Another Baby Update

Well, the baby has dropped! Today Dr. Hudson said "it could be anytime...tonight, tomorrow, 2 weeks from now..." I had to laugh at that "timeline" of sorts. :) I'm still having contractions and while they are getting stronger, they aren't at all consistent.

We're ready though. We're all packed, my mom gets here tomorrow, David finished the cradle, the outdoor Christmas decor is up (don't judge - the presents are all bought, wrapped and delivered and the CC envelopes are all addressed too...I did all that over the summer) and I got everything on my to do list done. It's funny though, now that the house is spotless, I am being a little OCD about constantly cleaning up after us. I wash a dish as soon as it's used, I'm doing a load of laundry as soon as there is enough to wash...things like that. I keep thinking I don't want to come home to a mess with a newborn - lol. We both think it's kinda funny, I think it's just my need to control something in all of this. :)

Anyway, we're really hopeful that the baby will come sometime this week. Dr. Hudson said that if I haven't had the baby by the 30th an induction is on the way, so Lord willing the little one will come before that. We'll be keeping you posted!

My Talented Husband

I just need to take a second to brag on my extremely talented husband. Just yesterday his new logo design for Growing a Greener World was announced. They are launching a new show on PBS in the spring and this logo is for their show. I am so proud of him!! Check it out at the link above on Facebook. :)

Maternity Shots & Baby Update

Yesterday Bethany went with us to Oregon Park to take some maternity shots of us. My beloved husband was wonderful and let me pose us however I wanted to get the pictures I was hoping for of this special time in our lives. Here are a few of my favorites and the most recent belly shots at 38 weeks.

I really, really love this pictureThis one just makes me smile and I had to share it in color since that tree is so beautiful!And here's some shots of this massive belly...

As for a baby update - I want to the Doctor today and things are moving right along! I started to soften last week and things are progressing. We have 2 weeks to go until our due date and today she said I am dilated to a 1 (slow and steady, right?) and the baby has shifted to a full downward facing position which is fantastic! I have been having real contractions for the last 3 days which is also great news so hopefully next Monday we'll see even more progress. My mom gets here next Tuesday, so as far as we're concerned, anytime after that this little one can make his/her entrance. :)

Botanical Gardens

Last year Paul & Bethany invited us to go with them to the Botanical Gardens for their Fest-of-Ale. While we didn't get any Beer, we had a great time walking around the gardens at night and generally goofing off together. We decided to head down again this year on 10/22 and the weather was PERFECT! It was a bit more crowded, but that didn't keep us from having fun. Here are a few pictures from our evening.

Beautiful Yellow OrchidsI love these plants - too cool!David & Paul being sillyBethany & IPaul & BethanyDavid, baby & I

Visiting with Deborah & the kids

We had such a great time with Deborah, Erin & Grady while they were here after our baby shower! On Sunday, we went to church, had Chinese for lunch, took naps (the kids did anyway) and around 3:30 we headed downtown to the Botanical Gardens. Erin was far more fascinated by the fountains than anything else, but we had a great time being outside and enjoying the cool weather anyway. Here are a few pictures from Sunday.

Deb & GradyPlaying in the WaterShe tried for a while to catch this leaf and pull it out of the water - such a fun gameErin showing Deborah a pretty flower (after which we made sure she didn't pick any other flowers at the gardens, lol)Erin in awe of the fountain at the gardens

Monday David had to work, so Deborah and I lounged around with the kids until he got home. Erin got to play her favorite game here, throw rocks and stuff into the water under the bridge behind our house, and we created some masterpieces on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. When David got home, we headed up to a super cool playground where we expelled the rest of Erin's energy and had a great time once again soaking up the cool weather. There was a section of the playground that was perfect for Erin, but when she got bored of that there was a small hill that Deborah and David taught her to roll down. What ensued was a round of much laughing and great photos.

SwingingErin in her cool shadesI love this "snarl" face Erin is making now, it always makes me laugh!! I'm gonna save this one for her wedding slide showErin playing on the playgroundAfter Deborah tried it out to see if it would be safe, David took Grady down the big slide - I wish I had a picture of Grady's face after the ride, but I was laughing too hard to take one.
Let's just say he didn't love it.David & GradyI have a whole series of pictures of David posing like Grady,
this one made me laugh the hardest though :)Grady stylin' in Uncle David's hatDeb & ErinFor the record, Deb took this picture.
I think I'll keep this one for her wedding slide show too :)Deborah teaching Erin how to roll down the hill - she loved it!Deborah & the kids - I love this picture!

We had such a great visit and can't wait until our little one is old enough to play with his/her cousins! :)

A Belated Shower Post

On October 2nd we had a lunch shower hosted by David's coworkers. They treated us to lunch at Hudson Grille (which was yummy!) and brought cake and presents. :) They all pitched in to give us the Baby Bjorn carrier (you can see that David is so excited!), a blanket, burp cloths and washcloths.

They also made us this hilarious book filled with advise from everyone and pictures - it's definitely going in the baby book, lol! We had a great time and I especially enjoyed celebrating with David's coworkers. Thanks to Viv & Lauren for putting it all together for us!! :)

100th Post - Surprise & A Baby Shower

I wanted to wait until this week to post since I was at my 100th post and I wanted it to be special with lots of pictures.

