Cute Baby Things

So, Eric and I decided to go and paint a piggy bank for the baby...our first "gift" to him. However, why paint a actual pig...who decided pigs needed to be the chosen bank for small children? So, we opted for the elephant instead...a fantastic choice I think. To top it off, we painted his initials on the bottom of the elephant's feet...so his name is set in stone. But what are the initials?? Well, for that you'll have to wait a few more weeks, but here's a peek at the bank in the mean time.

And, on our way to pain the bank the mall was having Sidewalk Sales, and there was a store selling some ADORABLE Stride Rite shoes...for 75% off! So, what were originally $45 shoes (really, $45? Does anyone pay that much for children's shoes???) we got for $11! I think that my friend Carrie would be proud...not only because I got them for so cheap, but because he won't even be able to wear them for another year! But look at how cute they are...could you have resisted?

Creative Corner II

So, a few weeks ago, my friend Lisa came over and helped me paint some canvases for the baby's room. I think she was planning to have a little more creative freedom in the process, but those of you who know me, know that I don't do well with "creative freedom". Therefore, since I am fortunate enough to have an architect for a husband, he was able to draw up some "plans", create a template, and then trace that onto the canvases. We even determined what color each square would be on the computer! So essentially, Lisa and I had a Paint-by-Number afternoon! We had a good time, and I was so grateful for Lisa's help.


A close up shot of the freshly painted canvases...


The finish product hung perfectly on the wall!

And...the quilt hanging on the wall. It didn't turn out quite like we had planned, and hopefully when he gets much bigger and stronger he won't pull it off the wall!

A Growing Belly

Let me start by saying I apologize that it has been SO long since I have posted any pictures of my belly. I wrote this post like 3 1/2 weeks ago, and just never added the pictures, so I added more to it today and am finally posting it. Sorry I've been so negligent!

So, I've reached the Point of No Return. That's right, people are finally saying "Wow, you look like you could pop at any moment" and "You've got how long left?!" There is no more "You're so tiny", and I have to say, Eric's right, that was much nicer than the newest comments. Don't people realize there is an actual human growing in there??? They get bigger, they need room, they can't stay "tiny" forever!! Give me a break...Anyway, I haven't posted any pictures in while, and so here are a couple:



Here I am at 33 weeks and 2 days. Today the baby was moving a ton, which is so fun. No more kicking really, just squirms and rolls. One day last week I'm sure he was itching his little bottom on my belly...it was so funny! Watching my belly move is my new favorite hobby!



34 weeks...dressed for court, where attorneys are notoriously honest, which doesn't really fit the profile, since in the court room they can be so scandelous! One attorney told me she couldn't believe I was still around, and one told me I hadn't gained an ounce. Gotta love the difference in opinion...people are so weird!



35 weeks and 3 days, no story.



Here is a picture taken today at 37 weeks. This morning was a catastrophy and a moment when I was wishing I would no longer be pregnant. I am at the point of boiling most days, so I am having trouble finding short sleeve shirts that still cover my ever protruding belly! But my poor husband tried to give me a hug while I was feeling depressed, and I told him, "No! A hug won't help right now." And being the sweet man that he is, when I got home I was greeted by flowers. What an amazing husband he is and father he will be! We saw the doctor today as well, and unfortunately no news, but she will "check" again next week, and hopefully there will be more encouragement!

Along with my growing belly, I've also been fortunate enough to experience the growing love and support of my family and friends for Eric, myself and baby Ranger. My mom has tickets to come for a few weeks in September and help us out, my best friends Autumn and Lindsay are coming all the way across the company to meet Ranger in October, and my sister called me this week and will be coming to stay with us for the month of September. I feel so blessed to be loved by so many, and am so happy that Ranger will get to experience and feel all this love from the moment he arrives!

Good News

Well, praise God! We got great news yesterday...on two fronts. First, our dear friends in Arizona, Kevin & Rachel, brought their beautiful baby boy into the world yesterday. Rachel was apparently quite a trooper while delivering Isaac. We are eagerly anticipating pictures of the happy family!

On my own baby front, I went to the doc yesterday and....baby is "in position", in fact she asked about cramping and I said I was having quite a bit in my lower stomach, and she felt and said "Oh, no wonder, the baby's head is right there!" So, that was encouraging. AND, I'm dilated to 1cm! OK, I know that doesn't mean much, but it's at least comforting to know something is going on. I am getting so excited to say hello to Baby Ranger (and goodbye to swollen ankles), and now we're under the four week mark...I can't believe how quickly it's gone. Life will be changing so soon!

