The Unfinished Nest

I woke up at 4am today in a panic. 
I realized that if I went into labor today, I'd have nothing ready for this baby.  We still don't have a room or bassinet set up, and no sheets, blankets or clothes washed.  I thought of myself calling our friends to see if they could come grab Max before we went to the hospital and not having anything ready for him to take either...no bag packed...what about moving his car seat?...what would he think when he woke up in someone else's house?...
My eyes searched the ceiling for answers and as soon as our human alarm clock named Max woke up at 6:23am, I bombarded poor David with my questions.  

So, the list is made and it's lengthy.  I hope Max feels like cooperating with my plan.  Through the monitor, I can see that he is making laps around his crib instead of napping, so I'm not that confident.  If only I had the energy to do these things after his bedtime.  Perhaps I should add a shot of espresso to my evening routine and power through the week in this fashion.  I love the feeling of crossing items off of a list.  It might be worth it to push through and sleep later.  I still have 2 weeks before I'm full term - plenty of time to sleep, right?

Order newborn diapers.
Measure the room. 
Unpack the bassinett.
Launder the blankets, onesies, burp cloths, and a homecoming outfit.
Re-cover the glider.
Make a list for the hospital bag.  Pack it.
Pack a bag for Max.
Sew the curtains.
Sew the pack n play sheets.
And...
And...
And.

Here's a link to the pattern I'm using for our bassinet sheets:  http://prudentbaby.com/2010/02/baby-kid/diy-fitted-sheet-for-pack-n-play-2/
And the cute fabrics I picked up for baby's bassinet:  http://www.fabricworm.com/jadeforbiorf40.html  and http://www.fabricworm.com/jadeforbiorf27.html

Next project:  A runner for our 2nd-Hand Glider.  I'll add pictures once these projects are done!

Fabric Friday Giveaway for the cute elephant print:  http://prudentbaby.com/2013/07/giveaways-2/fabric-friday-109/

Smoothie 'stache

Max and David enjoying a smoothie for breakfast the other day:

Cheers!

Family Time at Green Lake 2013

We've been home almost a week from one of my most anticipated trips all year.  I can't believe it has come and gone already!  Like my childhood memories of tubing behind the boat, Green Lake Vacation 2013 started off slow, yielded lots of new adventures, and then whipped by in record time minus the sore fingers or water up the nose, thankfully.

This year, our family rented a cottage closer to our original summer homestead.  We love the northwest side of the lake - we understand the wave patterns, we can enjoy the sunrises and sunsets, the water level is perfect for jumping and diving off the dock, and the morning walks have the familiar waves from neighbors.
Despite the sense of belonging, we've come to realize that vacation on Green Lake changes yearly now that little ones are in tow.  Our walks are timed between breakfast and nap, boat rides are at a much slower pace not only for the tikes, but also for the pregnant bellies on board, and it's a bit more difficult to enjoy late-night campfires or impromptu wake-boarding sessions.  Not to mention, fireworks by boat are out of the picture for at least another year.  That being said, we truly enjoyed having so many extra hands to help play with, feed, and hug Max.  He loved playing with his cousin, Canaan, and all of his aunties and uncles.  Max wasn't as excited to jump into the water this year.  I'm not sure if that was because it was a bit colder than last summer or if he had gained a healthy dose of fear.  We did find a great spot for the kiddos in Norwegian Bay.  We were able to walk there from the house and jump from the boardwalk right into mid-calf-high water that was warm and sandy.  Once Max realized the water was so shallow, his smile barely left his face.

I sorely miss the ability to run and jump off the dock, go wake boarding, and take boat rides that porpoise across the waves.  Next summer, after our newest little one is born, I'll be ready for another vacation at the Lake and can hopefully take part in some of the more adventurous activities.  Until then, I will continue to re-live our memories of sun bouncing off the water, cool dips in the lake between activities, and glorious dock-side sunsets of Green Lake 2013.

Max is getting his 1st haircut!

Behr Family on the dock

Miss Hallie getting the hang of the paddleboard

Biagio showing off

Max watching Uncle Biagio snorkeling

Max and Daddy on the paddleboard

Max helping Mommy in the garden

Tick Tock Tick Tock

I'm sitting here trying to decide how to compose this post and realizing we've been in Denver for almost a full month already.  What?!  Where did the time go?  If this is any indication of time moving forward, we had better get ready!  Baby Behr is due in less than 9 weeks.  And if I had to guess, he or she will definitely arrive before our due date, unlike big brother Max, who made us wait and wait and wait.

