must be santa.

Merry Christmas

with love from Phil, Aubrey, Theodore, and Santa too!

happy birthday teddy.

Sweet Teddy at 1 week old.

Theodore Maxwell Greenan

born Sunday November 27, 2011

6 lbs. 4 oz.

Happy one week birthday to our Teddy bear!

He is our treasure. He is the most marvelous blessing. We didn't know our hearts could hold this much love. More on the birth, the name, and the tender babe to come. I'm off to adore, feed, burp, and marvel at every miniature piece of him.

full term.

This is me great with child.

As the hubby begins studying for finals I find myself at a place and time I never thought would come! I'm full term at only 3 weeks away from my due date. Baby is working on his chubs and running out of room in the womb-room. What were once kicks are now the stretch of his foot into my ribs or the pushing of his bum out to the left of my belly button. Oh how I love to hold his little bum in my hand! He's so close! Phil and I marvel over the fact that he is always here with us and only inches under my tummy skin. It's hard to wrap your mind around.

Moving in has been a whirlwind. My nesting instincts are comical. Everything is a project. We love our humble abode and soon I will take pictures and post them. I love to sit in baby's room and just stare at everything. Yes I am insane.

Our new ward is a perfect fit for us. THIS is where all the people our age have been hiding in the East Bay! Our baby will be (I believe) the 18th born this year. He will be one of only two boys and he really likes those odds.

We're living right in downtown Walnut Creek, a stones throw from the mall on one side and the trail on the other. We're enjoying taking walks to rent movies at the library and watch other non-pregnant people ice skate at the outdoor rink.

I have been generously showered twice (in our old and new wards) and I feel so indebted to everyone who was a part of those events. Baby boy says thank you! We feel so loved and supported. We are a lucky brood.

My face is getting really round and I think my spirit animal is definitely morphing from squirrel to chipmunk. I waddle around like a goose and I wake up at night regularly. Still pregnancy has been incredibly good to me thus far. I'm thankful for that.

I nannied my last day last week. It was bittersweet. I'm ready for a little rest but it's hard to say goodbye to such cute faces. I'm continuing to teach voice lessons until I pop. I'm trying to really treasure sleeping in and relaxation. I know things are just about to change!

There's a lot of wonderful going on right now and our baby coming soon just makes everything sweeter (and also more swollen!). Phil's Mom is about to open Annie at the Danville Theater, our two beloved little sisters are coming home from UW and BYU, pie making and subsequent American Eat-a-thon Thanksgiving is right around the corner, dear friends are coming home for the holidays, Christmas tree cutting will follow, black friday shopping is imminent, and did I mention our little guy is coming SOON?! (Unless he's late...ahhhhhh)

and because I wrote this two days ago and was then too lazy to add a picture and post ... HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

the great pumpkin.

I am the great pumpkin. Please note the stain on my shirt. My stomach is a pro at catching all of the food I drop. How helpful!

I am humongous. It's kind of awesome and amazing. It looks like I've swallowed a watermelon or to be more October-appropriate a pumpkin. One of those prize winning types of pumpkins.

I had another doctors appointment today (32 weeks!) and found out that the baby is in the head down position. For some reason this really threw me for a loop. I've been imagining baby boy still lying in my stomach horizontally like he's lounging in a cabana hammock when in reality he's preparing for the gauntlet ahead upside down and raring to go. After the doctor poked him to feel how he was oriented he wiggled around all hot and bothered and it was really adorable. This lady is in LOVE.

