Bloggo for Blago

This week in review: ILLINOIS OUSTED GOVERNOR ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH FROM OFFICE! Way to go Illinois -- one crooked politician down before he takes us all with him. I am happy this is finally complete because that is all they have been talking about for weeks on the news! My favorite part was one night after he was arrested and he didn't want to grant interviews.... until..... one of the reporters in the crowd asked how it felt that Drew Peterson took over the headlines from him again -- interview: GRANTED! I tell ya, I don't know how these people do it!

Anywho, had another baby check-up...33 weeks and counting! They are estimating Peanut's about 4lb 14oz (+/- 4oz) now! I don't know how (because I haven't gained any weight) but this child of ours has managed to gain about 1.5 pounds in the past 2 weeks!?! This baby-making stuff baffles me sometimes (well, most times). The weight gain ups him to the 64th percentile, which I'm going to need to have a talk to him about because I was just fine with him being in the middle of the road on this category...we don't need him over-achieving here now, he should save that for his school days! He is getting some really good 1-2 punch-kicks in on me as he gets stronger and standing to teach PE has become much more interesting to say the least. I only have 3 PE classes now though and 2 PE Study Halls, so I do get some time to get off my feet (which often feel quadruple their size by the time I get home to a hyped up puppy that wants to play).

I found this link, Obamicon.me, from my friend Sheryl's blog and thought it was a good way to a) get a new belly pic for everyone and b) introduce Peanut to politics and his new President. The poster is a much more flattering picture as the original was taken with the web cam and was very pixelated.

Have yourself a most excellent Super Bowl -- don't know if I really care who wins as I'd rather see the Colts vs. the Browns, then I couldn't lose (no, I'm not high, just wishful) but the commercials are usually worth it...although I hear they haven't been able to sell all the ad spots yet -- maybe they should change the pricing, hmmm...or are those companies too busy purchasing $50 million private jets with government bail-out money? You decide!

Resting in Peace

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I am writing for the 2nd time today. Jim's grandmother passed away on the 18th and then I got news today that my cousin, Allyson, fell unexpectantly while recovering well from heart surgery 1.5 weeks ago and they were unable to revive her. She is only 24 years old and had a lifetime of amazing things left to accomplish. We will miss her great big smile and her uncanny sense of humor. May their journey together up to Heaven be amazing as we try to figure out how to make sense of it all down here. We'll miss you both beyond words!

Pictures: Ally's dog Stella giving her kisses. Jimmy's Grandma Mary and his late father, Jim, posing for a picture at Jimmy's University of Illinois Graduation, May 2002.

President Barack Obama

Well, Peanut didn't get to witness it (not that he would have remembered anyway), but it gave me chills today to watch our 44th President of the United States of America, Barack H. Obama, be sworn in to office. I must say, I've never actually been able to focus much while politics are being discussed; however, today my attention was glued to the 18 minute inauguration speech he gave. Here are some pictures from Chicagoans blogging the day's events.

31 Weeks & No School

As you can tell, I'm catching up on my blogging today. Reason: no school due to inclimate weather...and just found out have tomorrow off too...So, a 5-day unplanned weekend when you count MLK Day on Monday. You would think I'd be stoked; however, that is now 3 extra days that I have to take off at the end of the school year for maternity leave - ouch! I guess -7 degrees as the "real" temperature before wind chill does make it rough for all the kids that walk to school...they are already cancelled in Carmel, IN too where my mom is a lunch lady -- BRRRRR for the midwest!

I went to the doctor for a 31-week growth check-up and non-stress test for Peanut yesterday before the Hawks game. Everything is looking good: good heart rate & movements during the non-stress; amniotic fluid levels are normal; he is measuring 3 pounds 7 ounces, give/take 4 ounces -- right smack in the middle at the 50th percentile (we've had a talk, I'd like him to stay right in the middle, thank you); and the ultrasound measurements put us at 32 weeks, 2 days...but that just shows us "right about right for 31 weeks" according to the dr. Although.... both my mom and I were first borns and we were both 10 days early and right about 5lbs, 7 oz...wonder who will be closest with the guessing game?!?! Found out I'm resistant to a certain kind of stitching (starts with a "v," don't remember) as my body has been fighting the stitches from a mole removed on my back since before Christmas (we thought it was infected)...nope, just allergic -- so got to stand through that medicinal treatment and removal -- which was most excellently painful...but I'd rather figure that out on my back than somewhere else later (moms, you know what I mean ;-) )!!!

