I think it's safe to say Kurt and I are on pins and needles over here wondering if we're having a boy or a girl. Up until recently, I've been pretty patient awaiting the news but now I can barely keep my composure. I'm really uncertain as to what we're having, shouldn't I have some sort of motherly intuition or something? Especially considering this little monkey is inside me!
Two strangers this weekend said with conviction that we're having a girl. Of course, Kurt ignored their predictions just as Shakespeare ignores the protruding bump I'm currently carrying around! At first I thought Kurt kept telling me we're having a boy bc he wanted to do all the father-son things like take him to Cubs games, throw the ball around or challenge him in John Madden's Football on the Playstation, but I'm starting to think he's afraid of what he'll do with our daughter's suitors? I have a weird suspicion he's going to be crazy protective if we have a girl.
We had our 36 Week visit - The doctor did an ultrasound and concluded that the baby's head has dropped (meaning, it's in place for delivery) and that my cervix is starting to thin (meaning, it's getting ready to dilate). While we were there, she asked us if we had any questions and I felt silly bc we didn't really have any questions. Shouldn't we have a notebook filled with things to ask? I told her, we were just excited to take it as it comes our way.
I did ask her how long she thinks it would be until we have the baby. She said that generally if it's your first baby, it's anywhere between 40 and 41 weeks. Kurt and I are very punctual so I guess we'll see if our child takes after us in this capacity. Our doctor did say, it could really happen at any time. The anticipation is KILLING us!
I now go to weekly visits with the doctor and they continue to check to see if I'm dilating, etc. I know it's crazy to say but I really want the time to fly. It's not bc I'm uncomfortable or anything; I just want to meet our little peanut!
One thing I'd really like to squeeze in before we have this little bambino, is to go to a Cubs game - just me and my husband! It's something that I think we both cherish doing together and they just got a new food menu, why not take advantage of my teenage appetite and enjoy a "last supper" at Wrigley?
So we have four more weeks left. I keep equating our weekly countdown to the of the end of a basketball game when people start counting down the seconds 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. We are at four?!! Soon enough we're going to have to hail the final shot before the buzzer goes off!
And when the buzzer does go off - we'll FINALLY find out if we're on Team Pink or Team Blue! Although I think it's safe to say, ether team is a winning team and we're certain to have lots of fans!
With love,
Tonya + Kurt
Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
It's The Final Countdown
This is a fun week! We're at 35 weeks and just 35 days until Baby Ames' is ready to grace us with his/her presence. I'm starting to feel some pressure in my tailbone, which according to my husband - the avid google researcher, is pretty typical. We have our big 36 week appointment next Monday. They do a final ultrasound to see what position the baby is in. They also discuss the birthing plan! Based on my calculations of hiccups, jabs and turns - the baby's head is down!
A few fun things happened this weekend! My friend Kourtney, who is a talented photographer, came over to take some shots of me and Baby Ames. Shakespeare, being the camera hog that he is, tried to take over the photo shoot - a couple times he was almost sequestered to "timeout." I'm anxious to see how the photographs turned out - And I'm even more anxious to show Baby Ames one day that he/she was in my tummy at that point!
My google researcher husband also showed his handy side and put together our baby stroller on Saturday. I absolutely LOVE it! I cannot wait to put it to good use this spring and summer and walk my thighs back into shape with our darling dear peanut. Which by the way, I'm convinced I'm not having a boy or a girl but instead an octopus! This thing has eight legs based on the activity I'm feeling.
This weekend we also were involved in our first church commitment since being new members. Kurt and I were greeters at the door on Sunday! We got to welcome all the members with a warm smile and a friendly handshake. Little did we know, we had two guests surprise us! It was Grandma and Grandpa Lazar (my mom and dad). They had a wedding in Dubuque on Saturday night and decided to head towards Chicago for a quick visit. We had a lovely brunch after church and got to laugh and indulge in yumminess.
