35 Weeks - My Chicago Shower

As I've mentioned in previous blog entries, we have a great family of friends here in Chicago. I've discovered how difficult it's been, especially during pregnancy, not to have my whole family around, we are so fortunate to have the friends that we do here. This weekend, my friends threw me an awesome baby shower! My Little Man is now all set with the latest fashion trends, towels for bathtime, sheets for bedtime, snap-n-go stroller and an infant seat to make it home from the hospital (Steve suggested we walk home....I'm just sayin). Thank you again for everyone who was able to attend and please look for my official Thank You cards in the mail in the coming weeks.

We sent Steve off to go boozin with the boys while us ladies oooh'd and awww'd over baby duds. I talked to him periodically throughout the day, but as he stumbled through the front door at 1am, I'm guessing he had a great man-day.

This week, we have our last baby training class - Newborn basics. It's the ABC's of what-to-do-now class. After that, I'm down to the final 30 days...but who's counting?

Congratulations to friends of our in Colorado who welcomed their first baby boy on Monday night!

34 Weeks - The Couvade Syndrome

The proper definition of Couvade Syndrome is when men experience symptoms of pregnancy. In this case, I would not say Steve is experiencing physical symptoms, but he's experiencing an important offset - nesting. For the last couple of weeks, he's been showing signs of preparation. For example, our refrigerator and dishwasher were starting to need repairs. What does he do? He goes and buys new appliances. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, but for all who know Steve, this is very out of character for him. It's funny to see this side of him just because it's usually me that obsesses about these types of things. I'm actually hoping the nesting Steve will start throwing old school papers away that seem to lurk in our office.

This week's Dr. appointment will be the last bi-weekly appointment. Starting May 3rd, I have appointments every Monday. I'm sure both parties involved will be excited so see each other's bright sunny faces every Monday for the month of May. I know I will (please sense sarcasm).

33 Weeks - Great Expectations

We just completed our first baby class "Great Expectations" through Northwesterns Prentice Hospital. It was a FULL day of baby and labor instruction and, you guessed it, expectations. The instructor was awesome - such a no-nonsense labor and delivery nurse that's been there for 15 years. The class pretty much consisted of her lecturing, little videos, question/answer sessions, etc. I wish they would've video taped the class though - just to see some of the expressions on Steve's face while they were covering different topics through the class. One of the videos was labor and everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know about every phase of labor. During the "pushing" segment, Steve's eyes were super wide and his hands over his gaping mouth. I'm curious as to what he expected labor to be like? I think this was his first time witnessing any type of labor example. For me, I found myself watching his reaction more than the video just because he was so dramatic about it that it was hard not to laugh. Bless his heart. Although his initial reactions were somewhat mind-shocking, I know that when it comes down to it, he's going to be a great coach and the strength I need once d-day arrives.

Our next class is Infant CPR followed by Newborn Basics - which will answer the 'OK, we do what with this thing now' question.

32 Weeks, 8 Months on Easter Sunday

My sister and I laugh looking back now, but when we were kids, Easter Sunday was not a joyous experience for either of us. We would get woken up before dawn to make sure we were at the Omelette Parlor before 6am (buy one, get one free meal), the off to kids mass. For some reason, every Easter Sunday, we would get into so much trouble that by the time we got to mass, we would be the puffy, red-eyed kids that had been yelled at prior to getting to church (for what reasons, I can't recall). As I've experienced in my adulthood, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, so while sitting in mass this morning, I wondered how my Easter Sunday's are going to be after this year. Will my kids be the puffy, red-eyed kids or the one's falling asleep in the pews? I guess we'll see!

So far, the room is coming together! We put the crib together and make it up with the sheets, crib skirt and bumper. It's adorable and I find myself gazing at it in anticipation! All of his little clothes have been washed and put away, along with new blankets that people have given us. This week will consist of another Dr's appointment (I hope they remember the cookies from my last visit) and next Sunday will be the all-day Great Expectations class at Prentice.

We also found out this week that some of our best friends are expecting this fall! I'm not naming names, but we couldn't be happier for them.

Happy Easter everyone!