1. Plan Layout

2. Choose Paint Color (custom mix #6) & Buy Paint

3. Take ‘Before’ Pictures

4. Find Perfectly Sized/Priced Dresser on Craigslist

5. Somehow get seller of Craigslist Dresser to e-mail me back, then buy dresser

6. Paint Room

7. Buy good quality bunk beds and mattress

8. Buy remaining furniture as cheaply as possible, then begin furniture rehab

9. Pick out fabrics/pattern so Grandma Denny can make quilt

10. Buy/make accessories for room, find/make curtains, buy blackout roller shade for window

11. Move in furniture, decorate room, move in Alethea’s book/toys

12. Convince Alethea to sleep in big girl bed so baby can use crib

DEADLINE FOR ALL OF ABOVE: January 4th 2011

Maybe Alethea doesn’t know Sesame Street as well as I thought she did.  Today she was looking at the Sponge Bob towel that was laying on the floor with clothes drying on it.  She pointed at Patrick (the starfish) and said “Emo!”  I tried telling her that it was Patrick, but she was very insistent that it was Elmo.  Oh well.

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I went to Sherwin Williams and bought paint for Alethea’s big girl room.  Instead of going with any of the pre-mixed options, I took my multitude of paint samples and whipped up my own color.  It only took me 8 or so tries and several hours to finally get the “perfect” gray.  Not too light, not too dark, not too blue, not too tan.  I think it’s all for the best, but the rule follower in me feels weird using an “unofficial” color.

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The baby has been moving around a lot more lately.  It seems to me that her movements are a bit less forceful than Alethea’s were at about the same age, but maybe that’s just me hoping not to have two very assertive children who are only 20 months apart.

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I know everyone says Alethea looks like Peter, and she does.  But the other day my sister-in-law Julie over at TheAnticsoftheThree22nds posted pictures of her youngest three at around 5-6 months.  I still think that the person Alethea looks most like is her cousin Roman.

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I’m super excited about our Labor Day Block Party this weekend.  We are hosting it at our house.  I told Peter that I was going to do red, white and blue for the paper goods and decorations.  He said that Labor Day isn’t a red, white and blue kind of holiday.  What color is it then?

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I’m trying to score a cheap dresser and nightstand off craigslist for Alethea’s room.  Only problem is I think I need a really narrow dresser.  The wall seemed long enough for bunk beds and a dresser, but when I actually measured it out I ended up with about 27 inches for the dresser.  I really want to keep my room arrangement how I have it planned out though, so I think I’ll keep hunting for a narrow-but-tall dresser.

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It’s a girl!

I’m excited because we already have the clothes…

And I don’t have to re-do anything in the nursery…

I did however lose my bet with Peter.

Hi everyone, Peter here. I am happy to announce the upcoming arrival of Baby Bob 2.0! The official due date is January 4, 2011 (but we’re rooting for 12/31 or before - tax deduction, baby!).

Here’s the first picture:

No, Bob is not the baby’s real name.  Like we did with Alethea, we’re going to keep the name secret until post-birth. Partly because it’s more fun that way, and partly because there is no chance we’ll agree on a name before then anyway!

Elise and I are very excited and Alethea, well … she has no clue what’s coming.

UPDATE: 11:57 PM - Major progress! They were able to unstick the stuck cervix and break Elise’s water. She dilated to 4cm almost instantly.

ORIGINAL POST STARTS HERE: Just wanted to give everyone an update on how Elise and the baby are doing. The quick version: we are back at the hospital and in labor after a 3-hour break at home following a failed induction on Friday and Saturday. Elise is resting comfortably and is on Pitocin to speed up her labor. The baby is doing great, aside from her stubborn refusal to be born.

Detailed version after the jump …

(more…)

We’re on our way out the door to go to the hospital.  They’ll begin the inducement tonight, but we don’t expect to meet our little girl until tomorrow sometime.  We hope to post from the hospital so stick around for more updates!  Your prayers are appreciated!

Had a check-up yesterday with another non-stress test.  The baby is still reacting well, which is the good news.  The bad news is that I don’t seem to be progressing toward labor.  We now have an inducement plan.  I will be going into the hospital this Friday night to being Cervidil and then they will start Pitocin on Saturday morning, so it appears that the baby will arrive sometime on the 25th.  Unless of course the baby decides suddenly to cooperate and come sooner… but time is running out.

I’m still not thrilled with the idea of inducing, but it is comforting to know the end is in sight.

Thanks for all of your prayers and words of encouragement!

I had my weekly check-up yesterday.  They said not much has changed and it doesn’t appear that I will go into labor anytime soon.  Frustrating, but they’ve said it so many times I’m starting to get used to it.  At least I didn’t cry like last week.

They also did a “non-stress test” to see how the baby was doing.  According to the test she’s perfectly comfortable in there.  My thought is that she is perhaps a little too comfortable… but I’m glad she’s not in distress.  It was fun to be able to listen to her heartbeat for a while.

My next appointment is on Monday where they will do another non-stress test and see if I’ve moved any closer to going into labor.  If all else fails, they will be inducing at the end of the week, but I really hope it doesn’t come to that.

I’m getting very antsy waiting for this baby to come and am afraid I may have been a little grumpy the past few days.  The swelling in my hands and feet is quite uncomfortable and I’m wondering if we go too long whether I will be delivering a 12 pound baby.  However, this morning I decided to make a list of things that I was grateful for and that definitely put things in perspective.  Here’s my top 5 count-down:

5) Despite being over-due and uncomfortable, I have had a relatively easy pregnancy

4) The weather here has been so beautiful lately.  Everything seems better when it’s 65 and sunny!

3) Being over-due has given me plenty of time to get everything for Bob ready.  I’m glad I won’t feel panicked whenever I go into labor that I don’t have everything I need or didn’t get stuff done.

2) I have a beautiful home that we moved into several months ago.  I am so glad we got the process of buying/packing/moving done before I got so big

1) Peter has been super supportive even though I’m (a bit) whiny and he takes me to Dairy Queen when I need it!

How about you?  What are you grateful for today?

I thought I’d better post or everyone is going to think that I’m in labor.  No such luck….

Went to the clinic yesterday for my weekly check-up.  The mid-wife says that it could still be a while before the baby comes.  Of course, things can change quickly, but nothing happening yet.

I’m not excited about being “over-due” but Peter was helpful in reminding me that B’s original due date was the 11th and they moved it to the 7th based on her first ultrasound, so really, she could still be pretty much on schedule.

Thanks everyone for the comments and e-mails!  It’s nice to hear from so many friends!