I'm 31 weeks today.  Baby is moving constantly, it seems, and my Braxton Hicks contractions have really picked up.  I don't recall having many of these last time around, or at least not until I was closer to my due date.  Max is also requesting to be picked up more often, which is common from what I hear, and I'm trying to balance our dwindling one-on-one time with taking it easy on my body.   I'm learning I need to do that though based on how I'm feeling lately.  I'm not good at resting when Max is resting, but I'm trying to remind myself that these downtime opportunities are extremely limited.  

I'm still trying to wrap my head around how I'll be able to manage Max's schedule with a newborn's schedule.   Kind of scary.  I guess you just do it.  I still have a pile of books I want to read, audiobooks to listen to, and in general, things to do before that time though.  Why oh why am I such a procrastinator when it feels so good to get things done?  Maybe I just get the wrong things done.  This always brings me back to the decision to do the dishes, laundry, and prep meals while Max is sleeping instead of resting myself.  And around and around we go.  Where is the priority?

Well, David just handed me a bowl of cookies and cream ice cream and announced it was time to catch up on The Bachelorette.  Sounds like a winning idea.  Guess I'll leave the parenting books on the shelf again tonight and rest my body on the couch, fill my brain with nonsense, and enjoy my Blue Bell ice cream.  Isn't that what you'd do?

Take Me Home!

We're baaaa-aack!  Back in Denver, home sweet home!

Max and I flew from Boston Logan to Denver International, Tuesday, June 10th.  We took a late flight and landed 8:35pm Mountain Time.  Max fared extremely well considering he was stuck with my pregnant belly and ever-shrinking lap for 4.5 hours, 2.5 of which was past his bedtime.  Our good friends, The Sarmientos, picked us up at the airport and graciously hosted us until David arrived a few days later, hauling our belongings.  

Max and Valentino had a blast learning to play together.  Kudos to Valentino for sharing all of his cool toys with Max for days on end.  Max couldn't have been more thrilled to explore new toys, play with Gemma the cat, and get outside in a real backyard (after all that apartment/townhouse living)!  

On Saturday, June 15th, we caravanned from Broomfield to our new temporary home in Denver.  We moved into a cute little 3/2 bungalow on the Northwest corner of Washington Park.  The neighborhood is very popular because of its proximity to Wash Park and we were lucky to find it.  The homes here are older and have lots of character.  We have really nice neighbors and are settling in very well.  Our backyard is perfect for hosting barbecues and getting outdoors during the day with Max.  We also have plenty of room for visitors (ahem).

For Father's Day, we invited the Sarmientos and Dan and Brodi over for an afternoon of play and a barbecue.  The weather was beautiful!  David was super excited to be able to grill again.  It's been a whole year since we've had access to a grill.  He cooked filets and chicken and is already requesting I set aside a weekly meal on the grill for him to cook.  Works for me!  Max and I surprised David with a legacy book and Stand Up Paddle Board lessons.  Happy Father's Day!  

This past Saturday, our street hosted a neighborhood yard sale.  We scored big on some clothes for Max, a few new age-appropriate toys, some necessities for the new baby, and a brand new bread-maker!  I will add a few pictures of our home and activities over the last weekend.

David left this morning for Niagara Falls, Canadian side.  He is giving a key-note address on Tuesday and then returning later that night.  We have another week before we all leave for Green Lake, WI for our annual family vacation.  Can't wait to enjoy the water, watch Max and Canaan play together, and have my family within arm's reach.   

May in Boston

Hello again.
I can be such a procrastinator.  It's actually quite embarrassing at this point - my last post was well over a month ago.  I've actually written THIS post 3 times, but had to keep changing it because it's no longer in the present.  It's not like we haven't had some really fun things to talk about either.  And yes, I'm already feeling guilty that Baby Behr isn't getting as much attention as Max did...at least on paper (or blog).
Our Baby is certainly making him/herself known rather regularly though.  I'm quite positive that this child is more active than Max was at this stage.  It is exhausting.  I feel as though my abs are getting beaten by a meat tenderizer from the inside out.  It's Ab Ripper X times 20.  According to my OB, the placenta is posterior, which puts baby closest to my abdominal wall and accounts for why baby feels more active.  I've also heard that a posterior placenta makes having back labor much less likely, so yay for that!

