A Baby Weekend

Well, this weekend came and went in a flash. I was consumed with baby related activities and it was wonderful. It started with babysitting for a 5 month old Friday night. Hopefully Baby Burla wasn't too jealous sharing my attention. Adam was cute because he kept calling and asking if the baby was awake or still sleeping. I think he wanted him to wake up so he could come visit and "practice." Adam and I went to bed at 2am that night and then awoke Saturday morning for our birthing class.

We went to the hospital we are going to deliver at and no one was there for the class, hmmmm. Fortunately, with pillows and blankets in hand, we found a nurse and she informed us we were at the wrong place. Sure enough, baby class was down the street in a different building associated with the hospital. Adam gave me a hard time for not reading the directions, but come on, who would have thought. A tour of the birthing center was on the schedule. The good news was we made it to the right place only 15 minutes late and all we missed was the Parents As Teachers lady giving her spiel. I know I went to school all those years for something. The actual instructor then took over and opened by asking why we had chosen to come to the class. Adam was the first to comment by pointing at me and announcing, "because she made me." A true statement, but hey, at least I avoided deer hunting season (well ok, at least rifle season). In all honesty, I think it was VERY important that we went together and someday maybe he will secretly admit he was glad. It was one of those special moments for us as a couple and family really. I was very proud of him throughout the day and I feel like it added to our closeness and anticipation. We'll see how much he can implement come "game day."

Adam was also the comic relief for the group. The instructor set herself up for him a few times including when she said she would give anyone an epidural at any time during labor, all they had to do was ask. Adam quickly chimed in, so you'd give me one if I asked for it. Nope. We were given a board book for baby with the class and Adam teased that it was a $100 dollar book, the price of the class. Adam timed how long the labors in the video lasted and kept reporting them to me. The video's gave us a lot to talk about during and after. Adam was cracking me up during our "practice" with massage and breathing techniques. He was the star of the show and I couldn't stop laughing. He took everything the instructor and tape said to heart, while throwing in comments of his own. The best was when he was cheering me through a pretend tough contraction and after the instructor told us the worse part of that contraction was over, Adam announced, only 100 more to go. The whole class burst out in laughter, knowing that was the real truth. Yesterday he told me he figured out mathematically how many total contractions I would probably have, the number escapes me right now, or perhaps I purposefully forgot.

Adam, being a sponge with auditory learning, really could teach the class now. I quizzed him as we went out to dinner and ice cream afterwards, and ate away our anxiety. He passed with flying colors. At the end of class we drove to the hospital and visited the birthing center. We will have a private room where the baby will be with us. Adam checked out the menu and asked about the kitchen, which we have access to, and which is stocked daily. Adam told them they better stock up on the ice cream for his arrival. It was hard to believe the next time we will be in that ward, we will finally get to meet our baby. After dinner out, Adam and I snuggled together and watched a movie, then went to bed at 8:30. The class wiped us out. We were up at 3:00 Sunday. Hmm, yes our sleep cycles are bizarre. Adam went hunting, I rested in bed.

Sunday afternoon was our first shower. Adam's mom's co-workers hosted it. I could not believe the support and generosity her team of teachers and other members of her staff provided. My mother-in-law is well loved, not only by us. She shares my love for babies and will be a huge help- I am exceptionally lucky. I am glad the in-laws are so close to share in all the excitement. The shower was really nice, with good people, good food, good stories, a guess the contents of the "poopy diaper" game, and a room full of baby stuff. I brought the poopy diapers home to Adam and he answered them all within 20 seconds. We'll see how he does with real diapers. It was exciting to begin filling Baby Burla's room and to show Adam all the gifts. The baby even received camouflage for the hunting camp. A few things require assembly and Adam decided we should wait to put them together. He was lucky I had a work meeting or I would have insisted we get the tools out right then and there. Actually, Melissa, my mother-in-law, and I will probably read and follow the directions and put them together so the men don't have to. Well, I should probably go back to bed for a few minutes since I will be going non stop today and have been up since 5am. After work I get to meet with our pediatrician to make sure she is the one for our baby. Then school stuff. School is definitely taking a backseat for this baby, rightly so.