.

Muscles?

Yesterday we were driving home and some how got on the subject of lifting up cars.
Andy said that cars were too heavy to lift.  The boys added in their two-cents:
Nic:  Yeah, dad.  Cars are too heavy for people to lift.  Except Mr. Shawn could do it because he has crazy muscles. (Mr. Shawn is our old neighbor/good friend who is very fit and inspires my kiddos to do push up and sit-ups.)
Matt:  What do you mean he has big muscles to lift cars?
Nic:  You know, those big bump things under your skin?  Those are muscles and they make you strong.
Matt:  Soooooo, mom has a really BIG muscle on her belly?
Matt was totally being a smarty pants.  And Andy and I both cracked up.
It is a lot of fun to see the personality and snarky-ness and sense of humor in our kiddos.  Even if it is at my big belly's expense.

Ready!!..Almost

Ok, so I am a little superstitious.  Not in a can't-step-on-a-crack-must-take-even-number-of-steps sort of way.  But in a weirder way.  If that is possible.
I am superstitious in that if you don't want it to happen--don't talk about it (or knock on wood while you do if you must talk about it). Also, if you want something to happen, be absolutely as prepared as possible and everyone involved must be as prepared as possible as well.  It's crazy.  Really, I know this.  Crazy-pants.
Anyway, my hospital bag and Emerson's diaper bag have been packed for weeks.  WEEKS.  And for the same amount of time, I have been asking Andy to pack his bag.  Not that he really needs one (we are literally an eight minute drive from the hospital) but it wouldn't hurt for him to have a change of clothes and toothbrush.  He hasn't done it yet.  So, of course, crazy pants me, I blame him for Emerson not being here yet.
But here is kind of the funny thing:
Andy is doing it on purpose!  He totally believes in my crazy brand of superstitions.  Or is a giant procrastinator.  Hm.  Most people (those who know anything about Andy) would say it is the latter.  His super analytical and logical mind would never even consider superstition to factor in to Em's arrival and also he IS a huge procrastinator.
BUT
He is nervous for me to go into labor on my own.  Both Matt and Nic were induced.  With at least 8 hours notice ahead of time.  I was hooked up to machines that pinged and dinged and tracked contractions and monitored me and the baby.   This made Andy feel very safe.  And comfortable that if anything went wonky, the docs and nurses would be right there.  And he is perfectly happy for me to stay preggo until our induction date. 
But I really did not like being induced.  And would prefer not to go through it again.  Inductions are long.  And boring.  And pitocin is the devil.  I have never done what millions of women have done on their own: started labor.  And really, I want to.  I want the experience of getting to labor at home before going in to be hooked up to machines and monitors and IV's.  So I WANT to be ready with my hospital bags so we can throw them in the car after timing contractions and feeling the giddiness as we head to labor and delivery. 
I know, I am romanticising it all.  But given my crazy superstitions, a little romanticising can't be too unexpected.
I am going to try my best to convince Andy to pack a bag sometime today.  And if he doesn't I really hope I get the chance to yell at him (in my most kind and loving I-told-you-so way) while I am in labor and waiting to head up to Tripler.

Matt's Thoughts on the New 'Hood

This is Matt.
I want to tell you about our new house. 
I share a big bedroom with my brother.  We have bunk beds and switch who gets to sleep on the top bunk.  Mom helps us keep track.  We have a bar we can eat breakfast and lunch at.  It is cool.  Our backyard is small.  And we don't have water anywhere we can see.  But we got to plant flowers in our own pots and we have a playground on the other side of the fence.  It is pretty nice.
We can walk to our school.  It is nice but sometimes we ask mom to give us a ride because my back pack is heavy.
And the street names are weird in our new neighborhood.  In Pearl City we lived on Aloha.  And there were streets like Palm and Lehua and other Hawaiian words.  The street names here are weird and boring like Gordon and Enger and Arizona.  I guess Arizona is kinda cool if it is named after the battleship and not the state. 

