The final countdown, or Planking and Skanking

No baby yet.  :(  I'm scheduled to be induced at 7am this Thursday (day after tomorrow) unless Hank decides to cooperate before then all on his own.  In the meantime, with the weather finally manageable I'll try to get a few last things done around the house and generally try to enjoy my last few baby-free days. 

This may be my last post until Hank arrives, so here are a few funny pics that I took recently and hadn't posted yet.

Here's my bro, Christian, planking my Mom's couch on the day we moved her

Here's my hubby, Julian, skanking it up in the carrot costume we found among my Mom's things

My nephew, Ashton, planking the bbq at our annual Hunger family reunion

No baby yet.  :(  I'm scheduled to be induced at 7am this Thursday (day after tomorrow) unless Hank decides to cooperate before then all on his own.  In the meantime, with the weather finally manageable I'll try to get a few last things done around the house and generally try to enjoy my last few baby-free days.  We saw Contagion last Sunday (but I was so uncomfortable with him up in my grill that it was hard to enjoy at times).  I've been walking an hour every morning, hoping that helps (plus the dogs are loving it!).  Today I'm hoping to get some yard work done and other fun housework.

Pittock Mansion and baby play time

So I'm on maternity leave as of last Monday (just over a week ago).  Now I'm playing the waiting game.  Last week flew by, I spent lots of time at home doing little projects that I know I won't have time for once Hank arrives (is that "nesting"?).  But I'm also taking advantage of the time and weather and doing some fun stuff too.  Last Thursday my sisters (Anne and Emily and Anne's baby Scarlett) and I went to Pittock Mansion.  None of us had ever been inside.  It was pretty darn cool.  Here are some pics.

Anne holding Scarlett, with Emily, at Pittock Mansion

One of Pittock's best bathrooms - complete with bidet, which I'm modeling

Later we went to lunch at the Doug Fir, and then to our friend Monique's house for a little get together.  It was nice and hot that day and the little ones got in the turtle pool.  Us ladies just sat around watching them and gabbing.

Scarlett (left) and Adeline (Monique's daughter) after they had some clothes on again

                       


Manijeh with her new little guy, Oren

Anne and Scarlett

Thea with Oren



Top things I'll miss after Hank's birth & what I look forward to most

Overall my pregnancy has been really easy.  I had no morning sickness, just some food aversions, which quickly went away.  I did have some pretty bad headaches brought on by the change in hormones through probably my 4th month.  But once I found out I could still take aspirin and ibuprofen that helped a ton.  Then the headaches finally went away and I've been pretty ailment-free since then (except chronic heartburn).  I haven't had any bloating, my rings and shoes all still fit.  No backaches (due to pregnancy anyway), and almost no stretchmarks even (TMI?).  Oh, and very importantly, no gestational diabetes.  I think the fact that I still exercise 3-4 times per week and am still otherwise active (with the exception of my desk job, of course) has helped with all of these things.  I've only gained about 16-17 pounds and am due in less than 2.5 weeks!  I hope this allows me to fit into my pre-pregnancy pants very quickly.

So here are my top things that I will miss after giving birth to my little Hank:

1) The excitement of knowing I get to meet my little guy (including finding out what he looks like!).
2) Having Hank with me at all times, which will never again be the case after he arrives.
3) Never having an extended period of time off from work again (hopefully, unless it's my choice!).
4) Feeling his movement (up until recently anyway - it was neat at first, now it's way uncomfortable).
5) Having lots of alone time for myself and Julian.  Not as much in store for us in the future!
6) Being able to sleep in on weekends/days off.

Here are the top reasons I cannot wait to give birth to Hank:

1) Meeting my little guy and knowing he's healthy.
2) Having 4 months off from work, the longest I have not worked since prior to working for my Dad (beginning in junior high).
3) Being able to drink wine guilt-free again.
4) No more maternity clothes!!!  Can you say 'bonfire'?
5) Having some energy back - I have been so tired these last few weeks.
6) Being able to bend over comfortably again and generally having my body back to myself.
7) Not having a baby churning up my insides with his insane movements.  The movement has NOT gotten less towards the end for me, it's gotten far more intense and darn uncomfortable.
8) No more doctor's appointments (for me anyway).
9) No more heartburn!
10) No more people asking 'How are you feeling?'.
11) Having this baby off my bladder.  No more having to go pee sometime during the night and being able to go on longer walks without fear of not being able to find a bathroom.

So you noticed that the latter list is a little longer than the former?  Yes, I am ready for Hank to be born any time now!! 

Nursery pics - it's finally done!

So Hank's room is finally done!  We may add a rug (the one I ordered and waited a month to get was totally wrong, so I sent it back).  But otherwise our Richard Scarry / vintage kids' book-themed nursery is as done as it's going to be right now.

Just last week Julian finally finished the last of the Richard Scarry murals.  He definitely put his heart and soul into these paintings and it shows - they are beyond super amazing.  I love them and I sure hope Hank loves them even half as much as I do. 

We picked out the soft green wall color when we had the upstairs remodeled last year - it was sort of a premonition - just in case we did decide to adopt or have our own baby the walls would be ready with a neutral color and we love it.  The rest of the room was a blank palette and luckily was empty.

We bought all the furniture (except the crib) used, at vintage stores and I repainted them.  Julian repainted the rocking chair though, which was his parents', given to them as a honeymoon present and they gave it to us probably 10+ years ago.  We painted it horrible colors long ago, so it had to be stripped and repainted.  I also sewed the curtains (Little Golden Book fabric) and was so happy to see the color goes great with the furniture I painted a really pretty blue (it was called 'newborn blue').

The rest you can check out for yourself:

Before picture

Another before picture

Julian in action on the first painting

All done!

Detail of the Bear Band mural above crib

The Polite Elephant mural

Detail of the Lowly mural near Polite Elephant

Cute Richard Scarry bunny holding saw (no embellishments!)