Dennen's PA Graduation!

It's hard to describe all the feelings and emotions that our family went through these past two years... When we moved to Maine Rowan had just recently been stillborn and it was a bit rough at the beginning. Dennen has been non-stop busy these past two years. People told us that PA School was intense and fast, but it was hard to imagine until we were going through it. Some people explained it like this, "it's like turning on a fire-hydrant and trying to drink from it." I'd say that was pretty much true. Dennen worked extremely hard and I am so, so, proud of him!

My parents and Dennen's parents and Dylan came out for his graduation. We stayed at a house they rented in Freeport, Maine. It was on a peninsula that jutted out into the Atlantic Ocean. It was rad! Finn had a ton of fun beach combing and adventuring. It was fun to spend some final time in southern Maine. We were also able to celebrate Finn's 4th birthday together.

 Although at times PA School was difficult, it was such a growing and learning experience for our family. We met some lifelong friends, and grew to love Maine so much! We experienced two Maine winters (coldest cold I have ever experienced). Went on adventures to Acadia, Moosehead Lake, Camden Hills, Beaches, and more. To say that we miss Maine would be an understatement.

Last Days in Orono, Maine

I haven't updated our blog in awhile because I found out that I can't upload our blog to make blog books anymore. Something happened with my blogger account and made it so it doesn't work anymore. Anyway, it just made me sad and want to stop blogging (we've also been very busy). The only reason I do it is to get family books made, and if it doesn't work anymore than what's the point? I guess I'll have to figure out someway to make it work. Maybe start a new blog or something...

Our last days in Maine were fun filled and really busy! First we decided that after Dennen finished PA School, that we were moving West (to be closer to family) no matter what. We both had a lot of mixed feelings about this (and still do at times) but figured that it would be easier to travel and see our families. Also, both of our grandparents are getting older and have more health problems. We wanted to be closer for them. We started packing our things up to head to Utah temporarily until Dennen found a job.

We started packing up our stuff in Orono to prepare to move shortly after Dennen's graduation day. We made some last trips to the Penobscot River, Family Dog, and University of Maine's Campus (it is really beautiful). The whole time we were getting ready to leave made me a bit sad... We visited our neighbor Dorthy a couple times as well. She was always so nice to our family and brought us over treats and even gave Finn some of her grandson's old toys. We promised to send her a card at Christmas time.

Dennen took Finn on some hikes and bike rides by our house and we tried to enjoy Maine as much as possible because we knew we would be leaving.

Camden Hills, Maine

This past weekend we took a trip to Camden Hills. It's the final countdown with my pregnancy and we're trying to pack in the final summer fun. We did a short 2 mile hike to a clearing with beautiful views of the coast and Atlantic Ocean. Finn has become quite the little hiker, and usually prefers to not be in the backpack.

In pregnancy news... I'm 34 weeks, and Margo weighs about 4 lbs 10 ounces. Finn comes to all of my appointments with me (which is a lot). He does a really good job and is well behaved. I've had 2 a week since 28 weeks. My doctors appointments are on Tuesdays, and my ultrasounds are on Fridays. At my last ultrasound I got some 4D pictures taken, which was kind of cool.

Finn has been enjoying going to the pool with Dennen and me, and is getting more brave with putting his nose and mouth in the water. Dennen also takes him on bug hunts which Finn really enjoys. Dennen has been really busy with this rotation, even though it's in Bangor and he doesn't have to commute an hour like with his past 2 rotations. It's in the OR and I guess it's probably so busy because it's a larger hospital. Lately, I've been working hard on my etsy shop and have coming up with new patterns and designs. I now have a navy blue bow tie for boys, and will have 6 color selections.

Moosehead Lake Trip

Since moving to Maine there are some things that we've really wanted to do, one of them being to go to Moosehead Lake. We went this past week and had a great time! I'm 33 weeks pregnant, and definitely needed an air mattress to be comfortable for camping. I slept in my own tent, and Dennen bunked up with Finn.

On the first night we drove out to Lazy Tom Bog, which apparently is a great spot to see moose. We didn't see any while out there but on our drive back we spotted one!

On the next day we hiked Big Moose Mountain it was a 6 mile hike and Finn hiked about a mile and a half of it himself. He was such a trooper, and so excited to go hiking. There were also a lot of toads on the hike.We got a beautiful view from the top of Moosehead Lake, but shortly after arriving to the top it started to pour rain so we booked it out of there. Dennen and Finn swam a bit that evening, and we finished up the day with some tasty black bean burritos and s'mores.

