She'll Be Blessed

Well, today is officially week 39 and we're waiting - that's for sure. T has a doctors appointment today. They will check her out and see what's going on so we'll know more this afternoon.

In the mad preparation for this unbelievable life changing event I decided to send out an email to all of my friends and family around the world that have raised kids in the past ten years. I asked them what their favorite parenting book, website, resource was and which one was the most useful to them. Many interpreted my email as general neurosis about the impending arrival of our little girl and offered words of support and encouragement which was, truth be told, an unexpected bonus. Tom and I are so blessed as will our little girl. We have an incredible support system in the friends and family that we have all over.

Anyhow, I think that in addition to all of the useful information that folks passed on was some wonderful offers (babysitting, food), books (suggested and sent (thanks Stacy)),and very generous discounts on services, was the advice that my friend Ivy offered. In a very simple response she said, "Call my mother, I did". I've known Ivy's mom and dad for ten of the 15 years that I've lived in Seattle and even though they live in Florida (of course) I see them each time they visit and feel very much a part of the family. An old camper of mine responded and said "....send to Camp Ramah.". It blows me away that I know him since he's 10 years old.
Arlene Eisenberg's book What to Expect the First Year made the top of the recomendation list. Pretty much everyone suggested it.

So, thank you to all of you who responded to my email and have been so wonderfully helpful in all of this. I've baked and cooked, cleaned, organized, gardened, made lists, knitted pretty things, OH and fiinished grad school! I've shopped and schlepped. I've even started developing the marketing materials for my own private practice.

So I can honestly say that I'm ready - for what, I know that I have no idea. Tom is ready as well, again, for what? No idea, but we are looking forward to it.

It seems like that's it for this entry. I'll keep y'all posted on the happenings. We're taking our computers with us to the hospital since they have wi-fi in the birthing center (head nurse's suggestion. Leave a comment and let me know that you stopped by. - Larry

Below is a compiled list of the suggested websites:

Parent Hacks - http://www.parenthacks.com/
Babygadget - http://www.babygadget.net/
Thingamababy - http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/
Blogging Baby - http://www.bloggingbaby.com
Rookie Moms - http://www.rookiemoms.com
Invitations Ink - http://www.invitationsink.net/
Feather Boa Fathers - http://www.featherboafathers.com
Healthy Children - http://blogs.webmd.com/healthy-children/index.html
Working Dad - http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/family
Red Tricycle - http://www.red-tri.com/ - a good seattle resource for parents
Baby Legs - www.babylegs.net
Buy Buy Baby - www.buybuybaby.com
A Child's Closet - www.achildscloset.com
Olie Bollen - www.oliebollen.com
Garnet Hill - www.garnethill.com
Sitter City - www.sittercity.com
Baby Center - www.babycenter.com
Happy Baby Food - www.happybabyfood.com