Ok, we've been here 7 months, I am ready to pop with this baby (due tomorrow) and I haven't updated the free website that I started in (April) well, since April. I ran out of free space on that site, so I decided that I would use blogger instead. I kept telling myself, "I have to start this before the baby comes!" And well, I am pretty much a deadline person - so here I am finally!!!!!
So much has happened since we moved here, I really don't even know where to start. It was a somewhat rough beginning for us (overseas moves usually are, or so they tell me). There were many issues and situations and that delayed our "feeling right at home" feeling, but I am more than happy to say that those things have been resolved. There are still some things that are challenging about island life, and add the fact that we don't speak that much Japanese and you can imagine why it's a little more difficult a change than we're used to.
So, what have we been up to since we've been here? In a nutshell. . .we had a very, very hot and humid summer, but were still able to see a some sights (only a few because pregnancy and Okinawa heat are not a good combo). We did manage to spend a day on on of the tiny islands right off the coast, Minna Island, for a day on the beach with several of our friends and their families. I got to snorkel for the 2nd time in my life and it felt like I was inside an aquarium! I had the sunburn to prove it, the entire back of my body was bu
rned - and we were only swimming for about 30 minutes while the husbands entertained the kids. We've also visited the largest cave in Japan, I think it's the second largest cave in the world, and most of you saw the picture of Andy and the kids at the Habu snake museum. We've also visited some local sights and festivals, mostly on the bases. There is lots of entertainment and things for the kids to do here, they really make it family-friendly, which is why so many people do multiple tours here.
Speaking of the kiddos, they have really settled and enjoyed life here. We started immediately visiting the on-base library for weekly story time, which is where I have met many of my friends. I also joined the Fitness co-op, which is a group of Moms who take turns with childcare at the gym. I volunteer in the nursery 4 times a month, and I get to work out 4 days a week in my timeslot. I've been albe to hit the gym this entire pregnancy, it gave the kids some fun social time, and I've made some wonderful friends. When you don't have a paying job and your in a new city, let alone a new country - having good friends makes all the difference.
This summer, we had both kids in swimming lessons, and Gavin's skills and confidence improved dramatically. Gemma was in a "Mommy and Me class," so she didn't venture too far out until a few weeks after lessons, when she finally decided to start swimming - it was amazing!
We also put them both in vacation bible school for the first time, I was a volunteer in Gemma's class. His teacher (who is now a good friend of mine) told me how interested he seemed in learning everything. After it was done, all Gavin talked about was how much he wanted to go to school. I hadn't planned on putting him in pre-school this year, the cut-off for k-garten is Sept. But we found a wonderful school - a certified, true montessori/christian school, and he absolutely loves it. He is learning so much, has lots of little friends (mostly girls!), and his teachers tell me how wonderful he is to have in their class. I think he's the only kid who hasn't been to pre-school before. Many people here put kids as young as 2 in full-time pre-school - so those kids obviously adjust very well because they've already been in "school" for so long. But the assistant principal said she was worried when I told her my almost 5-year-old had never been in pre-school or daycare, she didn't think he would adjust very well since he'd "just been home with me." But I ran into her about a week after he started, she stopped me in the parking lot and said, "We are so impressed with Gavin - he works hard, listens and is always so well-behaved - you have done a great job with him!" I think I had a few proud tears!! I am certain that putting him in this school was a very, very good decision, even though Gemma and I both still really miss him during the day!
As for me, I can't believe that I'm due tomorrow! I'm sure you all already know, but we're having a boy and his name is William Ronald. William is my Dad's, brother Raffo and brother Tony's first name (I know, all you in Kansas City may not know, my entire family goes by their middle name!). We will call him William. The kids are SOOOOO excited, and my little Mama Gem has become obsessed with everyone's little babies. They talk to my tummy all the time, and can't wait to meet him and "play" with him! His nickname, which he's had for months, if "Firecracker," because this kid seems to kick way more than the other two. It sometimes looks like an alien is taking over my tummy!
I am not TOTALLY ready to have this baby at this point. I am planning to make the most of the time I have left as a mother of two. I keep telling myself and the kids that things will be really changing soon. A new baby demands a lot of attention and I know women do it all the time (Marcia - 7 times!!!) but I still want it to happen later rather than sooner. Plus I'm a deadline person - after Wed I'll be truly ready!
It almost scares me because I feel so wonderful, I'm sleeping great, and I just don't feel miserable at all, even though I have a little over 30 extra pounds of what looks like a large watermelon in my tummy. I stopped going to the gym last week (although I mowed the grass last Saturday!). I truly think being active and lots of prenatal massages have kept me feeling so great. Massages are REALLY cheap here, almost half the cost in the states so I don't feel so guilty in taking care of any aches and pains!
As for Andy, he is doing really well. There are lots of challenges for him at work, which I won't go into (maybe I can get him to post soon!) but he is doing his best to work through them and improve the conditions for the guys that work for him. He will get 10 free days of leave after the baby comes, so he is really looking forward to getting away from the shop for a little while. I feel certain that after 10 days at home, he'll probably be more than ready to head back to work, we'll see :)
I'll certainly do my best to keep you much more informed than I have since we've moved here! Hopefully the next post will be a birth story!
As for New Years, (and our 11-year anniversary!) Andy and I and the kids went out to the Four Seasons, a Japanese Steak House. Very yummy, very entertaining, and very PACKED! We beat the rush, on our way out there was a very long wait. 
