Oh Yeah, Thanksgiving

If I am feeling sassy, I will go and backdate these posts so they are actually in chronological order. Right now, I'm just lucky they are up here at all. 

So, when we last left the Grover Family, it was right after Thanksgiving. You know, more than four months ago.

My brother, David and his lovely family met up with us in beautiful Sausalito for a day at the Children's Discovery Museum.

 Okay, so we are a little goofy.

 It was a beautiful day.  Luis Carlos and Gabriela created this big structure outside. It looks like Uncle David wanted to get in on the building action!

 Lane and David took the little kiddos to the tot section for a while.  Easton enjoyed playing in the water. We have been here so many times when he was just a baby along for the ride in the baby carrier. So it was sweet to see him enjoying the museum on his own.

And what are the chances of these Brothers from Another Mother showing up at the museum wearing the exact same t-shirt that they both purchased together while at a concert in DC, back in the day? It was a chilly morning, so we didn't realize this until half way through the day.

 So, David and I may have had more fun with the blocks than Easton and Isabella.

 Easton LOVED the gravel pit construction area.  For the kid who is constantly informing people that excavators pick up dirt and dump trucks dump dirt, this was a huge deal.  He could have spent all afternoon here.

 Um, cute cousin alert!  After the museum, we went to Marin and met up with quite the crowd (our family of four, David, Tati, Luis Carlos, Isabella, Matthew, Banu, Christianne, Cynthia and Dan) for dinner.  These two stuck together.

 In true David fashion, stopped next door for a pre-dinner snack.  Can you blame us?? There was a place called Punjabi Burrito next door!  It was amazing.  And it totally reminded me of the Thanksgiving several years before in DC, when while I was in the midst of cooking up a serious Thanksgiving feast, David walked across the street to Kabob Palace to buy a pre-dinner "snack" and came back with like five carry out containers of Afghan Kabobs. 

We got some hot cocoa for the kids since we arrived a little early for dinner.

During dinner we decided why head home?  Instead we had an impromptu sleep over at Uncle David's hotel suite in San Francisco.  The kids stayed up late and watched Elf.  The grown ups stayed up later and chit chatted, and we all had an amazing buffet breakfast the next day before saying goodbye.

Gabriela, that sweet tender hearted girl of mine, burst into tears while saying goodbye to her cousin Christianne.  Even after we had our goodbye hugs, she ran back to Christianne in tears to give her one last goodbye.  While it breaks my heart that she gets so sad at these goodbyes, I am so grateful that she has such a wonderful family to love and share memories with.  Every. Single. Time. it reaffirms our decision to move away from DC, even though we loved it so much, to be close to our family so our kids could grow up knowing and loving their family.  That is definitely going on around here, and I love it.

My Baby Shower - Baby #3

Well, these ladies did it again.  My sisters and Mama and Auntie Liss threw me a sweet, perfect party to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Baby Girl Grover. 

 Meliss complimented me on unknowingly matching my dress to the decor.  I had no idea! Too bad you can't see my shoes in this photo. It is the one time this pregnancy that I have braved heeled shoes. I even had to have Lane buckle them for me, because there was no way I could do it myself!

Thanks to my wonderful friends and family, and this being the third baby, I didn't really need much.  I had a ton of little girl clothes, even though I remember giving away so many. A dear friend lent me an entire cloth diaper stash, and another friend from our homeschool group lent me a ton of newborn cloth diapers. And of course, we have so much of our baby gear still.  So we decided that the focus on this shower would be a fun crafty activity, and if people were so inclined, they could share a meal that I could freeze, because that's what I thought would be the most useful and helpful.

So here are some of my ladies hard at work, decorating onesies for Baby Girl Grover.  My sisters bought the onesies, and spent lots of time cutting out shapes and letters onto different darling fabrics that people could use to create whatever design they wanted.  All people had to do was choose their onesie, the design, and iron it on.  There was also a ton of extra fabric and extra stencils so people could make whatever they liked. It was so fun seeing everyone's designs!

Some lovely Grover ladies

 Cynthia was the onesie police and was sure to capture a photo of everyone with their masterpiece.  Unfortunately, Blogger is being a pain right now, and not letting me upload rotated vertical pictures, so I am only sharing a few of the horizontal photos taken.

Auntie Banu with her beautiful Beauty Onesie

 Mama Daughter Photo

 Another Mama Daughter photo

 

I just love Natalie's onesie for our baby girl!

 

 And here are some of the final products on display for us all to admire!

 My sister, Cynthia, and me.  Dang, she looks cute in my clothes ;)  She inherited an entire wardrobe of non-maternity clothes!

 My Grover Ladies and me

 I have had so much fun sharing this pregnancy with these beautiful ladies.

 So at the end of the afternoon, Meliss came inside sporting a basketball under her shirt, saying that was exactly what my belly looked like. I just couldn't believe it, that is, until after I saw the photo.  Okay, so I am hiding a basketball under my dress, what can I say??? :-)

 One last pic of my Clower girls and me.

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And even though I said I didn't really need any baby stuff, I was still showered with such sweet goodness.  Handmade baby hats and blankets and quilts, mama relaxation gifts, and other loveliness.  This baby and I, and well, my whole family, are so lucky to be surrounded by so much love.

We are all excited and anxious to meet this baby girl. Thank you everyone for such a wonderful afternoon!

37 weeks

Is it just me, or has this pregnancy totally flown by?  I guess homeschooling a kindergartner and chasing after a toddler will do that - make time whiz by.

