AND NOW WE ARE THREE: 2012

I'm pretty confident that those few people who used to read our blog have stopped because I/we never post. It's been like 9 months I think. I can't promise anything, but today I decided I need to give it a go again. So much has happened! We have EXCITING news: We're expecting a little baby girl any day now! Everyone who used to read this blog already knows that, but it seems almost a requirement when you have a blog, to declare it on here. Sorry, you're not going to get a picture of my uterus, though. I'm not really a fan of that. You will see plenty of pictures of baby girl soon enough though! We are ECSTATIC!

I haven't posted this whole pregnancy, in part because I think it's safe to say I've had the pregnancy from h*** and I don't want to be Debbie Downer, nor do I want to immortalize what I've been through with words (because they say you forget and I want to have a fair shot at that). I can say, though, that now that I only have 2 weeks to go (maybe less), there is light at the end of the tunnel. And I have gratitude in my heart for so many blessings I've either discovered or been reminded of over the last 9 months. This trial has shown me just how precious family and friends are. I'm grateful for good hospitals and doctors and just modern medicine in general. And I know my baby is too :) The list goes on and on. When people ask me how I was able to teach with all of this going on every day for all these months, my thoughts turn to God and I can't really explain it. Heaven helped me to stay alive, that much I know. I took my mom's advice and took each day, a day at a time. Actually I took each hour an hour at a time. And the most miraculous thing about it all, is that this little baby has kept growing strong despite my feeling so ill. We can't wait to meet her!

Now, for an update on life:

I have to include this random picture of our little puppy who is not so little anymore. I think it's from September or October right after we moved from SF to Palo Alto. People used to stop us on walks and say, "OH MY GOSH, he is SO CUTE!" Now they say, "OH MY GOSH, he is SO GIANT!" He's like 4 times the size he is in this picture.

He thinks he's a lap dog and wants to be in on all of the action--including packing for a trip to Hawaii.

In November, Jenn and Chanel came to the Bay to make Jameson and I Thanksgiving dinner (read: to make sure the middle sister was still alive). I managed to get out of bed (see those Christmas pajamas?!) to eat a biscuit and some potatoes on Thanksgiving. They were so good to us to come and cook this beautiful feast.

My parents came up and visited too, as did Jameson's mom and brother but I didn't get pictures. But here we have one of Oso getting bathed. He. hates. it.

We were, of course, in San Diego for Christmas. Here we are on Christmas Eve at the Haslam home. Phil reads A Christmas Carole to the family, but every Haslam boy in the house is sleeping (including Oso who just got woken up by the camera). The girls are the only ones paying any attention.

Walking Oso and Scout. Oh how we all love the sea wall.

In December, Jameson and I celebrated 4 years of marriage! I love love love this boy.

Below are a few pictures from our "Babymoon" to Maui (we went right before I went back to teaching in March--my new school is year round so I had my "summer break" January-March). It was magical.