Nesting?

So today, I've done more than I have in a long time!  And...I'm exhausted!  Maybe it's because we had Daylight Savings Time and I had the proverbial "extra hour" in the day.  Or because I know that we are quickly running out of time before this little one comes out to meet us.  Or I'm nesting??  All I know is that I've had a BUSY day!  Went to the gym and put in 2 miles...which I'm hoping to do on a daily basis now.  It is definitely challenging but I'm glad to be moving and it makes me feel better and more productive.  Then we finally got our sleeping bags washed and put away for the camping season.  Homework came next, then grocery shopping and planning for additional meals to make.  We now have lasagna in the freezer, taco meat and have now planned on ham and cheesy pasta.  I've also managed to complete 6 loads of laundy, diapers and clothes and only have to pack the hospital bag once the laundry is done!  Whew!  Dinner is next, after the 7 loaves of pumpkin bread come out of the oven.  Chicken and Biscuits sounds like the perfect end to a long day...well, maybe with a little ice cream to finish things off!
Not much new is going on in the Haylett household.  Last OB appointment went well.  34 weeks, baby is VERY active and practiced a few of it's karate moves on the doctor as she chased him/her for a heartbeat.  One more appointment in 2 weeks, then we start weekly appointments.  Updates will continue as able.  I'm getting really excited to meet this little Mac, but absolutely nervous about the labor/delivery process.  I've heard all about it, but it sure doesn't prepare you for the actual experience.  I guess I'll just take it as it comes!  I'm hoping to get at least all of my meetings in at work before I deliver, so that just means I'd like to be done with all my work by the 7th of December and I'd be happy.  Here's hoping the little one complies with my plans.  Can't wait!!!

Stocking the Freezer

We've started to plan for meals after the baby comes.  The plan is to make an extra meal once a week and throw it in the freezer for easy reheating.  Tonight, lasagna!  And it was GOOD!  I'm excited to know that I have a great meal sitting in the freezer all ready to cook when I have a little one needing all my time and attention.  The next item on my agenda, other than continuing to study and play catch up in my classes, is to plan additional meals that we can "heat and eat" from the freezer.  Anyone out there have some easy, freezable recipes that will make lots of leftovers!?  I'd love any recipes that anyone would be willing to share!  Thanks in advance!

Showered with Love

Over the past two weeks, I have been extremely fortunate to have TWO baby showers, with yet another one being planned for after Baby Haylett's arrival.  I am so thankful to have such great family and friends around, supporting us as life starts to change.  We've made out like bandits and have gotten so many great gifts and items for the babe to be.  My parents got us a travel system that we are so far pretty happy with.  The car seat is a snug fit into the back of the Prius but we just need to shorten our legs and all will be fine!  :)  We've gotten THE cutest Whale bathtub with matching wash cloths, some great snuggling blankets, sleepers, clothing, bottles, breast pump accessories, classic books that were my favorites when I was little, and cute and cuddly aminals.  This week, we are starting to wash all of the items and make a list of those items we think we may still need, as we are down to 50 days and counting.  YIKES!  That's scary to see in print but I'm excited to be getting ever closer....

Life, changing.

Ben and I took a Childbirth class this weekend.  We learned some interesting information about pain management, practice some hee hee hee breathing and are starting to realize how much our lives are about to change.  We've decided to attempt a med-free labor & delivery and use as much natural pain management as possible.  This is the plan, however, I fully understand that my plans my change!  We also got our stroller and car seat.  Nothing like putting these things together to make anyone feel stupid.  We have yet to get the crib and put it together.  These next few weeks will be challenging.  I have 9 weeks until my official due date, a crib to put together and several projects for school to finish up before it's too late, in addition to making plans for coverage at work.  I have a feeling that time is going to fly!

In the midst of it all, a good friend called with some sad news.  She and her husband had miscarried their first child.  Having gone through a similar situation, I know how she is feeling and how devastated she must be.  I realized how incredibly lucky we are and how much I wish that we could help our friends with their loss and our other friends with their fertility challenges.  I want them both to know that I'm thinking about them and wishing them healing to their hearts.  It's hard for me to write and post about our adventures knowing that it may cause pain and frustration in the hearts of my friends.  At the same time, we are very excited about our future and want to share our challenges and excitement with friends and family.  Each day I think about what I may be posting and how it may effect others who are struggling with so many emotions.  Wishing each of our friends healing to their hearts and luck in their womb's.  Love you!

So many choices..

