Surprise!

Oh what fun!Oh what joy!

The Montalbano’s are having a sweet baby boy!

Please Join us for Jim’s Baby Shower in the Kitchen

Wednesday, February 4th at 3PM

So the actual evite looks much cuter than above, but it gets the point across. Jim's work pals surprised him with a baby shower at work yesterday. I think that is fantastic! Let's him be the main source of attention for once regarding the baby and get the props that he deserves because he's going to make an excellent father. He came home with his hands loaded with baby gear and I was surprised too, so that was fun! It was so nice and kind of them to think of us and I'm happy he works with such excellent, caring people. Thanks to all involved and I'll post pictures when I get them from Mikey.

Christmas Pics

The Whole Fam (minus puppers Callie and Dutch)

I know, a little past the season, but I just received copies of our Christmas pics, so I thought I'd share and re-live the holidays. We were here for Christmas -- the Montalbano side on Eve and the Romano side on Christmas day...then we headed off to Indy to visit my family. I don't think we got any group shots from the Chicago-land Christmas', but we'll see what we can do for next year!

Our family pic
Easton got into the action but actually opening his present too, versus just trying to eat the wrapping paper :-)

I HEART MY SISTERS!!!

34 weeks = swollen feet and baby dropping

So the Super Bowl ended up being a much better game than I anticipated, which made the game fun to watch even though one of my or Jim's teams weren't involved. A few of the Halicki's made it up and it was great, as always, to see them along w/ Jim's mom and brother. The commercials seemed to lack some compared to past years, but I'm guessing advertising budgets are getting cut back and I still was cracking up at some of them, so way to go advertising/marketing guys & gals.

Sometime on Monday the baby "dropped" and is sitting a bit lower -- now I have to get used to my belly being gigantic at a different level, which should mean lots of accidental belly bumps at work :-) The school nurse even noticed it today as she was helping one of my students that twisted her ankle...she said usually about 6 weeks from when they drop is when they pop out, which would put us right at Peanut's due date! We'll see though because I've also heard the Old Wives Tales that it could be 4 weeks and I'm sure others have gone 8 weeks -- never can tell what's in store for you! These pictures are from a week ago, before the baby "dropped" (I hate saying dropped bc it makes me feel like a bad mom for some reason, like he literally just hit the floor)...I've been wanting to get a good one but I'm usually in sweats after work! Also, these ankles are killer -- I thought maybe I would miss out on cankles -- but NOPE, mine are UBER-cankles by the end of the day...and that's with only being on my feet to teach 3 classes each day, not my normal 5!

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!