Don't Ask...

If you do I might bite your head off (just ask my mom ;). Yes, the baby is still inside. No, I haven't really had any meaningful contractions...no more than usual...nothing worth timing. I must make one good incubator--first Alix won't come out and now Lou-lu. Here is an eviction notice to little Lou-lu...

Dear Baby Lou-lu,

I am issuing 2 day notice for EVICTION. You will have 2 days in which to gather your belongings and promptly vacate the premises. After which, you will be physically removed from the property.

You are being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the FRONT of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made!

Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. And due to property damage, there are now leaks in both the upper AND lower levels of the home. On top of which, the landlord has received numerous complaints about nightly disturbances.

You are also exceeding your rental agreement and are thereby creating double occupancy in a single unit rental dwelling. This is not allowed.

After 2 days, if you do not comply with the notice, it will result in immediate and forceful removal at my discretion. Please gather your placenta and leave!!!

Sincerely,
Your landlord and mother

See you on July 2nd...with my baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

almost 40 week update

I had my last appt. at the doctor today!! I got to hang out with my favorite nurse, Sue, and she let me know that I was almost 2cm dilated and about 50% effaced. She said she could feel little Lou-lu's head so it was down nice and low...no doubt about that as Lou-lu has been head-butting my cervix (and painfully so) for the past couple of days. We are all set for induction next Wednesday morning... unless Lou-lu decides to grace us with his/her presence sometime before then (I'm not holding my breath on that though since I haven't had many contractions at all.) I will eat some spicy chinese food tonight nonetheless...it can't hurt, right?! Other than that I think it's just chillin' at home as Steve, Alix and I enjoy our last weekend without a baby in the house. It's hard to imagine that in no more than 4 short days our lives will change forever...after 10 long months of waiting, it sure seems surreal to think that there will be an end, and a baby here in the house, so soon...YIKES!!

Crafty Girls...Ha!

Here are the much awaited (I'm sure ;) glove animals that Alix and I made. We learned a thing or two along the way and no doubt if there were ever to be a "next time" (which there will not be) then they'd turn out much better ;) Oh well...they were made with love! Alix has named hers Finn and mine will lovingly be called Lou-lu, so when we call the baby an actual name the nickname will live on.

So today...

Lou-lu is still inside...damn him/her! I think I'll really freak out if s/he comes before the Second of JUly. I just don't feel like anything is going on that would give me an inkling that labor is anywhere in my future...although I did bake Chocolate Chunk cookies yesterday--from scratch! That has to be some sort of nesting thing, right?! Alix actually laughed when she came home and I told her. She couldn't believe that I would do such a thing...hmmm, I guess I don't bake much ;)

Today to keep busy...Alix and I went to Lake Nokomis this morning. She rollerbladed (ummm...I don't know what's gotten into her either...usually I have to beg her to do anything active with me) and and Dino and I walked along. It is a gorgeous summer day here and we were all happy as could be just laying under a tree after the fun. We also finally got to our glove animals started (Alix ditched me for a friend yesterday). We have completed the bottom half...they are proving that we are definitely NOT crafty, but it is keeping us busy ;)

7 more days until induction (well, if you don't count today or the induction day...which of course I don't ;)

Celebrating One Glorious Year! (and Lou-lu update)

Who knew that a year could fly by so fast and be so wonderful?! Steve and I celebrated our one year anniversary this past weekend!! We had a wonderful dinner outside under the trees at WA Frost and enjoyed one last evening to ourselves before our life gets even busier with the arrival of little Lou-lu. Honestly, this has been the best year of my life...and I owe it all to the wonderful new family Alix,Steve, Lou-lu and I have created together. I feel so truly blessed and I don't think any words I could write could accurately portray my emotions as I think back over the past year and look forward to the next one...two...three...hundred!! Thank you Steve for being my best friend, my partner, my lover, my confidant... my everything!

Lou-lu update: Not much to update...week 39 is upon us and I have made a list of things to do everyday to keep myself busy. Today I've walked 3 miles, am going to the grocery store, and Alix and I are making glove animals that we saw on Martha Stewart. I'll have to post our crafty results...should be quite a sight since Alix and I are not at all crafty!! Lou-lu shows no signs of wanting to come out early...and although it was nice of her/him to wait and let Steve and I celebrate our first anniversary together (and alone)...and I guess I'll live through 8 more days (at most)...it sure would be nice if s/he decided to surprise me and prove me wrong--if s/he has any Bellus in her/him then a challenge may be all it takes to get some action ;)

Apparently my baby wants to come out as...

an adult! Almost 39week appointment today, and I got the dreaded, "no progress" from the doc (still 1cm). Can't say I'm surprised...why wouldn't Lou-lu want to hang out with me as long as possible ;) Anyway, it seems as if my uterus is pretty darned comfy b/c Alix was late and this one isn't looking to come out anytime soon. At least induction is scheduled so that there is still an end in sight. And so the waiting game continues...only 12 days left until the little one shows up, whether s/he's ready or not!