Our hospital bags are packed - I've chosen Baby Ames' going home outfit and gotten all of our travel goodies together so we don't have to scramble last minute. The only thing we have to do yet is put in the infant car seat - and then get it checked by the fire department to ensure that it's properly put in!
If you haven't noticed, we sure are ready for this little octopus! I'm not certain Shakespeare is, he spent the better half of the Sunday sitting on the nursery rug glaring at the stroller. He also got disheveled when I showed Kurt what our child would be wearing home from the hospital. I think reality is starting to settle in with him.
To recap this week's blog entry - It's safe to say Kurt and I don't think we've ever been happier in our lives! We have been so blessed with each week and having such great things happen. I can only imagine what it will be like when we have a little octopus to love too! Thank you for your continued love and support! It's priceless in our minds!
Much love,
Tonya + Kurt
A few fun things happened this weekend! My friend Kourtney, who is a talented photographer, came over to take some shots of me and Baby Ames. Shakespeare, being the camera hog that he is, tried to take over the photo shoot - a couple times he was almost sequestered to "timeout." I'm anxious to see how the photographs turned out - And I'm even more anxious to show Baby Ames one day that he/she was in my tummy at that point!
My google researcher husband also showed his handy side and put together our baby stroller on Saturday. I absolutely LOVE it! I cannot wait to put it to good use this spring and summer and walk my thighs back into shape with our darling dear peanut. Which by the way, I'm convinced I'm not having a boy or a girl but instead an octopus! This thing has eight legs based on the activity I'm feeling.
This weekend we also were involved in our first church commitment since being new members. Kurt and I were greeters at the door on Sunday! We got to welcome all the members with a warm smile and a friendly handshake. Little did we know, we had two guests surprise us! It was Grandma and Grandpa Lazar (my mom and dad). They had a wedding in Dubuque on Saturday night and decided to head towards Chicago for a quick visit. We had a lovely brunch after church and got to laugh and indulge in yumminess.
Our hospital bags are packed - I've chosen Baby Ames' going home outfit and gotten all of our travel goodies together so we don't have to scramble last minute. The only thing we have to do yet is put in the infant car seat - and then get it checked by the fire department to ensure that it's properly put in!
If you haven't noticed, we sure are ready for this little octopus! I'm not certain Shakespeare is, he spent the better half of the Sunday sitting on the nursery rug glaring at the stroller. He also got disheveled when I showed Kurt what our child would be wearing home from the hospital. I think reality is starting to settle in with him.
To recap this week's blog entry - It's safe to say Kurt and I don't think we've ever been happier in our lives! We have been so blessed with each week and having such great things happen. I can only imagine what it will be like when we have a little octopus to love too! Thank you for your continued love and support! It's priceless in our minds!
Much love,
Tonya + Kurt
Monday, March 21, 2011
We Have Quite the Wiggle Worm
Six more weeks until Baby Ames arrives and let's been honest folks - it could really happen any day! But let's just say Baby Ames is patient (unlike his/her mommy) and decides to wait until the due date of May 2nd. That would mean we have 42 days to wait for the little peanut to join us in this amazing world.
The baby continues to wiggle around per usual. I swear he/she got up around 5:30am on Sunday to do some calisthenics for a good hour and a half in my uterus! Many of my friends and family have admitted to liking the way it feels to have the baby move around but I have to disagree. I'm not really into the kidney punch here and the jousting of the ribs there. I know it's a good sign but, sheez this monkey has some power - more than I have at age 33!
This weekend we were blessed with having a shower with friends and family here in Chicago. We had such a good time laughing and eating and then laughing and eating again. I really have to say, I have an amazing set of friends. They really put together a baby shower that I didn't even know could exist. Schyler got to feel her cousin kick a few times, I was happy she got to experience that! It's well worth the gut punch from Baby Ames' limb.
