He he he.

Sweet Dreams.

I thought you all would enjoy hearing about the dreams Jeremiah and I have had about pregnancy, childbirth, and the child we will soon have. Some of them are rather funny.
Dream #1
I had a dream that we had two twin boys. After the first boy was born and placed in my arms, he looked right at me and said, "Speak to me!" I had just learned (in reality, not dreamland) that my child had the ability to hear my voice, so I guess that is where that came from!

Dream #2
I was having twins (seeing a theme here?) and the doctor gave me two dolls to take home to practice parenting. However, when I was carrying one of the dolls around it turned into an actual child! I frantically started searching for doll #2 only to find him underneath the kitchen table. He was beautiful with a lot of red hair, neatly combed and pretty blue eyes.

Dream #3
I had twins, again, a boy and a girl. This was a rather boring dream, other than the fact that they were AFRICAN AMERICAN! Don't know how Jeremiah and I pulled that one off.

Dream #4
Last night I dreamt I had a sweet baby girl. The funny thing was, the nurses put her in a silly lion's costume right after she was born. Perhaps because I have been reading through the Chronicle's of Narnia???

Jeremiah Dream #1
He, too, dreamt that we had African American twin boys. He was stuck in traffic and didn't make the delivery on time. Much to his dismay the nurse had named them (where was I????) without consulting the parents. He only remembered the name of one of the boys: Benjamin.
We have been praying that God will show us the right name for our son, so perhaps this was a sign?? I really doubt it :) I have really been thinking about international adoption a lot lately, so perhaps that is why there are so many black babies popping up in my dreams!

As a disclaimer, I have seen two ultrasounds, and despite my crazy dreams I can rest assured (ha ha) that there is only ONE little BOY in there!

Maternity Pictures!

Now, for your viewing pleasure, here are a few of our maternity pictures. We took them last weekend at Berg Park, one of my favorite places in Farmington.

Do everything without complaining....

Philippians 2:14 has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm wondering how to make it through the next, approximate, 7 weeks without complaining about:

• Feet, or some other body part, in my ribs.
• How often I drop things and how hard it is to pick it up.
• All this peeing.
• The little guy using my bladder as a punching bag.
• Not sleeping well.
• Fatigue.
• My heart rate issue when I workout.
• Having to give up walks at Berg Park and the chance to feed my ducky friends that comes with.
• The eager anticipation of this little person's arrival.

I really am stoked about meeting Baby Hayes (and finally settling on a name for the kid). Sometimes I feel like when I am telling Jeremiah, for the millionth time that my hands, feet, or upper belly area (weird) are falling asleep, or whatever the current ailment is, that I am not doing a very good job of savoring the moment. I am surprised to find that (gasp!) I don't really enjoy being pregnant.

Perhaps I should think about those feet in my ribs meaning that he is growing big and strong. And use the sleepless nights as a chance to prepare myself for the sleepless nights to come. How much sweeter they will be when the little guy is actually in my arms!!

Sigh, in hindsight these last weeks will be only a moment.

Shepherd's Pie.

Mmmm, this was good! I have been trying to spice things up a bit and make something new a couple times a week. This one was a keeper. I changed it up a bit, if you want the original recipe click on the name of the recipe below.

Shepherds Pie

INGREDIENTS
2 large potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
5 carrots, chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1/2 c. celery
1 pound lean ground beef
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 tablespoons ketchup
dash of Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup beef broth
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain and mash. Mix in butter, finely chopped onion and 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside. (Note from Susan: I spiced up the potatoes a bit more. Added milk, some sour cream, garlic powder...)
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add carrots and cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, mash and set aside. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.)
Heat oil in a large frying pan. Add onion and celery and cook until clear. Add ground beef and cook until well browned. Pour off excess fat, then stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add ketchup and beef broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Spread the ground beef in an even layer on the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish. Next, spread a layer of mashed carrots. Top with the mashed potato mixture and sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.

I served it with brown gravy, it was delish! Great leftovers, too.

Seven things about me..

I have been tagged by Stacey, so here goes. Seven things about me, this will be riveting, I'm sure.

1.) I firmly believe that garlic does not belong in eggs. Ever. Eww.

2.) While I'm thinking about breakfast, you know how there will be that foil or plastic covering on top of cream cheese, sour cream, etc? I don't understand leaving it on there after you open the container. Just take it off!

3.) I like to shop when I get bored.

4.) Having my nails done is important to me.

5.) Working out is not an option.

6.) I LOVE gourds of all shapes and sizes. They make fall wonderful.

7.) Here is a secret. These days, if I am just pooped all day I will lay around until about 4:30 then realize Jeremiah is about to come home and I will work frantically to get the house cleaned up. There we go, the cat's out of the bag.

Ummm...I am breaking the tagging rules and not tagging anyone else :)

The nursery!

