Stay-At-Home... Bum?

Technically, I guess I'm already a mama. I mean, I *have* a baby - it's just not available right now. But it's hard to consider myself a stay-at-home-mom when I'm essentially home by myself.
Here's the agenda for today:
Clean floors after 30-ish teenagers invaded our home for a Super Bowl party last night. CHECK.
Run dishwasher after 30-ish teenagers invaded our home for a Super Bowl party last night. CHECK.
Make the bed. CHECK.
Go grocery shopping & return all our cans for a refund (finally!)
Do some cooking for freezer meals once Baby B is on the scene.
Get desktop computer up and running again (this one may take awhile).
Clean up Baby B's room. Again. Because it has turned into my own personal craft studio.
Maybe if I get most/all of these things done I won't feel like such a bum - it's just really funny to be at home and know you're not on vacation from work... to know that you're just plain not going back. Weird.
I DID manage to make Mark's backpack-style diaper bag this weekend (he picked out the fabric himself, and has already named it Midnight), and made a ring sling for carrying Baby B around... I'm feeling pretty good about those projects being done. Once I get my SAHB act together, I'll post a picture or two.

think inside the box

Well, folks - it's been a busy week, and apparently I've been slacking in my bloggie responsibilities. Between some evening commitments and finishing up my final days at work, I've been neglecting my poor little blog. Sincere apologies are extended to all (three of you) who read this.
First - no, there is no Baby B on the scene yet. Still very much pregnant.
Second - today is my first official day as a stay-at-home-mama. I must say - while the baby is still in utero - this staying-at-home thing ain't so bad. :) We went to the doctor this morning, made some cranberry-orange muffins, had lunch with friends, and I've gotten a pedicure, watched a little TV, started the dishwasher and done some organizing this afternoon. It feels good to be at home.
Third - the picture. Wednesday night the UPS man climbed our steps with a package. This is not an unusual occurence these days, what with my manic online-shopping-to-prepare-for-Baby-B's-arrival, I think we've been getting a delivery pretty much every single day for the past millenium. But the box in question was rather large, and I hadn't ordered anything large.
Come to find out that my Aunt Val had coordinated with other members of the family (who live in IL and WI, at a minimum of 4-5 hours from here) to throw me a Surprise Baby Shower in a Box. Complete with goodies (muffins, gummi bears, tea & cider), gifts, games, prizes and a helium balloon. I was incredibly touched by my family's generosity and by the effort that went into the gesture. A very cool surprise, to be sure.
I think tomorrow will be a fairly quiet day, and then we're having a bunch of squirrelly ninth-graders over to "watch the Super Bowl." Really, it just means we'll have the TV on and a lot of food on the table. Should be fun.
That's our life in a nutshell. And I swear, I'll try to do better about posting regularly so that no one has to wonder.

interior decorator *updated*

Here are a couple "shots" of Baby's Room - I still have a few things to do (you'll notice the walls are *ahem* rather bare...). But it's functional and ready to rock otherwise. The blue walls (and blue chair and blue futon and blue curtains) in no way indicate that we are "hoping" for a boy (I personally think it's a little creepy to "hope" for a specific gender...) I just really love blue. I love the bright colors in the room, and I love that most of what's in that room is either homemade, a gift, purchased with a gift card, or was something we already owned. (Honestly, I spent the same amount of money on the Boppy slipcoveras I did on the flannel sheets for the futon...)
*Update - the dresser I painted is along the wall to the right... the pictures I took of that wall are pretty dull, though, which is why I didn't include them here. It's basically blank walls, the other end of the futon, and the dresser. But it's in there, adding color & life, and serving as our changing table. Hooray for things pulling double duty!

