Baby Update:

I went to the doctor yesterday and I am STILL 3 cm dialated. The big change is that I am 75% effaced, and last week I was only 50% effaced. Don't ask me what effaced is, I only have a vague idea. How long could things go on like this? Well, as the doctor assured me, they won't go on like this FOREVER. I will have then baby someday. That's it, that's all I know.
My family is convinced that I will have the baby on Easter, thus ruining thier plans for a middle eastern Easter meal. Traditionally we try a new cuisine each Easter (we've done German, Greek, and others), and Paul's family usually joins my family (a special treat for us!).
Today is so beautiful. The weatherman promised 77 degrees! Paul "walked me" this morning (I don't go on my own anymore) which is part of our feeble attempts to get this kid in gear. I am about to make a picnic lunch for Paul and I. I don't know where we will take it yet, maybe up to the Oly Farmer's Market, which just opened up.
In other news, after a long battle with qwest in which they insisted that there was no DSL in our area, even though ALL our neighbors have it, we are finally getting DSL. Do you know how excited I am? The only thing that kept me sane this long was the fact that I had fast internet at school, but with my maternity leave I won't have that. Imagine the possibilities! I have so many things I want to put on ebay, but haven't because it takes soooo long.
Enjoy this day!

Spring is Here!!! Here are some pictures from this past week

Have I told you how much I love this guy? He helps me quite a bit, although he is more than ready for "the old Bella" meaning the pre-pregnancy me that had more energy. He puts my socks and shoes on for me nowadays.




Will I always be able to make my nephew laugh like this? I don't know, but apparently the bouncing game is hilarious!








As you can see, I'm more than ready for Elias to join us (looks like I'm more than ready for a tan too!)
















Some flowers at Mom and Dad's house.

April Fools: The first thing my brother does when he shows up at my parents house is to look in the fridge for something to eat. My mom put a stuffed grouse in the fridge with a note that said, "Please cook this for dinner. - Mom"

My family has been really good about keeping me occupied these past few spring break days. Yesterday I went out to lunch with my mom and today I accompanied Anna to her doctor's (she's due 6 weeks after me) appointment and then to Target to do some baby shopping. I am starting to nor put too much stock in this whole "dialated to 3cm" thing. It seems like I will never have this kid. Actually, I probably wouldn't have even been thinking about it unless the docs had told me it would be soon.

Tonight Paul and I are planning on dying Easter Eggs, and tomorrow (his day off) will spring clean our closets (can you tell that I'm nesting?). Right now I'm at school in a last ditch effort to leave things in proper order before the sub has to take over. Actually, things are pretty much wrapped up, but there are still a few things to do.

Hope you are all enjoying Spring, the Easter season, and all the new life that it brings!

Here are some pics of the preparations we've done for Elias. He gets a corner of our office (until we move that is). My sister in law Anna made the cute sign for us.

I am really looking forward to doing a little boy's room once we have a house of our own, although I may have to call on some of my friends with more creative juice than I have. The bassinet is an arms reach co-sleeper, which we chose because it is also portable.