Moustache pillow? Yes please!

The beautiful Momma-to-be goofing around while we were fishing for nursery ideas at the Land of Nod.

Tee Shirt Tuesday!

Hello everyone, tonight we have another edition of Tee Shirt Tuesday's!

Today's shirt comes to us via the company Wry Baby, a web company that specializes in baby shirts and onesies that has one goal in mind: make products that are fun and make you laugh. This particular tee shirt came in a small bag with a picture of a mystic with a turban with the caption: 

MYSTERIO PREDICT'S YOUR CHILD'S FUTURE (ON A NICE TEE SHIRT)

As you can imagine, Ashley and I were definitely excited to see what our son would be... A kung fu master? A shrimp boat captain? Maybe a game show host?? With nervous excitement, we opened our bag, and this is what Mysterio predicted as the bright future for our little boy:

DONUT TYCOON!

Truth be told, we were definitely not surprised. Its fitting actually as evidenced by the pictures below. Can't wait to see you Jameson, Daddy and Mommy love you.

T Shirt Tuesdays

As a way of getting us to post more often on this blog, I've decided to create Tshirt Tuesdays! I'm pretty excited about this. The idea is that each Tuesday we'll be posting up a tshirt or onesie for the little dude. When he DOES arrive, we'll be posting pics of him actually wearing said clothing.

Luckily we got a pretty cool pair of shirts/onesies from Aunt Chelsea this past weekend (as Ashley mentioned below, be sure to check out her awesome blog here!) and this is the first of the 2. (I'm saving the second shirt for next week so stay tuned!)

I can't help but think how appropriate this shirt is in that this little guy will be growing up in one of the greatest cities in the world. We're definitely excited as parents to introduce, re-explore, and even fall in love with this city all over again when Jameson is old enough.

Boom!

Check out this crib yo!

A few weeks ago, the UPS guy knocked on my door, and in probably the first time I can ever remember, asked for my help to carry up a package into our foyer. I don't blame him, as he must've been 140 pounds soaking wet. With a few heaves and a few grunts we managed to finally bring the box up and into the living room.

I knew what is was the moment the guy had knocked, because only 2 things come in those boxes that big. 60 inch plasma screen tv's and baby cribs. Since I hadn't asked or bought a tv and it had said Babyletto Crib on the side, I knew exactly what was in the box. I finally was able to put it together this past weekend and here are a few pics of it finally coming together! Thanks to the grandparents: Mama Edna and Papa Serv for this wonderful gift!

All my years of putting together modular IKEA furniture has prepared me for this one shining moment. 

1.  Sides first.

2.  The spring is added for support.

3.  Audience, here I add the 4th wall.

4.  This drawer actually gave me fits trying to put together.

5.  Here you go son, hopefully you learn to sleep through the night very quickly!

Wait a minute...

Um...

UH OH... Where does this go??

I kid. Its an attachment that we can put on to convert the crib into a toddler bed when he's older.

Friends With Words

My dear friend/former roommate Chelsea was in town this past weekend and was able to attend the lovely shower my friends Hope and Suz threw for us. Chelsea is an incredible playwright and blogger and wrote a lovely post about friends having babies (check it out here).
I just wanted to share her words and pictures. I can't believe the next time she'll be in town in August, she'll actually meet our baby! I can't wait and I miss her dearly.

Hello!

Hello everyone, Mark here, future Dad.

Wow. Just writing, and reading that phrase, "future Dad" gives me both knots and butterflies in my stomach. Someone had said in passing a few months ago that we were in for a rollercoaster ride. I know it’s a cliché, but they couldn't have been more right. This analogy certainly hits the nail on the head when it comes to describe the happiness, excitement, thrill and yes I'll admit, sometimes pure terror that I've come to feel since learning of our little guy. Now don't get me wrong, when I say pure terror its definitely not the fear that you'd associate with regret. I would say the feeling has more to do with times when I am in a process of self examination or self assessment, usually once I get in bed and am about to turn in for the night, and that little voice comes out in my head:


"How will I be as a parent?"