unexpected treasures

I know I've complained (commented) on some people's inability to say anything constructive, positive or encouraging to pregnant women.
Today, I'm encouraged by some other people's ability to communicate such excitement, passion & awe about the process that is motherhood.
I *love* talking to people who look at things from a positive, growing, purposeful perspective. (I don't always do it myself, but I try, and am drawn to this quality in others). I just had a lovely conversation with a co-worker in the College of Business (she has 3 kids, aged 21 to 8). Her eyes were alight, and her genuine excitement for me was such a blessing.
Thanks, Lord. I needed that today. :)

little guitarist

While you're pregnant, it's fun to find ways to actually interact with your baby.
Obviously, you can poke at the baby, and you'll usually get some kind of kick or thump in response.
I prefer to gently rub my belly, and watch Baby roll and squirm - almost as if s/he is trying to realign to where my hand just was, saying, "Keep rubbing my back, Mama."
But Mark and I have discovered a new, very fun way to play with Baby.
His guitar.
Mark's been playing the guitar for a few years now, and I think he's pretty durn good. I mean, we have professional-level concerts in our living room, with him strumming away and both of us singing our guts out. And the dogs and cats in our neighborhood howl right along with us...
Lack of identifiable musical talent aside - Baby seems to really enjoy when Daddy plays guitar. The wiggles and movements are strong and big - my whole tummy seems to be moving (almost on beat, which makes me laugh) along with the music. We serenaded Baby for at least 30 minutes last night - and not only is it fun to sit in the living room and sing songs (loudly and in *perfect* harmony) with my husband, it's incredibly fun to watch our unborn Little One enjoy it as well.
Either that, or s/he is flailing around, trying to get us to stop embarrassing it.
I'll go with the former. :)

lazy saturday

Today I:
- slept in (until 7:20am!!)
- moved furniture around in Baby's Room, trying to figure out how to fit our futon, a dresser, a crib, a bookcase & an armchair glider into a 9 by 11 room (if you stick the bookcase in the closet, you've got a shot at making it work...)
- did dishes, cleaned up the living room & kitchen
- hung out with my friend Dana for about 7 hours; made delicious salads for lunch, made puppy chow for a snack, and watched the extended version of The Fellowship of the Ring - oh, and talked a LOT
It was a nice, lazy Saturday. And now, I'm sitting on the living room floor, tv on in the background, Baby B hiccuping in my belly, and enjoying these little moments. I don't know why I seem to forget this - but God is absolutely woven into the fibers of our everyday lives, just waiting for us to look for Him.

bulletin board replacement

Our office has a bulletin board out in the wallway, encouraging students to "Meet Your Advisers!" (I don't know who really reads about us, but our pictures and short little bios/answers to questions are posted there.)
Yesterday, I walked past the bulletin board and noticed my picture was no longer posted. Andrea's happy face is smiling out from where mine once was. It's a strange, bittersweet, freeing kind of feeling... I'm phasing out of this place.
Life as I currently know it will stop abruptly in a few weeks, and alter its course forever. I'm entering a world of diapers, pacifiers, nighttime feedings, tiny hands in mine, and more wonder and heartache and joy than I can even comprehend. I can't wait.
But these halls - this office, these four walls, this place - will continue much in the same way. I'll be missed for a little while, but ultimately, I will just have been witness to just a few heartbeats in its lifespan.
I'm so excited to be a Mama to this little child of God. Sad to leave some of the familiar behind, yes. But I couldn't be more thrilled about the unknowns awaiting me.

a crib made of sticks and spit

Yes, I am nesting. No, I will not build the crib (or any of the furniture for my child's room) out of sticks and spit. Although it does sound kind of fun to try...
Mama Bird instincts have kicked in (although the crazy task-master tendencies are balanced out by the physical limitations of my body - thank goodness!). I want the nursery ready to go - to walk in there, sit down, and imagine the room belonging to someone - as opposed to imagining what it will look like when I finally clean the silly room up.
Since the showers are all over now, I can go shopping for Baby B and get all the little things crossed off my list. Baby B is "due" in less than a month - and I've always worked better under a bit of pressure.
Mark and I saw an excellent movie this weekend - Juno. It's a little irreverent, and not *exactly* wholesome - but it's honest and heartfelt and has some terrific moments of what it looks like to love & serve other people. I cried twice (which may or may not be directly related to the raging ninth-month of pregnancy hormones...)
In other important news - I ate four cookies yesterday. Because three just wasn't enough.
Yum. I *may* eat four again tonight.

