Snow Days...

I knew it would happen eventually.  There is simply no way we could escape a winter in Iowa without one or two snow days.  Last year at this time, the talk was that we'd be in school until July due to all the snow days; this year, well, today was our first blizzard.

With thirty different states impacted, the weather gods are saying this could be one of the biggest storms in history.  Chicago is gearing up for two feet of snow.  We are fortunately on the brink of the storm and are projected to get about eight inches.  A near foot of the powdery stuff, mixed with 45 mph. winds calls for total hibernation.

I love snow days and especially love them more now that I have a Cruz to snuggle with.  I love the feeling of being 'stuck,' even though in all reality, we're about a block from Hy-Vee.  I love watching the wind blow outside, and picturing all the family 'snow day' activities happening inside.  Art projects and movie marathons, baking days and coloring books.  Toys rediscovered after weeks in the closet, and pans of mac 'n cheese, spaghettios, and chicken noodle soup on the stovetop. 

I love watching my three neighbor boys tear through the snow outside.  Head to toe in snow gear, they chase their dog through the yard, while doing their best to 'shovel' the driveway before Dad gets home.  Someday, that will be Cruz.  Someday, he will trudge through the snow, pulling a sled behind him, building mountains to climb and cities to rule.  

I love the warmth, the coziness, and the anticipation of school delays and cancellations as they marquee across the TV.  Most of all, I love the free gift of more time...more time for playing, rocking, and staring at every inch of this little face.

Church, Cheese Dip, and a Third-String Quarterback

182 games and only 2 playoffs.  The last time the Bears and Packers played in the post-season was in 1941.  Now, 70 years later, the Bears were looking for their first Superbowl win in 25 years.  And while Jay Cutler decided his knee hurt too bad to finish the NFC Championship game, Caleb Hanie, the Bears' THIRD string QB nearly pulled it off.   

The positives?  We can actually watch the Superbowl with our friends instead of couped up in the house so Beau can 'focus,' and Cruz no longer has to wear his Bears jersey to church for let's see, the 18th Sunday in a row.  How many weeks do I have until baseball season starts???

Much like the Bears game this afternoon, this weekend was filled with a roller coaster of ups and downs.  Cruz woke up Saturday morning with his very first cold.  I found him face first in a puddle of snot-slobber and his little head was so congested.  Poor baby.  He had no idea what was going on, but I could tell he didn't feel like himself.  We spent the majority of Saturday holding him, and I became pretty good at the whole nasal aspirator thing.  He was so sweet, still trying to smile and play, but usually settling for a head on our shoulder instead.  I felt helpless and desperate for my little one most of the day.  

I guess a lot of snuggling and cuddling is the best medicine for a baby's first cold.  By Saturday night, the Cruz Man was starting to act like himself again.  After a warm bath, some fresh pjs, and a snot-free blanket on the floor, Cruz played with his toys and we cooked in the kitchen.  One of my favorites, chicken tetrazzini.  We had a carpet picnic on the living room floor, watched TV in between puppet shows and plastic cup towers, and enjoyed a nice night inside.  

Sunday morning, Cruz once again woke up with a plugged nose and watery eyes.  I thought it seemed like a good idea to stay in, but Beau insisted we head to church.  I think he wanted to pray for his Bears.  

I guess Cruz was as nervous about the game as his father was.  Today was the first morning I had to take him out during the sermon.  Not because he was fussy, though.  He pooped.  Or so I thought.  It ended up being a false alarm, so, as I lugged my baby and baby bag back to our pew (no pun intended), five minutes later, we had the real thing.  This time, however, I made the decision to barrel through the last ten minutes of church with a stinky baby.  Cruz didn't seem to mind a bit; however, his father made quite a scene.  Instead of take part in the last song, Beau decided it was a better idea to make gagging faces at me and stand about two feet away from me and Stinky.  Needless to say, I didn't catch a whole lot of the sermon this morning ;).

After a bottle and more importantly, a fresh diaper, Cruz was ready to party.  Let's just say his game face looked a little bit different than the Bears' starting lineup.   

The first half was far from entertaining for this family.  So, while the offensive line decided not to block and Jay Cutler decided not to play, we decided to make our own fun...
 
We had some tummy time (notice the drool)...

Conversed with the creepy baby face toy during the second quarter...Cruz was mesmerized.

Practiced our touchdown dance...

And took a nap during half-time.  By the time we (Cruz and I) woke up, Cutler was chillin on the sidelines and Todd Collins was getting his first ever field time (we should have kept napping)... 

At least we had cheese dip.

At Wal-Mart yesterday, I came across a pack of Bears napkins.  I couldn't resist, and not only left with the napkins, but groceries for deviled eggs, hamburger cheese dip, bacon wrapped smokies, and ham and swiss slammers.  Sunday's spread was made complete with a couple of Bud Lights, a bag of M&Ms (which were ironically missing the yellow and green ones), and a perfect tailgate feast for two (or twenty).

