My baby Dahl...

Here he is!

Elliott Dahl Claassen arrived last week Wednesday, and is just as lovely and sweet as anyone could ever hope to be.

We are head over heels in love with our little man, and he seems to be pretty happy too.

In fact, (it could be all the surges of oxytocin running through my body but...) I think Elliott has made me fall in love with just about everything again.

My family, my home... LIFE! He epitomizes it and makes it seem just that much more amazing.

He's like a living, breathing love letter to life. He's made mine feel precious and complete.

Complete with the ocassional ET joke and lots of reminding people who Roald Dahl is too...

Go, Elliott! :)

Yes, I have a countdown clock...

123 Days seems so far away! Although, I'm trying to appreciate this calm before the storm. No diapers, no crying, no spit-up... but every day I get more and more uncomfy and it gets harder and harder to sleep. And I feel like I get to know this baby better and better. There are definite routines happening in there now, and I'm starting to anticipate the sounds that will and won't initiate cartwheels in my tummy. Kicking and punching is much more forceful, and direct sunlight is a new favorite thing in womb-land.

When I'm feeling gigantic, cumbersome, achey, and irritable, I open up the little drawer full of teeny tiny t-shirts, pants, diapers, and socks- and it puts things into perspective again. I only have 123 days of selfish one on one with this little person, before world and outside and danger and element and people become a reality for him or her. Right now it's just heartbeats, warmth, tummy rubs, familiar voices sending it love, and the occasional sunbeam.

This was just too funny not to share...

Things I miss...

As much as I adore the little wiggle worm in my tummy, I'll be awfully happy to cuddle it in my arms instead.

In the meantime, I miss...

- Not having to do a little jig just to get my pants over my butt
- Doing dishes, or walking past restaurants without gagging
- Vacuuming without needing a nap afterwards
- Having a belly button
- Laying on my tummy if I feel like it
- Laying on my back without feeling crushed
- Having energy
- Pants with buttons and zippers
- Walking up stairs without breathing like a fish out of water
- Reaching my legs to shave them
- Reaching my toenails to paint them
- I miss SLEEP
- I miss normal clothes
- I miss brushing my teeth without throwing up in the process
- I miss not having a ton of saliva and snot
- Being able to breath with my mouth closed
- The occasional espresso
- Staying up past 10 PM without feeling like death the next day
- Peeing like a normal human
- Feeling like I was in control of my bladder and bowel system
- Walking for more than 5 minutes without feeling dizzy
- Bending over to pick something up
- My memory
- My abdominal muscles (this refers to sitting up, rolling over, getting out of bed without help or groaning)
- My small boobs
- My favorite bra that no longer fits :(
- My underwear fitting correctly
- Feeling cute when I get ready in the morning
- My favorite pair of jeans
- Having an appetite and room in my abdomen for food
- Taking a very hot bath
- Not being in constant pain
- Not being able to smell absolutely everything
- Being able to bend over!
- Being comfortable for more than 10 minutes at a time

End rant.