showered. the third.

It's been a busy week here as we get ready! Last night we finished up our final class, exiting with a certification in CPR and AED (automatic external defibrillator) for adults, kids and infants. It's a great skill to learn and nice to know we're prepared should there be a serious emergency. Most of the people in class were soon to be parents and one couple in particular were about to have their baby any moment - she was in 'prelabor' already - the nurses thought she'd be in the delivery ward by Friday!

This weekend we finish our last big project, replacing the carpet upstairs and installing wood flooring.

And today Dina's office threw us a great shower. Good food and awesome generosity helped fill out most of blueberry's remaining needs. It was awesome and we're grateful for everyone's generosity! You can click the cake to see images from the event.

showered, part 2

We had another wonderful experience with family in California. More generosity and love put us further along with preparation for blueberry's arrival. Click the cake to see the photos.

35 down

so today is the unofficial beginning of the 35th week. depending on the pregnancy math you use which, apparently, is hard - like linear algebra hard. so while we have 35 starting today, other calculations have it starting in two days. plus or minus two days is a level of uncertainty i suppose i can live with. suffice to say it's close. i changed the countdown timer and we're now looking at 37 days - makes 5 weeks seem like nothing.

progress continues apace. the kid has become more aggressive recently - using dina's inside as his own private aerobics studio, complete with a speed bag. all in an effort, i'm sure, to be ready to come out and start laying waste to his daddy's nice electronics.

we started our last class last night - TotSaver - where we learn basic first aid and specifics to infant/child safety as well as become certified in pediatric/adult CPR. we finish this up next week and have nothing left to do after, but the final trip to the hospital.

showered

Had an awesome time with the family in Arizona. Everyone was generous and helped us get ready for the kid's arrival. Click on the bear for more images!

valley of the sun

We're currently around 30,000 feet in the air as we head to Arizona and have a shower with the family out there. A short trip (we're back on Sunday) but filled with fun, I'm sure!

So far the kid's a good flyer!

UPDATE: thanks wordpress for delaying this post in limbo until today. sigh.

all quiet

just realized it has been almost two weeks since an update. hard to update when it's really really quiet (aside from the kid moving constantly!). we've been lucky and have had a really uncomplicated, quiet pregnancy with little to no problems. doctor appointments that are shorter then the wait to see the doctor and almost nothing to talk to her about. we rack our brains to come up with something to tell her, but usually don't have anything.

which is great. the more boring the better, is what i hear.

doctor's appointments are now every other week - our last was last thursday. our pre-birth class finishes tomorrow night and a new class (baby care) the following monday. the final class (totsaver) starts the week after that. around the house, the room is basically done (minus a few additions to come) and the last major home activity before the birth has been scheduled.

dina's got a few images to post yet, but i won't ruin the surprise.

reality check

dina just scheduled the remaining dr appointments through the due date. reducing the expected amount of time between now and the potential birth date to 6 appointments makes it clear exactly how long we have to go. really clear.

suddenly it really feels like there's no time left.

ready room

As promised a few images of the room. Most everything is done, minus some minor organizing (see shelves not in shelving unit) and activities like preparing the bed and hanging some artwork/wall decorations (Spirit poster drawn by Uncle Lawrence).

There are other activities we'd love to do in other areas of the house (new flooring anyone?) but we'll see how the schedule goes. No one is really in a hurry here.

preparation for birth

The hospital blueberry will be born in offers a bunch of classes in preparation for the arrival. Tonight we had our first class, the first in a series of three called Preparation for Birth. Sort of a hybrid education class about the birthing process, Lamaze and everything else that could happen at delivery, the class covers a ton of stuff. Tonight we did the basic overview of labor, phases and physiology of it all. Frankly, pretty interesting. Then we watched the movie everyone talks about. Now, while the actual images were "wow" inducing, it didn't help that it was on a VHS tape, in a player that needs some cleaning of the heads and played on an elderly tv, with production quality that would make any 80's producer proud. Actually, it reminded me of two things: science movies we saw on the reel-to-reel film projectors in elementary school and old Wild Kingdom episodes. Not terrifying and slightly amusing in the presentation but completely engrossing and informative.

I didn't faint, get nauseous or have to leave the room (he knows who he is, if he's reading this).