We have great news of another big variety to report. After some toil and worry we found an apartment that perfectly fits our little needs at a price we couldn't have hoped for. For those of you who don't know, for Phil's first year and a half of law school we were incredibly blessed to live rent free with my grandparents in Alamo. (Yes, we owe them BIG time.) Phil commutes into SF via bart and we have been able to save. Now with a baby on the way we need a bit more space and a place to start our own brood. We're moving into an apartment in Walnut Creek and I couldn't be more excited. Baby and I will get to spend our days close to our 5,000 immediate family members and Phil will be within walking distance of bart making his school commute about as dreamy as a thing can be when it includes the words "school" and "commute." I count the whole chain of events leading us to our apartment as a blessing from God and an answer to prayer. Sigh of pregnant relief and gratitude!!! We move in on friday. We will be reunited with all of our lovely apartment things that have been jailed in storage. I will nest like a mother bird.

Phil and I went to our first childbirth class and it was fascinating. I especially loved the "stages of labor" diagram that included pictures of mommy turning from excited to completely enraged as labor progresses. Awesome. It was fun to be in a room full of pregnant women and their husbands. (Then again if you've ever been in a married-student ward in Provo you know exactly how that feels already!)

In other news I'm dying to go to a corn maze. Annnnnd goodnight!

fall and husband shirts.

Happy crispy delicious fall day!

Have you been able to fight the urge for starbucks salted caramel hot chocolate lately? I have not.

Here I am this past week, welcoming fall in Phil's button up. He is a nice husband and takes lots of pictures of me and the babe... and let's me wear his shirts.

Sometimes if I try really hard I can see my feet.

Yosemite.

"I must return to the mountains—to Yosemite. I am told that the winter storms there will not be easily borne, but I am bewitched, enchanted, and tomorrow I must start for the great temple to listen to the winter songs and sermons preached and sung only there." -John Muir

Yosemite is one of those most-beautiful-place-on-earth places. We loved soaking in the scenery, listening to the rushing water, and spending time with the fam. Baby and I even made it up to the top of Vernal falls with it's over 600 granite steps! There were generous breaks and lots of water chugged.

Thank you to Jim and Pam for making it possible for all of us to enjoy it!

Here's some of the film pics (While they were developing I ate almost every sample in Costco; quesadilla, meatball, fruit chew, broccoli cheddar soup, chicken and chips. Two hips and a hooray for free lunch!)

week 30: the invisible baby

Meet our invisible baby! Isn't he precious?!

Mustache Fabric for the inside of his crib bumper from Spoonflower. ADORABLE red striped pants from Dani. Thank you SO much for thinking of us, that package melted our hearts and made our entire week!!

Hat GAP, shirt H&M, Giraffe lovie from Angel Dear.

Photo taken on my laptop. RIP camera.

I'm alive! I haven't been blogging because a tiny grain of sand scurried into our digital camera at the beach and killed it. No pictures, no motivation. Currently shopping for a new camera, suggestions? I want something small but powerful so I can take lots of pretty pictures of baby boy.

Here's to week 30! 10 more to go!

- My belly looks to me fully pregnant. I think this means I'm going to be one of those little people you can't believe is standing by the end of the third trimester.

-My hips don't lie. They are loosening like barbie legs. You all know what I mean, because you all played with naked barbie once you lost her clothes, right? Her legs are astonishing. She can go way beyond scissor kicks.

-Apartment hunting in the SF bay area when your husband is a law student and you are great with child is interesting. I miss Utah rent. Prayers welcome. It'll work itself out and patience is an illusive virtue. We're increasingly grateful for all of the love, help, and support we have received from family and loved ones thus far in the law school journey.

- Baby boy is feisty. Our kick count card reads 10 minutes across the board. Maybe I feed him too much juice (yes our baby is juiced up) or maybe he's just a fireball as we expect. Time will tell.

-My bum is also pregnant with triplets.

- Remember how we went to Yosemite? I will post pictures someday but for that I must develop film like people did in the olden days. Yes, drive to Costco and write on one of those big envelopes, then wait an hour while fighting the temptation to buy and consume all 24 rolls in a Costco dinner roll bag.

- Wasn't conference great? We had in our charge the five adorable blonde children I nanny this weekend. It was busy and crazy and fun. They were fantastically behaved and I gained new perspectives on what sleeplessness means (twin babies). Oh what the future of motherhood holds!