yahoo yippee hooray

That's the sound my brain made this morning when I realized it was FRIDAY. For real. Because my brain has been trying to convince that it was Friday since Wednesday... and it wasn't ever actually TRUE until this morning. Yahoo Yippee Hooray!! A weekend is just what the doctor ordered...
Tomorrow marks the official "Due Date is One Month Away" point. Things are starting to feel much closer, a little more real, and, well... bigger. Bigger both literally (this child feels enormous to me right now) and figuratively (realizing more and more each day that I have yet to realize how much different - in both good AND tough ways - my life is about to become).
Today, though - I'm trying to enjoy the moments as they come. Itchy belly, puffy fingers & ankles, a not-so-slight waddle-walk... but also the indescribable feeling of God's child moving around inside me, the daydreams of caressing little hands & feet in just a matter of weeks, and the overwhelming feeling of being blessed by this responsibility.
I'm gonna soak in those thoughts this weekend.

is something wrong here?

Ever have a day when you think:
What in the world are people thinking??? Are they thinking? Or do they expect me to do all the thinking and the working and the problem-solving for them??
To be fair - for the most part, that's my job. Answering questions, helping students plan their futures (whether it's long-term, or helping them plan the next few days) - and for the most part, I love it.
This week is a busy week. The first week of classes ALWAYS is hectic, and for some reason, the first week in January is almost crazier than the first week in August. Or at least, a different kind of crazy. But knowing & expecting a crazy, hectic week doesn't always make it that much easier to deal with when the time comes.
I just got off the phone with a student. Our conversation went like this:
"Good morning, this is Katie. Can I help you?"
"Um. Yeah. Um. I just, uh, changed my major to Business PreLaw. I uh, need to know what classes to take."
(sidenote - classes began on Monday. It is now almost noon on Wednesday.)
"Okay - are you familiar with the business requirements? Have you looked at the requirements online or taken any of the courses already?"
"Uh. No."
"No you haven't taken any classes for business, or no you're not familiar with the requirements?"
"No, I don't know what's required. Uh, where would I even look online to find that?"
"Well, you can type "Business" into the search engine on the homepage, and it will pop right up..."
"Oh."
We went on like that for a few minutes - and lest you think I'm a cranky, unhelpful adviser - I pulled up his record (he'd gotten 0.0 in EVERY class last semester, by the way) and recommended a few courses for him to try to enroll in. Also recommended that he bookmark a few of those oh-so-helpful websites for future reference.
(And while I was in the middle of typing those last sentences, he called back. He'd forgotten everything I'd told him, and wanted to be told again. Ack.)
Now, I don't have a problem with students asking for direction & clarification. It's not their job to know everything about the University. What I do have a problem with is this alarming trend of people who are unable to do anything for themselves. They will not keep track (in any way) of their requirements for their degrees, they will not try to hunt down any information on their own or do any research... they want the easy way out of everything.
Here are some things I've heard in the past 2 days:
"It's my senior year. I mean, I just don't want to work that hard."
"Well, I live in Owen, and I'd rather not have to walk that far to class" (the class was maybe 15 minutes away)
"Studying abroad in the fall is easier than telling my roommate I don't want to live with her again."
"I just want to get the he!! out of here. Which class is the easiest?"
"All you have to do is get the right professor and take the right class, and you'll get the right grade. It's just a game."
I think there are TONS of awesome things about young people - I enjoy them VERY much and wouldn't be doing this job if I didn't think that teenagers and college students are some of the coolest people. Many of the high school and college students I know are incredibly mature, selfless, funny, articulate, and motivated. And I love them dearly.
But there are some scary trends that make me shake in my shoes. Just a bit.
(Thanks for letting me rant a little!)

