friday present: settling into lullabies.

First, I want to say thank you to all of you! Your lovely comments always make my day. And since some days (if even for silly- or non-reasons) are harder than others... such sweetness boosts the ole superpower reserves. 

Without further ado, this week's gratefulness list goes like so: Thankful for...

Settling in. 

{in the woods at giverny by claude monet}

I mean this on so many levels. Settling into my skin, into pregnancy, and settling down. It's funny after all this time vagabonding, I finally just want to be settled and in one place. Long-time friends might be shocked to hear me say such a thing.

So here we are in Santiago, and for the first time this week, we have uninterrupted internet. I'm playing blog catchup, which is always fun. Because the internet situation was so shoddy here, we were going to change to a different place, but they seem to have fixed it, so we're here till Monday. No moving, just settling. This morning I refolded all my suitcase and tidied up. We're staying in a pretty posh fully-equipped two-room apartment in the center, Santa Lucia area. (It only costs us about 14USD more to stay here rather than in the cheapest Santiago hostel, the one with a tiny room and a horribly dirty shared bathroom. And other tourists. Now, lemme just say... Hostels are great when you're traveling and want to meet other travelers! But having the where are you from conversation with the wide-eyed (fellow) globetrotter 3-5 times/day in the place where you currently live started to get old somewhere along the way.)

Moving on. 

{photo : unknown : please let me know if it's yours}

I mean this on so many levels. Moving into phase 2 of the visa process, the light at the end of it all leading us into the USA together. And going on a little vacation! On Monday, we head to Uruguay, just because it was the cheapest place we could get to that wasn't Chile. We plan to see the sun rise from the Atlantic at least once. We've both seen the sun sink into the sea many times (I seem to be a permanent West coaster, from California to Chile), but neither one of us has ever seen the sun rise out of the sea! Other than that... we'll see.

Immigration visa. 

{bardot in blue}

What can I say about this? We decided to do file Serkan's visa paperwork DCF way (via Direct Consular Filing). This means we must go in person to the U.S. Embassy in the country where we live, instead of me mailing it to some PO Box in Chicago from the States. DCF method for Chile takes 2-4 months, whereas if you do this from the States it takes 6-12 months or longer. What held up our process was the crazy slow waiting for me to receive my updated Chilean ID. My last one under a job contract had expired and had my maiden name on it. (Long story.) But to sing the praises of DCF, I can't tell you how amazing it is to be able to file in person! If something is wrong, you know right away. If you have a question about part of one of the documents, you can ask, and know that you filled out said document correctly/satisfactorily, or change it if need be! You know the paperwork has been received, and you have a verbal time frame, and even card to email further questions. You get all the phase two paperwork right away too! Anyway, like I've said, this went crazy wonderfully, and I'm psyched! (If you have any questions about how to fill out forms, sample affidavits or sample cover letters, what to include, etc., send me an email! Happy to share it all with you!)

Getting lost. 

{october by fanfan}

My direction sense has always been horrid. The only place it's ever been halfway decent is in the mountains and on trails. Somehow intuitively I know that one trail will connect with where we want to go. This intuitive sense has dulled over the years (despite the fact that I spend lots more time in the mountains now). Why has it dulled? Simply because I don't trust myself... I get lost everywhere in amazing ways. Sometimes I get lost in the same way various times because I know that I've been there and seen such and such landmark before. Um. Yeah, but I saw it by getting lost. So mostly I can stay pretty relaxed and be lost. But when this lostness joins forces with my habit of being late, that's when the freak outs and real exasperation starts. Really, Heather? Again!? So I'm thankful to be with someone who always seems to know where we are. I think he's magic. He's definitely my favorite dream.

Baby Yalin. 

{by popular demand : the belly, circa 17 weeks}

And of course I'm thankful for our baby, who I now feel daily. I'm starting to sing lullabies to him in hopes that they'll help quiet him later. I've been singing You Are My Sunshine, and I used to love the Irish Lullaby (Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra) my mom and grandparents sang to me as a wee one.

Do you have a favorite lullaby or song that you sang to your little one or that you remember loving to hear as a little one?