Look, Mom...I can hold on to my binkie all by myself!
This is my surprised face...that red light that blinks before the flash comes, always gets my attention!
Just lounging in my bouncer seat while mom gets ready for the day
Making cooing noises because I'm so happy
Sleeping on my boppy with mommy

We can hardly believe Nicholas is already 11 days old! Time really does fly by! Nicholas is holding his head up for short periods of time on his own and has already smiled quite a few times. Everyone who comes to visit has commented on what a happy, content baby he is. Jeff and I are really loving being parents. We've been out of the house a few times this week: on Thursday Nicholas and I went to the Vancouver Mall to pick up a few things. I straped Nicholas into his BabyBjorn carrier and he slept the whole time. On Friday night we went over to Kris and Jami's (Nicholas' uncle and aunt) house and played Rock Star on the X Box and Nicholas slept right through our three hour session...he's quite the groupie! Little Nick is looking forward to a visit from Auntie Lyndsey (my best friend) who's flying in from California on Tuesday night. I have been telling him all about her and he can hardly wait to finally meet her!

Loving every minute with Nicholas

These first 5 days have gone by so fast! We have enjoyed many vistors and many home-made meals this week. On Sunday Nicholas' friend Aubree stopped by for a visit with her parents, Rod and Catie, who are college friends of mine. Nicholas is enjoying long, leisurely naps with mom and sleeps several hours before waking up for feedings each night. Jeff and I love watching Nicholas grow and are so happy that he's such a good eater! We have gone over to Grammy and Grandpa Hargrave's house a couple of times this week for dinner and you can see that even Grandpa likes to take naps with Nicholas. I am so happy that our dog, Jake, has taken such a liking to Nicholas...they get along great and Jake seems to be happy that Nicholas is around. He follows Nicholas everywhere he goes!

The newest addition to the Gustafson family has arrived!

Nicholas Alan arrived on May 20, 2008 at 8:22am after 24 hours of labor. He was a big boy, weighing in at 8 pounds 8 ounces. Words cannot describe how much we love our baby boy! He is a very happy baby and loves to cuddle with his mommy and daddy.

1 week left

Baby Nicholas is due to arrive in exactly seven days! Jeff and I are very anxious and very excited to meet our son! Yesterday we put the car seat in the Pathfinder (that was quite an experience). I think new parents need explicit instructions for all the gadgets and toys a baby needs-especially car seats! Hopefully we will be able to get our little guy into the seat when we leave the hospital!

Tomorrow is my last day at work before I go on maternity leave. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand I am so excited to be able to sleep in and relax during the day and to spend lots of one-on-one time with Nicholas when he arrives, on the other hand I will miss my students tremendously. I have had such a fun year teaching 2nd grade. Also, because I will not be returning to PCA next year, I will miss all of the teachers and families that I have gotten to know in the last five years I have worked there. I have made some truly wonderful friendships and I have some fond memories of my time there. I have been blessed to work in an environment with such spirited, kind hearted individuals who I will miss dearly. Hopefully the future holds great career opportunities for me while allowing me to spend more time with my family.

I went to my doctor appointment this afternoon and not much has changed. I am still two centimeters dilated and 60 percent effaced, but the baby has dropped into position and is no longer at -1, but 0. Also, I lost 2 pounds, which actually made me really happy...even though I can't really tell, it makes me feel like a bit less of a whale! I do feel better knowing that if Nicholas doesn't arrive by his due date I will be induced one week later on May 29th, so he will for sure be a May baby.

My baby shower

Jeff wearing the "Sympathy Belly" in our labor and birth class

Playing the waiting game

I went to my doctor appointment yesterday afternoon and I am now dialated to 2cm so I've made some progress! Dr. Higgens says that the baby should arrive before his due date (May 22nd) so Jeff and I are playing the waiting game...which is not a lot of fun. Jeff asks every morning if I think the baby is coming today and I just tell him to keep his phone close by.

This week was Teacher Appreciation Week at the school where I teach and today a parent made chicken enchiladas for my hubby and I for dinner tonight...wasn't that sweet? Especially during a time when I almost NEVER feel like cooking-mainly because I hardly eat anything anymore-there's just not enough room in my belly!

So Nicholas gets to decide when he is ready to be born...it's just so difficult to wait...we cannot wait to hold our son!

He may arrive sooner than his due date

Last night I had pre-labor contractions all night long. They were pretty mild and I could sleep through them so I know that Nicholas isn't completely ready to greet the world just yet. I just keep praying that he will be born after Sunday, May 4th which is my birthday. I just really don't want to be in labor on my birthday...it doesn't sound like a lot of fun! This morning they have completely gone away so hopefully he'll stay put for just a few more days.

A few pregnancy pics

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Nicholas' nursery

We are counting down the days!

Baby Nicholas should arrive in less than 20 days! Jeff and I are getting very excited to meet our bouncing baby boy. I went in for a doctor appointment on May 1st and I am 1 and a half centimeters dialated and 60 percent effaced so things are prgressing well. Nicholas' nursery is all set up and ready to go, the hospital bag is packed, and I think I've read almost every book imaginable on labor and delivery so now all we have to do is wait until the newest addition to the Gustafson family arrives!