rain, rain

Yesterday we hit over sixty degrees. Last night - had severe thunderstorm warnings issued all over the place. Today - we're looking at almost sixty again, and flood warnings.
This is interesting weather for a Michigan January.
I'm not complaining - I like warm weather, I like thunderstorms (don't like flooding - but we're not in an area that's too susceptible to it). It's just a little weird.
Never fear - by the end of the week, we'll be back to more traditional temperatures.
It's the first week of classes at MSU - and things are appropriately crazy around here. Lots of students needing lots of help - scheduling, financial aid, graduation checks, etc. Yesterday was VERY busy, but I do so appreciate the time moving by quickly.
Andrea started work last week (this is the gal who will be taking my job at the end of January when I'm officially done working) - and it's GREAT to have her on board. She's been around MSU a long time and has so much energy and passion for working with students. I get to spend a couple hours every day answering her questions, orienting her to the position, and just getting to know her better. I love it. One-on-one interaction is one of my absolute favorite things. It makes it so much easier to leave a job I really enjoy when I know that it will be in SUCH good hands.
So, between busy days at work, and busy evenings at home (no, the nursery is NOT all set up yet... eek!), I imagine the next 5 weeks will fly right by. Ready or not, Little B is on his/her way! :)

resurfacing

I like new things. And I don't just mean "things" - although I'll be honest - I've always liked new clothes, new toys, new jewelry. (Luckily, I also like sales!)
But I like new recipes, new friends, visiting new places, new calendars, new years... there's something pretty cool about a clean slate & a fresh experience. Right now, it feels like my life is chock-full of new-ness.
First (and most obvious) - it's a new year. I'm still working on my personal goals (I don't like the word "resolutions" - not sure why...)
Second (and also very obvious) - we are rapidly approaching Little B's due date. Less than six weeks "to go" at this point.
Third - I have 18 more work days left at my job. This still feels very surreal. I'm so EXCITED about being able to stay home with our baby, but am also still feeling a little torn about leaving a place full of people I really enjoy and I job that I love.
These are the big new things - I'm sure there are lots of littler things are simply paling in comparison right now.
Anybody else got anything "new" coming up?

only when we drive

The last time we went to Chicagoland to visit my family, it poured snow (does snow "pour"??) on us the whole way home. Today, my fabulous, reliable friend, weather.com says it shall pour snow on us the whole way there. Apparently - we're only allowed to have a White Christmas-season - as Christmas itself was gray, and the next day it was 45 and rainy. Interesting.
But it's time for Christmas with my side of the family - so we will saddle up the horses and brave the journey across Northwest Indiana. Lookout, Lake Effect Snow. We're not afraid. (and I can only say that because my husband will be driving. Otherwise, I'd be shaking in my boots).
Christmas was lovely - we had dinner Christmas Eve with Mark's family at his mom's house (for her birthday), went to his dad's house to spend the night and observe how much food that man can make for 10 people who've already eaten dinner.... and then Christmas morning was spent at Mark's sister's home. It was relaxing and fun - except for the nasty little stomach bug that was waiting for me as soon as I opened my eyes on Christmas morning... but that bug has left the building, and I'm feeling pretty much totally normal now. Bless God for short-lived viruses.
All-in-all, Mark & I have been LOVING this vacation - we've slept in, visited with friends and family, watched movies, and just enjoyed not having to be at work. And the fact that more friends, family, and a few more days are still to come - that's just icing on the cake, baby.
So enjoy the rest of your holiday - we're off to brave the Great White expanse that exists between here and Chicago's suburbs.

