Friends

We celebrated Joey and Rachel's wedding this weekend, and loved spending time with friends, as always.  I love being pregnant and baby Parker is so worth it, but I do miss celebrating with friends!  I can't wait to introduce Parker to everyone over the holidays this year.  You can't beat this group of people....

Nursery time!

We are desperately trying to jigsaw all of our baby items into our apartment :) it is a work in progress but here are the first pictures of baby Parker's crib!!!

Health & Family

Thinking of my dad this weekend...who has been spending some time in the hospital to figure out an intestinal abscess.  Whenever health problems arise - big or small, I become pretty reflective on how fortunate I have been with my family members, and how desperately I want Parker to be just as fortunate.  

I am 26 and still have three of my four grandparents with me...and many lessons I was old enough to learn from all four of them.  Making them great-grandparents is something I have been looking forward to for years!  

My own parents and Matt's parents are so special to me as well...I can't wait to see the lessons and love they pass on to Parker. 

For now, we are just praying for everyone to be healthy. 

Baby Laundry...

Here's to the first round of baby laundry...many more years and loads to come :) good thing it is all so cute...it makes laundry so much better!

Movies!

We went and saw "Looper" tonight at the **amazing** iPic theater...recliners, pillows, blankets, free popcorn...ahhh--a pregnant girl's dream place!  Matt and I were talking in the car about how this may have been the last trip to the movies for a while -which made us a little sad.  We are SO excited to meet our son and to experience all of the amazing things that come with parenthood, but are a little anxious about the change in freedom -at least for the foreseeable future :)  We will be lucky to have trusted babysitters (aunties and friends close by!), but we are saying "see ya" to going out or traveling without the extra planning!  

So for now, we will take our last several weeks before becoming "mommy and daddy" as a chance to do lots of date nights and things that we might not get to do again for a few months/years! That being said, I know Parker will end up loving movies, family nights out, and traveling to see loved ones as much as we do!

Chase!

I have to admit, I am a little bit nervous about how Chase Puppy will react to the baby coming.  We have a little less than 8 weeks to go (max!), and he is starting to sense that things are changing! He has become extra clingy and needy...and really doesn't like to have us out of site.  

Scooter couldn't care less...she is just happy for all of the boxes and bags that are all around for her to play in.  

We know they will be loyal to Parker just like they are to us in time, but hope that the process isn't too painful!

How the family celebrates...

Only in the Manoni home do people celebrate a baby by starting off with tequila shots....good thing baby Parker is my excuse to opt out :)  

We had such great goodies and crafts from Nona and Aunt Renee --diaper cake! and Grandma Preis --no one beats her cookies!  

Shower Time!

It was SO amazing to go home and see everyone this past weekend.  We are so thankful for all of the amazing friends and family that came to celebrate with us, and for the generous gifts we received from them.  Parker will be a well-dressed, much loved little boy.  Our only complaint is that the hours seem to go by so quickly when surrounded by so many people we care about.  THANK YOU to everyone-- we would be lost without you all.  More details to come...

Maternity Leave Anxiety

Today was definitely one of those "everything sucks" days. 

 I found out my maternity leave is 6 "calendar weeks" off, not 6 "work weeks" --therefore, unless little man is born 2 weeks early, my district's winter break is part of the 6 weeks instead of being additional time off. I don't qualify for any of the FMLA law or district benefits as a new employee. I'm not sure why FMLA and district policy think that just because you are new in a workplace that you don't need to be home with your newborn.  

This just kind of set the mood for the whole day...the hormones flowed and continue to flow freely. 

For right now, I think it is time for me to write my "I am thankful" list again, two months before Thanksgiving, to remind myself of how fortunate I am, instead of focusing on all of the things I wish could happen (like maybe having a winning lottery ticket!?). 

Let's hope Parker comes (safely) a few weeks early so I can soak up more time with him over the holidays!

My Little Acrobat

This is one active little boy...he has been really trying out the Karate moves lately :)