Greetings from Florida!

Well, I figured it was about time to update here. I hear from you guys every so often checking in on me, and I feel bad about how infrequently I've been able to post. If you read my last post though, you of course know how crazy my life is right now and hopefully have some mercy on me!

So, we are now in Florida. We got here about a month ago, after much stress and anxiety and bumps in the road. I know that moving is one of those life events that is rated as one of the most stressful, along with getting married, having a baby, etc. But for me, moving is the most stressful by far. I cannot tell you how much I hate it! I am such a perfectionist, all the planning and preparation and organization stresses me out beyond belief. And trying to do it while greatly pregnant and taking care of a fourteen month old just adds to the stress.

But we at least are now here and somewhat settled, so the worst of it is over. Until I can get the house a little decorated and unpack the dozens of boxes still sitting around though, I will still feel unsettled. However, I'm enjoying being in Florida near my two sisters. It's so nice to be able to stop by and see them at the drop of a hat. It will be such an improvement in my social life! Will I ever get used to actually sweating in January though? That's one I haven't decided on yet!

On other fronts, I am almost finished writing my book. My manuscript is due the end of the month, so it's crunch-time for me. I haven't seen what the design will look like, but I'm happy with what I've written, and I hope you will all be very pleased with the results. It's due out about October, and the title will be "The Art of Personal Imagery". Wish me luck finishing it up. The new baby is due in one month, so I'm really cutting things close with this deadline!

And of course there's the pregnancy. This has been a hard one for me, compared to Riley's. I'm sure a lot of that has to do with making a cross-country move in the middle of it, but regardless, I'm struggling. At my last ultrasound, the doctor said that this baby is measuring about 25% larger than average- yikes! Riley was 9 lbs. 13.5 oz., so I guess I'm in for another big one. At least I'm in the home stretch and don't have to deal with sleepless nights, back pain, and muscle aches too much longer. Last weekend, my sister took some photos of me out on the beach, which I'll upload here. They came out so nicely. It's still hard for me to believe I was out on the beach in January though!

And, last but not least, there's Riley. He's doing great-doesn't seem to have been affected much at all by this move, thank goodness. He loves being able to play with his two cousins, and they seem to like having a new friend as well. He started walking about two months ago, and of course is now more into everything than ever before. But he's still a sweetie, and I hope he'll adjust to having a new little brother soon...

Okay, that's about it. Thanks for sticking with me, and continuing to check my blog. And thanks to all of you who wrote to me about my articles in Somerset and Legacy. Once the book's done and the baby's born, I hope to be able to start blogging a bit more frequently again. And doing some art, which is a completely different story- I haven't done a piece in over two months! Poor Riley's book has been completely neglected, as has the new baby's pregnancy journal.... Oh well, I can only do what I can do!