Misc. doodads

Steve's parents were kind enough to get us a wonderful baby swing. I put it together and set it out in the living room...only to walk out the next morning and find Honey curled up inside it...so cute!!



A new paver patio is on the way at the end of the month, but you know how once you add a new couch you decide that the paint doesn't really go, or you need a new chair to match the new couch? Well, I decided that a new patio is no good if you have to sit and look at your neighbors house/landscaping (which leaves a little to be desired). So...Steve and my dad went to work at the privacy screen that will not only hopefully look great, but also give both the neighbor and us a little privacy. We will have to wait to finish some of the work until the pavers are in, but I have my posts and it is fun to at least see how big it will be and imagine how it will look in the end! Yeah for progress!!

Tick Tock

Tick Tock...just shy of 38 week update...

Progress is progress, right?! I am now 1cm and the cervix has begun to soften up a bit more, not to mention the baby has dropped a bit lower. All good signs, since with Alix (who was 2weeks late) I never got any of that ;) I don't put too much stock in any of the internal info though, since people can walk around at 3cm for weeks and others go into labor with never having had any progress to speak of. Nonetheless, mentally, minimal progress is easier to hear than no progress. So, for now, I'll keep trying out each and every old wives tale and walk lots in hopes of getting little lou-lu to show up here a little earlier. I don't really have any other way to kill the time anyway. If Lou-lu doesn't arrive by the due date I will be induced on July 2nd. So, if nothing else there is a "for-sure" end in sight. I'm sure time will fly by between now and then...HA!

On a less happy note...I tested positive for Strep B. I know the majority of newborns are born healthy with the help of antibiotics (to me) during labor, but it is scarey to think about nonetheless (can result in meningitis, kidney problems, sepsis, etc in babies). My doctor told me not to wait too long before coming to the hospital so they can be sure to get at least one round of antibiotics in my system before lou-lu make his/her appearance (it takes 4 hours)...so I will now err on the side of caution when the time does arrive. Last time Alix came pretty fast once the contractions started and I don't want to take any chances!!

And so...time goes on...there is little excitement in our lives between now and baby's arrival, so I don't even have much to keep me busy. I guess I'll just take it easy and look forward to each morning I have to sleep in!

Booooooo!Yea!

Boo! to "softening up a bit" and "baby's head is down pretty low" but no real progress dilation-wise. I guess I didn't expect there to be much progress at my 37 week appt...but still a girl can dream, right?! At least Steve can go on his man trip up north without worrying about being called to dad duty. And at least I can be glad that I have a lot to still do before baby arrives (sterilize bottles, wash stuff, buy necessities like wipes, pack a hospital bag, etc) and that I have plenty of time to do it. And at least I have work next Monday/Tuesday to keep me busy until my next appt...after that it's all sitting around with all day to dwell on the fact that I have nothing to keep me busy while I await baby's arrival. I do NOT look forward to that!

How your baby's growing:
Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away.

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.


Did I mention...another Yea for the last day of school with kids!! Life is goooooood! Now 3 more teacher days and true freedom is mine!

Noteworthy News

*Alix has taken of "scrapblogging"...look for her newest creations here :)
*3, 3, 3, count 'em 3 DAYS LEFT OF SCHOOL!!!!
*Next doctor appt. is this week (Thursday afternoon). Not sure I even want to know if I've made any "progress", but with Steve going out of town this weekend (up north 4+ hours with a buddy), I guess I'd better hear the bad news ("no progress") so that he can go without concern that baby Lou-lu might unexpectedly show up and surprise us in his absence.

birhtday pics

alix's scrap blog

alix's scrap blog

Last Friday of the YEAR!!

Woohoo, tomorrow is my last Friday of work (with kids...still have to come next Friday, but work without kids is like...like...like...well, I can't think of the right anology, but it is G-O-O-D!!) Only 5 days left of school with kids...not that I'm counting down or anything :)

7 more days! 33 more days!!

Freedom will come to me in 7 more school days...they can not go by fast enough!!