As much as I wanted to recount everything that has happened since our last blog post, it's just not realistic if I want to keep moving forward.  So, that being said, let's bullet-point:

• Mother's Day
  Over Mother's Day weekend, we enjoyed a very relaxed and quiet weekend inside.  I think this was just what we needed to prep for the weeks ahead.  David and Max treated me to a homemade breakfast and some very thoughtful gifts.  I even had some time to enjoy a mid-pregnancy spa treat with a facial and massage.  I love my guys!  
  
  
• Fun with Playmates
  The apartment complex that we are staying at organizes several activities throughout the month.  We moved into our place just in time to participate in a Mommy Meet-up.  Max and I met a few moms and their kids to share playdates with.  Max now plays regularly with Charlie (14 mos) and is practicing his big brother skills with Baby Charles (5 mos).
  
  
• Wildwood Weekend
  The week after Mother's Day, we drove to New York on Thursday night hoping that Max might sleep in the car.  It was our first attempt at driving at night with a toddler.  And...we need more practice.  Max slept for maybe one hour of the 4 hour trip, and it was fitful.  He's never been a great carseat sleeper, but we thought that bedtime might make that easier.  We also wrongly assumed that his new convertible carseat would be more comfortable for him, but apparently we had the wrong seat angle and every time he would nod off, the poor little guy's head would fall and he'd wake himself up.  Anyway, we made it to Aunt Diane's by midnight and were all in bed by 1am.  
  Max enjoyed a full day of visiting with Aunt Diane on Friday, playing in the back yard and feeding the fish at the fish pond.  On Saturday, we joined Aunt Diane and family at Wildwood State Park, a beautiful spot on the water, for a picnic lunch, fun on the beach, and barbecued dinner.  It was really fun to be a part of the tradition of a day at Wildwood.  This spot was where David's mother and her family would spend time during their childhood, camping and swimming and making lots of memories. We had a great time catching up with David's family, watching Max pick stones on the beach, and celebrating Aunt Diane's birthday, Wildwood-style!
• Congratulations, Kristine!!
  Dominic's girlfriend, Kristine, graduated from Marquette University's Direct Entry Program, earning her Masters Degree in Nursing.  She's a primary care nurse practitioner and on her way to being board certified!  I'm so excited for her and can't wait to hear what's next!  Yahoo!  Way to go, Kristine!

• Visit from Nana - My Mom was here the last week in May and we celebrated her birthday and Memorial Day weekend together.   Max and Nana picked up right where they left off and had a blast reading books, playing games, and singing nursery rhymes.  While Mom was here, the weather was pretty dreary, keeping us indoors a lot of the time.  On Thursday night, we enjoyed dinner in the North End.  On Sunday, we drove to Newport, RI to tour the amazing mansions there.  WOW!  That's all I can say.  On Monday, we had our first glimpse of sunshine, and spent the day downtown.  We took a Duck Tour of the city and sat at the wharf before taking her back to the airport.  

• Uncle Dominic and Kristine flew out to see us in Boston the first weekend in June.  Unlike the weekend prior, it was HOT HOT HOT!  We took the Freedom Trail through Boston, drove to the Cape for a beach day, and strolled through Boston Common and Newbury Street.  I think Dom and Kristine got their fill of seafood.  With all that sun, Dom actually left looking like a "lobsta!"
• Max took part in a music class while we were living in Boston.   Although he didn't always enjoy the dancing portion of class, he loved to play and share instruments with his classmates.  I think the socialization was great for both of us.  We'll be looking for another class to enjoy this summer.  

Relief at last!

Return, my soul, to your rest.  Psalms 116:7

I can't tell you how wonderful it was to sleep so peacefully last night, knowing that our current city of Boston is now no longer in lock-down and seized with terror.  The 2nd suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings has been caught!  Last week was tremendously scary and it seemed to be an excruciatingly long wait for capture once the suspects were identified.  Though we fortunately live outside the zone where the manhunt took place, I'm not sure anyone really felt completely safe knowing that those men were on the loose.

David and I are thanking God for our safety and for hindering our plans to attend the Boston Marathon.    We believe things happen for a reason.  Though at the time we were frustrated that Max decided not to nap that morning, we are now quite happy that he didn't, for it hampered our plan to go to the finish line to watch the marathoners come in.  We literally turned around and returned home to put Max back to bed. Good thing he's not a stroller sleeper or we might have persisted.  Later that day, we tried to resume our plans, only to be turned away at the T Station when the Green Line had been shut down, immediately following the blast.  It was there that we had learned of the tragedy and were stunned.  So, although we were never close to the site, it was still a little too close for comfort, and it shook us both to the core knowing we and our babies could have been right there.

