Doula's advice...

We had our last childbirthing class this week. And although I was a bit skeptical about what more I could learn after reading all those expecting books and hearing the advice of my many friends who have gone through labor... I was surprised to learn my #1 favorite piece of baby advice from our instructor "Doula Rhonda" ... that impressed me so much I want to pass it along.
Her very last comment of the course was this:
"In the end it isn't the courses you take, or the birthing plans you make, or all fancy baby supplies you buy, or parenting protocols you chose to do... The most important part of becoming a parent, and the best thing that you can do for your baby is to still develop a loving relationship with and be married to the baby's father 20 years down the road."

Interesting advice from a Doula... especially now days. And although I am not advocating at all that you should stick out a bad marriage for your kids... I agree with this perspective. And it was nice to be reminded that parenthood doesn't trump a marriage relationship... 

Nestlist...

It is official... I have a serious nesting problem, and too much nervous energy that is spewing out all over the place.
Here is the obviously rediculous list of self inflicted projects that have been started and are in danger of non-completion before the baby gets here... 
 
-baby quilt ( on the floor at Matt's mom's house... going on month 2.. since I am a horrible sewer)
-cover pillows ( have had material for +6 months and just now feel the urge to get it done)
-fix bed quilt that Murphy chewed a whole in 4 months ago.
-Child birthing class with Matt ( half way done...  we both felt horribly nautious during the entire first class... the second one on epidurals and "what can go wrong" should be entertaining)
-finish baby room set up ( my attempt at chocolate and cream modern has gone terribly wrong as bits of green, orange and tuquoise have sprung up and taken over)
-train Murphy to walk on the tred mill (don't laugh, we spent hours last weekend attempting this... and only  made slight progress when we fed him handfulls of pasta noodles)
-train Murphy not chew up socks/undies/dishtowels, eat muffins/cookies/bagels off the counter. (no progress made with pasta noodles)
-chronological albuming of photographs from highschool, college, matt's mission, family, etc (started out as way to keep busy when I can't sleep at night but it has turned into a neverending mess on my kitchen table)
-arrange, and rearrange bookshelfs in T.V room. It just doesn't look right! ( currently on #3 attempt)
- clean out junk closet in guest room to make space for storage( made poor Matt go through and toss old computer/electronic equipment no longer in use... he was not impressed)
-bathroom renovation - about half way there. Good job Matt!!!
-clean out garage (after bathroom reno is done)
- new rug for t.v room . ( thank you Matt for spilling a full glass of cranberry juice on it last night... no sarcasm... I seriously hate that rug)
-frozen dinners for after baby born (problem being you  have to have energy and desire to grocery shop and actually cook meals to freeze)
-Christmas shopping 
-Christmas decorating
-Christmas baking   (you would think I could give myself a pass this year... but no way. Christmas is my favorite time of the year even if I am fat as snowman)

That's all for now. Hopefully it will shrink rather than grow in the next 6 weeks!

Swan baby or Leavitt baby?

With 8 weeks to go the reality of having a baby is starting to hit us, and we are beginning wonder what this little guy is going to look like when he comes out. ( not immediately after, we all know that is not a pretty sight, and Matt says he is going to request a thorough cleansing of the baby before he will touch him) But down the road, will the baby look more like a Leavitt, more like a Swan, or a nice little mix of both?

Here are some pics of little Matt & Jan to kick off the bets.