Another Fourth of July successfully evaded

It has been a while, I know.
I've been working really hard on the house.
The move was good although some things were damaged. We should have been better prepared. We'll know better for next time. However, the house is wonderful. I think every day we say how much we love it, how much we were blessed by it, and how grateful we are of it. Pete loves it too... and as a matter of fact, so does Chloe. Everyone is pretty much just happy.

Bryan's birthday was the 26th so we had a surprise birthday party for him on that Saturday. He was surprised but everyone (but Emily) failed on saying the "Surprise!" part. Bruce did manage to yell "pickle" for some reason.
He got his pirate party -a mini one at least. He had a party hat and had to go on a treasure hunt for his gifts. It was pretty entertaining. He also got pretty spoiled. Not just that night, but I had also given him two gifts thus far, Sunday he was given a grill by his family and me as a group gift, and he gets one more this weekend from my family.

Fourth of July weekend, our friends were out of town and since we were going to his family (again) the next day we opted to stay in. Not that it mattered too much anyway since I don't think there were even any fireworks in town. We would of had to have gone out of town- which neither of us wanted to do. So far we have evaded the 4th for no reason for the 5 year. We have nothing against it, and we actually really like the fireworks show.
We just haven't (for some reason or another) seen a show since we've been together. I think one year we really tried but they were taking their sweet time and it was getting past 11. Sarah had a driving curfew and she was one of the people driving.. We probably would have gotten home around 1:30 if we stuck around.. so it just didn't happen. Actually the fireworks started as we got onto the interstate so we kind of watched it as it left our view.

This last Sunday we had a farewell party/birthday party for (my bro-in-law) Bruce. His b-day is on the 15th but he wouldn't be here for it. We had planned on surprising him with extra gifts that his mom, Deb, would place secretly in his room for him to find but he found them sooner than expected. So he got to open them all. He said that he'd rather open the gifts with his family and enjoy the "day" than open them by himself 4 hours away.

Tuesday I had my last baby appointment with my Dr. Bryan came along and we invited Deb along so she could hear the baby's heartbeat as well. It was pretty cool (as always) and this time my Dr. located how the baby was laying. I figured that she was laying how the Dr said she was. I've been feeling the baby pressing her foot into my rib cage lately. The Dr. pretty much clarified that it was her foot, found her butt and could feel enough to locate to her head. So now I'm on my way to the OB/GYN in two weeks.
(Baby's kicking and swiping as I'm sitting here. It makes me happy.)
Afterwards, Bryan and I went to wal-mart to start registering. It took us 2 hours and we only got a third done. We were so tired after but then Bryan took me out for dinner. I was pretty stoked. I had had a very good day.
So that night, for the first time, the baby made me jump pretty high and squeal as she swiped the side of my belly pretty hard. And my hand was there too so it was even weirder! So Bryan put his hand on my belly and got to feel it for himself. It was cool, once for me, once for her dad. Then she settled down. It's always so joyful to feel her moving around in there -even when she's kicking my in the ribs. I've got to say, I love being pregnant, in spite of some of the stuff it brings with it.. including my sad new stretch marks :( It's alright, one word- Mederma.

On Wednesday, not only Bruce left for Chicago to begin school on Monday, but I came down to CB to hang out with my mom and sisters until Friday.
We met Courtney in DM to trade me off. We had a bit at Cracker Barrel then headed to CB. On the way I kept feeling the baby pushing her hand into my side so that I could feel a firm spot. Court felt it too, which she thought was pretty cool. Later that night I could feel the baby kicking and swiping again so Courtney wanted to feel- which she did. It made her jump but she thought it was pretty awesome and she was pretty proud that she got to feel it. It's just so funny how active she is.
Anyway, mom's trying to sell her house so pray that it does. The sign went up yesterday and there's a showing on tomorrow at 5. The house is spotless and kind of empty. Grama came to help and it seems she did a pretty good job.. seeing as how we can't find anything. Courtney and I went and got primer and a tan paint for all the colored walls. Since we just got done house hunting, I tried to give them the knowledge from what I gained from it. At least knowing that a house that is very neutral will sell way quicker than one that's not.
Tomorrow Courtney and I will head down to Grama and Grampa's along with Bryan from CR. He has to bring a u-haul down so we can get the baby stuff back up along with few extra thinks. Saturday, mom and Sarah will join us and we'll all hang out until Sunday when we will head home.

I miss Bryan.