Dennen is a great trip planner! He got everything ready, including the food and planning what we were going
 to do while there. I'm glad he did, because I was pretty much just along for the ride.

A Vacation

This past Tuesday through Friday we headed down to Portland for Dennen to take some tests for school. We were really excited to see some of our friends as well as do the fun things in and around Portland. I took Finn to ride his bike in Evergreen Cemetery, to Willard Beach, and to the park on Eastern Prom.

My friend Jen, threw me a "diaper shower" with some friends. It was fun and the cake she got from Whole Foods was way tasty! I may have eaten some for breakfast one morning…

Dennen has some time off before he starts his next rotation, so he has been spending a lot of time with us. It has been awesome! One night Dennen took Finn on a "moth hunt". They came back with a mosquito and a spider in a Tupperware instead. We then watched as the spider spun a web to catch the mosquito and eat it (good riddance I hate mosquitoes).

Today we took a swim in the Penobscot River. Finn and I have lifejackets, and it's really nice for this pregnant lady just to float.

Summertime Fun

Finn finished his first session of swimming lessons and has started his second. He really enjoys it and it's fun to see him interact with the teachers and other kids. We have been beating the heat with lots of swimming at rivers and lakes. I even got myself and Finn life jackets so we can go float in the river close to our home.

I'm about 30 weeks pregnant right now, and at my most recent ultrasound our little girl weighs in at around 3 pounds. I always feel physically fine throughout pregnancy, and I'm grateful for that. The name we have chosen is Margo Atlin Frazier. We just really like the name Margo, and the name "Atlin" is a lake in Canada that we lived close to when we were in Alaska.

Finn has turned into a big time Jabberwocky. He likes to ask a lot of "why" questions. Sometimes they're kind of difficult to answer. For example, the other day he asked what chins are for. Kind of hard to answer... I'm also currently in the search for a preschool close to us that he can attend in the fall.

We recently had our friends visit us from Portland. We went canoeing and swimming and had a great time! It's always nice to have good friends. We've been feeling kind of lonely since we've moved here because we haven't really met too many people.

Updates

Dennen finished his first clinical rotation in the ER. He really enjoyed it, and even though it is a small hospital that he is at, it kept him very busy. He's now in the operating room and has been helping out with a lot of colonoscopies. Probably not the most exciting thing he could be doing... But that's okay, he has a great attitude about everything, and lets me know all the great details when he gets home.

We have been going to lakes and rivers galore! It is so much fun, and the water has always been quite warm. Finn loves getting out, and he is also doing better with his swimming lessons. I love seeing his little personality develop lately. He is definitely a very precise and observant kid. I took him to a puppet show at the community center last week. It was a group out of Bar Harbor that did an amazing job! Finn wasn't that interested until they pulled back the curtain and he actually saw how the puppets worked.

For the most part, I'm feeling pretty good these days. I'm about 28 weeks now. All of my doctors appointments have gone well so far... My fundal height is about 2 cm smaller than most women. Less than 3 cm is when they start to worry about IUGR. I'll be seeing my doctor every week starting this week. I have definitely had my emotional worry moments... Probably nothing too drastic or concerning will come up, but I have definitely not had good luck with pregnancies, and I can't let the feeling go that something bad is going to happen. I'm trying to have a lot of hope and faith. Two names that we're trying to decide between are Margo and Harper.

A Visit from Grandma Marci

We were lucky to have my mom come visit for a week and help us finish moving into our place. All I can say is that it is so nice to have everything organized and put away! We are very blessed to have such great family to help us out. Thank you.

Between running to stores and putting things away, we were able to do some fun things around the area. We were able to go to Sebec Lake, which was absolutely gorgeous! I can't wait to go back and camp there this summer. Finn sailed his toy boat down a little stream with Dennen. I love the picture of them both laying on their bellies on the bridge.

On Sunday we went and saw where Dennen does his clinical rotations in Dover-Foxcroft. He is working in the emergency department right now and really enjoys it because it is so varied. The lady who sets up all of Dennen's rotations invited us and a couple other students to her home in Guilford for dinner. It was a good time!

We also went to Stephen King's house in Bangor and took some tourist pictures, and then hit up a bakery nearby. On my mom's last day here Finn and I took her to the Orono Bog, which Finn always loves. We had lunch at Captain Nick's. I had a lobster roll (basically a hot dog bun with lobster pilled on top) which is one of my favorite Maine foods.

About every night consisted of popcorn and a movie (usually Mater's Tall Tales). Finn may have surpassed my mom when it comes to love of popcorn. He would finish his bowl and then move on to my mom's bowl of popcorn. Thanks again for the help and visit mom!