California here I come!

So here's the situation - I am going to deliver this baby in California. That's my big news.

This was something that has been talked about since before I got pregnant but nothing was for sure and in fact I was kind of assured it probably wouldn't happen.  But, as this whole pregnancy has shown anything that can happen will. There are a lot of reasons we're going this direction. Some of them make sense to me and are good reasons.  Some of them are ... maybe not as valid (in my eyes) but whatever. (For the record, I would like everyone to know that it is possible to have a baby in Minnesota and NOT have it be delivered by a toothless, grizzled veterinarian named Goober. We don't all live in the middle of a giant farm.)

This is kind of an unusual situation but I think it's going to work out ok.  I have to go to California around 34 weeks and stay until the baby is born.  The kids will be with me for all but the first part of it because they have other fabulous vacation plans this summer.  I'm due August 14th so they won't have to miss any school and they'll get to spend part of their summer running around California having a grand old time.  My parents are going to switch back and forth spending time with us in California so they can help keep an eye on the kids and keep them entertained.  Jesse will be able to come visit too although not as much as we would maybe like because of his work schedule.  My IPs are putting us up in a furnished apartment and really taking care of everything we'll need to be comfortable.

It's going to be strange to be away from home for that long but I'm also kind of looking forward to it. When else am I going to be able to give the kids a month long vacation? And with my parents there I won't have to worry about a thing as far as the kids are concerned.

A side benefit is that I get to tell my ob here that he won't be delivering the baby. I was more than a little irritated at the way he did things with my last pregnancy and I wasn't too happy with how he was acting this pregnancy but I was stuck with him for various reasons.  But now I'm not!  So ha! Petty annoyances, the best reason to travel across the country to give birth.

Oh, and I'm really hoping that after baby is born someone will say "Jennifer, you just gave birth to your fourth surro-baby! What are you going to do next?" and I can say "I'm going to Disneyland!" although I really won't because I can't think of anything less fun than walking around Disneyland in August right after giving birth.  But it would still be fun to say.

Water!

As I type this Elle is in the bathtub singing a song she made up.  She's using this goofy, English accent and it's killing me to listen to her.

"Water! Water! Only 25 cents!
Buy a glass of water, water, water!
Do it before you die in the desert.
Even if you're not thirsty you can buy some.
Use it to make some juice and you can mix your miralax in it!"

In other news, tomorrow I'm going to share some BIG NEWS about this pregnancy.  If you're my facebook friend you might already know it but if you're not then you'll hear it tomorrow.  Let's just say that there is some travel in my not to distant future.  And some beaches.  And some Disneyland.

Random updates

I keep forgetting how pregnant I am. This morning I was thinking it was about 16 weeks but then I counted it out and I'm 18 and a half weeks.  This pregnancy has been weird.

Elle brought home a menu she made in school when they were playing restaurant.  On the regular menu was "ledduce", "carrotts", "salid" and "food". On the dessert and drink menu were beer and Oreos.

Joseph is going to have a solo in the upcoming school concert. He's going to be doing the rap portion of "Everybody Dance Now". I plan to tape it and play it to myself every day for the rest of my life.

Our family took a three day trip to Duluth to see the sights and eat at some Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives places.  I cannot say enough good things about The Duluth Grill. It was so good we went twice in two days.  If you go for breakfast order the scotch eggs.  They look funky but they are AMAZING. I also can't say enough bad things about Grandma's. Bad service, loooooong wait times and crappy food.  If you go order whatever you want and then feel bad about it because you could be eating at The Duluth Grill.

If you ever go to Duluth try to take Joseph with you because he will want to visit the Maritime Museum and he will keep talking about it and calling it the "Merry Time Museum" and you will find it so cute that you will be forced to buy him whatever he wants at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

I'm going to be going on another eating road trip this weekend.  My dad and I are going to Kansas City where we will have BBQ and other assorted bad for you foods.  I haven't gained any weight so far this pregnancy but my plan is to shatter that record with smoked meat and other sauced foods.  Shut up.  It's good for the baby.