The times they are a changing...

So, we've almost completed the first month of our journey as parents. Our lives have changed so much in last month. I barely feel like the same person! I think the whole world knows now that Elliott James was born on August 29 at 1:50 p.m. after a fairly short induced labor. Our labor and delivery experience was wonderful and I was able to fulfill my desire to have a natural childbirth. We had a fabulous lady named Renee who was our doula and helped me get through some pretty intense contractions. I'm sure I'll write more about the whole birth experience later.

Elliott is a neat little guy. Sometimes being his mom feels very surreal, as if I am looking in on someone else's life. Sometimes I forget that he's actually mine. He's changing everyday and everyday I am figuring out something new about him. We are settling into the routine and he is sleeping better at night. A couple of nights ago I got 3 1/2 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It was bliss! Our pediatrician thinks that he is going to be a redhead. He's looking more and more that way everyday. Elliott definitely has his father's blue eyes and complexion (or should we say vampire tan). I should probably go ahead and stock up on baby SPF 100 for next summer!

Gabe and I have been overwhelmed by the level of support that our family, friends, and coworkers have shown us over the last month. Gabe had a surprise shower at work when he returned after Elliott's birth. He came back from lunch and his cubicle was full of diapers! My friend and coworker Shannon came and took beautiful pictures of Elliott last week and all of the meals, calls, and moral support have meant so much to us. Having those supports in place has kept us a little bit more sane during the last four weeks. Thanks so much to everyone.

Know that there will be many, many adorable pictures of E coming and funny stories about Gabe and I bumbling our way through parenthood!

Two weeks and counting...

So, we're 38 weeks as of today and it is pretty crazy to think that at any moment I could go into labor. Everyone keeps asking if I'm ready. Well, yes and no. I would love at least another week or so to get my "stuff" in order but also would love to meet him whenever it's time (whether that be tomorrow or in two weeks.

I've been to work for the last two weeks which hasn't been too bad. I kind of figured at this point I would be miserable but it hasn't been that way at all. I'm hoping that all the walking and sitting on the floor talking to kids will pay off and help start labor when he's good and ready. My coworker Laura laughed at me yesterday as I was sitting on the cold hallway floor talking with some first graders. Several teachers kept peeking their heads out and asking me if I needed chair. The truth was, it felt pretty good sitting on the cold, tiled floor. The other part of the truth was that it wasn't such a pretty sight when I had to get up off the cold, tiled floor.

Another funny thing at work has been the comments from the students. About a million little girls have asked me "Are you having a baby??" and one of my students asked me "What is that baby doing in there?". I'm not sure if she meant how did it get in there or what activity is it doing in there. I've often wondered the latter question myself as it feels like he's playing a nice game of ping pong or boxing with his invisible twin. Soon enough I will be able to comment on exactly what my baby is doing and will probably do so often in this blog. We can't wait to meet him and see what he's going to be like.

We are officially old...

So, in addition to the fact that we are married, homeowners, and soon-to-be parents, we are now the proud owners of a lovely GE chest freezer which resides in our garage. I think this is just another milestone to mark that we are officially old. We are not officially old because we have a freezer, we are officially old because we are so excited about this freezer.

After much debate, we decided to make our purchase. The radiant white freezer was delivered by two quite helpful Home Depot employees on Friday morning and by Saturday morning Gabe and his dad had it installed and ready for action. I'm sure everyone is going to want to know what the first items were to go in the freezer (being sure it was those lovingly created freezer meals I made back in July). No, it wasn't the freezer meals. It was Gabe's "Hungry Man" frozen dinners that he picked out for his lunch. The TV dinners were closely followed by my freezer meals and some salsa my mom and I made a couple of weeks ago. If time and Elliott permits, I'm going to make a couple more things to add to my freezer stash later in the week. Freezer meals and a freezer to go along with them are probably more evidence of my voracious nesting. It seems like we've been constantly busy readying the house for a tiny invader...when he decides to invade there will be plenty of frozen goodness for him!

one year ago...

July 13 we celebrated one year in our house. A lot can change in a year and I never expected that we would be about to have a baby one year later. One year later, Gabe has shifted careers for the better. One year later, we have met many great new friends through a great small group at church. I'm sure there's much more that's changed in the last year but those are the ones that come to mind.

As far as our house--almost everything has changed from before we moved in. With the help of super interior designer and best friend Morgin, the house is looking amazing and so much more inviting if I do say so myself. Eat your heart out HGTV! Do you think finishing all these house projects counts as nesting? I'd say yes. Gabe is hoping it ends soon and "honey-do" list gets back to a manageable level.

The dining room before:


And after...



The living room before:
And after...


The kitchen before:
And after:

The master bedroom before:



And after...

The loft/landing area before:

And after...

The guest bathroom before:


And after...

Let the blogging begin...

So, after much thought, discussion and wonder, I finally decided to start a blog. In the past I've thought maybe I don't have too much to discuss in a blog, but now that we have a little one on the way, my life is about to get much more exciting (not that it hasn't been already). This blog will be about the things I love--family, faith, cooking, creating, and living life

Speaking of the babe, we are down to four weeks and counting before he is scheduled to make his arrival. August 27 is the due date and I am planning on working as close to that date as I can bear. The most common question these days (and throughout the pregnancy) is "How are you feeling?". I think I'm feeling pretty good considering I'm 8 months pregnant and it's been in the 90's outside for the last week! No, but in all seriousness, I am definitely getting somewhat uncomfortable but I guess that means things are progressing and I'm getting closer. I have trouble getting up from the couch or bed and Tums has become my best friend and constant companion. All in all, I can't complain, it has been a wonderful pregnancy. We are both getting more and more excited by the day to meet our Elliott. Although I feel my excitement level increase, I still don't think it has hit me that there will be a baby in our home soon.

In my final week at home, I've enjoyed relaxing and checking a few more things off of the "before baby" list. I think we have everything that a baby would need and a few things that his parents just thought would be fun. I made cute iron on decals on Photoshop Elements (PSE) and put them on some onesies for E. I also made stickers to document his progression each month. I've been a PSE addict this summer. Using PSE I finished out 2009 photo book, made a baby memory book, made a photo book for my friend Morgin's little girl, and designed E's birth announcement. Maybe something about being maternal brings out your creative side. Who knows! I figure I need to get all of this done now while I have time!