The baby's rocking chair came in on Thursday evening, just in time for the celebration of Baby Ames! Before we know it, we'll be "rocking out" with our little newborn in the nursery. I'm tempted to try out the chair and start reading some of the children's books we've received as gifts! Practice makes perfect, right?
We got a slew of baby bottles, bibs, blankets, and more this weekend so I would say we truly are ready for D Day. While putting the things away in the nursery it was hard not to imagine using each goodie with our little bundle of joy.
I'd like to share with you those things that make us grateful today:
-The abundance of love and support from such an amazing family and circle of friends
-The generosity of baby goods to help us start our journey with our little peanut
-Adding memories to our many volumes of treasured moments, this weekend is the newest entry
Weeks continue to breeze by and and we have officially embarked upon spring time! It's safe to say, we are getting close to having our lives get flipped upside down in a good way. At that point I grant Baby Ames an infinite amount of kicks and wiggles - until then, I'll grip tightly through each field goal kick (football) or shuffle ball change (tap dancing) that I am blessed with.
Lots of love,
Tonya + Kurt
The baby continues to wiggle around per usual. I swear he/she got up around 5:30am on Sunday to do some calisthenics for a good hour and a half in my uterus! Many of my friends and family have admitted to liking the way it feels to have the baby move around but I have to disagree. I'm not really into the kidney punch here and the jousting of the ribs there. I know it's a good sign but, sheez this monkey has some power - more than I have at age 33!
This weekend we were blessed with having a shower with friends and family here in Chicago. We had such a good time laughing and eating and then laughing and eating again. I really have to say, I have an amazing set of friends. They really put together a baby shower that I didn't even know could exist. Schyler got to feel her cousin kick a few times, I was happy she got to experience that! It's well worth the gut punch from Baby Ames' limb.
The baby's rocking chair came in on Thursday evening, just in time for the celebration of Baby Ames! Before we know it, we'll be "rocking out" with our little newborn in the nursery. I'm tempted to try out the chair and start reading some of the children's books we've received as gifts! Practice makes perfect, right?
We got a slew of baby bottles, bibs, blankets, and more this weekend so I would say we truly are ready for D Day. While putting the things away in the nursery it was hard not to imagine using each goodie with our little bundle of joy.
I'd like to share with you those things that make us grateful today:
-The abundance of love and support from such an amazing family and circle of friends
-The generosity of baby goods to help us start our journey with our little peanut
-Adding memories to our many volumes of treasured moments, this weekend is the newest entry
Weeks continue to breeze by and and we have officially embarked upon spring time! It's safe to say, we are getting close to having our lives get flipped upside down in a good way. At that point I grant Baby Ames an infinite amount of kicks and wiggles - until then, I'll grip tightly through each field goal kick (football) or shuffle ball change (tap dancing) that I am blessed with.
Lots of love,
Tonya + Kurt
Monday, March 14, 2011
Honeydew This, Honeydew That
Well, we're at week 33 and I know I say this all the time but holy cow time is passing by quickly! We could have this baby in four weeks and at that point we'll be "full-term." Where did time go? In a month there's a chance Baby Ames will be with us.
This weekend we had a weekend of Baby Bliss! We spent the full day on Saturday at Prentice, where we'll be welcoming our little peanut into the world. We took a labor and delivery class and got a tour of the hospital. It was a lot of information and videos to take in from 8:30am to 4:30pm. While we were learning about the different stages of labor and seeing some close ups of babies being born, the city of Chicago was indulging in Guinness and painting the town green. Boy have things changed for Kurt and myself - we were no longer celebrating our faux-Irish heritage. Sunday we took a CPR and safety class. I've already filled out the emergency numbers to call and have them taped to our cabinet just in case. We hope we'll never have to call those numbers but better to be safe than sorry!
Baby Ames sure is growing - he/she is the size of honeydew. Who knew Baby Ames would grow like a weed and already weighing a whopping 4 pounds? Yowzers! And the baby continues to move like a monkey, I swear he/she is swinging from organ to organ. Yesterday I got kidney punched a good handful of times!
