Who does this when 8 months pregnant?

We've wrapped up our time in Mexico and during our last few weeks we asked ourselves numerous times, "Who does this?". it was a wild ride and we've made it safe back to the East Coast where we are anxiously waiting for our new arrival. Below is a recap of our last few weeks as Joy explained it to one of our dear friends.

As we approach the end of our time in Mexico we can't help but enjoy our last few days. The last two days have had our house filled with a packing crew from the moving company and so as not to spend our last few days in an empty house we plan to spend a nice and relaxing week-end at a beach an hour south of us called San Carlos http://www.sancarlosmexicoguide.com/ and also a beautiful old colonial town called Alamos. In Alamos we can't say enough about our favorite spot discovered here in Mexico; the incredible Hacienda de los Santos (http://www.haciendadelossantos.com/).

It's been tough to pack up our Mexican home as it's always hard to say good-bye. Now we try to look forward, although our thoughts only go as far as the summer. We have a busy summer ahead. We leave Mexico June 2nd and will be on the road for a little over a week. John is going to drop Jan and I in Alabama to pass the time with Joy's Dad, step-mom, and 2 younger sisters live who all have their summer free. Joy's sister Kimberly and niece are also in the area = which will give Jan Braxton lots of family time while we prepare for the arrival of number 2. Jan Braxton is a very sociable and loves hanging out with people. And of course the family just adores him so it will be nice for him to develop some lasting bonds with everyone.

After dropping Jan and I off, John will continue on to DC. He will be there for almost 3 weeks for a training course just before the baby arrives (Currently expected July 14th).
We don't know if it is a boy or girl. We are waiting until the big day to find out...why not?!!!

John will be on paternity leave during all of July and August which is much different from the three days off, which he spent visiting doctors for a broken finger, he had when Jan Braxton arrived It will be nice to have those first few weeks together. So, we really have an old fashioned summer. Both off work and enjoying it with friends and family. Just like when we where kids. What a treat!!! And, I always spent the summers in Alabama growing up. So we're excited to share and re-live some of our famiy's age-old traditions; such as making home-made ice cream, picking wild blackberries (always a favorite), watching the stars (and seeing shotting ones), seeing fireflies (which we didn't have in Florida and don't have in Mexico- it will be Jan's first to see them) and going to the local parks and pool (and we will have a country 4th of July). Maybe we will even play a few rounds of dominos (a family favorite). Also worth noting that Jan Braxton LOVES dogs and my Dad has 7 of them!

We will be on the road again, mid-August. Visiting Joy's high school girl friend, Jessica who lives in Nashville and our very close friends in Indianapolis (Katie, who was our maid of honor and Roark, who married us AND their 11-month old baby girl Isabela a.k.a. "Izzy"). Along the way we are going to hit up Cincinnati, Louisville, Lexington KY, Lexington VA, and Williamsburg VA. Then, we will be enjoying a week-long beach vacation in the Outer Banks - Duck, NC with John's brother Billy and Tina and four kiddos - Erin, Maura, Liam, and Sean. Then another week will be spent in Burlington, VT visiting our friend Laura, husband Chris and two children Lilly and Cal. They are the ones we became very close with in Texas last year. I watched Lilly and Cal for Laura while she was in training with John. She was also there for the birth of Jan. WOW- RIGHT!!!!! Always an adventure! We will get back to DC right before Labor Day. John starts Slovak language training the day after. And, we will be in DC until sometime in April or May 2012. We are looking forward to an apartment that is in Rosslyn- Arlington, Virginia. If we are lucky, maybe our apartment will look-out over the National Mall (which some really do!). Arlington National Cemetery to our south with Iwo Jima Monument (less than .5 mile), Georgetown to our north (same distance less than a mile) and the National Mall to the East. It is an amazing location with two kids. I can walk with them to so many different green spaces/national parks and cool attractions/activities.

Did we mention that we will be moving to Slovakia in less than a year? Oh, who can think that far ahead. Right now let's focus on getting through the summer.