Wednesday, August 27, 2008
almost ready
Some time in the last 24 or 48 hours, I looked around and realized that we are really almost ready for Critter to arrive. I have a couple of loads of laundry to do (including a whole mess of new baby stuff from the mini baby shower that Starbucks threw for me today!) and some general house litter that needs to get put away, but the apartment is really almost baby-prepped! I think I'll be done getting ready, and then I'll put up a photo-tour of how everything is arranged. THEN the trick will be not to mess it up again while waiting for the birth! :)
we have a library!
I figured that since I am very friendly to the idea of taking baby walks (especially since some tiny folks don't seem to be able to take their naps without going for walks sometimes!) I'd better see if there is a library near us for a walk destination. There IS!
It is pretty darn cool for a small-town library, and includes two rooms off to the side where Alex and/or I can sit unobtrusively with a baby. If they don't have books that we want, they are part of a borrowing-books system, so they can get them from another library.
We went and got library cards today, and to start with, Alex got a book by Dan Simmons (one of his favorite authors) and I got a big fat book AND an awesome CD and book kit for learning Italian. I am planning on listening to the CDs while I take many walks on my maternity leave, and reading this giant book when I'm too tired/lazy to take walks. :)
It is pretty darn cool for a small-town library, and includes two rooms off to the side where Alex and/or I can sit unobtrusively with a baby. If they don't have books that we want, they are part of a borrowing-books system, so they can get them from another library.
We went and got library cards today, and to start with, Alex got a book by Dan Simmons (one of his favorite authors) and I got a big fat book AND an awesome CD and book kit for learning Italian. I am planning on listening to the CDs while I take many walks on my maternity leave, and reading this giant book when I'm too tired/lazy to take walks. :)
Monday, August 25, 2008
more critter prep!
1) I found out there is a library within walking distance of our apartment--this is going to be a prime spot to go on walks to visit! I am going to see it in person tomorrow.
2) Chris has sent us four cloth diaper covers that she made for us (yay!), and we've ordered some inserts and some nice gadgets called "snappies" to hold the diapers together in a less stabby way than safety pins.... I think all the parts will arrive in a week or less.
3) We are continuing to arrange/reorganize, so the stroller, for instance, now has an actual spot in the corner rather than just being in the middle of the room. I think that by the beginning of September, we should have everything just about set up to where I'll feel like I can stop fussing with it. :)
2) Chris has sent us four cloth diaper covers that she made for us (yay!), and we've ordered some inserts and some nice gadgets called "snappies" to hold the diapers together in a less stabby way than safety pins.... I think all the parts will arrive in a week or less.
3) We are continuing to arrange/reorganize, so the stroller, for instance, now has an actual spot in the corner rather than just being in the middle of the room. I think that by the beginning of September, we should have everything just about set up to where I'll feel like I can stop fussing with it. :)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
3 1/2 weeks to go?
Or 1/2 week.... or 5 weeks... or 2... Argh! If only someone could invent a way to know when a baby would be ready, they would be very rich.
We have all our baby shower things settled in now. Critter is very well-stocked, with clothes, bassinet, diapers, stroller, car seat, toys, all sorts of bath goodies.... and we have a small mountain of very snuggly, soft blankets! Add to that the fact that we have a few gift certificates for remaining items (like baby wipes) and I think we're all set.... Alison and I are going out on an expedition tomorrow to make use of the gift cards. :)
I have 1 1/2 weeks left at Starbucks before my maternity leave kicks in, and I am down to 4 1/2 hour shifts (which I think is the absolute minimum length that we schedule!). You'd think that the shorter time span would make it easier (or at least the same as the longer shifts during earlier pregnancy), but I am still ready for a nap after each one! At this point I am pretty excited to start maternity leave.
We are doing a little bit each day to get the apartment ready for B-Day and I think we just might have it ready if Critter doesn't decide to come too early. This Saturday is when the baby becomes "full-term" so in my book, all bets are off after that. I am planning on just sticking close to home and trying not to wear myself out! This nesting thing is not for sissies--I am fairly constantly torn between the desire to prepare something and the desire to lay down for half an hour.... :P So far, preparation is mostly winning, though I have to admit I took two naps today! I consider them perfectly deserved (my belly is HEAVY!), so I'm not having any conscience issues. ;)
Alex is still taking me for almost-daily beach walks (barring thunderstorms or exhaustion), and that has been really nice because we can get a LOT of space to look at, fresh air, nice cool water on our feet... all without me having to overdo it by walking for miles or something silly like that!