I just got home from seeing my friend Erin and her new baby, Cate (who was born on Tuesday). We have a potential girlfriend or best friend for Baby Ames! I had a talk with Cate tonight and told her to rest up bc there's lots of fun to be had between the two of them. Holding the newborn made me excited yet nervous bc I just don't know what we're going to do with a newborn! I guess we'll learn as we go. Isn't that what most parents do?
Well, expect a few panicked calls from Kurt or myself - I'm sure we'll have all of your numbers on speed dial asking what do we do with our honeydew. Until then we'll read up on things and take our final newborn class!
Well grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and friends - get ready bc a whirlwind of the Baby Ames storm is on the horizon!! Don't touch that dial!!
Lots of Love,
Tonya + Kurt
This weekend we had a weekend of Baby Bliss! We spent the full day on Saturday at Prentice, where we'll be welcoming our little peanut into the world. We took a labor and delivery class and got a tour of the hospital. It was a lot of information and videos to take in from 8:30am to 4:30pm. While we were learning about the different stages of labor and seeing some close ups of babies being born, the city of Chicago was indulging in Guinness and painting the town green. Boy have things changed for Kurt and myself - we were no longer celebrating our faux-Irish heritage. Sunday we took a CPR and safety class. I've already filled out the emergency numbers to call and have them taped to our cabinet just in case. We hope we'll never have to call those numbers but better to be safe than sorry!
Baby Ames sure is growing - he/she is the size of honeydew. Who knew Baby Ames would grow like a weed and already weighing a whopping 4 pounds? Yowzers! And the baby continues to move like a monkey, I swear he/she is swinging from organ to organ. Yesterday I got kidney punched a good handful of times!
I just got home from seeing my friend Erin and her new baby, Cate (who was born on Tuesday). We have a potential girlfriend or best friend for Baby Ames! I had a talk with Cate tonight and told her to rest up bc there's lots of fun to be had between the two of them. Holding the newborn made me excited yet nervous bc I just don't know what we're going to do with a newborn! I guess we'll learn as we go. Isn't that what most parents do?
Well, expect a few panicked calls from Kurt or myself - I'm sure we'll have all of your numbers on speed dial asking what do we do with our honeydew. Until then we'll read up on things and take our final newborn class!
Well grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles and friends - get ready bc a whirlwind of the Baby Ames storm is on the horizon!! Don't touch that dial!!
Lots of Love,
Tonya + Kurt
Monday, March 7, 2011
Childhood is Calling
We are at 32 weeks today and Baby Ames is the size of a squash. It's amazing the activity that the baby is starting to undertake. I swear he/she just does flips and turns all day long. And at times the baby tends to kick an organ here and there. I've also had to move a limb away from my rib cage by squeezing down on my belly like I would a tube of toothpaste! This baby is a ball of energy! They say it's a good thing that he/she is so active so we'll take it.
This weekend we had the pleasure to stroll down memory lane with a few good friends. We went to Des Moines to see my good friend, Mary Berdo, get inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Girls State Tournament. I think we laughed nearly the entire time! Basketball was such a large part of my childhood and that was something that Mary and I enjoyed together. We were teammates from 7th grade until we graduated high school. She was with me during my "bad perms and braces" years and still loves me. Now that's a friend.
We really enjoyed turning the pages of our childhood and talking with our parents of all the fun times we endured. It made me giddy inside knowing that my child will soon embark in similar memories with friends and family just as I have. I'm super anxious to be with him/her every step of the way! And I have a feeling they will be warm memories just as I have of my childhood that we'll be sharing with our peanut.
Being pregnant has really brought a lot of things to the forefront that I had locked away in my treasure chest of memories. It's been so rewarding going through these 32 weeks and thinking about my childhood vs the one our child will soon have. So many things will be different yet I hope we share a commonality - and that's good friends, warm memories and a ton of laughter!
