At 36.5 weeks..............

you might as well just give up on trying to do sit-ups!  Last night at the gym I went to do them, as per my norm, and it was miserable.  Not only could I not do them, every time I tried I refluxed what was left of my lunch in my stomach up into my mouth (I know, so gross right?????).  Completely and utterly disgusting.  So, abs, you are done until Pud is here.  There is just not enough room for you in my life anymore!

Thoughts on not finding out the sex prior to birth

I told B early on in pregnancy that I didn't want to find out the sex of the baby prior to delivery.  He was definitely shocked by that statement and wasn't convinced right away that it was the best decision.  However, another couple we're really good friends with also opted not to find out, and after a long discussion with them, we all were on board with having a surprise (btw- they just had a baby boy about a month ago, Levi John).

Now that we are 36 weeks into pregnancy, I thought I'd share my thoughts on being one of the few pregnant women who chooses not to know if Pud is going to wear  dresses and bows or tennies and overalls. 

According to a few things I've read, it's anywhere between 3-10% of Americans who choose not to find out the sex of their child prior to delivery.  We personally know 11 people who are pregnant between Jan- July and, actualy, 3 of those couples didn't find out (including us).  Our percentage is, I guess, a little higher than average, but prior to these 11 babies, I know VERY few friends of mine who didn't find out.  Like one.

There are definite pluses and minuses to not finding out. 

I'll do the pluses first:

* We received all our practicall stuff at our shower.  Since there is very little gender neutral clothing out in the world, most people gave us things we needed rather than just lots and lots and lots of cute clothing.  It's nice to know that we have tons of diapers, all our bottles and accessories, as well as all of the basics that Pud could ever need.  I've been to so many baby showers where the mom to be received nothing but clothes and blankets- most of those clothes being 0-3 and 3-6 month outfits that the child will grow out of so quickly.  Many of my friends have put away clothes with tags still on them because they never had a chance to wear them.  It's nice to know we didn't have to spend much on basic items and instead can spend money on the right amount of cute outfits and sleepers that I know will actually get worn.

*We still have the ability to dream about our child and all the possibilities that can come.  We're not currently stuck in a gender specific role, so during the Olympics we dreamed of hockey, skiing, and ariels and now we are thinking about swimming, soccer, and tennis.  We haven't only thought about dance vs baseball or barbies vs GI Joe.  I know that some of those gender specific things will come with time, however it's nice for now to have everything on the table.

*We were going to paint the nursery blue and white regardless of sex as we both adore the color blue, so that did not hinder us in any way.  I love that our nursery can be used for each child and then the child can move to their "big girl" or "big boy" room once the next baby is on it's way.  To me, it just makes more sense this way, though I know that many wouldn't necessarily agree.

*Costs during pregnancy become much lower.  There are very few gender neutral outfits/blankets/boppys/towels/etc out there.  The world of babies is incredibly gender specific.  Since this is the case, not finding out has definitely curbed my ability to shop for Pud and therefore saved us a ton of $$.  Now, once we know what Pud is, I'll be able to (slightly more rationally) buy things we need rather than things that are cute, just simply because they are cute.  So many first time parents slip into the "cute" shopping habit, and again, end up with a lot that the baby will never wear due to the quick growth of babies.  I know I would be one of those parents, and not knowing has put restraint on me and allowed me to practice self control (also the 30 day return policy that almost all stores have has really kept everything in check!)

*I love that when we announce the birth of Puddin' everything about it will be a shock.  The sex, the name, everything!! In so many cases now you know the sex and the name of the baby long before the baby is here and the parents are constantly calling the baby by it's given name.  I like that we just have a Puddin'.  Maybe that's just a little bit of superstition coming out.

The minuses:

*I don't have a closet full of cute clothes, and when I find something truly darling that is on sale, I can't buy it for fear it will be for the wrong sex

*I think it is slightly harder to "know" your baby when you don't know what you are dreaming and praying for.  While I am already in love with Puddin' and would be devastated if anything happened, I think it would be different, perhaps an even more intense feeling, if I knew I was having a boy or a girl

*Trying to pick names for two babies is significantly harder than just narrowing it down for one baby.

*Gender neutral DOES NOT EXIST!!

*At 36 weeks, I just really, really, really want to know!!  I'm dying to meet this baby and truly realize what it will be like to be a parent!

So the question remains, what would we do if we could do it all over?