We followed up the a/v presentations with some introductory relaxation breathing and massage.

We have two more of these classes as well as numerous others over the next few weeks. With 9 weeks or so to go till the final date, there isn't much to do or prepare and I'd say we're almost completely ready.

That doesn't mean he can come early. I'd like to finish these classes first.

At least that's what I tell him every night. I'm sure he's already practicing the 'ignoring the old man' trick and will do as he pleases.

Kids these days!

go lil bears!

Die hard Cal fans, we attend a number of football home games every year. With our schedule getting things ready for the baby, the pregnancy classes and more, it was tough getting one in, but we did. The outcome isn't important, what is important is what we bought! We bought some great Cal wear for the guy and his Abuelita Chavarela got him a rugby jersey to match his dad's. The kid is ready!

for real

I'm inserting this one post back, hiding it from the mother to be. But I've posted it other places and she hasn't rejected it, so I figured it'd be great here. Plus she looks cute all Cal'd up!

it all started with new furniture

then the closet moved into the living room. but the new carpet is nice. and the kids room looks good now. it's not completely done yet, so no pictures. once we get the linens and things in there (hey now the name of the store makes sense...) we'll do a proper tour.

wall to wall, mostly

UPDATE:

Done!

cartwheels & somersaults

Last couple of nights have been a little bit more challenging than the last 6.5 mos!  We think Blueberry might be starting to practice to be an Olympic gymnast because I swear he's doing cartwheels and somersaults in here!!  (Sometime it also feels like's he's doing the kickworm - which is something I mastered in elementary school.)  I've been feeling so much more movement at night this past week and it's getting a bit more difficult to sleep through the night - I guess this is training for when he arrives!  No biggie - he's totally worth it.

furnished

the furniture arrived today! from left to right we have - lifetime crib/bed (assembly required - it would be weird and useless if it was that thin), dresser (in back), glider w/ ottoman (in front, assembly also required) and drawer set. The bookcase in this picture is moving, but he'll have one in there as well.

next up. carpet. and we're just about done!

blue and gold

In what will probably be the first of many, many blue and gold outfits the kid will proudly wear, I was able to coerce Dina into buying this awesome number, sized appropriately to wear during the 2010 season (to compliment his other yet to be purchased, but extensive Cal wear).

Gambling a little that the kid will be on time and not late, Dina had to pull the trigger on these holiday booties:

Grandparents go shopping!

More progress on Blueberry's room this weekend.  Grandparents Ariza & Abuelos Chavarela ordered the furniture for Blueberry's room today!  Never thought we'd be so excited about a chest of drawers, but like Philip has said often as we're getting Blueberry's room ready, aside from the growing belly and him bouncing around and hiccuping, getting his room ready does make it all seem that much more real and remind us that he'll be here so soon!!  Thank you so very much to our parents for the wonderful gifts which (we hope) will last for many, many years to come: a lifetime (convertible) crib to bed (with mattress), combo unit; 6 drawer chest and glider w/ ottoman to boot!

Progress on Blueberry's Room

So this weekend was/is still another BB work weekend.  We painted the room and Daddy put up the curtains yesterday and as I'm posting this, Daddy is working on touching up the baseboards!  What an awesome Daddy, right?

BB Room Still in Progress ...

Daddy's not just lounging around - he's workin'!

Open House

No silly - not school's open house ... Blueberry's not even born yet!  We went to the Hospital's Open House tonight and took a tour of the hospital.  We first won a neat raffle prize and then we got the best treat - walking the actual maternity wing and visiting the actual rooms where we'll be in labor, delivery and recovery.  It answered a whole lot of my questions and really put me at ease. Thankfully, (as Philip noted) we heard nobody screaming! We've also been continuing to prepare Blueberry's room.  Here's a picture of Daddy spackling the wall and one of Mommy making sure the color we chose for his room will work.

Gifts for Blueberry, Mommy & Daddy!!

Thanks to a very generous friend, Blueberry received the cutest and softest sleepwear with little polar bear feet to keep him warm during the winter and we received our diaper bag!!  The diaper bag is even cooler than what we thought, so we're very excited about it.  Thank you very much to Christina and Family!!  There's Daddy modeling the bag and something for Blueberry to look forward to.