We were trying to stick it out till the job DH was working towards in Portland accepted him, but when they turned him down in early August, I decided I'd taken as much as I could take, and that we were finding a safe place here, and sticking it out till December at least (when DS is due) and then DH can continue his job hunt.

So we looked for over a month, and we're priced out of the safe cities like Berkeley, Emeryville and Albany, so we started looking at less-ghetto parts of Oakland.  Then, my little brother offered to take 1/3 of the rent burden and come up to live with us (he's never been away from home, but wants to leave, badly).  We said yes, and started looking at 3 bedroom places.

Heres what we found.

No, not all of it is ours.  We've got the top floor only, but it's a much nicer neighborhood.  The turret

is ours, and we've got a lot of light (though the smallest kitchen EVER).

For those who know the area, we're up by Lake Merritt, one of the prettiest parts of Oakland, and just a 5 minute bike ride to a real and ::gasp:: junkie-free park!  There's also a back yard and a fenced in front yard that Rory can ride her scotter in

I'm so happy with the place I could scream, especially since it's only $500 more monthly than our last place, and my brother is picking up the difference.  :)

As for the sleeping thing, we've finally set up her "big-girl" (twin) bed, and it seems to have made her much happier.  

I can even go nap with her 9something she's decided is fun in the last week) because it's a real bed.

To top it all off, yesterday she decided she hated diapers, and spent all day pantsless...without a single accident, and used the potty 4 times (3 #1 and 1 #2).  I could get used to this!

Anyway, brother arrives on Sunday, we finish moving in this next week, and the pregnancy is going along well.  I'm 29 weeks tomorrow, have gained 9 lbs (about 5 more than I'd like, really, but whatever) and have discovered the magic of Swiffer's wet-jet for hardwood floors.  Also, since there's been ratty carpet everywhere we've lived with DD, I finally leared what that phrase (pitter-patter of little feet) meant yesterday, when she came running down the hall calling for kisses for herself and her monkey ("Beso mama! Beso Rory and Mono!" )