home for the holidays

Thursday was my last day of work for 2007 - hooray! It's strange to know that I only have the month of January at my job, and then I'll be at home full-time. I'm really excited, but it still seems awfully surreal.
Mark had (very minor) out-patient back surgery yesterday - he is up and about today, but we spent yesterday morning at the hospital - and then I ran errands and kept Mark company as he watched 3 movies (I'm a very willing-to-sacrifice-wife, what can I say??) It was a good day, but not SO much for being productive.
As a person who loves to plan ahead and be organized, it only makes sense that I am still trying to finish Christmas shopping (not as bad as it sounds - it's for family members I won't see until next weekend - I have 7 whole days!!). I have to clean up the house for visitors who will be coming next week, make my sister's Christmas present, and really start cracking down on the baby's room. I made some progress last night - lining the dresser drawers with Contact paper and putting some of the clothes & blankets "away." The crib is still overflowing with things that don't have a home yet, but I'm getting there.
My husband and I are watching the neighbor's boys for them as they're out of town for their anniversary (the boys are 13, 10 and 7) - and Luke (the youngest) spent some time getting to feel Baby B move and stretch this afternoon. It was really fun to watch his face as his little hands rested on my tummy - he got to feel quite a bit of wiggle-ment today!
I hope that the next few days are full of peace, laughter, and good times with family - it's so easy to be overwhelmed by our tasks - I pray that we are all able to sit and remember the true joy that comes with this season.

'Tis the Season

Christmas has struck me differently this year than in the past. I've ALWAYS been a huge fan of the entire Christmas season (although I prefer to see the season start after Thanksgiving is over...) Even as a little girl - I loved the snow, the music, the lights, the scents, warm fires & mugs of cocoa... and most of all, the precious, indescribable feeling of something *awesome* that enveloped me at this time of year.
This year, on top of all those sensations, I've been struck more deeply than ever by the thought of a pregnant teenage girl, giving birth in some seriously scary conditions...
As my baby moves and twists inside me, I imagine what it would be like to know that your baby is God incarnate.
As I daydream about this Little One's childhood and adulthood, I wonder how it would feel to know that my baby would grow up and meet a horrific, torturous end... but in doing so, would save the world.
As I sit in awe of the responsibility God has placed upon Mark and I in raising this bebe up for His glory, I contemplate what it would be like to be chosen as the mother of God's one and only Son.
This year - Christmas is not only about the incredible gift the Lord gave us in His precious baby boy - but it is also about the humble & imperfect humans that He chose to help His plan unfold. How in the world can I ever hide behind claims of "unworthiness"? The Christmas story is one of the ultimate examples of God's power being made perfect in weakness.
Blessings to you this holiday season!!

Public Enemy #1

Last week, I had a baking fit. I made 2 types of Christmas cookies (which really doesn't really sound like that many) - except that each batch produces more than 60 cookies.
And I wasn't smart enough to make cookies that I DON'T enjoy eating. Instead, I made some of toughest-for-me-to-resist cookies. And despite my best efforts at bringing them to work, sending them to work with Mark, and bringing some home to share with my family this past weekend... the cookies, they linger.
But not for long - at the rate I'm going. It seems as though (at least) 2 cookies are necessary every evening. Just to get into the Christmas spirit, of course.
I would call them Public Enemy #1. But I can't. I love them too much.
And today I have to go to the doctor and get weighed in. I'll just smile and blame it on the cookies.

creative Creator

Mark has been in Venice, CA since Saturday (he comes home tonight). When we talked on Monday, he told me it was sunny, but "a little chilly" (read: about 60 degrees) as he sat on the beach break wall and sipped his Chai Latte. (Yes, he IS aware that he leads a charmed life, and he is exceedingly grateful). This is a picture of a Venice sunset. Lovely, isn't it?



THIS is a picture outside my front door this morning. Well, no, not really. Actually - it's the Arctic. I'm embellishing for dramatic effect. Here in Michigan, there's really only a dusting of snow on the ground, and it's a fairly pleasant 25 degrees at 8:00am (we might hit 35 today!!) We did have a bit of an ice storm last night, but nowhere near as nasty as the weather-folks were predicting.

