The Poll

Ever since the Doc told us I was dilated, the guessing game started - when is the big day . . .

I have people guessing from 6 Aug to 30 Aug.  Most guessed the 9th - but there is a little girl somewhere who was born on 8/9/10at 11:12 p.m.  So, she has a special date and time for her birthday.  But, our little one is still refusing to come out.  Fully decorated room, installed car seat, and completed child birthing class are not enough.

Couple of guys at work started a poll on a whiteboard - putting everyone's name with the date they think I will deliver.  It is ranging some - but most seem to think I might not go much farther than next week. 

Well, feel free to throw in more dates - since it seems to be getting a game of bragging rights for those who guess right.  :-) 

A False Alarm

Well, yesterday I threw up a couple of times - strange for the last trimester - especially when it didn't happen on the first. But, for me, not too strange.  I am sensitive to a lot of things - burnt popcorn, cheap strange smelling cologne - a lot things make me gag and puke. 

But, yesterday, I didn't have much of a reason.  But, I did nonetheless.  Then, I was warm to the touch.  I called the Dr's office - she wasn't available and the on-call didn't return my call.  However, my agressive husband got a nurse on the phone - explained the situation - she thought I might be dihydrated from throwing up and it might stress the baby - so we were told to check into the hospital.

We did - after being admitted, giving a urine sample, being plugged up to beeping machines, we sat there uncomfortably for about 3 hours watching bery small TV of which we couldn't even change the channels of. The most comforting part was the baby is fine - he was doing better than me in fact - and my contractions were still at the early stages.

So, we had enough of the not so comfy bed and squeaking rocking chair - and went home still pregnant.  Little discomfort aside, I am glad Jr is doing well and taking mommy's gastro-intestinal issues in stride. 

We had a dry run to the hospital now - so we know how to get there and where to check in and which room not to take!  Soon - we will be posting Jr's pictures, I hope.

Baby Showers

Considering how many pregnant ladies I see all around, I figured there won't be any time for anyone to throw me a shower.  Well, I was wrong - three times.

The first shower was offered by Sandi from work.  She decorated her whole house - including her front window - as you can see.  I don't have a picture of it, but Chanar made khuushuur - mongolian fried dumplin

For the occassion, Keith made his famous pineapple upside down cake - heart shaped ones.

And, of course, many presents I got to open.  She had it themed with wipes and diapers - and whoever brought these items got to enter a drawing.  So, I have plenty wipes and diapers now to start off my changing and cleaning experience.

Gotta learn to use all the gadgets as well!  Well, need to know the names of the stuff too!

He will be born in 2010 - hopefully in August!!!

Hope this little man will be healthy and happy baby!

Then, we had another get together at Nicole's house - she is one of my best friends from Hawaii.  She is now a mom of two and thank you Nicole for juggling a busy schedule and managing to throw a shower for me. 

It was just great to hang out with everyone and get some interesting tips I could use in raising a child.  I am sure I will be calling them too.  I am glad I have all these friends who have been through what I am going through and can tell me what they did to survive.  :-)

Then, of course, I am grateful for my friends who are there for me and be aunts to Jr - till they have their own bundles of joy.

The quilt hanging in this picture is made by Wini - I am soooo tempted to use it myself.  It is very big, soft and just perfect. 

The bouиcer was a gift from cousin Aimee - thank you Aimee.  It has taken me a while to post the pic of it.

Then, there are more blankets - my sister Monica crocheted two of them.  Both blue and one for cold and one for warm weather.

Here she is - thank you Mark and Monica for your visit and beautiful blankets.

Then, my ward ladies threw me another shower - wasn't sure if I would hang onto Jr till the shower, but I did and I got meet many ladies I haven't met and plenty of tips on being a mommy.

Maria - is pro and such a creative lady in making cakes - she made me this cake - it is me with my BELLY and all the other curves. :-) I thought I would put my head right over it and make it look like it was my body - but was worried of getting the cake slide off. 

The shower was themed bathtime and bedtime.  So, I got a cute tub that looks like a whale filled with interesting items - that I needed to learn what they were. 

Now, I do know what a boppy is.  Got one and got tips on how useful it can be.

Bibs, clothes, toys, books and the best of all I got a book named "Mom to Mom" where all the ladies wrote tips and advice - I have read it through and will be reading it many more times. Of course, whoever would like to send me a tip or two is more than welcome - I will paste to my book.

