Toy Story

Brooklyn and the baby are going to be fighting over toys!!! And I guess I shouldn't be surprised; when dog toys consist of squeaky stuffed animals, how is a dog supposed to be able to differentiate between a dog stuffed animal toy and a human stuffed animal toy. I was putting a baby washcloth with a teddy bear rattle head in the wash and Brooklyn took one look at the teddy bear and starting doing high jumps to get her paws on it. She loved everything about it, the color, the sound, the fuzziness. Great!! I had to tell her "no" and then get one of her own toys - also with great color, sound and fuzziness. She grabbed her toy in her mouth, ran to the couch, and then put it down behind her and continued to stare with yearning at the bear head in my hand. This will be interesting. She is now, as I type, trying to get the slippers off of my feet, and for the same reason - when she was a puppy, I thought it was cute that she thought my fuzzy slippers were toys and I let her play with them, and so now she has claimed them as her own. Specifically this pair of slippers that I am trying to wash so I can take to the hospital. See, I can't blame her. I just hope I can get her to understand that some things are hers and somethings are the baby's! Wish me luck! (I write about Brooklyn a lot, don't I?).

Keeping Busy

K and I finally got the baby's dresser assembled - it was WAY MORE involved than I thought it was going to be, but I actually enjoy assembling furniture, so I enjoyed the process and felt complete gratification once the dresser was standing in its new home in our walk-in closet. I also assembled the bassinet (thanks TA, DS & SS!), and it is just precious. Just a little more to assemble and we are set. I put away all the baby clothes, and the closet is really starting to look like Baby Central. Bouncers are powered and ready to go, and Brooklyn is fascinated (or horrified, I can't tell) by the noise the bouncers make, so I have to make sure to play it at least once a day so she will be used to it. My Mother is obsessed with the name Etienne (while a pretty, French name, and in keeping with my love of French, we are not naming the baby Etienne). She cracks me up!

Puppy Love

A few weeks back, K and I returned home to be greeted enthusiastically by our dog, Brooklyn. As she was running to me, front paws wailing in the air, her hind legs slipped from underneath her and she managed to catch herself by sitting down like a little person and then hopping up to rest her front paws on my knees/thighs, now standing up like a little person. And I think she was a little startled by her slip and I comforted her and pet her and she stayed like this for about 2 minutes straight. She's needing all kinds of love these days; she may be sensing a change around the bend.

It's A Baby Shower

Yesterday was our Baby Shower, and it was absolutely WONDERFUL!!! Thank you so much EDB for your amazing planning, hosting and execution - we had a blast. Thank you LW for all your help as well. And really, thank you everyone for your love and support and presence and presents and for sharing in our special day!! There was amazing food, fun games with prizes ("Guess The Belly Circumference", "Name That Tune"), a onesie and bib painting station, dogs playing (Brooklyn was POOPED by the end!), adorable kids, and just a chill family vibe. The walls were decorated with pictures of me taken by our host from the time I was about 8 weeks pregnant up until the present - so wild to see the transformation. And I laugh at the weeks where I thought I was big! Little did I know how much bigger I'd get. Yes, a wonderful time was truly had by all!

Preparatory Measures

Lately my head has been swarmed with so many things that I would like to accomplish before the baby arrives, and it is overwhelming. The things separately aren't too taxing, but the accumulative effect feels daunting. So, I had to get everything out of my head and onto paper, so that I can keep a grasp and actually check things off as they get accomplished.

One of my "projects" is to gather necessary baby items that will be needed in those early days - diapers, ointment, baby oil, nasal syringe, pacifiers, etc. And it was so surreal being in the baby aisle in the store and knowing that I was buying these things for MY baby. I've only been in that aisle on my way elsewhere. It was really a defining moment.

I stepped up my Brooklyn prep a bit yesterday. I downloaded more baby sounds (not just crying) and played them all on a loop for hours so that we could both get used to them. And I continued to watch TV over the crying, since I imagine that there will be other noise in the house when the baby cries, just so Brooklyn can get an idea of what to expect. She seemed fine. I then held a towel wrapped up in a shirt to simulate a baby and walked around all night holding it. I packed the end of the shirt in a newborn-sized diaper (I couldn't believe how small and cute the diaper is), and I rubbed baby lotion all over the diaper, so that Brooklyn can start getting used to the smell. I also rubbed baby oil on me for scenting purposes. What did Brooklyn think? She LICKED the diaper and me - great, Brooklyn is going to be licking the baby! I also reviewed commands with her. She's not good at "OFF", not sure how to get that one solid in the next 6 weeks. Everything else she was pretty good at.

My belly cast sits waiting for attention - another "project" waiting to be fulfilled. When all is said and done, it will get done. And if it doesn't, I don't think the baby will mind!

Vote For Brooklyn

I know this has nothing to do with my pregnancy, but I just entered Brooklyn in a photo contest and if you click on the photo below, I believe you will be redirected to the site where you can vote for her. I don't even know what the prize is!! Oh, man, if I am like this with my dog, just imagine what my son has in store!!

40 Years Young

Today I turned 40! And you know what...it feels GREAT! And it was a wonderful birthday filled with so much love from EVERYONE - my wonderful husband, wonderful family, wonderful friends, wonderful dog. And to be able to share my 40th with my wonderful baby boy in my womb, a blessing - I am truly blessed all around! I am very happy and very grateful!