My favorite little pumpkin

... plus a few other creatues that kept following us around the base.

Medina Sedonia

This month, our Spanish adventure outing was a day spent in this quaint village of Medina Sedonia. It was also the last day with Grandma and Grandpa here. The views were awesome, the weather was pleasant, the food was good and the uphill hiking was a healthy start for my postpardom weight loss plan.

After hiking to the top of the hill, above the city, to explore the old castle ruins, we entered the Catholic cathederal and then climbed up about 100 steps, in a tiny spiral staircase, to this bell tower!
The views from the castle ruins went on for miles. This ancient city was very stratigically placed to keep the castle safe from the enemy forces.

The children had more fun watching the ants and other critters on the old stone walls. The restraunt where we ate lunch is seen right between thier heads. (the burgandy canopy area)
We were welcomed into the city by this headless Roman statue fountain.

Working our way up the city walls...

While welcoming the baby...

We learned how to do embroidery work...
We listened to stories being read aloud...

We learned to play the Cats Cradle string game...

We jumped ahead with daily piano lessons...We learned how to play Mexican Train and Chicken foot with our domineos...

We made LOTS of cookies too...

The Birth Party

We have a tradition that started with my first born and it has proven to be the perfect beginning and celebration as we've welcomed each baby into our home. We simply celebrate the baby's birth - day party with decorations, presents, cake and icecream. Grandma and Grandpa arrived less than 24 hours after Isaac and I were released from the hopsital so within just a few hours of them being here with us, we started the party.
Because Travis and Sloan had both celebrated thier birthdays the same week that Isaac was born, I spent one afternoon baking about 50 cupcakes to cover us for all three parties. Travis had the chocolate ones, Sloan had the lemon ones and there were both flavors left for Isaac's party to have some of each kind. We sang "Happy Birthday" to him but there were no candles to blow out since that part of the party he'll have to earn at his one year old party.
Isaac is #20 grandchild for my parents (and the 3rd one born in 2008) and my Mom has played a vital part in welcoming and helping in each of them. I don't think there is anything that would stop her from being involved with the beginning of each life. Not the Atlantic Ocean and not even a foriegn country! I'm still amazed that she came all this way to hand deliver her traditional, handquilted, one of a kind, baby blanket, to take over my laundry, house cleaning, meal planning, cooking and serving, and to entertain, play and teach my older children, etc., etc. She can definately run circles around me and my attempts to run a sucessful family. What a blessing for all of us! And I was doublely blessed with my Dad being here with us the whole time too. He did lots of house cleaning, yard work, errands and playing too. With all this work, they only wanted payment in the form of lots of snuggles and kisses with our new baby! Isaac was very well loved and held while they were here. They helped us so much during this transition and for that I am sooo grateful. It really means a lot to me to feel and see their love for me, my husband, my children and my tiny newborn baby. Thanks again Mom and Dad! We miss having you here with us!

Let's start from the beginning

This is what we were doing 4 weeks ago today. We are all so happy to welcome baby Isaac into our family. He completes us!

Introducing...

Isaac Garet Peterson

September 19, 2008

6 lbs 11 oz
19.5 inches

a healthy and beautiful miracle

"It starts out like the flutter of a butterfly's wings...

and I think,

then I know,

it's you...

my precious, miraculous baby."

Taking the Oath

Travis was promoted to Lieutenant last week! Congrats to him! We gathered with a small group in the hospital courtyard just outside his family practice office. He was so modest about having the attention given him but I'm glad he invited us to come and put on his new pin. I think he makes the officer uniform look great and I'm so proud of how he continues to serve our country through active duty service. Here's saluting my American hero.

He's transverse at 37+3

What does it mean when the doctor says the baby is in a transverse position?
By : Sophia Levis

Transverse position is a very serious presentation for your baby. When the baby is transverse, it means that your baby is laying across your tummy instead of the normal head down position. There are several causes for this transverse presentation. It is quite common where the womb is large and of poor tone, as in women who have had many babies, it also can occur in a similar situation where there is excessive birth fluid, or a multiple pregnancy...

A persisting transverse lie would typically necessitate a Cesarean section. Your physician may be able to attempt an external version to turn your baby into a more favorable position for birth. This procedure involves the physician moving the baby manually from the outside while using ultrasound to monitor the baby's movement. There is some risk in an external version, because it is possible that it could cause the placenta to detach from the wall of the uterus. However, this risk is fairly low, and an external version is most often successful and will help avoid a cesarean section.

Keep in mind that sometimes nothing will get a baby to turn, or a baby will be stubborn and turn back into the previous position after having turned head-down. For this reason, it is important to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the possibility of a cesarean section. Women who are prepared ahead of time for the possibility of a medically necessary cesarean section report having a more positive birth experience than those who thought that "it wouldn't happen to me."
(...a transverse position occurs in 1 in 2,500 births.)

UPDATE: At 38+2 he has corrected his posititon (again) and is back in the vertex position. He's flipped back and forth over the last few weeks so I'm praying he'll stay this way for good now. We only need another week or so. :-)

Baby Shower

La Oracion de una Madre por su Bebe

Senor, bendice la pequena vida que pronto nacera.
Concede sabiduria para criarlo a fin de que te ame.
Ayudanos Senor, que como padres, seamos un ejemplo de lo que significa amarte y servirte.
Que el corazon y la vida de nuestro hijo, siempre te pertenezca a ti.

