It's About Time!

Do you ever have those errands that are easy enough to check off your list but that take you forever in getting around to doing?

After SIX YEARS, I finally checked getting my watch fixed off of my list.

Yes, six years.

I have a lovely watch, pictured above, that broke the day I arrived in Hawaii in 2004. A pin attaching the face to the band fell out, leaving the watch in two pieces, unwearable. I almost saw it as a sign -- I had moved to Hawaii, where everything is on "Hawaiian time," i.e. very slow-moving, laid back and unconcerned with punctuality. This was a welcome stage in my life, and I went with the flow, putting the broken watch in a drawer and embracing the freedom from chronology. At any rate, I always had a cell phone in my pocket if I needed to know the time.

This worked fine for me until my job of the last year and a half. Punctuality is critical and I don't usually have my cell phone on me. I needed a watch. Neil took the watch to a watch repair place in B.A., but they couldn't fix it. He bought me a clever little white Casio that I love, but it's way too sporty to wear with a suit -- although I did anyway for lack of a dressy watch and hoped I was pulling off a sporty look, like I just went running ;) But who am I kidding?

I have been carrying the broken watch in a Ziploc baggie in my purse for a few months, with the intention of taking it to a watch place to have it fixed.

Just the other day I was at the mall, and I thought, "Hey! I should see about getting my watch fixed here!" I went to a jeweler, and they said they couldn't fix it, but recommended that I go to Sears, where there is a lady with a little shop who does watch repair. So to Sears I went.

I handed the two pieces of the watch to the lady, and asked if she could fix the band. She said, "Oh yeah, give me five minutes."

I think it cost $5 or something. Funny it took so long to finally get around to doing it!

AZ Sunset

This was after it rained off and on all day. I took eight photos to make a panoramic scene, but I can't find a way to stitch them together. I poked around in iPhoto, Photoshop, tried CleVR and looked at Picasa, to no avail. Any suggestions??

He's Still Got It

Just because he'll be a dad in a month doesn't mean Neil can't still impress us all with a standing back tuck (this is the second time I've ever seen him do this).

A Stroll Around My Neighborhood

Buenos Aires has really beautiful, unique and varied architecture. I decided to snap pictures on a recent walk we took around our neighborhood. This may or not be boring to you, but I wanted to document it at least for myself :)

Back to AZ in the next post!






















Home again, home again.

Happy Two Years and Happy Valentine's Day!

With all the hubbub of relocating hemispheres, I neglected to post on two significant events:

Neil and I celebrated our two-year wedding anniversary!!!

and

We all celebrated a happy Valentine's Day!

I hope the latter was a special day for you. It was for us; we had a lovely brunch at Neil's parents' with his siblings and their babies; we went to Church where I realized how much easier it is to listen to lessons in English; and then we visited with the fam some more.

Our wedding anniversary we spent at home with the family as well; we had fajitas and celebrated with bro-in-law's birthday cake/our anniversary cake!

It's nice to be comfortable and enjoy the company of loved ones.

Baby Shower!

I had my baby shower last Saturday before I left Buenos Aires. It was a BEAUTIFUL, fun event, attended by tons of ladies I love.

We ate.

And then opened presents.

Lots of presents.

Mom, this one's for you. Or for me? Or baby girl? I was so confused by the card that said "Love, Grandma" ...
... I was like, "Oh, this gift is from my grandma!" And someone said, "No, it's from your mom -- you know, grandma!" Wow, that's a mind bender!


I wasn't sure at first what this gift was ...
... I thought it was a doilie for the headrest of the chair and a matching lap blanket. Luckily the ladies straightened me out -- it's a burp cloth and receiving blanket. Duh!


See those pink paper bags at the far left?
Neil helped me make 50 bags of thank-you cookies! I still have to write my thank-you notes. I am so grateful for all the beautiful, wonderful gifts and all the love this little baby girl already has from those around her!

Dog Days of Summer

We left the heat of Buenos Aires summer behind for the springtime in Arizona. I have lots of news for you!!

One Year - 7 1/2 months

Neil is holding a Brazilian mate and bombilla at the Relief Society President's house.

January 29 we celebrated one year here in Argentina! We are really enjoying it, and have one year left before we go somewhere else. So if you're planning to visit us, do it before January 2011!

-- However, don't come visit in the next three months, because we won't be here. --

We are leaving on Tuesday for Mesa, AZ. We already have plans to see a few of you there! I'm really excited to go, I like Arizona.


I am currently 7 1/2 mos. pregnant. Today we had our final appointment with our wonderful Dr. here. OK, and I had another ultrasound ... to add to another "fetal scan" (a very thorough, DVD-recorded ultrasound) I had last Saturday ... are we up to 11 ultrasounds now?

I am really going to miss our Dr., he's great. We took a picture together today:

He apologized for not having his tie :)

All the doctors we've seen here have solo private practices, an office in an apt. building in the city. And they don't have a nurse, just a receptionist, and then you see the Dr. directly every time, so I have REALLY appreciated that. They all have midwives that they contract with who you meet at about this time in the pregnancy, and who primarily attend you at the hospital, not the staff nurses at the hospital. So each doctor has only a few (private) hospitals where they have a relationship with the OB unit and will deliver. Because they are in a solo practice, they are the one who delivers the baby. I am disappointed not to experience the birth here.

However, the Dr. we have lined up in AZ is in a similar private practice and comes highly recommended, so here's to hoping. And we're planning to hire a doula to hopefully help things go extra smoothly. It's hard to believe THIS IS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.