The Bears couldn't quite get it done, but Cruz was able to see a pretty great and unexpected season football for his first season of life. I guess the best things are worth waiting for!  And Mark and Janet...Cruz sure got some good use out of his little jersey! 

Bring on some warm weather and Chicago Cubs baseball! 

Long Live Long Weekends!

It probably had something to do with my first week back to work, my yearning to rekindle my old Friday night flame of nothing but a pair of sweats, a good movie, and some take-out. It probably had something to do with our new series of professional development at school, learning the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, of how to live and let go, take charge of my life, and get ‘first things’ done first. It probably had something to do with the fact that both Beau and I have felt a little run down this past week, in and out of colds, Kleenexes, and Carmex. And it probably had something to do with Cruz starting day care and being away from him more in five days than I have in the first three months of his life. It was a weekend to stay in, to hibernate, to forget the to-do list and listen to all the new noises Cruz has been making without any interruptions. And with MLK day today, I get an encore.

Cruz has been sleeping through the night since he was five weeks old. I’ve gotten very used to going to bed when he does at 10:30 and waking up when he does at 7:00. Of course, the week I go back to work, Cruz has decided he doesn’t need his typical nine hours of shut-eye. No, this week, he’s been up around 4:30 every morning. So, what do the three of us do at 4:00 in the morning?

We play.

Beau thinks it’s hilarious to unload every single stuffed animal and toy that Cruz owns onto our living room floor, then one by one, place them on top of Cruz after reciting each of their stories in a number of different voiceovers. My personal favorite is the bat/flying squirrel/hippo. It flies over Cruz’s head, telling him of his twisted identity, then dive-bombs onto Cruz's face. And the little man loves every minute of it. I guess he’s making sure he gets lots of family time before we take him to day care.

Saturday night, the three of us went on a date night. We celebrated our first week of ‘real life’ with some steaks at the Texas Roadhouse, and coffees and books at Barnes and Noble. We sipped caramel lattes, read Cruz But not the Hippopotamus, and laughed as he showed off his mad burping skills to the peaceful group of readers at the café. I could’ve stayed there forever. Forever as in go-home-grab-a-pair-of-pajamas-and-sleeping-bag and sleep in a pile next to the cookbooks and self-improvement collection.

Cruz loved Texas Roadhouse. He loved the peanuts and the people, the crowds and the big screens. He loved the middle aged women who made googly-eyes at him, and he especially loved the cute waitresses that played a little hard to get. His car seat fit just perfect in our snug little booth, and he smiled at us as we devoured steaks, sweet potatoes and of course, the famous Roadhouse buns.

How else did we spend this wonderfully long weekend? We stacked plastic towers in between Cruz and a warm fire. We warmed our toes by the space heater, cuddled with Cruz during church, and cheered on a Bears win against the Seahawks. Beau was a lot more relaxed after that! We’re not superstitious people, but when it comes to the Bears and Cruz’s sleeping habits, we become a little voodoo. I am not allowed to talk about the Bears in the Super Bowl for fear I might jinx it, and Beau is not allowed to say anything along the lines of Cruz ‘sleeping well.’

TOUCHDOWN!

Like father, like son.

Today is a day of naps and playtime, books and baths. Watching the snow fall outside and being thankful for a day off, a warm house, and a very cuddly little baby.

Happy Monday!  And more importantly, a short work-week!

First Milestones...

It's hard to believe today is Monday morning, the start of our first full week with Baby Cruz.  Beau is back to work and this is my first afternoon, first moment home alone with my baby boy.  As I sit at the kitchen table, listening to the quiet, I can't help but think how much has changed in one week.  Last week, I was at the doctor, impatiently awaiting my induction, and today, that all seems like weeks ago.  The minute this little life decided to join ours, the rest of the story just kind of melded into place. 

We had a weekend of many milestones with our little Cruz.  I know babies change, grow, and pick up on new things almost every single day, but it's been amazing to see new changes within even a week.  Yesterday, Cruz was awake and alert almost all morning.  He had his eyes open, concentrated on the bright spaces in the house, and was even glued to the TV at various parts of the night.  I'm not sure when, what, and how far little newborns can see, but it almost seemed like he started focusing and seeing more of the world around him yesterday.  It was fun to see his sparkly blue eyes more.

Cruz and his dad shared a pretty important milestone yesterday...their first Bears game.  Throughout my pregnancy and especially once football season kicked off, Beau has been anxiously awaiting his idea of the perfect game day buddy: one who enjoys Sunday afternoon naps, doesn't fight for the remote, and doesn't give him crap when the Bears make a bad play.  So, yesterday morning, Beau insisted we break the golden rule of parenting and wake up a sleeping Cruz in order to give him a bath and dress him in his Sunday best: his new Bears outfit.  Although it was a little large for Cruz, he was a good sport and a good fan (even though his first game did involve a loss to the Seahawks). 

