Tears at 39 weeks.....and braxton hicks

Pics may come soon--but for now I wanted to share this song--it is getting to the part where we can have this baby at any moment and things are starting to get real.
I heard this song and teared up a bit but it mostly made me so excited! I cannot wait to meet our new little person and see what he looks like and hold him and let him know just how much he is wanted and loved. (and show him all of his new cool stuff! Thanks to our family and friends we are all set up! As soon as my print arrives I will take some pics of the nursery for your viewing pleasure)
Until then? Braxton Hicks are kicking my butt! It has been 24 hours straight of every 10 minutes or so. I am really happy that something is happening but it is kind of making me less fun to be around for sure! (not to mention scared sh**tless for the real deal)



Good morning, son.
I am a bird
Wearing a brown polyester shirt
You want a coke?
Maybe some fries?
The roast beef combo's only $9.95
It's okay, you don't have to pay
I've got all the change

Everybody knows
It hurts to grow up
And everybody does
It's so weird to be back here
Let me tell you what
The years go on and
We're still fighting it, we're still fighting it
And you're so much like me
I'm sorry

Good morning, son
In twenty years from now
Maybe we'll both sit down and have a few beers
And I can tell you 'bout today
And how I picked you up and everything changed
It was pain
Sunny days and rain
I knew you'd feel the same things

Everybody knows
It sucks to grow up
And everybody does
It's so weird to be back here.
Let me tell you what
The years go on and
We're still fighting it, we're still fighting it
You'll try and try and one day you'll fly
Away from me

Good morning, son
I am a bird

It was pain
Sunny days and rain
I knew you'd feel the same things

Everybody knows
It hurts to grow up
And everybody does
It's so weird to be back here.
Let me tell you what
The years go on and
We're still fighting it, we're still fighting it
Oh, we're still fighting it, we're still fighting it

And you're so much like me
I'm sorry

37 Weeks

We have been busy busy at our house!  I finally found a crib, glider and also a changing table!  The changing table was sitting in my parent's garage-my dad made it in High School and Les and I used it all growing up--it is perfect and I am excited to be able to use it!  We also had 2 amazing showers(I will post pics when I get them)  Other than a few little odds and ends we are feeling as ready as is possible when expecting one's first baby.


Songs this month:
Both to Doug both because he is amazing in too many ways to count or even think of in one sitting.

Accepting defeat

It has been 8 weeks since I have posted.  A lot of that has to do with Doug being really busy, traveling and me being really busy.  But almost as much to do with the fact that I spend most days in Yoga clothes and no makeup(comfy and I have been doing as much Yoga as possible).  We went to Lake Powell and had a great time(I know there are pics of me in a bikini somewhere, maybe I will post them, but not likely)  and Doug went to NY twice and purchased his first onsie--he brought it home and it made me almost cry!  Also I have been trying to be helpful because my sister and moms(including Susan) and others are working hard to put on not one, but 2 showers for this new baby and I couldn't feel more loved.
One of my favorite parts about being pregnant is when strangers smile at me(read: not when strangers give unsolicited advice, that is different) it is fun to feel like we all have something in common and we are all human and in this together.  It is a feeling I wasn't anticipating(that and having my neighbors carry stuff for me)  I have been so lucky and my heart is warmed almost every day with random acts of kindness from strangers and the strength and selflessness of those close to me(you know who you are)  I think our baby boy is coming both into a family(including many friends that are family) and a world that is amazing, wonderful and full of much more good than not.  Yet another feeling I was not anticipating.

For one of the showers we decided to make a "blankie" and have everyone help(i love this idea) My Grandma Bench used to make us all a blanket when we were born and they were just the perfect size to grow up with. From keeping us warm, to providing comfort on the floor, to being dragged around for comfort this blanket was all of our favorite and so, in her memory we measured mine(above) and are going to make Baby Boy's the same size. It is times like these that you miss the ones that have gone the most. Most of my grandparents are gone, but their memory and traditions live on.