There are decidedly too many choices and decisions to make in preparing for a child.  Should we buy a dresser?  Do you think these storage cubes are good enough?  Should we just hang their clothes?  What about diapers...cloth, disposable?  You mean there are more than 1 kind of cloth diaper?  What should this kid come home in?  How do I dress a newborn?  What if they don't fit in the "coming home" outfit?  Do you think this outfit would be warm enough in December?
How in the heck do people make these decisions?  So far, here's what we've decided.  We did get a dresser, as we would need one most likely in the future and the closet is getting quite small already!  We're going with cloth diapers, the pocket kind.  We've gotten some pointers on washing these bad boys and I really hope it's as simple as we've been told.  Sounds like we should buy two sizes of coming home outfits, in case our kiddo is small...or big.  Apparently sometimes you aren't able to put your child in a snow suit or warm blanket/gown.  So instead, do we dress our kid in a super warm outfit?  At this point, I'm planning on a long sleeved onesie and an outfit with long sleeves and pants or a jumper.  Plus, it was suggested to have a hat and socks/booties.
I guess at this point I'm soliciting "advice" or help from my experienced friends and family members.  What did you do?  How did you decide?  Thanks in advance for all of the suggestions.  I look forward to the life lessons, suggestions and advice that everyone has experienced along the way!

Time

No one ever has enough.  We always want more.  More hours in a day, more days in a week (or weekend preferably).  Why do we always book ourselves so full of activities and jobs and things we need to do that when we have free time (what the hell is that anyway?), we can't even sit and relax to enjoy it?!?  In one of my classes, we were challenged to pick one thing that we want to change and take a semester to make that change.  Well, I've realized that there are too many things to pick and I want to change a lot of things.
My first original idea was that I would let go of the "control" that I like to have.  I enjoy knowing what is coming next, what to expect, plan out how each day is going to go and getting EVERYTHING done on my "to do" list for the day.  Yes, I make a "to do" list even on the weekends...if not hand written, it is at least mental.  After realizing how daunting of a task that seems, I have since modified it.  My goal is to take time to do at least 1 thing for myself every day and recognize it.  This can't possibly be that difficult right?  Ehhhh, you are talking to the control freak!  So of course I started to schedule my "me" time and then it just felt like another thing on my "to do" list.  Okay, clearly this is not working and I'm getting frustrated.  My professor's point was to get an understanding of how difficult it is to make changes.  He wants us to see what our clients go through as they are making changes and help us realize that things do get in the way of our goals and it's not just an excuse or resistance to counseling.  Boy, have I learned quick.
Now, my goal has been modified yet again.  I'm not scheduling my "me" time, but I'm setting the bar low.  I will be happy if I get in 1 thing this week and next week I will try for two.  I'm working on changing my perspective and accepting the little joys instead of wallowing in the minor failures that I see.  Between counting calories, two nights of class, work, homework, housework (man, where did all this work come from??), and trying to get in exercise on a regular basis, my life is FULL.  Though, I'm not feeling fulfilled.  I go to bed each night thinking, "Did I even say more than 'Hi, honey' or 'Goodnight' to my husband?  When was the last time we sat and really engaged with each other, without the tv on?  How much worse is this going to get once we have a child involved in our lives?  Now is the time to make a change.
Each time I think about how much the floor needs vacuuming or that it has literally been 3 weeks since the bathroom has been cleaned, I'm trying to stop and think about what matters more.  It's very strange and causes some anxiety.  I will admit I've woken up in the middle of the night and thought, "Do you think Ben would noticed if I vacuumed the stairs quick?"  But I'm starting to enjoy this "me" time that seems to appear when I least expect it.  For example, this blog post totally would not have happened if I hadn't stopped myself from emptying the dishwasher and took the time to express myself at this very moment.  I like blogging, don't do it enough and don't think I'm really good at it, but eh...  It's a step towards reclaiming my life and the Time that I've let slip away.

Pappajohn Sculpture Park

Over the weekend, Ben's dad and stepmom were in town to visit and help us prepare for the arrival of Baby this Winter.  We ventured into downtown and wandered through the Pappajohn Sculpture Park for some great Fall-like weather and photos to share.  We're trying to explore more of the city we live in and get some great shots to represent our adopted hometown.  We've been looking for some photos to hang up at home in the picture frames that have been empty for the past year and half.  Slowly but surely, we are acquiring photos to display in our small, humble home.  I've added some below for your enjoyment.

We also got a crib this weekend.  Thank you Thank you to Lyle and Gail for getting us a crib!  Unfortunately, we had to order it, so it will be here in 6 weeks.  We are confident that the "Little Mac" will wait until after then to arrive.  If not, we'll figure something out.  It's all starting to seem real as furniture and decorations are accumulated.  Thanks again to Lyle and Gail for the SUPER CUTE bedding.  

I can't wait to start putting everything together!  We also explored the Valley Junction store "Little Padded Seats."  We learned all about the new cloth diapers and wandered around the store exploring their natural products.  We decided, after some fancy math from Lyle, that cloth diapers will pay for themselves in 4 months, thus making them essentially free from then on, even through the next kid.  We went ahead and registered.  Each diaper is about $18.00 but buying in bulk, you can get them for $17 a piece.  An investment, yes.  We are looking forward to this new adventure and Ben is ready to change his first diaper ever!  This will be fun!