When the Grandparents are in town

My parents arrived safely on Wednesday night and they’ve been busy relaxing since then: putzing around the house drinking coffee, watching the news, getting caught up on social media, napping, etc. It’s so nice to have the room to welcome them and they even have their own bathroom. We’ve gone out to eat several times, but I think they’re more excited about free and varied cafeteria food!!

On Friday night, we ate at a Japanese hibachi restaurant, one that I’ve wanted Matt to take me to for some time now. It was delicious and entertaining. Dad captured the best picture.

 Afterwards, we went into town to watch a Princeton basketball game, but we arrived at half time and they didn’t have half price or free tickets (as we had hoped), so we turned around and left. Luckily, I found a twenty dollar bill on ground in the parking lot, so we decided to blow it on some hot drinks. We went to Halo. Yum.

Saturday was my last day of teaching. I finished some grading and sent in my comments for each student. I’m officially done until mid-March and it feels great. I’ve never had a break like this, and I’m really looking forward to the separation from my students. This group and I haven’t bonded quite like I’ve bonded with other classes. It’s odd. They don’t even call me Madame.

Monday, Matt went to work and the rest of us stayed home on this 100% rainy gray day. I still have dorm responsibilities this week (until Friday noon), but today was the first day that I had Nothing. To. Do. It was a familiar “I’m bored” feeling as much as a “Wow, I love this” feeling. I know I won’t be bored for long….

The biggest project for the day was to sort and organize all of the baby’s clothes. If my mom hadn’t been here to help me, I would have thrown up my arms and called it quits after 15 minutes. I always wondered why it was such a big deal for my sisters-in-law to sort through their kids’ clothes to see what still fits, what doesn’t, what their growing kids still needed for the upcoming season.

Now I know.

The first problem to solve was where to dress the baby. If all of his clothes are in the back room in his closet, but his changing table is on the other side of the house (in the front bathroom), am I really going to make that trek? But if we put his changing table in his room, how would I change his cloth diapers with cloth wipes? I need a sink with warm water! Mom to the rescue again: she showed me that the clothes need to be on the shelves below the changing table and I happened to have the right bin to hold it all together. Those clothes are his “now” clothes, but in the closet in his room are the next size up (in a few weeks’ time). It’s hard to know how to separate things when you don’t know how big he’ll come out! Will he be long and skinny? Will he be short and stalky? Will he be fat and long? He’ll be adorable no matter what, THAT’s for sure. Thanks to Mom, I feel like I have a handle on his wardrobe. But will I remember the system once I do that first load of laundry?

I know you’ve all been waiting to see pictures of the nursery.

Here's the hallway before you get to his room. This banner was from my baby shower that my colleagues threw. 

 The view from the doorway.

I made this bunting. I love it so much. 

His closet with the "for a tiny bit later" size clothing. Hanging are shirts, onesies with collars, sweaters and hoodies. Just below the hanging stuff are piles: long sleeved onesies, short sleeved onesies, pants and jammies. In the bin below are sleep sacks, sheets and a big giant full body coat. Reminds me of Ralphie's little brother in The Christmas Story.

 This is a gourd lamp that Matt and I bought in Mexico last year. It was such a pain to mount it because the ceilings are concrete. I love the way it shines blue light, especially at night.

 In the front bathroom, Matt mounted this shelf which holds some disposable diapers, wipes, burp cloths, wash cloths and baby towels.

You can see under the changing area his "now" clothes: all of the newborn size stuff: short sleeves, long sleeves, jammies and pants.

 On the lowest shelf are the cloth diaper stuff.

My sister made a portable changing pad out of a vinyl table cloth. I did the same and it was so easy. I think I'll make a few more: one for the car, one in the living room, etc.

Finally, another sweet project I've been working on: bow ties!! These have snaps on the back, and all I have to do is add a snap to these onesies and I can interchange them. He's going to be so fashionable!

 And now, we play the waiting game. Hope he comes soon!!