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. 

Still here

It has been a while, eh?! I feel as though I have nothing to discuss, rather, bore my last few standing readers with. I guess that’s a bit ironic considering we’ll become a family of four (+ mutt) in less than five weeks. WOO HOO!! As I told someone recently, I’m ready physically, but mentally we’re still processing what that exactly means, all the while, being very excited. We’re getting there. He does finally have a place to rest his head surrounded by walls painted “Anew Gray,” so that’s a major accomplishment.

In other “This Old House” news…it would appear that we’ve done very little, but that is hardly the case. My husband, bless him, has continued his tireless efforts in the areas of back-hoeing  (as in rented one for several days under the warning of ‘do not let me come home and find that thing upside down with you underneath’), re-grading our negatively graded yard, uprooting plants trees, re-sodding,  digging new stairs out of a hill of dirt and roots, stripping walls, sanding walls, repainting walls and trim, hanging new doors, installing a closet system and exchanging old hardware for new….and that was JUST in the nursery alone. SO… see, there IS progress. How does he do it? He’s wonderful. Me, you ask? EB and I spend our afternoons and weekends usually submerged in water that is only partially cooler than the current outside temp of 101. All in an effort to, “Keep her away while you work.” I did do some taping of 4234523 window panes.

I will say, these many hours poolside have made her a great swimmer, allowed her to perfect her underwater flip (this is a big deal for her), do a handstand and, as of recently, “walk on her hands,” as she PROUDLY reported to me over the weekend. I’m reconsidering a year-round swimming badge. 

Maybe we'll be back with a 34.5 week update soon. If not, you'll be seeing newborn pics, I'm afraid.

The name game

You've heard the famous question, "What's in a name?" Well, perhaps I should share what's in our name. I haven't intentionally been secretive. I just never mentioned it, did I?!

Some folks are all about what a name means. Some people like to create names. I hate to say, but I don't even know what "Holly" means (other than a prickly bush and that I’m a December baby) and I'm not creative enough to come up with anything worth repeating. So.... What's my vice, you ask?? Family names. They are important to us and high on our list.

P.S. I’m going to go ahead and say, if you’ve never had the pleasure, names are HARD! Very hard. Family names that already exist or not. HARD!

The eldest (who really needs no introduction) is Evelyn "Evie" (like heavy without the "h." in case you're late to this party) Virginia. She is named after Jason's mom who passed away and my grandmother.

So, in keeping with that, this babe's name originally was our boy name for EB (because I was VERY sure she was a boy). We couldn't turn away from it, so here we are…

John Baker will be here in a short 8.5 weeks, Lord willing. He will be named after my granddaddy and my dad. Jason also has some John's on his side. So, that's what it is.

You'll learn not to make goofy faces with my camera present!

The next question, will he have a double name? I couldn't tell you that. We call him "John Baker." That’s all I know. Will he be just "Baker?" I can't help you out with that one either. We'll just see. If you know us in our real lives, there's a strong chance you call my husband "JB." I'm sure the nickname is only a matter of time before it sticks on John Baker too.

John Baker Black, we cannot WAIT to meet you and see you face-to-face. We are so excited to welcome you into this family. As for your sister, she will not help to feed or change you because, and I quote, "NO way!! I'll get my hands all dirty." However, she can't wait to hold you and change your shirt and pants. See, you're a loved boy already.

Flip flops

This child…sweet, precious, STRONG willed, brilliant child of mine is…well…just precious. No matter the hour of the morning, be it 5:30 a.m. or a lovely 7:30 a.m., she comes downstairs with her sleepy eyes and WILD hair with two things in tow: faithful Buddy and flip flops. Flip flops as if she’s headed out (she likes the sound they make). She’s barely awake and won’t speak for a good few minutes, but she’s coherent enough to climb out of  bed, open her closet and search for a [matching] pair of flip flops- from the 345 pairs covering her closet floor (some battles aren’t worth fighting- just shut the door).

And we laugh because it’s hilarious to us. She can’t tell you her name at whatever hour she wakes up, but by golly, the girl has her flip flops on. It’s just funny to us.

This morning, I cursed the flip flops, I sure did. They aren’t allowed at school. They are too dangerous for the playground, bikes, etc. I get that. We follow the rules at our house. Yet, we couldn’t find the SIX pairs of “school shoes” we own. COULDN’T.FIND.THEM. Not one pair. We don’t play in the mornings…we get up and get OUT! So, I sat, rather impatiently, until she found her shoes. Has it even been 12 hours since we took a pair off (I recall asking)? Unlikely.

We found A pair about the time I’m usually pulling up at work, but nonetheless we found some. They were all in hiding. I’m convinced the owner of said pair hid them, hid them ALL in attempt to “have” to wear flip flops to school. Somehow they all ended up in the same hidden pile. Amazing. I’m pretty sure that was a well thought out (and almost executed) plan in her little mind that took place while she was supposed to be asleep last night.

Precious precious precious.

(you don't have to be so jealous of my honey mustard sink/counter tops. It's project #987. I'll let you have it when we rip it out)

Rounding third

Last weekend we crossed into the third trimester of this pregnancy adventure. I can’t really tell you where the time has gone, how it’s already summer time or the fact, more importantly, that EB turned 3.5 at the beginning of June.

I’m in that happy place where sleep has returned and it is so so GOOD. I like to sleep… A LOT. Therefore, I do NOT like to be disturbed from a good slumber. So, be warned.

Also, as of late, I passed my sugar test. This is huge considering the large quantities that I’m unable to turn down. I think I was told my count needed to be below 140 and I came in at a whopping 80-I quickly asked for a doughnut.

Everyone is excited as we prepare to welcome this little life. He still has no nursery, but there ARE plans for one….that’s something. EB asks daily how the doctors will get him here and I’m not ready to explain that. Overall, we are excited. I was terrified with EB and would have been JUST as happy staying pregnant forever, but this time I’m excited. Perhaps it’s his uncomfortable position that makes me all the more excited, or the fact that I eat more TUMS than real food on a daily basis. Regardless, we are excited. Poor Gus… Get ready, sweet buddy.