showered...

Saturday was my baby shower. It was a beautiful party with so many wonderful and generous family and friends. Baby Boom is already very loved and anticipated by so many people and we are so fortunate! I'll post a couple of pics when I have a chance to pull them off my card.

My husband pulled off a huge surprise by having my sister hand me one final gift from him at the end of the day (encompassing the shower, my birthday, Christmas, push present and 1st anniversary gift in one!). So, until our son makes his appearance I have a stand-in, brand new baby...

The Canon 50D with the 50 mm f/1.4 lens. Straight out of the box, with not a single inkling of what to do with a Canon, I got a few shots that I already love in very low indoor light. Power combo! Completely. blown. away.Plus this Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. Supposed to be fast, sharp and fabulous. I'm trying hard to wait to really use anything until my UV filters arrive in the mail (fingers crossed for tomorrow) and the glass is well-protected. Then, I'll be unleashed...as far as my swollen, waddling body will allow :-)

And new gear begs for new storage, right? I haven't been happy with my current camera bag for a long time. It served a purpose but, I never quite felt safe walking around (in NYC especially) with an obvious camera bag and specifically one that was a backpack and could have easily been unzipped and emptied, quite literally, behind my back. I've browsed here and there in the past couple of years for a bag that looked far more unassuming, offered great organization and protection and would easily hold the camera one or more lenses plus my personal things (wallet, keys, phone, sunglasses, etc.). Last night, I stumbled across the JoTotes site and this olive number sung to me. The reviews I've found are good, it fits all of my criteria and is far less expensive than most of the other bags on the market. I slept on it and this morning made my decision. Hopefully, it's already on it's way to me.

Baby Boom is sure to be one of the most photographed babies around, no?

role play...

Feeling overly nostalgic this morning, I started thinking about all of the roles we play in life. All of the titles we assume on the path that leads us to where we are at this very moment. Just think about it for a moment and a vivid timeline will appear...

I was born a daughter, grand-daughter and niece.

At 4 months, I was a cousin.

At 3 1/2, I became a sister.

At 4 years, 9 months, I entered kindergarten and became a student. Sometime that year, if not before, I was called friend.

Through school I was a a reader, soccer player (briefly), swimmer, Editor-in-Chief, honor student and then, high school graduate.

In college, I was psych major, a children's entertainer (part time job), copy girl, Resident Advisor, girlfriend, tennis player and woman of the world as I lived, studied and traveled in England.

After graduate school, I became a social worker and this role defined me for many years until I assumed my new role two years ago, staff trainer.

In February 2009, I was blessed to become a wife to my incredible husband.

This year, beginning today at 35 years young, I am about to take on my most coveted, anticipated, dreamt about role yet.

I will be Mom.

Life, in all of it's roles and forms is very sweet and this year is my proof positive that the very best things do, in fact, come to those who are willing to wait patiently.

Today I am 35 and I am infinitely blessed.

okay, mr. deli man, i see your point...

Today marks another milestone...35 weeks behind me and 35 days to go until our little guy's estimated due date! Here is the latest belly pic taken yesterday at 34 weeks, 6 days:

The rapid change makes sense when using food comparisons. This week our baby is the size of a honeydew melon!

I went into my favorite deli for lunch earlier this week and the regular guy behind the counter said, "Whoa, big change from last week!" It was said in a nice, fatherly kind of way so I didn't get offended but, it's so funny that even relative strangers are noticing now. So much happening at the moment. Feels that things are both moving too quickly and standing still at the same time. An odd sort of limbo, waiting to meet this boy!

Fourteen business days left now until my maternity leave begins and, seriously, not a day too soon. Sitting here at work and being competent is getting more and more challenging. Nothing strenuous happening at the office and I'm not presenting anymore but, there is still a lot of clock watching happening. Tick tock, tick tock...

32 week, 3 day belly photo...

Excuse me ma'am, there seems to be a basketball under your shirt...
Hoping that my 33 week photos will be amazing - maternity pics are scheduled for this Saturday. Asking Mother Nature for some great weather so that we can take some outdoor shots.

Today was my last trip into NYC for work until next June and I now have only 26 work days left until maternity leave...crazy and very exciting. Wrapping things up at the office is proving much more difficult than I had expected. Since I won't have a temp replacement, I need to leave everything in order for my boss to step in and monitor over a day or two each week, hopefully with some clerical support. So, that's what the next 26 days will consist of: organizing files, writing out procedures, training an admin and training my boss. Then, crossing my fingers and hoping it all runs smoothly for the six months I'll be out!

-- posted from my iPhone

oh, we're halfway there...

With the nursery, that is. Mr. Boom picked up our beautiful crib earlier today and we assembled it together this afternoon. I went into immediate nesting mode and had the bedding ironed and in the crib soon after - can you blame me?

Baby Boom's menagerie. The pillow came with the bedding set and will sit on the glider when we get it in the room. The animals will all have perches on shelves and other spots in the room before baby arrives.

And, a new addition we picked up last weekend...the giraffe mobile that plays Brahm's Lullaby.

-- posted from my iPhone

photo re-cap...

Monumental really since I have hardly looked at my poor, neglected camera in the past few months. A travesty. But, a few weeks ago two happy events collided that made my inner shutter-bug spring into action.

#1 - Welcome Isabelle!!! This sweet baby girl was born is the newest addition to my cousin's family. Jut one look and we were in love! #2 - That same weekend, my sister and nephew flew in for a visit and we took on NYC. Here they are in Times Square, complete with the Thomas backpack. And, earlier in the day in Union Square Park eating Crumbs cupcakes. My nephew had gotten a gob of seasonally appropriate orange frosting on his nose and thought everyone else should match...including Mr. Boom. Too cute! Seriously, how adorable is this little face? Certainly as sweet as the cupcake he's devouring.

a belly, an app and the fast forward button...

I'll start off first with the newest belly shot (taken today at 30 weeks, 4 days) since I haven't posted one in a few weeks. I don't see a whole lot of change from 26 weeks but, the baby is constantly trying to stretch up and out of his little space, a clear signal that he is growing and getting cramped!
I'm loving this new little photo action - shakeitphoto. If you have an iPhone, it's a great little app that takes any of your camera pics and gives them an instant polaroid effect. Even gives a little vintage wash. Fun!

Life feels a bit as though someone has pressed the fast forward button. Work days are long, filled with activity and trying to organize my office before maternity leave. Weekends have been full of visiting with family and friends, childbirth class (this past Sunday), nursery organizing and just trying to get everything we want done in the house finished before this little guy makes his appearance. That leaves evenings. Well, frankly by the end of a work day I am D.O.N.E. done. Just running on faith that it will all come together in time.

I do have photos to share from a couple of weeks ago with my sister and nephew came to visit and of my cousins' brand-new baby, Bella but - they are held up on Mr. Boom's work computer for the moment. Hoping to get a couple of favorites posted this weekend. Stay tuned!