Waiting for a baby...

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39 weeks!

Well, I have not been very good at keeping up with this blog! We are 3 days away from D-day, which may not mean anything, it could be 10 more days!! I am feeling good other than the leftovers of a cold. Things have been pretty nuts around here for the past month. I started my new job at the beginning of February as the educator on the mom baby unit. I thought it would be smart to get my foot in the door before I went out on maternity leave. It was definitely not as easy as I thought. Trying to get to know people (when I can barely remember their names) and figuring out my role all while having placenta brain... It was almost a relief when I worked shifts in NICU because at least I could go in there and feel comfortable. Transitioning from a bed side nurse to more of a CNS is definitely a challenge. But, there is a lot of work to be done in that unit and I feel blessed that it is part-time which will allow me to 1) spend lots of time with my new addition and 2) still work per diem in the NICU, my first true love.
Tony's job has provided us with more than challenges with the prospect of relocation. I will remain in denial about this until it actually happens. I feel like I have everything I could want, living near my friends and family, a great home, new baby, perfect (well-paying) job scenario. Leaving is not something I am remotely interested in. In this economy, if there is one thing I have learned, no one is unscathed and we are all lucky we have gainful employment.
But for the time being, the focus is Big Ben and anticipating his arrival! Hopefully my next post will include pics of the handsome boy.

My shower and more

I suppose the reality of the fact that I will be giving birth soon really set in with the event of the baby shower. This was one of the best days of my entire life. Karen and Mo helped my mom put it together and even Tony added his 2 sense. It was safari themed, just like the nursery. It was a freezing day everyone still came including my 93 old great grandmother, family from Maryland and all my girls from Pittsburgh who drove 5 hours to spend the weekend here. Good thing it was the weekend before the super bowl!! It was a great feeling having everyone you love in one place. Almost like your wedding day... Big Ben got alot of great loot. We got our stroller and carseat, pack n play, bouncy chair, onesies and receiving blankets, lots of great books, toys, a steelers jersey onesie and some other stuff for the nursery.
Some days it feels like only yesterday that we found out we were having a baby. I remember every detail, even what I was wearing. Monday June 30, I worked night shift, my only night shift at Lehigh Valley Hospital ever, thought I would orient to nights just in case... xray came and I said jokingly hey, my period is late maybe I should back up from the bedside... I came home and went to sleep, I don't what I dreamt about but when I woke up I had this overwhelming force to go to eckerd and buy a pregnancy test. I was like this is negative what a waste of 17.99, and was so not even phased, I stopped by Kohls first to check out their sales on the way home. So I got home, took the test and was in shock when the plus sign came up. I got in my car and was like omygod omygod omygod omygod and drove to Mo's house, thank god she was home. I busted in to her house and yelled to her upstairs, you need to come downstairs immediately. I held the pee stick out to her and she almost dropped her 9 month old on the floor. After some momentary freaking out, we realized how insanely fantastic this was. I set out to find a gift to tell Tony with. I bought him a Dallas cowboys beer mug and a little cowboys football. I wrote him a note from the baby that said I can't wait to play football with you, love your new baby. Of course, he was in CT for work until that night. I ignored his phone calls all day. Then, he got stuck behind an accident 15 miles from our house and didn't get home until 11pm. I was DYING with excitement. He got home and I said I have a present for you, he opened it and turned to look at me in slow motion with this quirky smile on his face and I held the test up for him to see ( I couldn't put the pee stick down all day) and started screaming. I'll never forget the way he looked at me. I am so glad he is my husband, I couldn't imagine being happier with anyone else.

I heart my recliner

I was reading Cortney's blog about the purchase of her new recliner since she hasn't been sleeping well. After my last few days of horrific sleep, I'm thinking this ugly purple recliner we took out from someone's curb before garbage pick up is looking better and better. This picture is Bella and I in our trusty purple recliner. I was a cranky girl at work, but luckily it was only 8 hours instead of 12.
Big Ben is doing well this week, he's very happy his dad is back from Denmark to talk to him every night. Sometimes his little movements take my breath away, I can only imagine what labor will be like. Things are starting to feel so real (as if my expanding abdomen wasn't a reality shock), the nursery is coming together, we picked up the crib and Nick Tassi and Tony put it together. Next is the glider and bookshelf, which will happen tomorrow before football. I also ordered the dresser this week.
My baby shower is next Saturday and I can hardly wait. All my pittsburgh girls are coming to Macungie which is GREAT! I'm just so excited to see everyone, I can't believe we get presents out of the deal too!!

Aren't nights for sleeping?

Hello blogging world! Just like Helen, I was inspired to set up a blog after seeing the cute stories that have been told on Sarah and Amanda's blogs and of course the Vera Bradley-esque backgrounds on the profiles :) Today I am 32 and 2/7 weeks pregnant with Tony and I's first bundle of joy, a baby boy we will call Ben. I have had a ridiculously easy pregnancy so far which has been a blessing since I was trying to finish up grad school requiring frequent travel back and forth to North Carolina and Tony was traveling alot. I am guessing this easy pregnancy is going to turn into something like a 40 hour labor or baby who doesn't sleep through the night until he's 12.
Tony is traveling this week, the census at work is not high enough for me to be there and I am at home with not much to do. Last night I went to the Balsamo house for dinner, then Karen and I went to yoga class. Then, at 2am Big Ben decided he would practice all his new yoga moves, particularly downward facing dog and tree pose. I suppose he is just getting me ready for his night time feedings.