Babies like soup, right? How about wine?

On Wednesday Steve and I brought a wonderful batch of minestrone soup over to the Imelli household (I know the soup was wonderful because I had it the night before...and because I cut the carrots). We hung out, chatted, learned some things about having a newborn, did puzzles with Lauren and just had a lovely time! Claire and Mark make it look so easy! Grant is an angel and I can only hope that Piccolina is as wonderful as he is. I held him for a good little while and he fussed some, but Claire did not take him back from me, which was very good. I need to get used to that! We knew he was hungry because he dove in for my boob a couple times...but nothing there for you, buddy. It was encouraging he could sense it was coming.

Grant, just 2 weeks old (born March 30th)

The most hilarious part of the evening was seeing Lauren in the chair she has set up at the back window to watch the workers landscaping their backyard.

The overlord overseeing her laborers.

There is nothing I like better than a child who knows how to "Cheese!"

Casual Friday

Friday was the start of my 30th week and here's the proof. Since I never seem to remember to have Steve take these pictures at home, thankfully my wonderful assistant, Meghan, likes to remind me. She will be "preggo photog" from here on out. Plus, I like the background of the bushes outside our office. This is more casual than we really ever dress at work...but it was Friday of Spring Break and I decided we would clean out one of our cluttered storage closets at work. And by "we", I mean Meghan and our student helper. I pretty much directed and made labels. And no, peanut gallery, I do not keep my label maker in a labeled box anymore. At least not my label maker at work.

Making Room for Baby

The last few weeks have been filled with the insanity that can only be brought on by moving. But we're not moving. Well, someone is moving in, in just about 10 weeks. And apparently she needs a whole lotta stuff. That's kind of how I've been thinking of it lately...there is someone coming to live with us. It's so strange to think of it in those terms. We've been on our own here for 3+ years, quite settled in our ways. I've been warned hundreds of times, but I know there is no way to mentally prepare myself for the changes ahead. So, we'll start by preparing the house.

I've been explaining it as "the domino effect" and that is really what it felt like. We decided to turn the office into the nursery, which meant that the office had to join with the guest room. Which meant that the guest room closet filled with china and nonsense had to be emptied to make room for the office closet stuff. It literally gave me a headache for weeks trying to figure out where everything should be relocated. But finally, after two long weekends of movement, organization and re-organization we've pretty much got it figured out. I don't want to post pics of the nursery until it's finished. The furniture is in and I love it. But it's not decorated, so you'll have to wait for that.

When I asked Steve to "smile" for this picture, he said "what's there to smile about?" I guess putting up shelves in a dusty space in the garage isn't all that fun.

The "Before" pictures of the office:

Hop to the Peninsula

We had such a nice Easter this year hosted by Steve's Aunt Valerie at her house in San Mateo. She was kind enough to include my parents too, which is so great and convenient for us! The highlight of the meal for me were the raviolis that Noni prepared. They were so good and I was thrilled to learn you can buy them in the store. It's a local company and rumor has it you can make your own filling, take it to them and they'll make the ravs for you! Genius. Chocolate ravs anyone?

Home Maid Ravioli

Too many cooks in the kitchen!

Adorable placecards

If my camera is around and Andrea is around, there will surely be some shots.
She's trying to capture the "best Facebook Profile pic" ever. This is a cute one!

Not our best pic, but proof that we were there and that I was, in fact, pregnant on Easter.
I do feel like an egg.

Showertime

This past weekend Gillian and I flew down to LA for a fun-filled weekend that included my first baby shower. Many months back I thought it would be a brilliant idea to drive down so that it would be easy to transport back any shower gifts. Thankfully Steve talked me out of that because I'm certain I would have been miserable sitting for so long and having to stop every 30 minutes to search for an icky rest stop bathroom. So, bright and early Gillian and I hopped down to Burbank Airport armed with our two small suitcases and three big empty suitcases to carry home all the possible loot. At the curb, Stacy arrived to pick up Gill and Susie swooped in to pick me up and we went our separate ways. They headed East to do some things for the shower that included much traffic and manual labor. Meanwhile, the newly betrothed Susie and I had a lovely day of wedding related activities and more throughout the San Gabriel Valley (aka Pasadena). First, we visited Susie's recently acquired wedding dress. Beautiful! I will not post photos because it will ruin the effect when I post photos of the wedding in October.

Susie poses outside the adorable dress store.

But needless to say, I'm very honored to be a matron-of-honor in Susie and Curtis's wedding! Even though I despise the word "matron"...it actually goes quite well with the size dress I had to order in anticipation of post-baby weight retention. The dress itself is not at all matronly, it's a beautiful style and color from J Crew. We'll just say I will need to get my act together quickly! After the dress and a mandatory stop at Coffee Bean for an ice blended we visited Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge where the ceremony and reception will be. Such a fabulous venue, I can't wait!

I could have stayed all day at Descanso taking pictures of the new blooms. But I think I was boring poor Suz.

Then we headed to visit Vicki and her new addition, Kyan (Kye, for short) who live in San Gabriel. We had a lovely visit with sleeping Kye and a very well adjusted new mom of 3 weeks. She gave me the nitty gritty on birthing and I just have to say, I can't wait! Yes, that was sarcasm.

I can only pray that Piccolina is this serene!

Saturday turned out to be a nice, warm day in Glendora where Stacy opened her home for my shower. The hostesses did a bang up job putting everything together. They should really start a "Virtual Shower Planning" company - since they did all the planning over email. Brunch was delish, the games were hilarious, dessert was amazing, favors and invites were adorable and of course the company was the best.

Shower throwers: Amy-Jo, Marie, Stacy, Bridgette, Gillian, and Susie

This is what happens when you let me pick out my own balloon. Isn't it cute??

Brunch prepared by Susie - yum!

Probably the reason I failed my glucose test this week.

Some of the crew ready to play "Shower Gift Bingo"

Thanks girls! And thanks to everyone who made the (for some LONG) trek to Glendora. It meant so much to have all of you there.

Irish I had a beer

This was the first St. Patty's Day in many years that I've spent sober, at work and without my partner-in-crime Gillian. In years past, I've trekked up to SF the night before, spent the night and then dragged Gillian to the Irish Bank at the crack of dawn to enjoy the Alice Radio morning show parties. We typically would stay all day, attempting to pace ourselves while meeting many interesting characters. But, since I couldn't justify missing a day of work while saving up for maternity leave and since nobody likes a party pooper, I decided to stay home and enjoy St. Patty's Day as a grown-up would. I stopped at Starbucks, went to work, then had a lovely cornbeef and cabbage dinner at my in-laws. Just my (current) speed!

Week 25 photo donning the green.

A poor substitution for an Irish Coffee. Thanks to Gillian for the very appropriate button!

May babies bring March showers

I've been pretty forgetful about bringing my camera places lately, and even if I do remember to bring it, I forget to take pictures. But luckily I remembered to snap a couple of shots at the recent baby "sprinkle" that Claire threw for Arlene Vaccaro on March 1st at California Cafe in Los Gatos. Arlene and Paul are expecting Gabriella's baby brother in early May. He will have wonderful manners, be able to drive a manual and make a mean pizza - and therefore will be a potential suitor for Piccolina.

Arlene opens her gifts, including the Tonka Dump truck complete with "Chicks Dig Me" bib from none other than Julie Albanese.

I didn't get a shot of any of the guests, but I did get the important stuff on film. Also, Claire made a great CD of current hits as the shower favor. So clever that Claire - I'm so excited she's throwing me a shower too!