More progress

We got one of the car seat bases put in my car this weekend. The other obviously goes in Luke's. Luke got the stroller put together. It's nice...kinda heavy & bulky and I think it's hard to fold and unfold (Luke disagrees). But at least it's put together! We put the finishing touches on the swing (it now has a mobile) and Luke adjusted the car seat straps so that a human can actually fit in it! I think we are pretty much ready for the little guy to get here! There are of course a few things I still would like to get done (aren't there always?), but I think all the major things are completed. Tomorrow night we go to infant CPR and first aid class. I'm STILL working on my thank you cards for the amazing showers my friends & family had for me.

And on a side note, I'm SO glad this is a short work week for me!

Leyton's room

Library & changing area

glider & ottoman that Gramma Ruth & Grampa Butch got us for Christmas. Pretty sure we'll get some good use out of this!

Finally a place to put all his clothes!

Already a basket full of toys!

Beautiful crib Gramma Jane got him for Christmas.

Countdown is on!

No baby class this week. Next week we go for infant & child CPR and firstaid. Our stroller arrived...it's in pieces in the living room waiting for Luke to get motivated to put it together! We did our pre-registration on Monday. So many questions! I had another doctor apt this morning. I had the ever so uncomfortable Strep B test! Uggghhh. Doctor says everything is progressing like normal. My fat ankles were a topic of our conversation. She is not worried because my blood pressure is fine. However, she did acknowledge that they were very swollen and yes, you could leave indentions in my feet & legs! The little guy hurts my ribs on a regular basis and Luke has already been scolding him to quit hurting his mother! The Braxton-Hicks contractions have started and nearly make me double over so I am dreading the real things! We are reading Good Night Moon every night to the little man. Definitely gonna need to move on to another book before long...I think I get bored easily! :)

In other non-baby related news (yes, we do have lives that do not revolve around preparing for Leyton's arrival...YES, WE DECIDED ON A NAME!!!!!):

Wednesday night Luke & I went and watch the D2 Women's Final Four after eating at Boudreaux's (yum!). That was fun. Thursday night we attended a shower for my friend & co-worker Cassie & her fiance and then cheered on the Cats in their exciting victory! Tonight I'm going out to eat with my college roomates. I don't hardly ever get to see them so I'm excited to spend some time with them (and to meet Kodi's new little boy--Cade, 2 months!). It's no wonder that I'm tired! Hard to believe next week is April!

Getting closer....

We are definitely getting closer to the big day! Here is an update on what's been going on with us lately.

Childcare front---on three waiting lists...have to call 2 more places today. Hopefully one of those pans out. Average cost from the places I've called--approximately $150 per week. Who needs to eat? :)

Insurance front---this is real BS and I tend to get off on a tangent when talking about insurance, so I'll try to be good. I got 2 quotes--one for $398.80 per month and one for $570 per month. Really...WHO can afford that? Definitely not this teacher & banker! We're still in the process of checking out Luke's insurance.

Home front---finished up the baby's room Saturday. It looks nice, cute & homey now. Luke finished up two of his "projects" this weekend. He's about sick of "projects." The last thing for him to assemble--the stroller (and help me attach the mobile to the crib). Everything else has been put together. The little guy now has a swing, bouncy seat, high chair and carrier just for him! We hope to get the base in my car this week (just in case, you never know!)

Dr front--we go today for our pre registration. We start our weekly appointments this week!

Me--super uncomfortable, pretty intense back pain, but on the plus side, the swelling seems to have gotten WAY better in my feet.

Less than 4 weeks!!!!!

Baby Class #3

Tonight was baby class #3. Since I'm incredibly uncomfortable & can't sleep, I'll give you the run down.

Tonight's class was overwhelming to me. Luke had an all day meeting in Hayes so I went to class by myself. Totally made me feel like an outsider sitting there by myself while every other mother to be had their coach, but I guess it makes me appreciate having him even more. Anyway, I digress...

