We're in this for the long haul

No progress as yet. None. Zip. Zero. Consolation? The house is spotless. I'm getting my graduate class on Microsoft PowerPoint finished much more quickly than I thought. We have seen an extra 6-8 movies. Kole is getting better at MarioKart- I'm still terrible. Yet another batch of soup is frozen for 'after baby' (if she EVER comes). Oh, and I am not going to school tomorrow... or the next day.

Patience...still a virtue...

It's just not one that I possess large quantities of! As you may well know, the due date for this little baby has come and gone, and still nothing. And if you've tried to call me in the past few days, I'm sure you were greeted by my cheery voicemail message and not my dreary real live voice. I'm too sad to talk. Another weekend of walking, talking, dreaming about baby, and we're right back here to Monday morning. And instead of cuddling a little bundle of joy in the rocking chair, I'm dressed and ready for yet another day at school where I will face eager groups of students and colleagues who continue to ask, "So, no baby yet?"

Today again I'll have to remind myself to be calm and know that they are excited, too. But really, it makes it so much harder to be constantly asked about something that Kole and I are the MOST excited about and have no control over. I read some online forum postings last night from other women in this situation. They made me laugh (which was needed). I promise, we haven't had a baby and kept her a secret for a few days or weeks. I also promise we'll call, blog, email, and shout from the rooftops when she gets here. In the meantime my phone will stay on mute and we'll just try to take it one day at a time.

Running out of sneak peeks

These are art exercises that my grandfather did when he was in the seventh grade. The idea as he explained it was to draw one line - swirling, curling, whatever, and then go back and look for figures that were created at the intersections of lines and within the shapes they made. These colorful prints have been with me since college, and they've recently found a new home in the baby's room.

I love these not only for the bright colors and imperfect, whimsical forms, but also because they're a link to the past - a reminder of the creative spirit that exists in previous generations. They're inspiring, and they're a happy reminder of someone who's definitely missed.

Sneek Peek 3

Vintage items.

Sneak Peek 2

Artwork purchased in Seattle last summer.

Sneak Peek

Books to read.

Toys and feltboard friends.

Just waiting for her.

Patience is a virtue

*Sigh* 6:00am on a Sunday. What am I doing here while the boys of the house are still snuggled in upstairs dreaming? I'm doing a little dreaming of my own... of this little girl who seems to already prove to be my daughter.

Anyone who knows me could probably recall a time when I dug my heels in and refused to do something until I was good and ready. Well, I think this little one might have a penchance for that, too. No matter how much I talk to her and try to coax her into meeting us, she isn't ready yet. Kole keeps reminding me that she isn't due until Friday, although weeks ago he predicted that we'd be at the hospital last night and she'd be born today.

I should know better, I suppose. If she takes after either of us in the "getting ready to go" department. It'll be awhile yet. I may, on occasion, accuse Kole of dilly-dallying when it's time to get ready to go somewhere. I however, am worse. Case in point - we have been attending church [kind of] regularly since November, and we plan to go again this morning.

Kole, last night: "I wonder what it would be like to get there on time?"

Kari [shoots him a chagrinned look]

So, I am little slow in the morning... who can blame me? It is embarrassing though, because the church is usually quite full and arriving late entails a parade that last week lead us to the front row (gasp!). Oh, the horror!