Thursday, October 23, 2008

Your Room

We hope you like it!




















Past Due!

You are officially past due. Your dad and I were at Dr. Yee's office the other day, and her exact words were something like.. "You are going to have a BIG baby!" as she was measuring my stomach. Yesterday was your 'due date' - Oct 22nd, which was your Great Grandpa Howard Stilwell's birthday. Looks like you are getting your own day. When will you come??

Sunday, October 19, 2008

7 years!

Today is the 7th anniversary of your dad's and my first date. I can't believe how time has flown by, I'm only 31! I was thinking that it would be really cute if you were born today, but so far, I think you've got your own plans, and you are going to wait until you are ready. It makes me feel old to think it's been 7 years since our first date at Godzilla Sushi on Divisadero and Bush street in San Francisco. The receipt from that date is framed in our bedroom. Your dad kept it in his wallet, and gave it to me a year later. The ironic thing is that behind that receipt in the frame is the receipt from our first anniversary - at Jardiniere on Franklin and Grove, for about 6 times the price. Our dates started stepping up a bit.. especially the 'special occasions'.

Your dad is the smartest, kindest and funniest person I know. He loves his family more than anything and it is such an honor for me to wake up next to him everyday. I know he is going to be such a great father to you, and you are one lucky little guy. He already has so many plans for the two of you, like Sunday morning coffee runs while mommy gets to sleep in (that's my favorite), walking on Crissy Field with you in the Baby Bjorn, taking you to baseball games, and 'guys time', watching the 49ers. You two are going to have so much fun together.

The first due date that Dr Yee gave us was October 20th. After your first ultrasound, they changed it to Oct 22nd, and that's been the 'official' date ever since. It's a special date because your Great-Grandpa Howard Latham Stilwell was born on Oct 22nd in 1887! That's 121 years ago, wow. I never met my Grandpa Howard, because he had my dad later in life (age 43), and my dad had me later in life (age 47), so that made for some large generation gaps. He was a very special man, and I'd be very proud for you to share a birthday with him.

Some other special dates you may be born on; Oct 19th - our first date (2001). Oct 25th, the day your dad proposed to your mom in Paris (2003).

Some vintage mom and dad pics from our trip to France when we got engaged..



Paris



Wine tasting in Provence



St Tropez



Villefranche

Friday, October 17, 2008

Your Name

Your Dad and I have a name for you. This doesn't stop us from continuing to look through name books - just in case, but it's pretty inevitable what your name will be. It's a name that we thought of pretty early on and loved for you, and it has stuck out as our favorite and although we've done some extensive research, we just can't imagine you with another name.

By extensive research, I mean we've found all of the things that are important in a name for our little man. A strong, powerful, respectful name. A poetic name with a proper syllable count that matched your last name, it even has a 'mirrored' sound which is an added bonus. We wanted a sentimental aspect with a bit of family history, but most of all we wanted to give you a 'cool' name. Your dad actually came up with this name in the first place, which makes me like it even more. We are waiting to meet you in the hospital before we make it official, and of course, until we sign your birth certificate, we could still change our minds.. but I don't think we will.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Getting Ready for Baby

Over the last several months, we've learned that there is definitely a lot that goes into preparing for a baby, and your dad and I have been participating in all of it. We're having so much fun getting ready for you. Setting up the nursery, reading all the pregnancy and childcare books, labor and baby classes and getting flu shots to keep you healthy. I'm even watching the tv show documentary "Bringing Home Baby' on TLC as I'm writing this.. We've also been spending a lot of time in baby stores, trying to figure out exactly what the heck you are going to need. Of course, once we figure out something that we need for you, there are about 10 options, so figuring out which one is a challenge also. I'm pretty sure we are just going to have to learn along the way with you.. sorry about that.

As you can see your dad is quite a handy man - lucky for us. Hopefully he will teach you to be handy too, and I'll never have to go to a hardware store with your dad again... Here he is putting together your crib (without instructions!). I love your crib, it's a hand-me-down (one of many) from your older twin cousins Aidan and Brendan. Baby Conor doesn't need 2 cribs, so basically you and Conor get to be the recipients of lots of their cool stuff. I can't wait for you to meet them and play with them. They are going to teach you all kinds of things like how to knock stuff over and how to run around in circles screaming and laughing. I'm pretty sure you'll have fun.

Here are some pictures of your dad and I on the last of our McMoyler Method baby classes. We brought lots of snacks and big pillows for mom to sit on. You are awfully big, so sitting for any length of time is a challenge. We now feel confident that we are armed with all of the knowledge we need to keep you safe and healthy. Hopefully we'll never have to use the 'Infant CPR' that we learned at class.



Here's your dad carrying the heavy stuff up the hill to the car.. Mom is a slow walker these days, and the hills in SF make getting around a bit more challenging.