1 month to go!

Stan and I definitely feel like we are entering the homestretch. This is my 35 wk-ish profile shot - baby (and mom) are continuing to grow... I am still trying to do pilates, but each week I find I'm dropping more exercises. I'm getting a little tired of the snow & icy sidewalks, but so far - no new tumbles to report :)

Stan and I started a childbirth class on Saturday mornings - which has been fun and insightful - it definitely has us thinking about the end of the pregnancy journey and the beginning of the next one! We have been overly blessed with showers (more like downpours) - and our baby's room is filled to the brim. We are so overwhelmed and grateful for the outpouring of love on us and this baby.

Baby is pretty active - Stan and I debate whether he is doing swimming kick turns or practicing his soccer moves. We are getting closer to coming up with a name. We have found the 60,000 baby name book to be a bit overwhelming - and those of you who we have seen recently have heard that virtually all of our baby name conversations end with Stan suggesting "Julio"... so we still have a little way to go... My arthritis continues to do pretty well, and I've been managing with Tylenol from time to time - and I'm still sleeping through the night, for which I'm very grateful... my only complaint is some swelling in my legs/ankles - so I'm trying to cut back on the spaghettios :)

Stan is continuing to work hard, especially as his company gets closer to commissioning the building... and Chicago weather has not been too friendly to this process. Law school is going well - and obviously keeping him busy - but the boy manages all of his responsibilities remarkably well. I am planning on working up until baby's arrival - which could make for one interesting train ride home someday, but so far I've been blessed with a pretty complication-free pregnancy - and hope to save more time for after the baby. Jury is still out on my post-baby plans, but I do plan to come back to work after 8 weeks in a part-time capacity for a few months and wrap up projects & train a replacement. After that, we'll see what God has in store :)

Hope you are all doing well - can't wait to introduce you to our little guy!

Tiffany's Tea Room Shower in Crown Point

What's in that stinky diaper? My niece, Cassidy, tries to figure it out...

This clothesline full of clothes stretched from one end of the tea room to the other!

It keeps going & going & going...

The shower ended with an endearing tribute to Stan's Electrical Engineering days.... you can't spell "Geek" without a double-E.

We're very proud daddy's a geek.

Thank you, Sara & Beth, for hosting such a wonderful shower! We are so grateful!!

Wheaton College Baby Shower

Isn't this the cutest cake you have ever seen?

The yummy spread :)

Rubber ducky centerpieces

Some of my current & former co-workers -
you may also catch a glimpse of our rocking horse behind my head :)


The shower hostesses - my colleagues in Development & Gift Planning.
Thank you!

Indy Baby Shower

a wonderful tea luncheon

Close high school friends, Jill & Sarah

The hostesses with the most-estes (Brook, Sara & Jill)

Stan, ready for his diaper 'dooty'

Wow! Mom & Baby were truly blessed today!

Some fun onesies... the top two were homemade creations of Kaelyn & Bella Gilliam :)

The weekend ended with Chicago vs. Indianapolis. My family was very gracious in their celebration, and Stan was the picture of dignity in defeat... more or less...

Reed Jellum Jones

Welcome our newest neighbor - I think Reed and Baby Hendricks are going to have a fun time growing up together! Reed was born on February 7th - at 8 pounds and 7 ounces and is 20 inches tall. Everyone is doing great.

Double Trouble...