I AM GOING CRAZY!

Tomorrow is my due date. I think I made a mistake in a previous post and wrote that my due date was the 21st... it's really the 29th. (Bubba's birthday was the 21st).
Anyways.... I feel like I am going crazy with anticipation! I want to go into labor so badly. The reality is that just because my due date is tomorrow, doesn't mean he will come tomorrow! AHHHH! Every little sensation makes me wonder if this is it.

Little Martin was such a little *#%* yesterday! He is so naughty. I came home from work and Daddy said he found him sleeping in the crib so he took these pictures.

Okay, I'll explain: when I first set up the crib a few weeks ago, I found Marin sleeping on the mattress. Because I was worried about him getting in the habit of sleeping in the crib when the baby arrives, I tilted the mattress up so he could no longer lay there. Then, a few days ago, I felt it was finally time to make baby's crib since our due date is getting closer. I figured that Martin would have just forgotten about it and the crib would stay nice and clean... nope! No such luck. Daddy caught im red handed (or footed.. I don't know). I think he thinks it is HIS bed.

This picture was taken the day after my shower (12/1/08) before I go to water aerobics for expecting mommies. My best friend Debbie sent me my suit that I left in California. Boy... does it fit different then the last time I wore it! I feel so huge!

December 29th was our baby shower and I am FINALLY posting the pictures!! Our awesome friends Karen & Derek and Tracy & Jason threw it for us and I cannot thank them enough. They made the most amazing food too!

We had a blast. So many people showed up and I felt so loved. I know that the party was really for the baby, but this was the closest thing I have ever had to someone throwing a party for me. Brandon didn't know what to make of it at first, but he had a great time too and he looked really happy. Thank you all for coming or sending your wishes. It was so nice of you. Please keep reading... the baby is coming soon....

Grammy (that's Brandon's mom) made us this really nice quilt. I love her quilts! She and Poppi also gave us (or Brandon) a more masculine diaper bag. We are calling it a "murse" (or man-purse). Haha.

It was so much fun! A bunch of Brandon's family came that he hadn't seen in a while. He was glad to see them and I got to meet them too.

My aunt, uncle, and cousin sent us some really cool gifts. It was a surprise to get their package! They sent some really cute clothes and some miniature books that I recognize from when I was a kid: Chicken Soup With Rice and Pierre by Maurice Sedek (the same author as Where The Wild Things Are). I remember my dad reading me these when I was little. Uncle Jim and Aunt Vicki would know the significance of these books, and it was sweet that they remembered.

I was SO SURPRISED when my family in California sent us some awesome gifts! My parents gave us a travel system (which is a stroller and car seat in one) and a matching high chair, and my Nana gave us a really cute baby bouncer. They even personalized the gifts by sending a picture of them holding a sign that said "happy baby shower". It was SO cool! I wish they could have been here, but I was so touched by how much love and thought they put into our special day! I had no idea.

When we went home that night, we were both just so happy. We just love our gifts and we were just so shocked by everybodys love and generosity. It was so cute to see Bubba putting everything together too. We are both so excited to be parents!

I just love my new stroller/ car seat. I know the baby is going to be so comfortable. Thanks Dad & Jamie!

Maggie's First Bird

Bubba and Maggie went hunting yesterday and Bubba shot a quail. It was cool because I've never seen one before, and neither had Maggie, but that didn't stop her from finding it! She didn't freak out at the blast from the shotgun either! That's my little bird dog girly! Seven years old and still learning new tricks!!!

Doggy doesn't like Kitty very much!

So here's the deal... kitty (Senior Lopez) tries so hard for Doggy (Maggie Moo) to give him a little attention. Maggie wants nothing to do with him except for the occasional snarls and bites. So kitty has resorted to playing with Doggy's tail, which serves 2 purposes: it gives kitty something to play with (at a reasonably safe distance) and most importantly, it thoroughly annoys doggy. Funny huh?!

No Shame!

I can't believe I'm posting this picture. I don't like the way I look, but I guess I had better get over it. This was last weekend and I swear I am already bigger this weekend. As of today, I have 5 weeks left. I can't wait! I wish he would come sooner, but I know he will come when he is ready. With my luck, that will be weeks after my due date (which is December 21st, by the way).

Kitty says, "I love to play with Mommy's belly button ring"

Me and kitty... we have a love affair!

I love my little birthday kitty! He is so fun to have around!

1921 Singer Sewing School

Last winter I visited Salmon, Idaho and went to an auction. I bought this really cool sewing Singer sewing machine mounted in a wooden table for only $50! Ironically, I have no idea how to sew, but I thought I would learn.

