"On the doorposts of your house"

We finally started putting up mezuzah's around out house. I know this probably (definitely) should have been done weeks ago, but hey... it's done now. We've received several beautiful ones from family and friends- and we tried to hang them where they would be seen the most.

We're not done yet... but we're getting there. I even found the appropriate prayer for the occasion:
.בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשַׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָנוּ לִקְבּוֹעַ מְזוּזָה

David's parents bought us this one in Israel on a recent trip.


It now hangs in the entryway between the sun room and the kitchen. Because we almost exclusively use the garage to come in and out of the house, we pass by it every day.


Hanging up the mezuzah in the doorway from the sun room to the kitchen. (And in case you are wondering... yes, David is getting used to doing all the work around the house while I snap annoying photos around him.)

The Stricklers bought us this one on a recent trip to Italy. It now hangs on the door to our bedroom.


I like how the colors match the hallway and pick up the brown and gold tones in our room. You can't really tell from the photo so you are going to have to trust me on this one. It looks great.



My grandparents bought us this one on a trip to Israel several years ago.


It now hangs in the front hallway entry to the kitchen.



So that's all I have for now. We will put up a few more in the coming weeks as we continue to settle into the house.

Backdated post- October 8, 2010: 25 Weeks! (Ovo and Acid Reflux)

25 weeks! (Also known as the Ovo and Acid Reflux post)

I'm almost at the end of these backdated posts. Last weekend we went to see Ovo, a Cirque du Soleil show at the National Harbor with a David’s coworkers. The show was really cool – the following pictures are not my own but can give you an idea for the beautiful costumes and acrobatic performances.


The promotional poster for the show



The "butterfly" act


This was my favorite act, the ants! "The hardest working insects in the community are the bright red Ants. As soon as they’re awake they spend their day gathering food: On the menu today – kiwis and corn. But it’s not all work. They play with their food, too – with their feet – in an astonishing display of precision juggling that climaxes with ants juggling ants."



Acrosport


Slackwire

As far as how I’m doing… overall everything is great! I’m starting to experience some heartburn/acid reflux which I’m not thrilled about but I am also not exactly surprised. I’ve had it so easy… something was bound to come up sooner or later. I have been reading that the extra progesterone in my body can relax the valve that separates my esophagus from stomach, allowing gastric acids to seep back up- thus causing a rather unpleasant burning sensation. And the fun doesn’t stop here- later in the pregnancy, the growing baby basically crowds the abdominal cavity, pushing the stomach acids back up into the esophagus. So Tums are my bff for now. C'est la vie

Third Wedding Anniversary

Check out the beautiful flowers my husband (of three years!) sent to my office yesterday.



Oh yeah, he's a keeper.

I kinda think that one day a year to recognize the 364 other days of putting up with me doesn't seem fair. I try to let him know how much I appreciate and love him- but today especially, thank you for being supportive and loving and accepting and generally amazing- today and all the days between anniversaries. I love you.

Backdated post- September 29 2010: 24 Weeks!

24 Weeks!

I realized I had not posted many pics of myself recently... so here I am.




pointing at my belly...um... like it's not obvious?

Backdated post- September 21, 2010: 23 Weeks!

23 Weeks!

Now that we’re moved in and packing/organizing/decorating has become more manageable, I’ve started going back to the gym. The stationary bike is no longer an option; it’s just not comfortable so I’ve been putting in time on the elliptical (while holding on) and the treadmill.

They (whoever ‘they’ are) say that movement can actually lull the baby to sleep, and it may be true, but as soon as I get home this kids thinks it’s party time. Maybe the baby thinks it’s time for his/her aerobics class because it starts kicking, punching, flipping and squirming around for a good while.

I have notice that since I’ve gone back to exercising regularly, I have been able to sleep soundly almost completely through the night. They (yes, ‘them’ again) also say that strong muscles and a fit heart can greatly ease labor and delivery. Gaining control over your breathing can help manage pain and in the event of a lengthy labor (the horror!), increased endurance can be a real help. Also, women who exercise during pregnancy have less chance of developing certain conditions like gestational diabetes. I hope to be able to follow a mild to moderate exercise routine for the next few months.

Backdated post- September 14, 2010: 22 Weeks!

22 Weeks!

We started this week off with a bang, we got to see you in 3D and I’ve started feeling you move around. You weigh about 1 pound and you are almost 12 inches long.




It was incredible to watch you suck your thumb and see your perfect ears and nose. You seem perfectly happy in your snug little home. I can feel you moving around here and there- but you are most active right after I’ve had something to eat- perhaps it’s a sugar rush that’s got you flip flopping around. Whatever it is, it’s so cool to finally feel you. I love laying in bed at night thinking of names for you, I’ve started reading to you and I love it when David says goodnight to you.

We went to New Jersey and New York for Rosh Hashana. We got to spend time with our parents and also take a picture of the cousins to be. It was a really nice weekend.


I wonder if Natalia is going to have a little girl or boy cousin.