All About Amelia, Simon & Hannah: Settling In

We've been in the house in Norfolk about two weeks. Boxes are unpacked, curtains are hung, meals made at home have resumed. Beyond that, there is not one glimmer of a normal routine on the horizon. But what is most important is that we are all healthy, the kids are happy, and it seems as though we have chosen EXACTLY the right neighborhood to move into. A quick update on the craziness of the last month and the potential excitement in the month to come:

* Our week at the Outer Banks was awesome. Both brothers flew in from Colorado, Jules was in from LA plus my parents and two dogs joined the fun. A few photos are below.

* Baby cookie and I are doing really, really well. I've found a doctor here that I like and trust, and we took a family tour of the hospital where I will deliver. The doctor even thinks I will be able to make it into my 39th week, so we're shooting for early early August for delivery. I am clearly carrying a future triathlete, or at least a strong swimmer. Two months ago she was in normal, head down position. Two weeks ago she was breech. This morning she was back to head-down. PLEASE girl! We are in our ninth month here and you are HUGE. How in the world are you spinning back flips in there?

* The neighborhood, as I mentioned above, is a dream. Within three days of our arrival, two neighbors had delivered plates of cookies and a new friend just dropped off a hot loaf of banana bread tonight; we had met about 1/3 of all the neighbors on the block along with their dogs and kids; Mils and Si were letting themselves into our new friends' house across the street (they have two kids and really awesome parents who have just adopted our family); we spent hours at a spur of the moment cupcake party on our neighbors' lawn while Mils and Si disappeared into a pack of 15 kids running wild around us; and it goes on. A new friends' son mowed our lawn; we've been invited to barbecues and book clubs. I guess I continue to be surprised when kind, kind strangers choose to invest their time and friendship in us, knowing we'll be moving on in a few years. It's just touching, really.

* All of the above gives me encouragement for our journey over the next year when Christopher will eventually deploy. He left tonight join the carrier for a few weeks of training while it's underway. My parents are down to help with the wild ones, so we'll make an adventure out of it. (Not to fear...it's looking like he'll be home in plenty of time for baby's arrival) Big plans for the holiday weekend include staying in the air conditioning as much as possible and maybe catching a movie or two. Gotta dream big!