27 Weeks.

Hi baby boy. You are on the move! 

We are finally in the days when I can see my tummy jump and jolt. 

It's a nice reminder that you are growing 

and will make your debut in about 3 months. 

For a while I honestly forgot I was pregnant a lot of the time. 

I wasn't sick at all and I felt great! 

But now I'm bumping into things 

and struggling with my wardrobe...

So, hello! Thanks for keeping me company day in and day out.

Your dad and I talk about you often. 

I have a bajillion thoughts and questions.

When will you get here? 

What will you look like? 

How could you not look exactly like Graham?

How will you be different?  

How will you change up our lives in the best of ways? 

How will I be as a mom of two?! 

How will God use you to bring Him glory?

Will I be ready to trust God with whatever he has planned 

for our family of 4? 

Your brother is so ready for you to be here.

He wants a pal so badly.

He follows kids at the park. 

He smiles at them at the grocery store.

We keep telling him, just wait Graham...

Because you are soon going to have a best friend for life.

He just this weekend started looking and touching my stomach 

when we ask where his brother or Bennett are. 

It's the sweetest thing ever...Melts my mommy heart.

I can't wait for him to meet you, baby boy.

I thank the Lord for blessing me with boys. 

Ok, so there's my big-o pregnancy reflection.

I love you, Bennett. 

I can't wait for you to come join our little family.

I can't wait for you to make your mark in our family of 4.

See you in three months!

(How can I get any bigger? I don't remember...)

Holy cow.

USC to Malibu

Football fans to marathon maniacs. 

We were there to soak it all in.

Mom finally realized that Dad was a serious USC fan.

I just thought he liked UCLA. False.

We were quickly clued in with a birthday trip 

to a USC football game.

We didn't want to stand out too much...

So we were subtle with our red and gold.

I much prefer UCLA colors...Just so we're clear.

Makeshift tailgating. Fried chicken on a curb.

Mom and Dad's vision of a tailgating picnic 

were thrashed when we paid to park in a shady over grown lot 

with sketchy parking attendants with homemade signs.

But the chicken was delicious and all of our things 

were accounted for when we returned.

The game really was fun. 

The people watching, even better.

Graham is learning how to be more discreet.

After a bomb Japanese dinner and relaxing hotel evening,

we drove the windy road to the Malibu Marathon!

We drove up and down the 1 

looking for a braid and a blond boy...

Not a shabby spectating spot...

Thank you to my family members who keep being 

somehow motivated to run 

an insane amount of miles 

in the most beautiful places...

Even if it meant Graham's walking room was 

wedged between cliffs and busy highways.

We found them!! Don't they look great?!

I mean seriously...So photogenic for mile 6!

(No braid, for the record)

Such a strong finish!

Fitness model much?

Training done.

Race done.

Quote: "Never again."

Jets. Birds. Balloons. Moon.

Anything in the sky is fascinating to GTU.

USA! USA! USA!

I'm so stinking proud of you guys...

Sheesh.

How about your next one is innnnn...

Spain? Bora Bora?

I'll do what I do best...

Fall in Nipomo

Our little Nipomo mishap did not 

hold us back from

quality relaxation, family, 

and pumpkin time the next weekend!

Perk of the postponement: 

Avila Barn breathing room.

It was empty. So nice.

(Not pictured: Phil, Peggy, and Scott. Lo siento)

Cue my pumpkin with pumpkin pictures.

Pumpkin patch 2012: Check.

A little picked over... But we really only needed a picture.

And the hay maze was way less terrifying.

Well, so Kyle, Zach, Graham, and Jill say.

I needed a year off.

Phil seeing eye to eye with G-unit.

Look at that silly face. 

Oh yeah, this is the bite mom and then giggle face.

We've got trouble my friends. Right here in River City.

While the men golfed we went and sang with the Sea Lions!

Four generations.

Beautiful.

Oh, and for the record, Graham can clap now.

He chooses to clap instead of dance at the moment.

I miss the swinging arms back and forth...

but I do love the delight that spills 

from his face when he applauses.

Phil, you're pretty great with Grahamy. 

Thanks for loving my son.

Sorry the snooty ducks don't like bread.

More for you two, I guess.

I'm trying to ignore the fact that 

Graham looks like a grungy camper...

That smile with those blue eyes sure helps...

Sigh, Nipomo, such a refreshing getaway. 

Thanks Mom and Dad, AGAIN, 

for opening your vacation time wide open and welcoming us all...

AGAIN, I learn so much from your hospitality and generosity. 

Halloween 2012

Giraffe sighting on Roehampton!

Cutest giraffe I ever did see.

Kyle was able to stay a little longer 

and take Graham to his first 

trick-or-treat house ever.

He trotted up to the door, took the candy, 

tried to eat the wrapper, and handed it back.

I'm sure next year will be verrrrry different.

 It's so hipster to befriend a giraffe and pumpkin...

Hipster Swens.

Megan loving on our giraffe and his cohort. 

For the life of me I cannot remember what Shelbey

 was supposed to be or, even better, 

the funny thing people thought she said she was... 

Dang. 

But I DO know it was from Dr. Who... 

Probably a hipster thing, like Al.

Thanks friendys and parents for joining me.

Tradition? 

This year, the candy entertained Graham. 

He thought it was hilarious to take out 

all the "sticks" and throw them.

This year, the candy and Graham 

probably annoyed Rosie Bumble Bee to tears.

I'm sure next year will be an entirely different battle.

Black goes with everything. 

And it's Halloween soooooo....

Look! I tried to be Pinteresty and crafty and yummy.

My Kindergarteners could care less. 

I ate the left overs. Picked them one by one. 

I spy a baby pumpkin in the patch.

Lucky Giraffe.

Weekend Haps (tardy)

We were packed.

We were excited.

We talked it up to the boy.

And then, we got the call.

Nipomo postponed. Wrong week. Woops.

Bummed. But seriously? 

White people problems, as Kyle called it.

Our vacation to the coast got pushed to a different weekend.

Boo hoo. We sucked it up and had a party weekend anyway.

Park mornings are starting to result in early mingling. 

This is Bradley. He's new to the hood.

Maybe we'll see you again?

Graham loves the slide now! 

He doesn't quite have the hang of balancing yet...

Hi there, whip lash.

Since we're here in Bako, come on over people.

I would like to take this moment to let you know 

that our first born is energized by people.

Lately we have quite a show off/squealer on our hands.

It's pretty cute...I guess time will tell.

Matchy grey stripes...

Matchy stripes.

Un-matchy bellies. 

Someday, Al, someday.

On Sunday, we took the Underwood's up to Bear Valley 

to celebrate Grandma's birthday!

(I LOVE this. Just for the record.)

This has aw-how-cute-fall all over it...

That Carolyn...

Visible joy. All afternoon.

I love her.

I'm so thankful Graham gets to experience all the 

love, adoration, guidance, encouragement, and influence 

from these two that I received growing up...

And it keeps on coming...

Who loves you, Graham?

I told Grandma she better keep that tradition alive.

No doubt.

Graham's getting better at feeding the ducks.

Quack.Quack.Quack.Quack...

Mighty ducks chant. Obviously.

Tunnel joy. 

Good thing Dad's hips went down and not mine.

Gorgeous fall day. Strollin'.

Uncle and nephew.

Graham can't get enough.

Sweetest.

Tied for sweetest.

Happy birthday, GG.

We love you and love how you love others.

And Nipomo, we'll see you soon.

Buckle up.