The ladies in my church threw a baby shower for me this week. It was lovely and silly just like showers are suppose to be. We played a few silly games, ate potluck style lunch, opened baby presents and ended it with a big piece of cake. There are 6 or 7 seven American, military families that are part of the church but the majority of the members are Spaniards. There are several other families that are from other parts of the world too. I was touched that women who I can barely communicate with were at my shower and supporting me during this precious time in my life. Several of my friends from the base also came to celebrate with us.

It's interesting to be in a bilingual church family because everything said is usually interpreted into the other language or we do lots of gestering with minimal nouns and lots of smiles. So, half of the greeting cards were in Spanish and I needed my friend Gaby to translate them for me! Can't say I've ever been to a shower quite like this. It will definitely be one to remember. (I've got to work on my Spanish more over the next year!) Here's a look at all the gifts I received to get ready for my little guy. Gracias, Amigas!

focusing on the Master Teacher

Our homeschool started up with new resolve and dedication, last week. We are working through new routines, new curriculum, and new schedules. Ethan started full time school at DGF this week. We all participated in our first ever, "first day of public school." I'm feeling a bit conflicted about stretching our family into different worlds. I'll actually be balancing three worlds at once within the next month: homeschool, public school, new baby. My blood sugar levels were not good today. Maybe it's stress related. It's certainly a busy week for me so far and it's only Tuesday night. After getting up in the middle of restless sleep, I've plopped down to peruse the Internet a little. Here's a link to something that I am grateful to have woken up to read. I'll ponder these ideas as I start my day out (in a few hours).

http://aholyexperience.com/2008/08/how-would-jesus-teach.html

"Lord, make me a teacher like You---natural, captivating, enlightening, loving--godly. I want to teach like You would. Let "WWJD" guide me into being a teacher after Your own heart."

Princess revealed

I am:

You Are Ariel!

Headstrong and fiesty. You have a mind of your own that's full of romantic dreams about the world around you. Exploring exotic places is your ultimate dream, and although you can be a little naive you'll realize that there is something to be gained from your family's wisdom.

Camryn is:
You Are Snow White!

Pure and trusting. You are a gentle soul who can get along with just about anyone. Everyone you meet instantly falls in love with you. How can they resist? You have a pure, lovable nature that's irresistable. Just don't trust everyone who comes across your path.

click here to take your princess test: http://www.greatestjournal.com/quiz.bml?Q=16354

Gestational Diabetes

This is what gestational diabetes looks like. Every morning at 8:00 I have to wake up to check my blood sugar level with a little drop of blood from my finger and then shoot 20cc of insulin into my thigh. Then at 8:30 I have to eat breakfast. From that point, I have to prick my finger for more blood sugar tests, two hours after each meal and my meals have to be at specific, consistant times each day. I keep a daily log of all the foods I eat, any exercise, and all the sugar levels. Needless to say, my perspective and awareness of what and when I'm eating has completely changed since my diagnosis. I've only had one day so far that was in my perfect blood sugar level range all day. That's the frustrating part. It's the carbohydrates and the serving sizes of each food and drink that I'm figuring out how to control. My doctor says that I probably won't gain anymore weight with my restricted diet and may even loose a few pounds in my last weeks of pregnancy. I guess that's better than gaining a pound a week, like my pregnancy books says, and having my sugar levels out of control. I've only gained 20lbs. Thank goodness this is only going to last until I deliver my baby. I'm highly motivated to continue reading food labels, weighing portions, and exercising after this pregnancy so I can loose wieght and stay away from developing lifelong diabetes. In addition to this daily routine, I'm also going to the hospital (the labor and delivery unit) twice a week for non-stress tests and special ultrasounds to monitor the baby, the placenta, and the amniotic fluid levels. Less than six weeks to my due date! I have always delivered my babies after the due date but since I'm being so closely monitered, Dr. Loup says she'll start talking about an induction date a week before the due date depending on how the baby is doing at that point. I'll have a detailed ultrasound around the 10th to check his size and weight. He'll be in my arms soon and I can't hardly wait!

Ronda

Our overnight trip to Ronda was fabulous! We all had fun walking through the cobblestone streets and enjoying the breathtaking views from the famous Puente Nuevo (new bridge) that is actually over 200 years old today. Travis, Grover and Ethan hiked down one side of the bridge to get a great view facing the bridge and to tour some Morrish ruins. The next day they added Camryn to hike down the other side to the water mine, river and a Moorish King's house, Casa del Rey Moro.

Joni, and I took Camryn, Ethan and Sylvia into the Ronda bull ring. This bullring is claimed to be the oldest in Spain. It was immaculately clean and beautiful. We also toured the museum to learn about the history of modern bullfighting.
We had plenty of time to relax at our hotel and spend the hot afternoon at the pool. The kids loved it and my pregnant belly felt weightless in the cool water. We ate a poolside picnic lunch and played cards too. We could have made this a day trip but by extending our time into two days, we all felt pampered and relaxed within this Spanish village.

Gibralter

We've taken two "big" trips with Travis' parents. The first was to Gibralter. Soon after we moved to Spain, Travis and I came here as one of our first day trips and we just loved it. It was just as great the second time. The views of the the Rock, Spain, Africa, the Atlantic Ocean and the Medeteranian Sea are amazing and beautiful! Being in British territory and being surrounded by the English languge is a nice break from our Spainish world also. The Barbary Apes that roam freely amoung the tourists are very entertaining too.