Father and son, excited to hang out in the recliner all afternoon.

Another milestone.  Cruz's first meal out.  Beau's cousin, Jill and her boyfriend, Rob, came up from Iowa City to see Cruz.  The five of us went to grab a pizza at the OP.  It felt weird to haul in a diaper bag and car seat, ask for a car seat holder-thingy, and concentrate on keeping a baby quiet while I enjoyed a piece (or two) of pizza.  I was a little nervous, but Cruz did great.  Turns out, a trip in the car makes for a pretty long nap afterwards.  We might have to keep this tip in mind at 3 o'clock in the morning. 

A weekend of milestones, for Cruz, and for momma.  I've been initiated into parenthood.  During Cruz's bath yesterday morning, I received my first 'shower.'  Let's just say mine didn't include warm, sudsy water, and Johnson's Baby Bath!

Still waiting...

Dearest content one,

Hi Baby.  Today is September 29, less than one week from your due date.  Today was my last appointment before I will be considered 'overdue.'  Today, I felt like having a baby.  I woke up early, walked two miles on the treadmill (attempting to give you a little bit of a head start before your appointment), and looked forward to going to what I thought would be my last week of school.  There's always an excitement surrounding doctor's appointment days, especially this late in the game.  I was confident I was going to be much closer to having you today than I was last week and even had a weird feeling today might just be the day.  Your birthday.

I wasn't the only one thinking this way.  Your Uncle Gabe sent me a text shortly after 8 am, asking if I was a mom yet.  Your grandma called, reminding me to call her as soon as my appointment was over.  And your dad sent about a dozen text messages throughout the morning hours.  It was difficult to concentrate during my morning classes and I counted down the minutes until 10:20. 

Well, we made a little progress from last week; however, not enough to send me for my hospital bag instead of back to school.  A little discouraged and highly anxious, I left the hospital once again, already looking ahead to next week.  From now on, I'm simply going to plan on you arriving a week overdue...that way, if you come any earlier, it will just be a nice surprise.

Boy, have you been moving lots today.  In fact, at times, especially during lunch with your dad, I even questioned whether I was having contractions.  What was I thinking?  It was probably just you responding to the BEST TENDERLOIN I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED!  Newton's Cafe is legit!  I would have thought that alone would have enticed you to begin your descend to this side of the world.  I guess I was wrong...

What else might entice you?  Well, the house is clean, your room is ready, and the Bears are 3 and 0.  Your dad can't wait to spend Sundays with you and tell you all about his favorite team, and more importantly, you will match!

Whether it's tonight, tomorrow, this weekend, or two weeks from now, know that we are waiting, pacing, and more than ready to welcome and love you right into our lives.  You have already made our lives so exciting and I can't begin to fathom the next chapter.  All I know is that I'm craving...

...listening to a sleeping baby, the little noises you will make, and the way your little head will rest against my chest.

...that distinct, perfectly unique baby smell. 

...baby feet, barefoot or in those tiny baby socks. 

...mornings where the only thing on my 'to-do' list is to hang out with you.  Days where hours spent staring at you becomes the idea of a perfectly accomplished day. 

...hibernating inside as the weather gets colder and the nights get shorter.  I'm dreaming of fires, blankets, and tummy time. 

...the chance to finally get to see the face of this little boy I've been dreaming about for a very long time.

We love you.  Now, come out!  

Your momma. 

Just what I needed...

My favorite pair of Gap leggings, an oversized hoodie, and a warm recliner.  My first Honeycrisp apple of the season, and the Bears are looking good.  This has been the tone of the entire weekend and it is exactly what I needed.  

Don't get me wrong.  I haven't sat in the recliner all weekend long.  I got some things crossed off my pre-baby to-do list and feel more ready to say hello to our peanut than ever before.  

Especially now that the kitchen floor is mopped.

  

And the junk drawer is clean.  

And my pumpkin spice and harvest candles now engulf the air in our home instead of the funk that was coming from the wastebasket last week.    Our fridge is now full of apples, yogurt, and fresh herbs, instead of a cardboard pizza box.  The diaper bag is packed, Beau's sock drawer is full, and the pantry is stocked with tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, and stuff for spaghetti marinara.  

My mums are planted and my tummy is still full from a complete and utter takedown at Texas Roadhouse last night.  We stocked up on last minute baby needs at Target, and more importantly, turned our storage room into a bomb shelter after a Sam's Club run.  We now buy in packs.  A 12-pack of paper towels.  A 5-pack of toothpaste.  A 24-pack of fruit snacks.  When we walk in to Sam's Club, I let Beau lead the way.  Funny how I had no idea he had such a love for buying in bulk.