Gabriela was born five days after her due date and Easton was actually born on his. I can't help but wonder if this baby will come early. 

I have been taking my evening primrose oil and this Christopher's Birth Prep herb supplement to get things going. I am also drinking pregnancy tea and eating lots of dates. Apparently a recent study shows that consuming dates at the end of pregnancy can help with reducing the need for induction, reducing the length of the first stage of labor, and increased cervical dilation. I figured it can't hurt to try since dates are delicious, healthy, and I already had a huge tub of them. 

Baby has been head down for weeks now, so it's safe to say that she will  remain in that position. I have noticed more frequent Braxton Hicks contractions, lots more. It's uncomfortable, but I try to remember that my body is warming up, exercising and getting ready for the big day. 

The big due date is April 19th - the day before Easter. I am kind of rooting for Baby Girl to make her grand entrance on April 14th.  You know, 4.14.14.  That would be a cool date of birth.  It's also big cousin Christianne's birthday, as well as Grandpa's.

Only time will tell.  Tomorrow I am officially 37 weeks pregnant and clear for birth.

I really think Easton knows it's coming soon.  He is starting to have more tantrums, is easily upset, and insists on sleeping and napping with his arms wrapped completely around me, almost as if putting me in a head lock, with his face right next to mine.  Easton also kisses my belly, tells everyone his baby sister is in there, and shows us how he will gently hold the baby.

I am taking time to enjoy the extra cuddling and hoping that our transition to a family of five goes nice and smoothly. 

Gabriela's Autobiography

Today, while reading a book we learned what an autobiography was. Gabriela dictated hers to me.  Here you go: 

I was born in Washington D.C. and once, my mom took off my dress and threw it on a candle in the bathroom, and the candle was lit! On Halloween, my Mommy took me to the American Red Cross where she worked. I was dressed up like a ladybug.  When I was a little baby, Nana and Papa and Uncle David and Auntie Cynthia and Uncle Ian, Auntie Adie, and Claire and Natalie all came to visit me.

Since we were so far away from the rest of our family, we decided to move to California. I grew up strong and healthy. When I was two years old, we moved into a small green house in Alameda.  My dad bought me a new bed. It was a toddler sized bed, not a cradle or a crib. But, I never did sleep in it.

Then, when I was three, I learned how to ride a Skuut bike. My baby brother was born in 2011.  I went to preschool.  Preschool is school for three year olds!

On July 20th, I had my birthday and turned four years old.  I had a fairy birthday party. Chaney chased us.  I went to Disneyland. I went on so much rides, it was so much fun! I loved Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain. 

I had a rainbow party when I turned five. I moved to a new house in El Sobrante. We found out that I am having a baby sister. I started kindergarten and I like it. And, of course, I am homeschooled.  I like homeschool because I get to spend all day with my family.

When I grow up, I want to be an artist. I think I will move to Washington D.C. and work at the American Red Cross.  I would like to have some kids. If I don't, I will be like Frida. Frida is a lady who had no children and she was devastated when she learned that she would have no children.

I think when I grow up, I will care about other people.  Even if they are mean to me, I will still do nice things for them.

When I grow up, I am going to be a famous lady and do very famous things. I might be famous for teaching some people not to do war.

My tender hearted girl

Tonight, as I tucked Gabriela into bed, I laid a pink crocheted blanket on her that my mom made for her. On top, I laid out the blankie she especially requested -the white crocheted blanket that MY Nana made. It is Gabriela's blanket, but my Nana made and gifted me this baby blanket years before I was ever pregnant with Gabriela. She died three years before Gabriela was born. Even though Gabriela knows, I remind her of who made each blanket and that she is covered with love. 

Tonight, she burst into tears and said it makes her so sad every time I say, "my Nana" because it reminds her that she is dead and that, even though she never met her, she just knows that she loves her. 

What a precious little sweetheart. I reminded her that  my nana handmade that blanket with love for her, even though they had never met before, and how special it is and how lucky she is to share a name with my nana , and how I just know that she would have loved Gabriela to pieces.  

Easton's 2nd Birthday Party

Easton turned two in November! We had a sweet little gathering for our two year old at our new house.  I decided we would have a fall menu - soups and breads. Lane made a giant pot of chile con carne and I made a giant pot of minestrone soup. We had some homemade pumpkin cornbread muffins and homemade rosemary parmesan artisan bread.  It was delish.

And here is our birthday boy testing out his new soccer set, with a basketball, of course.

We were glad that cousin Andrew was able to make it to the festivities. 

Easton was so happy to see Uncle Nate arrive to the party.  He immediately ran into his arms and gave big hugs and kisses

Can't leave Auntie Liss out!

We couldn't have asked for a better day.  Originally I was going to set up some fun craft tables inside, but the weather was so beautiful, no one wanted to be indoors.  So we had our play dough and paper covered drawing tables outside.  The main attraction for the older kids was chicken chasing, I think.

Easton gets some Auntie love.

Here he is, getting his birthday crown just right.

Easton was serious about blowing out those candles.  He nearly splattered hot wax all over my face!

Look at this awesome Grover painting our friend Adam made for Easton!  We love it so much.  Handmade personalized gifts are the best!

Easton loved his watch from Nana and Papa.  He had been wanting to wear Gabriela's watch all the time.  Since the band is an elastic adjustable band, it fits his tiny wrist.  He always says the time is 8 o'clock, no matter when you ask. 

We are so grateful that some of our friends and many of our family were able to join us in celebrating our big boy.