Kirk installing the car seat for the first time!

Kirk trying out our new glider chair

Nine months today! Can't believe it!!

A funny tidbit

Almost nobody makes me laugh like my college friend Aaron. Today I asked her if she had any "no holds barred" wisdom for me. She came through like a champ! I have to share one of her thoughts on pushing in labor.

The nurse will want you to count with her while you push, but watch out because she’ll try to make the count longer and longer. Like this: one…two…threeee…gooood……fourrrrrrr……..

Then:

ok, now fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive……..aaaaannnnnnndddddd siiiiiiixxxxx……….niiiiiice……now…..seeeeeveeeeeennnnnnn…..
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaate(8)………………OKaaaayyyyyy, go tooooooo niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine………..
and laaaaasssst iisss teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

And THEN have the nerve to end it all with a sweet, “Good job!”

I will be so onto that nurse's antics now! Thanks, Aaron!!

The home stretch

I survived Christmas! I thought it was so funny that I wasn't allowed to travel, since it meant I had to do most of the work of hosting my 11 family members at home. But it was really fun, and my mom and Kirk were a ton of help with the cooking, baking and overall preparations.

My brother Craig and brother-in-law Scott were also awesome helping us set up the nursery (essentially the mudroom connected to the laundry room). We're using Melinda's furniture, which is incredibly special, and the yet-to-arrive fabulous glider. I've decided to go with chocolate brown and soft blue no matter what gender. This way, I don't have to paint, and I also found cute fabric that matches the room. (I am telling myself I will NOT fall for "everything has to be pink for girls!" Remind me of this later!)

I have now done my first load of baby laundry. Everyone says I'll be doing so much (which makes my nursery placement connected to the laundry room PERFECT!), but I honestly can't imagine, since the clothes are so TINY! I had no idea of the etiquitte of giving Christmas gifts to babies not born yet, but my family has overwhelmed us with the most wonderful things to celebrate the arrival. We've also been blessed with amazing hand-me-downs from Melinda and my high school friend Debbie's sons. If it's a boy, we're SET! And if it's a girl, well, we SHOP! Either way, we're good!!

The craziest thing happening right now is the baby moving. I say moving, because it's much bigger than a kick now. It happens all over my tummy, and it's indescribably and undeniably a baby in there. So it's definitely getting more real. I keep telling Kirk this baby is going to rock our world in ways we can't even predict. I can't wait - I think Kirk's heart is just going to open right up when he sees that baby.

The other crazy thing is thinking of going back to work tomorrow. Really? They expect people in their ninth month to actually work? Huh. What's that about? :)

I packed my bag for the hospital today, and so I'm theoretically "ready" (HA!) should the baby make its appearance. The last thing I still need is a car seat, which I'm getting from my friend Lisa on the 10th. Hopefully she'll help us install the base too! Other than that, we have diapers and paci's, and really, what else could little Baby Wright need?

Kirk trying on the baby carrier from Kathy for the 1st time!

Eight months and three weeks! Only five to go!!

Baby School Dropout

The modus operandi for my pregnancy has been peace, and I've run (not walked) away from things that have caused stress. And it's worked for me. Sure, now that I'm approaching beach ball proportions, I'm realizing I should own a bottle or diaper or something. But I've just had this overwhelming feeling that everything will be ok. So I have chosen not to worry, well about basically anything.

That all changed when I went to childbirth class.

I don't know who these classes are for, but I've given it some thought:

• People who are worried sick, so the "worst case scenarios" they present are actually comforting
  
• People who are under the impression that they are still in control, even when giving birth
  
• People who are mentally challenged (I mean, I'm pretty sure I KNOW how to breathe already)
  

So to cut to the chase, I made it through to the potty break for the first class. Then I bolted and didn't look back. Poor Kirk (the saint) stayed till the bitter end, and I picked him up after. Besides the not-funny intro joke (you'd better take naps now, since it will be the last you take for 20 years, ha ha), I learned everything I needed to know in the first 5 minutes.

"When your contractions are 5-7 minutes apart for over an hour, call your doctor and go to the hospital." Let's see, maybe I should chill out at home beyond that? Nah, I think I'll head on over to check things out. Got it.

At the second class, I got some much-needed solitaire playing time in. And instead of the third class, we're going to Chili's with the neighbors. My neighbor Matt assures me that he'll tell the kid we were far too cool to waste brain cells on those classes.

So I'm back into peace mode. I'm getting ready for the whole family to descend next week (since I can no longer travel). I have takeout menus, and I'm not afraid to use them! Peace be to everyone this holiday season!

Eight months and counting!

Showered with Surprises

I've always loved going over to our friends the Fosters in Portland. Of course, their house is fabulous. But it's Irene's natural hospitality that makes you feel so special and yet comfortable at the same time.

On my trip to Portland, my book club of 9 years planned to get together while I was there.

Only it wasn't a book club – it was a surprise shower for me and the muffin. I feel too old for a shower, but there is no denying that having your baby celebrated by those you love is simply priceless. So I embraced it. Here are my girls who were there (minus Sarah, who was taking the picture).

We had an amazing dinner, played fun games (thanks, Margit - although I stunk at "guess the price" and the word scramble!), and sat around telling stories of pregnancy, childbirth and beyond (well, they told stories; I sat listening wide eyed).