I need fruit crates.

Sorry no posts for awhile (I'm sure you've all been anxiously awaiting one) and here I am asking for something. I've been sick in bed since Monday with a terrible cold. I'm finally on the mend (barely) just in time for the Tiniest Thompson Showstravaganza tomorrow (check Mr. Ben's facebook page for details, all are welcome). Anyway, I digress...fruit crates.

Ben and I had been struggling with book storage options for Kai's room. We have a million kids books and considered buying a bookshelf from Ikea but would prefer not to buy a new piece of furniture but used something recycled instead. So a few weeks ago I had the brilliant idea to use old crates. Paint them, hang them as a group on the wall and use them as bookshelves and shelving for miscellaneous items. The problem is, we don't have any fruit crates.

Then today as I was surfing ohdeedoh from my bed, I inevitably fell down the blog rabbit hole and came across the picture above. So cute! Turns out I'm as brilliant as I thought I was.

Now I just need fruit crates so if you happen to have any lying around that you've been thinking about parting with, let me know. I'd love to take them off your hands! Or, if you know where I can score some, I'd be greatly appreciative.

On another note, when I say we "have a million kids books" I might be slightly exaggerating but not much. The Mr. Ben parents were very generous at Christmas. We received so many books, which we couldn't be more excited about. If there's one thing Ben is passionate about it's music. For me, it's books. I love them! We read to Kai every night and it's been nice to have a variety of stories as opposed to the few Dr. Seuss books we had. We love the notes that came along with all the books explaining why each one was chosen and why they are loved. Thanks!

Optimistic or Stupid?

Aloha!

Warm sun, sparkling pool, sandy beaches. Honolulu with a 5-6 week old. Optimistic or stupid? You be the judge.

We'll let you know how it goes when we get back from Hawaii in April. It will no doubt be an adventure. Anyone have any good traveling with an infant stories? Or tips?

Maybe winter is just making us crazy but we couldn't pass up the sweet Hawaii deals and figure if we're giving Makai a Hawaiian name we might as well give him an early taste of Hawaii. Good excuse, right? And maybe it will be motivation to get the baby weight off. :)

It's A Start

Crib assembled, bedding washed and ready for a baby. Well, a little ironing may be needed. Who knew making a crib was so much harder than making a normal size bed. It was a pain. I love the crib though and I have to admit I sometimes wander into the nursery just to stare at it.

So we accomplished one item on our to do list this weekend. We even got the dresser moved into the bedroom and baby clothes washed and put away.

It's a start...

(I apologize for the crappy camera phone pic, I was too lazy to find the real camera)

Ukuleles Everywhere!

The much anticipated (in the Thompson household) ukuleles have finally arrived! Ben and Ricky spent the day getting them all tuned up. I hung around and supervised. Someone has to keep the boys on task. I also got to make the first delivery to a retail store while making our lunch run.

I immediately set one aside for Kai, it's his first toy/musical instrument. I had to grab one before they sell out.

The pallet of ukuleles was not our only exciting delivery today. Kai's crib arrived as well (thanks Dad)!

So after the ukuleles are finally all set up Ben's next task is putting the crib together and then pictures of the nursery in progress to follow.

A lot of fun all around today! Good days and bad days...today was a good day.

Worst. Mom to be. Ever.

I woke up this morning not feeling on top of my game. Kai has had his feet firmly planted in my ribs for the last few weeks, making sleeping, walking, eating and moving in general a bit painful. I'm possibly fighting off the beginning of the cold that Ben's been fighting for a week. The maternity clothes I bought early in my pregnancy are getting so uncomfortable and tight (with 9 weeks left to go) that by the end of the day I would give up limbs in order to have sweatpants on.
This morning I woke up in a bad emotional and physical space. Stuffed up, slight sore throat and exhausted and decided to call in sick for the first time since I got pregnant.
I slept in later than usual and then picked up my blackberry to break the news to my boss. That's when I saw the e-mail from a co-worker requesting meeting coverage for the day because she was home with a sick kid. First meeting at 8:00. It was 6:45 and I have a 45 minute commute to work, not to mention a 10 minute walk from the parking lot to my office. I'm not exactly fast these days.
The quickest shower and blow dry later I throw on some uncomfortable clothes and hit the door knowing I'm barely going to make the 8:00. As I'm backing out of the driveway my gas light starts flashing and I realize I have to stop. Zip into the gas station, pay at the pump broken, run inside in pouring rain to pay. Another 10 minutes behind. I didn't make the 8:00.
I did however finally arrive safely at work for the busiest day ever. Multiple meetings to cover for someone else as well as my own work (plus one shattered water bottle later) and it was 2:00 when I realized I hadn't yet fed or hydrated myself and by extension the baby. Bummed a granola bar from my boss and I hit the door at 4:00 Had my 45 minute commute turn into an hour and a half to due torrential rain. I finally arrived home at 5:30 feeling like I'd failed at life; not taking care of my body and baby, my own duties at work not quite met, a sick, neglected husband at home along with two bored and ignored dogs. I ordered Thai takeout and then started whining to sick Ben about how uncomfortable I am, I hadn't even gotten to the part about feeling like I"m doing a poor job of carrying our baby when Ben's phone rang.
Our dear friend Jesse was calling to see if we were almost to our birthing class. It was 7:00 pm. Birthing class was at 6:30. We forgot about birthing class.
Emotional breakdown ensues. So here I am, at 7:30 pm on a Thursday night, crying over my keyboard and feeling like a failure. Worst. Mom to be. Ever. I have to wonder if I can't manage being pregnant, work, household responsibilities (my house is a pig sty and I haven't cooked a real meal in weeks) and a few miscellaneous commitments, how am I going to manage those same things and being a mom?
I thought writing it down might make me feel better. It didn't. But at least I got to give myself a little pity party.

