Word of the day: Full

In heart and belly. Full in the belly because I cannot seem to stop myself from devouring insane amounts of the complimentary hors d'oeuvres, drinks, candy and other junk available at every turn here in my hotel. Gluttony, thy name is Rivka. And is it just me, or is yesterday's chicken wing trying to take flight from inside of me? Oh, wait. That's just my five-month old sea monkey fetus stretching her little fins, who, by the way, is the size of a papaya and is now supposedly eavesdropping on all of my conversations. Judging by the increasing magnitude of her little kicks and punches, she's either growing or she's just on a major sugar-high. Or both. But I have a feeling that this week's prenatal weigh-in will be more telling of my mini-Twix consumption than her growth... there's a bowl of them right near the elevator, delicious little devils.

My heart is full for so many, many reasons. The past couple of weeks have been the sort that have kept a perpetual smile of glee and gratitude on my face. And it just keeps getting better and better. The first and foremost cause for rejoicing is the aforementioned sea monkey. I feel giddy each time I feel her wriggling around and I am going crazy with curiosity and excitement to meet her. As far as I'm concerned, October 24th couldn't come soon enough. In part, what makes me so excited for her to come is the fact that I've had so darned much fun with her big sister! She is the perfect pal, and we've had grand adventures together lately. We've spent days with wonderful friends at "the beach,"

Evenings playing in the park with Papa,

Cool mornings taking delicious naps,

Hot afternoons eating ice cream cones on the lawn,

And, of course, plenty of time perfecting "The Intimidator."

We've also recently celebrated the birthdays of several of our dearly-beloved, including our handsome new nephew Caleb,

Chace's fabulous sister, Katie,

And my darling sister, Liz.

We've welcomed my baby brother Adam home from a two-year stay in the state pen.

Just kidding. We have actually welcomed him home from a two-year church mission in Taiwan.

We welcomed my other brother Pietr home from his mission in Taiwan just a few months ago,
And we get to see them both, as well as the rest of both our families, in just a couple of weeks! In the meantime, Chace has had meetings this week in Michigan, so Matilda and I tagged along, which means that we got to spend five precious hours driving there, with nothing to do but read Wendell Berry aloud. This is the one we're on currently.

(If you're not familiar with Wendell Berry, read him. And if you don't like it, don't tell me, because that might be the end of our friendship. But you will like it.)

While here, Chace and I have gotten to see some dear friends and Tilly and I have spent some quality time taking walks, reading books, playing at the splash park... and taking more walks! There are so many people here that we love and our visits are always too short, especially when I don't have a car to make the rounds. But even to be stuck at the hotel with nothing to do but dote on my babe is a welcomed change.

Tonight Chace is out with some customers, so here I sit while Matilda sleeps, enduring the christian rock concert going on in the park outside my window (Please, make it stop! Whoever invented this genre ought to be shot! Not very christian of me to say, I guess...They ought to be horse-whipped. Better?)

But now I come to the point, the reason I opened this random, scatter-brained post in the first place: while sitting here thinking about the sea monkey, pondering on the same question that has occupied my mind almost constantly since learning of her existence, namely her name, a new one popped into me little wee brain that I never considered before. Here it is: BLYTHE. I like the meaning, but is it too hard to say? Does it sound like an upchuck? Does it go with Matilda? Is it too weird? What do you think?

Stolen from my sister, Anna.

My thoughts exactly this Mother's Day (I know, it was a while ago...)

http://akmallen.blogspot.com/2011/05/mothers-day.html

The Intimidator

Chace says this photo needs some explanation, as it's rather disturbing. We call it "The Intimidator" and Matilda does it to be funny, which it really is because her eyes go just a little wonky as she lowers her head, as you can see! The problem is that now she thinks that this is what it means to "bow your head" for prayer because this is how I look when I try to show her how while looking to see if she's doing it too. She copies me and thinks it's such a great joke. Not very reverent.

What do my eyes tell you?

They're saying, "Hey! Chinese birth chart! Get a clue!" We couldn't be more excited for another little woman to join the girl party!!!
And boy will Miss Milly be glad for me to have another victim besides her!Now your task, Gentle Reader: find me a decent girl's name before Chace goes through with his evil threat to name this poor, innocent child Belindafur!

Make your predictions!

And by this time tomorrow, we'll know if you were right! Chinese birth chart says boy. You?