A full Weekend

It is the start of a new week, and Chris and I had an eventful weekend. On Saturday, we attended the first of two all-day Childbirth Classes. There were 5 couples in the class, and three of us sitting in a row were all having boys, due May 3rd, 4th, and 5th! We learned about the stages of labor, and practiced some basic breathing techniques with our spouses. Chris and I were a little amazed at the other men in the class. One announced during the introductions that he was going to be running out, taking calls for work on his cell phone as needed, since it was a busy day for his business. When it came to the "coaching" part, the men hemmed and hawed about having to do breathing exercises while holding their wives in supportive postures to practice dealing with contractions. ('Isn't she the one having the baby?") On the other hand, Chris was in his element...good at taking the lead in the dance; he had no problem setting the pace and watching out for my cues. I know he is going to be a great coach, and I feel more confident that we will be able to manage as a team.

Yesterday, we were invited to a baby shower for one of Chris' co-workers. Camille is having a boy, due May 6th. (Seriously, what was in the air back in July and August??) We played lots of shower games, and ate delicious cakes and treats. There were several daughters attending, varying in ages from 7-10. They helped orchestrate the shower games for the grown-ups. These girls really reminded me of some of my piano students in Boston, and how much I miss seeing them every week. (I guess it is a good thing we are having a family, because I really enjoy having children around in my day.) Chris was the only guy who came, but since I had never met the guest of honor before the party, it would have been more awkward for me to attend alone. He and I both had fun, and he was able to commiserate about work-related events outside of the office...which he sometimes needs and never gets the opportunity to do.

This baby is getting more powerful every day! I am right on the edge of kicks taking my breath away. All of those limbs are poking out front, as if to make the space larger as he is feeling cramped. Chris gasped with delight last night when he could feel a little hand pushing out behind my bellybutton. -When I was still feeling that and more 5 hours later, my gasps were less delight motivated...but I am glad the baby is moving about, and seeing how things work!

I have a general query. We occasionally get phone calls from people looking for one of the women who lives in the apartment downstairs. When they ask for her (her name is similar to mine) I tell them there is no one here by that name. Then they read my phone number to me, which obviously is the one they dialed because I'm on the phone with them...and then I have to assure them that I am not the woman they are trying to speak with. Usually what follows is, "But you know her, right?" (I think that is the strangest part of all!) I say I don't. Do I know of her existence? Yes. Do I know her, or see or talk with her? No...our only relationship is through these bizarre phone calls from sales people/telemarketers/bounty hunters(?) One man was incredulous that I denied being her or knowing her. What is this about? Should I say she lives downstairs? These people are not identifying themselves or what they are calling in regards to, so I don't volunteer any information, be it mine or anyone else's. I do find it odd. Makes me long for the simple old days, when we just had a nationally advertised Catholic prayer hot line as our home phone number...it was very straightforward, just needing to pray for the people who called.

Yesterday was Crib day

Chris said it was a milestone worthy of pictures...the day he assembled the crib in the baby's room. You can see the progression of construction, along with the questioning looks from the squirrels. I made a point of taking a picture of Chris reading the directions; notice that it is not the first picture...but near the end of the project...

The final picture is Chris taking a well-deserved break after finishing. You see our dining room and a small view of the living room in the background.

Not only did we get the crib ready, but we found two lovely pieces of carpet, one for the baby's room and one for the dining room, to create some soft places for baby and parents to crawl and play in our otherwise hardwood apartment. The cats are already thanking us, sure that we installed the carpets for them.

It does feel like we are getting our place ready for a new addition, which is good; his current accommodations will not be available beyond the next 6 or 7 weeks.

We bought a new washing machine!

(Bringing the "Bunnies" Picture back by popular demand!)

Okay, We bought a used washing machine, that is new to us...but it is on the way on Monday afternoon. Chris and I picked it out at a used appliance place in Staten Island, and we are really excited to be replacing the one that leaks on the floor with every load, and is probably running on borrowed time at this point. We will be able to wash all of those glorious cloth diapers soon to be a part of our daily life!

Other than that, it has been a pretty quiet weekend. Chris and I went for a walk in our park earlier this afternoon, as it is sunny and in the 40's. The wind was pretty high, so we were a little sorry that I ambitiously suggested the long route instead of the shortcut home. When we returned wind-blown and red-eared, I promptly fell asleep on the couch. When I awoke, I was facing Chris sitting in a reading chair, book open, and hunched over leaning on one elbow. Apparently, he promptly fell asleep after cracking open his book! I encouraged him to actually lay down to finish his nap...(Chris nap? Has the world gone mad?)...and he agreed. This is what Sunday afternoons are all about.

A cute picture of Annabelle

This is one of my squirrel-girls, sitting on the dining room radiator as usual in the morning.

A Snowy Friday in March

A thin blanket of white covers the ground this Friday morning. Chris went in an hour late this morning because he is going to be working at Fox News until later this evening. It is sleeting outside now, so it was nice to be leisurely getting him to the train.

I haven't had a lot to post this week. I got a recall problem with the car taken care of, did a little shopping, and continued to work on the never-ending painting project of our kitchen. (I'm almost done!!) I wish my painting skills equalled Chris'...when I paint, I have to do several coats to match his one.