Nic

Rocking what so many facebook friends have called:
The Kevin Bacon Look

Nic started Kindergarten a few weeks ago.  He had some apprehension about meeting a new teacher and new friends but is now loving school.


His favorite things about school vary from day to day.  Sometimes it is recess.  Sometimes it is circle time.  Sometimes it is morning work time.  But this week he added a new experience to his "favorite" list: buying school lunch. 
Matt's Kindergarten year we made a deal that he could pick a school lunch per week to buy.  We have kept this up and encouraged him to try new things (although somehow chicken nuggets, corn dogs, and cheeseburgers are usually picks for the week).  Nic was very excited that he was going to get to pick out school lunch this year, too.

This past week the boys both picked tacos.  And Nic was absolutely impressed at the whole process.  He got to pick his shell type, his special sauce AND he got to have chocolate milk.  Which was, I am pretty sure, the best part of his day that day.  So much so, that he bought himself a chocolate milk the next day at lunch (even though his lunch box had a juice box in it).  I was surprised to hear he had just gone on his own and bought a milk.  Matt, in two years of buying lunch, had never bought a milk on his own outside of the day he picked to buy his whole lunch.  I don't think it ever occurred to him he could.  He never asked.

But then there is Nic, making his own way, just happy as can be buying chocolate milks at lunch everyday now.  We had to have a conversation about letting me know when he planned to buy milk and/or lunch outside of our planned days because I didn't want them to run out of lunch money in their accounts and not be able to buy anything.  The conversation went a little like this:
Me: Dude, you have to give me a heads up when you buy extra stuff like chocolate milk at school.  Otherwise there won't be any money on your card.
Nic: Well, the lunch lady said it was fine.
Me: I get that, because there was plenty in your account, but if I don't know you buy milk everyday, I can't put money into your account to keep up.  Just let me know, ok?
Nic:  ok, mom, here's a heads-up.  I am totally going to buy chocolate milk tomorrow.  And probably every day.
So, I have put extra money in both boy's lunch accounts to cover the extra .50 per day so they can choose to buy milk if they like.  And let Matt know if he chooses to buy a chocolate milk, that is completely alright.
It just make me smile and shake my head to see Nic becoming his own person, making choices and owning them "like a boss."


And now, a word from the little dude himself:
I love this art we did at school that is a little me.  I get to show momma this egg beetle but I can only do it at school.  I hope you want to see my art when I bring it home and have mom take a picture because I really do like art.  And one more thing, about the new house:  I made a sub picture I play with and launch pretend torpedoes and I have this little map that if we hit or not it says and I really hope you all can come visit and play with us.

Photo Overload

SO, this is the best of what I pulled from our camera...June, July, and August :)

                                     

Matt's Avenger Birthday Party

Some of the best smiles I have ever seen are in the direct vicinity of Mrs. Karen's made-with-love birthday cakes

Beach day...we need another one SOON

First day of school

Someone is SUPER nervous...(hint: not Andy).  But he did great on his first day.

Making the backyard pretty

and also playing in dirt

and water

Nic's planter

Matt's planter

Nic's first school project--a poster of  his favorites.
Favorite Video Game: Super Mario Bros
Favorite Movie(s): Star Wars
Favorite Color: black
Favorite Food: sushi

Missing

I had a doctors appointment today.  It always amazes me how much they freak out and get all "oh my!" when they measure my big belly.  Every appointment.  I am measuring (consistently, since week 24) three to four weeks ahead of where I should be.  So, yeah.  Em's big.  But he looks to be perfect.  And the pregnancy is perfect (perfect blood pressure, weight gain, etc).  He is just big.  Yet every appointment sets them off in a tizzy of ordering more tests and ultrasounds.  I guess I should  not complain.  I should be happy they are being so fabulously thorough.  But it is hard to remain peaceful about it all and not freak out right along with them.  I mean, I am excited to meet little Em, but not anxious about my health or his.  Just anxious about when he is going to make his appearance.  