Although we are just visitors passing through this city, we are so proud of Boston and its people for their bravery and diligence.  It really seemed like everyone was working together as a team.  We celebrate with Bostonians today and praise God for peace.

Happy Easter!

What a glorious Easter Sunday with so much to be thankful for!  We're here in Boston, Mass.  Our drive from Durham, NC was a pretty relaxed, but long drive, broken into 3 legs.   We were so happy to be able to divide our travel pretty equally, with a stop in Alexandria, VA with the Scully family and another in Greenlawn, NY with David's Aunt Diane.
Each drive was supposed to be around 4-5 hours, but with traffic, construction, and the stops necessary for a 14-month old and a pregnant woman with a compressed bladder volume, it took us about 7 hours to get from A to B each day.
At the Scully home, we got to meet beautiful baby Nora, watch Max and almost 2-year-old Jack interact and "share" toys, and just relax after several days of packing and prepping for the seminar.  It was so nice to catch up with Nikki and John.  They are naturals at managing their newly expanded family.
In New York, we stayed with Aunt Diane.  What an incredible hostess!  Aunt Diane had us all set up with everything we needed and more.  We were so comfortable and really enjoyed our 2-day visit with her.  Max LOVED running around in the yard, playing with the stuffed animals in the bedroom, and watching golf with Aunt Diane.  We got to see David's cousin Diana, her son, Luke, David's Aunt Kathy, Aunt Joanie, his cousins Chris and Mike, Chris' son Christopher, Mike's wife Rachel, and their daughter, Eliana.  It was so nice of everyone to make the trip to visit with us.  We really appreciated that.  And we're sorry we couldn't visit with everyone!

Max with Aunt Diane

Max and Friends at Aunt Diane's

Moving Day: Max and Dolly Moving Services

After about a week, we are finally feeling settled in to our new home in Quincy.  We're staying in a corporate apartment in a pretty big complex.  So far, we've found it to be quite friendly here.  I've got one more box to unpack and it contains some photographs and wall hangings that make each new place we live in feel more like home.  The last of our rented furniture will arrive tomorrow morning.  I've found my new OB and will see her this week, and Max needs his 15-month wellness check with his new provider this week as well.  I'd say we're in good shape.
We celebrated our 4th anniversary this week (3/27)! We enjoyed a meal at Legal Seafood, our first seafood meal in the Northeast.  We certainly have a lot to celebrate in 4 years and are looking forward to seeing what joys lie ahead.    Note:  No babies were harmed in the taking of the following photographs.

What is a lobster?  

Lobsters have pinchers!

Yesterday, we drove into Boston to see Faneuil Hall (Quincy Market).  Probably a good first site to visit, but we'll be a little smarter next time.  $35 to park, $17 for a lobster roll combo to share, $8 for 2 coffees...I think we tabulated that this tourist trap cost us $64 total for approximately 2 hours of people-watching.  We're looking forward to taking advantage of the public transportation and the (fingers crossed) nice spring weather ahead.
We found an Easter Bunny in Quincy Market and Max reacted quite unexpectedly.  I thought he might shy away from a huge rabbit, but he gave Mr. Easter Bunny a huge hug and wanted to be held.  He clung tightly to Bunny's neck and then showed me all of Bunny's features.  Nose, ears, eyes...  This surprise find saved us a 2-hour line at the mall and the $20 for a Polaroid picture.

Max meets the Easter Bunny

What's this hole, Mommy?

We went to early (7:30am) Mass at St. John the Baptist this morning.  We got to church about 20 minutes early hoping to find a place to sit.   Turns out the 7:30am Mass isn't that crowded.  Because we got Max up a little early, he wasn't excited to sit still the entire time, but he did a pretty good job nonetheless.  Later, we found Pope John Paul II Park to play and walk around in.  It was a really beautiful day.  Happy Easter to all our family and friends!  We miss you all!