"Am I financially stable enough to take care of Ashley and baby?"


"Oh my god I will have no life."


"Please God don't let me faint in the delivery room."


"Am I READY to be a parent?"


"Why did the Bears not choose any offensive linemen in the 2012 NFL draft?"


I like to think that my Dad, all those years ago, when he learned of me as a little guy in my Mom's belly was very much in the same situation as me. Excited, happy, and yeah, even a little scared. I like to think sometimes that he maybe asked the similar questions and had the same thoughts going through his mind.


I'm hopeful, because in reality, my parents probably didn't have all the answers. However, they were there for all the cuts, scrapes and bruises, to me worrying about getting into college, to me worrying about getting that first job out of college and everything in between until now… My Mom and Dad, knew exactly what to say or do to make me feel better about the situation I was in, whether it was words of encouragement, a pat on the back, a nice warm bowl of kare kare (Filipino food) and rice, or a good swift kick in the butt.

I'm hopeful because these two people, laying in bed 30 some odd years ago, somehow, some way, went from having the same questions I have going through my head now... to becoming the people I call my Mom and Dad, raised my sister and I, and even now, has me believing that they DO have all the answers.


I'm hopeful, that one day, one day... maybe my son will feel the same way about me!


With that said, thanks for reading, whether you're family, friends, or just happened upon this blog. Buckle your seatbelts, because the ride is just beginning!

Hanging with my Dad, with so much swag before the word was even around.

My beautiful Mom and I!

Q&A

One thing I'm finding out about being pregnant is that people always have the same questions. I feel that the demographic of people I'm around the most (friends and co-workers) haven't encountered a lot of pregnant people yet. Hey, here in the city we get started late on this whole having a family thing!
So, here are the top questions I've been asked so far and the answers to them (at this point in time):


1) How are you feeling?
This is a perfectly normal, general question to ask. And the truth is, the answer has changed week to week. There have been times where I've felt great, ready to conquer the world. I feel like the baby (and I) are going through a growth spurt, so I'm uncomfortable a lot of the time. And kind of tired. Now that there is an actual belly, there is more physical discomfort to deal with.

2) Have you had any weird cravings?
People LOVE to ask this question! It's probably the number one question I'm asked, actually. Truth is, no strange cravings or anything out of the ordinary. To be cliche, I haven't had the urge to combine ice cream and pickles. There are times when I honestly don't know what I want to eat until I see or smell something, then I become slightly obsessed about eating that kind of food. But in general, I just eat, and it's great.

3) What's the best and worst parts about being pregnant?
Aside from people giving up their seat for you on the train? Or people at work bringing you food just because? Or people in general just being nicer to you? Yeah, that's all pretty cool. You also get away with having slight mood swings, being demanding, and doing less than you should (or actually can do). All that is kinda cool. I really try not to pig out ALL the time, but it is nice to indulge in foods I haven't even thought about in a long time. I had a Pop-Tart this morning. That was awesome. Ice cream rocks. People use you as an excuse for snack breaks during the day. That is lovely.

What do I not like about being pregnant? Well, it's not the most comfortable experience. I'm at a point where I can FEEL myself grow a little bit every day. The strain on my lower back, ribs, ankles isn't the most enjoyable thing ever. Also, as someone who comes from a background in dance/movement/yoga, it's difficult to in a way "give in" to these changes your body must make in order to create and carry another human around. Having a higher level of body awareness also makes all of these changes more acute, for better or worse.
Also, I miss sushi, lox, unpasteurized cheeses, medium steak, and having a beer/glass of wine/martini at the end of a hard day or week. But every pregnant person feels like THAT, don't they?!

Once again, sorry I haven't been writing much lately. Hopefully more updates to come as things settle down a bit, before they get crazy again!
Love to you all!