Thirty-seven Days

Well, it won't be long now until Baby Peigh arrives. It is amazing to think how quickly this time has past. I know, I know - you veteran parents out there would like to inform us how life will only continue to speed up. It is important to note however that the pace we are currently running at seems quick enough. Thank goodness pregnancy allows people to ease into this whole thing. I can not imagine what it would be like if a baby just arrived on our front porch one day as the old "stork" tales suggest. Five more weeks and our home will be full of new sounds.

To prepare ourselves for the reality of this all, Pilar and I have been talking to one another in terms that suggest the urgency of Baby Peigh's arrival. We'll say, "in five weeks when the baby is here," or "let's put that together for when the baby is here in 37 days." When you start phrasing the reality in actual numbers that can easily be reduced it all seems to come to a remarkably clear focus.

So for now, I will leave you to your own thoughts. However, I will check back in and make another post when we are but 36 days or maybe 27 or perhaps 15 days from planning Baby Peigh's birthday! Wow!

The Nursery is Coming Together

So with every passing day, we find ourselves getting more and more prepared for the delivery date. Lately we've been pouring our energy into birthing classes and the nursery. Both have been fun - the nursery slightly less shocking than the birthing class I must say. It is fun to see things come together. If you're interested in seeing some pictures of the nursery as it currently is, scroll down and click on the "flicker"(that's the box full of scrolling pictures) in the right hand margin below the "archives list." This will take you to another site with a bunch of pictures we have been posting for several months.

Smokey Grape and all the rest

Several months ago, prior to finding out we were expecting, Pilar and I decided to paint the guest bedroom - smokey grape. It's a good color. Warm. Inviting. Serene. Little did we know, that we were picking out a nursery color scheme. However it works great - not purple enough to be feminine, not blue enough to be masculine. So when we found out Pilar was pregnant, we decided to stick with "smokey grape."

About two months back, we assembled the crib and put it in place. And since then, that is how the room has remained. Smokey Grape with a crib. No art. No pictures. No furniture. No toys. No books. Just smokey grape with a crib.

So you can begin to see why yesterday was paramount. Upon the realization that only seven weeks remain until we will welcome Baby Peigh into our world, we decided it was time to kick into full gear preparing the nursery. To help us accomplish this task, we made a visit to the wonderland of home furnishings - IKEA.

If you're not familiar with IKEA, you really are missing out on something incredible. I liken the experience to the first time I rode "The Beast" at Kings Island. When you board the adventure, you think you're in for a nice little ride similar to the other roller coasters you've enjoyed over in the kiddy land for several years. However, what awaits are a series of twists and turns, tunnels and drops that thrill the senses. The only exception being rarely have I witnessed someone puke after exiting IKEA.

When it comes to finding home furnishings that fit into the budget of a young family, IKEA has everything and I'm pretty sure we came close to bringing most of it home with us yesterday. You'll be glad to know we found a carpet, futon, hanging closet storage, mobile, blinds, picture frames, shelving, hooks, and baskets all for the nursery. Needless to say, we are excited to see the nursery come together. After putting several things together late last night, I sat in the room and really for the first time began to visualize the room as the child will know it and how we will come to experience it. I imagine our child, fussing in the crib, gazing at the mobile, crawling on the carpet. It is a wonderful reality to anticipate - an endearing picture in my mind.

Did you say movie? Right.

We had our first birthing class last night. I can't speak completely for Pilar, but this pregnancy has afforded one humorous experience after another. The class is a four session "how to" on giving birth. It was actually very informative and began to answer some questions that many have on their minds in the weeks leading up to child birth. It was just wild to be in a room with that many pregnant women at once. There was a fair share of leaning, and adjusting, swaying and standing throughout the evening. One thing I found humorous was the number of men in the room who function as living breathing body pillows for their spouses - me included. I sat their watching as women tugged and pulled, propped and bent their husbands into whatever position would alleviate their discomfort. One woman in particular is about 25 weeks or so with twins. Watching her made me feel uncomfortable. Suddenly, I found myself twisting, turning, and practicing some deliberate breathing.

What took the cake for the evening however was the final thirty minutes of the class. After a rousing two hour discussion about things like pre-labor, dilation, placenta attachment, pelvic positions, breaking of the waters, and perhaps the most enlightening, after birth - the instructor dimmed the lights and softly said, "now we're going to watch a video."

I'm sorry did you say, "watch a video?" Right.

So I'm a pretty big movie buff. There actually are few things I'd rather do than sit down and relax with a great movie. I like all kinds really. Action adventure. Drama. Comedy. Foreign films. I'm even glad to take in a classic "chick flick" from time to time. But short of the preview for "Chicken Little" last night's feature might possibly be the most mind boggling thing I have seen.

I think the video was called "Preparing for your Delivery" or something to that effect. It started off very serene; covering some basics of pre-labor signs to be aware of. It included touching interviews with mothers and fathers about their experience in labor and the wonder of new life. Then suddenly, with little time to prepare ourselves, we were given a front row seat at the birth of several interviewees.

That's right. Front row. Only these tickets aren't sold at Ticketmaster.

Here comes the humorous part. The looks on the faces of the men and women in that room (mine included I'm sure) were priceless. Almost on cue, everyone tilted their head to one side or another, furrowed their brow, bugged their eyes and dropped their jaw. Some people were covering their mouths. Still other people were shaking their heads as if in some way it would make the reality of the soon to be experience disappear. I think several looked away. A wife punched her husband. One guy splashed water on this face. Several asked for the "check please." The night ended in silence. And as everyone collected their things and made for the door, the final look of desperation was offered from every man to his spouse. As the credits rolled at the video's conclusion - the face of each man universally communicated, "oh honey, what have I done to you? Please don't hate me forever."

Now I must conclude by saying this; though the video was shocking to say the least it was what we all imagined it to be and strangely anticipate. All the workings of labor are so wonderfully mysterious. And the gift of life is so remarkably awesome. With just a few days more than seven weeks remaining, Pilar and I both wish the experience we witnessed last night were only moments away.