(Maybe a Little [But Probably Not]) Progress Report.

I find myself more hungry (on Friday, Josh went out to find me a sausage biscuit. Twice.), but I seem to be losing a little weight. Sleep has become elusive again. I keep thinking my back, hips, and whole pelvic floor can't hurt much more without really laying me out, but then, they do. The contractions are less frequent and more intense (some have solicited surprised sounds from me...especially when they get really pinchy or rippy just as I think they're winding down). Instead of just in my abdomen, I feel them in my back, pelvic floor, and butt. My heartburn has gotten worse (to the point of water burning when I swallow it), and I've had some rough headaches. Oliver has been keeping up with his exercise routine. Last week, two people at work pointed out that I've dropped.

I've had two big cleaning rounds this week, one on Wednesday and one on Sunday. On Wednesday, I cleaned the bathroom and kitchen thoroughly, including the tub, tub mat, and cracks under the cabinets. On Sunday, I focused on the kitchen and bleached the washer, dryer, and trashcan. Both nights, I worked on sanitizing and organizing bottles and on baby laundry. I cleaned up Oliver's room again on Sunday night; this because I had a third shower--a surprise one at work the day of my last ultrasound.

My coworkers must have thrown it together in a couple of days, realizing that the time was at hand. They planned it for a doctor's appointment day because Josh would be with me (he hadn't started coming every day yet). They'd transformed the little conference room (in which I had my first, frightening interview) with a tablecloth, flowers from around campus, food trays, and presents. Both faculty and staff came even though many had to come and go for meetings. We ate veggies and dip, chips, Pepperidge Farm cookies (!), and rainbow cake with light icing that tasted like Cool Whip. The presents were perfect: primarily bigger clothes, bigger diapers, and wipes. We also got some great books, an Amazon gift card for more books, lots of socks, a tiny neck pillow for the car seat and stroller (appropriately chocolate and sage green), a whole set of story and song CDs, a blanket that says, "Thank heaven for little boys" (great for a Gigi fan like I am), and more infant gas drops. Hooray! The science department got together to buy a whole case of size 2 diapers, and the package decor was two darling wrist rattles: a monkey and an elephant. I can't wait to see if Oliver likes those. Oliver has more warm clothes now, and he won't be naked after the first three, six, or even nine months! I really seem to have made friends at work lately. So many people have been eager to check on me, and the shower made me feel special.

Josh also built the bouncer on Sunday. It was more complicated than I'd expected. I ordered it primarily so that Josh could have a way to pee during the day. It's adorable: bunny headrest, carrot toy with a bee on it. My brother was born on New Year's Day, and I have a photo of him in a bouncer on Valentine's Day.

I've found that the people who wrote that birth class book know a bit. Josh tried pressing on my lower back with his palms during a contraction, and it did help. I thought the idea of a focal point during contractions was silly, but I've found that, when my eyes aren't closed, I use one automatically (a loose thread on a towel, a polka dot on a blanket). So I tucked one of the Oliver-on-a-seahorse cards into Josh's computer bag (he'll almost certainly grab it. I've advised him to leave the computer alone though). It would be motivating, and the colors are soothing.

On Thursday morning, we were up early and ready for our appointment. As Josh started up the car, I happened to look down at the appointment sheet that had ended up on the floor of the car. It clearly stated that our appointment was for the following Monday. Our appointments have always been on Thursday (I built my work schedule around that), and I don't remember the receptionist saying it would be otherwise. We sat, stunned, in the car for a while before going inside and going back to bed. People popped into my office all day to ask how the appointment was. Well, we apparently actually have one today. I wonder if my belly will measure differently and how the doctor (we're seeing a very laid back one this time) will react if it doesn't. I actually don't remember him using a tape measure before. Though it's ever so unpleasant, I'm hoping for a full exam to see if I'm progressing.

Shower the Babies You Love with Love Again.

Before our shower, we went to brunch with my dad at Panera. I resisted the cinnamon roll the size of my face and had sausage, egg, and cheese on ciabatta. Everything seems to be better on ciabatta. We then went to Best Buy where Dad bought us our Oliver present: a video camera!

Decorations and food preparations were well under way when we returned. Melissa's cheerful baby Rhys gave Josh and I some baby practice. Melissa had used a projector to trace and color huge posters, including Little Prince, Mary Engelbreit's Oliver on a seahorse (!), an Oliver! musical poster, and a chubby Oliver bee. Guess whose nursery has plenty of decorations?