I think I would still not have found out.  At least for this one, I am still loving the idea of a surprise.  B has said that we are definitely finding out with the next baby.  It's totally killing him!!  And I'm on board with that decision.  I know we still won't share our names until the birth as I really hate when people criticize the name of your future child to your face, but we'll at least be on Team Pink or Team Blue!

What are your thoughts out there?  Did you find out with your first?  Would you find out with your second?  Are you way too impatient to wait all 40 weeks?  I'd love to know!

He did it for her..........

Congratulations, Phil!  You are an amazing golfer and a three times Master's winner.  I am so proud of you and all the work you have put in to get you to where you are.  I couldn't have been happier yesterday afternoon as you walked up to the 18th green.  We were cheering like crazy (Junie could NOT figure out what was going on!)

I cried and cried when he hugged Amy after the tournament.  Just heartwrenching to know all that they have been through together this year.  When he was hugging her, there was a single tear running down his face, and B and I both totally lost it (sorry, B, to make you lose a little face!).  It was one of the sweetest and loving moments I've ever seen in a major athletic event. 

LOVE the Masters.  Love it, love it, love it!!!!!!!!!!

Have a great Monday, ladies!

Master's Update

My main man, Phil, was able to pull off TWO eagles in a row today at Augusta!  He actually almost had 3 (never done before in the history of the Master's) and missed the 3rd by just a few inches. 

He had a wonderful day, and I absoutely cannot wait to watch the final round tomorrow.

Good Luck, Phil.  I'll be rooting you on from the couch.  (Oh, and this is the first tournament his family has been at since last summer because of Amy's cancer treatments.  I'm not kidding that I will cry hysterically if he wins and Amy and the kids come onto the green with him.)

(I'm not going to lie........I'd love to be doing it drinking mimosas!!  Ah well, there is always next year!)

Things I am loving.............

**My Danskos and Privos.  Comfy shoes are a must in the last few weeks of pregnancy!!!

**The idea that I might someday wear something other than maternity clothes!!  Summer dresses, here I come!

Lilly and White House Black Market

**Washing baby onsies and putting them in their designated spots.  They're SO tiny!! 

**That Glee returns next week after Idol.  Though I do not have my normal infatuation with Idol this year (Adam Lambert, I miss you!!), I am still OBSESSED with Glee and am practically dying awaiting it's return!

**The diaper bag I received for my shower.  It's super chic (for a diaper bag!), and I've already started packing things in it.  I love seeing it in the nursery and knowing I'll be using it sooner than later!

**These workout pants from Old Navy.  They're still fitting around my huge 35 week belly, and they're cheap and comfy.  I have them in two colors and love them!

Have a great weekend, everyone!  Enjoy the sunshine if you have it!

B's Peeves - Masters Edition

That's right, ladies, I'm back!  Welcome to the second installment of B's Peeves.  After my Olympic level ranting in February, I figured B's Peeves should be a semi-regular event.  Some people suggested weekly or monthly updates, but, truth be told, I'm not really that negative a guy.  I have a roof over my head, food in my belly, a wife who loves me, and a batch of Pudidn' about ready to come out of the oven. 

So what do I have to complain about?  Here's what:  The Masters

Astute readers will know that The B-Man is a frequent weekend duffer and avid professional golf fan.  And I don't mean I'm a guy who turns on the golf on Sunday afternoon when Tiger or Phil is in contention.  I'm the guy who DVR's golf on Thursdays (I wish I were kidding).  I watch the final rounds of European Tour events live on Golf Channel on Sunday mornings while getting ready for church.  I go to any event that comes within 50 miles of where I'm living.  Serously, I'm a golf fan.  With or without Tiger, I'm a golf fan.  So this week is like my Super Bowl, Final Four, and World Series wrapped into one green-jacketed week of azalea-scented bliss.  However..... there are a few things out there that really grind my gears.  Here goes:

1.  Infidelity


Okay, some guys just can't keep it in their pants.  I get it.  But if that's your issue, you probably know about it before you walk down the aisle.  And if you know you can't keep it in your pants, then just don't bother getting married.  One of the biggest things I learned about marriage is that the next morning, it's still the same two people, it's just legal to share a bed now.  You don't change the minute you get married.  Even with all the metaphor laden "two become one" liturgy of the wedding ceremony, there isn't a unity candle in the world that would have given Tiger Woods the ability to keep it in his pants. 

