earth "shakes"

Brett survived his first earthquake. (small one)

I was sitting at my computer this morning (actually, just before I did the last post on here) when I heard the windows rattle and saw and heard some things, including my printer shaking and rattling on the filing cabinet next to this desk. The dogs next door had started barking loudly and differently than normal right before this happened, too. Anyway, it was a really bizarre feeling and it seemed like more than just a jet flying overhead or a large truck rumbling by...

Come to find out, it was an earthquake! It was upgraded from a 2.7 to a 3.0 and only lasted 4 or 5 seconds. We had our taxes done tonight and heard the Airforce jets flying and rumbling loudly. I told the H&R Block lady and Don about what I'd experienced this morning (not knowing it was an earthquake) and she said, "It was an earthquake - I saw it on the news tonight!" And, she knew which area of town we lived in, just from hearing about it on the news.

Here's a link to the news story online:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/feb/27/reports-las-vegas-hit-27-magnitude-earthquake/

around the nursery

Little shoes for tiny feet...
In the crib...

Tiny bunny slippers for little toes...

(I finally found a blue pair. These are like the pink ones in our very first post. I've given out many pairs of these over the years to friends when they've had babies. )

and a hand-made blanket by a friend and former co-worker, Emily...such a soft blankie for our little guy!

We have been taking childbirth classes at our hospital. Tonight is our third week. During the first week, we received an overview of the birthing process, learned some relaxation techniques, and the husbands got to try on a backpack full of 35lbs. of "stuff" equivalent to what the wives may gain in pregnancy. They even made one husband lay on the floor and try to get up...not such an easy task. Last week was the tour of the hospital. We saw a labor and delivery room, recovery room, and viewed some newborns. These were preemies and one was 34 weeks along - so cute and small...kind of gave us an idea of the size that our little guy is right now!

Kids' advice...out of the mouths of babes...

I had my students write some advice for us, since we are going to be brand new parents.

Here are some exerpts from their writing:

"Make Mr. Johnson change Baby Johnson's diapers. When the baby comes out it mite cry. Give it a toy." -M.M.

"Feed him macrony-and-cheese. If it crys sing Lullaby Baby. Giv it toys. Giv it a crib. Giv it drinks. Let it have naps - 3 naps every day. Let it woch Sestemy Street. Hold it for 5 minutes. Reed books. If you go to the store, poot it in a cart. For a drink, give it milk." - T.B.

"You need a crib. The color should be green. You need 9815700581 diapers and some toys."

- A.O.

"If the baby crys give it a bottle. If you smell something that reaks it's your baby. You'll need 100 diapers. It's a boy. It should take a nap at 1:00." -M.F.

"If you have a baby you will have to feed him apple baby food. They cry alot so be careful and they have a pacifier to make them stop crying. You will buy him 2 or 3 bottles and you will have to buy him lots of diapers." - M.V.

"When a baby crys give the baby milk, his rattle, or read him a book and call the baby Little Johnson. Buy the baby diapers. Give the baby sleep at 8:00."

- D. A. (illustrator of baby picture above)

"The babey needs 14 diapers so you don't run out of um for a log time. And a quib with a blakit so hes not cold." - L.F.

"If the baby is cold you can buy the baby booties. If the baby crys you should give the baby a bottle. If the baby crys you can give the baby a diaper change." - S.H.

"He can have a pacifier. Het can have a bottle. He can have a crib. He can have a stuffed animal. He'll need blue covers. He should eat applesauce. You should buy 4 . . . actually, 8 diapers."

- R.M.

Cute, huh?

50 days to go!

The countdown says, "50 days to go!"

We can hardly wait! I only have about 20 days of work left because of my "track break" and Spring Break.

I can't believe it's alreay the last week in February.

Brett made a really big move in my belly when it was our read-aloud time in class. I kind of interrupted a student's story by saying, "Whoa!" It was one of the biggest movements I've felt. My whole belly was in motion. I told the student that the baby must have liked the book he was reading. Then, the kids were keeping their eyes on my belly from time to time. One actually saw it move! How fun!

A look at my belly with 50 days to go:

Don as a baby

First Birthday (celebrating Mom's birthday, too) - 1972

Look at the frosting on his cheek - cute! :)

March 19, 1971

Don was born at 4:05 p.m. and was 9 lbs. 11.5 oz. and 21 inches long.

