Avi's a Big Sister!

About 2 months ago we found out that we were having another baby!  Avi is going to be a big sister!  We are very excited, and also very nervous (just because we've done this once, doesn't make us experts)!  The baby is coming in May or June... just before Avi turns 3.  We are very blessed to have the opportunity to have a sibling for Avi and another baby to cuddle.  Thank you, Lord!

Maren reads a weekly update on the baby's progress. When this picture was taken, the update said that the baby was the size of a raspberry.  Today, at 12 weeks, the baby is the size of a plum. 

Katelyn - a new cousin!

Avi has a new second-cousin-once-removed!  Katelyn Pedersen was born on August 9, 2011. 

Oh my!  Isn't she sweet?!

Doug has this totally under control now - he's an expert!

Avi's gettting a new cousin!

Announcing K.F.C. (Kaiser Fallopian Campbell) "Little One" Pedersen! (Okay, I've gotta explain that name. The ultrasound picture was done at Kaiser Hospital in Campbell, hence the Kaiser Campbell. Then, I, Maren, started calling the baby "Fallopian" because we don't know what gender the baby is. So, put the 3 names together in the most logical way, and you have KFC!)

Brant and Aryn shared yesterday that they are expecting their first child in June 2011! They were showing us pictures of their recent trip to Japan, when all of a sudden this ultrasound picture popped up! I knew exactly what is was - in fact, I had a hunch Aryn was pregnant because she didn't have any beer when we got a little 12 cup keg of NewCastle when they were visiting on Thanksgiving. (How could Aryn - Irish Aryn - resist freshly tapped draught beer?!) So, I had my suspicions!

We are so excited! Now I will finally get to make fun of my brother's parenting style, like he has done of mine for the last 2 years! No really, it's going to be so great having another little one around! Avi can't wait!

full circle

Grammy had the privilege of being the first person we told we were pregnant over a year ago. She had invited us to an opera in San Luis Obispo on Halloween. We had kept the secret to ourselves for weeks and couldn't hold it in any longer. We got a onsie (modeled on the grown Avi below) to share the news. When we handed the garment to her while waiting for the show to start, I thought she was going to jump out of her seat and fly over the balcony she was so excited!

Michael & Maren (dressed up Halloween-style for the opera) and Grammy Louise on the night of learning of her first great-grandbaby!

Here's Avi wearing the shirt we got to announce her presence to her Great-Grammy.

Our little Avi Dove has flown in!

Meet Aveah Dove-- born 6-27-09 at home, 12:02 p.m., 7 pounds & 5 o.z. of lovable goodness. 

one lucky papa...

one tired mama...

You can count on a LOT more pics and posts in the near future (including our applemoon photography blog for bigger and better images). At the moment, though, our hands are a little full! We will say that our home birth was supreme-- we'll be posting details about that later...

Tierra Nueva Announcement

This little ornament topped the surprise cake I receieved. The scary thing is: it's larger than the real baby in my belly - at least right now!

We let the good news out to our friends and neighbors in Tierra Nueva Cohousing last Saturday night during (an amazing Armenian inspired) dinner. I stood up and introduced my brother and sister-in-law, who were visiting (and totally jealous they didn't have dinners like this made for them). After I introduced them, I kept standing while I asked the group for their opinion on an issue I had. See, when you sign up to eat a meal, your meal ticket is "punched" for $3.50 to reimburse the cook(s) for the meal. So, I asked the group if they think I should still only punch my ticket for "1 adult" or should I have it punched for "1 adult, 1 child" since I am now feeding two? Everyone just stared at me for about 3 seconds, except for one mother who instantly got it (go, Caity!) Once everyone got the joke, they were so excited - they all wanted to hug me. At these times I feel sorry for Michael who is usually overlooked and ignored - as if he had nothing to do with the miracle in my belly. Poor Michael. Anyways, one neighbor, who I confided in earlier, knew I was going to share the news, so she and her husband had a cake ready to present. Thanks, Paula and James. Talk about love! Thanks Tierra Nueva for making our experience a happy one!

One Surprised Grandma!

Isn't it great Michael had the camera on him and ready? (We happened to be shooting our cousin's wedding reception.) These expressions cannot be replicated! This grandma had to wait a loooong time (only 8 years) for her firstborn son to give her a grandbaby, but as the t-shirt states, it was "worth the wait." Needless to day, grandma was just a wee bit excited.

To summarize:

Time it takes for Maren & Michael to take the plunge and decide to have a baby: 8 years.

Time it takes for baby to enter the outside world: 9 months.

Time it takes for grandma to spread baby news throughout entire room of 350 people: 39 seconds.