I think that covers everything for now.... The bassinet is the last major baby item that we don't actually have in the house, and that's because it's being shipped right now. Once we do have it I will go around and make a photo-tour of Critter's new digs and goodies. :)
We have all our baby shower things settled in now. Critter is very well-stocked, with clothes, bassinet, diapers, stroller, car seat, toys, all sorts of bath goodies.... and we have a small mountain of very snuggly, soft blankets! Add to that the fact that we have a few gift certificates for remaining items (like baby wipes) and I think we're all set.... Alison and I are going out on an expedition tomorrow to make use of the gift cards. :)
I have 1 1/2 weeks left at Starbucks before my maternity leave kicks in, and I am down to 4 1/2 hour shifts (which I think is the absolute minimum length that we schedule!). You'd think that the shorter time span would make it easier (or at least the same as the longer shifts during earlier pregnancy), but I am still ready for a nap after each one! At this point I am pretty excited to start maternity leave.
We are doing a little bit each day to get the apartment ready for B-Day and I think we just might have it ready if Critter doesn't decide to come too early. This Saturday is when the baby becomes "full-term" so in my book, all bets are off after that. I am planning on just sticking close to home and trying not to wear myself out! This nesting thing is not for sissies--I am fairly constantly torn between the desire to prepare something and the desire to lay down for half an hour.... :P So far, preparation is mostly winning, though I have to admit I took two naps today! I consider them perfectly deserved (my belly is HEAVY!), so I'm not having any conscience issues. ;)
Alex is still taking me for almost-daily beach walks (barring thunderstorms or exhaustion), and that has been really nice because we can get a LOT of space to look at, fresh air, nice cool water on our feet... all without me having to overdo it by walking for miles or something silly like that!
I think that covers everything for now.... The bassinet is the last major baby item that we don't actually have in the house, and that's because it's being shipped right now. Once we do have it I will go around and make a photo-tour of Critter's new digs and goodies. :)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Baby Arrival Guess?
The race is on! Go choose the day you think the critter will make an appearance.
You add your day either comment on this blog and let me know (and I will put it up for you), or login with the username test and password test and put it up yourself.
Oh, you can't delete a guess once it is up, so if you change your mind, you'll have to let me know.
Alright, that's all you need to know, so here is the link to the calendar.
You add your day either comment on this blog and let me know (and I will put it up for you), or login with the username test and password test and put it up yourself.
Oh, you can't delete a guess once it is up, so if you change your mind, you'll have to let me know.
Alright, that's all you need to know, so here is the link to the calendar.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
another thing on daddy class
Alex mentioned this to me in person and then forgot to write it down: :P
Apparently something that the dads covered is that new mommies can be VERY territorial about not wanting to share the care of the baby. This was a REALLY common experience among the attending daddies. For instance, it's apparently pretty common for the mom to not feel like she can leave the baby unsupervised with the dad.... some kind of idea about him being "just a man" so he'll break the baby?
I thought it was really interesting that this would be an issue. I guess I was surprised because I wouldn't have thought of having kids if I didn't think Alex was going to have a big share in taking care of them!
Apparently something that the dads covered is that new mommies can be VERY territorial about not wanting to share the care of the baby. This was a REALLY common experience among the attending daddies. For instance, it's apparently pretty common for the mom to not feel like she can leave the baby unsupervised with the dad.... some kind of idea about him being "just a man" so he'll break the baby?
I thought it was really interesting that this would be an issue. I guess I was surprised because I wouldn't have thought of having kids if I didn't think Alex was going to have a big share in taking care of them!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Daddy Basic Training
One of the classes offered, and subsequently taken, was the Daddy Basic Training. I've been told I should post something about this.
The class consisted of about 10 expecting fathers, 2 "teachers" of the class that have kids, a previous attendee with his 4-month-old and 1 guy whose wife decided to go early and he was about a week into fatherhood.
Basically, we were given a packet of various bits of information (that we covered in the class), poison control pamphlets/magnet and we all discussed what to expect. As it turns out, I had a great deal to offer to the discussion from the learned side of things from all the prep M and I have been doing. All the dads got a kick out of my "man vacation" I got to go on last week. While I didn't learn much in the way of new things, I did hear a couple of things I hadn't thought of. It was good to hear what these guys had gone through and I offered to be a "veteran dad" in a few months if they needed.
The class consisted of about 10 expecting fathers, 2 "teachers" of the class that have kids, a previous attendee with his 4-month-old and 1 guy whose wife decided to go early and he was about a week into fatherhood.
Basically, we were given a packet of various bits of information (that we covered in the class), poison control pamphlets/magnet and we all discussed what to expect. As it turns out, I had a great deal to offer to the discussion from the learned side of things from all the prep M and I have been doing. All the dads got a kick out of my "man vacation" I got to go on last week. While I didn't learn much in the way of new things, I did hear a couple of things I hadn't thought of. It was good to hear what these guys had gone through and I offered to be a "veteran dad" in a few months if they needed.
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