Tyler Goes Home

I just had to post these pictures because they are so precious - the Misomali family is home from the hospital (and looking fabulous, too!). We're so thankful for the health and safety of Jen and Tyler, and for Ray's excitement and enthusiasm in his new role as dad. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to adjust, grow, heal, and enjoy the miracle of Ty!

Welcome Tyler Charles Misomali!!!

My good friend Jennifer (Goodell) Misomali and her husband Ray welcomed their first baby, a boy - Tyler Charles Misomali - into the world yesterday morning, January 23rd, at 7:45am!! He weighs 8lbs 11 oz, was 21 inches long, and is quite a looker, as you can see for yourself:

Congratulations, Jen and Ray!

And major kudos to Jen, who delivered Tyler with just 1 mg of something to help with the pain in her IV, and nothing else! You are one tough cookie.

If you want to send Jen and Ray a congratulatory email and don't have their contact information, just email me (armbruster@hotmail.com) and I'll send it to you.

Now we can have a baby!

More nursery progress... mom finished the crib bedding and window valence, and just has to put the ties on the bumper to hold it up. It looks even better than I had imagined it would look when we were picking out all the fabric and patterns! I love it. Thanks again, mom!!

(Don't worry, I know that there's not supposed to be anything else in the crib with the baby - these stuffed animals and blanket will be removed after I'm done taking pictures!)

The outside of the bumper (picture above) is black with tiny white polka dots - for some reason, I think the camera made it look like they are multi-colored polka dots.

Although this is a silly thing to worry about, I was getting nervous that if the baby came early, we wouldn't be ready. I know, I have 10 more weeks - even if the baby were to come early, we most likely still have plenty of time.

But who said that we're thinking rationally these days?

So I think I will sleep much better at night knowing that if our baby comes NOW, he will have a bed to sleep in!

A surprise and a belly

When I came home from work on Friday this is what I found in the nursery...

How great is that?! Rob assembled the crib, I was so excited. Since then, we've made more progress (see next blog, above).

AND, the 30 week belly shot... (now you know why there aren't more of these on here... yikes, 10 weeks to go??).

Progress...

This past weekend was a big work weekend for us. Rob painted the nursery on Friday night and it looks great! (Sorry for the glare on the walls from the flash - we were told that Satin finish paint is the best for a room that will frequently need to have its walls wiped down.)

If you like the color, it's Toffee Crunch by Behr!

Then my parents and brother came over on Saturday for lunch and a bit of clean-the-livingston's-basement-out! I have decided that I am the luckiest girl in the world because my mom spent all day helping me get the house ready for a thorough cleaning later this week and for the baby in general (really - 9 hours!), made us all a big lasagna lunch, hung pictures in our guest room, and refused to let me bend, reach, or carry anything all day. Meanwhile, dad and Collin cut up empty boxes and garbage, helped Rob move the big heavy things around our house that I can't help him with anymore, and kept us all company.

By the end of the day, I was exhausted but so grateful for all that we were able to get done. I was too tired to make anything but macaroni for myself for dinner, and discovered while eating that I have made it to the point where I can eat off of my enormous belly. Classy and cute, I know.

For those of you asking for a tummy picture update, have patience - those pictures are getting less and less fun to take and look at, so we (I) rarely get around to them. But I know I'll hate myself later, so in the next few days I'll make Rob take some and I'll post them on here. For now, you get the Macaroni-on-my-belly shot:

Only 10 more weeks to go!

Christmas in NJ

Here are a few pictures of our time in New Jersey with Rob's family... the highlight was definitely watching Nicholas get super excited over EVERY gift and immediately try to open and play with each one. He was able to understand and anticipate Santa's visit and the toys he would bring, which was cute and new from last year.

The "grabber" we got him ended up being very entertaining to him. (You too can have a grabber for only $5.99!) He used it for the rest of the day - handing out presents, tearing off wrapping paper from his gifts... and Rachel said that later in the week his blankie fell down the side of his bed in the night and he said to her "Mom, my blankie fell - get it with the grabber!". SO cute.

Nicholas is into mimicking anything his parents do, including cooking - so he got a kitchen set from Santa this year and we got him a pretend pizza kit, which he served to us while we opened presents. :)

Baby James, getting bigger and bigger! He watches everything Nicholas does, and is very entertained by him. Next Christmas our baby will be this age almost exactly!

Gingerbread (Graham Cracker) House

In December we went to a Gingerbread House Making Christmas Party with friends, and won first place for our creation! It was the first time Rob had made one, and I think he did a pretty great job with the chimney and nerds lining the house.

Saying Goodbye

The PT is history... I had a little moment of sadness in the parking lot when we left my car for the last time, but it was short lived (and pregnancy-hormone induced, I'm sure). This car just wasn't safe and reliable enough for the baby that's coming. We actually got rid of it about a month ago... I'm way behind on posting!