Saturday was our last baby shower and it was hosted by a few of my closest girlfriends. I knew it was going to be special, but how special I had no idea until the big day arrived. My side of the family hosted a shower for us back in July that was wonderful and my mom and step mom got to come and celebrate their grand baby, so this time I had David's mom's with me.On Friday, my friend Vivek from college flew in from DC to spend the weekend and be with me for the shower. I hadn't seen her in 5+ years! I was so thrilled she was able to come and that we got to visit Friday while things were still quiet. Saturday morning my BFF Lacey came into town with her newest baby Jane Dare (she's 5 weeks and just precious!!) and arrived just as David's parents did and was able to join us for lunch.

We all met up at Taco Mac, one of David's favorite wing places, and I was loving on my Jane Dare while we waited for a table. After a bit David wanted some snuggles and took her from me. A few moments later I looked up and saw a little girl who looked remarkably like my niece Erin. You know how it goes, you process very quickly: "that looks like Erin, but it can't be Erin, because she's in Colorado". But then I see Deborah holding her and Carol (who was supposed to be on a women's retreat!) coming in behind her with my nephew Grady in her arms and I realize that they are really here! I just lost it and started to cry. I was so surprised and I still tear up every time I think about it. My awesome yet sneaky husband had helped orchestrate all of this and it was probably the most surprised I've ever been, second only to his proposal, of course. There are pictures of their arrival and my reaction on David's mom's camera, but I don't have them yet. I'll post when I get them.

Before I knew it we had finished lunch and it was time to head to Karen's for the shower. When I got there, I walk in the kitchen and see my friend Marleah who drove in from Alabama. I almost cried all over again!
I had no idea that so many people would come from so far away to be here with me and celebrate our little one. We had some great food and times of fellowship with my friends and family from near and far. We were spoiled beyond belief with wonderful gifts for this baby, who is already so loved, and there were a few more surprises here. A few friends who couldn't be with us sent gifts and my mom even made the baby 2 more blankets and sent them so I could open them at the shower. The funniest part was my mom used a post-it as the gift tag and we all got a kick out of it!

The post-it gift tag!The beautiful cat quilt handmade by my mom
Aunt Carol made a beautiful blanket for the baby too - it's so soft!Lacey getting in some snuggles with Jane Dare while I opened giftsWe love Sleep Sacks!Spoiled already - look at all these beautiful things!The sweet cupcakes were made by Leigh-Ann and they were yummy!Vivek, Carol, Deborah & I chattingGrady having fun at the showerMy lovely hostesses: Lacey, Karen, Leigh-Ann & Bethany

After we enjoyed some more girl time, we headed back to my house. David's mom and Carol headed back to Carol's house and Deborah, Erin, Grady, Vivek, Lacey & Jane Dare were going to stay with us. Paul & Bethany also joined us for dinner and we just had a great night hanging out together. It was one of the sweetest times I've had in this house and I certainly won't forget it anytime soon.

I absolutely love being surprised and Saturday was full of them. And Deborah and the kids got to stay through Tuesday which was wonderful since they live so far away. I certainly feel blessed to have so many people in this life who love and support us and who will love our baby.

As we were getting ready for bed David asked "so was it a good day" and I said "best day ever!"

Sweet Cotton Candy

The state fair comes every September to the fairgrounds just behind our neighborhood. With it comes the Sugar Shack and the dreamiest, fresh spun cotton candy you can imagine. Cotton Candy is David's favorite thing and I'm a big fan too, so it's an overall winner in the Bilbo house. Well this year, since I'm pregnant, we had to skip out on the adventure of the fair but we didn't want to miss out on the cotton candy. So...we waited until a night where we wouldn't have to pay admission to get the goods. I dropped David off and waited in the loading zone (to avoid parking fees) and David took 5 canned goods to donate (to get in for free) and he headed out to the Sugar Shack while I waited in the car.

About 5 minutes later I see him strolling down looking fierce with 3 massive bags of cotton candy in his hands and I start laughing. I love my husband, he always makes me laugh. He was looking fierce to keep the carnies from making fun of him and his loot - lol!!

I made him wait until we got home to open the bags so I could take this picture.

mmm...cotton candy

Making Room for Baby

I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of our nearly complete nursery. :) First up was putting the crib together. The crib was a gift from Mama & Papa (David's folks) for the baby and we absolutely LOVE it!! It was a big night in the Bilbo house when we put it together and the whole family was involved in the process...

Out of the box!David getting startedScotty checking out the springsMarty helped unwrap the big piecesI helped too!!Almost done...All dressed up

While David's folks were here they painted the nursery in 4 different colors for us. David is so creative in putting colors together, we are thrilled with how the room came out. We have white, a creamy yellow and 2 shades of sage. When we first started trying we bought an unfinished oak dresser and we hired a friend to finish it for us. With the new knobs we really love the finished product.  We found the bookshelf last, and can hardly believe that all the pieces match so well, but they do.  

BookshelfDresser
This Rocking Chair was David's when he was a baby...the Tigger was his too.  :)Here is another view with the window and black curtains to round out the room

I still need to put up the pictures, but I figured I'd go ahead and post the progress so far.  We really do love how it's turning out and can't wait for the little one to get here and use everything.  :)