Books for Baby B???

So about a month ago, we got a random package in the mail from Target. It had the Spanish version of "Where the Wild Things Are" in it. We had no idea who it was from, but didn't really think much about it. Well today, Baby B got two more books in the mail from Target as you can see in the picture above. Again, no note to indicate who they are from. So I'm thinking Baby B has a secret admirer...anyone want to claim this title???

Our Baby Shower

This past Saturday night, our dear friends Steve and Judie hosted a baby shower for us. So many of our family and friends were able to make it in from out of town and we were also surrounded by our good friends from Victoria. We had a blast!

Here are our hosts, Judie and Steve.
Guests mingling at the shower. It was such a nice night out.

Emma, Kim, Caren and Brian's mom Peggy

Joanna, Beth, me, Benjamin and Kristi

Eli, Eddie, Erich and Brian (geez, that is is a lot of E's!)

Jennifer, Vanessa, Ann (baby due on Christmas!) and Tanya

Shower Pics

This was a game where everyone had to make Baby B out of playdough. Brian's mom got our vote for the best!
Benjamin fell asleep on his Grandma's lap. His grandma is Bev, my second mother growing up (Kristi's mom).

Nick sent these awesome Mizzou onesies. Grandpa Thomson will be proud of Baby B.

These awesome Penn State and Pitt quilts were given to us by Brian's law partner, Brian and his family. His mother hand quilted them.

This is the quilt that Kristi made. So soft and cute! And by Brian's feet, you can see the Tummy Tub from our friends Rachel and Spencer. They say it is a life saver with their newborn Eliza.

More Shower Pics

The cake...it was yummy and it matched the plates and napkins!
Joanna (my sister) and Beth (my co-op roomie and bridesmaid from Atlanta)

Kristi (my best friend since 1st grade who now lives in New Mexico) and Benjamin (her little one - 18 months old) The boys playing a game. The goal was to get as much silly string as possible in the potty seat.

Eddie won and got to wear this lovely outfit!

34 Week Appointment (Breech?)

Today we had our 34 week appointment. Dr. Seiler delivered 6 babies today and we still got in there within an hour! Overall, things are going well. We did ask her to feel around and tell us where the various body parts were. By feeling, she thinks the head is on my upper right side, meaning Baby B is breech. So...we have an ultrasound next appointment (November 4th) to see what's going on. No big deal to us either way.

This past Saturday, Brian and I attend "Prepared Childbirth" class at the hospital. We got to see the labor and delivery rooms, nursery, etc. Some of the videos they showed were pretty graphic and I think Brian is scarred for life. (He actually will probably admit to most people that he is an advocate of the C-section and almost hopes that the baby is breech.) They also cover basic newborn care stuff, which we've read, but it was good to have repeated. On Sunday, we quizzed each other on how to bathe a newborn and how to take care of the umbilical cord. We also diapered our stuffed monkey and then strapped him in the car seat. After sharing this with my mom, she decided that we're either really strange or really excited. I'd say probably a little of both of those but we're also really nervous.

Maybe Baby B wasn't a good nickname...but now we have a tongue twister. Baby B is Breech...say that 5 times fast! More news on the "breechness" in a couple of weeks.

The One Person Who Ages Me...

I've come to realize that until you have kids, there is really no person in your life who ages you. Your parents seem to stay the same in relation to you, your siblings and your friends as well. You all go through the same experiences around the same time such as college, getting married and having babies.

Anyway, there is one person in my life who really ages me and makes me feel old. Eric is the little boy that I would baby sit every evening from the time he was 9 months old until he started kindergarten. Well, he's not so little any more. He's 6 foot tall (at least!), 18 years old and a senior in high school. I remember walking around that first summer, him holding on to my fingers while he was learning to walk. Check out this recent picture that my dad sent to me today...Warning: Greentree Girls - this will make you feel old too!:
http://www.ncnewsmedia.com/archive/2009/Homecoming_Galleries/Neshannock/image8.htm

Baby Shower at Work

I've had the privilege to work in three great plants during my 8 years at Dow. Today, the two plants that I've worked in at Seadrift had a baby shower for me! It was a lot of fun. Thanks to all the Catalyst gals for their work today to put it together and a special thanks to my friend Melissa for organizing and planning the shower! Here are some pictures from the festivities. As you can see, we got lots of things that will help us tremendously once Baby B is born. Thanks to everyone for their generous gifts. I seriously don't think we'll have to buy baby soap or lotion for a year or more!


Diaper Genie - this generated a lot of conversation amongst the males in the room...
Playing the toilet paper game. You wouldn't believe it but two guys got it almost exactly - Steph and Mike!
Tom, Heather & Nelda

Christi, Kendra, Retha & Maria

Troy, Ismael, Russ & Christian

More Pictures from Shower at Work

Tommy, John, Heather & Steve
Joni, Steph, Kendra & Retha

Tommy, Russ & Steve (In case you didn't realize it and couldn't tell from the pictures...I work in a very male dominated environment!)

Here is the amazing diaper cake that the Catalyst plant gave to me...Melissa made it! Check out all the goodies on it!

Here's the yummy cake!

Chili Cook Off

The Chili Cook Off, which is an annual event at the Seadrift site to kick off the United Way campaign, was last Thursday. It was hot, hot, hot but luckily there was quite a breeze. The Chili Cook Off is a huge deal at work - there were over 30 teams from different organizations and plants at the site participating. It is always a lot of fun - dunking booths, pie throwing, auctions, good food and great friends.

Here is a picture that the people at work think is hilarious since it is just my belly. We're hanging up the sign for our plant's team. The other body in the picture is Lane, one of the Emergency Directors on site. He was one of the cooks for my plant's team. (By the way, I don't think I have any tan at all!)

32 Week Appointment

Gosh hard to believe Baby B will be here in about 7 weeks give or take! We had our 32 week appointment today. We had to wait over an hour to see the doctor, but we won't complain since this was really the first time we had to wait for a long time the last 7 months. The doctor took all of 3 minutes. Baby B's heart rate was 129 bpm and my measurement was normal. My blood pressure is still really low and weight gain is at 26 lbs. Kinda nice to be boring after the first 18 weeks!

Trip to Hill Country

This weekend, Brian and I took one last weekend trip before Baby B's arrival. We decided to to go Horseshoe Bay which is north of Austin in an area of Texas called Hill Country. We seem to pick really bad weekends to go to Horseshoe Bay...when we went a few years ago for Easter, it rained all weekend. Same experience this time. We still had a good time. Lots of good food including 2 breakfasts at Blue Bonnet Cafe, home of the best breakfast in Texas, and a nice dinner last night at Lantana Grill, the restaurant at the resort (Brian took the picture of me with my belly in my dress after dinner last night). We spent the day yesterday in Fredricksburg exploring the shops and taking in Octoberfest.


32 weeks! Only 8 more to go!!!

Auntie Brooke & Uncle Brian Again!

We have a new nephew! Jayden Christopher was born yesterday October 3rd and 3:33 pm. He weighed 7 lbs 1 oz and was 20 inches long. Congrats Jenn, Chris and Cole! We can't wait to Skype to see the little dude!