due date: today.

My dad made this cradle when he and my mom were expecting my brother. I am so excited to get to use it! Doesn't it look empty without a baby to fill it? We're going to work on that this week.


READY FOR BABY CHECK LIST:
-Tiny baby clothes, boy and girl, washed in dreft. Check.
-Suitcase packed with gorp and a nursing gown. Check.
-Music picked out: Pride and Prejudice soundtrack and some Yanni. Check.
-Big camera, little camera and Flip cam batteries charged and memory cards cleared. Check.
-First and middle names chosen and adored for girl and boy. Check.
-Eating spicy foods. Check. And cream cheese wantons. Check.
-Literally ripping out of my clothes due to large size (wantons?). Check.
-Baby in my arms. Soon. It has got to be soon.

big and ready

Today as I was stepping into the car on our way to church, the slit in the back of my jean skirt ripped all the way up to my undies. I yelped, said, "Oh my goodness!" and reached back to see how far it had ripped.

Rory freaked out.

Rory: "What?!! What?!! What's wrong?"

Becca: "My skirt just ripped. Look at this!"
(we met behind the car) Can I still wear it?"

Rory: "No. You definitely have to change. But you cannot yell an exclamation and grab between your legs. I thought your water had broken. If you're going to yell you have to yell what exactly you are yelling about. Immediately."

Ha! He thought I was going into labor. We're both feeling quite ready.

passing the time

When you're this pregnant it is hard to know how to plan your days. You must have things planned or you'll go crazy. But each event planned has to be something that sounds like a lovely way to spend your little bit of energy, and each event has to be flexible upon babies arrival.

Insert days at the lake. I've been out to Rory's folks three times in the last ten days. Perfect. Even went swimming on Monday night. Thought that might help get things rolling, but it did not. Yesterday we celebrated my sweet niece turning five with all of her church friends and their families and on Monday night Lisa treated us ladies to a dinner cruise, complete with chicken pasta salad, decorations she had whipped up that day (the pennant), dark chocolate cake and iced coffee. Lisa does nothing half way.

The picture below is evidence that I did in fact get in the water off of the pontoon. And more importantly, the picture below that is evidence that I got myself back in the pontoon after the swim. No small feat. :)

Bubby BowWow

I have a strong feeling I'm having a little boy. This is based on absolutely nothing...I have had many phases of being convinced it is a girl. But for some reason, the closer we get, the more I think I will be utterly shocked if it is a girl.

We have our first and middle name chosen for a girl, set in stone. And we have our boys first name as well. But we are completely stumped for a middle name.

We brought the issue to Ivar a few weeks ago at the dinner table. We asked him, "Ivar, if you have little brother, what should his middle name be?" And he replied confidently and with volume, "Bubby BowWow."

So sometimes we refer to the baby as Bubby BowWow.

This week we have been spending a lot of our time down at the creek, throwing rocks and sticks in the water and watching the dogs, bikes and airplanes pass by. We've essentially discovered that the creek is the best babysitter ever. Ivar is completely entertained and we can sit in our camping chairs and take in the nice day with an occupied son.

And when I watch Ivar, so busy gathering tiny rocks to throw in the moving water, it makes me so excited for the brother or sister he has coming, who will join him in his adventures.

due in five days...

...and here's what I'm thinking:

*There was a sweet innocence and excitement about going into labor with baby #1. Now I know better. And I remember it all. And even though I am so excited for the baby to be here, I am really not excited about the painful process that takes place in the hours before the baby is born.

*In my wishful head, I had hoped the baby would come early so that we could have some down time before the moving day. I am now realizing wishful thinking is not very helpful because this baby will come when it wants to. And that might be a week late. And I'll just have to roll with that.

*Ivar has been especially snuggly lately and I love it. I wonder how aware he is of all the changes that are happening around him. He rests his head on my shoulder, needs lots and lots of attention and affection and is very concerned if Rory and I are out of his sight. He also gives my belly lots of hugs and rocks the cradle while repeating, "baby. baby."

*I am so glad we are pulling off this baby-and-a-move-craziness with baby #2. It would have been too much with baby #1, with how much I needed to be set up and prepared. With this baby, I am fully aware that a cradle, diapers and a few outfits will be plenty for baby until we can get settled into the new house.