On Wednesday night, Chris and I attended a baby nursing class at the hospital. It was informative, although I think it was challenging for our teacher to explain something she has been coaching and doing over the last 10 years, in terms that were clear to people with absolutely no experience or frame of reference. I guess it is like many other aspects of new parenting...we have to see what our own child is like and needs, and there isn't a universal system to apply for every kid...however much we wish there was!

I'm posting a new belly picture for the month. I am still getting bigger! (Hopefully, so is the baby...) Chris has heard that I should be drinking as many fluid ounces as half of my weight, each day. My midwife said the more water I drink, the less my limbs will swell as they have been lately. So, I am alternately drinking water and well, you can guess the other activity that follows...

We have company!

My friend, Mark, is visiting us from Philadelphia this weekend. Mark and I were studio-mates at CCM back in the olden days. It is great fun getting to catch up with his life and adventures. He is a Music Theory professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and is working on completing his second book! Mark is a very accomplished smarty.

We are going to check out an exhibit in Manhattan today, and eat cheesecake where ever it looks worthy. That's the plan.

Chris happily returned to work yesterday (Friday) and will have consistent hours for the next two weeks. We are hopeful that more projects will be ready to start after that time.

All Dressed Up . . .

Well, its day 2 of operation "We'll call you when we have more to do", and it isn't as bad as I thought it might be. I just finished two large projects at work, the new set for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and the new set for Fox News Channel Studio E, which will house Fox & Friends, and three other interview and anchor sets. My role was as Associate Designer, which often consists of drafting and problem solving, but I am good at that. I'm very excited about the Daily Show, it is quite beautiful and a step up from what they have now. I'm looking forward to seeing it installed and possibly meeting Jon Stewart. (we are big fans of his show, and Jess thinks he is dreamy) When it is all installed I will post pictures. Until then they are supposed to be a surprise. (but if any of you come to visit, I have some sketches here)

We have been keeping busy. We decided to paint the kitchen cabinets white, a step up from the dirty, dark stain they were. I know it is supposed to work this way, but it always surprises me how much bigger white paint can make things look. And it will just add to my willingness to use the kitchen. (it took almost three weeks before I considered it clean enough to cook in) To that end I made a tasty eggplant parmigiana last night, and am looking forward to eating more of it tonight.

Taxes also fill time quite nicely, though they are not as much fun to talk or read about.

Today I am off to see Zodiac, and will let you know how it is.

Plans for day 3 . . . More painting. Maybe the snow will stop and it will warm up. We shall see.

-Chris

Concert Going

I have been meaning to hear some fine NYC concerts, so yesterday I did a search of Carnegie Hall's and Lincoln Center's websites to see what sparked my interest. My heart about stopped when I spotted a performance by my favorite pianist, Yefim Bronfman (that's right, Mr. Bronfman, if by chance you read my blog... you are my favorite!) He was listed performing Prokofiev's 2nd Piano Concerto with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra...this, in my opinion, is the most incredible work that Mr. Bronfman has recorded. You can imagine my excitement that I might get to experience this remarkable performance live at Carnegie Hall! You can also imagine my horror when I discovered the date listed for the concert was March 1st!!

UGH!

I continued to search, and stew over my unfortunate late timing, when my eye scanned the listing once again...the date of the concert was listed March 1st. The year listed; 2008

(Choirs of angels burst forth from the heavens at this moment)

In truth, I was looking for something Chris and I could attend in the next month or so...before I am too uncomfortable to sit through an amazing performance and enjoy myself. I made a happy discovery that Alfred Brendel is giving a solo piano recital on my birthday. (Mr. Brendel, please don't take my glowing comments about Mr. Bronfman as any lack of respect to your enormous accomplishment as a pianist. You rock, just in a slightly different historical era of repertoire!) I have wonderful plans made for my birthday now. Chris has never been to a concert at Carnegie Hall, and I have never been to a Carnegie Hall performance that wasn't inspiring and memorable.

Oh, and if anyone is interested, I need a baby sitter for March 1st, 2008.

A beautiful Saturday afternoon

Chris and I enjoyed a walk in our neighborhood park (across the street from our apartment.) It was sunny and in the mid to high 50's outside...easy to imagine springtime around the corner! We took books and read outside for a while, and it was just wonderful.

I reached another milestone in my pregnancy today...had to take my rings off before they became too tight to remove at all. Yes, after months of eating whatever I want, whenever I want, I am now starting to swell up a bit all around, and needing to watch my sodium intake. -I was a little indulgent with foods like faux bacon, and my ever-salty favorite, terriyaki sauce, in the past week...which I drank with a spoon from the pan with the sauteed mushrooms until Chris said it was disgusting and I should stop. Don't they say you crave the foods your body needs?? Apparently salt is not a food group for anyone but me. I will steer clear from the salty foods for the next couple months, or suffer the consequences. Chris read in my pregnancy book that from now (32 weeks) to the time the baby is delivered, I will gain about a pound a week; half of that is the baby's weight, and the other half is water weight. I'll be using that line about "water weight" for the next year or so folks, don't be surprised.

My lovely husband is preparing our taxes as I write. My task is clearly more fun than his at the moment. I will bid you a good evening now.