Our Lima Bean Blog

It’s actually been a while since our first shower, but it was so fun, it needs to be included. It was a combined shower celebrating my sister-in-law, Karen, and me. My sister, mom, and Karen’s mom threw the shower at my sister’s house, and a great time was had by all. Aren’t we cute???

The best part of this shower was the great mix of people. We had friends and family, as well as people who knew just one family or the other, and yet we all had such a good time. Several folks traveled from quite a distance, and it was really fun to have time to visit with them.

Karen and I had worried about the kinds of games we might be forced to play. We decided we would collectively not participate in any shenanigans that had us wrap toilet paper around our quickly growing waists OR smell unknown items in diapers. Happily, my sister had some great games planned. Everyone had to write some sort of poem or jingle having to do with babies, judged by me with all my teaching expertise. Then we had to all put a paper plate on our heads and attempt to draw a baby on the plate. Now that was comical, and our artist-in-residence Karen got to judge that fine event. On a small tangent, I liked that game so much, I changed it up a little and had it be one of our ice-breaker activities at school in August. My students LOVED it!

And, of course, the shower put both Karen and I in much better stead for bringing home a baby. We are both so thankful to have such loving friends and family to “shower” us with important things for baby.

We have now attended 4 sessions on information about what to know, do, interpret when the baby arrives and moves in to live with us.  There has been tons of information given (sometimes from unsolicited sources, and what is weirder … some of those sources are not parents).  But the information for the most part has been abundant in tips and yes some tricks (can’t wait until I learn to do some cartwheels to calm down my soon to arrive little buddy). 

Books recommended

• The Happiest Baby on the Block – It’s all about anticipation and being able to recognize what is up with the little ones.  But I still think there is more to that little one that we can get into, so …
• Baby Sign Language - We are planning on going down this path, it will be a matter of deciding when and how.  This will be an interesting approach.  I am going to be starting my learning experience really soon.  So, between writing a book, making sure my company’s courseware is up to standard, taking care of the little one, well I plan to learn ASL.

Baby Gear

• Guatemalan Baby Sling - This is the original baby sling – IMHO- that is what most of the indigenous women in my country use to carry their baby.
• Diaper Genie - Makes poo go bye bye.
• Graco Stuff – It seems as if we were invaded by Graco here at home, no matter where I look, there it is … Graco.  Travel system, Pack and play, bouncer, and other items that right now slip my mind.

Other Tips Learned from our Sessions and that are a must have.

• Patience – A note to my Mom, I found the store where they sell it.  That was a question she always asked me when growing up, I believe the question was something like “When you find where they sell patience, do let me know”.
• Push - And push, push, push, breathe (I just picture Bill Cosby saying this)
• There is a wonderful price after the push - This will be an interesting take on things, I remember pushing cars that got stuck in mud, snow or something and always being told there is a price at the end by the guy driving.  Well we got them unstuck and they would just drive away.  So … back to topic … this time there will be a wonderful price.
• Crying - My brother-in-law asked me last week if I was ready to cry (I never get asked that because normally I am already there, gone, back and there again).
• Routine 
• Swaddling - We will be making a nice Limabean Burrito
• Tummy Time
• Multilingual – My first language is Spanish, so that will be the Dad Official Language at home.

So, do I think we are ready for little <almost slipped with the name here> to arrive?  I think we are, because the one thing that can be felt all over the place is love, and just a lot of desire to hold him and make him feel proud of the parents he is being given.  So, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, great grandmas, and friends … I think we are all ready.

So I put on this outfit to lounge around last Sunday after church. I laughed out loud when I took a gander at myself in the mirror. The true epitome of “Barefoot and Pregnant.” For those of you who have been telling me how “small” I still look…aside from wanting to gush my thanks since such a sentiment doesn’t grace us larger ladies very often…I ask you to look carefully at these. Nope. Not small. Doing quite well. In fact, measurements this past Wednesday were “perfect” according to our dear Dr. Denman.