And it is hard, at this point in our waiting for Emerson timeline, to not get a little sad.
To not think about how the first weeks and months of his life are going to be so different from those of his brothers.
To not, if only for a few moments, focus on what he is going to be missing.

My dear Gram passed over two years ago.  The loss is still overwhelming at times.  And I am still not out of the habit of picking up the phone to call her.  Gram held both of the boys.  Cuddled them.  oooh-ed and ahh-ed over them.  Talked about how she couldn't wait to see them.  While Nic does not remember much about Gram (he has impressions of fire trucks and egg salad), Matt is able to remember quite a bit.  Em won't have any of that.   And that makes me sad.  She had a good arm for cuddles and a way of making kids feel loved.

And even the family that he does have won't be meeting him as soon as they were able to meet Matt and Nic.  Momma was here from the first breath for each of them.  And my mom-in-law wasn't too far behind.  Some of my best memories of the first few weeks of the boy's lives are just blissing out with baby and Andy and our moms.  Hawaii is a beautiful place, but so so so far away from "home."  Neither mom is able to travel over to meet the baby any time soon.  And it will likely be close to a year after Em is born before we are able to travel back.  Yes, much of that is on me.  Travel days from Hawaii are easily 14 hours (if not more).  And traveling that long with my two sweet and cooperative boys is stressful.  Add in a baby and the stress triples.  Making that trip voluntarily is crazy to me.

Most of the reason the trip home won't be made is because I would have to do it alone.  Andy has another deployment coming this fall-spring.  He is sad about missing so much of Em's first year.  I am, too.  But am trying to find the bright side: Em really won't remember it.  Andy will get the first couple months of  new-baby bonding time (hopefully he will have enough time to earn a smile or two from Em) and be back before the craziness of walking and talking begins. I have promised him he can participate as much as possible from where ever he is.  He gets to pick the first foods.  He can pick out first Christmas gifts.  There is always Skype when he is in port.  And videos of Andy reading books.  I am a little excited for Andy to come home and see how much ALL the boys have grown. 

So I am a little riled up today after the doc appointment.   And a little sentimental and sad.  It's all bittersweet as this pregnancy winds down and we get ready to interact with a new little guy.  I will miss the belly bumps and swishes and lumps.  And I am sad for what Em is going to miss (compared to his brothers).  But I know he is going to have two of the most magnificent brothers in the world and a whole lot of Ohana love to surround him. 

The Ol' Switcheroo

We got a letter home today from the school saying that due to classroom over crowding, they are opening a new 2nd grade class.  And Matt has been selected to move into that class. 

Sound familiar?  Because it is.  It is the same thing they did at Matt's old school his Kindergarten year.  It worked out well.  We loved his teacher (so much so that Nic was sorely disappointed we would be moving before he had a chance to have her as a teacher).

I am annoyed and unhappy.  The school year has started off bumpy enough with a move just days before school started and a bully issue in Matt's class.  I was pleased with the way his teacher has addressed the issues and felt confident that the bumps would smooth out to a lovely year for Matt.
Matt is hysterical.  Anxious.  Heartbroken.  He likes his teacher.  He is just now starting to feel comfortable with his classmates and not so much "the new kid."

So what to do? 
I am happy that the school has the funding to open a new class to alleviate the overcrowding issue.
I am flattered that Matt (to anyone outside our home) seems to be flexible, easy going and able to handle change.
There are definitely good things about the move:
The new teacher will be a man.  Which Matt seems excited about.
The new class will include one of his close friends.  Who is also moving in two months. 
There is a decent chance that the "bully" won't be moving along with Matt.

