Let's Make This Fun, Shall We?

Since I'll undoubtedly be waiting for some undisclosed amount of time for Lucas to arrive, I say we make a contest out of it!

If you want to participate, just comment on this post with what DATE you think he'll finally join our world!  You can say today (since there are a lot of hours left in this day - and I may make you my new best friend for giving me some hope!!) or any other date hereafter.

I'll even give away* something to the winner - I just don't know what yet.  Kisses from Knox?  (He gives the BEST hugs and kisses!)  Chocolate?  Startbucks?  I'll think of something...

Just a head's up:  his "actual" due date is August 11th.  But, keep in mind that I have already been 4cm dilated for at least a week.  Seriously, the "could be any time" mantra I keep telling random strangers is getting olllllddddddd quick.

OK, start guessing!!!  (I have a guess, too, but I can't decide if I should post it or not?  What do you think?)

*I am editing this word because, in the middle of the night while racing to the potty for the 1,000 time because of the 16lb. baby resting on my bladder, I realized that "giveaway" is a noun, and I needed to use a verb here (to "give" something away).  Yes, I just exposed my absolute nerdom to the world.  I like grammar.  Good thing since I have a Masters degree to teach it to high schoolers one day!

Full Term!

I have officially reached the 37-week mark as of today which is (thankfully!) considered full term.  With the news last week that I was already dilated to 4cm, none of us (Kurt, Dr. Hoover, me) thought we'd make it through the weekend much less this entire week.  And after my appointment this morning, it appears Lucas is still holding strong in my belly.  I have always thought that the longer a baby "bakes," the better - so I'm all about him staying in there as long as possible!  Only God knows when he'll come...and as anxious as we are about when that time will actually be, we are certainly planning to cherish our last few hours/days/weeks as a small family of 3 (well, 4 including Ro-Ro)!

So, that was a pretty anti-climatic post, huh?  I don't really have any news to share other than...I'M STILL PREGNANT :)

I'll leave you with two recent pictures, both taken on Kurt's birthday.  We were able to celebrate with a quiet night out, just the two of us...and it was exactly what we needed.  I love that man so much.  He blesses me so very much, and I love celebrating his birthday every year!

"Cucus Sleep"

That's how Knox will tell you where Lucas will be sleeping once he's finally here!  We have a 3-bedroom house, so Kurt and I have a room, Knox has a room, and Lucas will be sharing with the guest room temporarily.  Once Lucas starts sleeping through the night consistently, we'll move Knox into the room with Lucas in order to have a dedicated guest room once again.

However, since Lucas's room and the guest room are one (for now), I opted to go less "nursery" and more just simply decorated.  I fell in love with this color called "Blue Nova" from Benjamin Moore, so I had my heart set on painting the room that color.  I wanted everything else to be clean, crisp white (for the most part).  I am NOT a decorator, but I do love me some HGTV!  So, here's my attempt at decorating a room for both adults and a newborn:

 Jordan so selflessly let us borrow a crib so we didn't have to go out and purchase one right now.  It works PERFECTLY in the room, and we are SO thankful to the amazing Elkins family for always helping us out!!

 And the crib bedding came from Pottery Barn Kids.  Some of my unbelievably gracious, loving friends here in Birmingham threw me a little "baby sprinkle" and blessed us with a gift card to PBK so I could get the bedding.  Love love love those sweet friends!  (Sense a theme?  I am one blessed girl!!!)

 Jordan is also letting us borrow her glider.  I seriously could sleep in that thing, it is SO comfortable!

 For a bit of whimsy, Kurt's unbelievable talented mom (Knox's sweet nana) painted a few Cat in the Hat canvases to put above the changing table.  This is BY FAR Knox's favorite part of the room!

Now all we need is that little bundle of joy to come out and use his newly decorated room!  Can't wait to meet you, sweet baby Lucas!!!!!

"Selfish Blogger" and Knox Gets a Hose-Down!

I've decided to dub myself a "selfish blogger" - i.e. I will wake up early every.single.morning to drink my coffee and catch up on all of my favorite blogs; but when it's time to update mine, I think of every excuse in the book to not do it.  Why is that?!  I really do think that it boils down to the fact that typing something semi-creative and entertaining is flat out daunting lately.  Perhaps I've used all of my brain cells incubating this baby and trying to raise a wild little-man successfully?  Yes, let's go with that excuse :)

Truth be told - LOTS has been happening around the Thomas household lately.  We are obviously anxiously awaiting the arrival of sweet baby Lucas any day now; and in the mean time, we are cherishing every minute with Knox as an only child.  He is very excited about "Cucus" (the "L" sound is evidently very hard for kiddos to say!!), but that might change once he's actually here - ha!  We know how "easy" life is right now with Knox in a great routine, sleeping 12+ hours each night and 3 hours each day...but we are prepared for the first few tough weeks of having a newborn (are you really ever ready??).  

So with all the waiting, we have successfully done the following: cleaned out all closets in the house, painted and decorated the nursery/guest room, cleaned out drawers, washed all new and old baby clothes, reorganized the playroom/office, sanitized all old baby stuff (infant car seat, bouncy seat, swing, etc.), moved around/reorganized furniture in master bedroom, cleaned the garage, and many many many more tasks that I'm sure Lucas will be very thankful for once he's here - right???  The astonishing thing is that we've gotten all of this done while both Kurt and I have been working (I got a part-time job as a tutor through the Athletic Department at UAB) and while he has been traveling (to Bloomington, Des Moines, and NYC most recently).  Whew!  Busy, busy!!

We have definitely had time for some fun, too, though.  For instance, a few weeks ago, I met my friend, Ann Wade, and her fur-baby, Sadie, at the park so the doggies could get some exercise.  It has been brutally hot here, so we let the dogs play in the hose.  Turns out, Knox LOVED the hose!  And, sweet AW (during her time off) busted out her camera to take some of my favorite pictures of Knox to date.  

Love love love this sweet-natured, energetic little boy.  He is going to be a GREAT big brother to Lucas, we have no doubt!

Tomorrow, I'll update with some pictures of Lucas's nursery; and Thursday, I'll update everyone with my 37-week appointment.  Did I mention I was already 4cm dilated at my 36-week appointment?!  This baby is a-comin' quick!!!!