On Being Pregnant

This is my first pregnancy.  There are a lot of things that I didn't and still don't know about.  But here are some of the things that I have discovered along the way.

1.  I have dreams just about every night.  They are very vivid dreams that I almost always remember when I wake up.  A few have been about the baby, including one in which I gave birth to a kitten that looked like a combination of our two cats.

2.  My belly gets in the way.  I know this may sound obvious, but I didn't realize how often at school or home I lean over to pick something up, move, or carry something.  Now that my belly sticks out, those things are much harder to do.

3.  I think the cats know something is up.  This may seem crazy to you, but over the past several months, our cat Luke, especially, has become more affectionate.  Now he will curl up on my chest right in front of my face and stay there for hours if I let him.  It's almost as if he knows in a few months he won't be able to get all that attention and he is trying to make up for future lost time.  Or, maybe there is not any room on my lap anymore and that is the only place left for him to lay down.

4.  I no longer sleep through the night.  Tom used to be so jealous.  I could be asleep about five minutes after I crawled into bed and not wake up until the alarm clock went off.  Now that I'm pregnant, I wake up at least once a night to use the bathroom.  And recently, I've started waking up more often because I'm just uncomfortable or my arm is asleep.  I know that this is only  going to get worse from here until Brees' born.  I guess my body is getting ready for the sleepless nights to come.

5.  I still wake up excited.  I'm in my seventh month of pregnancy.  But I still wake up in the morning with a tinge of excitement of what is to come.  I often wake up thinking, "I'm pregnant!"  Don't get me wrong, I'm scared and worried too.  But Tom and I are so excited to meet Brees and start our lives as a family of three.

On Brees' Nursery

My mom and dad came down Martin Luther King Jr. weekend to visit.  Luckily, they were willing to help us work on the nursery.   I know it might be early to have all this together already, but Tom and I have a lot going on in February and March and feel better having all this accomplished already.  A big thanks to Mom and Dad for all their help!

Although there is still more to do (you can't see inside the dresser drawers or closets in the pictures), here is a sneak peek at Brees' nursery!

Before

Tom and Dad putting together the My Little Lamb Swing

Tom and Dad putting together the crib

Making (or as Tom calls it "setting") the crib

Mom and I unwrapped and opened most of the items we got and did several loads of laundry to start putting items in place.

Clean newborn clothes!

Luke enjoyed the new glider.  Our problem is keeping him off the changing tables, pack-n-play, and crib.  Any suggestions?

Shelves with our vintage toys.

The stuffed Curious George was Tom's growing up, the Curious George jack-in-the-box was our nephew Alex's, and the elephant traveled all the way from Italy!

Tom built the lamp we are using in the nursery.  We bought these nesting blocks at an antique store and he screwed them together and added the accessories to make it a lamp.  He is quite handy!

This is the "baby station" in the family room-swing, changing table, and pack-n-play.

It is fun to come into the rooms and see them all prepared for Brees.  I have a feeling I'll be sitting in the nursery more than I was ever in the guest room...even before Brees is born.

On a Nephew's 1st Birthday

The number one thing I miss the most living in North Carolina is family.  Tom and I have often said we would love to stay down here forever, but the closest family member is an 8 hour drive in the car.  Growing up, my family always made a big deal about birthdays.  So I find those days sometimes the hardest.  When I call home and hear people laughing in the background getting ready to eat cake and ice cream.

So, I was glad when Tom and I were able to be there for Cole's first birthday party on December 30th.  I know everyone says this, but I can't believe he is a year old already.  Time really does fly.

The Birthday Boy with his balloons...check out that hair!

Brothers-Cole and Alex

Yum.

Good thing Cole had another cake to share with everyone else!

Cole and Aleks checking out the gift from Aunt Katy and Uncle Tom.

On a Papson Baby Shower

Tom and I are very blessed.  Our families have thrown us four wonderful baby showers for Brees.  Since our families are pretty big, we had a shower for my Dad's side of the family and my Mom's side of the family and we did the same for Tom's family.  Everyone was so generous and Tom and I feel very fortunate to have so many things to help us with our first baby.

On New Year's Day, we had a baby shower for Tom's Mom's side of the family-the Papson side.

Lunch included salad and sandwiches provided by many of Tom's family members

Some yummy candies made by Tom's Aunt Mary Ann and Aunt Margaret

A hamper for the nursery!

Andrea, Shelley, Katie, and Molly

This is one of the gifts on the registry that Tom was hoping to get-A stuffed Noah's Ark with all these little animals that fit into the ark.

Beth, Cole, Colleen, Julie, and Grandma Ashton

Christine is making an ABC book for Brees.  People at the showers were able to draw in words that started with different letters to make it personal to Brees.  We are looking forward to seeing the final result!

On Christmas with Tom's Family

After spending several days celebrating Christmas with my family, Tom and I traveled to Medina, Ohio to spend time with his family.  We had our "Christmas Day" on New Year's Eve.

We started the morning with some yummy breakfast casseroles.

I guess Jeff didn't get what he wanted for Christmas.

Brees got some Christmas presents including Crush and Squirt from Disney.

Aleks and Cole playing with new toys.

Christmas isn't Christmas at the Rees house without some Legos.

Cole got a bike!

Christine, Andrea and George

High five with the oven mitt!  What a great Christmas!

On a Mangan Baby Shower and Christmas

On Monday, December 27th, my Mom's side of the family got together at the Corner House for a lovely baby shower for Brees.

 The Corner House is run by a couple in Lewisburg, Ohio.  It was fun having all the Mangan ladies hanging out together in such a neat setting.

Food included soup and sandwiches.  The sandwiches had slaw, apple, and I believe some type of cranberry sauce on them...yum! 

Sophie and I

Grandma, me, and Mom

We even liked the way the owner wrapped up the extra food for us to take!

The whole gang!

The evening of the shower, the Mangan family got together to celebrate Christmas.  Although not everyone was able to make it, we had family in from New York, California, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky!

Here is Tom picking a gift in the gift exchange.

This was taken right after Mom and Aunt Janeil were laughing so hard they could barely talk.  I don't even remember what they were laughing about!

I'll admit, when everyone started packing up to leave, I had a minor mental meltdown.  We were all saying goodbye and all of a sudden I realized that the next time I would see most of these people, the baby will have already been born.  Then I started to think about all the things Tom and I need to do between now and then.  For those of you who don't know me well, I am a planner and I felt like we had no plan!  We haven't signed up for our birthing classes, the nursery is just an empty room, and I feel like I have no idea what I am doing.  We only have three months left and there is so much to do!

But maybe this is a good thing.  Because now we've started a plan...well at least for the next two weekends.  This weekend we will be taking down and putting away the Christmas decorations as well as buying some of the major things we need for the nursery such as the crib and the glider with ottoman.  The following weekend, my parents will be coming to town and we are hoping they won't mind helping us start setting up the nursery.  

Three months seems like a lot of time, but the last three seemed to have gone so quickly.  But, at least it is a start.