Samuel James Hunniford

Samuel James Hunniford, born April 30th, 2009 at 9:47 am. 8 lbs 0 oz, 19.5".

Feathering the Nest

I feel like I've been assembling Poppy's room for months now, and I guess I have. But I have finally reached the point where I can say that the room is as ready as its going to be before Poppy is born. The last element was completed over the weekend when Joanne artfully drew, and I painted, the elephant on the wall. There's still no artwork or pictures hanging on the walls, but that is going to wait. Once we have a name and a gender, then we'll hang some things up and it will REALLY be done.

As for the rest of the nest, I can't say I've been feathering it, but I have been cleaning it. Things that normally don't bother me all of the sudden seem priorities that must be addressed immediately. My house has no piles - I think its the first time since we moved in. I still feel like there is much left to be done on the cleaning front, but I'm running out of energy to get it done.

The Growing Belly...Part IV

I've reached the point where I wake up each morning feeling bigger than I did when I went to bed the night before. Some days Chris even agrees that yes, it does look like I got bigger today.

I have prided myself on keeping my balance and flexibility throughout this pregnancy. I still wear my heels to work daily and haven't really run into anything, or any of those things you often here pregnant women saying. However, in the past few weeks I have lost one skill: the ability to stand on one leg while putting a sock on the opposite foot at the gym. Its not that I can't balance on one leg (even pregnancy can't kill 17 years of ballet training), but with my body in that position I just can't seem to reach my foot with my arms. Can't bend enough. I feel a little like T-Rex. Luckily this problem can be resolved by sitting on the bench. The issue of painting my toenails is not as easily resolved. So please don't judge me for the chipped polish on my tootsies - its just not worth the effort at the moment. Time to redeem that pedicure gift card I got for Christmas...

These latest pictures were taken at 36 weeks and 3 days, less than 4 weeks before my due date. I can now count the remaining time period in days rather than months or weeks, and have reached the 90 range of "percentage of pregnancy completed." Let the waiting begin!

The Growing Belly...Part III

Here we are at 33 weeks and 4 days. I am feeling quite huge these days, so it will be interesting to see what I look like in another six weeks. SIX WEEKS! I can't believe its really that close. Most days I'm still feeling pretty good. Occasionally I start to get uncomfortable if I get stuck in one position for too long, but for being this close to the end, I really can't (or shouldn't!) complain.

It has been interesting to hear how everyone thinks I'm carrying. I've had a few tell me how high the baby is, and a few tell me how low the baby is. More and more recently I am hearing that its going to be a boy because I'm "all belly." I'm not sure I buy all those old wives tales though. I'm sticking with my opinion that its a girl, and Chris is holding fast to his prediction of boy. I'm claiming mother's instinct as the backing for my prediction. I'm still not sure how Chris came up with his. Either way, let us know your prediction by voting in the poll on the left. They "Days Left to Vote" is also a countdown clock to Poppy's due date.

Ohio Baby Shower

Yes, I was blessed to have baby showers on back to back weekends! Had to fit them both in before I have to stop flying. I am glad to be done flying for awhile - its amazing how I can be completely comfortable in my every day life, but as soon as I sit in an airplane seat my body starts to rebel against me. But I digress...

This trip was great because so many people came into town! Both of my grandmothers came in from Cleveland and my aunt flew in from DC. DeLisa Ferguson (Matriarch of the Ferguson Clan, with whom we are lifelong friends, and shower hostess) brought brought 7/9 of the clan with her. We got to meet Hayden, who was born in October and will be the first in the next generation of the Stairstep Photo. Poppy will be step number two.

The ladies had a lovely time at the shower while the men spent the afternoon watching basketball at BW3's. We enjoyed lovely finger foods (especially the petit fours!) while playing a few shower games, during which time the generation gap became quite apparent. I don't think that anyone under the age of 40 knew more than 3 of the correct endings to the nursery rhymes, but we all did much better in coming up with the names of the TV children from various sitcoms.

I had so much fun visiting with everyone! And Poppy did quite well, thanks to the many generous gifts. Bottles, clothes, toys, books, blankets, bedding, you name it. One of my favorites was from Uncle Matt - he gave Poppy a stuffed lamb that plays music, just like his own Lambie that he loved (loves) for so many years.

Florida Baby Shower

Last Saturday my Mother-in-Law (Debbie) and Sister-in-Law (Becky) threw me a baby shower with family and friends back in Chris's hometown of Sarasota, Florida. It was a quick trip for us, flying in Friday night and returning Sunday evening, but it was great to be able to see people one more time before we are parents. And this Time I actually looked pregnant (unlike when we saw them all at Thanksgiving).


Chris enjoyed an afternoon of golf with the guys while the ladies joined us at Debbie's house for the shower. In addition to the wonderful food that they made and the gift opening, we did play a few games at this one:

"My Water Broke" is a game to see who can get their ice cube to melt the fastest, thus freeing the plastic baby frozen inside. Krissy either has hot hands or some special trick she picked up by teaching high school science, because hers was done really quickly!

Everyone had to guess how many squares of toilet paper it would take to go around my stomach. If you're curious, it took 10 and "Great-Aunt Julie" guessed correctly. Thanks to all those who guessed in the 20's.

"Don't Say Baby" is exactly what it sounds like. Anytime you catch someone saying that word, you get to take their clothes pin, along with any they've collected from other people. "Aunt Becky" won this one by default - she really only caught one person who just happened to have a lot of pins already.

Poppy received many wonderful gifts. Some of the more unique ones included a hand-made quilt and a custom-made bag that opens into a play mat and holds all kinds of matching accessories. Thanks so much to everyone who came to help us celebrate our new little one!

Houston Baby Shower

On February 21 my friend Joanne was gracious enough to throw me a baby shower! We had an yummy brunch spread - breakfast casserole, fruit salad, cheddar dill scones, salmon salad sandwiches - all hand prepared by our lovely hostess. She even baked and decorated a cake to match the crib bedding that we will use in the nursery. I wish I had that much talent with frosting! After thinking about all the things we will need to take care of Poppy for 6.5 months, it was so much fun to receive so many of these things as gifts. What generous friends I have! And yes, the gift opening was accompanied by all the requisite "awwws!" that one would expect when baby items are involved. We laughed a lot, too. Especially when Amy acted out her image of someone "catching" a baby being born with the assistance of a receiving blanket brought from home. Yes, Amy, the name would imply that to be their intended use. Thank you, everyone, for enjoying the day and loving my baby with me! And thank you, Joanne, for putting together such a wonderful party!