So now it's Masters week, and instead of hearing about how Phil might carry two drivers or how Eduardo and Francesco Molinari will be the first brother tandem to compete in the same year, I have to listen to 14 hours of coverage on why Elin isn't going to show up this week.  I have to listen to more speculation on whether or not Tiger will "not keep it in his pants" with a member of the banquet staff at the Champions Dinner.  There is NO REASON for TMZ, Access Hollywood, and Entertainment Tonight to have media crews in Augusta this week.  Thanks, Tiger, for bringing the circus to town.  Shouldn't those guys be covering this guy instead?:

Keep it in your pants, Tiger.  There are too many traditions, too many competitive story lines, and too many great players at The Masters for golf fans to worry about this crap.  I'd rather see you like this:

Than like this:

2.  Pimento Cheese Sandwiches

See what Wikipedia has to say about this stuff:

Pimento cheese is a common food in the Southern United States. The recipe for most pimento cheese spreads has few ingredients: sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, pimentos, salt and pepper.<sup>[1]

Come on, guys.  That isn't actually food.  These things look absolutely disgusting, and they sell THOUSANDS of them every year at the Masters.  Really?  Is there anyone out there who really wants to spend 16 hours in the sun walking all over a golf course with no sustenance except $6 cans of Michelob Ultra and this?</sup>

 
 <sup>No, thanks, I'll have the hot dog at the turn.  Yuck.


3. The NCAA


It's Masters Week, and there really shouldn't be anything else going on around the country.  It's like the Islamic celebration of Ramadan.  They fast, they pray, and they don't do much else during Ramadan.  I don't think the rest of the Sporting world should do anything else either.  But leave it to the geniuses in Indy (NCAA HQ) to schedule the Frozen Four for the same weekend as the Masters.  For the uninitiated, the Frozen Four is the final two rounds of the NCAA Men's Hockey tournament.  This year, it's being held in Detroit on Thursday evening and Saturday night.</sup>  

^{Astute readers of this blog will also know that I attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (DO NOT call it "Miami of Ohio" - we were a school when Florida still belonged to Spain).  Since this year's Frozen 4 is in Detroit, just a few hours from our Grand Rapids headquarters, Mrs UNP bought me tickets for my birthday back in February, anticipating a return trip to the finals for MU's top-ranked Redhawks}

<sup>Now that Miami is in the Semis on Thursday night (8et on ESPN), my buddies and I are ecstatic that MU is just two wins away (Boston College on Thursday and the winner of Wisconsin vs RIT on Saturday) from its first ever national title in any sport.  I'm a bit torn, however, in that I will have to miss Saturday's ENTIRE golf coverage.  I will be home Sunday morning early, though, so I can catch up on the situation, tee times, and scenarios in order to set the table for final round coverage.


So thanks, NCAA, for screwing up my schedule.  But if I can wake up next Monday with a National Championship and an exciting finish to The Masters, I'll be a happy camper.


4.  I'm Not There


At the end of the day, the biggest reason I'm peeved about the Masters is that I'm not there.  My 16 handicap won't quite get me in as a player, and tickets are not bought but inherited, so my chances of seeing this</sup>

^{Or this:}

<sup>Are about slim to none.  



So that's pretty much all that's Peeve-ing me right now.  I know this is only 4 things, so I promise my World Cup edition (coming in June) will have 6 to make up for how I've slighted you all.  I could make a list of about a hundred things I love about the Masters, so coming up with 4 I don't like was even a little tough.  


That said, here are my picks with a (very) little commentary for this weekend's outcome


Winner:  
     Tiger Woods.  Any time he's in the field, he's the favorite

Contenders:
     Steve Stricker - Cheese Head quietly soared to #2 in the world last year
     Ernie Els - Two wins already this year and wants one at Augusta really bad
     Henrik Stenson - Big hitting Swede will make the back nine look like a putt-putt course.  Won at The Players last year and loves the big stage


Surprising Top 20 Finishes:

     Martin Kaymer - German recently jumped into Top 10 of World Golf Rankings
     Rory McIlroy - This kid is the real deal.  Contends anywhere he plays and is fearless
     
Dark Horse:


     David Duval - On the comeback trail and only in the field as a result of a T-2 finish at the British Open last year</sup>

Weekend update

B and I had a great weekend together.  It was easy, low-key, relaxing, and just what this 35 week pregnant lady called for!! 

