36 weeks and a trial run

I've made it to 36 weeks...and my c-section is 3 weeks from today. On one hand the time is just flying, and on the other, I'm VERY ready to not be pregnant anymore! The contractions have definitely started - I spent Saturday night in L&D at the hospital because my contractions were down to 5-7 minutes apart. All is well, and I came back home in the morning. It definitely made me stop and realize that as much as I'd like to not be pregnant anymore, I'm not QUITE ready for this little peanut to make his appearance - guess I'd better get that hospital bag packed...just in case!

Nathan is definitely ready to have the baby arrive, although he has NO idea what he's in store for when he does arrive. He doesn't say "baby" yet, but we've taught him the sign for it, so he'll sign that he wants to "see" the baby and he'll lay on my belly to give him snuggles or give my belly kisses. These days he won't go to sleep without a snuggle from the baby first. He has tried to scoop the baby out with his dump truck, and has taken to telling me he wants me to "open" my tummy so the baby can come out. It's all very cute and we're glad he's so excited :-) I'm a little bit nervous about how he's going to do once the baby's actually here, but we'll just have to take it one day at a time (and know some are going to be much worse than others!)

One pregnant mommy

We went to the zoo on Friday - the weather was fantastic!!! Nathan loved the animals, but insisted on a ride on my shoulders on the way out. Aunt Mary Anne got a shot of us just before he decided it was time to get down. So here I am, just shy of 36 weeks pregnant...

A week of help

My dad's sister, Aunt Mary Anne, has been here for the last week to help me get ready for the baby. What a help it is to have an extra pair of hands!!! We've gotten the baby's room pretty well organized (there were still lots of boxes and you couldn't actually get to the changing table), have all the teeny-tiny clothes washed and ready, have the bottles sterilized and ready to go, etc. And she's been wonderful with Nathan - from helping me chase him around stores to reading him stories and doing puzzles with him. And I even got to escape a few times - I went for a pre-natal massage last week (thanks to all the playgroup girls!!!) and got my haircut :-)

Dad and Emily were here for a quick visit over the weekend - next time we see them will be when the baby arrives! Dad brought Nathan the "Cars" DVD which is Nathan's current favorite (and which the library won't let me renew anymore!), and since he'd been in Princeton for the week, he, of course, brought Nathan his next Princeton t-shirt.

Mmmmm...cupcake!

I went to a cake decorating lesson (combined with a playgroup - genius idea!) and we decorated cupcakes to test out our new found skills. Needless to say, Nathan enjoyed the cupcakes I brought home!

Nathan & Emilia

Nathan wasn't so sure about the kisses Emilia wanted to give him.












Smiley baby!













Emilia and her daddy

Dave's birthday weekend

Dave's family came up to celebrate his 35th birthday and Easter. Here's Uncle Peter with Nathan and his daughter Emilia, and Dave's mom with little Emilia. Nathan had a bit of a rough time with Emilia wanting to play with his toys, but he warmed up...it's good practice for him to have someone littler around the house!

Snuggle Bug

Sometimes we just need a little down time...

The boys and their Wii

We got a Wii for Christmas this year, and Nathan loves to "play" with Dave - his current favorites are any games with a ball!

Egg Hunt #2

On our way to the neighborhood egg hunt...this is his new "smile" when faced with a camera! (At least I found a basket for him!)

Nathan's first egg hunt

We went to an egg hunt on Saturday. This "Mom of the Year" didn't realize until we were walking out the door that he needed an Easter basket...oops! So we made due with a lunch bag - he seems to have persevered!

Go 'Nova!

Nathan's babysitter is a Villanova student and gave this to him for his birthday - of course he had to wear it on Saturday for 'Nova's big game!

Found it!

We've been trying to impress upon Nathan that his toys need to go in the basket when he's done playing with them...and then that they'll be there when he wants to play with them again. Apparently he decided that the best way to find them is to get IN the basket with them! The other day he got distracted and watched the better part of a Diego episode sitting in the basket.

What a site!

I looked up yesterday, and Nathan had put his rain boots on over his footy PJ's, and was walking all over the house with his stethescope hanging around his neck - what a site! Clearly he's adjusting well to the new house and loving getting reacquainted with all the toys that he didn't see for a couple weeks...

This is the smile he gives these days when you ask him to smile for the camera...what a ham :-)