Last night, Beau dropped me off at Hobby Lobby to return a few remaining supplies from Baby J's palm tree creation.  As I was waiting in a line only fit for Black Friday, I saw my doctor walk in with some girlfriends.  She didn't notice me, but just like my students act when I see them outside of school, I was fascinated to see her in an environment other than the hospital without a white hospital coat on.  I was not the only one to notice her, as a minute later, I received a text from Beau, still waiting in the parking lot.  "Doc just walked in...see if she can induce you."  Fifteen minutes later, still waiting in line to return a meager $8 worth of merchandise, Beau texted again.  

"ARE YOU IN LABOR?!?!?!"

As I laughed out loud, picturing me giving birth to our baby in between the artificial flowers and gallery frames, I noticed everyone else in line was staring at me.  Staring at the pregnant woman who had seemingly lost her mind.  I never did see my doctor again, but I now have a funny story to share with her Wednesday.

I have no idea when Baby J is going to arrive, but I wish he'd hurry up.  Sure I'm still a good two weeks away from my due date, but pretty soon I'm going to run out of things to prepare.  And I'm for sure going to run out of clothes to wear. 

In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy the beginning of fall, continue to wander in and out of the baby's room, and continue to take pictures of my cat. 



Who was not where she was supposed to be when we returned from church this morning.
 



Showered...

Sunday was Beau's equivalent of Christmas Day.  He woke up early, showered early, dressed in his best navy and blue, and sunk in his recliner for a long day of NFL football.  Yes, regular season football has begun and the Bears were opening their season at Soldier Field on a picture perfect day.  Since the Cubs' season ended rather early this year, Beau has anxiously awaited the kickoff to the NFL for weeks now.  So while he cheered on his team, cracked open a can of brew, and texted his fellow fantasy football comrades, I went to have my own fun...

Baby shower fun!

My sister-in-law, Kelli, threw us the perfect baby shower.  Simple, sweet, and all boy, the soft blues, greens, and whites made the perfect color scheme against the picturesque, pre-fall backdrop.  The sun was shining, the breeze was light, and a few hours with good friends, good food, and sweet babies was exactly what this 37-week pregnant woman needed on her Sunday afternoon.

 

I've always been a sucker for the details and my sister-in-law did not disappoint.  Little white favor bags filled with blue foil-wrapped sweets, tied securely with ribbon stamped with baby blue footprints.  A clothesline of onesies and sweet little sockies hung over a table full of delicious dips, breads, and sweets.  A glass vase filled with candy corn and peanuts, a red and white speckled platter of sliced apples and a brown sugar spiced dip, and a variety of homemade bread slices with flavored cream cheeses (kudos to Grandma for that one) made my mouth water and my tummy growl!







My favorite details of the day were the cookies, shaped into 'Baby J' onesies and footprints, my very first diaper cake, and of course, an adorably shy little niece.  Charly did not quite know what to think about all the strange women in her house; however, after the party, she showed us just how fun she was going to be this Christmas.  



I am so blessed to have such sweet, generous, supportive friends and family in my life as I prepare to become a mommy.  The love they showed to Baby J, the thoughtful and unique gifts they picked out for him, and the support they showed this momma-to-be was so appreciated!  The last couple days it seems I've been struggling to stay out of a sort of pregnancy rut; as I've hit month nine, I feel more than ready to get this show on the road.  This shower was exactly what I needed to rejuvinate my pregnancy glow and help me rekindle my love for this special time in my life.

 



We played Baby J Jeopardy, laughed until our faces hurt, snuggled with babies, and shared stories and memories about motherhood, friendhood, and girlhood. 

Beau was blown away by the car load of gift bags that accompanied me home.  Together, we unpacked every gift, laughed at how little the clothes was, and carefully found places for each special gift.  As Baby J's room filled up, Beau and I filled our diaper bags (yes, he now has his very own, ultimate manly man's diaper bag), unwrapped 84 newborn diapers, and laughed at Pat the Beastie, a book from Aunt Gina with a strongly stated message about being nice to animals!  

Now, just three weeks shy of my due date, we feel pretty set.  A drawer full of diapers, a dresser full of cuddly clothes, and a diaper bag (or two) packed and ready to go, let's bring this baby on!  

Tomorrow we have an ultrasound to find out how big this little boy is.  I'm anxious and excited to see him and hopefully find out a little more on when he might be expected.  Wishful thinking, maybe, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed! 

A few more pictures of the day...

My mom and me.  Thanks to her, Baby J is going to be one well-dressed baby.

Digging in!  The swaddle wraps in this picture are some of my favorite blankets I have. 



Charly was into the gift bags too!