Well, the little guy's room is about 99% complete! Yay! I still need a couple small things, but there is one last shower coming up the first weekend in November so I am holding out on purchasing them. Now, for my family members out there, I know that there aren't a lot of knick knacks - that was intentional, just don't tell Granny :)

In this first one, I have his bathrobe and towel hanging from lovely shelf Cris got us. And, of course, the cute hamper Jen got us.

Here is the window treatment that my mother in law, Kat, so beautifully put together. She also sewed the pillow that is in the glider, oh, she got us the glider, too. Yeah, she's a good lady. I love the cute little burp cloth that Lindsay got us. I am still searching for a nursing book to go on the side table. I hear it's good to have one handy.

The beautiful crib and bedding, thanks Mom!

Here is the changing table, which still needs the contoured pad. Lins got us the pictures hanging on the wall, which all show scenes from nursery rhymes.

This room was such a collective effort and I am so grateful for EVERYONE who has blessed us so richly. We, Jeremiah, the little guy, and I all thank you.

32 Week Check-up!

The day started off with my lovely aerobics class. It is getting kind of comical, I think, for my fellow exercisers to watch me try to do some of the things we do. I am just doing my part to keep the classes interesting!
Then I drove on up to Aztec for my 32 week appointment. Today I met with Amy who I am liking more and more. I am healthy and measuring right on target and the little guy is too. His heart rate was in the 130's. He has shifted positions and is now laying vertical, but Amy said that is really normal for 32 weeks and he should shift into the right position as he gets bigger and runs out of room. She also guessed that he wouldn't be bigger than about 8lbs, but said it was too early to tell. I had some questions about the upcoming birth. I feel like I have this big event looming on the horizon and no clue what I'm "in for" so to speak. I mean, if it was a race or some sporting event I would be preparing: training, eating certain things, tapering, etc. This, much to my chagrin, is going to much more intense than a marathon and I want to be DOING something! Amy was really reassuring. She told me that my body knows what to do and to not let my mind psyche me out. She also told me to chill out on the reading (I have read "What to Expect", "Ina' May's Guide to Childbirth", the Bradley books, "Pregnancy and the Newborn"...just to name a few). She said that for each book over two that it adds 6 hours to delivery. Can I unread books and end up with like a 10 minute delivery :) Hmm...Anyway, she also said that after I go to my birthing classes, which we are doing as a weekend event in November, that I will feel much more confident.
I am really grateful that I don't have any fears about the birth, I am actually really looking forward to it. I just wish there was more I felt like I could do to prepare.
On another note, I finished the nursery yesterday. There will be pictures soon!

A question for the mom's out there!

So, I have the list of what to pack for the hospital, but I am wondering if there was anything that you mom's out there didn't pack that you wish you would have. Whether it was for you, the dad or the baby. And, when did you have your bag packed? When did you have the car seat installed??
Inquiring minds want to know!

Durango!!

Yesterday Miah took the day off and we went to DURANGO! The leaves are changing and it was just beautiful up there.

I cherish these quite moments with Miah and sometimes glance in the back seat where the little guy's carseat will be and think about the days to come that will be oh so different.

Before and NOW!

This first picture was taken at least a year ago, when we were still in Hawaii living on Molokai...as a side note, please take note of who has all the property and who has all the $$ and who has given up and started taking pictures! We play Monopoly with special rules to keep things interesting!


This was taken today! This shirt has never had to work so hard!! Ha ha ha!

October 10th!

Wow, I am due two months from today! We will see when the little guy decides to make his appearance... I really feel myself starting to slow down. I am just exhausted!
Well, I did get the bulbs in the ground, all 72 of them. Turns out that day at the nursery I was thinking very little about the process of planting and more about how beautiful they will be in full bloom. And while I was at it I decided to mow the lawn, which was a first for me. I did it, without incident, and now I am wondering if I should have because I can't use the "I don't know how..." as an excuse not to :)
This weekend I am throwing a shower for Brittany Mirabal, who is due November 30th with a little boy as well, who is to be named Shepherd Gabriel. What a great name! I am planning on a fall theme and making lots of yummy desserts. Pictures will follow!

Not...FROST!!

This morning as I was saying goodbye to Jeremiah I looked out the window and what did I see??? FROST. Today is the day I am setting out to get my bulbs in the ground. I don't care if I missed the first frost. They're going in!

A date at 3am.

One of Baby Hayes' favorite ways to get some "Mama time" is to get really squirmy at about 3am. That leads to me needing to go to the bathroom, which leads to him squirming more as I try to get comfortable, which leads to me thinking about his coming birth, the nursery, etc. By the time 4 or 4:30 hits my stomach is growling beyond the point of return and I am up for a snack and usually some tea. Even now as I sit here typing and drinking a lovely cup of Refresh tea he is bouncing around. While I will definitely need a nap later, perhaps urging the cycle to continue, I must say I don't mind too much. I just think about the days ahead when I will be up with him in my arms instead of just giggling about how squirmy he is.
It's a funny thing, becoming a mom.

