Week 36.... One month to go....

It is very hard to believe we only have less than a month until the due date of Baby Rauwerdink. It has been a busy few weeks. We have had birthing classes as well as getting Christmas shopping and decorating finished. We are onto seeing the doctor every week now and it really could be anytime, which makes everything seem even more real. We had an appointment this past Wednesday. All is well. My blood pressure was great and the baby's heartbeat was very healthy. We have the bag packed for the most part and close to the front door. I have been feeling more tired, lacking energy, and ready to meet this active child. It moves quite a bit from dinner until I sleep. As Mike says, very "jabby and pokey!" Last weekend was special because my parents came to visit for a long weekend. I had a baby shower with friends outside of the school I am at now, many were from the first school I worked at here in CO, Laredo Middle School and they invited my mom to come. It was hosted by my friend Mikki White and Karen Rauwerdink and the girls (Laura and Melissa). It was very nice. My mom and I also worked on washing clothes and organizing the nursery. She was such a help. This weekend we hung pictures and put finishing touches on the place our child will call home soon. Enjoy the pictures.

This is a picture of the nursery before.......

After picture of the nursery....

My friend Pam Tschanz did the oil paintings on the wall.
They are perfect!

More of the nursery

A closer view of the friends waiting for Baby Rauwerdink to arrive.

This is a picture of my shower here in CO on Novemeber 18, 2006.
Melissa and Laura were a big help.

Here are the hosts of the shower here in CO last weekend-
Karen Rauwerdink and Mikki White.

Cute onsie from my friend Vanessa

A cute dog pull toy... I guess we do not have to get a dog after all.

This is the start if some pictures of my showers in WI in October. Enjoy!

October 21,2006 Shower- Hosts- Jenny Jerving (Mike's Mom), Carol Brazzale (My mom) and Kristen Brazzale (My sister in law)

My Aunt MaryBrazzale made a diaper cake. So cute!

The Meier Side- Aunt Julie Galien, Cousin Jenny Stadler and Violet, Aunt Marge Engelbrecht, Aunt Mary Stern, Cousin Rachel Stern

Cute bibs and towels from The Sterns

Friends- Kristin Peterson, Me, Jen Parenteau, Pam Tschanz, Dolly Weber, and Anne Berenz

Brazzale Ladies- Aunt Mary, Great Aunt Linda, Aunt Jean, Aunt Dawn, Cousin Amy

Grandma Jenny (Mike's mom) made this beautiful blanket and gave a cute cuddly bear.

Friends-Megan Schulte, Elissa Daily, Thusoung Dang, Carolyn Paul, Amber Casadonte and the ladies man Zach Groh

My friends at Urban Middle School hosted a shower for me too. Here are the hosts Jennifer Jeremiah and Tanya Zimmermann.

They played a game, design the best diaper. Here are friends Billie Rau, Kelly Dischler, and Maria Jesinski.

Denver Film Festival

We had a great time at the Denver Film Festival this weekend. Jill came down for 2 movies and I saw 10 movies (in less than 3 days). Some quick comments on some of the movies I saw:

Pan's Labyrinth
My favorite at this year's fest. I guess you'd classify it as a fairy tale for grown-ups. With its parallel stories of a young girl's move with her mother to live with a fascist general and the girl's fairy tale adventures involving a bunch of imaginative creatures, this is a one-of-a-kind movie.

Volver
Pedro Almodóvar's latest is as good as some of his best films. Another great one. Penelope Cruz does a great job in this one.

Behind the Mask / Chalk
Two hilarious mockumentaries. Behind the Mask follows a guy who dreams of one day living up to the standard set by his idols: Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, and Michael Myers. Being a psycho killer sure requires a lot of cardio work. Chalk follows a first year teacher and the teachers he works with. Jill could relate to this one a lot. Hilarious for teachers and everyone else. The rendition of the Safety Dance on piano is priceless.

Climates
Very artsy-fartsy and slow, but a great film none-the-less. There is a great shot of falling snow at the end that reminded me of the famous shot from "In Cold Blood" where the rain falls on the window pane. I liked this one a lot, but it's definitely not for everyone.

Week 33....

We really cannot believe it has been 4 weeks since our last entry. We have been very busy which makes time fly by. In the last few weeks, I have been home to WI twice. Once for an unexpected trip, my uncle passed away unexpectly. It was very tragic and sad. We are lucky to have such a supportive family and our friends to help us through this time of grief.

The other trip was for two baby showers and my part of my fall break. It was great to be in WI and see so many family and friends. Both showers were perfect. We got many lovely things and were able to get MOST of it back to CO in a suitcase. We got a variety of things and have been having fun putting them away. We hope to get some pictures on here in about two weeks, when we have another shower with friends at my first school, Laredo Middle School and other friends. We have been blessed with so many generous things. Thanks.

We had our 33 week doctor appointment today. Everything went well. The heartbeat was healthy, my blood pressure was good, and the dr was pleased with my weight gain. I measured right on 34 weeks. The doctor said the baby is head down for now, but we will see, things could change. I guess my mom said I sat breech up until the end and then turned. So a lot can change. I have been feeling a bit more tired. I have a little back pain at times. I think from carrying a few more pounds in front of me. :-) The baby likes to move around supper until bedtime. We have been having fun feeling the as Mike says" the jabbing and manuvers". We like to try and guess what he/ she is doing. But otherwise, I have been surviving teaching and really have enjoyed my pregnancy so far. I am hoping the next 7 weeks will be the same. I hope to go right up to my holiday break, December 15th.

Mike and I have been busy the last few weeks not just with school. We have been really working hard on the nursery, and will post pictures soon, when we get everything set. We are VERY close. We also have picked out a pediatrician. We are very excited and got some great referrels, which makes the decision even more comforting. We have started our birth classes, which puts things more realistic. We are starting to feel nervousness and excitement all at the same time.

The shirt is getting a bit more filled out.

Week 33

There is a baby in there!!

What are you doing there?