 

Isn't having a friend who pays so much attention and is so creatively thoughtful wondrous? Clotheslines all over the house also held personalized onesies. Josh and I never tire of seeing our son's name. Melissa is the queen of personalization.

Oh, that sweet bee.

And here was an adorable little station for writing letters to the precious boy.

Melissa and I shared an obsession for little mailboxes at one point, so this brought back memories of Michaels trips and scrapbook-y craftiness.

This was a treasure spread to me--Gelly Rolls and calligraphy markers! It was like a secret gift to this mama...and a reminder to keep writing.

Shane helped with the balloon clusters.

 Druella, one of the sweetest women in the universe, helped my mom prepare the food: little cucumber, tomato, and pimento cheese tea sandwiches; veggies and dip; cheese and crackers; cream puffs; mixed nuts; and crab dip (!) and chips.

Mom found gorgeous, just-right paper goods and beautiful green and blue bottle, crown, and pram confetti. I'd like to toss the leftover confetti all over the OLC.

No craft seems beyond Melissa. She made this amazing diaper cake with chocolate and sage green (Oliver's colors!) ribbon and all kinds of little prizes. Tucked into the ribbon and inside the cake itself, I found everything from wipes and diaper cream samples to toys, bottles, and milk containers. Samples went right into our diaper bag when we went home.

Yes, that's a tiny green seahorse toy.

And that's a giant Skippyjon Jones book base for the cake! I've displayed it on top of one of Oliver's bookcases. Josh and I are in love with this fat bee. For now, he's living in our room, and we giggle about him all the time.

Oh, the cake. It arrived to astonished gasps. Oliver Twist, Peter Pan, and The Secret Garden are all significant books to this little family. The Secret Garden spine included a key and a robin. All the books sparkled with edible glitter. What a dream cake!

The two outside books were vanilla cake, and the center one was chocolate!

Several people from church arrived. Josh and I cuddled together on a leather ottoman to open gifts. We got several items about which I'd been anxious, including the baby monitor, the Diaper Genie, more cool weather clothes, pajamas, hats and mittens, Burt's Bees Baby Bee bath products, and another hooded towel (green with Oliver Eliot in chocolate thread...yes, that was Melissa!). We got essentials like lanolin cream and a whole box of baby food. We got sweet gifts like this darling giraffe personalized pacifier clips, a fancy linen outfit for his first summer, and lots of books. At church the next day, several more gifts appeared. One had a medicine theme, so we now have various medicine dispensers and baby Tylenol, saline, and gas drops in our medicine cabinet.

Our second shower was beautiful. Mom and Melissa are a real event dream team. I admire their talent in part because I don't share it! Two ladies who know (and like) me best put together a fantasy party to celebrate my greatest happiness.

Shower the Babies You Love with Love.

After our brief banishment, we returned to a transformed house.

Baby boy balloons were everywhere. I remember being obsessed with the tiny plastic babies, safety pins, and bottles for shower decor when I was little. Could I really be having my own baby shower?

This lemonade was delectable. I had to check to make sure it wasn't spiked. Susan had also supplied me with mini Dr. Pepper cans.

The food presentation was still in progress. Sarah's boyfriend, Adam, is a chef, and he was happily busy slicing and arranging. These adorable little signs awaited.

A cupcake tower (gasp!) and a platter of favors (egg-shaped Jordan almonds with "nesting" feathers on the boxes) were first to grace the confetti-strewn table. I've eaten many grand meals at this table as well as lots of casual, chatty pizza dinners.

That's in honor of our baby. Three people at the shower mentioned this blog. I think it's pretty cool that something I started for funsies helps our family stay connected to us and know us.

Here are beautiful caprese kabobs (grape tomatoes and mozzarella) beside a photo of Josh and Sarah as littles.

Little shrimp with cocktail sauce curled beside caprese on ciabatta bread (grape tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, oil, and basil). I remember one Christmas in the mountains. Josh and I arrived at night after everyone else. Susan made simple pizza from scratch, and as she did so, she cut me a piece of fresh mozzarella. Oh my. I hadn't had it before. Is the taste or the texture more magical? In any case, this veggie head item (Sarah is a vegetarian as well, so the spread had a nice balance) may have been my favorite.

My mom said that these lime cups appeared to be pregnant with lots of berry babies.

Cracker, cheese, and grape goodness.

Aren't single-color M&Ms sweet? I swiped this precious sign.

 Yes, those are tiny baby footprints on the mints.

Susan did assure us that this would not be a "nuts and mints" party, but we didn't see this coming. The nutty bruschetta didn't appear in the photos, but oh my.