Best. Daddy. Ever.

So...some gratuitous bragging is happening in this post. Fair warning.

I'm proud of my husband every day but some days more than others. When I saw this blog post, http://www.pdxkidscalendar.com/p/blog-activities-weve-tried.html, today at work. (For some reason the link won't work, if you want to read it you'll have to copy/paste) I was super proud. I didn't think I could be more proud, then I got home...

Ben's fans had presented him with a book (along with some very generous baby gifts) filled with congratulations and notes of support for our growing family. We are constantly amazed and so appreciative of the support we receive from our community. The fact that Ben is able to play music for kids for a living is truly a gift. Ben often says he has the best job in the world (he gets hugs on a daily basis) and I believe it.

Some of the sweet sentiments from the parents and their kids (I hope they don't mind me quoting them here):

"Congratulations Mr. Ben! We all know how wonderful of a papa you are going to be! Thank you being such a creative nurturing spirit in our family and in families all over." -Navae and Matais

"I can't think of anyone more capable or talented for fatherhood...what a very lucky child." -Ayla, Jason & Leigh

"Thank you for being such a consistent source of positivity and musicality for our little man." -Phil, Jamie & Eliot

"Thanks for enriching the lives of our children and leading them to love music. We appreciate all you do..." -Lesley & Calvin

There were so many other kind words. This is a book we will truly treasure. And hopefully I can get a picture of the sweet cover artwork to post at a later time. The drawing of Ben is a perfect likeness, down to the ever present argyle socks.

As we come up on Thanksgiving, I'm so thankful for my husband. Sometimes he eats my ice cream, and fairly regularly he drives me absolutely insane so now is probably a good time to list a few of the many things I appreciate about him.

-he loves me even when I'm being absolutely crazy. No easy feat. I regularly behave crazily.
-he carries things. Actually he carries everything. Some neighborhood friends we often walk dogs with were joking over the weekend that once the baby comes we'll continue our dog walk tradition only Ben will have the dogs clipped to his belt, the baby in a front carrier, a diaper bag back pack on with coffee in one hand and a waffle taco in the other. I will have my coffee in one hand (or in the diaper bag) and my waffle in the other. I'm lazy.
-he'll be the best daddy ever.

Meet Our Midwives

Our wonderful Alma Midwifery team, these are the ladies that will deliver Makai. Melissa (our midwife, next to me) and her assistants/apprentices Katherine and Melanya. And me (looking like I'm being stabbed with a hot poker of course).

These lovely ladies are expertly guiding us through the pregnancy process. We can't say enough kind words about them. They are smart, sweet and funny. Melissa has the most peaceful, calming energy of anyone I've ever met, I'm so happy she'll be overseeing Kai's birth (if all goes as planned).

We're planning a natural birth at the Alma Midwifery Birthing Center. We considered home birth but honestly I like to be pampered and the birthing center feels a little bit like a spa. Massages and menus from local restaurants to order from, that's what I'm talking about...

That's not to say that I don't occasionally panic about the "natural" part. I do. Especially lately but I try to remind myself that women used to do this in caves. By themselves. I think. I don't actually have any scientific evidence to back that up but it must have happend. Right? I guess the point is, I can do this. Women do it all the time and it is "natural".

So, if all goes accoring to plan, it's a natural childbirth for us. We are of course staying open to the fact that things can go wrong and we may have to transfer to hospital care but we're staying positive for now.

Either way, it's gonna be awesome!