Baby Shower, Take two!

* Cake or animation of Jonah in approximately 6 months...

* The set-up...

* Decoroations from the shower...Quack!

* The gifts...

* Christine and the guests play 'The Price is Right'

* Carol administers the 'Memory Game'..Vanna, watch out!

* La la la Leah! Leah picks a raffle winner...

* The guests...No, the white shirts were not arranged!

* Da wagon...Jonah can't drive '55'!

Week # 28 moving closer and closer. Sunday November 13th is our Baby Shower on Christine's Dad (Mike) side, we trying to accommodate all the friends and family on both sides. Carol (Christine's Step-Mother) has been working meticulously trying to get off the invitations, arrange the games and put together prizes/props for the games...she has done more than we expected, it is truly appreciated!

The shower is held at Jason and Marisa's (Christine's Step-Brother and Wife) house where Carol has turned the normal decor into a deluge of baby-shower motif! Rubber duckies, candy, cake, banners...you name it! We walked in when the food was being prepared; enchiladas, rice, beans...Yum! Thanks again to Jason and Marisa for the use of their home!

The first order of business was the 'Price is Right' game where different items were matched up against random prices...not as easy as it looks (I was an onlooker). Between the games Leah (Jason and Marisa's Daughter) selected raffle numbers for prize giveaways; candles, books, etc. Game # 2 was the 'Memory' game where you match up the 2 pictures on the board. Once a match took place, like 'Breastfeeding' the person would win a prize; in this case Milky-Way! Some other standouts would include 'Circumcision' would win you Nips and 'Dirty Diapers' would be Boston Baked Beans. More Raffle...and on to the gifts!

Jonah received many, many, many really nice gifts! Some standouts include the Stroller set which included the car seat and base, a table and chair set in the same color motif as the room, gift cards, many clothes, Jonah's first baby-bible, personal care products and much more. Jonah is lucky to have so much love and he is yet to be born...we can only imagine the depth of love he will receive once he is actually here.

Cake...Mmmm!

Over-all it was a fun, tiring and special day all rolled into one tight package. Carol made the day special for us and baby-Jonah, we thank you!

Some updates:
* Christine is getting her "Pregnant Walk"...it is quite cute!
* We have completed our Lamaze, Breastfeeding, Baby-care-basics and Post-partum classes. Our last class is in two weeks; Baby-saver.
* We will be purchasing the crib, bedding and some smaller items soon.
* We have yet to select a pediatrician...ut-oh!
* Jonah is kicking and rolling and kicking! Football, anyone?
* We will be sending out information on the Hospital, Doctor, Directions, etc. in January. For anyone who does not know we are giving birth in a new hospital with state of the art equipment and philosophy!
* As always, if we have missed anyone please let us know so we can add them.

Lamaze, a vacation, a Baby Shower and Halloween!

Our vacation: Big Bear Lake!

Baby Shower: Tent and Table set-up.
Our Guests.
The Baby Shower cake.
Bottle Bowling! A hit with the kids!!!
Opening gifts!
'Onesie' decorating...hey "Who Tooted?"
More gifts...
Christine, the witch.
Jonah, a baby brewing inside!
Frankenstein (spooky)!
Week # 27 (13 to go)!

Wow, what a month! We have been in the throws of beginning our Lamaze and Breastfeeding baby classes (before the holidays), coordinating the baby shower at our home and yes, spending some time decorating for Halloween; one of our favorite holidays since we get to dress up!

Our classes run about 2 hours long and are held at the hospital we will be delivering. There are about 6 other couples, looking about as lost as we are. We are learning so much, we are always so amazed at the subject matter and the depth of what we are going to need to know! Terms like Breech, Let-down and Football hold…who knew? We have 1 more Lamaze class and we graduate. We are also taking a baby care basics, baby saver and post-partum class together. The videos are as bad as we have been warned or should I say as graphic. Let’s hope the room has a stable and comfortable chair for me come delivery time. Otherwise, my 6’2” body will fall like a tree (BAM!).

We spent a very quiet and slow-paced time in Big Bear Lake for a week. It was the perfect place on the lake to relax, feed ducks, play bingo and swim (we were like 2 seniors in our prime)!

The baby shower October 22nd was an event we will remember all of our lives; it is part 1 of 2 family showers with Christine’s Dad’s next weekend November 13th. Mary Jo (Sean’s Mom), Dee (Christine’s Mom), Brandon (Sean’s Brother), Gina (Christine’s Sister), Lauren (Christine’s Sister) and Deana (Sean’s Cousin) all pitched in to make the event as successful as it was. About 40 or so people showed up at our home for Food, games and football (yes, the USC game was on and the men really appreciated that). No cancellations, can you believe that? Brandon and Deana coordinated the games that included ‘onesie’ decorating, bottle bowling (for the kids) and the ‘guess Mommies size’ with yarn! We received many gifts/sentiments and are extremely grateful for everyone’s love and support with our growing family!

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays…we love seeing the kids dressed up, decorating our home and dressing up ourselves! Our house was spooky, scary music and fog machine blowing! Christine dressed up as a witch (no direct relation to the higher than normal hormones…ha ha) and I dressed as Frankenstein (though, the kids said I looked like a monkey…go figure). Christine made a sign for Jonah (over her belly) saying “Baby Brewing Inside”. It was a fun and busy evening with more and more kids coming out every year…no left over candy this year, it is a 1st!

Other than all of this, the Doctor’s visits are on track and Christine’s blood sugar/pressure is on track. The Doctor is pleased with her weight, baby Jonah keeps kicking and kicking and kicking. If he is anything like me as a child, Lord help us!