Near the center are little chicken salad sandwiches. I couldn't believe anything was left for seconds.

These are just some of the gifts. After the feast, Josh and I settled into the designated chairs (lemonade on hand for my powerful thirst) and got started.

Oliver is going to be a well-dressed little man.

*Zach's (Josh's brother's) girlfriend, Tina: navy Polo onesie, a Polo shirt, Polo khaki shorts, and sporty socks.

*Grammy and Grampy: tiny red high tops, turtle onesies, a monkey outfit, and several little funny phrase body suits.

*Sarah and her boyfriend, Adam: "muscles" octopus onesie, Mickey onesie, and rock and roll themed socks.

*Hannah, Josh's cousin: navy onesie with leggings.

*Judy (Josh's aunt) and her son, Caleb: sock set, fall color and monkey-themed onesies with leggings, and tiny monkey sandals all in that cute Dr. Seuss bag.

*Zach: tiny Nike hat.

Oliver will have warm little feet. The clothes range from newborn to nine months, so he'll be set for a while! I have a lot of tiny laundry to do, and I can't wait to organize the clothes by size in the wardrobe drawers.

(Image: http://www.topit.me/item/901379)

He also got some fun little bits and totally necessary items.

*Grammy and Grampy: Pooh teething ring, rubber duckie, baby lotion, and four packages of diapers in various sizes (one N, two 1, and one 2). 

*Marmee and Papa: super fancy breast pump (I was so scared no one would buy this since it's very expensive and very awkward...cue Mama! I had Josh open this. Now, I can feed my baby after I go back to work), bra pads, milk storage and freezing containers, and a set of five bottles. A surprise: the adorable Twilight Turtle! He projects stars onto the ceiling. Josh and I had swooned over him in a magazine and then saw him with Mom at Target. She remembered! She also found something astonishing at Michaels: little items (tiny tissue box, emery boards, notepad, and cards) with a new Mary Engelbreit design of a curly-headed baby boy riding a seahorse. "It's Oliver," she said. It absolutely is, and we nearly died of the cuteness. We also must find every available product with the image. See him here.

(Image: http://www.cloudb.com/ssandf/turtle.html)

*Katie, Josh's cousin: a pre-decorated photo scrapbook. All we have to do is slip in the photos! That will be easy for the bleary days, weeks, and months following our little prince's arrival.

*Rachel, Josh's cousin: a precious plush baby Tigger.

*Grandpa and Patty (Greg's dad and his wife): a beautiful black and white high chair which will look so nice with the black table and chairs.

*Sarah and Adam: a blue baby tub, complete with bath toys and a thermometer. Squeal.

*Grandmom and Granddaddy (Susan's parents): the convertible carseat Oliver will use until he weighs 65 pounds and moves to a booster.

*Grammy and Grampy: a super play yard with a bassinet and changing station. This will be beside our bed and will be Oliver's sleeping spot until I return to work (or later, depending on his daddy's cooperation). It has little bees on it.

So we can now feed, dress, transport, change, bathe, and tuck in (not literally, of course) our baby. Basically all the big items are set except the crib mattress and bedding. The other most important items are the nursing pillow, the Boppy, the diaper...disposer?, the monitor, the bottle sterilizer (that no dishwasher issue makes it important!), and the adorable Puj, which makes bathing tiny babies in the sink easy (Josh keeps saying "But what about the Puj?? We need it!" I think the adorable baby on the product page and the fact that the word is so fun to say may contribute to his anxiety. We're probably saying it wrong anyway). I also want to make sure we have a coat for Oliver since he'll be just a few months old when the cold settles in (I registered for this one). But thanks to our incredibly generous family, we've reached the point that we have very few "There's no way we could ever buy that" absolute necessities. Isn't the number of items a tiny creature needs amazing? And that's not counting all the fun or convenient bits like swings and doorway jumpers.

Mom is planning the Charlotte shower with church friends for the end of next month. I'm amazed at how much people (and how many people) want to support us and welcome our baby. Now, I just need to go to Target and get some of those achingly cute baby shower thank you cards I've always wanted to buy because they were so clearly baby shower, and I thought I'd never have a baby shower.

(Image: http://lapetitefleurdelondres.blogspot.com/2011/04/biscuiteers.html)

Maternity Fairy Clothes: Mini Sequin Mama.

Baby shower garb: how can one now-oddly-shaped girl pull off cute, semi-dressy, stylish, and, well, at least a little hot? Cue those leggings my mom got me for my birthday and the awesome tank top I sale-stalked for months before finally ordering.