Brandon's mom, Sharon is an excellent seamstress. She makes the most beautiful quilts. She offered to teach me how to use my machine, but first I had to get a belt for it. This proved to be more difficult than I thought. I called the Singer Company with my machine's serial number and I learned that my machine was made "born" 1921. I had no idea that my machine was THAT old! I was already having doubts that I would EVER learn to sew, let alone on a machine from 1921, but I did. Sharon came over and showed me how to make this really cute Christmas pillowcase. It was fun and she was very patient with me. I was so proud of myself. I'm still not very good at sewing, but I'm practicing.

Long time no update!

Hello everybody... I haven't written in a little over a week. Last week was a busy one. I worked everyday, which at this point in the game is not easy.

This is a picture of our house. I took this yesterday when I looked outside and noticed it was snowing in Meridain! Odd.. the forecast didn't even call for snow.

Gathering Stuff For Baby

Yeah!!! The crib is set up! Wew! I feel better. I have been totally preoccupied (all of a sudden) with getting all the stuff we may need to take care of our new baby. It is actually totally freaking me out. I never realized how much stuff a baby needs. I mean, people have TOLD me but I didn't really get it. I went and registered for the baby shower at Baby's R' Us and Target and it was totally overwhelming. I had to really remind myself that I am having a beautiful baby boy and that's all that matters. Everything will fall into place.

Then an even stranger thought came into my mind: this is the last time in my life that I will exist without my child. I mean I only have another 7 weeks where it is ONLY ME in my world. And while I can hardly wait for the responsibility of being a mother, I should really enjoy this time with myself. I don't know if that makes any sense, but I am really trying to relax.

In any event, I feel so grateful for all the love I have around me, especially from people I am still just getting to know. Shelly was so sweet to give us the crib and I am SO excited for the baby shower! Love, love, love!

P.S. This is a picture of me a and Martine Ramone Lopez- the cat (or, Senior Lopez).

Snow on Bogus

We got snow on the mountains around Boise this week. This isn't the best shot... I was driving, but you can see the snow on Bogus. Yesterday was a good day. I went to prenatal yoga at the YMCA in Boise. It was awesome. At the end of the class, the instructor turned off the lights and allowed us to practice our deep breathing. Then she instructed us to feel our own hearts connecting with the heart of our unborn baby. It was so amazing! I can't wait to go again.

Me and Bubba went to his sister Shelly's house to hand out candy on Halloween. It was actually a lot of fun. This is Gage, Piper, and Ramsey.

I am 32 weeks today... almost there! I can't wait to have this little guy. Being pregnant is harder than I thought it would be, but well worth it! So here I am... 8 months pregnant and feeling like a whale.

So when we got home from Elk Camp, Brandon heeded to remove the antlers from the dear head. This proved to be a very interesting experience. He pulled out the saw and went to work with the saw while I held the antlers steady. We both pulled our faces away as brain and fur went flying from the vibration of the saw. Yuck... but kinda cool. Look... you can see the brain!

I have no idea how a blog is "supposed" to work. I could get pretty hung up on this, but I am choosing to "just do it" and not get too hung up on perfection. Anyways.... I have no idea what to write. I am in desperate need of entertainment. Being seven months pregnant is both exciting and boring. I am in constant anticipation for the birth of our little boy (side note: watch it be a girl.... naw, the doctor said it had a penis.. hehe).
Maybe I will find entertainment my journaling my mundane daily thoughts and activities on this handy little site. Will anyone read it? Doesn't matter.
Ok... so here goes...
Bubba and I have spent the last three weekends hunting. (If your new Bubba is my sweet boyfriend Brandon). I would love to reveal the name of Bubba's hunting spot, but shhhh.... it's a secret.
It was fun to finally see what the hunting trip was all about. I was surprised to learn it was not all about killing things. While that was important, it was more about just going up there, hanging out with friends, and being in nature. I found it very relaxing. Even though I couldn't really hike and I definitely couldn't hunt, I loved just hanging out in the wall tent by the fire. And it's amazing what I have found myself doing while pregnant. I have been challenged to find new ways to entertain myself. I am not much of a reader (or at least I didn't think I was), but on this trip I picked up a book I probably should have read in junior high or high school or something. I read most of "To Kill a Mockingbird." I'm almost finished with it and so far it's a wonderful book.
Bubba killed a little buck the second week and Derick killed a bull on the last weekend. That's the meat and head hanging from the tree. I had never tried deer meat before. It's really good. Yummy!
Also, I met Bubba's friends who are really nice and I am glad to know them. Everyone brought their dogs. It was great -Maggie got to hang out with anywhere from five to eight other dogs at a time. She loves elk camp. So do I:)
Well, that's all for now. Maybe this blogging thing can be pretty cool. It's amazing how fun things can be when you just throw yourself into them.

I grew up in California. Here I am when I was seven years old.

Here we are... me and my crazy dog Maggie (I call her "Maggie Moos"). This picture was taken last summer in California, right before me and Maggie made our courageous trip to live in Ketchum, Idaho. We had no idea where life would take us!

So, this is me... Jessie.