2-side views look pretty much the same if you ask me, but you get a good profile of his head.

The last one is my favorite -- I love when he's looking head-on into the ultrasound pic -- I think he may end up with mostly Jim's features (as I'll be genetically dominated), but may get my nose...wad do ya think? Alas, I'm always horrible at that game, so we'll have to wait and see!

Blackhawks vs Sabres

John got us some WICKED SWEET seats for the Chicago Blackhawks vs Buffalo Sabres hockey game on Jan. 14th. We were in the 11th row, one section over from the Hawks goal, so we got a great view of everything! And I didn't have to worry about Peanut taking over as "puck attractor" because we were behind the nets :-) They won 4-1 with some great kills on the power plays (seriously, Eager spent at least 10 minutes in the box, I think he has some anger management issues that he needs to resolve).

Peanut was excited for his first NHL game (even if he couldn't see the action). He was especially active when Toews scored his goal -- he was doing triple flips in there, I swear! Below is a picture of my 2 favorite Hawks -- Toews (#19) and goalie "Silent K," as I've nicknamed Khabibulin.

Work Friends Baby Shower

My friends from work (and Tanya) threw us our first baby shower on January 11, 2009. It was such a great time, I am so lucky to work with these fine ladies and have them be a part of my life -- they are truly amazing people! They helped get us off to a good start to be prepared for Baby Monty when he gets here (again, he needs to wait until March). Here's a group shot :-)

Corey has a friend that is a pastry chef and made this amazing cake that fits right in with the Safari-themed nursery -- seriously, how cute is this cake?!?!? We saved the animals to take some pics to possibly use as decoration in the nursery, we'll see if we get anything useable.

This was the best pregnancy belly picture I could find...30.5 weeks along...and the same shirt as last time (it's a fav)!

Nursery Part 2

Last weekend my mom and sister came up to try and finish up the nursery. Kristen slaved over the baseboards while Mom hung wallpaper over the ugly cork wall...it looks amazing! The wall got finished (minus the border, which has to wait for wallpaper to dry), baseboards cleaned/painted, door/window frames painted and carpet cleaned...what a busy 24 hours! Great job ladies, I know Peanut will love his room when he gets here (hopefully not until mid-March) and we owe you!

Here's the wall -- kind of hard to see but the yellow wall color really brought out the yellow in the paper.

Easton decided it was too much to handle, so he took a nap (mostly) under the bed :-) What a silly puppy!

After Mom and Kristen left, Jimmy had an itching to put together some furniture -- but he had explicit instructions to wait until Wednesday at least so the carpet would be all the way dry. He was actually able to hold off until Wednesday night when he put together the IKEA purchases -- the changing table (left) and the step-up storage bins (right). The glider/ottoman his mom bought us (see below) was put together the next night (so comfy)!

The weather in Chicago was horrible on Friday and school was cancelled for me (early Winter break, but one extra maternity day of leave I have to take now, oh darn -- it was a much needed day off after Thursday's hard lockdown and lunch room fiasco at school)! Jimmy stayed home too, but he actually had to work (sucker)! So Saturday was the big day -- dresser and crib day. Again, he did most of the work while I supervised. I did attempt to put together the drawers for the dresser, but the manufacturer (Carter's) had the grooves off by just a smidgen -- enough that I couldn't get them together -- after leaving a message (which I'm sure won't be returned) with the manufacturers), some brut force from Jim got the bottom boards on them and we finished it (3 hours later). It looks great though and I love that the drawers actually "dip down" so a kid can't easily pull them out to climb them. After a lunch/stress break, we decided we might as well push on through and assemble the crib -- SO MUCH EASIER!!! I think it took us about 30 minutes for the crib, so we were relieved and got to see the whole room come together!

And I thought this picture was just too funny -- Easton was BEAT from all the hard work Jim did putting the nursery together, so he had to take a nap -- what a life and with no inhibitions! Easton was actually very curious as to what we were doing all weekend in the room and spent some time getting cozy on his new bed in the nursery's doorway while we worked...I think he now believes he is the guardian of that room :-)