baby [+ this weekend]

nope. nothin yet. 

Our due date is this Friday though. If he doesn't come within the next week, we'll be induced next week. 

:(

We were sure it'd be this past President's Day weekend... yeah, that didn't happen. 

*sigh*

Well, we're just waiting..

enjoying these last few days where the Nelson and Ginnie family is just two peas in a pod. 

we're having fun. 

playing games, eating random foods, staying up late, sleeping in... 

Some pictures from this past weekend:

 For one of Nelson's Valentine's presents, I bought a couple cans of Stoney Ginger Beer.  He first experienced it when he went to Africa and has told me about it several times.. I took it as a hint. ;)

 that look of pure satisfaction... 

 for me: Nelson set up a scavenger hunt around our home with all my gifts!! Um, so even if you live in a small apartment, the "warmer/colder" game is actually quite difficult.  And have you seen a 39-week-old pregnant lady frantically run around the house?  

Oh, it was so. much. fun. [no sarcasm. it really was a blast. we're thinking of making it a family tradition]

I love sparkling water, so he got me two bottles, a bar of one of my favorite candy, a sweet quote from Elder Russell M. Nelson, and then...

 these fancy creatures!! 

When I found them and looked at them, I was so surprised because I told him once that I liked a vintage button ring at a market in Portland... and he noted it and got me three. 

Oh, did I mention: 

he made them. 

Say whaaaat?? 

I just chuckled when he first told me as I was examining them, but then he was serious.  He showed me the supplies and everything. 

Quit grad school and open up an etsy shop, we will. 

mmm hmmm. 

This isn't from this weekend [yesterday], but it's from a package from Nelson's sister and their family.  They sent us some baby clothes (hurray for baby fashion show these next few months!) and our nephew wanted to specifically point out that these were for Uncle Buddy, not "dat baby."  :)

Despite the photo, Uncle Buddy LOVED them. and we WILL squeeze him into them.

6 more weeks of winter and....

a late baby. 

According to Punxsutawney Phil-- the official Groundhog's Day groundhog. Isn't he just a dapper looking fella?

Nelson and I said that if the groundhog saw his shadow, not only would it mean a longer winter (doesn't really matter though... it was around 60 degrees yesterday...), but it would mean that baby is coming late.  

And we all know that groundhogs are the source to go to when it comes to our weather and due dates. We will now plan accordingly. 

It's February...

I use to not like February:
1. I didn't really like all the Valentine's chocolates.  At least on Halloween you got a variety of candy... on Valentine's it was all chocolate.
2. I'll be honest: I never had a Valentine so of course it wasn't a holiday I was dying to celebrate.. boo. hoo.


But it's February now.  And I love February now.  Why:
1. I kind of love chocolate now.  mmm. 
2. I have a forever Valentine.  Oh hey, husband! :)
3. Our very first date was in February.
4. We have a holiday to celebrate our love and be lovey-dovey with each other- no shame!
5. And now we have a baby on the way!  (hopefully his birthday will actually be this month.  Come on, baby boy Pace!)

I have all these ideas in my head for the special two boys in my life.  Maybe it's the pregnancy brain working on a last-minute-planning-mode, but these things are just bam! bam! bam! coming.  (I'm also having weird dreams... like last night, I had a dream Yunnie had a skater kid boyfriend.... anything you want to tell me, sister??)

Not only do I have ideas-- but I have put some things into action!! Like...

Baby Gear!! 

Man, this shopping for this stuff is pretty fun-- no sarcasm.  I may have spent quite a bit of time in debating which stuff to get... but I feel it was totally worth it.  Seeing this stuff in our home (although it is starting to take up some space now) is so surreal and crazy.  Last night as we were falling asleep, I realized that this month (crossing my fingers) that we will become parents.  We will have an actual baby.  A baby.  Our baby.  Our very own baby.  A baby that we will think is the cutest, most precious baby in the whole world, regardless of what others may think. :) Then one year will pass... then another... and another.. then we'll be parents to more babies.  There's no turning back now!! It was a little overwhelming at first..... but then I heard my husband snore a little bit.  And suddenly, I was at peace.  Knowing that I'd be together with him through all these changes-- it was the best feeling in the world.

Alright: now back to baby gear!  We got a bunch of the essentials this past month.  We got ourselves our car seat, stroller, clothes, diapers....

I was doing laundry the other day and I thought I would throw in some baby stuff.  After I folded ours, I started folding baby's stuff... and gah! this just melted my heart.  They look kind of big in this picture, but they're so tiny and cute in-person!  

Last, but not least, we got a crib!!! It came and we set it up yesterday (with THE worst directions of all time) and had so much fun.  It's a little mini crib on wheels, and we have it set up to the side of our bed right now... I love seeing it every time I walk into our room.  I love thinking there will be a little person there in a few weeks... It's all becoming so real.  We love it. 

February is starting off fabulously.

our "front yard" + pregnancy update

On Tuesday, I went to go eat lunch with Nelson, and I stumbled upon this gorgeous view.  This is right outside our apartment building.  Isn't it beautiful??

It turned fall within 24 hours last week. 

one day the trees were green... the next, the leaves had all changed. 

there is a reason people say fall here is stunning.  everywhere you look, BAM-- colors in your face. 

the weather has been strangely warm... like, light cardigan and flip-flops warm. last week, it was freezing.  

what's goin on, Boston? 

On another note... 

I promise I'm pregnant.  I was about 23 weeks along in those recent pictures of Salem that I posted... but you can't really see the whole belly business.  I hide it very well actually.  There are some secrets that I don't sartorially make public.  Such as, that coat I was wearing in Salem... doesn't zip up anymore because of baby!  ha!  And the Bellaband, oh you sweet, sweet blessing.  I've had a hard time justifying buying a bunch of maternity clothes, and this precious piece of fabric has made life soooo much easier.  And it's comfortable. hazaa! [I don't know how in the world people wear high heels when they're out-and-about in the city AND pregnant. blows my mind. but i applaud them. way to go, mamas!]  The doc says that I'm showing a very appropriate amount for my pre-prego size so that makes me happy and content.  I also told him how much I had been craving sugar [cookies, cakes, ice cream, chocolate... you name it, i want it] and he said because of how small I was, it wouldn't be too bad to indulge in those cravings-- but don't go overboard! YEAAAAH! Clearance to eat that chocolate cake I've been eyeing at the grocery store!! But, I've taken it down a notch... I use to have dreams (seriously, dreams) about chocolate and cookies... Nelson said that I was sleep talking about making batches of cookies.  It was pretty bad.  I think this little baby boy has taken after his daddy because I never really had a bad sweet tooth before.... but the change has not been bad. not bad at all... 

Anyway, that's all.  We're doing very well.  Keep crossing your fingers for me so that it stays warm like this.  It's really hard to find a place that sells maternity coats, especially in this city.  I'm just waiting for the last second and I'll have to order a coat online or something.  Oh, the suburbs... I miss your ease of access to things. 

first came love....

then came marriage..... 

.....

......

.........

.............

Then comes baby in a baby carriage. 

We are thrilled to officially announce this happy, happy news.

And more news... 

or..... 

It's a...... 

courtesy of gickr

Thanks to my sister-in-law with the idea of  using a blue cake [the lighting doesn't make it very blue..] to announce our news!

Thanks, Polly!