changes

On election day, change is on my mind, although not like it was four years ago.  Back then, I was pregnant and we proudly voted for Obama, who promised a future of hope and change for our unborn child.  Now, we hope that there isn't a change in our leader, as we want both of our children to be born into a country that strives for equal rights for all citizens, no matter their gender, sexual orientation, race, or religious beliefs (or lack thereof).  I hope that this baby proves to be as good of an in-utero luck charm as his big sister was.

Our family has undergone a great deal of change in the last two months: moving away from our good friends in Portland, starting preschool for Deals, getting ready for a new job for Dad, and preparing to become a family of four.  The hardest change of all was losing our beloved pet of 13 years, Sandy, just two weeks after moving to Eugene.  The house still feels empty without her, although we are lucky to have so many wonderful memories to hold onto for the rest of our lives.  Thank you to all of you that also knew and loved her- the sympathy cards and kind words remembering trips to the beach, walks in the woods, or other times with her really gave us some peace.