Boys Names

Jon and I have two girls' names that we really like. And a smattering of boys' names that we don't completely hate. We are still looking for boys' names, which has meant reading through a book that boasts over 40,000 names that have actually been used. Here are a few from that book that we know for sure we will not be using...

Christ

Lake Charles

Ro'Mance

Boy of Shantay

Boots

Jacob-Don't

Sonny Boy

Redeemed

Sir

Uno

Z

Call us picky, but the above names are not making the cut.

The Checklist

This baby is due in less than two weeks. So...I could have the baby tonight. Or I could have the baby in three weeks. Or anytime in between. Here is how things are progressing in terms of my "readiness":

Freezies: CHECK

Meals in the freezer: CHECK (about 16 meals)

Muffins, bread, and homemade energy bars in the freezer: CHECK

Baby's clothes washed and in the drawers: CHECK

Diapers from diaper service delivered: CHECK

Hospital Bag packed: Kind of, not quite done

Car seat installed: Nope (but the cloth lining is being washed as I type this)

Crib ready to go: Check

Names picked out: um....working on it.

Laurel's bag packed: Nope

Guest room ready for grandparents: Nope

Haircut and pedicure: Check (I have my priorities)

Thank You cards purchased: Nope

House renovations completed: I don't think we'll ever get to check this off the list.

Desk at work cleaned out: Check

Am I forgetting anything?

Life These Days

Spring....

The snow is melting, the air is warmer, and I feel like we are finally emerging from a winter slumber. Life these days is feeling pretty good. Even though this picture of Laurel makes it look cold, it's been quite nice here. We've been able to get out for walks and puddle splashing.

Pregnancy....

I am almost 37 weeks pregnant...which means we're getting down to the end. Technically, this baby could come at any time. To answer the question everyone asks, no, we're not quite ready. Of course, I don't know if we'll ever feel ready, nor do I think it matters if we're ready. Once the baby comes, we'll switch into ready mode, whether we feel it or not! But for right now, I don't feel ready. For one thing, we still don't have names picked out. We have some girl names we like. We have some boy names that we don't hate. But we don't have any names that we love. I've done a bit of baking and a bit of cooking for the freezer, but I want to do more. We've got some baby clothes washed and in the drawers. I still need to dig some more baby gear out from under the stairs. The house needs to be cleaned. The guest room sheets need to be changed. But, really, the thing that is stressing me out the most (other than the lack of names) is that we don't have freezies! I know, right? Three weeks until the due date and I don't have any freezies.* It's not that I haven't tried. I asked today at a store and they haven't gotten any in yet. I looked at a store the other day, and they only had a generic brand...and I am a bit picky about my freezies. Do I really have to wait until the snow melts completely before I'll be able to find freezies?

Laurel...

Laurel continues to delight and entertain us. One of her frequent phrases right now is "Laurel do it." This morning as I was trying to get us out the door, she was picking things up on the way that she wanted to take with us. By the made it to the back door, she had in her arms her tiara, a Dora doll, a baby blanket, her bike helmet, and a small block. All, apparently, were very important because she wouldn't part with any of them. She's also asking "why?" a lot, and I am struggling to come up with answers that satisfy her.

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of ours said to Laurel, "You're a monkey." Laurel responded with, "No! Owl! Hooooo!" Apparently we have a wee little owl on our hands. She also loves bunnies, the ABCDs, and "Elmo Music."

Sewing Adventures...

In my recent burst of pregnant energy, I decided that I wanted to make a little stuffed bunny for Laurel's Easter basket. I was determined to not use a pattern. Why? I'm not sure. I was also determined to only use things in our scrap basket. The result? Hmmm. Well. It's pretty much the ugliest stuffed bunny you've ever seen. It's poor little head is lopsided and won't stay up. Jon's response was, "Well, they have dolls called Ugly Dolls, so maybe it's not so bad." Maybe it's not so good, either. When Jon casually asked if I had considered using a pattern, I responded with, "I didn't want to. I was going to make a small fortune with this bunny." For some reason he doubled over laughing. Odd.

On a more successful note, I have also been replacing the velcro tabs on our diapers.

Pampering...

Tonight I'm getting my haircut. Saturday I'm getting a pedicure and manicure. Now I just need a massage, and I will feel sufficiently spoiled.

That's what life is like for us these days. Thanks for checking in.

*For those of you who are scratching your heads, wondering why I need freezies, they're great to suck on during labor. Will the baby come without them? I think so. But for some reason this feels like the big thing I need before I will feel ready. Weird. I know.