Baby’s First Books

I wanted our first purchase for the baby to be something special.  Or at least not too practical.  I decided on books, choosing one of my childhood favorites and having Casey choose one of his.

At first I couldn’t really remember any – I guess I’ve read too many books since childhood – but when I stopped thinking about it, the book below came to mind and so that’s the one I went with.

I wasn’t sure if Casey would have an answer when I asked him what his favorite was, especially when I told him I’d like him to inscribe it, but he surprised me with an almost automatic answer.  He didn’t know the exact title, but his description led me right to the book below.

Turns out his favorite was also one of my Dad’s when he was a kid, which is pretty cool.

Although I don’t plan on reading them to my little baby bump, when things get further along, I’m thinking I’ll probably be one of those crazy pregnant ladies sitting in the nursery reading out loud to herself and her giant belly.

Yahtzee

I was feeling a little off on Saturday afternoon, so I went and laid down in the bedroom and ended up dozing off.  After awhile, Casey came in and asked if I wanted to come out and maybe play some Yahtzee or something.

It was nice of him to ask and it really helped to boost my mood.  Spending time with him has been at a premium the last few months and it’s starting to get better.

Lucy likes hanging out with us at the table when we play Yahtzee.  You’d think the loud noise on the table would send her running, but normally she sits in the chair and watches.  This time she put her chin on the table like a fool, which made me laugh and increased my happiness boost (the above picture still cracks me up).

Once we finished a few games, we made a yummy dinner and enjoyed some DVR clearing.  By bedtime, my bummer mood was definitely diminished and I am so thankful to have had such a nice, albeit simple, night at home.

Outnumbered

Since I think by now most family have checked their email or been told personally, I can discuss the results of our much anticipated 20 week appointment on Monday.  It was absolutely wonderful to have Casey there to see the baby in motion and hear the heartbeat for the first time.

When it came time to see the “business” and find out boy or girl, Casey began to smile from ear to ear when the sonogram tech said the magic words that the “business” was definitely boy business… though those scientific terms are mine, not hers.  He also looked at me, gave me a high five, and said, “I win!”

Since that moment, he’s been on cloud nine.  He’s sent sweet “we’re having a boy!” emails, said cute things like “Good morning, son” while patting my belly, and has shared with me his ideas of what a little boy should have… like a basketball hoop on his crib.

Although I’m not sure I can compare with Casey’s ecstatic excitement level- maybe it just seems like more because he’s normally so laid back- I am super glad, and thankful, for the results of the appointment, both that we’re having a boy and that everything is looking amazingly healthy.

Oh!  And the results of the “Do you think I’m having a boy or girl?” poll results were 11 votes, with six for boy and five for girl.  I was actually really surprised to see so many girl votes – most people had been saying boy!

Little Feet... Kind Of

For some reason, the sonogram technician did not give us the signature print out of the baby's "business" to show gender, but she did give us these cute ones of the baby's little feet.

Actually, she said the baby has big feet. Just like Daddy.

Oh, and she also gave us a picture of the face - but it is a weird, distorted capture and I'm not sharing because you can't really even tell what it is... and because it's kind of creepy looking.

Big feet and a creepy face. Poor kid, not a great half-way there situation.

The Beauty of “If I Could”

The beauty of “If I could” is that you find out what is at the top of your heart.  If you sit down for five minutes and write down what you would do “if you could,” you find out what your priorities are instinctively – the real priorities to you, not the ones based on society or family or whatever else your mind throws in when you have too much time to think about it.

This happened for me on Friday during my writing exercise.  Things that have rolled over in my head time and again came out in swift succession, a spilling of what I really want my life to be.

Of course some of it is improbable – like I can’t quit my job right now and staying at home forever is highly unlikely.  But much of it, most of it, is so incredibly possible, and some is already reality.

Instead of “if I could,” I say I can and will.  I can keep house.  I can make dinner for my husband.  I will spend quality time with my baby-to-be, absolutely teaching that love and God are powerful.  I will write and make cards and create.  My house will be clean and my family will be loved with a special love I have just for them.

Do not say “If I could, I would.”  Because if it’s there your heart, and you wish you could, you can.