39.5 weeks- any day now!

Hello all!

As I write this letter, we are now 40 weeks pregnant, which is our official "guess date."  We call it a guess date, because only 5% of babies actually show up on their "due date" anyway.  Which is actually fine with me... I'm not quite ready to be done being pregnant, but ask me in a few more days how I feel.  The good news is that it appears my belly has finally dropped.  I can walk up stairs without breathing heavy, and the heartburn has basically gone away.  The only downside is that instead of having to pee every 40 minutes, I now have to go every 20 minutes.  

My last day of work in the office was Wednesday, and now I'm working from home until the baby comes.  This has been a true blessing to have this flexibility right now, especially because last week I was hit by a nasty cold (and thanks to all this extra pregnancy blood, daily nosebleeds too- no fun!).  I complained to Osei about how I was supposed to be enjoying my last week of pregnancy, this week was supposed to be really fun!  

Luckily, I'm feeling much better now, and we enjoyed a beautiful weekend together- very typical New England fall weather.  We spent the day Saturday frolicking around Boston, taking lots of pictures, sightseeing, and soaking in a wonderful day together.  It was a perfect weekend.  Osei has been pampering me silly, and we're definitely enjoying our last few "just us" moments.

Hopefully our next update will be to introduce this little kiddo cooking inside.  Our birth plan is to have this baby during the Patriot's bye week.  

Love, hugs, and blessings to all,

Amy, Osei, and baby "Omee"

Apple Picking

On our 3rd date, Osei took me apple picking at a farm north of Boston. He claimed he knew how to pick a good woman, so picking apples should be a breeze. I agree with his taste in women, naturally.



I pretty much remember laughing and smiling like this the entire day. I came home with aching cheeks. It was fantastic.



I tried my first apple cider donut. I like the cinnamon sugar mixture in the bottom of the bag.



It was the perfect day together of playing outside and enjoying fall in New England. I enjoyed taking pictures of other people's kids playing amongst the pumpkins.



After our apple picking date, we baked an apple pie. Whole wheat crust, of course.

This is Why You Need a Marshmallow Puffy Jacket and Sorel Boots in Boston

Last week Boston got pounded by Blizzard #2 of the season. Unlike Blizzard #1 where I got my first grown-up snow day, this time I was considered "important enough" and had to come into the office. Here is the view of the Arborretum from our front porch.



To get to work, I walk up and down a gigantic hill to the train station. Most of the sidewalks were not yet shoveled. Trees were dropping branches right and left. I got pelted in the eye with a chunk of snow and was momentarily blinded (imagine that- everything went white) and then spent the rest of the morning with mascara smeared all over my face.

This is why puffy jackets and good boots are so essential for Boston winters. I found my boots, brand new Sorels, at a thrift store for $20. And my down puffer North Face jacket? Originally I bought it in college (I went to school in Western Mass). When I moved to New York, I gave the jacket to my big sister in Colorado, because no New Yorker wears a jacket that makes them look like the Michelin Man, no matter how cold it is. And then I moved to Boston, and my very dear sister re-gifted the jacket back to me. Best gift ever, too.



After the blizzard, despite the snow and all the related hazzards while walking to work, the next day was absolutely beautiful.

Our New Hampshire Hike took us to Maine

We intended to go hiking somewhere in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. However, I missed my exit, and miles and miles later, realized we were heading a different direction. Our GPS search of "nearby hiking points of interest" took us to Vaughan Woods State Park in Maine. Some rich fellow lived here long ago. They advertised free ice cream at the little cottage near these gardens, but nobody was even there...

The hiking trail was along the Salmon Falls River, which straddles the NH/ ME border. At one point, the reflection of the trees on the water made us question whether we were looking at actual water, or gazing uphill at the horizon and blue sky.

After the hike and picnic, we followed the signs to ice cream and wound up at Brown's Old Fashioned Ice Cream in York, Maine. With full bellies, we walked down to Sohier Park and caught the ocean breeze...