Isn't it incredible that God made a planet with so many intricacies? Really - how much easier would it have been to make everything pretty much uniform? I'm so glad to know the Lord of the universe - to see His love in HUGE things (the sacrifice of Christ on the cross) and in smaller ways (the beauty of His unfathomable imagination in creating our world). So, wherever you are this morning - I pray that you are able to find a piece of His love in some way - whether it be big or small.

honoring the request

A request was made from my friend Sarah for more pictures - I have no more pictures of Baby B, since we're only having the one ultrasound (and that was almost 3 months ago) - but here are some from my second baby shower this weekend. There were about 15 gals, lots of yummy food, and many moments of laughing-so-hard-it's-tough-to-breathe. (Although it's a little tough for me to breathe at all these days, as Baby B is compressing my lungs, but hey - I like the laughing). It was fantastic and fun, and I was so touched by the love that was shown (most of these gals are facing finals this week - they took a "study break" to celebrate with me on one of the most stressful weekends of the year!!)
So here goes - starting at the top:
* Kelsey (one of the shower hostesses, entirely responsible for the games and therefore, a lot of the laughter) and Laura (my neighbor, who has now graciously attended two of my showers).
* The table of tiny sandwiches, punch, brownies and lemon bars - all SO tasty!! (thanks, Dana!)
* My lovely friends Meredith, Shannon and Amanda
(And now for the pictures below):
* Meredith and Al are "pregnant" for one of the games - it was fun for a few minutes to not be the only one in the room with a massive belly :)
* Me & a present - it's not a great belly shot, but hey, this is my blog, and I'm just not sure I want to put up any of the other pictures that catalog my growth...
* Evidence of the Laughing Very Hard - Lauren, Jill, Katie, Dilyn, Al and Laura - playing Baby Taboo (just like the real game Taboo, but with baby-related words instead)

inane pregnancy questions

Every woman who has ever been pregnant has experienced this.
Some questions are rude, some are insulting, some are self-important... and some are just plain silly.
This is my new "favorite" Inane Pregnancy Question. Believe it or not - I get it All. The. Time.
"Are you excited??"
What in the world. Of COURSE I'm excited! And if, for some ridiculous and unknown reason, I was not excited - would I really answer that question honestly?
I feel so silly saying (with an indulgent smile), "Yes, we're very excited." And getting a silly smile in return.
Any other good ones out there?
(Don't get me wrong - I know everyone is just trying to make conversation, just trying to be nice. And I truly do appreciate that.
It just inspires me to make a mental note:
"Maybe it's a good idea to think for 3-5 seconds about the question I want to ask, and see if it really makes sense. If not - try to come up with a better one.")

"To Do" Lists

Those who know me (or have read this blog for a little while) know this. I love lists. It's a little (or a lot) weird, I know. But I love to make lists (preferably with bullets or stars or circles) of things I need to do, and then I *love* the pure joy that comes with crossing things off the list. It's a minor addiction.
Since my "To Do" list for the weekend was:
*Rest and get healthy
(which I have almost accomplished) - my list for this week is slightly longer. On Friday night, about 30-45 people will be eating dinner at our house (food to be provided by someone else, thankfully) - but the house still has to be ready to accommodate the food/preparation/serving/eating of a meal for 30-45 people. And right now, the house is, how shall I say it... NOT ready for that.
Sooo... I made a list!
This Saturday is a baby shower, hosted by some dear friends of mine - and while I don't have to do much to prepare, I DO need to finish writing the Thank You Notes from my last shower before adding another pile of notes to the stack.
Sooo... it went on the list!!
Also have some Christmas presents to buy/make. You guessed it - that's on the list too!!!
I'm feeling productive again - hopefully the end of this week will *look* productive too!