Halloween!

This year being Lily's first Halloween, we were excited to get her dressed up and parade her around. We talked about going trick-or-treating with our friends. Lily can't go door to door, but we could put her in the stroller and go for a nice walk as a family. Great idea, right? Tell that to Mother Nature who sent us a week of downpour!

Since the rain put a stopper in our plans, we decided we would surprise our parents and bring Lily trick-or-treating to their houses! (Sorry, dad! Yakima is a little far to swing by. Maybe next year. :)) At each place we got Lily in her costume and knocked on the door.

What was our little Lily this year? Why she was the cutest elephant that you've ever seen... (our girl loves her sleep and really felt that this whole 'Halloween thing' was being blown way out of proportion.)

In the afternoon I met up with Rachel to make sure that our girls had their pictures taken together. Emma was a zebra and it's practically a requirement to take pictures of cute zoo animals!

Aren't they adorable?


Early in the day, Lily and I decided to play dress up. Here she is in the tutu that she received at my first baby shower:

For Lily's 10 week photos last week, we decided we would put her in a pumpkin. That didn't quite work out as well as we'd hoped, but we've gotten lots of good tips to try it again next year. So, we really only got a series of outtakes:

I am back to work now and things are going as smoothly as they can. I'm so grateful for supportive coworkers and friends that are willing to help watch Lily. It means that we don't have to put her into daycare until the first of the year. We are so lucky to have such a great support system!

Doctors Appointment Update

We had our weekly visit with the doctor yesterday (Wednesday). In addition to our normal measurements and heart rate monitoring, I had my first internal exam. He was checking to see if I was dilated and the general status of my cervix.

He swiped my membranes and determined I was about 1 - 1 1/2cm dilated and 80-90% effaced... follow that? Basically my cervix is almost all the way thinned out (the 'tunnel' is 80-90% gone) and open about 1 - 1 1/2 cm. He described it as very soft. All of these things are good. However, they really don't mean anything. I've had plenty of girl friends who walked away from exams 3+ cm dilated and stayed that way for weeks. I was only 1 or so cm and I could have this baby tonight. Only Lily knows for sure!

Oh, and HOLY COW no one warned me it would hurt so bad! He really rooted around in there and coupled with the back spasm I had from laying on the table... I was a hot mess. Not my most pleasant visit.

We talked about my general status and the doc determined that I needed to be done working. I am not getting enough rest, and coupled with everything else, it was time for me to take it easy. Which is not something easy for me to do! So, I drove to work today, doctors note in hand, wrapped up a few things with my replacement... and they gave me the boot.

I truly love my coworkers. I have the most supportive peers and managers. I could not have a greater group of friends at work. To think the next time I will see them, I will be a mom. WOW. Thank you! I truly appreciate all of you.

Now, we wait.

Hopefully she doesn't keep us in suspense too long!

Best Day of Work in a Long Time

Yesterday I spent the entire morning/afternoon downtown at a lecture. The lecture was being done by Bruce Tulgan (internationally recognized as the expert on the multigenerational workforce). There is nothing quite like starting the day with a nice walk downtown and a latte and croissant from my favorite french cafe (Le Panier at Pike Place), that I enjoyed while looking out at the Sound and the ferries. Of which was followed by an intellectually stimulating lecture (whos topic I believe will help address some of my current frustrations in 'Corporate America'), and lunch on the sunny steps of SAM (Seattle Art Museum). What a phenomenal day. I haven't felt that relaxed and happy during a days-work in a LONG time. LOVED IT.

(Oh, and if you are so inclined, you should really check out a couple of his books - Not Everyone Gets a Trophy, and It's Okay to be the Boss are two I find very valuable)