We had a wonderful Christmas this year and were blessed to spend time with all of our families. As everything is these days, we were very focused on the upcoming baby. As such, we were constantly reminded that this was probably a Christmas full of "lasts" for us:

Our last Christmas decorating the tree without "help" from a little one.

Our last trip where we just pack up our own stuff (well, the dogs' too) and head out the door.

Our last Christmas as recipients of Santa's magic instead of as the magicians.

Our last nights spent in my childhood bedroom as just daughter & son-in-law...soon we will be mommy & daddy at the grandparents house.

It's beginning to look a lot like infants

Soooo, let's break this down in a variety of statements to try and fully absorb it: Mack is due to arrive in less than a month; there are only four weeks left until my due date; the little swimmy guy on the ticker above is getting awfully close to the shore; my midwife told me today that if I went into labor now I would still technically be pre-term but they wouldn't attempt to stop it either. We are getting there folks.

I feel that I am approximately the size of a whale, but thank you to everyone who tells me I'm all belly and look great. I wish I felt that way! The uncomfortableness set in very very quickly last week: swelling, back pain, fatigue, nausea, heartburn, inability to sleep, hip pain, sciatica...I am thrilled. But I'm really whining more than I should ~ I actually do feel great for a really pregnant person and am incredibly thankful for the health and stamina I have! For example, Richard and I went traipsing through a swamped field last night trying to get the shore of Jordan Lake to view the sunset. We didn't quite make it but I was very proud that I forged through the rugged terrain without falling, whining, or getting completely exhausted from the effort.

And in good news, especially given the reality of the first paragraph of the blog: the little jungle nursery is almost complete! Sans the baby himself and a few other decorative items that need to be put up. Here are a few pictures of what we have so far:

I am very proud of this - the changing table. I sanded and painted an antique dresser to match the crib and then Richard helped attached the changing pad to the top. It's now completely full of teeny tiny diapers, hopefully those will last at least a couple of weeks, wowsers!

And here's the undersea "mural" for the bathroom. It is very very cutey but hard to tell from this picture.

So yay, at least when Mack is born - even if his parents have no clue what they're doing - he'll have a place to stay!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and that gift of the savior brings joy to you all!

Baby Showering

It is kind of strange to sit in a room full of friends, surrounded by gifts, as the center of attention while you rip open wrapping paper and excitedly scope our your new loot. I haven't done that in quite a while (probably since I was about 10) until recently at 2 baby showers. Since Richard & I didn't have a traditional wedding (you know, one that was planned and involved a pre-planned ceremony and the usual events that lead up to a wedding) I didn't have any bridal showers or the like, so being a showeree has been a new and fun experience that has accompanied my metamorphosis into a giant pregnant lady.

My second shower was just this past weekend at Birdoo's house. It was spectacular. The gifts were generous and thrilling but mostly I was really excited to see everyone who came since I don't get to see all my pals nearly as often as I should. A great big thank you to everyone who came and especially to Meredith and Lauren for putting it together for me. Here are a few of the decent pictures I got from that day (hopefully I'll have a good group shot later on to post, my camera ran out of steam before we did the group photo session):

(Yes, I ate FOUR of these cupcakes - and two Rice Krispie treats - I like to have my cake and eat it, too.)

My first shower was at MSOC (my place of employment) for me and another gal at my office whose due date is exactly one week after mine. It was very fun (and out of the ordinary since there were men there who were at the same time incredibly uncomfortable as well as confused - out of respect for their feelings I opted not to post the uncomfortable men picture). Here are a couple pictures of Nerissa and I unravelling our new baby goods:

Richard asked me after the shower this weekend if we really need all this stuff to raise a baby. I said no, probably not - but it undoubtedly will make it a lot easier. We have been incredibly blessed by our friends and family giving us baby gifts and passing along hand-me-downs from their child-raising closets. It is amazing how the promise of new life brings out so much hope and excitement not only in Richard & I, but in our greater family, too. And it's not only material things and stuff for the baby, but just knowing we have people who will be there for us after Mack arrives and we REALLY need their support that overwhelms us and gives us strength.

Truly, from the bottom of our hearts

THANK YOU!!!!!

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