So Blessed

I vaguely recall writing a similar post to this at some point when Audrey was smaller, but I can't help but doing the same for baby boy. 

This weekend has been the first opportunity we've had to really focus on prepartions for our little gift from God. 

Yesterday, my friends held a Baby "Sprinkle" for baby boy.  It wasn't a full blown shower with games and cakes and such.  It was much more casual.  They had it at Tower Grove Park in one of the pavillions.  Baby boy got a lot of diapers, which I have not doubt we will use. He also got some cute little outfits as well as some other essentials like wipes and towels.  I realized last night when we were at the Blues playoff game after the shower that almost half of the outfits that baby boy has recieved now are St. Louis Blues related; the amazing part is that none of them are the same.  Billy is really excited about that, so I think you'll be able to tell when Billy was in charge of dressing baby boy.  Thank you to everyone who came and gave us gifts!  An extra big thank you to Jamie and Mandi for coordinating everything.  We had so much fun, and it was truly another reminder of just how loved and blessed baby boy is already.  He is entering a world where he'll be surrounded by people who love and care for him. I pray he never knows a day where he doesn't feel loved. 

We've also been using this weekend to start getting baby boy's room ready.  Billy converted the crib back to the infant crib from the toddler bed, since Audrey has her big girl bed now.  I also washed up the bedding and started washing up clothes, blankets, etc.  We have a few more items to get in colors and patterns that aren't meant for a girl, but I think we are at a point now where, if he came tomorrow, we could be ready enough.  That's not to say we're ready for him to come tomorrow. A few more weeks would be nice (someone please remind me I said this when I feel huge an miserable in a couple of weeks).  It is hard to believe that his due date is only 6 weeks away.  June 5 will be here before we know it! 

Change is...Good?

Leaving the Marquette has been harder than I think any of us thought it would be. I keep asking myself if it would be this hard if we were moving into a new house that we'd purchased instead of a rental property. Nonetheless, I keep having to remind myself that living downtown wasn't perfect. There are many things that I will miss, and some that I won't. Here is a quick run-down.

I am missing...
-My non-existent commute (who didn't guess that would be at the top of the list?)
-Having Audrey's daycare conveniently located for both Billy and I to pick up/drop off
-Believe it or not, the Pet Park on the roof- I had forgotten that astro turf doesn't get muddy when it rains or get feet dirty to track in leaves and sticks
-Being in a new house with new appliances and new...everything
-The bookshelves by the fireplace
-2 bathrooms
-Being able to do laundrey right in the living room
-Having both cars in covered parking
-The excellent soundproofing-Our upstairs neighbors are pretty quiet now, but you can still hear them
-Our big master bedroom and closet
-Having a doorman to get parcels that are delivered

I am not missing...
-Taking the dogs up and down elevators to walk them
-All of the condo association stuff (although I can't remember my Yahoo ID and password to log in and take myself off of the listserve)
-Audrey's too-small-to-call-a-bedroom-room - she loves her new room and her big girl bed, which wouldn't have even fit in the room at the Marquette
-Not knowing where the baby would sleep since he has his own room now
-Having the computer and TV right outside of Audrey's door, which was a window covered up by a curtain that she could peak out of
-The tiny, impractical washer and dryer - The dryer at the apartment dries loads in 30 mintes that would have taken an hour or more at the Marquette
-Circling the parking garage 8 times to get in or out
-Free street parking for visitors
-Extra city income tax for being a city resident
-Sports related traffic and "tourists"

The biggest adjustment, believe it or not, has been only having 1 bathroom, not my commute. Even though the second bathroom was only a half bath, it is amazing how convenient it made things. Now, we all have to get ready in the same bathroom...fun times.

Keeping Busy

The past week has been extremely busy and full of milestones including:

1. Audrey turned 3 on April 3

2. Audrey's 3rd birthday party was March 31 in Greenville
   

3. We took possession of our apartment and started moving on March 30
   
4. We officially moved out of our condo on April 7

5. Easter was April 8

I've posted more photos on the Picasa site of Audrey's birthday and Easter. Here are a few funny stories that I just have to share from all of these events.

At Audrey's party, she was so excited about her cake. Every time someone new would show up, Audrey would take them by the hand and pull them over to her cake to show them.

After a long day of cleaning the apartment and taking loads over, we went out to dinner with my parents last Friday. They were paying the bill, and my dad asked my mom if he could have a twenty. Audrey then went over to my mom, laying a hand on her arm and said, "Can I have a twenty Grandma?" We all busted up laughing. My mom then pulled the bill out of her wallet and handed it to Audrey, who just looked at the money for a few seconds and then handed it back to my mom. It was apparent she had no idea what 'a twenty' really was.

The morning of the big move, after sleeping our last night in the condo, Audrey woke up, and we went to get her out of bed. However, she started to whimper and just said, "I don't want to leave my room." It was so sad. I thought she was doing so well with the move, but in that moment it was clear that the move was just as bittersweet for her as for Billy and I.

On Easter, we went to church in St. Louis, got a few more things unpacked, and then had a late lunch at the Yorks and dinner at the Nances. While at my parents, we put a few plastic eggs in the yard and let Audrey have a little Easter egg hunt. First, she had to get a second basket because the first wasn't big enough. Then, she took her eggs to show her dad and Uncle Brian. When she turned around, they threw a few more in the yard. Audrey went to retrieve them, and when she was turned the other way, Billy and Brian thew out a few more eggs. They continued on like this for some time, until Billy accidentally hit Audrey with an egg, and she realized that someone was throwing the eggs back out in the yard.