The Raich's Big Adventure: Time flies when you're lying upside down...

I really can't believe it is March. Three of the moms in my mom and baby group have given birth and I'm one of the next ones up on the list. I will be 36 weeks on Monday, which means life could be very different in as little as a few weeks. I have reached that heavy, exhausted point where simply managing my 3xs an hour trips to the bathroom and my Rolaids schedule is just about all I can handle. Now I also have to add regular sessions lying upside down on a tilted ironing board since the baby is currently breech, and this apparently the way to get him to turn. I'm not enjoying it much, but Dixie seems to think I am part of a larger circus act and spends her time leaping back and forth over me. This move is alternated with another where I precariously perch my hips on top of a small mountain of pillows and lay backwards, and another one which requires me to smash my face into the mattress while my hips stick up in the air. Maybe next time Dixie and I try our death defying act, I will have Jeff take a picture and we will post it. You will all be amazed...

Meanwhile, the house is filling up with baby stuff. I had my first baby shower at work on Friday and got all sorts of wonderful new things for the baby. Of course we have nowhere to put anything in the house. Our upstairs is coming along beautifully, thanks to Jeff, but we certainly will not be done by the time the baby is born. So we will be very cozy living on one level for a while. We have no idea where we are going to put a crib or a changing table...creativity is the order of the day.

Otherwise it has been a very busy few months for us. I'm not exactly sure what we have been doing, but it certainly feels as if every moment of our time is occupied with something. I have been busy with school and trying to finish up a few last papers before the baby comes. Mia is always busy with school, homework, friends, the synagogue...She is always on the go. Luckily she recently learned to tie her own shoes, so she is basically independent now. If we can just getting the driving thing going...Mia had the opportunity to go see the Broadway show of Annie that come through Minneapolis a few weeks ago. We pretty much used up her entire college savings to buy the tickets, but she felt it was well worth it. Today she had a Purim carnival at the synagogue. The Rabbi was dressed up as Mortie Potter (just think of geekier Jewish version of Harry Potter, the kids got to shake their shakers and boo/hiss at the Purim story. Mia dressed up as a Jewish poodle. There was food and and carnival games. Fun was had by all.

Jeff has been busy with construction and cooking. He always seem to be wielding either a power tool or a rolling pin. Soon he will effortlessly throw an infant into the mix. Yes--but can he juggle them all at the same time, I wonder...

Below are some highlights of the past few months. We will try to post again prior to the babies birth...