So do I make a huge issue?  Argue to allow him to stay where he is already?  With a teacher we are both comfortable with and routines/expectations he understands?
Or do I encourage him to handle the change with grace and flexibility?  To be the easy-going kid most people think he is and enjoy a change.  Enjoy a new teacher and the opportunity to make even more friends?

Maybe I am being whiny or over reactive to even consider doing anything but the latter.  But I just see it as so unfair to my poor kiddo, who has so little control over what goes on in his life, who has just gone through and is about to go through some major life changes (new neighborhood, new school, baby coming, impending deployment), to be put through yet another change if there is a chance I can keep him where he is.

But here is the thing...and what I am going to say it all comes down to and what I am basing the decision of what to do on:
Military family life is full of changes.  There are moves, deployments, changes to schedules and places.  In the eight years we have been a military family we have moved five times.  Grace and flexibility are required to make it through. 
I need to take this chance to show Matt that change is inevitable and OK.  That each change offers us opportunities to learn and grow and find happiness.  Each change is a challenge to be faced with a smile, an "I can do this," and a chance to grow the bonds with those around us who support and encourage us.

I will not be going in to the office tomorrow morning to complain or plead the case for Matt to stay.  I will be talking it over, a lot, with Matt.  And doing my best to make sure he knows that while it's not what he wanted, or I wanted, there are lots of good things that can and will happen because of it. 

So we are settled in.  As much as we can be.
Boys are into their second week at school.  I am at a loss of what to do with my time when they are gone.  So far I have split my time between napping (SO productive, but dang if my 37 week preggo self isn't exhausted) and cleaning.  Tomorrow I am venturing off to a pedicure and some light, last minute, holy cow there is going to be a baby in the house in less than a month shopping.  I am going to visit the local (right across from the boys school) library on Friday and find some good distractions to read poolside.  Have to find something else to do with my time other than sleeping, cleaning, or spending money. :)

The boys are adjusting ok to the new-ness of everything.  They love the house, their room, and their "Harry Potter" closet (storage under the stairs that they have set up and decorated as their full-time fort).
Matt is making slow and awkward (I can say that about my own kid, right?) progress with friend making.  He misses his old school so much.  At the old school we would walk down the side walk and everyone, for real--no exaggeration, knew him by name.  At the old school he had buddies he would walk back to the parking lot with.  Eat lunch with.  Play at recess.  See at the pool.  Now, poor guy has had to start from scratch.  And he misses that feeling of belonging.  We have talked about it.  How it is hard to start over.  But good practice for talking to new and different people.  And I have tried to keep playdates with old friends (as I type his buddy Jason is hanging out for the evening).  I just wish there was some way to ease the awkwardness.
Nic, on the other hand, seems to be doing great.  He has such a laid back and whatever personality that the only complaints I hear from him are that there are "naughty kids" in class.  Kids who do not follow directions drive him batty.  But he plays with who ever (as long as they are following directions) and already has a few kids who call out to him in the mornings and say bye to him at the end of the day.  I suppose his natural ease and no "other school" experience have made it easier on him.
One thing I am thankful for is that they have each other and fiercely, whole-heartedly, completely have one another's back.

On the "materialistic" baby front: I feel officially ready. At peace, and fully stocked for whenever he decides to arrive.  The sweet ladies from Andy's boat's Wardroom threw me a shower a few weeks ago and Karen just hosted one for me recently.  And then there was a little mini-shower of sorts on Tuesday for the gals who could not make the previous two but wanted to bring gifts/see the house/hang out.  Emerson (and Andy and I) are so incredibly blessed to have such amazing friends.  Between the showers, bitty clothing packed packages from my mom, gift cards and goodies from Andy's mom, and gift cards and packages from other family and friends, Em has everything he needs (plus some probably).  I remember freaking out and being so overwhelmed at what we didn't have and needed when we first found out.  Seems so silly now.  :)

Not too much else to report.  We had an absolutely crazy end to our summer with the move and school starting and are enjoying some normal routine before Em arrives and the house goes nuts again.