Thank you to all my friends - it has been wonderful to get to know each of you and learn something about being a mom - good company and of course, the good company and good food made the parties even better.

Still the Same

Well, another Dr's appointment: The usual monitoring, listening to Jr's heartbeat and measurement.  I am at 4 centimeters and 80% still.  So, we will keep holding and letting Jr cook some more and hopefully, when the nature takes its course and he is ready to be born, he will be healthy!

Christopher's room is ready!

Changing Table with deluxe diaper holder on the wall.....

New rocking chair.... mondern version!

Another view of the chair, something tells me it will come in handy!

The kings throne! Well he will be ruling our lives for a long time to come! Notice, we were theme consistant!

Well hopefully you like the room and theme, it will be jungle once he gets here! It has been a lot of work, but we got it done! Chimge is now about 4cm so that means Christopher will arrive between today and  his due date, 23 August 2010. Any guesses? Want to start a pool, closest person pays for his college.

Golden Spike

Another drive and visit to a National Historic Site.  Aunt Coleen had mentioned it to us when she visited in May.  We have seen the sign fromt he freeway and today, we made it there.

From where welive, it is just about an hour drive - and not hard to find. 

It is off the beaten path, needless to say, in Promontory Summit, UT - 32 miles west of Brigham City.  There is not much left of what was there as a make shift town for the railroad workers - but the national historic site is there with its small but interesting Visitor's Center and the reenactment volunteers.

The Visitor's Center has a 20 minute movie for all - it tells about the story of how the transnational railroad was built: the blood, sweat and all it took to built it.

In a competition to make the railroad built: Central Pacific from Sacramento, and Union Pacific from Omaha, the workers toiled through snow, flood, and mountains in shifts.  The Central Pacific workers laid 10 miles of track in one day in April 28, 1869 through the Nevada desert - longest stretch of railroad tracks laid then.

On May 10, 1869, Central Pacific and Union Pacific trains: Jupiter and 119 met up at Promontory Summit, UT.  This occassion is reenacted at the historic site.

Jupiter train (replica of the original) of the Union Pacific.

119 of Union Pacific is coming to meet up with Jupiter.

The reenactment involved volunteers and audience to display the events took place on that day when the last spike (iron) was placed - along with the ceremonial golden spike.

The 119.

The two trains and the volunteers, rangers, and visitors.

On the way home, we stopped to check out the sign indicating to where the Rocket Display was.  So, this is what we saw displayed.

ATK is a Utah company that builds rocket parts for NASA.  They have an interesting display outside in the middle of absolutely nowhere and there is not much in a way of signs to point people that way - until you are on your way to the Golden Spike.

Hey, I do look pretty small... :-)  Haven't felt that way for a while.

Then, a surprising find on the ground - a pair of kid boots with a wire in it... wonder what the wires are for - seemed like fornoise or light - but I wasn't going to risk trying to figure it out...

We drove Junior's car - and it has one THOUSAND miles on it now...

Interesting drive with plenty to see.  It has been a good day.

Finally

Finally, after several unsuccessful tries, we made it through one end to the other end of the US Route 39. We first tried to get on this road in March but the road was closed due to snow and we had to detour all the way down to Evanston from Bear Lake.  Then, we wanted to see if the road was open in May - nope the snow still there and we couldn't make it.

Then, FINALLY . . . on our third try, we made it from Ogden to Woodruff, UT.  It is very nice scenic drive with a lot of twists and turns - this is one of the many pull overs - good thing we have a taller car to put the camera on - so we can take our own pictures. :-)

Made it back to Garden City again.  It is a little town on the edge of the Bear Lake - and it has this interesting looking light house - bright yellow.  The last time we were there, we somehow kept forgetting to take a picture of it.  Finally, again we have a picture of it. 

Then, we drove up to the scenic view of the Bear Lake - we have been there in November - just after it snowed;  Now, it looked different with flowers and birds.  Don't these hummingbirds look cool?  Keith managed to get both of them in the picture. 

Of course, he also got me a picture of these beautiful blue flowers as well.

The Bear Lake from up above the viewing area. 

Wonder how long this road will stay open - seems to be not much longer than 3-4 months.  But, we made it through and the drive was worth the wait and many tries.