Spending the day hibernating during the October snow: french toast, cleaning the house, laundry, posting on blog twice.

On left: snow fall at 10am. On right: snow fall at 5pm.

For some perspective: Josh’s buried Mercedes

A clean house warrants finished-flooring photos:

Again, some perspective.  On top: house before.  On bottom: house after.

Finally suitable for bringing home baby.  Hopefully sooner than later.  Speaking of pregnancy, as I am now officially “term” (aka uncomfortable and ready to be finished), I’ll share with you a list of items that helped make the past 9.5 months grand:

–These Prana pants.  Not maternity but roomy, stylish and comfortable enough to wear throughout my entire pregnancy.  Featured in nearly half of my baby-gress photos.

-Swimming.  Or just being in the swimming pool.

-Sonic cherry lemonaides

-Body pillow.  Nothing fancy.

-Belly lotions and butters.  Favorites are from Reviva and Burts Bees.

-Naps.

-Walking Hallie nearly daily.

–Belly band.  This saved me a lot of money on maternity clothing.  I was able to continue wearing most of my pre-pregnancy shirts and pants with the help of this ingenious item.

-Weekly belly pictures!

-Books such as: The Expectant Father, Mayo Clinics Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, The Birth Partner, etc.

-Taking a “babymoon” trip around 6-7 months.

-Getting help with the nursery.

-Regular massages!

-A sweet and thoughtful husband.

My Golden Birthday:

Yesterday I told Josh that it was my Golden birthday.  He looked at me, confused, and asked with some level of urgency, “Because you’re having the baby?”

I turned 27 on the 27th.

It was a lovely day of relaxing and enjoying.  Warm drinks, adorable new shoes, quiet time in the book store, new camera (thanks mom and dad!).  We used a gift certificate and bought baby’s first jacket (thanks Lynn!).

And, of course, we enjoyed some birthday pumpkin pie (thanks mama and papa!) and a movie (thanks Amy and Chris!).

And finally, a birthday snow storm.

The snow is still falling and we’re lucky enough to both stay home today and hibernate.

 

 

Josh and I had to have an important discussion about the importance of “nesting” to a woman whose gestation is nearing 9 months.  About how it can affect gestating women emotionally, physically, hormonally, etc. and so forth.  If you remember back to July 2009, shortly after we became home-owners, we ambitiously set about to replace the first-level flooring with bamboo-floors.  Josh did an amazing job pulling up the carpet and laying down the bamboo in our living room:

And then we had a string of fun summer house guests.  And then school started up for the semester.  Unfortunately his floor-laying momentum waned and we have been left with this:

Oak in the kitchen and bamboo in the living room separated by a particularly decorative line of underlying particle board.  Which, in my gestational opinion, is not suitable for bringing-baby-home.

Luckily Josh heard my nesting cries for help and our floors are being finished this week!  I’m looking forward to sharing the after pictures with you (and baby).

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Today the Colorado-cold subsided and the sun returned.  Hallie and I wasted no time indoors.  A little insight:  Hallie has a fairly predictable spectrum of excitement.

Level 1: I’m getting a treat excitement

Level 2: I’m riding in the car excitement

Level 3: You’ve just arrived home excitement

Level 4: We’re playing hide-and-seek excitement

Level 5: We’re going to Standley Lake excitement

And, in general, Standley Lake excitement is difficult to top.  She loves to run as fast as she can, dig in the sand, be chased and collect as much sand as possible on her tongue.

Today, Hallie managed to surpass Level 5.  With the discovery of an old, sandy tennis ball on her beloved beach, all of her puppy hopes, dreams and ambitions collided into the most perfect moment of her young life.

I’m just glad I was there with her in that moment to experience the warm sun, cool air, beautiful mountains and the small joys of a funny dog.

Tonight, however, Hallie isn’t doing so well.  She’s limping around the house with a hurt paw and shaking like she has the chills.

Too much excitement for one dog in one day.  Swollen paw and all, she’s still willing to take a belly-rub when she can get one.

Signs that a safe recovery may be in the near future.

Josh has started interviewing for jobs.  He finishes grad school in December!  He likes to take baby-belly pictures in his suit post-interview.  Who wouldn’t want to hire this guy?

Autumn colors and weather have arrived.  We’re been outdoors enjoying it.

Josh walks while I waddle around the neighborhood.  Hallie is always glad to accompany.

I’m realizing what a challenge it will be to raise a boy with this man: (adventure is never far)

This autumn in Colorado has also brought rain and some snow.  I’ve enjoyed quiet afternoons by the fire, arranging baby things and preparing as best I can.

Week 35: Feeling large and uncomfortable.  Wondering what this baby looks like.

Maternity pictures by Shannon at Locke Innovations:

HERE