the fourth

We had ourselves a full day yesterday...as well as full, full bellies.
With just a few weeks left in my pregnancy I felt like I was going to either melt or explode most of the day.
I thought I might be having some Braxton Hicks contractions early on, but things slowed down a bit by the end of the night.

In the morning we joined Nick and Megan for a community breakfast and Minnie played her heart out on the playground getting dirty as could be.
We came home and put Min down for a nap and blessed Julia stayed at home with her while Robert and I met up with his brother to see Superman.
And guess who slept through all 2 hours and 30 minutes of the movie plus an additional hour and half?
Minnie the sleeping machine! Dream girl.

In the evening we went to Nick and Megan's for a bbq and then joined the Rogers at their house for some dessert and fireworks.
James made his famous (and addicting) chocolate chip cookies (which Minnie obviously enjoyed a little too much) and Megan made her mom's orange sherbet.
Like I said...bellies stuffed all day.
They'd purchased quite the spread of fireworks which was a hit with everyone but Minnie.
Whenever Minnie is scared she will say "It's ok. It's ok. It's ok," over and over and over.
It's kind of heartbreaking.
It's like she has to convince herself that she's not going to get hurt.
She was telling herself that the minute the fireworks got going and didn't stop until we left the house.
I'm afraid she may have gotten a little of her mama's anxiety.

We ended the evening spread out on the back lawn watching the enormous fireworks James shot off from the golf course behind their house.
They were pretty incredible.
Minnie spent the last 20 minutes in Nick's lap with Megan's sunglasses on, distracting herself with movies on Nick's phone with an occasional eye cover and "It's ok."
Once again, heartbreaking.
I just don't want her living her whole life afraid of everything so I just make her get through it so she realizes she really is ok.
It kills me sometimes though.

What a gift it is to live in a country founded on principles of freedom and equality.
I feel like I rarely think about how blessed we are to live here and I am grateful for holidays that help me remember.
We really have such a wonderful life.