long time...

Wow, it has been awhile since I've posted. Let the procrastination cease!

This was a busy "baby weekend." Sunday, we made a trip to Belmond for the baby shower. All I can say is, "wow!" and, "THANK YOU!" It was humbling to have so many friends and family make the trip and join us in the celebration. We received so many nice gifts that will be "part of the web of support" (from a game we played.) After the activity/game, we had a reading, complete with appropriate props, from my relatives in Georgia. Refreshments followed, and while many guests were eating, we began to open gifts. I think our baby has it made! All the neat stuff - I don't know how children in the past got through to adulthood... HA! In all, I had a lot of fun! I didn't really know what I was getting into - I've only been to one baby shower before, and that was mine. And looking at those pictures, with Dad wearing the corsage, reminds me that was a long time ago... So to my male readers that have never been to a baby shower, I can fill you in on the secret rituals and customs (but probably won't - I've been sworn to secrecy.) We loaded up, and after a meal at Mom and Dad's, we headed back to Altoona. Thanks again to the planning committee and everyone who was there!

Yesterday was another milestone day for baby. After I spent the day tearing down wallpaper and Val put away baby stuff and wrote thank you cards, we headed out to do some shopping before meeting up with Ed and his brother and girlfriend for dinner. Quick stops at HyVee and Target were followed by a trip to Babies'R'Us. And we did it - we finally bought furniture for baby! That was the milestone, the baby's room should soon be ready. We've been looking at this furniture set for a few months and like the "lifetime" intent. The crib converts to a toddler bed and later can become a full-sized bed. If we would have known about these before, we probably wouldn't have had such a hard time finding furniture for our room (we had a very nice full-sized bed, but had an impossible time finding a bedroom set with a full headboard and ended up getting a queen set, followed by a new bed...) The list of necessities is getting shorter and shorter, which makes me a little more comfortable. Looking around the room now, it is getting full. Boxes and swings and toys and clothes. Furniture will be shipped and picked up in 7-14 days. This seven months has really gone by fast!

I am attending "Father's Class" tonight at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, further preparation for me. I'm excited, but don't know exactly what will be covered and what to expect. It's a two hour course - I think I need more training than that! I'll try to report back on that tomorrow. We also have other courses coming up, plenty more information for us.

It's been a busy couple of days, but a "good" busy :)
-B

all I wanted was a soda...

Val had a checkup in Ankeny yesterday. I arrived at the last minute - why can't i get the timing from my office to the clinic figured out??? I thought I'd have 5-10 minutes to spare but was lead straight back to the exam room when i walked in... Anyway, all was as it should be, as far as the checkup was concerned. Val had a bottle of orange-soda looking liquid with all of her stuff - I got excited and planned to get some of that. But it wasn't to be, as the bottle contained something for the next appointment, specifically to check for gestational diabetes. One of the possible complications that I don't fully understand (like most things medical, which is ironic, since I work for a hospital company...) I suppose I will go into study mode if that is something we have to deal with. Not something to really worry about (as I can be good at, worrying, that is...) Take it as it comes, right?

After the appointment, we stopped by a baby consignment shop. Val had been there before and got some maternity clothes. The selection in that part of the shop hadn't changed, so we really just looked around for a bit. We left, I gassed up the Harley, and headed for home. It was nice that we were both home around 5, which is really unusual at our house.

So you're probably wondering when we'll let the cat out on the gender... Well, it's a...

BABY! HA, probably didn't even get you on that, but I enjoyed the joke! Soon, probably, b/c neither of us is very good at keeping secrets. But it has been kinda fun having that between us :)

-b

Garage Sales

Yesterday, I spent the morning going to Garage Sales in Altoona looking for good baby deals.  I learned all the good stuff is gone after the first 30 minutes.  But I was lucky to find some cute clothes on the first two stops.  Nineteen outfits, shirts, sleepers, etc for $15.  It is also really helpful to know the gender of the baby.  Most people have a few "unisex" clothes, but most everything else is blue with trucks and puppies or pink with lace and ribbons.  Brandon and I have decided that we will share with all of you the baby's gender soon.  At this point, it is just fun to have everyone guess!  So, if you haven't guessed already, feel free to make comment below!

just back from the store...

and we finally bought some baby "stuff." It's fun to look around at all of it, but a little overwhelming, too. I do not know what a diaper genie does, for sure, but I hear they are great. Being a genie, do I get three wishes??? Saw that at the store and even a version II. Amazing. We only picked out a few things, little stuff. But fun, all the same.