Thanks for your patience.

E

Since the last update, a lot has happened! Dallas and I spent Memorial Day weekend painting the nursery. I spent a good part of an afternoon at Home Depot looking a paint samples from grays to greens and everything in between. I think I brought two dozen samples home. I’ve never been very good at spontaneous decision-making.  I was definitely leaning more towards a light gray, Dallas towards a green. We are really good at compromise and finding a happy middle ground. But this time, there wasn’t a middle ground. The gray won out. Initially, we were going to paint the main wall, which is almost 14′ high by 14′ long. That’s a good accent wall. Then we bumped the other walls while painting. It’s all gray now. But seriously, I painted the lower half of the room and the trim while he did the upper half grunt work. We make an awesome team. But we were really sore the next couple of days.

Here are some before and after shots – the gray is REALLY subtle, especially in natural lighting. But that’s what we were going for.

Nursery Before:

Nursery After:

Our decorating progress hasn’t moved much past this point yet. I’m not freaking about the state of the room, which honestly surprises me a bit. We have a Pack N Play that Granddad sent us – we’re planning on using that for at least the first several weeks in our own room, so she has a place to sleep. We have been graciously blessed with a stroller, a car seat, a swing and a bouncy chair, so there is no lack of things to keep her moving when our arms get tired. I keep reminding myself that she won’t even appreciate the nursery when we bring her home, so that takes some of the pressure off.

We also have the crib bedding, which was sent from my aunt and uncle in Florida – a wonderful surprise!

This the Liberty of London line that Target is carrying for the summer. Looking back, I can’t believe I considered making my own crib skirt and bedding. I could have done it, no doubt. But I am SO grateful this came back in – it’s perfect for us.

Along with all the fun happenings, we have had an emotional month. My grandfather was diagnosed with renal failure, which wasn’t completely unexpected, but I hoped would never happen. My sister, brother, and I met up here in Chicago and flew to be with him and the rest of the family. He is in good spirits, considering. We were blessed beyond measure from good friends (who are practically family) who got us some majorly discounted airline tickets so we could say our goodbyes. My grandfather doesn’t want a funeral and all that fuss, which I understand. And I can’t emphasize the stubborn willpower of that side of our family. Granddad is home right now and still holding up. I don’t think I have ever met anyone with his level of fight and determination. I love him to pieces. We still appreciate all your prayers and support.

The next few weeks will see us through our Prepared Childbirth Class (which I’m certain Dallas is dreading) and a baby shower, which my sister is planning. Anything party she plans and throws turns out to be incredible and perfect. I can’t wait.

I want to be better about updating more frequently, but it is what it is. You think this is bad, you should see my journal. One journal, started when I left for college in ‘99, has yet to be filled. Yeah, I’m a work in progress.

Baby Girl and I are in week 23 – holy cow, it’s gone by fast! Remind me of that late August when I’m a beached whale on my couch in the humid oxygen-sucking heat. But for now, we’re having fun. I usually feel a lot of activity from her in the late evening as we’re relaxing on the couch in front of the tele. But yesterday was fairly quiet – until we got into bed. 11 pm this little one starts her warm-up. Fortunately, I’m a pretty good sleeper, so I was out in about 10 minutes. However, someone decided to bust out a full-on dance party at 5:30am, repetitively kicking me in a small organ known as my bladder. So then we were both up. I ate some breakfast, and she kept going! My mom laughed when I called her this morning. Apparently karma is a real, well, you know.

The nursery plans are coming along, but I’m desperately trying to sell a couple of items on Craigslist. It’d be nice to get cash, but at this point, I just want to get rid of it. So one more week or so, then it’s all headed to the Salvation Army. We don’t have furniture yet, which is fine. There’s no room for it. But my planning/nesting phase (which I think started when I was 4), has kicked in. My new obsession is a site called Polyvore, a little gem for those of us having trouble viewing the whole picture in our heads. You start with a blank canvas and can type in anything you’re looking for, whether it be an item such as “table” or “lamp.” You can be specific and even search by store, like “IKEA” or “Target.” Yeah, it’s addicting. I’m just warning you.

Here’s what I’ve come up with thus far.

The crib, dresser, and wardrobe are from IKEA. The rocker is from IKEA as well, but I think we’re going with a chocolate brown. The bedding is the Liberty of London line from Target. I’m thinking of using the twin set for our daybed. Otherwise, I may go with a solid color, that way I can change things up. The gray rug is new to IKEA and I’m really excited to find that. Totally what I had in mind. The little blue table represents a similar item I redid myself about 8 months ago – a cool church garage sale find. A couple of soft lamps, a girlie mirror, and a few other touches. But I’m excited to have a visual to work from. Still need to decide on the wall color. And I have a secret mural I’m working on with Jenni (my sister). Can’t wait to post photos as this comes together!

Okay, hubby is home and pizza is almost done. Later gaters!