33 days or so until baby Lou-lu arrives. My back hurts, I can't breathe, sleeping is a chore...ugh...I didn't have any of this with Alix. I guess that's what 11 years difference will do to a body...I am no spring chicken anymore :( If I can just hold on to get my classroom cleaned up and everything stored away then I look forward to having the rest of the time to lay wallowing in my self-misery ;) I so wish I felt at least good enough to go for a walk with the dog, or down to the coffee store. I feel like such a slug. Enough whining...oh, who I am kidding. There is more to come...

Happy Birthday to Alix!

My li'l munchkin turned 11 today!!! We had celebrated Alix's big day with family and friends last week, so most of the fun had already taken place...but we did manage a little "celebrating" today as we enjoyed a quiet day with a nice dinner (spaghetti with Auntie Amy) and a waffle cone from Izzy's for dessert...YUMMY!! I can't believe she has grown so big so fast...she makes me proud each and every day with the young lady she is becoming (and each and every day we work on that "becoming" part...we'll get there though ;) She is a wonderful student, an avid reader, a prolific writer, a caring friend, a creative mind, a fashion diva, and so much more!! She has had to deal with a lot of things in her young 11 years and I admire her for how she has handled it all--it can't be easy for a girl that age to have her life change so many times and in so many ways. I know there are more changes on her horizon and I know she will deal with them well...I can't wait to see her as a big sister (I know she'll be great!) My dream for her is that she will openly share with others her beautiful smile, her amazing sense of humor, and her wonderful gifts, so everyone can enjoy the special girl she is.

Alix's bedding before her birthday present from Mom and Steve

Alix's bedding after


During Alix's sleepover party we went on a "scavenger hunt" at the mall. The kids were given a list of fun things to find/do while at the mall and for each they accomplished they earned points. This is the girls at Sephora with their eyeshadow on (can you see it? ;) getting ready to walk like they're on a runway.

Here are the girls in line at Caribou...ready to ask for a glass of "diet-water". The girl at the counter politely said, we don't carry that and smiled as the girls ran away.


Friends at the sleepover...they had such a good time playing games, watching movies, making pizza and crafts, not to mention dancing and shooting "commercials" with the video camera.


Alix blowing out her candles

18 days...18 days...18 days...

18 days...18 days...18 days...18 days...18 days...18 days...18 days...18 days...This is what I keep repeating to myself as I struggle through one more day of kids...only 18 days left and it will be summer!!! 18 days...18 days...18 days...18 days...18 days...I CAN NOT wait. I have been super wiped out lately...energy is gone...and I am ready for a little less energy to be spent on solving 10 year olds' problems and more trying to get ready for Lou-lu's arrival!

A bored Dino is an organized Dino.

Alix and I were upstairs cleaning and came down to quite a sight. Dino had taken about 12 socks (his favorite play toy) and had spread them out... evenly, in a straight line, leading from the dining room into the kitchen and ending with his second favorite toy...his frisbee. It was quite amazing really. He is such a talented doggie ;)

Dino-boy's sock trail!

My Handsome Sweetie Rocks!

Steve ran his first 1/2 marathon today (Sunday May,4) around Lake Minnetonka. I wish I could've seen more of his effort, but it's so hard when he zips right by...and when I am too directionally challenged to get anywhere beside the start and finish lines. Dino and I saw him off though, and were there to greet him to the finish line about 1:53 later. He did so AWESOME!!! Honestly I'm a little jealous b/c I think my one and only 1/2 marathon attempt (at Grandma's a few years ago) was slower than his *pout*. To think...a couple of years ago he couldn't keep up on 3 mile runs, and now he's outrunning me. Oh well, luckily there are SO MANY other things I am still better at than him ;) Truly though, I am SO proud of him and his accomplishment!! Yea Steve!!

Shower--It's raining books!!!!!!!!!!

My wonderful teammates at school were kind enough to take their time and energy to throw me a beautiful and amazing baby shower. They opened their home and hearts to me after knowing me for just this short amount of time and it was very special! Being a teacher, they decided to shower me with books and now my book shelf is overflowing with wonderful stories. I can not wait to have my little one in my arms and sit with him/her and share these wonderful books as we snuggle together! I was thrilled by the variety of fun new books and good ol' standbys along with the generous other gifts that came along with them all--check out those precious spit rags that my friend Bridget made...and then there's the cute tote that Meegan made to match my room...damn, I need to learn to be crafty ;) I had a wonderful afternoon. It's been wonderful the way that the folks at Pullman have welcomed me into their school with open arms. I am thrilled that I am able to be back for at least one more year!

Love those beautiful flowers left over from the shower...sure look good in the baby's room!



books, books and more books!

cutest burp clothes ever...too cute for spit!

And this adorable tote...with these cute sayings...too cute!!