Tick, tick, tick

The following blog was saved as a draft a few days before the BIG event. I thought it would be nice to still post it.

------

So as those of you who have been following our blog know time is short.
I mean REALLY short.
Phenomenally short really.

But surprisingly things are actually coming together.

I was able to (with the wife’s help) finish a shelving unit for the bedroom. It holds a college-sized fridge and all the accessories necessary for the daily tasks involving the little one.

I built it with ¾ inch MDF, which I’ve never used before, but I’m a bit of a fan of now.
Then we headed off to the new Menards to buy some paint and the wife picked out a nice light green. So that evening we put it together in the bedroom and while I was building the feet for the unit she started painting.
I like the way it came out. Now if only the cradle would go as smoothly.

Now that I've completed this project I'm starting to feel a bit more prepared for what's to come.
Oh, I know one can't be REALLY prepared, but you do the best you can and move on.

So let's go down the list.
1. Bags are packed.
2. Car seat bought (need to install it).
3. Bed set up.
4. Baby gear, storage done.
5. Baby classes finished.
6. iPod music, set.
7. The Oh-God-I-forgot-something panic. Started.

Good.. I think we have everything.

HikerDad

sale? baby stuff sale? huh? where?

Today I went to my first mom-2-mom sale. It was nice. Indoor garage saleing. Life is good. I spent about 35.00 that would have been about 80.00 in a store. (super dad-2-b thought about 100.00)

Super dad-2-b caught you up on our second shower with my family. I couldn't believe how many people came! I mean, the weather was HORRIBLE! such dedication I tell you. The food was good, but to put your life on the line like that! just kidding. I love my family and couldn't have been happier to see everyone! My sister and mom put on a WONDERFUL shower.
I must admit I was nervous to let mom: 'Queen of planning' and sister: 'Queen of accessorizing' work on something together. But, it turned out spectacular! (of course we still have jungle animal balloons bouncing around our living room, and parts of a jungle cookie bouquet in the kitchen, and jungle toys on the coffee table, and a jungle rug in the baby stuff room, and a blown up monkey and tiger hanging out in my bedroom, I'm not even going to mention anything about the palm tree, need I say more?)

Then on Friday Feb. 9 I had a party given by great friends at work. It was fabulous as well. I think I stayed too long though, people were starting to think my tiredness was grouchiness! I got some more wonderful gifts. Some that even super dad-2-b got excited about! (this was the only shower that super dad-2-b didn't go to, so I got to have fun showing him all the cool stuff when I got home!)

Tuesday Feb. 13 was my last shower. This one was given by all the staff at the school I work at. It was a dual shower with another lady from work who is due 2 days before I am. Both of our husbands came, but mind you, they only came because the other husband did.
Again, got some really cute things. The staff collected money so I could go online and ORDER THE CO-SLEEPER!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!! It arrives on Tuesday!

So, I think I am almost ready! well, not me, ready, getting the things I need ready. The car seat is set in super dad-2-b's car, (not properly installed yet, but we're waiting for a call back from the state trooper who is "PROPERLY TRAINED" to install it) The room is ready for the co-sleeper. The hospital bag is packed, baby clothes are being washed as we speak!

Now I just have to accept the fact that this is real, and soon we'll be responsible for a little bundle that makes poo. (you do know that is their only superpower until it changes to a new superpower, SCREAMING!)

OH, I am so tired lately too! I just can't keep my eyes open. time to go nap.

Sunny with a chance of showers

So we've just finished up two showers. The first was (as you've read below) put on as a male/female party.
We live several hours away from the location of the party that everything had to be done by our friends who were setting it up. And boy did they do a nice job!
We had a pool table, foosball, air hockey, food, root beer, friends... and oh yeah, baby stuff.
But really it was food and pool that most interested me.

.... Oh give me a break, yes the baby stuff was important and cool too. Shesh.. I'm not that shallow... but it really is a nice pool table.

Here is a list of all the little people we need to thank.. I've encoded their names to protect their identity.
fefyej, bream, raky, bojan, dancea, nala, nicval, nad, oje, byobb, lelchime, bro, cillechor, sejes, nanaibr, nadrami, and also the 'rents of all the above who helped as well. especially those of you who made food because as we've already established I really enjoyed the food.
Oh, and Todd you suck so I'm not encoding your name. Ok, what the hell, dotd.. I can't help myself, it's just so much fun.

The second party was held a week later by her family. They decorated like crazy and the balloons really entertained me. It was a bit more traditional so alas I was the only guy there. Yep, it was just me in a sea of estrogen.
whee.
Ok, it wasn't really that bad. I had a lot of fun and oh yes they had really good food there as well so I was set. They had a pool table, too, but sadly it was under the food. I tried to eat my way to it, but the all the meatballs stumped me. There was an unmanned bar there as well (VFW hall) and though I'm not a drinker, when the ladies started to compare birth stories the vodka started looking mighty tempting.
I was really happy about how many people showed up as they had to drive through a blizzard to get there.. -30 wind chill, whiteout conditions, drifting snow, llamas dropping dead on the side of the road (just checking if you were paying attention).

The midwife says the baby is doing well and the wife agrees. I'll have to take their word for it as I don't have the inside information that they seem to have. From my perspective the baby kicks a lot and makes Mom-2-be yelp in pain once in a while. It's pretty interesting really, to be talking to your wife and all of a sudden she yelps like someone just stepped on her tail.
Oh, and for those of you who aren't women. It's a good idea not to laugh when your wife yelps in pain. You might get away with it ONCE, but after that you are taking your life in your own hands. Trust me on this one.

As for my part, I've got my bag packed for the hospital, and I'm starting to get some of the necessary supplies together as well. The iPod has some birthing music on it, the tennis balls are packed, survival snacks are ready, and I found my swimsuit.
Now I know what you are thinking.. but trust me on this one I actually need these things. I'll explain it all later, but I'm telling you everything here is essential.

Ok I think I've bored you enough for today.
More later,

HikerDad

the first shower

We had our first baby shower on Saturday, January 27.

It was a couples shower, thrown by great friends of ours. They put so much work into it! The husband friend says that he didn't do anything, so let me rephrase. Our friend did so much work on our shower it was great! Her husband on the other hand.... (just kidding) the work he did taping up some insulation was phenomenal.

We received so many wonderful things. When I returned to work on Monday people asked, "did you get a lot of this.. or that?" I could honestly answer "No." I received so many unique and thoughtful gifts, it was just perfect!

The length was good too. Our friend was the party hostess QUEEN! She made sure that we didn't dawdle between presents, and that everything ran smoothly! It sure did.

I received a few homemade things. One blanket and burp cloths from a cousin, a blanket from a friend. The most shocking one, was from my husband. He made me a quilt. He took our Scottish tartan and quilted it. I just about fell off my chair. He had spent some nights "staying after" at work, and was working on it. Isn't he great!

Oh yeah, my mom made me something too.. *tee hee* just kidding mom.
I have always told super-dad-2-B that I always wanted my baby to have a blankie that Grandma made. Thank you.

All in all it was a great party. I don't think I will ever forget it. We truly are blessed with a great group of friends and family, and I don't think this baby will ever be in want of needing to feel loved.

-the mom (oh wow, that's weird)