We have a NAME!!!

Only took 8 months but we have made our first big parental decision and our little boy's name will be Cooper Samuel Guarino! Truthfully this has been our name for as long as we have ever talked about baby names but for some reason once we were actually preggers, we started re-thinking everything. Mark really wanted to have a Jr. but after much discussion I think he saw where my heart was and agreed that Cooper was what he should be. He's going to be such a good Daddy!

I feel like I just found out I was having a baby all over again. So excited... now I can get all the adorable baby gifts we have been given embroidered with his NAME! We can finish up the decoration in his room... I could only buy the "S" and "G" letters for his initials on the wall... now I need to pick up a "C" -sure hope Hobby Lobby still carries them! :)

Been a busy month... Had a BEAUTIFUL shower on the 11th... so happy to have family and friends there to celebrate such a special day. Truthfully, I was excited about it but sometimes these days I find myself just going through the motions. I was surprised by how touched I was that day and how it really was such a heartfelt celebration of this new addition to our family. Our WHOLE family. I know that Mark and I will have amazing support and little man will grow up with some of the most amazing people in his life!!!

The girls here have planned another little shower/luncheon this Sunday. I am so lucky to have such good friends already in this town that would be so generous! I can't wait!

We also took "maternity pictures" a week or so ago. I was so surprised when MARK suggested we take them. Here are two that I think we are definitely going to order!




Lastly, Aunt Angie and Uncle Vic were kind enough to let Mark and I spend this past weekend in their Amelia condo. HEAVEN! Sean and Lindsey joined us for most of it and was such a nice quiet fun time to relax, catch up and play with precious Linden! I'm hoping that Cooper somehow picked up some tips on how to behave from her.... she is so GOOD!! And SO SWEET! Definitely what we both needed and we know how lucky we are to stay somewhere so amazing! As we played the name game this weekend I can almost bet that if we were naming a little girl "Amelia" would have been a strong contender! :)

We have our 3rd pre-natal class this week at the hospital. They have been interesting... some good information... some kinda not so interesting information. But I really think it is just a rite of passage for parents. The videos are traumatic and I do get a little freaked out but they have been fun to talk about afterwards... There are certainly a few things we saw that we knew nothing about!!!!

All went well at the DR this week... status quo... all numbers/levels/etc look good and said we are progressing perfectly (this is week 34). Will do an ultrasound in two weeks to get height and weight measurements. Then we are on the every week rotation until Delivery Day! Oh.... my.... gosh..... :)

It's getting hot in here!

I know I know... "Just Wait!" :) I do wish that I could have collected a dollar from everyone who has said this to us... we would be able to pay for his full college education! But I understand the intentions of the "just wait-ers." Caught myself just in time as I was at lunch with a friend who is about 13-14 weeks pregnant. Just chatting away about how things were going for her and I had to stop myself 2-3 times from busting out "JUST WAIT" Ahhhh! :)

Not too much to report... Dr appointments have been great but boring as far as ultrasounds, etc.. He said they would normally start me with visits every two weeks (as of my last appointment) but he said he felt good enough about everything to wait 4 more weeks to start (this was a week ago). Thought that seemed a little strange but figured.... okeedokee!

He has been kicking up a STORM! (again, I know.. just wait! :) It really helps with my posture during the day... I can't slouch one bit at my desk or I get a swift kick in the rib. I know mark loves to feel him move, but I think he is getting a little freaked out when he goes berserk in there and my belly hops up and down - left and right. A little too alien like maybe for him at this point. :)

The heat hasn't really begun but I can definitely tell a big difference. Two of my male employees are LOVING it though... I crank the AC all day! Not looking forward to the bill but I just don't care! :) Clients seem thrilled when they walk in so that's how I will mentally justify it!



Mark has been hard at work decorating the nursery... I sketched out some plans to paint "frames" on each of the walls to save a little cashola, but the look on his face when I showed it to him was priceless. It was like "you want me to do what?!?!" But after some discussion he put on his happy hat and truly did it all with a smile. Well maybe SMILE is stretching it a little, but he didn't yell or say any bad words (he said he was thinking them, but didn't let them out). :)

Here is one of the walls... we will change some of the "stuffs" on the shelves, but these are the only baby toys/decor we have now.

I feel pretty spoiled when I hear some of my friend's horror stories... After mom's first trip up to basically re-organize our entire house... then Mrs Janet joining her a month later to help completely transform the garage (and more!)... and now Mark pretty much taking care of all the final prep in the nursery... I really can't complain or worry about a thing. Of our major to do's and to buy's we have almost everything crossed off the list!!! I of course find unnecessary things to worry about but it is so comforting to have all of these major things taken care of!