There is also something to be said for the barefoot part. I have been blessed to spend the summer being pregnant. Now I know lots of you ladies may disagree with me, but let me just tell you how great this was. Summertime is the time when I don’t spend 9-10 hours a day at school and another 3-4 at home prepping and grading. So I got to nest and clean and be inside in the AC. Great baby preparation time. Also, I was able to wear light clothing and not have to have too much of it to get me from cold to warm seasons. That’s been a help to the old budget. But the best thing about being pregnant in the summer is being BAREFOOT!!! I’m SO not kidding! If you see me, I’ll either be barefoot or in the least restrictive shoes I can find. Quite fond of my Croc flip flops this summer–comfy and very supportive! I’m truly hoping that no one minds me sticking with my open-toed slides and flip flops until later in October. Maybe the weather will cooperate? I’m sure people will take pity on the poor, barefoot, pregnant woman!

Enrique and I felt like we really needed one more piece of furniture before the baby arrived: a glider. We’ve had lots of advice about where to look and what to get, but truly, you can’t ever tell about a glider until you sit in one. Which is why we’ve sat in about 50 different ones in the past 2 days. Some comfy, some strange, and some awful. And all that much harder to get out of when 8 months pregnant. Thankfully we shopped and sat together, so I got a good boost out of every chair by my loving husband.

So we were very excited when we found a model that we both liked and found comfortable and was as least visually pleasing. And, of course, it’s on backorder for the better part of the month! I guess I could see that as a benefit in a few ways…we don’t have to pay now; we can convince my loving parents to let us use their van to pick up said merchandise when it is finally in stock; and we’ll still get our 15% off!

Now I’m worried about a changing table….

I could probably begin every blog telling you how wonderful and miraculous I think this pregnancy and child-birthing process is. Knowing that we’ve got a beautiful little boy on the way, coming to join us in a couple of months, has kept such excitement and joy in our lives.

I have a touch of sadness, though, when I think about my in-laws, Enrique’s family, who are so far away during this time. I cannot express how happy I am that they will be able to join us in October, likely right after the baby is born, and be part of his first few weeks here. But I know their stay will not be long enough. I fear when we hug them goodbye in November, we won’t be able to let them go. Which wouldn’t be so wrong, would it?

It’s with them in mind that we will do our best to keep up with our blog. We never want them to feel too far away from us. It is so important to Enrique and I that they be a vital part of our little one’s life, and that our little Lima Bean learn from them love, values, family, and acceptance. Oh, and some Spanish. I’m still working on my colors! I want LB to learn to joke like Edwin, smile like Blanqui, care like Lucia, and cuddle like Mama. And so many other things, as I too enjoy getting to know you all better each time you come to visit.

Dear Limas, know how much we love and miss you, and how much we await your arrival in October. As much as we would love to have you here even now, we know it’s all part of God’s plan. And I truly hope that in God’s plan for all our lives that he’s built in more and more time for us to be together. We love you!!

And just so that you don’t feel so left out at this time, there are very special things going on, and there are also very…well, more challenging things. Such as…

• The baby kicks and moves so much!…But Rachel’s tummy looks like a scene from Aliens.
• Mom-to-be has remained healthy and has not gained too much weight…But her hips hurt like the dickens, and she’s not afraid to tell you about it!
• The house is still standing and the nursery is coming together…But you should see the den. E and R both have work to do!
• Fun baby projects are laying around the house…But the organizing and grading papers are taking priority.
• It’s been a great start to the school year and we’re gearing up for Enrique’s new job…But if you catch us at home, we’re probably working (E) or napping (R).

And such is life now for us, and we thank you for sharing in it!

Today we finally put the baby’s crib together. It was a piece of cake. Mmmmm, cake. Of course, once it was all together, we just HAD to put in all the great bedding and Pooh friends. So here is our list of disclaimers so that no one starts ranting at us via comments:

• Yes, we know we will need to wash all the bedding before baby goes into the bed.
• Yes, we know the quilt AND stuffed animals are there for picture purposes only. The only thing that goes in the bed is the baby.
• Yes, we know that we didn’t tie all the ties on the bumper pad. We also know that some “experts” feel that bumper pads are dangerous. We are reserving our right as parents to decide upon the bumper when we’re good and ready.

All that being said, doesn’t it look DARN CUTE!!! Thanks to “Grandma and Grandpa Bucher”-to-be for the beautiful bed and our friends and family for the wonderful Winnie the Pooh bedding and cuddlies. Special shout out to Joni for the hand-knitted Piglet!

Crib is ready!

Pooh and Friends

To see a few more views of the crib/room, click on “Other Views of Lima Bean’s Room” under Pages at the left of the blog.