- Fall is in the air. Best feeling on earth.

That's all for now! I'm off to debate whether to sew my own crib skirt. Necessity is the mother of invention. So is a budgeted life and a picky wife!

moments that matter most.

I love this message. Watch it on full screen because apparently my layout is too tiny for videos. So beautiful. Enjoy, and happy Wed-nes-day!

(The most absurdly spelled day of the week!)

Coming soon: our Labor Day Weekend Yosemite Trip!

6.

6 months is like this.

My hair feels so luscious I never want pregnancy to end. I swear it holds a curl better. (Maybe this is just in grand comparison to how dastardly thin my hair usually is.) My hands are getting a little pudgy and my face is rounding out along with my body. No stretch marks yet, Huzzah!

My brain is completely taken over by pregnancy instincts and hormones. One word: Nesting. I am quite the nester in everyday life. I love projects, decorating, fantasizing about setting up a room, but now I'm on overdrive. There is an entire apartment building full of well furnished nurseries in my mind. I only think in HGTV. It's a little bit psychotic and a lot bit fun.

With a few months to go I'm finally breaking down and preparing myself to buy a few maternity items. I've coasted along thus far with a few borrowed bottoms, tops, and some flowing shirts from my own closet. Did I always look pregnant in these big shirts?! My best friends these days are leggings. I love them. So soft and un-rubby on baby. Jeans make me feel like an abusive mother.

I'm obsessed with baby boy and love to feel him kick. It is the best. I bought him yellow linen pants and they make me want to cry every time I see them. I talk to him each time I drive to work like a crazy person.

My midnight snacks have calmed down but I'm still off to de-and-rehydrate frequently through the witching hours. For the first time ever I'm hot and Phil is cold in our room. He's sneaking blankets.

So that's pregnancy in a tiny nutshell for me as of late. This is starting to feel like a run on sentence. Maybe it has something to do with the glucose test I took a few hours ago? (Where you drink the sugar-drink that tastes like concentrated fanta.) Yes, maybe that is it. On to the latest bump-a-bump pictures!

my life is.

Excuse my camping hair. Baby boy and I!

camping with family

rooting for the giants

growing a tummy

watching people get hitched

refinishing some furniture

hunting for an apartment

planning for baby

working

feeling and now SEEing baby boy kick!

playing with friends

saying goodbye to Tara (She's off to University of Washington!)

rooting for Phil who just finished up his internships and headed back for year two of law school

and of course... waking up to snack:)

last night, I had a dream.

Every night of my new pregnant life I do three things; scurry to the restroom, switch sides I'm slumbering on, and dream wild and crazy dreams. Many nights there is a fourth element to my nocturnal existence. You may know it by the acronym PBJ. That's right, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Many a midnight I wake up desperately hungry. It's like a 3 alarm fire of urgency. I run upstairs, make a PB with or without the J, run downstairs, scarf, and fall back into a pregnant coma. 

Last night was one of those fateful, hungry nights. I could hardly get the peanut butter onto the bread fast enough. Then came a slathering of raspberry jam.  I was eating like a fat kid sneaking candy. All was well until it came time to clean up. Peanut butter and bread back in the pantry, dishes in the dishwasher, and then jam... Where was the jam lid? I looked in the dishwasher, in the sink, in the pantry, on the floor. The kitchen was pristine. WHERE WAS THE JAR's LID?? I gave up and went to bed.

Cut to this morning when PG came into the room smirking. Here's our dialogue...

PG: "I have a question for you... when was the last time you made a sandwich?"

guiltily I responded "1 am last night..."

PG: "Were you missing anything?"

AG: "Where was the jelly lid?!!"

{laughter}

PG: "In the peanut butter jar."