Very overwhelming. First off on the agenda was talking about baby care. They brought in a physician who went over baby care in the hospital, at home, post natal visits, etc. We went through immunizations, required and optional, shots, when to call, when to come in, fevers, taking temps, what's normal, what's not, colic, swaddling, circumsions (who knew there were 3 different methods to getting that job done?), weights, apgar (sp?) scores, cord, and on and on and on. My head sorta started spinning trying to process and commit everything to memory. Few things I did find interesting that I didn't know (please don't judge me for not knowing these things)--baby toothbrushes. Had no idea...babies don't have teeth right? Well, apparently they still need a toothbrush and we need to start using it when he's like 2 weeks old. So...I'll be baby toothbrush shopping next time I go to Target. Second, really why the need for 3 different methods to circumsize? What could be different? I might have to Google that. Then again, I probably don't want to know or see...

As if that wasn't enough information to overload us, they brought in a lady from Parents as Teachers to talk about brain development. That could be a 4 week course in and of itself I believe. Learned lots from her though. Who knew?

• that a person's adult vocabulary is 80% formed by the time they're 3? This is why reading, talking and singing to babies (born and unborn) is so important.
• repitition was so important to brain development? We were told that we needed to not only read to the little guy everynight (even before he's born--which we knew) but right now to read the same story. Repitition will help him learn sounsd, rhythm, words and will also help him develop comfort and a bond with us. Then when he's fussy, reading this story that he's heard so many times in our voices will make him feel better and remind him of when things were less stressful for him before he was born.
• before a baby's brain can develop intellectually they have to have satisified the need for comfort, trust & bonding? Because I'm a business educated person, I immediately thought of Maslow and his hierarchy of needs--before the higher order thinking needs can be met, the lower, saftey needs need to be met. Hopefully we have a well-adjusted litle boy. He obviously spends lots of time with me and thus hears my voice a lot, so I'm just hopeful that he takes to his daddy since Luke works away from here and is gone a lot.

We also talked about sleep habits and patterns and suggestions for helping those, things to think about/look at when choosing child care and we visited the topic of child safety seats again.

We finished the class with a tour of a birthing room and a look in the nursery. I wish the birthing rooms were a litle more "homey." They just look so sterile (which I know is a good thing!) and not personal. And really could the matresses get any thinner. They told us after the baby is born they will add another matress to your bed so that you will be more comfortable.

And all of that was in 2 hours. Maybe that's why I can't sleep...maybe my brain is still overloaded. Nope, I think it's because I'm so uncomfortable and the little man apparently can't figure out a comfy position 'cause he's all over the place and HURTING my right ribs in the process!

Baby Shower...Hiawatha Style

Yesterday, Alison, Kim & Ruth had a shower for Baby Moore in Hiawatha. Many members of Luke's family were there. Once abain, Baby Moore got WAY spoiled! It was so nice and it was nice to see all his family.

We are definitely blessed!

The wonderful hosts--Kim, Ruth, & Ali

Luke's mom & me

My mom & me

5 weeks...

Tuesday night we had round 2 of baby class. Topics--child safety seats, postpartum mother care & C sections. This class was much better than class 1! Did not feel the nausea that I had last time! So I think that's a plus. :) But I didn't realize how complicated child safety seats are...holy cow, I think you need a Ph.D. just to install one correctly! We will definitely be taking ours to a certified person!

I have been washing all the wonderful gifts Baby Moore has been receiving. His room is starting to look like a baby room! My goal for this weekend is to get it completely done! Ambitious yes, but doable! I will post pictures when this goal is accomplished.

Today I printed off a "suggested" list of what to pack for the hospital. I also hope to start getting our bag & the little guy's bag together soon. Just in case....

Still on the to do list to accomplish in the near (very near) future:
1. Take care of all the insurance stuff (blah, blah, blah)
2. Call child care providers (AGAIN!)
3. Contact the pediatrician (yes, I think we decided on one!)
4. Finish maternity leave sub plans (yes, I have them started)

Today I have another doctor apointment. From this point on, I will probably start seeing her weekly! Hard to believe he's almost here! :)

Bobby vs. Willie

Monday, March 8 my department at school hosted a coed shower for baby Moore at O'Malley's in St. Joe. The theme was "Will Baby Moore be a Bobby the Bearcat or Willie the Wildcat?" Again, I feel so incredibly blessed to work with such wonderful people that I can call friends. Luke had a few of his co workers present as well as my parents & his parents. Baby Moore was spoiled once again!

