5 Things

Sorry for my absence and this irregular post... It's been a bit busy lately and exciting all at once... That's one reason this post shifts focus at the end.

Number 5
The baby's room was painted! Yipee! Now don't judge because this was officially our junk room. And between giving away furniture, then accumulating furniture we just closed the door on that mess until painters were able to come.

Number 4

Daddy put together the crib. I supervised.

(sans sheet and etc. because I haven't washed it all yet)

Number 3

The artwork was hung with great care. And yes daddy won out the debate that it should not be hanging on the large crib wall. He didn't want glass falling on our son's head. Good call I suppose. But we are starting to baby proof as we go. Thanks to Quake Hold, a.k.a. one of the coolest things ever invented. It's this putty-like stuff that you affix to anything and it will hold everything in place. So we have been sticking it to the back of pictures and etc. That way one day when someone gets curious or doors are slammed nothing moves. But these pictures help you see the room color a bit better. I am still working on our fancy new camera.... 

Number 2

We re-did the entire closet space in this room. The walls had never been painted and it was really in-effecient storage in there, just one long shelf and no place for shoes, etc. Derek designed a little system, painted, and then we installed this beautiful storage. It is so exciting because it will hopefully help me get organized especially once it fills with more socks, shoes, and diapers. 

Number 1

Now this has nothing to do with peanut's room per say but a future play mate! My best friend Ashlee had her beautiful baby boy Luke David Thomas on April  16, 2011. He is a precious little man, who will one day be peanut's best little buddy. I have been spending some (not nearly enough) time with him and of course the proud new parents. He is so tiny, so sweet, and a big cuddler. He's definitely a good baby and was born to fantastic, caring, loving parents. I can't begin to express my love for her baby, her, and her supportive husband. It's been amazing watching my best friend of around 15 years go through his birth and now adjusting at home. I have seen her change already... and yes it has been a big eye opener and a blessing for me. I am so grateful for the advice she's giving me, things I am observing, and of course thankful to our Lord who has given us all this healthy baby boy to love on. It makes it so real for me that in not too long I will be holding my son and falling in love with him too.  Congrats Mom and Dad Thomas!

Sorry for the poor photo... I snapped this picture the other day from

my phone when I was trying to "get some practice in" and loving on Baby Luke

Warning: Sad Post Ahead

So I have some sad news to address. (Remember how I said my blog was cathartic? Well, here it is...) On March 31, 2011 my grandma (Peanut's great grandma) passed away. There's no way to put it other than to say my heart is really heavy. I am happy in knowing that she is no longer in both physical and emotional pain, but also very sad to know that she is no longer on this earth. My heart breaks for my dad, his brother, and for my family who lost our matriarch.

I want my son to know that one day he will hear funny, off-the-wall stories about his great grandmother Alice Patricia Burns. She was a very unique, headstrong woman. There was no questioning how she felt about something or her opinions. To put it bluntly sometimes she was off-putting and upset people, but my mom said it so beautifully and gracefully that I admire her so much, "Even though grandma didn't always let us in or say the nicest of things, God forgave her the moment she did anything."  She wasn't always the kind of grandma who took you shopping or asked about every detail of your life, but she was the kind of grandma that had great pride in her beliefs, her heritage, and her family.

What I know now in reminiscing is that she always stayed true to herself. I hope that one day when I tell my son about her I teach him how she never made apologies for standing up for what she believed in or thought. She was a woman of traditions and deep convictions. She went to church every Sunday, even in the care of her nursing home. She taught all of our family to pause and pray together before every meal. We spoke two prayers together, on in English and one in Swedish.

Bless us, Oh Lord,
and these thy gifts which we are about to receive

from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

(Then in Swedish)

In Jesus' name we go to the table

To eat and drink at thy Word.

She was also fiercely loyal to my grandpa and loved him beyond words. Grandma was married to my grandpa, Robert Leo Burns and loved him since she was 14. He too was a strong man, but more importantly a spiritual man. He always told us how much he loved us and tried to teach us things about his passions like gardening, farming, photography and reading. I will always cherish our family swim parties at their house and fun Christmas traditions. Grandpa died March 11, 2004 but there is no doubt he has been waiting for my grandma in heaven. Above all I am so thankful to God that they raised my dad to be a loving, strong, intelligent Christian man that peanut will love as fiercely as I do.

Although I am sad because this meants peanut won't get to meet another great grandparent, I am rejoicing in knowing that all of my grandparents loved me so much (he still has his ProYiayia to love on him!). And I praise God that Derek's grandparents are still living and have embraced me and loved me like they do. I am grateful they let me call them "grandma" and "grandpa" and that they treat me as one of their own.  I will miss my grandparents but I am forever indebted to have had them all as long as I have because each of them shaped my life. I hope that the greatest Papou ever, the sweetest Grandpa, and the strongest-willed Grandma are all dancing in the Golden Streets together!

5 Things

In my efforts to be an organized mommy we've checked these 5 things (of 1,000) off our list this week:

Number 5
Cleaned out peanut's closet in preparation for closet organizer and etc.

Number 4
Painted the room!!! Yeah! Thanks to dear family friends and painters we got his room painted the beautious Lunar Eclipse color that we blogged about here. Pics to come!

Number 3
Daddy assembled the crib Sunday. He did a great job as always... and it is quite sturdy if you ask me. He makes everything look so easy even though it had some bizarre directions.

Number 2
Researched and starting registration for some birthing classes. GULP. No I am not nervous. I'm not I'm not I'm not!

Number 1
Registered at the hospital!! Say what? I know isn't that crazy... it is suggested to do this about 2 months out from anticipated delivery. But I just wanted to get this done sooner rather than later.

Bump Watch: 25 weeks...

... and huge! This picture was taken last week at the Ducks Game. My best friend Ashlee and her husband Chris (Auntie Ash and Uncle Chris) invited Derek and I to the game - it was fantastic! We had a blast and the whole time kept thinking that that may have been the last outing of the 4 (ok 6) of us were going on because she's due VERY soon. Thanks guys for a fun time!