So we have 8 weeks left until we start the new journey of childhood and laughter. On our car ride home from Iowa I told Kurt this was the last road trip we'd take without our baby. From here on out, it's the three of us - well four of us counting Shakespeare. I don't think Shakes was too keen on the idea of sharing a backseat with Baby Ames. Regardless, we're keen on sharing treasured memories with our soon-to-be son or daughter!
This weekend we had the pleasure to stroll down memory lane with a few good friends. We went to Des Moines to see my good friend, Mary Berdo, get inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Girls State Tournament. I think we laughed nearly the entire time! Basketball was such a large part of my childhood and that was something that Mary and I enjoyed together. We were teammates from 7th grade until we graduated high school. She was with me during my "bad perms and braces" years and still loves me. Now that's a friend.
We really enjoyed turning the pages of our childhood and talking with our parents of all the fun times we endured. It made me giddy inside knowing that my child will soon embark in similar memories with friends and family just as I have. I'm super anxious to be with him/her every step of the way! And I have a feeling they will be warm memories just as I have of my childhood that we'll be sharing with our peanut.
Being pregnant has really brought a lot of things to the forefront that I had locked away in my treasure chest of memories. It's been so rewarding going through these 32 weeks and thinking about my childhood vs the one our child will soon have. So many things will be different yet I hope we share a commonality - and that's good friends, warm memories and a ton of laughter!
So we have 8 weeks left until we start the new journey of childhood and laughter. On our car ride home from Iowa I told Kurt this was the last road trip we'd take without our baby. From here on out, it's the three of us - well four of us counting Shakespeare. I don't think Shakes was too keen on the idea of sharing a backseat with Baby Ames. Regardless, we're keen on sharing treasured memories with our soon-to-be son or daughter!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Special Holiday
Week 31 folks - we've hit the single digit weekly countdown until the baby joins us. We have another guest writer this week that has contributed a little something special to the peanut. Kurt and I want to thank all of you for adding a little something special to the blog. Whether it be a formal posting, a comment after a week of my tangents, or even a special phone call commenting on our words - we REALLY appreciate all the support! Feel free if you want to add anything, this is for all of us - as we're in this journey together. Have a great week and enjoy this little note to Baby Ames...
Sweet Baby Ames,
We are about to celebrate a very special day. It is the day of your birth. This day is called your birthday. When you arrive all your grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and puppies will want to come and visit you bringing love, hugs, and gifts. This will be your very own special day that you alone will have. Everyone who touches your life will be given a special mark in their hearts that only you can give.
Grandpa and Grandma Ames want you to stay safe and warm in Mommy's belly until you want to announce to the world that you are ready to join us. Perhaps when that night arrives we will be able to look far into the heavens and see a bright light that guides us to you.
Awaiting your special holiday,
Grandpa and Grandma Ames
Sweet Baby Ames,
We are about to celebrate a very special day. It is the day of your birth. This day is called your birthday. When you arrive all your grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and puppies will want to come and visit you bringing love, hugs, and gifts. This will be your very own special day that you alone will have. Everyone who touches your life will be given a special mark in their hearts that only you can give.
Grandpa and Grandma Ames want you to stay safe and warm in Mommy's belly until you want to announce to the world that you are ready to join us. Perhaps when that night arrives we will be able to look far into the heavens and see a bright light that guides us to you.
Awaiting your special holiday,
Grandpa and Grandma Ames
Monday, February 21, 2011
No More Wire Hangers
We are now officially in the 30's! We are at Week 30. They say the baby is ready to join the world by Week 37 but full gestation is through Week 40. So really, we could have the baby anywhere between 7-10 weeks from now. Wow, it gives me butterflies thinking of how quickly Baby Ames will be here!