Along with this pasty skin (mostly thanks to genetics) comes the development of “beauty marks.” I went to the dermatologist yesterday to have one looked at. I read that skin changes during pregnancy are normal due to hormones, but if there are changes, they should be checked out. I had a feeling going in that it would be last time I saw that cute little dot on the back of my calf.

What I wasn’t prepared for was the six stitches I would walk away with after said appointment. We should have results within a week, which honestly, I’m completely NOT worried about (and neither is the doctor). But something about having a baby has shut down many logical pathways in my brain and I never saw it coming. (Oh, the baby brain stories I could tell. We’ll save it for a later post I guess). But this is the first time in my life that I’ve had stitches. And they are bothersome. Not downright painful, but I may reassess that viewpoint after  I’ve showered and changed the bandages.

So I’ve got about two weeks to really milk this stitches situation for all it’s worth. But sadly, I’m really bad at doing that. So I’ll go finish the laundry, do some grocery shopping, and come home to clean the house. Aren’t I a good wife??

Spring, I believe, is taunting us Chicagoans. I don’t trust this sudden burst of 50+ degree weather. Rainy or not, I will not be deluded to think that snow is no longer a possibility for us. I adore this weather and it gets me out of the house to spend time with good friends, eating chili taco salad in flower shops. (Thanks Viv, I loved our afternoon lunch date.) Now we’re sitting at home watching the lightning in the distance. Another dastardly scheme. “Look Erin, thunderstorms. See, I’m back.” Oh, I’m onto you Spring. Haven’t you ever heard of thundersnow? Yeah, I caught you. ‘Fess up. You put away your bag of tricks until it’s really time for you to be here. And that’s usually around May. And I won’t believe any of your global warming gibberish.

We’re sitting here watching the final nights of the Olympics and pretending that we can predict winners. Because we’re well-versed in Olympic sports, like women’s figure skating. We’re not. I just know that if they don’t fall on their butts, that’s a good thing. : )  USA! USA! USA! And I’m ready for my favorite shows on NBC to return next week.

In other news, we are thrilled to announce that we are expecting our first child around Labor Day weekend 2010. Ironic, right? I have been pretty tired, although compared to most women, my experience has not been terrible. I have yet to pull chicken from the freezer to thaw it for dinner. I can’t stomach looking at it right now. However, Dallas has been wonderful in his willingness to learn new meals and has more than stepped up to the plate. I am very grateful for his love. : )

We had a great time surprising my mom – her reaction was priceless. We literally spent the rest of the day on the phone contacting the rest of the family to share the news. Earlier this month we were blessed to hear the heartbeat, which was strong and quick. Hopefully we will be able to find out the gender of this baby just after Easter.

No news yet on a job for me. I was told there were decisions being made, but have yet to hear further updates. So we’re still in a holding pattern. Dallas has been working his tail off (when does he not) and I enjoy the few lazy days we get here and there.

I am desperate for spring to arrive. The cold temps, dry air, and lack of outdoor time is getting to me. We’re not really major outdoors people, but I am longing for a leisurely stroll with my love on a warm evening.

Otherwise, I’m biding my time by running our small household, organizing and reorganizing spaces to plan more room for baby, looking for basic baby needs (crib, stroller, etc.), and reminding myself to get out of the house and visit friends.  I can only scrub that bathroom so many times in one week.

As we have more family updates, we will post them here to share with you. Thanks for your love and support!

Are there milestones in your life that you have reached and you are nowhere near where you thought you would be? Or are you exactly where your life plans guided and directed you? The what-if’s and the why’s of the past are no longer there for us to manipulate, but God-willing, there is a least another 30 (hopefully more!) years ahead to take amazing strides and see where life goes and what it holds for us.

So my birthday wish for you today, my love, is that you live your life to the fullest. That your eyes are opened to the grand opportunities that life hands you as well as the tender moments that slip quietly by. May you cherish both. Be led by God, allow me to walk alongside you, and let’s journey together. I love you with all my heart.

The silver lining to being unemployed is that I have the time to tackle such a project. The job with the family as a nanny didn’t pan out, but I think it’s really for the best. I am learning many life lessons, which aren’t always pleasant, but still deepens my pool of “stuff-I-thought-I-knew-but-realized-I-don’t-really-know-anything.” I have had a job from the moment I was legally allowed to work. I was the middle child, afflicted with a bad case of middle-child syndrome. I wanted to provide for myself and not be a bother to my parents. I would stash away birthday and holiday money – which came in handy when I ran away. To the bushes in the front yard. Then back to my room when I saw my parents car coming down the road. You can never be too prepared.

Where was I? Oh, yes. I have always wanted to be able to provide for myself and learn to be self-sufficient, which I believed to be synonymous with strength. I have learned these last two months that sometimes it takes more strength to allow someone else to provide for you and to be humble enough to accept it with grace and thanksgiving.