IN THE PEANUT BUTTER JAR MY FRIENDS, IN THE PEANUT BUTTER JAR! I dropped the jelly lid into the peanut butter jar with my own hands.  It makes perfect sense... I'm losing my marbles. 

pescadero.

Last weekend we packed up the little wagon, headed to our ultrasound appointment, and then zoomed off to a great little campground off highway 1.  The resort errs on the side of GLAMping with an onsite restaurant, barbeque tent, live music on the weekends, massages, and saunas. Still it definitely has all of the rustic fun of family camp with accommodations for everyone from the lodge goer to the motor home crowd. You can glam it up or keep it simple. We chose to stay in the camp's tent cabins which are fabulously affordable and keep you bright and warm with electricity, heated mattresses, and cute rustic furnishings. It was a quick walk to the "comfort stations" which had more hot water than I have ever experienced at a campground. I give it five billion stars. (Mind you I am always in love with wherever we go.)

Check it out for yourself here.

Just south of SF. The area has all of the rugged beachy beauty of Monterey Bay with about 10 percent of the people. We spent our days hiking foggy beach trails, exploring the tiny town of Pescadero, and touring the local Goat Dairy which boasts world renown cheese that I couldn't eat while pregnant. I made Phil describe every flavor to me just to torture myself. "Is it really that good?" "I'm so sorry but yes, it really really is..." was along the lines of our conversation. 

We stopped into Pescadero on just the right weekend. The tiny town was having a barn sale (big flea market) and I was almost relieved we didn't bring the truck because I could have done some serious financial damage.  We did come away with a frame that will be going gold and a large glass jug. Why do those jugs make me swoon so?! We ate some tamales and looked at all the crazy crud people shlepped out of their homes. 

From the goat dairy to the tamales this trip was all about the food. I'm a very sensory person and I feel really passionately about food; chocolate, bread, spices. I think the right food could make me cry for joy. I got very close at Pigeon Point lighthouse. We brought a bag of goodies from the local market which included THE MOST INCREDIBLE MADE-BY-THE-HEAVENS artichoke bread (still hot, and stuffed with yummy artichokes) and a beautiful sun dried tomato cream cheese. There is nothing like eating true California fare on the California coast. Yum, yum, double yum. In addition to killer artichoke carbs the area is famous for their berries and pies.   I am still dreaming about the Olallieberry pie we had at Duarte's tavern. I think I died for a second while eating it (maybe just a mild stroke?). 

But enough with the pregnant lady talking about food.  The best part of the trip was being with my PG and sharing in the excitement and glee baby boy is bringing into our lives. I love traveling with my guy because we both love to have fun, love to learn (in a nerdy, read every plaque, go on a tour of a goat dairy sort of way), and love to explore. I can't wait for our next adventure!

The beach trail.

fake sleeping.

Our abode.

the bump.

pigeon point.

the bread.

seal spotting.

our goat friend.

p.s. Have you ever heard an elephant seal? It's worth the drive if only to hear it.

little yogi.

We're back from the coast! ( Actually we've been back, but sleep beat blogging every night this week.) We had a fantastic weekend getaway made so much sweeter by the news that we are expecting a baby boy.

We fell even more in love with him during his big ultrasound. It took over an hour because he is quite the busy body. He was flipping and rolling and flexing so much he had the ultrasound tech very amused. (We told him to show off.) We saw him suck his thumb and move every which way around my tummy. He's already our everything.

Please enjoy his yoga pose. At one point his knees kissed his face.

Yep, he's doing this...

Namaste. 

Tomorrow, news on our adventuring away!

IT'S-IT

It's a Boy!!!!!!!!! We are so happy and excited!!!!! More news to come! We're off to celebrate on a little mini vacation!!

hitched.

Photos pilfered from Lauren T's FB

and Melanie Z of Me and Mr.