Mid-March Check-Up

David and I are sitting on the couch, going through pictures from the last few weeks.  I just realized that it's been almost 2 weeks since my last posting, so here's an update from us:

• Last weekend, we drove to Fayetteville, NC to visit Ft. Bragg and Devonwood, the neighborhood where David spent 2 years of his childhood.  David has told many stories about playing at that house.  He also talks about summer days spent on base, where he and his brother and sister would spend endless hours playing in the pool and then sit at the tables at the golf course enjoying french fries from the grill.   Of course, we had to check out the pool and the french fries!  Even though some of the buildings and the pool on base have changed a bit, he said the french fries were just as good as he remembered.  What was most vivid to him was the joy he experienced there with his family.  It was a lot of fun to be a part of that trip down memory lane! Here are a few pictures from our trip:

Max cheering for the Longhorns at David's former Elementary School

David's Childhood Home in Devonwood

Max is critiquing the putts on #18

Max and David trying those famous french fries

• We're in the middle of getting our belongings packed up for our move to Boston.  We decided to wait until after the seminar (3/19) to make the drive, so we will be enjoying St. Paddy's Day here in Durham.   We're living amid half-packed suitcases and boxes.  Almost there though.  I'm hoping we can finish up tomorrow so David and I can have one more date night before we leave our beloved babysitter behind!
• We plan to drive out of here on Wednesday morning and make the 1st leg of our trip to Alexandria, VA, where we'll visit with my friend Nikki and her family.  The Scullys welcomed their 2nd child - a baby girl - Nora Elizabeth, on March 5th!  I can't wait to see them.
• The 2nd part of our drive will include a visit to New York, where we plan to stay with David's Aunt Diane and catch up with his family there.  It's been about 6 or 7 years since we've been to NY for a visit with them.  Bagels!  Pizza!  Cheesecake!  Oh, and Family of course! (cough, cough).  Finally, we resume our drive to Boston on Sunday.  
• Our home search in Boston has been educational, to say the least.   We had high hopes of staying in Back Bay, where we could walk everywhere.  Space comes at a premium in Boston and with our need for a room for Max plus an office space for David, with parking for 2 vehicles, you can easily head into the territory of $4,000/month!  EASILY!  Yikes.  We finally found a place where we didn't have to share a bedroom with Max.  Then, just when the sticker shock had begun to wear off, we were thrown for a loop when we realized we needed to start over because of lead paint!  This was a new challenge in rental searches for us.  Finding a rental that's been certified de-leaded in a historic part of downtown has been almost impossible.   We learned that most landlords don't bother with certification because it can become nullified quickly after inspection and if they don't pass, it's a huge expense to fix.  (I found an online forum organized by parents that talks all about this issue for families in Boston.)  So, to avoid a potentially hazardous living condition for Max, we drifted out of downtown, into the suburbs, and found a great modernized 50s ranch in Lexington, which is about 30 minutes from downtown.  It has 3 bedrooms, no stairs, a nice wooded lot, and a garage for 2 vehicles.  It is not steps from Boston Common, but there is a fantastic Farmers Market only 15 minutes by foot.  And we can take "the T" into Boston when we want to visit the city.   We're pretty happy with the find.  The only downside at this point is that we can't move in right away and will have to find a hotel to live out of for a week or so.  Hey, nothing we can't handle.

Okay, so this was a bit of a long one.  Guess that means I should post more often again, huh?  More from the road...

3/3/13

I'm feeling March.  I'm thinking green and praying for spring.  March seems like such a friendly month, doesn't it?  I don't know if it's because I associate March with St. Paddy's Day and leprechauns and happy Irish people, but I can just tell it's going to be a good month.

Max started walking yesterday.  March 2nd.  He's been stocking up on his confidence with a few steps here and there for several weeks, and yesterday he just did it.  All the way down the hall and back.  He even wanted to try his new skill outside on the sidewalk.  How's that for bravery!  The way he moves, it seems like he always knew how to turn around, bend, squat, and return to standing.  I'm still amazed watching our little guy on two legs.

In addition, we've decided to go to Boston for the Spring!  We'll be moving there in about 2 weeks, and staying to mid-June.  I'm really looking forward to seeing the St. Paddy's Day parade, having my first bowl of clam chowder, and taking in the history and architecture.  We are hoping to stay in Back Bay, which is right in the heart of the city, off Boston Common and a few short blocks to the Esplanade on the Charles River.  

How about that my good friend, Nikki, is having her baby this month!  Come on Baby Scully!  Baby is due on St. Patrick's Day, actually, and his Daddy is Irish and went to Notre Dame, so that's quite fitting wouldn't you say?  

Last, but not least, our anniversary is this month!  We'll be celebrating 4 years on the 27th!