When Bo and I moved down to Hattiesburg, we acquired a Night Blooming Cereus from my MIL.  She'd been caring for it until I had a place to put it, which I finally did.  We couldn't have picked a better spot for this tropical plant to thrive.

You're probably Googling it right now or have closed this window due to lack of interest, but this plant has serious character.  Its story may remind some of you of the plant Mr. Wilson pours himself over in Dennis the Menace; and though they have similarities - they aren't quite the same. 

What makes it so special is the way it blooms.  The plant itself is pretty unattractive, large waxy leaves with tall stalks shooting out everywhere; a bit of an eyesore really.  So, back to the blooms.  They begin like this, coming straight out of the leaves:

They continue in this manner for about 23 days.  Like so:

Many thanks to my doting husband for these pictures.

You'll know the time is coming for the bloom because it will start to curl around itself in a horseshoe shape.  The craziest part about this little gem is that it only blooms once and this will only happen at night!  Starting at sunset, it begins to open.  Then fully baring its glory into the night.  The reason for this, you may be asking yourself?  It gets pollinated by bats and moths - creatures of the night.  And the smell -- its amazing.  It'll reach you from ten feet away!  

This thing is about the size of a small cantaloupe!

Of course, mine decided to bloom for the first time ever while I'm stationed ninety miles away in Meridian, MS.  But at last look, we have five more buds - keep your fingers crossed I'll get to enjoy more than the photos this next time around.

Here's a pretty cool youtube link of a bloom opening.

Hope all is well with y'all out there!  I sure am enjoying being out of the classroom and on rotations - last count: 10 babies delivered!  Missing my little honey down in Hattiesburg, but only one more week and I'll be home sweet home again (and ready to start nesting already!).  As many of you have been asking, here is the latest 'belly pic' - sorry for the poor quality...

22 weeks

Well, today was the big reveal day at the obstetrician.  I wanted a surprise, Bo had to know...so in the end we found out we have a healthy baby with all the necessary parts and....drumroll, please.....

This came as a shock to both of us, as we'd been thinking - boy, boy, BOY all along.  Grandparents were in a 3 to 1 vote for girl, so I guess we should always listen to our elders.  Of course, we are so thrilled to be having a girl.  Now, the topic is who she will be more like.  My vote is for more like Bo and with her low heartbeat recordings we're on track to making that happen, i.e. very mellow.

What did y'all think we'd have?  Are you as shocked as we were?!

I leave you with one, and only one, ultrasound picture of our little lady.