My goal is to try not to go 2 months again between pics--lets hope I can do it!

Doug's Adventures

Doug has been working hard on this, his latest project, that is making waves in education. It has been mentioned here,and here.
And can be downloaded for FREE for parents who want to know what their kids should and will be learning here and here
It has been a fun adventure living in the unknown and often unintuitive world of ed sales.
I am proud of him and what this product is trying to achieve. Not only is it informative and useful for teachers(and free to schools to use) I think that with the FREE app it also gives parents a chance to be more involved and see how their child is learning and how they compare to other children in their class and in the nation.
The beauty of it really is that teachers are allowed to track mastery of skills but are not being forced to do so. Teachers are people too everyone--this product leaves the art of teaching up to the teachers, which is rare in these post "no child left behind" times.

Good start on changing the world Doug!
Check out MasteryConnect Here

Week 24

This week has become increasingly uncomfy in the sitting department.  I feel like someone is sitting on me if I sit for more than a few minutes(standing and laying are ok still though)  We got our stroller and it is GREAT!  One baby item down, millions to go.  I am having a hard time decorating the nursery(it will eventually fill the space where we take these pics)  I feel like once I find a crib and a sheet set I like everything else will come pretty easily.  Additionally we are going to Lake Powell next month with our families so swimsuit season has never been more stressful! We start our Brio Birth Classes on the 26th, which we are both really looking forward to.  It is 2 hours a session for 12 weeks.  We had better be experts in birth after that long! 
This week may be the last that I can wear some of my regular clothes(except those are definitely maternity pants--thank you JEN!!)  As shown I had to leave the bottom button of my my vest undone(very classy indeed)
On another note, Cleo will NOT leave the room when we take pics every week. She knows what her job is and does it well! If there were an outtakes reel on this week her head was in more than half of the photos.
Like this:

"mom is it my turn yet?"
Doug and I know that if she didn't want to be there she would not be(examples are when the shower is on, she is nowhere to be found(hates baths) and when there is loud music(hates dancing))

Additionally, I get tired about 8:30 every night. Doug has taken a pic of me yawning every time and so I feel like I need to post one. The times that seem to be convenient to take pics always fall around the 9-10 PM timeframe so yea, I really look like this:

And I had to meet clients this day, I normally look a lot like a homeless person(go ahead, ask the Jenn Air repair man or any of my neighbors--I can feel them thinking that Doug and I physically are not a good match and that I must have a really great personality.) One of our neighbors actually described Doug as "practically a model" --not helpful to his wife who feels like a whale, but nice all the same :) Pregnancy is hard on the self image for sure!YES I KNOW you get a baby at the end. People say this to me ALL THE DAMN TIME--I get it! I am so very grateful and excited and happy to be having this experience, but that doesn't mean it isn't hard at times. Right?(please take these and all of my comments with the appropriate amount of dry humor and sarcasm that tinges all that I write and think and speak) Those that know me well are aware that I am a huge sap at heart.
This week's Song

and to Doug-I love you, this one is for you:

Week 22

Yea, I've never worn leggings(not jeggings J ;))  and a long tshirt before but I also did not plan on it being winter FOREVER. Pregnancy has forced me to get a little creative with my wardrobe because I am trying to avoid actually buying a new wardrobe.  Additionally if I don't tie something at my waist I just look fat instead of preggo.
So it looks like we are going to stick to every 2 weeks instead of every week.  Reality does not stop for pregnancy.  I feel like I am HUGE and, as every one likes to remind me, it is only going to get worse.  The toy is from my Mom-she gave it to me 1 pregnancy ago when I first found out I was pregnant.  Thanks Mama! The biggest change has been how intense the kicks have become.  I can feel him getting stronger which is fun. 

And then there is there is THIS:

My tummy has officially outgrown beer belly status(as shown above) He was totally sucking in--cheater!

My Current Idea for Nursery

AIRPLANES!!!