(Josh requested sass.)

This little sculpture is in Greg and Susan's front yard, and it's utterly precious. It reminds me of Josh reading illustrated fairy tales to me as I incessantly point out details. Oooh, look at her dress! There is the golden branch!

I don't call my sort of "count your blessings" posts "Mini Sequins" because of this tank top, but the parallel is interesting.

I bought this headband when I first got my pixie cut. The earrings are probably my favorite pair right now. I wear them when I feel like, "So? I feel great, and I'm wearing these huge purple earrings with rhinestones AND beads whether all ya'll like it or not" (but really, how could anyone not like it?).

Speaking of sequins, how about $13, absurdly comfortable flats?

I think I've expressed my gratitude for this ring before. It is the perfect giant ring for me. It's normally a little big, but thanks to a bit of swelling (which is visible here), it fits just right. I designed this tattoo for Josh--it's one of my blown glass pens with Amy Brown fairy wings. Luna is his sort of magic name for me.

Maternity Tank Top: Motherhood

Maternity Leggings: Pea in the Pod

Flats: Shoe Show

Headband: The Icing

Earrings: Ann Taylor Loft

Ring: Target

Baby Dreams.

 (Image: http://alexa23.tumblr.com/post/5747227515)

My mother-in-law, Grammy-in-waiting, brought giant boxes when she and Grampy came to help us move: our white convertible crib from them and a infant carseat and stroller from Oliver's great grandparents! Apparently, these aren't even shower gifts! We'll have actual furniture in our home and cars for this boy.

My first shower is coming soon! My mom is going to buy me the breast pump, and I'm very relieved about this. I was afraid no one would buy it since it's very expensive and just weird...but it's so essential! I've continued registry-creeping (if you're curious or just like looking at cute baby stuff, you can creep our registry too, here and here) , and someone has bought the little blue baby bathtub and the elegant black and white highchair. Someone also bought the combination play yard/bassinet. I'm very excited about the later as it will be Oliver's first bed. He'll probably be there at least for the three weeks of my maternity leave. I have space for the bassinet on my side of the bed (just barely) next to the bookshelf that holds my journals. My breathing hope sleeping beside my paper hopes.

 (Image: http://www.imonline.nl/get_page.php?username=Solitae&page=2)

I loved this text message from my dear friend Melissa: "Just for the record - diaper cupcakes = big fail!! Ah well, it's the thought that counts! :) Poor Rhys is surrounded by diapers, rubber bands & assorted Oliver gifts!"

Melissa's son (who will be just six months older than Oliver!) tends to be the crafts and projects helper. I certainly feel happy about any cupcake thoughts, including (and perhaps especially) those made of diapers. I can't fathom trying this kind of project, though. At the shower I attended at work, someone had made a diaper bicycle. The diapers were the wheels, and rattles and rolled up onesies and socks made the frame and handles. My gifts weren't nearly as creative or adorable, but they were useful and had ribbons and stork stickers!

My mom received her invitation to the shower a while back. It has zoo animals (including a giraffe!) and is appropriately glittery. I've never been much of a wedding (although, Sarah's post Flashback Friday: Little Details of the American Wedding on The Making of a Mrs. did give me pause), party, or event person, so it's funny that I'm so giddy about a baby shower. Of course, we need so much, but I'm excited about the event itself. I have to make sure that I take (or someone takes) photos of everything. I want to remember all the ribbon-y cuteness.

Every morning and night now, Josh lays his head on my stomach and talks to Oliver. Oliver responds wildly, kicking his daddy in the face. I wish I could record all those conversations--sweet, silly, or wise. Josh has even heard Oliver's heartbeat a couple of times this way.

Yesterday, Josh and I installed the infant carseat in my car and put the wheels on the stroller. Our living room didn't have space for the huge box, and I like knowing that the carseat is ready to go even though we hope we put it in far too early. When Josh put the stroller in my trunk, I just stood there staring at it. Josh said, "We're going to have a baby."

 (Image: http://favim.com/image/62918/)

Oliver will come to use when the leaves are turning and fluttering and the world smells of campfires, pumpkins, and marshmallows...when everyone is unpacking their sweaters and starting to anticipate hot chocolate in thick mugs. I imagine finding him, a tiny fairy boy with orange leaf wings, perched outside my window. Of course, his entrance won't be so peaceful, but I'll still think of him that way and do my best to give him a cozy, cinnamon-scented life.

(Image: http://justalittlebitlouder.tumblr.com/page/2)