With full bellies, we walked down to Sohier Park and caught the ocean breeze...

...And, of course, snapped our own pictures of Nubble Lighthouse, one of the most photographed light houses in the country. I know they must say that about every lighthouse, but it was lovely and scenic.

I love old towns

When I was little I really wanted a dollhouse that looked like this

The Guliford, CT free Public Library.  Yes, folks, the library is free

She sells sea shells by the sea shore

Sunset actually happens inside Home Comfort.  And yes, if you live on the CT shore, you get to name your house

View from The Cottage porch

Nobody lives here, but what a great picture it makes

Low tide at Circle Beach

Seagulls also enjoy low tide

This weekend at the shore!

This weekend I'm going up to see my "adopted parents" in Madison, CT.  They live right on the shore, and it is literally my home away from home.

Last Spring... His name is Harry

Sally is the little filly, less than a week old here.  We're not sure when Harry met Sally

The cottage.  We stay there sometimes in the summer.

Some pretty shoreline houses down by Circle Beach

Smith Drive-By on the way to Vermont

On our way up to Vermont, I thought about my many Smith memories as we passed Exit 18 on I-91. I remembered all the experiences I had there, and how Smith shaped who I am today.

I lived for 2 years in a 4th floor corner room with a bench window seat and a view of the entire inner Quad.

See, the little red arrow points to my room!

A little cottage in the woods

Just before driving back to New York.  

The pretty red roof

Our cottage in Vermont sat on a peninsula

I used to build (less elaborate) versions of the neighbor's house when I was a kid with Lincoln Logs

What could be more fun than this?

17 degrees outside.  Just past 4:00 am, post 8+hour drive (thanks, holiday weekend traffic).  One hill.  2 wheel drive.  4 brave guys.  

We would have hitch-hiked the last 2 miles to the house, except our stuck car was kind of blocking the road.  Not that dirt roads in Vermont get much traffic at that hour.  

We made it!  Champagne toast!  

Let's cook breakfast!

Our cottage in Vermont had an amazing gourmet kitchen.  

We had our own gourmet chef.

I got to be the sous chef!

A story in only six words

Ernest Hemmingway once wrote a brief but telling story: "For sale: baby shoes.  Never worn."

During my 14-turned-18-mile-(thanks, detour)-run in Vermont, I listened to NPR Talk of the Nation's Valentine's Day special on the 6-word memoir.  I clearly had a lot of time on my hand and put together my own.  Apparently though, one of my talents does not include running and counting, because every-other one was initially seven words.

Weekend in Vermont in six words:

* Map's at home.  Where am I?

* Seven people, six ski lift tickets

* GPS wrong.  Seasonal road. Turn around

* It seemed like a good idea

* Always chop onions with ski goggles

* Why study?  Just bake banana bread

* Run faster, get home sooner

Come Visit us in Vermont!

Though I should be packing to go to Vermont, I'm doing the next best thing and writing about it!  We'll drive up from Serge's house tonight (it should take almost 7 hours!)

Funny thing too, because I've been listening to several different Russian language tapes and podcasts, and they all mention Vermont in the dialogues and vocabulary lists.  

For example, Christy tells Alseski that she is from Vermont.  She was born there and her family lives in Vermont.  She then goes on to say that her family has a house in the country (but not a dacha), but that she lives in an apartment.

Aleski asks Christy, "Does your apartment have all the modern conveniences?"  

"Yes," she says, "We have hot water, a bathroom and a toilet in our apartment!"  

"How interesting!" says Aleski.

"Come visit us in Vermont!"

The Little Cabin in Vermont

Our little cabin... Valentine's Day/ President's Day weekend in Eden Mills, Vermont

No TV, no cell phone coverage, but a fireplace and a gourmet kitchen

We're assuming the lake will be frozen mid February, with less fall foliage

The entire slideshow is here