July Mendez News

Well, we made it. Our stuff is all packed and the movers took it off to who knows where. We spent our week in the hotel, and flew the 15+ hours and arrived in Alabama. Abby did pretty well, for a two year old that wasn't allowed to run around for fifteen hours. She fell asleep at the most inconvenient times, like going through security and customs, but other than that, she did pretty good.

We spent the last days of June moving into our apartment here and getting settled, buying our new car (more on that later), and doing alot of the shopping we'll need in Chile. We've been able to pick up alot of the big stuff we need so far - I've still got to do a major run to Sam's for diapers and wipes, but that's got to wait until my parents are free (they have the membership card) and someone else can do the heavy lifting. Joel had to spend last week in DC for work, but got to say hello to a few friends and family. Now he's "home" for a while, and we're all very happy about that.

Our first week here we also did the hospital tour and paperwork, and met my doula and OB for the first time. Lily's heartbeat was good and I'm measuring right on schedule still. So all that's going well too. Though I still have this personal belief that I'm not going to go the full 40 weeks. Heck, right now I'm just praying I make it to the 38 week mark like I did with Abby. No, the Dr didn't say anything, it's just this gut feeling I have about this one.

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(That's my personal hint that if you haven't voted in our baby pool - and let's face it, you haven't - you need to do so NOW. Just click on http://expectnet.com/game.php. You don't have much time left.)
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So we're trying to get all of our to-do lists done as quickly as we can so we won't be dealing with it after Lily is born. And yes, I am LOVING all my trips to Walmart. All these shopping trips might not make sense to most of you, but think about having to stock on baby Tylenol for a year and you might start to grasp what we are doing. Unfortunately we won't have a military base to rely on this tour. I explained it once to someone like being Pa Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie, where he would go to the store twice a year for supplies. That's what we're doing.

Yep, we bought our new car. It's a 2008 Honda Pilot. Bigger than we planned to get, but we were able to make a great deal so we're excited. It's got a third row that folds down flat, and can I just say how much I am LOVING all the space in the back! We've taken advantage of it already by buying the crib mattress and toddler bed for Abby already, and to shove all the suitcases in when we moved into the apartment. Here are some pictures:

Some of you might remember me telling you that my dad had told me he was getting Abby (and Lily) her own playhouse in their backyard? Apparently this is his new "project." Currently he's "landscaping" around it. I have to admit, it is the cutest thing you've ever seen. It also has a little kitchen to play with inside of it.

My sister is also down visiting with her boys and we are having a good time. We went to the Exploreum (Science Museum) where they saw a frog exhibit. They also had a preschool section set up like a fishing boat where little ones could "fish." (That's Abby and her cousin Nic below.) Last week my sister brought all of their fishing gear to our place and everyone fished off our pier and swam in the pool all day. Maybe I'll get a good fish/crab dinner out of this visit!

Abby is having a fabulous time getting spoiled by Nana and Papa. It's crazy. And now she has her three Crutchfield cousins hanging on her every word. She's got all of them wrapped around her little finger. We are in SUCH trouble when she gets older. All she has to do is scream their names and they come running. She wakes up asking for them and wants to talk to them before she goes to bed each night.

So that's been our month. We are SOOOOOO glad to be home in the good ole' US of A. We spent July 4th here at our place - my parents and Nancy and the boys came here and fished off our pier and swam in the pool and we ate all the fantastic BBQ that my dad made (and boy was it GOOD), and then we hung out and watched the fireworks. Everyone was exhausted by the time they were done, which I guess is the sign of a good day. Abby also learned a new word: "Fire-ire-worts" '(Fireworks). She wasn't scared of them either, though she did say that they were "loud" and pitty" (pretty).

July is just more of the same for us really, hanging out here, finishing up our prep-shopping, etc for Lily and for Chile, and also possibly welcoming the newest Mendez to the world. My due date is August 4th, so it's quite possible and probable we'll see her this month.

Talk to all of you soon.

Love,

Julie, Joel, Abby and Lily