35 weeks

As of a few days ago, we are officially 35 weeks into the pregnancy. Or as I was telling a friend just yesterday, we are in that phase when the baby could really come any day now. Someone at the baby shower asked if we were nervous, and actually I had to say no. I think it's more anticipation and excitement than anything else. But it still becomes more of a reality every day.
For example, with the nursery 99.274% completed, we are now turning our attention to things like pre-washing the baby's clothes, packing hospital bags, and getting the car seat properly installed for the momentous first ride home from the hospital... a ride that I'm guessing will take about 3 times the usual amount of time, with two nerve-wrecked new parents on the road obeying the speed limits for the first time ever.

Even the babycenter updates are starting to shift gears on us. Instead of giving advice about the pregnancy and labor management, etc., this week they focused on things like hospital admission, birth announcements, and low maintenance hairstyles for V for once the baby is born.

/ouch/ excuse me... that was reality kicking me in the face again. Only 32 days stand between us and a full-term baby. How exciting is that?! If only we can get our things-left-to-do list down to 100 items or less, it wouldn't seem so overwhelming.

Anyhow, along those lines, the baby's room is pretty much a done deal. I spent Thursday thru Saturday finishing up the paint job... just in time for Baby Shower #2 on Sunday, which was absolutely fantastic. V's friends continue to amaze us in terms of the love and commitment they put forth to make these things happen. Erin most definitely outdid herself with her impeccable attention to detail and her orchestration of the entire event. I was thoroughly impressed! While the SC shower was a family event, this time around I was banished from the premises since it was an "all ladies affair". With that in mind, I have to send much love to DeVon for keeping me company in the duration. It would've been a long day otherwise. In all, it turned out great, and V's friends and co-workers really showed their love and appreciation for her with the gifts and high spirits that they brought to the table.

Even though I was never excited about the thought of having 3 different baby showers, I admittedly understand that our lack of proximity to family makes it necessary. And now I can also say that I appreciate each one as being different in it's own right. The first one in SC was V's family, and so that was one dynamic. The second was here at home in VA (always nice to be home) and was ladies only, and so it had it's own flavor as well. The third will be in PA and will have more of a cookout appeal to it... and will be even less traditional still since the baby will already be here. But again that will also bring it's own dynamics to the table (e.g., toddler vs. infant gifts, and no more neutral greens and yellows :o) ... not to mention that my family is borderline insane, and so heading up north is always an adventure.

So for now I'm content to FINALLY start my summer vacation... even though there's an outside chance that it could end at any given moment.