We ARE Still Here

I've been reprimanded...again...about updating our blog. Geesh...I just can't seem to get a control on this! Well, nothing too new has been happening in our lives, and to be quite honest, Eric and I have both been working A LOT, and at home we are either working on projects to prepare for our guests coming soon (yeah!!!), or working on work at home. Or, I fall asleep on the couch at 8pm...hello lack of energy!

But, really, everything is going well. We are preparing for Baby Ranger, getting clothes washed, getting the nursery ready (the canvases look great by the way), and trying to get the house clean. A little bit of nesting I guess, but really, there is only so much I can do.

I am feeling fairly well still. I am feeling stretched to capacity on most days, and am really unsure where he is going to go for the next FOUR weeks?!?!?! My legs are getting really swollen, but only from my knees down, which I think is a little odd. I am going to the doctor tomorrow for my first "check" and am hoping for some news. I know that may be optimistic, and may mean nothing at all, except the baby will come sometime in the next month, but I'm excited! What I'm not excited about is the scale, which seems to be showing all these pounds I keep packing on, but I'm really not sure where there going...and NO, they can't all be going to the baby, or that's one large baby!

We did complete our birthing class on Saturday, and it was very encouraging, very emotional, and made things very real. After a good deal of thought, I am entertaining the idea of a natural birth. I know, I know, I'm crazy, and I definitely don't need to hear that from anyone, I've heard it enough already. But I am really concerned about all those drugs passing to the baby, and I would really like to be able to spend my time laboring in different positions, not just stuck in my bed. So, if you have any encouraging natural birth stories for me, I'd love to hear them, but if you just want to tell me I'm crazy, keep your comments to yourself, thank you very much.

Eric's favorite pieces of information from our birthing class were 1.) That there is a 36" flat screen TV in each labor room and over 200 movies to choose from; and 2.) That for the time that I am in labor, he gets free food that he can order to have delivered right to the room. To his favor, he did acknowledge that it would be my choice whether or not the TV could be on, and what would be on it. He is going to be a great labor coach and daddy!

Anyway, I'm off to work, so that's it for now. I really will try to post some pictures this weekend. I've been taking them, it's just a matter of posting them. To be honest, I've even archived some blogs, but haven't posted the pictures to them yet! Hopefully I'll get better once Ranger is here.

Love you all!

Baby Ranger

So, just an FYI...those of you who I talk to frequently have heard the loving nickname that we've given our little boy, but for those of you who haven't, I just wanted to express it to you so you're not alarmed (or confused) as you read future blogs.

So, it's really hard to just say "the baby" or "he", and I detest "it", so, one day we were joking around with our friends and somehow the name "Ranger Danger" came up, and it's kind of stuck. So, we frequently now refer to the baby as "Baby Ranger" and my sister even added a nickname, so his full name (pre-birth of course) is Ranger Danger Super Hero Maring. It's quite a magnificent name for such a little guy...and we use it all the time. To the point where our four year old niece said at the fourth of July parade, "Aunt Ann, when baby Ranger learns to ride a bike, can you get him a helmet like that?" I hope we don't confuse her forever when he has a different name when he's born!

Anyway, just a quick note so you're not confused about who "Ranger" is, and so that you don't think you're catching me in some major slip-up giving you the name of our unborn son! Love to you all, Ann.

Craft Corner

I've been wanting to blog for a while now about Eric's handy creativity around the house...but just never got around to it, go figure! Anyway, my husband is quite handy with wood as many of you know, and has built some pretty fantastic things for our new house. There was a lot of talk about building our baby furniture, but we decided it was too much pressure and too much money for all the extra tools that would be required. But I wanted to share some pictures with you of some other things he has created....



Here is a beautiful wall hanging that he made for me after I found a similar one at the store that I liked, he knew he could do it better, and in fact he did!

He also decided he wante to build some bookshelves to place on either side of our fire place. They are currently in process...but here are some pictures of the bases which are done (minus finishing the tops) as well as the constructed book shelves. He's really done a great job, and I am so proud of his good work!

And finally, I was feeling somewhat motivated to do a craft for baby Ranger's room...that's right, I was feeling crafty...it's this motherly hormone I think. So, we bought a few canvases, and painted them cream, and next my friend Lisa promised to come over and help me paint them to mimic the pattern in Ranger's bedding. I am so excited and can't wait to finish and hang them so you all can see. Let's hope that I don't destroy them! I also painted some quilt hangers so that we can hang the quilt on the wall, since it doesn't really have any other purpose at this point. :)