Saturday July 9th my beautiful sister Courtney and my wonderful new brother PJ sealed the deal and got hitched at the Oakland Temple. The weather was a miraculous 85 degrees. The wedding party included some lovely ladies and gents who all (might I say it) looked fantastic in yellow and blue. The brides wildflower bouquet complimented her to die for ruffled dress and long blond tresses perfectly. She was a picture of loveliness.

A ring ceremony and reception followed at the One Room Schoolhouse (circa 1890somethin') on Finley Road. A schoolbus shuttled guests to the location that was full of rustic charm from the flowers to the hand-sewn pennant flags. Picnic fare, sweet desserts, and a night full of dancing made for an enchanting summer evening. Family, friends, and loved ones worked, crafted, and contributed to make the day special for the bride and groom. We are so grateful for every pair of hands that played a part in making the wedding what it was. C and PJ road off into the dusk on a yellow bicycle built for two. How fitting!

It was a fairy tale day.

I love my sister and our new PJ. I couldn't be more proud of them and the decision they've made to start their own life and family together. They are both truly good to the core. What a perfect day it was to celebrate the two lovebirds!

late-iversary.

Phil and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary this week. 2 years! Where has time gone?! (All of the marriage veterans may roll their eyes now.) But truly it's been both a lifetime and one blink of an eye rolled into one.

I'm so glad I married PG. I'm grateful I was struck with if only that one lightning bolt of excellent decision making. I'd like to thank the PG for being fantastic, for teaching me about calmly responding to life, for being an example of diligence and obedience, for sharing my love of good humor and family, and for dancing with me at every wedding since our own.

We celebrated with frighteningly cheap massages and really fatty mexican food. Ole!

We spilled the beans.

Or rather we spilled one tiny bean on Monday night.

As you must know by now, PG is a big league surpriser. Naturally he was the brains behind our big reveal.

The Ingredients:

1. white t-shirts

2. ultrasound pictures

3. iron on transfer paper and a whole lot of trail and error

4. a family dinner from my loving mother

First we made our shirts. This was a two day nightmare. I highly un-reccommend trying to attack the complexity of transfer paper with a pregnant brain. Here's how it went down:

We bought the T's and paper and took it to Kinkos to print our ultrasound image. It jammed and almost broke their machine. We tried to go to another printing press place and it was closed. We went back to the craft store and bought the type of paper for our home printer. We went back home and printed them. Phew! Finally something went right! We ironed paper one onto shirt one. We realized the writing was backwards. One shirt trashed. One of many. You get the idea. It was painful. I even learned how to write backwards. Finally everything came together just minutes before we drove over to do the big ta-da!

We asked the whole family over to my parents house for dinner (both sides). Everyone believed it to be a normal fam-gathering. The house was packed and eating and chatting ensued. Kids were playing all over. My stomach was doing flips (and it wasn't the tender babe). I'm always ready to give up a secret or tell the punch line of a joke too early. I'm not big on suspense. So I left it up to Phil to initiate THE surprise. 

At Phil's family dinners everyone goes around the table to share highlights so Phil suggested we share. Since it was his idea he was asked to start first. He said to the big fam, "Well my highlight is, Aubrey and I got these really cool shirts from Richard's."

We stood up and unzipped our sweatshirts to reveal matching T's with a blown up picture of baby and a message that read, "Coming December 2011." Everyone screamed and carried on and hugged and shared shocked faces. 

I may not love the stress of a big surprise but oh how I love the outcome! It was so fun to share the news and finally be able to talk baby with the clan. 

The kids reactions were some of my favorite. Sylvie asked to see my tummy and Fiona said she had enough cousins already and "they're annoying." ha! 

I'm so relieved to have the cat out of the bag. After the party subsided I had trouble staying awake! My body was completely and finally relaxed. The next day my tummy started to pop out. I guess my brain told my body I didn't have to hide anymore. 

My jeans are already getting just a tiny bit pushed down around the waist and I'm scared this means I'm going to look like a hamster ball by December. (Although I also kind of like the idea of being gigantic!) Time will tell!