California on my mind

This morning I woke up longing for home.  Home, meaning CA where my family is.  It's a strange feeling.  It has a melancholy to it.  It kicks up the dust of old memories and I watch as they float down around me. Summertime, especially makes these feelings come alive.  

Summertime is my favorite time of year.  July 4 is my favorite holiday by far. I have such fond memories as a child sitting on Arrow Highway watching fireworks being let off across the street at the Pomona Fairgrounds with my cousins.  Or sitting on 17th Street as my sis-in-laws dance amidst strobe flashing fire works.  Or sitting on a hill in Boys Republic watching all the fireworks in the surrounding valleys while making up verses to songs and be terrified of snakes. Or watching the Dodgers play in Chavez Ravine and after the game coming down on the field for the fireworks. This is summer to me.

I had a thought this morning that frightened me. While I was young and newly married I never, ever expected we would move outside of CA.  This July we will be married for 14 years.  We moved to Idaho just after having Ben. We had been married 7 years.  This August marks the point in which we have lived outside of CA as long as we lived in it as a married couple. Some how this breaks my heart a little.

It breaks my heart that my kids don't know the beach, or the LA county fair, or June gloom, or Granny's stach of cookies and candy, or the Chino High band review, or the 10 freeway.

What is the deal with CA? Why does it still have such a pull on me? Why do I always want to drive down every summer with reckless abandon and forget responsibilities? Why can't I find a decent fish taco in UT?

Today I am 17 weeks pregnant.  

It seems unreal that I'm only 17 weeks along.  Physically I feel like I'm twice that far.  I keep getting asked what the baby's gender is.  In fact, people have been asking me that for the last 6 weeks.  I just nod my head and say I don't know.  Then they assume that I don't want to know the gender before delivery.  Sometimes I think it would just be easier to wear a sign saying "no, I may look like I'm that far along, but I'm not."  

When people ask me when my due date is they're shocked that I still have so far to go.  I think instead of telling people that I'm due in November, I'll just tell them "after the summer".

Here's the update from yesterday's doctor appointment:

I've gained 2 pounds total.

The baby's heart beat sounds great.

My blood pressure is really good.

My lower back gets very tired and sore if I have to be on my feet for long.

My new support brace/belt is helping with my back.

I will be starting physical therapy soon to try and strengthen my back.

My fetal survey ultrasound is scheduled for 6/25.

I'd like to take a poll.  What do you think the gender is?  Leave you thoughts in the comments.

I am definitely excited that school ends officially on Wednesday.  I'm looking forward to lazy warm mornings, swimming pools, and plenty of watermelon.  But one thing I'll miss is being alone with my buddy.  Eliza and I go and do just about everything in the mornings while the boys are at school.  I've never really had that experience with the boys because they were so close in age that they came as a pair.  And by the time Ben went to kindergarten Eliza was part of our family.  It's been fun this school year to have Eliza as my little buddy to "help" me with errands, chores, and appointments.