At the end of the day...

Well...the glider and ottoman were out of stock and the store I was going to buy the changing table from was closed. Whatcha gonna do.
I did get the room cleared and we got the window treatment done. Not too bad for a Sunday.

Nursery Update!

Today we are getting serious about the nursery! My mother-in-law, Kat, is finishing up the Roman shades. We decided on a buttery yellow stripe, much like the hamper. She has also finished the fabric that we will drape from the top of the window. It is white with small flowers...not too girly I can assure you. We are then headed over to Baby and Me to see about a changing table/dresser and then to Target to see about a glider. I also need to find a side table to go next to the glider for a cute lamp we found. I envision many happy, sleepy moment in this glider with our sweet little guy. As you can see from the photo I will have to take everything out and then start taking it back in, little by little. Hopefully finding a permanent place for it.
As an update on the shower, it was beautiful. I forgot my camera, of course, but Kristen came through (she photographed my wedding) and I just need to get the pictures from her. I had such a lovely time visiting with the sweet ladies that came. Mrs. Vicki, as always, out did herself and everything was lovely. We ate lunch, which was much like going to tea at the St. James, drank a ton of tea, played a few games and opened gifts. As an extra blessing, Candice gave me her high chair (thank you!), so that is one more thing to cross of the list. Another blessing we received was through Meg Wallace, who has given me her breast pump motor (don't worry, I have all new attachments, it is quite safe) and also her jogging stroller! What a blessing!!
I am so grateful for everything that the people in our lives have done for us. Truly, my cup overflows.

Back to Albuquerque!

Jeremiah and I are headed back to Albuquerque this afternoon for a baby shower tomorrow. This one is hosted by sweet Ms. Vicki for all the wonderful ladies at the tearoom. What a blessing that place has been to me. I have learned so much from all the people who work there, not just ladies because there is Daniel too :) I feel so blessed that after all these years they still want to celebrate the birth of Baby Hayes. While looking around their website I found a funny picture of Adrian and I from the photo shoot we did for Sunset magazine a few years ago. That was a shocker! Ha ha!
Josh Covert comes home from Iraq today too, yeah! This is the Josh that Jeremiah wants to name our son after. I think Josh is wonderful, and so darn funny, he would be a great name sake for our little guy. We will see! I will include a picture of Josh's trip to Oahu, so you all can "meet" him. The picture of Jeremiah and I kayaking by Lanikai was taken by Josh on that trip.
Please note in the photo that Jeremiah is posing for the camera and I am trying, furiously, to figure out the paddling and prove that I could do it!
Here's to safe travels!

30 Week Check Up.

First, of all, whoa, I am 30 weeks already! Sometimes it feels, because 9 months really is a long time to be pregnant in my opinion, that there really is no baby coming. It's kind of like a big, long drama. Sure, I have all the evidence of a child on the way: throw up (me, not him...yet), baby gear, oh, yeah, and a huge belly that sometimes squirms like something out of Alien. But the reality that a baby is coming doesn't feel like it has really sunk in. But now that his movements are getting bigger, it is getting harder to do the things I love, and December 10th is drawing closer and closer and I find myself sitting with the reality of what is about to happen. It is a wonderful thing.
On a side note, at the gym yesterday while trying to do the things I used to be able to do and fighting the reality of my 7 1/2 month prego body, I was watching some animal show. Get this. There was a show about pregnant elephants. Did you know they are pregnant for 22 months?! AND, that they give birth to, sit down, 300 pound baby elephants? No, stinking, way. Thank God for 8 pounders and 40 weeks!! Yikes!
Anyway, Miah and I went to Aztec today for our check up. I am so grateful for the Aztec clinic so that I don't have to drive to Durango every other week. It was the first baby appointment that Miah has been able to attend since we moved. We really wanted the midwives to get to know both of us...we're partners in this afer all! Today we met with Heidi. I hadn't met her before and she was just lovely. There are three midwives: Heidi, Mary-Louise, and Amy. They all have a ton of experience, different way of doing things, and one of them will for sure be with me while I labor. I feel really confident about our choice to use Southwest midwives. Anyway, everything looked good, we're both healthy as can be! My only real question was about this pain I am having. Turns out it is just some joint that never stretches is stretching because of the little guy's head pushing against it. It is really uncomfortable when I exercise, but Heide said my maternity support belt (very glamorous) should help with that.
I also asked about coming to Albuquerque for Thanksgiving. I had really hoped to make the trip because I have no intention of coming down for several weeks after the baby is born. Knowing myself, I will want very badly to "show off" our sweet bundle, but I will need time, I think about 6 weeks, to rest, recover and just sit and stare and this sweet little human. However, something about me driving four hours away from where I am supposed to deliver 13 days before I am due didn't sit real well with the midwife. But as the time draws closer we shall see!!

By the way, I have only gotten sick once today and am managing to keep down a healthy lunch and my prenatals! Yay!