Talula Update on her Due Date

Once again, it seems I have a little girl inside me that doesn't want to come out.

I attended an all-day Al Corniche Hospital doctor visit (literally, arriving at 8:40am and leaving at 2:40 pm) on my first day of maternity leave. Needless to say, it didn't feel like much of a holiday, but I did find out a few things about what the next week should hold.

Birth doesn't appear eminent by any of the normal momma's body indicators. According to an ultrasound scan and CTG (cardio-toco-graph thingy that measure Talula's heartrate and movement), she is fine and well. We were able to get another surface scan of her face that has me anticipating a mini-Anastasia. Mini, meaning look-a-like. Definitely NOT size; Talula is already a pound and some heavier than Anastasia was at birth. And she has 8 more days of fattening up if she appears according to Anastasia's timeline!

Several more CTGs have been scheduled for next week, along with a tentative induction date: 14 October. Hopefully, Randy will be able to post some news and pictures before then!!

Summer Summary II

Final slideshow and Top 10 as our long summer comes to an end....



Top 10 of the Entire 2010 Summer (in no particular order):

1. The "Abu" fiasco at the Bomber's game (ask Randy for more details)

2. Grandpa Ball not sharing food with Anastasia in the beginning, but being won over by the end of the visit

3. Anastasia's pool times with Grandma French (especially with puddles), hotel at Daytona Beach, Grandpa Ball (beginning of the nude play--Anastasia only; Grandpa was dressed), at Holiday World, Christmas Lake Village, Aunt Janet's, the triple b-day party in Floyd Knobs and Grandma Meunier (with fish pond breaks)

4. the mini-Wittenberg reunion with Cheryl, Andrea and Kim (3/4 of us were pregnant!)

5. Anastasia's new words and sounds: "outside", "chips", "dog", "fish", "frog", numerous animals sounds, "yuck" and just at the end "cool"

6. Good food along the way: suppers, Old Harry's (but no French Onion soup :( ), Jalapenos, Shrimp Shack, steaks on the grill, corn and cantelope, etc straight from the garden, Tempel extravaganzas, Grandma Meunier's surprise breakfast

7. Signs of trouble to come: the "sandbox tantram" resulting in Anastasia ultimately flopping spread eagle so no one else could touch the sand, "baby in arms" meltdown at the hospital. Looking at baby OK, momma holding baby= unacceptable

8. Anastasia with her animals: Misty, Sanford Zoo, Fluffy, Oatland Island Refuge, Tiki, Lincoln Boyhood Farm...she continues her obsession with our four-legged friends (well, she likes two-legged, no-legged, eight legged ones too)

9. a mini Class of 91 Beaufort Academy reunion: Jason, Sheila, Elinor, Jim, Tola, and Randy (that's ALMOST half the class, right?)

10. Colorful photo shoots at Bok Tower Gardens, Daytona Beach, Old Sheldon Church, Hunting Island, fish ponds in Dale (always a race to get pictures before Anastasia breaks out into sweat)

AND OF COURSE, visiting our family and friends...

Summer Summary I

For now, enjoy a slideshow of our Florida and South Carolina visits. Maybe Randy will add some words later?

Anastasia's Second Birthday: Photo shoots I and II

Anastasia is already TWO. Here are a few pictures at some of our favorite places in FL and SC. (click on the picture to follow the link)

Anastasia: Year 2 Photo shoots

Summer plans, 2010

Here are the tentative plans for our summer travels:

FLORIDA FRIENDS AND FAMILY: We leave Dubai Sunday, 20 June, arriving in Atlanta 545 am Monday, 21 June. Arrive Tampa, Florida, Monday, 21 June, at 9:04 am(We have rented a car between Tampa and SAV/South Carolina. Our private beach getaway in Daytona Beach: Tuesday, 29 June through Thursday, 1 July. We would leave Winter Haven on Monday, 5 July.

BEAUFORT FRIENDS AND FAMILY: We will be in Beaufort from late Monday night, 6 July, through early Monday morning, 26 July. July 9-12 will include a college reunion weekend with some of Christine's besties.

INDIANA FRIENDS AND FAMILY: We Leave Savannah (SAV), Georgia, Monday, 26 July, flying through Atlanta, and arriving in Evansville, Indiana, at 1034 am Monday, 26 July (WE NEED SOMEONE TO PICK US UP HERE--no car rental planned for Indiana). We will be in Indiana from Monday, 26 July, through Wednesday, 25 August.Yes, we will be in Indiana for Christine's birthday (but just barely). [Becky, if you want to see us, feel free to visit us anywhere...Um, in-laws, here's the part where you chime in with, YES YES...FEEL FREE...(I am shameless, aren't I?] Leave Evansville at 1130 am, Wednesday, 25 August, flying through Cincinnati, Atlanta, and onward to Dubai.

ABU DHABI FRIENDS AND FAMILY: We arrive in Dubai, 750 pm Thursday, 26 August. We'll be flying Delta the whole way (and earning those Sky Miles!)

Hope to see you somewhere along the way!

Here's Anastasia with an early b-day gift. We wanted to let her enjoy it for a while before we left for the summer. So far, she mainly enjoys throwing everything out of it!