Here and now

Saturday night lovin' and football watchin'.

Home again

You'll have to bear with my iPhone pictures a little longer...

We finally resumed "normalcy" last Thursday when we got to bring JBB home (I'm a week behind because of my technical shortcomings).

He is such a good, easy, sweet baby. Not that EB wasn't, but she came into this world fiery...and...well, as they say, some things never change. However, she is wonderful with him. So far, the honeymoon phase is still in full effect. She starts and ends her day with lots of holding and "snuggling" (poor guy).

Just checking in. All is happy at HOB. There isn't much to his birth story, but when I get my real camera uploaded/downloaded...unloaded (whatever the correct term)... We'll discuss. Bottom line: You better be quick if you wanna catch one of these kids making their grand entrance!

John Baker Black

Speaking of big sister.... Here's a proud one!

She told my uncle this morning as he reached to hold him, "Remember, he's all mine." I'm sure no reminder was needed, but I'm glad she's so proud. She also whispered to me, "Thank you for my baby."

He arrived at 8:05 a.m. weighing in at 6 lbs and 12 oz.

"BSD"

This girl is getting big. Just ask her and she'll tell you that she's soon going to be a biiiiiig sister. Therefore, we had "Big Sister Day!"

Evie may never remember BSD. She may not ever know that her school was closed and I took off so that I could spend a day with just her. Just us. Having a special day before baby brother arrives. She may never think another thing about it. For me, I treasured that day. We had fun. She ruled the day and that was all part of the plan.

We started off with breakfast. She picked Hardee's. Fine by me. Gravy biscuits for the table. After that we got ready for pedis, shopping, lunch and an afternoon at the pool. She opted to have her hair fixed like a big girl, picked out a dress and maybe a touch of makeup. She was SO big.

Off to the nail place. EB had never had her toenails done for real and she was beside herself. I bit my tongue as she picked GRAPE purpley polish complete with flowers, butterflies and silver glitter. Whew. She sat in their special chair and didn't move a muscle.

And so ends the pics from BSD. However, she then opted to pick out a lovey for JBB. Of the 44563 breeds of animal loveys, she picked a giraffe and asked for his name to be monogrammed in "shiny red." We're at that phase, can you tell? Life is....uh.....well, colorful at our house. Purple. Silver glitter. Shiny red. She's the big sister, so bring it on.

We ended our day at the pool, and all was right in her little...ahem.... Big sister world and it made my heart happy. It was a day well worth it. We are spending this last weekend as a family of three, but we are so so so excited to meet this baby boy. It's hard to believe our family portrait will soon change. What a blessing.

Thursday morning breakfast crew

I’ve been at my job for almost seven years…most of that time I’ve met my grandparents for breakfast every Thursday morning at 7:30. My dad used to join us before he hopped on the retirement train. Then, little EB came along and it became a special time each week they could see her and take her to school for me on their way home. Lastly, my mom moved back into the building and started joining us. So, it has been a special time for us each Thursday.

3 months

18 months-ish

I’ve always been incredibly close to my grandparents and always enjoyed that little tradition. I’ve always had such kind bosses who didn’t mind that we sat down and ate in the cafeteria. It’s always just been a win-win. 

I love riding down the escalator and-ALWAYS- seeing them waiting for us. I can literally count on one hand the times I beat them on a Thursday morning. They love to arrive early and speak to folks walking in the building for work. Anyway, I knew there would be a day that breakfast would have to stop….. Insert today. 

Merry Christmas 2011

On a good note, it is the last Thursday before JBB makes his grand entrance and I go on maternity leave. On a sad note, my grandmother can’t tackle getting two into daycare. We may revisit and evaluate that in November, but for now, we are closing out our Thursday traditions. It’s quite bittersweet, but I’m thankful for 1. The blessing of still having grandparents who are so actively involved in our lives. 2. The tradition of Thursday breakfast for the past 6+ years. 3. That special time with them and for them to have that time with EB. 4. The mental keepsakes of all of those mornings rain, shine, busy or not. They are special and will be missed by my coworkers who got to know them, the ladies in the serving lines and many others who got used to them sitting there and speaking. AND... I'm apologizing now to my coworkers that I will no longer have minty fresh breath post-breakfast with my handful of peppermints.

Precious memories!

3.5 years of breakfast with the Great Grands

37 and upgrade 38.3

The end of week 37's picture may have to cover for 37 and 38. It has been a CR-A-ZY past two weeks. We're holding on, hanging out and getting new duct work, counting contractions, hanging sheet rock (from the new duct work), finishing the nursery and waiting waiting waiting.

Ever had to replace your duct work due to horrific mold? Yeah, it was fun. Our air is cleaner than clean now. However, my lungs probably aren't after living through the last 4 months. The silver living, we found that our ducts were clogged with mold (and I quote, "worse mold I've seen in 17 years of this work.") and we could have gone years without knowing. And, we found out before bringing a teeny tiny home. So.... There's that. It's now fixed. We are, for once, cool and have clean air…Take me away, Calgon, straight to Labor and Delivery.

During week 37, we got to get a sneak peek of John Baker at a measurement ultrasound. We haven't seen him since he showed off his anatomy and I think I gasped, "Whoa… He's big... Like... A grown infant." What? He should be. He's coming next week.... If we make it until then. The boy is making some serious progress and we closed out week 37 up most of the night with some stellar contractions and me sitting on the bed wondering if I should call in for parental back up for EB. Thankfully, it all subsided around 3:30. And... I lived to tell about it. If he doesn't make an appearance this week, we'll meet face to face next Tuesday.

If you can make his face/profile out in these pics, you're doing almost better than his own mother.

Also, in week 37/38, we finished the nursery. Nothing like sliding in on two wheels at the last minute... You know, since a three day old is REALLY worried about what's on his walls and if everything is steamed and ironed. Evie and I also participated in a little "Big Sister Day"and had a fun day together, but more on that later.

He may be the most patient person on this planet these days. Bless him.

So, here's to 38 weeks and 3 days. Cheers!! And…A  hurricane. Sigh.

34

I’m behind on this project.

We are closing out week 34. Wow. This may sound crazy to some, but I’m really type A and JB is even more type A, so I’ve confirmed with my doctor that she will induce me. So, with that being said, we have about 4.5 weeks. EB came very quickly… and there’s a small fear inside that I won’t make it to the hospital based on the swiftness of delivery #1. So, that backs my whole “inducing” philosophy. I’m good… I’ve felt contractions until 7 cm…they were... FUN. Anyway, this ride is slowing down and time has FLOWN.

Random thoughts: My diaper bag came in this week-boys don’t like pink paisley. Who would have guessed. Hence, I got a new bag out of the deal.  The FMLA papers have been signed, sealed and delivered. We’re just waiting… kinda. Sleep is an old, faint memory, but that’s ok. What isn’t an old, faint memory is indigestion. I did not experience this with EB. I always ask for seconds…of TUMS. Bottles adorn my desk and my counters at home.  JB is anti his son being dressed in “gowns,” yet they are still hanging in the closet. We are all good…. Enjoying this time as a family of three and anxiously waiting to become one of four. EB is FIRED up and there are many emotions that come with thinking about her as a big sister, first born, the eldest of two, etc. etc. I have a “Big Sister” day planned soon and I’ll likely cry. It is such a blessing to watch our family grow, yet incredibly overwhelming to think how blessed we truly are. So…4.5 weeks and counting.