Luke's "people" had their own corner. Luke didn't leave this corner much!

Luke's baby carrier (that he SWEARS he will NEVER wear!!!)

Our guests having a good time.


Luke had to sit in front & open presents. He was so nervous! But on the plus side, we got a tube of "utility cream!" (Luke wasn't sure what the ointment was called so he made his own name!). Here is Luke holding up the baby's "utility cream!"

Guests could get in on a pool to guess the baby's birthday and weight. It was a $1 a guess and the money went into Baby Moore's college piggy bank!

Mommy & Daddy

The amazing hosts & wonderful co-workers--Cassie, Sherry & Katy

Home Sweet Home!

Saturday, March 6, my good friends from home hosted a baby shower in honor of Baby Moore. It was so much fun. I had the best time visiting with family. Baby Moore was definitely spoiled! He got lots of good things that he will be putting to use in a matter of a few weeks! I'm so very greatful, appreciative & blessed to have such wonderful people in my life! Here are a few pics from that day:

My Gramma Alice, my mom & me

Baby Classes

Luke & I went to our first baby class last night. He went willingly which I really appreciated. I'm not sure why, but I was surprised at the number of people there. Our topic was Labor & Delivery. When to go, what to expect when you get there, progression, instruments used (which, by the way, I am really hoping for all external monitoring and I informed Luke that forceps were NOT to be used and he was to do whatever necessary to make sure that happens...and now I'm thinking the same about the vacuum extractor...) stages, pain management, etc. Then we watched a video of several live births. Yeah, I'm a wuss, but really, I never need to see anything like that again. And I definitely don't want to see my cute, little, precious child like that. I think I'll just wait till they clean him up to give him kisses and hugs. I don't want my first memory of him to thinking he resembles an alien and hardly anything like a small human being. Luke got educated last night too. He said "I had no idea you would have to go through all this." I'm not sure what he thought I had to go through! He too decided that he might just stand up near my head. And cutting the cord was not for him! Apparently we both have weak stomachs! :)

Excited!

I'm super excited for two things right now:

1. My upcoming baby showers. I LOVE spending time with my family and good friends. I'm so excited to see everyone. I haven't seen most of them since Christmas time! And we're having cheesecake at two of the showers...even more reason to be super excited! :)

2. My best friend from home is getting married this July. I'm so excited and happy for her. It's so fun to hear about all the plans.

So much to do...

So I sit here distracted. I should be grading 100 article reviews on young people & debt. But all I can think about is the growing list of other things I need to do.

We are 6-7 weeks away from the arrival of Baby Moore. He's coming regardless of if this list is done or not. Here's a short run down of the list of things that are on my mind:

1. Name. I think we have it narrowed down to two first names and we know the middle and obviously last.
2. Chest of drawers. I purchased one yesterday, now Luke just needs to pick it up and get it in the baby room. This leads to #3.
3. Organize baby room. It's a disaster right now. I need to actually make it look like a bedroom.
4. Wash all the bedding, blankets, newborn and 0-3 clothes. I did make a pile yesterday and Luke did carry it downstairs to the laundry room for me. Now to do it.
5. Decide on a pediatrician. I know I can always change, but this is such a big deal. This is the doctor that will check out our little man and make sure everything is okay his first few days of life.
6. Find childcare. Affordable, safe, clean childcare. Again, such a big deal.
7. Begin working on maternity leave sub plans. Yuck. Which reminds me, my maternity leave sub needs to come this month and start observing.
8. And then there is the list of stuff to do for school, household chores, etc. My computer has a virus and I need to take it in. I need to go grocery shopping (I HATE grocery shopping). You know, the usual. Which leads me to....