How to Prepare for a Baby Sister

Consult Dr. Spock on how to deal with sibling rivalry.


Make sure the bouncy seat works properly.


Be sure to check out the siblings crib, test the mattress and confirm that yes, she'll be comfy in her new surroundings.

Running the Audible

John says we're running the audible (apparently this is a last minute change in football). It's the eleventh hour and all along we've been calling her Ellie. However, when we first thought of names for Luke we were dead set on Lauren Grace and Luke Thomas. Clearly we had Luke T. and thought if we were to have a girl someday that Luke and Lauren maybe didn't go together, two names with "L"? Too similar to Luke and Laura from General Hospital circa 1985?

I love the name Lauren. John agrees. Now were waffling on the little one's name and think we need to see her to decide. I thought we could do Lauren Elizabeth-Grace Stevens, but well her initials would be LEGS.

Any thoughts anyone? I keep asking Luke his opinion and all I get is a wide open mouthed glare.

Heading in the Right Direction

Ellie Grace has finally turned herself around and is no longer breech. Of course this doesn't change our c-section plans but gives the doctor a better indication of what is going on on the inside. I'm glad she's not THAT stubborn and figured out how to follow rank so to speak. We're scheduled to arrive at the hospital before 7:30am next Wednesday and if all goes well she should be out by 8am and I should be back in my room by 9:30/10am. This is an extreme contrast to Luke's birth which took longer than a day and a half and I barely saw him the first night he was born. Thank the Lord for modern medicine!

I am currently participating in the Extreme Nesting Challenge. A challenge that is self-inflicted. I'm out of work from this week through January 5 and of course I couldn't just sit and twiddle my thumbs with my feet up. As the old Italians say, "Idle hands are the work of the devil."

I've got beef stew in the crock (some for dinner tonight and the rest to freeze) and spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove to make and freeze a lasagne. The freezer is already stocked with a spinach quiche and chicken pot pie. My sister in law also supplied us with some creamy tomato and wild rice soup that is also nestled into a corner of the good ole ice box. The floors are mopped, I scrubbed them on my hands and knees, twice. I also swiffered and vaccuumed my way through our humble abode. All of the beds are stripped down to their mattresses, I flipped ours too, and the washer and dryer are in full force, washing everything from bed clothes to onesies. All I have left to do is pick up our bedroom so that the bassinette fits in there nicely, pack our bags for the hospital, and um put my feet up.

Ellie and I are headstrong this week, keeping busy in anticipation of whats to come!

Showered in Pink

The last few weeks have been a bit of a blur between working full-time, weekly check-ups at the doctor, jury duty, and the everyday craziness of life topped off with some family "stuff" that makes me sad. All of a sudden we're in the last full week of being a family of three. The time has flown and I haven't really taken it all in, or relaxed enough to relish the fact that this just might be the last time I am ever pregnant. We've received some girly pink gifts here and there but all in all there hasn't really been the hoopla or build up of anticipation as there was with Luke. I know that's part of what happens when you have subsequent children, there just isn't as much time to "anticipate" when you're chasing a toddler.

Today, though, today I was pleasantly surprised. My lovely coworkers (www.designtramp.com why can't I create a link!! GRR!) threw us a shower in which John helped with the guest list. I was expecting to arrive at a Halloween kid party and as we walked in I saw my nephew sitting in his Elvis costume at a coffee table full of pink packages and ribbons galore. Mrs. Potter and my mom represented the East End well, I certainly didn't anticipate that they would be part of the afternoon. It was a great day with great friends and great food. I am so blessed to have these people in my life. When I left NYC in 2002 all of my coworkers at the time thought I was making a mistake, that clearly there was no creative life outside of Manhattan. They all questioned what I would do for work in Glens Falls? I am so proud to lead the life that I do and to be part of such a fantastic group of creative, and compassionate people.

I'm so excited to meet you Ellie Grace and let me tell you, you're going to be one stylin' little lady:)

Sleepless

It's 4am, I've been up since 3am. This pregnancy-induced insomnia is evil.