Baby momma...

 Well, I guess it should be known that this soon to be little Newberg has, in many ways, already arrived. He is a big boy and he has an unfortunately itsy bitsy room. That being said, he seems to have found space to set up an exercise room and a yoga studio. He is active and mommy is ... well, mommy is doing as well as could be expected.

 Mommy's sense of humor has not taken a hit.... just her energy and center of gravity have been off kilter.

 We all enjoy (well Sequoia and I enjoy...Colleen puts up with) watching the little guy do his exercises and practice his hiccups. I simply cannot fathom what it must be like to have a big old kid in your belly stepping on your bladder and pushing your lungs up your throat. It is amazing how very unnatural parts of this very natural thing seem at times.

Anyway, Colleen is on the final home stretch here. We could be as close as 2 weeks or as far as 5 weeks away from some level of relief for mommy from this phase ... relief being a relative thing of course.

Baby shower for baby brother...

 These days everything is about getting ready for the new kid on the block. Along those lines we were treated to a very nice baby shower at sister Sherri's house. It was a pretty special weekend as all of Colleen's brothers and sisters and mother made it...from California, Colorado, North Carolina and Virginia. Also coming up with the North Carolina contingent was Sequoia's only younger cousin, Sydney. She is adorable and Sequoia and her had a great time together.

 Sequoia's good friend Brooklyn made it over as well.

 The best part of the day, as far as Sequoia was concerned anyway, was playing pirates with Aidan, Ryley and her friends.

So the next one is a boy ... everyone tells me that everything changes with a boy. We shall see. I think it is a bit too obvious to simply say that things will change ... how could they not. It will be interesting on so many levels to experience those changes. To see how life and my perceptions of  this journey evolve. These past 4 years have been a non stop adventure of rediscovery. Of embracing new realities and new challenges. Of allowing life to amaze and horizons to expand. Of finding new strength from small deeds. Am I ready to go through all of this again ... not at all. And that is the thing, isn't it? It won't be the same again. This is a new road, with new options and new adventures. This ride has been about opening up to an ever changing experience with ever changing rules and ever expanding possibilities. We three will soon be four, and we four will always  be one.