Saturday morning it was simply gorgeous here.  A warm, beautiful spring day.  We went on a 4.5 mile walk around the neighborhood with Junebug and then cleaned the raised vegetable bed and raked the areas of the yard that needed new grass seeding.  We were outside from 9 until 1 and got a TON done.  As it was supposed to, it started pouring Saturday afternoon, so B and I went out to run some errands together.  I think we got all the things crossed off on our list for that day, which was really nice.  B ended up getting a pair of new linen pants for the summer that he looks SO good in.  And can I tell you that his waist has come down two full sizes in the last 6 months?  All his running has really paid off- he looks fantastic :)

Saturday night we made a great pasta dinner at home and watched basketball.  I ended up falling asleep on the couch during the Duke game.  Luckily they won by 20, so it was fine that I wasn't awake for the whole thing.

Sunday morning we went to church for Easter.  The little kids choir sang, and, of course, I cried.  I still have little control of my emotions!!  The adult choir did a great job and the instruments (trumpet, trombone, xylophone, etc) added so much to the service.  We are really excited about this church- both of us know that it is where we feel very comfortable.  We went to bruch after church at a local breakfast place we've been wanting to try (good!) and then came home and worked on the house most of the afternoon.  Blair was able to spend a lot of time catching up with his family and a few of his friends he hadn't talked to in forever, and I was able to get ahold of a good friend of ours who just had a baby.  I love that she was so honest with me about the whole experience.  I'm getting more and more mentally prepared for the next month!! 

I am glad we ended up not traveling for Easter and that we were just home enjoying each other and getting the outdoors and indoors ready for the impending arrival of our little Pud.  I needed time to breathe, rest, and recouperate, and it was lovely.  Everyone needs that kind of time!! 

Oh, the biggest excitement of all???????????????????????????????????????????????????

DUKE WINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just adore these boys, heart and soul, all of them!!  They worked so hard this season and have had a LOT of pitfalls the last few years, so this was a huge, amazing victory for them last night.  Coach K is an amazing man and really has the ability to bring the best out in these boys.  Way to go, Blue Devils!!

(Though I do have to say that if Butler would have won, I probably would have been happy- they have shown amazing strength, fortitude, and talent in this tourney!  And their coach is just a babe- 33 years old!!!  His tiny (like babe in arms tiny) daughter in the crowd melted my heart last night!)

Hostess Gifts

I asked you all a few weeks ago about your ideas for hostess gifts.  I got some great responses and almost all of you mentioned something monogrammed.  Not surprising, I suppose :)  I knew that was something I wanted as well, so I decided to head over to La Plates and pick out something I knew the girls would use and think was cute. 

I ended up going with the Personalized-Large-Acrylic-Tray seen here:

I added cute cocktail napkins to each tray and wrapped them as seen above.  They all seemed to really like them, and hopefully, with summer coming up, they'll all get to use them regularly.  B wondered why I didn't order one for us because he liked it so much!!  I would highly recommend this as a gift item or as something you order for yourself.  I loved the way they turned out, and with summer coming, there is always use for a great new acryllic tray for outdoor grilling and cocktail parties!! 

PS- If you have any Lilly glasses or partyware, this would look fantastic if you monogram it in the pink or the green!!

Pud's first outfit!!!!!!!!!!

Comes from our favorite designer........that's right, Pud is coming home in Lilly!  I was so lucky to run across this daring outfit soon after we found out we were pregnant, and because it is the most gender neutral color (white!), I was able to snatch it up.  It's a four piece set and came in this daring hat box. 

Oh, Junie, you have no idea what is going to happen to you!!!  Luckily, you are so cute that you'll still get lots of attention from mommy and daddy!

The set laid out together.  Hat, cardigan, pants and blanket.  They're all a lightweight sweater material.

Can you see the palm tree?

The tree intarsia on the back of the sweater.

Isn't this just darling?  My plans were that I would buy a blue onesie and a pink onesie and bring both to the hospital to wear underneath the outfit.  However, something better has come along...............I'll do another post on that soon!

Loving it!

78!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, that is the high for today!!!!!!!!!  In Michigan, peeps!  Guess who cannot wait to get out of work and take advantage of this gorgeous weather??  Big plans to take the dog on a walk and work in the yard as soon as I get home.  It's supposed to be this nice through Sat evening, so hopefully we will get lots and lots of yard work done over the next few days.  YEA!!!!!!

(for any of those who are feeling jealous, the end of the 10 day forecast is looking like 40s and rain.  Uggg.  Trust me, I plan to enjoy this while it lasts!!!)