Home Stretch

I can’t believe we’re already in the home stretch -- 7 weeks to go! We’re still preparing for baby’s arrival. There are quite a few things that still need to be done, including setting up the baby’s room, selecting a physician, GIVING HER A NAME, etc. We also have yet to start our baby prep classes. We’ll be spending almost every Saturday in the month of November at the hospital learning about baby basics, breastfeeding, Lamaze, etc.

I’m excited to have our baby with us, but have to admit it’s still a little scary to think we’ll be parents and our lives are going to drastically change. I guess what makes it scary is that we don’t know what to expect!

Derek’s cousin had her baby the other day. It was a little thing, just 5 lbs. 10 oz. When I saw the pictures of the baby, I thought to myself, “Wow, that’s what’s inside me!” (this pregnancy thing is still a bit surreal). I think about our God, the amazing Creator. He has fearfully and wonderfully made this little baby and he has allowed me to carry her in my sinful and broken body. I am so humbled by that.

I get a little more uncomfortable each day and good sleep seems to be quickly escaping me. The baby’s jabs are getting stronger and my breathing gets more difficult. I get really warm while sleeping and the leg cramps are severe enough where I have to get out of bed to walk it off to relieve the pain. Not fun at 2 am!

As excited as I am for our baby’s arrival, I can’t help but to think of the things I’ll be able to regain or do once she is born. As I was tossing and turning one night, taking the usual one hour to fall asleep, I listed in my head the top things I want to do once the baby is born.

• Eat sushi. Lots of sushi.
• Sleep on my back…and without a pillow
• Lie on my stomach to read, write, watch TV, etc.
• Hug my husband without my belly getting squished
• Be able to close the kitchen window
• Put on my shoes without getting out of breath
• Be done with my daily prenatal horse pill vitamins
• Be able to carry things in front of me
• Wear a fitted shirt (though it may take awhile for me to get back to those!)
• Go on a motorcycle ride with Derek

At 33 weeks, the baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening.

Our Baby Shower

We were showered with so much love. About 25 of our friends came to celebrate with us with good food, games and gifts. My oldest sister hosted the shower and she made a huge brunch spread. Everything was amazing! Our friend Peter generously opened his beautiful home to us and God provided the perfect weather.

After brunch we played a few games. The first game was to guess the size of my baby bump. There were three women (two who are pregnant) who were extremely close. The winner had the exact length. It was quite impressive. Not so impressive was how off some of the men were! They claimed they were guessing what I would be at 9 months -- it was pretty funny! We also tested everyone's memory (recall the baby items on the buffet table) and their knowledge of nursery rhymes. Lastly, we played bingo. Each gift was assigned a number. As the gifts were opened, numbers were called out and people tried to win bingo.

We had a great time and we think all of our guests did too -- even the men! We tried to make the event a party with just a hint of it being a shower so that Derek and his friends could be a part of the celebration as well.

We came home with a car full of gifts that have put us well off to a good start. We are almost ready for the arrival of baby Robinson, or often referred to as Baby Girl, Little Bubble, and Dereka.

Getting ready for the guests to arrive.

Derek, my sister Julie and I

Julie and her creations.

I wanted to bake something, so I made some cupcakes with buttons on top.

Getting ready to eat

Game time

Friends from work

Friends from church

Decorated shortbread cookies I made for each guest

A Good Laugh

I had such a good laugh today. I haven't had one of those in awhile. We were at the most unexpected place for a gut wrenching laugh -- the Maternity Open House for Mission Hospital.

It was a pretty nice Open House. They had finger sandwiches, fancy desserts, fruit, lemonade and coffee. They also had a bunch of vendors that donated prizes for a raffle. As we sat through the program, we heard about the hopsital's offerings, capabilities, and got a virtual tour of the maternity ward...blah, blah, blah.

While sitting through the presentation, Derek's friend was also at a maternity-related meeting, but his was about breastfeeding. He was hurting. As his text messages indicated, he could use a little sympathy and Daddy-to-be support. Derek dutifully answered the call to encourage by responding with text messages of how great of a time we were having. Derek told him about the great food and "game" we were playing -- Wheel of Mission Hospital (aka a raffle in a Wheel of Fortune format). It was hilarious. Then we actually won a prize... a $25 gift certificate to Super Suppers! To pour salt on the wound, and to make his point, Derek sent the picture below to his friend. Look what a great time Derek is having! We were laughing so hard after we took that photo. Derek was in tears.