Thanksgiving Weekend 2008

I feel like this year, like every year, we have SO much to be thankful for. Although we did not have a traditional holiday, this Thanksgiving holiday has been full of firsts and packed with activity. Top firsts for this weekend are...(drumroll please!)

1. First 4 am Black Friday adventure (paid for it later, ugh!)
2. Made dark hot chocolate in the middle of the afternoon - yummy!
3. Woke up to RAIN on Thanksgiving Day
4. Did not eat any stuffing
5. Put together a baby crib on Thanksgiving Day
6. Washed our first load of Noah's laundry
7. Developed a writing curriculum for work
8. Put together a dresser for Noah's room
9. Got 60% of our Christmas shopping done in one morning
10. Took a nap almost every day :)
11. Listened to our birthing cd
12. Finished a book, Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer
13. Talked to my sister twice in one weekend
14. Lou got a bath & a trip to the park
15. Ordered my first bowl of Frosted Flakes in a restaurant - YUMMO!

Super Surprises

planning our final baby hurrah has been more than an adventure - from where to host, who to host, me insisting on handmade invitations with RSVP cards nonetheless that when the weekend finally arrived - we were more than ready! we decided to have lex's parents host the Saturday night party, with beer, boys and children.

So we had planned on Thursday night to pick Lex's sister, Ana up from the airport around 10pm. It just so happens that Ana often misses flights or is unsure of when they actually arrive in Phoenix. I had every intent of going to the airport until Lex got a call that the flight was delayed (as they often are coming from California) and I just couldn't get myself off the couch. So off Lex goes to the airport...

When she returns, she comes in the door and says 'look who's here???" I thought she was talking to Lou since he loves his Tia Ana so much. I sleepily open my eyes and who walks through the door but MY MOM!! I couldn't have been more shocked, overwhelmed, excited and happy at that moment :) I'm pretty sure she got at least three hugs in about 30 seconds time. Never in a million years would I have predicted such a surprise..usually I'm the one randomly hopping on planes and showing up unexpectedly - how fun to be on the other side!!

But the surprises didn't end there - We had already planned to go to the famous Pizzeria Bianco on Friday night with the family, so our party was just extended as Ana, my mom and Betsy joined us for a fabulous pizza dinner downtown. After dinner, Lex and Betsy secretly take off, saying they have another surprise. Waiting, waiting, waiting..at the house for them to come back - the door finally opens again and Lex is there, without Betsy, but with our friend Breanne from San Francisco!! What a treat! She brought such positive energy and fun to the whole weekend - I have never felt so special :)

So with two additonal houseguests, we were able to really get the party started! Saturday we visited in the morning, got our coffee buzz on (everyone but me, that is) and headed west to decorate. The house looked great with lots of harvesty things, pumpkins and white lights. Most of our guests arrived and we gifted each one with special orange bracelets that said 'live laugh love' in honor of Noah's birth. The buffet was a hit and we had no leftovers, which is always a good sign. Our guests signed a framed invitation with a message to our little boy. We packed up the car late and headed home to be ready for Sunday's event.

Sunday was a beautiful November day - warm enough for sleeveless - and our guests arrived ready for brunch and baby gifts. We received so many thoughtful gifts from all of our friends and family and feel truly blessed to have such amazing people in our lives.

As we reflect back on this weekend, we will remember the kindness, love and support that has been consistently given to us in honor of our new family.

hypnobirthing

comfortable...safe...peaceful...relaxed...natural...these are the words we have chosen to describe the birth of our son. now that we have graduated from our hypnobirthing class, which was amazing, each day we affirm the direction we want the birth to take. we have been listening to the relaxation cds and practice self-hypnosis regularly along with the affirmations. i'm training my mind to visualize the birth again and again, we have been talking to Noah regularly to guide him in the direction of no interventions. the last few times we have been to the doctor, she felt around and let us know he is already in the birthing position with his head down (so he's listening so far!) our doctor is totally supportive of our wishes and we are confident that we will succeed. we are encouraging noah to come a few days early so he will be here for christmas, each day we are taking steps to prepare for our little man to join the world.