I have a saint for a husband. I think most of you know that, but let me explain a little further. Saturday morning we got up early to run errands around the city and neither of us were in a great mood. I decided to call off the errand running bc the last thing I wanted to do is fight on a Saturday. Here's the equation I wanted to avoid: 2 cranky soon-to-be parents + a stressful errand run around Chicago = not a good weekend.
The catalyst of my cranky behavior was that the house had so much clutter and stuff that I just thought I'd blow. I cannot stand living in clutter and I'd reached my boiling point. I got out of the car, walked up stairs (while Kurt ran a couple neighborhood errands) and I went "Joan Crawford aka Mommy Dearest" on our cabinets and closets. I threw away at least three black trash bags of junk and I think Shakespeare thought I was possessed by the devil for that brief moment. (no joke, he was shaking)
Kurt came back up to the house and while he was out and about, he got me a soothing tea and also gave me a hug, seeing me in the midst of all the clutter and soon-to-be trash. What a husband!! I told him I didn't know what had gotten into me but I just could not live with the clutter anymore. He attempted to tell me that I'm "nesting." While I love his thought process, I'm not quite sure if I have a maternal bone in my body? Regardless, the house is spic and span now and I challenge each of you to the closet and cabinet test upon your next visit.
The nursery is 99% complete, we're just waiting on one more piece of furniture - the rocker! It feels good to have things done but now I just keep torturing myself by going in there and imagining the days to come with our little peanut. I turn on the lamps every day pretending that he/she is already here.
So the moral of the story is, I have an amazing husband that takes good care of me. A few weeks ago we started a "Grateful Journal" where each day we write three things that we're grateful for. Well, February 19th, 2011 stated all things Kurt Ames bc I'm truly grateful for him.
Hopefully your week doesn't consist of Joan Crawford moments but yet you realize all the little things that make you grateful bc we all are truly blessed. Whether it be an amazing spouse, a loving pet or an old friend to make you laugh - I think we all can agree, Life is Good!
Lots of love,
Tonya
I have a saint for a husband. I think most of you know that, but let me explain a little further. Saturday morning we got up early to run errands around the city and neither of us were in a great mood. I decided to call off the errand running bc the last thing I wanted to do is fight on a Saturday. Here's the equation I wanted to avoid: 2 cranky soon-to-be parents + a stressful errand run around Chicago = not a good weekend.
The catalyst of my cranky behavior was that the house had so much clutter and stuff that I just thought I'd blow. I cannot stand living in clutter and I'd reached my boiling point. I got out of the car, walked up stairs (while Kurt ran a couple neighborhood errands) and I went "Joan Crawford aka Mommy Dearest" on our cabinets and closets. I threw away at least three black trash bags of junk and I think Shakespeare thought I was possessed by the devil for that brief moment. (no joke, he was shaking)
Kurt came back up to the house and while he was out and about, he got me a soothing tea and also gave me a hug, seeing me in the midst of all the clutter and soon-to-be trash. What a husband!! I told him I didn't know what had gotten into me but I just could not live with the clutter anymore. He attempted to tell me that I'm "nesting." While I love his thought process, I'm not quite sure if I have a maternal bone in my body? Regardless, the house is spic and span now and I challenge each of you to the closet and cabinet test upon your next visit.
The nursery is 99% complete, we're just waiting on one more piece of furniture - the rocker! It feels good to have things done but now I just keep torturing myself by going in there and imagining the days to come with our little peanut. I turn on the lamps every day pretending that he/she is already here.
So the moral of the story is, I have an amazing husband that takes good care of me. A few weeks ago we started a "Grateful Journal" where each day we write three things that we're grateful for. Well, February 19th, 2011 stated all things Kurt Ames bc I'm truly grateful for him.
Hopefully your week doesn't consist of Joan Crawford moments but yet you realize all the little things that make you grateful bc we all are truly blessed. Whether it be an amazing spouse, a loving pet or an old friend to make you laugh - I think we all can agree, Life is Good!
Lots of love,
Tonya
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