Here are some baby photos of Don. We received his baby book at Christmas time. It's been fun to look through baby pictures and documents! He had long footprints (see bottom picture). In one of our ultrasounds, the nurse said our little guy had long feet, so it sounds like he'll take after Daddy in that area! :)

Brett in 3D again

We were able to go in for a complimentary session for our 3D/4D ultrasound (still photos and a video) of Brett on Friday. Even though it was Friday the 13th, he cooperated this time! He didn't have his hands in front of his face...though he does like to keep them close to his face. We were able to see him sucking on some fingers AND on his toes! :) His nose appears wider/smushed in some of the photos because he was smushed against my walls the technician told us.

bassinet

Here's a little movie of the movement and sound of the bassinet:



It can play nature sounds and songs.

nursery notes

Here are a few more photos from around the nursery. Here's our changing table/storage cart. We have some clothes, toys, diapering items, and books stored there for now. We have three or four disposable diapers in one of the diaper stackers...cute, tiny samples that we have received in the mail and at our childbirth class. Flat changing pad covers seem hard to find, as most are using the contoured pads. Our changing table came with a flat pad and I found one cover at Burlington Coat Factory. I also registered for a contour pad and covers so it can be switched out if need be.

Also, we picked out a mattress at Babies 'R' Us yesterday and brought it home. We have a mattress pad and new sheet on it already, too.

Today I'm working on the block frame...so far so good. I am using some Martha Stewart craft glue that seems to be holding the blocks on really well!

alphabet frame

I am currently working on a little craft project for the baby's room. Inspired by the alphabet block mirror in a previous post, I am making an alphabet block frame. I had wanted to do a mirror, but couldn't find the type of mirror that I wanted. The blocks fit perfectly around this frame, with one block to spare!

I haven't finished washing all of the blocks and have not begun to glue them on. I think it's going to match the bedding/color scheme perfectly. Can't wait to get it done and up on the wall!

Speaking of hanging things on the wall. I finally got the curtain rod and valance hung today. Our electric drill/screwdriver wasn't cooperating with me, but I still got them up!

barefoot and pregnant

This is one of my new 39 cent shirts (from that great $5.00 bag sale)! A great bargain and it's one of my new favorites! And, if you look closely in this photo, I truly am "barefoot and pregnant." Just the other day I tried on a brown pair of slip on shoes that I used to wear all the time. They don't fit any more. I don't feel like my feet are swollen, but they feel like they have spread out/widened a bit. I only have a couple of pairs of shoes that are comfortable right now.

better photos

The other photos were from online sites. Here are some real photos of our "new" high chair, the toys on the high chair tray (detachable) and the bassinet.

You can pull the fly out of the frog's mouth and it vibrates back into place.

baby things

Our friends, Shawn and Kerri, gave us some things that their baby has outgrown. Lucky us!

We were lucky enough to inherit a lightly used

high chair, stroller and matching car seat, bassinet,

and other baby items!

Their almost 2-year old daughter started crying when she realized her stuff was being loaded into our car. It almost made me cry!

what's in a name?

The other day, I was in Borders (bookstore) and looked through some parenting and baby books. I found an interesting baby name book called The Baby Name Survey by Bruce Lansky. I looked up the name, Brett, to see what people thought of the name.

"Scottish: from Great Britain

Image: Brett is a great friend for playing sports or just hanging out. People imagine he's considerate, attractive, charming and a good listener. Perhaps, because of Green Bay Packers' quarterback, Brett Favre, people also imagine he loves sports which keep him fit and strong. Namesakes: Brett Favre, Brett Hull, Bret Michaels, Brett Hart."

Brett in 3D !

Marilyn, a co-worker of mine, is due about a month before me. She recently brought in 3D ultrasound photos to work. After seeing hers, I ended up thinking it'd be pretty neat to do. So, we went to an appointment tonight after school. Don and I got to see little Brett in 2 D and 3D. Unfortunately, he was uncooperative for the face shots and had his hands over his face for most of the "photo shoot". The ultrasound technician did get a couple of shots where we could see his face better. He was kind of scowling in this one but you can see some facial features. We get to go back on the 13th for another (complimentary) session, since he was uncooperative. Also, not posted here, we got a CLEAR view that he is a boy! There is no doubt at all!!



Here's his little face. It looks like he's scowling here, but it was the best facial shot that we got this time.


According to measurements, he is 3 lbs. and 14 oz. and he has long legs and may be measuring a bit ahead of schedule. He was quite a contortionist and we could see him grabbing his little feet with his hands! At one point, I think one of his feet was up near his cheek!